Category: Small Businesses

5 Ways to Step Up Your Marketing Strategy in 2021

Posted on by Odette Fernandez

Step up your marketing strategy in 2021.

The pandemic has changed the way businesses operate this year, prompting the world to think of ‘new normal’ ways. With these five ways to step up your marketing strategy in 2021, you can lead your small business to work remotely, attract a wider audience, and generate increased sales.

5 Ways to Step Up Your Marketing Strategy in 2021

Whether it’s to boost sales or ensure customer retention, managing a business in 2021 involves combining pre and post-COVID marketing strategies. By embracing automation, developing useful content, and fortifying your brand, you can make your business stay relevant in the coming year and drive value to your products or services.

BUILD A STRONG BRANDING WEBSITE

The pandemic has pushed 58% of the world’s population to go online to work, study, and connect. Creating an eye-catching logo or a witty business name wouldn’t do the trick alone; you need a website that would enable you to reach a wider audience.

  • Showcase your best creations and beat the competition. For instance, one of the most effective marketing strategies for photographers is to add visuals to their content to prove the quality of work.
  • Use photographs that would show how your business can help individuals or companies navigate through global change.
  • Introduce yourself as a relatable small business owner who can contribute to families and communities. You can also present your team and show working conditions through photos.

EDUCATE WITH YOUR CONTENT

About 77% of internet users read blogs, making blogs the 5th most trustworthy online information source. Creating relevant content positions you as an expert in your industry, allowing your personal branding to subconsciously speak to consumers.

Blog content like how-to guides, listicles, and instructional images build audience trust that you have a solid foundation about your niche or industry.

EMBRACE AUTOMATED MARKETING

About 82% of marketers gained a return on investment due to marketing automation’s cost-effectiveness. Working from home can sometimes blur the line between personal and business hours. When it’s time to rest or bond with your family, mailing list providers like Mailchimp lets you keep up with clients and networks.

DEVELOP PERSONAL AND ONLINE CONNECTIONS

Building a business network is an unending process. Your personal and virtual circles can be your most valuable marketing assets to grow clientele in 2021.

  • Dive into the online world and attend conferences, webinars, or peer groups where you can meet new clients.
  • Collaborate with your local community. These may be family, neighbors, or other businesses in your area.
  • Use social media if you’re working on a tight budget. With the lockdown causing about 3 billion people to use Facebook’s apps, you can gain traffic and response by engaging with your followers and friends list.

Running a business is like taking care of a family — it needs your patience, presence, and attention to nourish it. Likewise, engaging with customers is like parents connecting with their children; it requires participation, authenticity, and personal voice.

COLLABORATE AND INCENTIVIZE

Managing a business isn’t a solo project. You’ll need support in various forms — family, friends, business partners, connections, mentors, and clients. Giving out incentives is one of the best ways to make the collaboration mutually beneficial, with 75% of consumers more likely to purchase again after getting an incentive.

Reward the client’s loyalty or purchase through freebies or discount codes. You can even use your email list for sign-up offers. You can partner with businesses that share your audience and do cross-promotions with them through blog posts, referrals, or exchanging of branding photos.

Lastly, don’t forget to thank everyone; human connection and appreciation can prompt people to remember that you value their contribution to your business.

Final Words

While marketing may seem daunting and overwhelming, planning for it can help seize opportunities, serve customers, and make your brand known. Start with one or two of these tips until you can combine all of them strategically for the coming year. At Utility Avenue, we are committed to help you thrive.

Guest post by Shootproof

This article was published first in Odette Photo+Art

Spotlight: Lesette Jackson

Posted on by Odette Fernandez

Lesette Jackson is in the Spotlight this week.

What can you tell us about yourself?

I am Lesette Jackson (known as Lee).
A wellness practitioner, herbalist, healer, and advisor, I launched Conscious Lee in 2015. I am also a paralegal with a health and human services background, and I have worked in the medical field for over 20 years. I make products such as body soaps, body butters, body oils, sea moss, herbal teas, and crystal infused candles.
My passions are my family, nature, spirituality, and helping you live your best life!

What were the origins of your business?

This journey began after a type 2 diabetes and hypertension diagnosis. My doctor gave me 6 weeks to make changes. I realized I was neglecting myself. Then, I implemented detoxes (green smoothies and herbal regiments only), flushed out my system, started going to the gym, and incorporated sea moss and herbs into my diet. I focused on what I was putting in my body, increased my water intake, and eliminated things that were not good for me.

What aspects of your background have helped you the most?

As women, we need to feel better and take care of ourselves. Mom, wife, and daughter roles are taxing because there is so much responsibility. Women have to use nature to help us. We have so many natural remedies. Westernized medication is not effective. Black women need to take advantage of holistic options. Nature is the remedy to all, not prescriptions. I push accurate and beneficial information. I also provide a healthy alternative for cures and prevention.

What were the main challenges you encountered at the beginning?

Being a Latina-Black woman, financing for women of color (banks, credit unions); businessmen who do not take me seriously; lack of support/backing; pushback from those who don’t see me equal; those who prefer Westernized medication instead of natural remedies.

Who was the most supportive of your idea?

The most supportive was my immediate family, close friends, and repeat customers.

Have there been any changes in your business approach after Covid-19?

Yes, clients are more conscious of health. People are more interested in alternative wellness options. I have seen an increase in customer interest in holistic options.

What makes your offer unique?

I am honest, and I share my personal experience acknowledging my shortcomings and not hiding failures. I build trust with clients because I have used the products and implemented the recommendations I make to my clients.

Do you have any other passions?

I am passionate about spirituality, my family, and respect for life, all forms of life.

If you could go back in time, what would you do differently?

I would not have ruined my credit!

What challenges do you see ahead?

Rebuilding my credit.

What future projects does your business have?

We are planning a podcast, a new line of products, and a spiritual Spa.

What message would you send to your followers?

Whatever you do, do it consciously.

If you were to define your business in one sentence, how would you do it?

Authentically balance: mentally and spiritually.

Contact Info

www.conscious-lee.com
www.twitter.com/myconsciouslee
www.instagram.com/myconsciouslee
https://www.facebook.com/consciousl33

_______________________________________
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.

Want to save taxes? These moves may cost you college financial aid.

Posted on by Odette Fernandez

Year-end tax planning with a college-bound kid? Common tax moves for your small business that can save you taxes but may cost your chances for financial aid.

As we approach year-end, there’s no shortage of articles on different tax moves one can make. Your CPA or tax professional may have suggested some to lower your tax bill. When you have a kid about to go to college, however, things can get tricky. Your well-intentioned CPA or tax professional may end up costing you aid and raising the cost of college!

*** Please note that this article is not intended as tax advice. Please consult your own tax professional or financial advisor to discuss your specific circumstances. ***

Before we detail the differences between taxes and financial aid, it’s important to understand how your financial information is used in the financial aid process. Families submit their income and asset information typically using the FAFSA, and for some schools, the CSS Profile form. The colleges then use the information on those forms, applying different formulas, to determine how much the family can afford for college each year, known as the Expected Family Contribution, or EFC. In the formulas, income is a far bigger factor than assets.

Using the EFC, colleges then determine whether the family qualifies for need-based aid. This type of aid can be in the form of grants, loans, or even work-study. Because these types of aid are based on a family’s financials, some families think they “make too much money to get aid”.

Let’s go a little deeper. The income information used on the financial aid forms is based on the family’s tax return (parent and student, if filed). On the surface, then, anything you might do to save taxes – lowering income, increasing deductions, etc. – would be a smart move. As a famous announcer on a well-known sports TV channel says, “Not so fast my friend”.

There are 3 key areas where taxes and financial aid differ for self-employed and small business owners.

First, the most common area for reducing taxable income is to contribute to a tax-deferred retirement plan, such as a 401k, 403b, or an IRA. Lower taxable income, save on taxes today, and save for retirement – it seems to be a smart financial move. For financial aid, this person would have just hurt themselves. In the simple example below, a parent increases their retirement plan contribution: 

Before

 After
Income $100 $100
Less: Ret Plan Contrib 10 20
Income after contrib 90 80
Less: Taxes (10%) 9 8
Take-home pay 81 72
Fin Aid: Add back ret plan contribution 10 20
Income for fin aid purposes $91 $92

 

In this simplified example with an assumed tax rate of 10%, increasing the retirement plan contribution results in increasing, not decreasing, the income for financial aid purposes. Higher-income equals higher EFC, which lowers your chances of financial aid.

Retirement plan contributions could be amounts put into a 401k, SEP, SIMPLE, or a personal IRA.

Why would retirement plan contributions be added back? Financial aid income counts as income, regardless of what you do with the money.

This effect is also true for Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Savings Accounts (FSA) contributions. On the FAFSA, HSA contributions are added back. On the CSS Profile, both HSA and FSA contributions are added back.

Second, it is common for small business owners and self-employed to reduce the amount of net income (or even showing a small loss) for tax savings purposes through depreciation and other expenses. This may not help.

For colleges using only the FAFSA, which is the majority of colleges and universities, business losses are reported as is. Before you go reducing your income to near zero, there’s a catch. If a non-business owner or self-employed family has an Adjusted Gross Income of $50k or less, they qualify for a simplified EFC calculation. Primarily, this means that the family’s assets are excluded.

For a family that is self-employed or owns a small business that files a Form 1040, Schedule 1, this simplified EFC formula does not apply. A Schedule 1 would reflect self-employment income and income from a small business via Schedule C, business income via Form K-1 on a Schedule E, and rental real estate income on Schedule E.

Third, being a small business owner or self-employed is less friendly for schools using the CSS Profile form. Any business losses are added back as well as depreciation expense. For example, if one parent works a regular W-2 job earning $100k and the other parent is self-employed and reports a tax loss of $100k per year, the tax return would show a zero net income ($100k in income less $100k in loss). For the CSS, that family would have an income of $200k.

The CSS Profile form has other requirements for business owner families, such as reporting the value of the business as well as submitting business tax returns, if filed separately.

In case you’re wondering, the schools that use the CSS Profile form are the Ivy League, near-Ivy League, as well as public Ivy schools, such as the University of Michigan, Univ of Virginia, Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill, and UMiami.

Bonus item: One other difference between the two forms, though not tax-related, is the reporting of business bank accounts. On the FAFSA, any bank accounts in the name of the business are not reportable. On the CSS, the bank accounts are reportable. Again, the higher the assets, the less aid a family is likely to get.

Despite the differences, there are advantages that business owners and self-employed enjoy when saving and paying for college; I wrote a prior blog post on some strategies.

The bottom line is that while your CPA or tax professional may be well-intentioned and helpful for taxes, they may not help for financial aid and may raise the cost of college. Understanding these differences can help lead to smart decisions balancing tax savings and financial aid.

T. Jack Wang
Financial Wealth Strategist

 

 

What is Personal Branding?

Posted on by Odette Fernandez

Personal branding.

Brand photography is a powerful business tool. It helps you develop your personal brand.

But, what is personal branding?

Personal Brand
Odette Photo+Art Branding session with TrueDent Family Dentistry | www.truedentfamilydentistry.com

Personalbrand.Com defines it as “The intentional effort to create and influence public perception of an individual by positioning them as an authority in their industry, elevating their credibility, and differentiating themselves from the competition, to ultimately advance their career, increase their circle of influence, and have a larger impact.”

They add: “A personal brand is rooted in the minds of people in the market. Personal branding is the effort to communicate and present your value to the world.”

Personal branding is perfect for entrepreneurs, influencers, speakers, professionals, actors, and small business owners. But, building a personal brand isn’t exclusive to them. We all need a compelling personal brand to make an impact in this world.

Before people spend money or do business with you, they like to feel like they know you. Studies show 70-80% of people research a company before doing business. That’s why personal branding is so important. It highlights your unique set of skills, experience, and personality.

How to build a personal brand.

The aim is to create a powerful brand, online and offline. That’s how we build relationships and connections with people throughout the world.

Personal branding tips

1. Sell an experience, not just a product.

Discover what’s special about you and your brand: your unique selling proposition (USP). That’s the secret sauce that will make you stand out from the competition.

2. Show your authentic self.

Your personal brand allows you to show current and potential clients your skillset and strengths. That way, you build trust with the people that matter. This is key to developing a successful personal brand and becoming genuinely influential.

3. Be consistent.

Choose a niche and stick to it. Create the content your audience is interested in, not what you think they want. Then, get your content in front of the right people at the right time in their buyer’s journey.

Personal Branding
Branding session with TrueDent Family Dentistry | www.truedentfamilydentistry.com

Pro tip:

Your social media must be visually appealing on every platform.

Show the real you with professional branding images that will enhance your brand, do the selling for you, and make you money while you sleep.

Tell your story consistently, and more people will engage/follow/share your content.

headshot
Branding session with TrueDent Family Dentistry | www.truedentfamilydentistry.com

To build your personal brand, you can ask yourself these questions:

What’s your skillset?

What makes you different?

What’s your niche?

What are your core beliefs and values?

What problem do you solve?

What’s your message?

Who are your ideal clients?

What do you want to be known for?

 

Check these successful personal branding examples.

headshot
Branding session with TrueDent Family Dentistry | www.truedentfamilydentistry.com

Final words about personal branding

By serving and helping your audience, you will build a community of like-minded people that value your skills and sees you as an expert in your industry.

If you are asking yourself when you should start building your personal brand.

The answer is “Now”.

This article was first published in What’s Personal Branding by Odette Photo+Art

Spotlight: Soul Essentials Healing

Posted on by Odette Fernandez

Soul Essentials Healing.

For this week’s Utility Avenue’s Spotlight, we present you April Gaines: a Professional Mental Health and Substance Abuse Counselor. She is also a Certified Alcohol and Addictions Counselor through McBap. April has 18 different degrees and certificates in mental health, substance abuse, wellness, and spirituality fields. April is also two times over Reiki Energy Healing Master. An Ama Deus Energy Healer. A certified Hypnotherapist. A certified Auricular Acupuncturist.

What can you tell us about yourself?

I have spent over a decade in counseling, helping my clients heal from past traumas, low self-esteem, negative thinking, false beliefs, and anxiety. My passion is helping people develop permanent self-esteem and inner peace through awareness. Teaching them to have innate worth and value in this life.

As a mom of five girls, a bonus mom to her niece, and a grandmother of twelve grandkids, I value family, creating memories, teaching, and learning.
Recently, I have decided to move my career online by creating healing and spiritual courses, serving on spiritual panels as a speaker, and speaking on webinars, masterminds, and podcasts.
I want to help heal as many souls as I can in one lifetime.

What were the main challenges at the beginning?

Getting visible online. Getting out there and getting people to know about my business is the most difficult.

Who was the most supportive of your idea?

My daughters, other close friends, past clients, and even current clients are the most supportive of my business ideas.

What is the main target audience of your business?

My main audience is people who are tired of feeling depressed, anxious and who want to change. Who wants to be free from negative thinking and want to have inner peace and self-esteem that is permanent.

What makes your offer unique?

I have a unique way of explaining the ideas and concepts I teach in a way that is easy to apply and creates permanent change in the lives of the people I work with.

Do you have any other passions?

I have spent over 20 years on a life journey gaining as much knowledge and wisdom about the human mind, self-esteem, and spirituality. A psychic-medium, a hypnotherapist, an energy healer, and an auricular acupuncturist, I also have special certificates and training in addiction, and am really good at helping people learn to understand addiction and stay sober.

If you could go back in time, what would you do differently?

I’m not sure that I would do much differently in my life as I believe everything that has happened in my life was part of the divine plan and needed to happen to become the person I am today.

What future projects does your business have?

I have developed two courses at this time. One on permanent self-esteem. One on tarot card mastery. I plan on making a course on changing your core beliefs. Then, one on what is the psychic ability and maybe one on talking to people on the other side. I intend to write a few books as well in my time. My ultimate goal is to have these courses on Udemy and Teachable. Then, to take my story and teachings and begin speaking for a living so that I may help to heal as many people as I can in one lifetime.

What challenges do you see ahead of you?

My challenges right now are to get out there and to get noticed.

What message would you send to your followers?

I want everyone to know that you do not have to live with depression, anxiety, negative thoughts, low self-esteem. You have permanent worth just because. You can have inner peace and be free.

Define your business in one sentence.

My business: Soul Essentials Healing – The Self-Improvement Journey. Learn how to heal your soul and have permanent self-esteem and inner peace.

 

Contact Info

_______________________________________
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.

Never Split the Difference, by Chris Voss

Posted on by Odette Fernandez

This week, I finished reading Never Split the Difference, Negotiating As If Your Life Depended on it. Written by former FBI lead international kidnapping negotiator, Chris Voss, it was a fascinating read on how to add emotional intelligence and empathy into the negotiation process.

I totally recommend it.

You can use the techniques outlined in the book for negotiations and everyday life: in business, at home, or when you ask for a raise or a new position.

 

Chris Voss, Never Split the Difference
Chris Voss, Never Split the Difference

Important Takeaways From the Book

Become a Mirror

Mirroring is magical. 

“Repeat the last three words (or the critical one to three words) of what someone has just said because we fear what is different and find comfort in similarity. “

The five steps of mirroring are:

  1. Use the late-night FM DJ voice– keep it calm and slow. Use this selectively to make a point. When done correctly, the late-night FM DJ voice creates an aura of authority and trust without making the other party defensive.
  2. Start with phrases like, “I’m sorry…”
  3. Mirror
  4. Use silence effectively
  5. Repeat.

Don’t Feel Their Pain, Label It.

Tactical empathy is understanding the other party’s feelings and mindset and hearing what is behind those feelings to increase your influence. 

Labeling is validating someone’s emotion by acknowledging it. First, you need to detect the other party’s emotional state and then highlight the feeling by labeling it. You can phrase a label as statements or questions. 

  • “It seems/looks/sounds like…”

People’s emotions have a “presenting” behavior (what we can see and hear) and the “underlying” feeling (the motivation behind the behavior).

Address those underlying emotions by labeling them. If you are labeling a negative emotion, you diffuse it. If it’s positive, you reinforce it. 

Beware “Yes”—Master “No”

A “No” can be an excellent opportunity to clarify what you want by eliminating what you don’t want.

“No” can often mean:

  • I am not yet ready to agree;
  • I don’t understand;
  • You make me feel uncomfortable;
  • I’d prefer to talk to someone else.
  • I can’t afford it;
  • I need more information;

A “No” can allow real issues to emerge. It protects you from making poor decisions and gives you time. It helps you feel safe and moves the negotiation process forward. That’s why “Is now a bad time to talk?” is better than “Do you have a few minutes to talk?”

And there are three kinds of “Yes”:

  • Counterfeit:  the other party plans on saying “No” but feels that a “Yes” is an easier escape route.
  • Confirmation: generally innocent, reflexive response to a black or white question. 
  • Commitment: most often leads to a definite outcome, such as signing a contract.

Also, “That’s right” is better than “yes.” You can make a summary by combining a label combined with paraphrasing.

Bend Their Reality

“Starting with a very low or high offer, using offers with specific and odd numbers or other such arbitrary factors will influence parties to compromise or accept an offer during a negotiation.”

Here’s how you can do that:

  • Anchor their emotions.
  • Let the other side anchor monetary terms first. 
  • Establish a range: instead of saying, “I’m worth $110,000,” say, “At top places like Acme Corp., people in this job get between $130,000 and $170,000.” 
  • Pivot to non-monetary terms.
  • When you talk numbers, use odd ones: ex, $87,563.
  • Surprise them with a present.

Note: People will take more risks to avoid a loss than to realize a gain. Make sure the other party sees that there is something to lose by inaction.

Create the Illusion of Control

Use calibrated questions to educate the other party on the problem rather than cause conflict by telling them what the problem is.

Here are some calibrated questions you can use:

  • What about this is essential to you?
  • How can I help make this better for us?
  • How would you like me to proceed?
  • What is it that brought us into this situation?
  • How can we solve this problem?
  • What are we trying to accomplish here?
  • How am I supposed to do that? 

Guarantee Execution

Because most communication is nonverbal, you should develop the ability to interpret body language and tone of voice.

The 7-38-55 Percent Rule

The 7-38-55 Percent Rule states that

  • 7% of a message is based on the words
  • 38% comes from the tone of voice
  • 55% from body language and face.

The Rule of Three: get the other party to agree to the same thing three times in the same conversation. 

The Pinocchio Effect: a Harvard Business School study found that, on average, liars use more words than those telling the truth. They also tend to use more third-person pronouns.

The Chris Discount: use your name to create a sense of “forced empathy” and make the other party see you as human.

Bargain Hard

If you’re trying to close a deal, you can choose an encouraging tone of voice, and ask “Let’s put price off to the side for a moment and talk about what would make this a good deal?” Or “What else would you be able to offer to make that a good price for me?”

If you’re trying to win a deal from your competitors, pitch statements like “Why would you ever do business with me? Your existing service provider seems great!” The “why” can coax the other party into working with you. 

The Ackerman Model

The Ackerman Model is an offer-counteroffer method you should prepare before the negotiation takes place.

  1. Set your target (goal) price.
  2. Set your first offer at 65 percent of your target price.
  3. Calculate three raises of decreasing increments (to 85, 95, and 100 percent).
  4. Use lots of empathy and different ways of saying “No” to get the other side to counter before you increase your offer.
  5. When calculating the final amount, use precise, non-round numbers like, say, $37,893 rather than $38,000. It gives the number credibility and weight.
  6. On your final number, throw in a non-monetary item (that they probably don’t want) to show you’re at your limit.

Find the Black Swan

“Black Swans are hidden elements that can totally change the negotiation if uncovered and used.”

Black Swans are leverage multipliers. To discover Black Swans ask about the other party’s beliefs and actively listen so you can mirror what they say. People feel safe in similarity and shared beliefs. 

Final Words

Humans want to be accepted and understood. Choose to be an active listener, demonstrate empathy, and show a sincere desire to understand the other side better.

This book is handy to handle everyday conflicts at work and home. A negotiation is an act of discovery. Listen to the other party, validate their concerns and emotions, build trust, and create a safety net for real conversations, and you will never split the difference.

 

References

A 12-Minute Summary of “Never Split the Difference” by …. https://www.freshworks.com/freshsales-crm/sdr-sales-development-reps/summary-of-never-split-the-difference-blog/

More about Chriss Voss: https://www.blackswanltd.com

 

WHERE TO BUY THE BOOK.

Buy Never Split the Difference, Negotiating As If Your Life Depended on it

Poems of Recovery, by Ananda de Jager

Posted on by Odette Fernandez

Poems of Recovery, by Ananda de Jager

Ananda de Jager (1993) was born in Goes, the Netherlands. In 2020, she published her first poetry book: Poems of Recovery. After getting amenorrhea in 2018, she went on a spiritual healing journey, facing her inner demons and having a strong calling to inspire others.

Ananda now lives in Brussels, Belgium, where she wrote her first book. For this week’s Utility Avenue’s Spotlight, we bring you her inspiring story of self-discovery.

 

Poems of Recovery, by Ananda de Jager
Photo Credit: Nicholas Fotiadis

  • Who is Ananda de Jager?

Hello! Ananda is a 26-year-old girl living in Brussels, heading from the Netherlands. I’m a sister, a daughter, a friend, a colleague, a volunteer, and now also a poet/writer. 😊

  • How did it all begin?

For as long as I can remember, I’ve struggled with food and my emotions. For me, this was always present, but I never saw it as an issue. However, when I lost my period, I realized that this was a clear sign of my body that something was wrong. Further, I had many other symptoms of an eating disorder. Looking back, losing my period was the best thing that could have happened. Otherwise, I would not have worked on my underlying issues. Hence, I decided I wanted it back and began looking at my patterns, my motives. While doing so, I shared many poems and quotes on Instagram (made by other people) and got a lot of positive replies. Then, in the summer of 2019, I decided to start writing poems myself.

  • What helped you the most to become an author?

My problems (laughs). No, what helped me the most was that it was very healing in itself. Writing down your thoughts makes you go through them, and reading them back helps you to see how far you’ve come. Also, the work of other poets inspired me a lot. My goal is also to help other people so that I had in the back of my mind when writing.

  • What were the main challenges while writing the book?

The writing process was honestly quite smooth. It felt very natural to me, and I put my full heart into it. The biggest challenges came actually when it was published – sharing my story, doing interviews, shoots. Really being out there when I was not fully at ease with my body yet, despite having written a book about recovery.

  • Who was the most supportive of your journey?

For sure, my parents. I cannot imagine how hard it must be for parents to have a kid that struggles and does not allow you to help them. They were always there, did nothing wrong, and supported me in every way possible. I love them with all my heart.

  • Who is your book for?

Initially, it was for anyone struggling with an eating disorder, but I learned that even people who did not struggle with it greatly enjoyed it. For example, one reader came to me saying he had never faced eating issues himself or known anyone with such issues, but reading the poems gave him some insights on what it is like. That was really touching.

  • How have readers reacted to your book?

The responses have been better than I could have imagined. Everyone has been extremely kind, asking questions, saying how it helped them or which poems they liked. It was especially interesting to hear from people close to me how they experienced the period.

  • Do you have any other passions?

Yes! I love meeting new people, traveling, volunteering, and riding my motorbike. Next to that, I do pole dancing and weight training. I love being busy and challenging myself. I also really love trying new things and self-development. 

  • If you could go back in time, what would you do differently?

I believe everything I did brought me exactly to where I am now. I don’t think I would have done anything differently. It’s easy to say I would have solved my issues sooner or I would have been kinder to myself sooner, but in the end, all the steps were needed to be where I am today. I do wish that I did not hurt certain people in the process of me hurting myself through my behavior. No one deserves to be hurt, but I have also been the villain in some people’s stories. 

  • What future projects do you have?

For the moment, I am focusing fully on this book and helping others. I am writing for a project about Brussels’ lockdown, which is a really nice collaboration. Perhaps I will write a second book. I also collaborate more with different artists, which is a nice way of expressing myself.

  • What message would you send to your readers?

Be kinder to yourself. You only have one life in this body and have to be with yourself for the rest of your life. You might as well make it worthwhile! 

  • Can you tell me the essential idea of the book in one sentence?

To help other people in their healing process by sharing my experience with recovering from amenorrhea (the absence of your period) and my eating disorder.

  • Is there anything you would like to add?

If anyone wants to know more, see more work or order the book, they can check out my website anandadejager.com. Find me on Instagram @anandaaaa or @poemsofrecovery. I try to answer messages as fast as kind. And don’t forget to add joy to your life, dance! 😊 

 

Poems of Recovery, by Ananda de Jager Poems of Recovery cover

 

Ananda de Jager’s Contact Info

Instagram: @anandaaaa

Poems of Recovery, by Ananda de Jager
Where to Buy the Book

_______________________________________
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.

How to Make More Extra Money Before Christmas

Posted on by Odette Fernandez

Make more extra money before Christmas.

The most wonderful time of the year is just around the corner.

But you might already be looking for moneymaker ideas so you can get more cash for those Christmas presents for family and friends.

Look no further. We have made a list of some ideas to make more extra money before December 25th!

make money for Christmas

1. Work from Home

Working from home might be your holy grail if you want to work from the comfort of your own home. There are countless companies hiring customer representatives, and there are other attractive options. Check this article to find out about the 10 best work-from-home jobs to make money now. And if you are new to the world of working in your pajamas, check this Remote Newbie Guide to work from home that we created for you.

10 Best Work-From-Home Jobs to Make Money Now

The Remote Newbie Guide to Work-From-Home

2. Make Money with Your Car

You can start driving for Uber or Lyft. But newsflash, if you offer your riding services with Utility Avenue, you can transport people, but you can also deliver groceries, parcels, lunch. The sky is the limit.

3. Declutter and get rid of pre-loved items.

Our houses are full of items we don’t use anymore. This might be an excellent opportunity to declutter and Mary Kondo your home and make extra cash in the process.

4. Become a Website Tester

For this, we would recommend UserTesting. Most testing tasks last 15-20 minutes, and you earn 10 dollars per review. Definitely handy.

5. Become a Pet Sitter

We have mentioned it in several blog entries. If you love pets, you can make extra money when you pet sit, especially for the holidays when there will be traveling involved.

6. Sell your crafts 

The sky is the limit when you are creative. You can make and sell your crafts: jewelry, personalized ornaments, Christmas wreaths, gift baskets, watercolors, printables, candles. Anything that can be personalized is a great Christmas present. You can open a store on Amazon, Etsy, or Shopify to reach more clients.

7. Turn your hustle into a business.

Check this blog post to find out if you can turn your hobby into a moneymaker. And, if you are already monetizing your hobby, read this article to find out if it’s an excellent time to turn your side hustle into a business. To start, or not start, a business. THAT’s the question.

12 Hobbies that can be Moneymakers

To Start or Not To Start a Business: That is the Question

8. Become a Virtual Assistant

You can help small businesses with anything from project management to social media marketing.

9. Become a Copywriter or a Proofreader.

Most businesses need to create sales pages, whitepapers, articles. It can be a good niche for you to specialize if you can provide copywriting or proofreading services, and you can do that from home.

10. Find Work On Side Gig Apps

You can find several side gig apps to offer any service, from photography to proofreading, for example, Thumbtack, Fiverr, and TaskRabbit. You can also check Utility Avenue and find out if it’s a fit for you. Our platform only charges a flat fee of 0.50 cents per service sold, so you can make more money when you provide a service. Read this article if you want to know more details about our platform.

10 Reasons to Make Money with Utility Avenue

11. Reduce Your Bills.

A good option would be to save money. Find where you are spending money unnecessarily. For example, eliminate those subscriptions you always forget to use and call your service providers to find out if there are current deals so you can reduce your bill payments.

12. Get Cashback with Rakuten.

Earn cashback when shopping at your favorite online stores. For example, with this Rakuten affiliate link, you’ll get a $30 bonus when you sign up and make a qualifying purchase.

13. Save Your Change.

We live in a pretty much cashless society, but sometimes, you receive some cashback. You could save that money. At the end of the year, you might save a fair amount.

Final words about how to make extra money before Christmas.

As a last piece of advice, I would also suggest thinking about what makes a great Christmas present. This has been a challenging year for most of us. Maybe material things are not what your family and friends need. Perhaps, they need the gift of experiences or help with a bill—just food for thoughts.