Work from home Archives - Utility Avenue

The Best Free and Paid Tools for Small Businesses

Posted on January 9, 2022January 10, 2022 by Odette Fernandez

Small businesses are under pressure to find the best possible way to compete in a world that’s quickly becoming dominated by big, international corporations.

Don’t fret! There are so many tools out there for small business owners who want to stay on top of their game.

Here are some free and paid tools that can improve customer satisfaction, increase online engagement, streamline operations, and, ultimately, positively impact a small business’s bottom line. Let’s get started.

Our top 5 free and paid services for small businesses

#1: Google Analytics

Google Analytics is a free service that provides detailed statistics on where visitors are coming from, how they got to your website, and what they do while they’re there. This information can help you improve your site’s content, advertising, and design so it appeals more strongly to potential customers and leads them through the purchasing process.

Don’t know where to start? Google offers some great tutorials and guides that are easy for small business owners of any skill level to understand. You can also check out this video series by Google on how to use their services.

#2: Yammer

A social media site for businesses to connect with their employees, customers, partners, and others. Yammer is a great way to connect with your employees and show you appreciate their hard work on the business. Plus, it’s a great place for businesses to learn more about what consumers are saying about their company.

#3: Remitly

If you’re outsourcing work to freelancers in foreign countries, bank transfers can be cost-prohibitive. Instead, you can utilize a low-fee money transfer service like Remitly which offers fast transfers at fair exchange rates. For example, if you need to pay workers in The Philippines, you’ll only be charged a fee of $3.99 for express delivery service.

#4: Constant Contact

Constant Contact is an all-in-one marketing platform that provides email marketing, automation, social media management, and more. This is a great tool for businesses that want to manage all of their marketing in one place. They also have some great features like custom landing pages, lead generation forms, and the ability to create email lists that can help you build your business.

#5: Zendesk

Zendesk is a free support ticket system that provides a central way for customers to contact your company and get answers quickly and efficiently (even if you’re not around) and even helps you track what they’re asking for so you don’t have to ask them! Zendesk also offers different pricing structures for businesses of any size. Check out the plans here.

Honorable mentions: IFTTT and Google My Business

IFTTT is a free service that allows you to create your own “recipes” to automate certain actions based on events. For example, you could automatically send yourself a text message when someone posts about your company on Twitter or send an email when Google updates their mobile search algorithm.

Google My Business is a free service that helps you build your local business brand on Google and customers to find out more information about your business like opening hours, directions, and customer reviews. It’s perfect for small businesses that want to connect with potential customers in the area.

These are just some of the many great tools out there for small businesses. SMBs need to be able to use the right tools at the right time. If you don’t know where to start, try any of the tools in this list. There are hundreds of other great tools available online, as well. You just need to know where to start.

Turn your hobbies and skills into cash by joining the Utility Avenue community!

Image by Odette Photo+Art

Article written by Gloria Martinez exclusively for Utility Avenue.

How to Turn Your Passion Into a Lucrative Business Model

Posted on May 16, 2021May 15, 2021 by Odette Fernandez

How to Turn Your Passion Into a Lucrative Business Model

Everyone has a great passion that they wish they could turn into a business. Maybe you love the roar of an engine and the thrill of competition, or perhaps you love to tinker with engines in the solitude of a garage. But the truth is in the journey, and not every big passion becomes a lucrative business startup. Part of the challenge? Reshaping your mindset and empowering yourself to get what you want.

It’s a daunting—but worthwhile—pursuit. Check out these tips on how to turn your passion into a lucrative venture, courtesy of Utility Avenue.

Define Success

Outlining your goals means you have a concrete means of measuring success. Decide what success means to your business and what metrics you’ll track to see how far you need to go—and how far you’ve come already.

For example, if you’re venturing into motorsports, selling motorcycle parts online might be part of your plan. From there, you might establish a set number of clients you want to onboard or a particular number of products you wish to sell. Make your metrics detailed, specific, and measurable. Document them and make a game plan for reaching those goals—and check in often.

Be a Cheerleader

Being successful in your business often revolves around positivity and growth. Always learn; look around you for opportunities to develop and improve. It’s critical to believe in what you’re doing, look forward, and don’t look back.

If you commit to being a cheerleader for yourself (and your brand), your odds of success are that much higher, confirms Business.com. Think about the lies you tell yourself—about not being good enough, or setting prices too high, or expecting too much—and then tell yourself the truth. Being in your own corner means believing in yourself and your abilities and not letting self-doubt ruin your new venture.

Protect Yourself

Launching a startup can be exhilarating and even intimidating. But venturing outside your comfort zone is not just a threat to your sense of self-confidence. In fact, owning a business can make you a target for all manner of online scams like identity theft and cybersecurity breaches.

To protect yourself, your company, and the customers you serve, create a digital security plan. Anti-virus software, credit defense services, and other cybersecurity protections can offer peace of mind and defense against would-be hackers.

Another form of critical protection is that of your personal assets. The last thing you want is to build your business up, only to have issues that cause you to lose everything. An easy way into a security blanket is to create an LLC. An LLC, or limited liability company, does just what it says—it limits your liability. Also, it provides certain tax advantages, and it can scale up as you grow. That flexibility can come in handy in your journey toward success. Keep in mind that if you form an LLC, you’ll have to submit an annual report. Fortunately, you can save time filing by using a service like Zenbusiness.com.

Aim to Scale Up

Some entrepreneurs set the bar too low when it comes to their growth goals. But really, is it possible to make too much money? Is it wrong to achieve too many sales? Is it ever possible to see too much success?

Again, it’s all about your mindset—and setting your sights on scaling up your business is a recipe for success. There are plenty of ways to streamline and scale your organizational model. Your path might involve digital tools to automate basic business tasks, or it could mean you onboard an assistant to take care of the mundane while you work with clients. Whatever the next step is, put it up on a pedestal and prioritize blazing a path to get there.

Turning your amazing idea into a productive and lucrative business startup isn’t easy. But with a mindset of empowerment and clarity when it comes to your abilities as an entrepreneur, you can make it happen. You might be surprised at the things you can achieve when you embrace your full potential.

Earn some extra cash and sell your services on Utility Avenue.

Join our community today!

The article was written by Cody McBride exclusively for Utility Avenue.

Small Business Owners: Make These Best Practices Part of Your Daily Routine in 2021

Posted on April 25, 2021May 14, 2021 by Odette Fernandez

At the start of the year, it can be easy to focus solely on your goals. Whether you want to hit a sales milestone, launch a new product/service, or expand your business, you have likely become fixed on achieving whatever it is that you want to achieve.

While this is certainly admirable, this approach can cause you to quickly lose steam. More importantly, it can also cause you to lose track of daily best practices that can grow your small business for the long term.

No matter what your goals are for 2021, here are some of the best practices to implement in your daily routine this year.

Join the Utility Avenue community for opportunities to buy or sell services and turn your hobbies into profitable business ventures!

Network with local business owners and professionals.

In 2020, it became more difficult than ever before to network with colleagues and local business owners. As COVID-19 continues into 2021, networking opportunities still look different than they have in the past.

Networking can get your business noticed, help you share and exchange ideas, build long-term relationships, and build your self-confidence. In the long-run, it can even boost your sales. That is why it is crucial to continue meeting with others on a weekly basis in a virtual space. This can take the form of joining the local chamber of commerce, or a dedicated networking group. By making networking a habit, you can more easily reach your yearly goals and connect with others in the community.

Complete a financial health check-up.

Another essential best practice to adopt is routinely checking in with your business finances. From your invoicing practices to your corporate credit cards, this habit can save you hundreds — or possibly thousands — annually.

As you review your business finances, see if your bank is serving your current needs. For a more seamless accounting experience, finding a small business bank account that integrates with your payroll software ensures quicker payments. The best accounts will even offer free instant deposit, high-yield interest, and insights on your cash flow.

To get an in-depth assessment of your business’s financial health, consider working with a business consultant. You can find qualified business consultants through online job boards and review ratings, rates, and estimated delivery times.

Set work-life boundaries.

When examining business best practices, it may not seem as though your personal habits have any bearing. On the contrary, having solid work-life boundaries is essential for being a successful small business owner. These boundaries are becoming more popular in European countries and can make a world of difference in your personal and work life.

Although it can seem impossible at times, creating boundaries for you and your employees should be a best practice to embrace. Decide when you (and others) should be able to disconnect from work emails and phone calls, and how often personal time should be taken. Despite feeling counterintuitive to some, these actions can actually lead to increased on-the-job productivity.

Revisit your marketing strategy.

In today’s digital age, successful marketing strategies are anything but stagnant. With rules and algorithms for social media changing almost monthly, it is important to keep up with the latest changes.

Each quarter, make it a habit to check in on your marketing plan. Revisit your strategy to see what is working, and what needs a bit of tweaking. Change wording, images, and promotions to meet the needs of your audience in real-time. This best practice will ensure that you get the most out of your marketing budget and that your messages are timely and relevant.

Ensure that all software is up-to-date.

Lastly, routinely monitor all software on your computers, phones, and equipment. Complete recommended updates, and keep up-to-date on any antivirus programs that you’ve installed. While it seems simple, a weekly check of your software can save you time, effort, and money down the road.

As you decide which best practices work for your business, it can be helpful to create a checklist of habits that best suit your individual needs. This can also help you organize which tasks should be completed on a daily, weekly, monthly, or quarterly basis.

Original guest blog post written by Gloria Martinez, from WomenLed.Org

Business Made Simple, by Donald Miller

Posted on April 11, 2021April 10, 2021 by Odette Fernandez

I found out about Donald Miller a couple of years ago in one of my Facebook groups for entrepreneurs and small business owners. Several comments recommended Building a StoryBrand as a must-read when it comes to marketing.

I read Building a Story Brand and then “Marketing Made Simple.” I love how they take highly complex ideas and explain them in simple executable steps. Donald Miller knows that business is more than just a good idea made profitable – it’s a system of unspoken rules, rarely taught by MBA schools. If you are attempting to grow your business or career profitably, you need elite business knowledge to create tangible value.

Donald Miller has done it yet again with his newest book, Business Made Simple: 60 Days to Master Leadership, Sales, Marketing, Execution, Management, Personal Productivity, and More.

Business Made Simple

If you want to grow your career and create a healthy and profitable company, check this book.

From writing your mission statement to formulating sales presentations, writing effective marketing messaging, setting up sales funnels, and executing projects across many departments, it covers all bases.

These 60 short, daily entries and accompanying videos will add enormous value to your business and the organization you work for. In this sixty-day guide, the book presents the nine areas where truly successful leaders and their businesses excel:

Character: What kind of person succeeds in business?
Leadership: How do you unite a team around a mission?
Personal Productivity: How can you get more done in less time?
Messaging: Why aren’t customers paying more attention?
Marketing: How do I build a sales funnel?
Business Strategy: How does a business really work?
Execution: How can we get things done?
Sales: How do I close more sales?
Management: What does a good manager do?

His book is based on the idea that value-driven professionals give their company’s and customers an incredible return on their investment. Donald Miller defines a value-driven professional as: “Someone obsessed with getting value to everyone they work with.”

“Each of us has to wake up in the morning and give people a return on the time, energy, and money they entrust to us.”

He goes on to say, “this is the secret to success. If you want to succeed in work, love, friendship, and life, give people around a great return on whatever it is they invested in you”.

1. See yourself as an economical product on the open market.

You are committed to getting people a strong return on the investment made in you. You’re zealous by making other people absurdly successful.

2. See yourself as a hero, not a victim.

You see yourself as a hero on a mission, not a victim. Victim mentality will end your career. Once you see yourself as a hero on a mission, you.

3. Know how to de-escalate drama

How do you escalate drama? You ask yourself: How would a calm and calculated person handle this situation? Your goal is to remain calm.

4. Accept feedback as a gift

Value-driven professionals are thankful for constructive feedback and know how to take feedback and use it to grow in their careers.

5. Know the right way to engage in conflict

We live in a broken world, so conflict is unavoidable. But how do you navigate conflict as a value-driven professional? You expect conflict, control your emotions, affirm the person you are confronting, and understand you could be wrong. Bonus: in all great story the hero has to face a conflict.

6. Long to be trusted and respected more than liked

A respected and trusted leader sets clear expectations, communicates and keeps others accountable, and rewards good performance. They care less about being liked than being respected and trusted.

7. Have a bias towards action

Donald Miller has observed that all great leaders have a bias towards action. They take action to make ideas happen.

8. Do not choose to be confused

When there are things we don’t want to do, we tend to get confused about how it works. For example, you may need to fire an employee, but you choose to be confused about what you should do to let this employee go.

9. Be relentlessly optimistic

High-impact leaders are not afraid to fail. Actually, successful leaders have failed more than most. As a result, they experience more success in work and life.

10. Have a growth mindset

A value-driven professional has learned to adopt a growth mindset when faced with setbacks. This comes from the work of the Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck. Growth mindset individuals see the world differently from embracing challenges to persisting through obstacles to learning from criticism to finding inspiration from others’ success.

Final Words

The truth is that it’s hard to be successful without a clear understanding of how business works.

According to Donald Miller, if you master the lessons introduced in his new book—the ten characteristics of a value-driven professional along with the ten core competencies of a value-driven professional—you will dramatically increase your worth on the open market.

Business Made Simple is the must-have guide for anyone who feels lost or overwhelmed by the modern business climate. If you want to take your career to the next level, read and apply the Business Made Simple book’s principles to transform your economic worth over the next 60 days.

The Business Made Simple book by Donald Miller is available for purchase.

Unconventional Ways to Boost Productivity

Posted on March 21, 2021March 20, 2021 by Odette Fernandez

There are all sorts of productivity hacks circulating the internet. In the era of remote work, it’s needed more than ever. The usual tips instruct us to unplug from technology or play classical music. And while these can certainly help, there are plenty of other ways to boost your productivity levels — ways that are much more fun.

If you’ve been bit by the unproductive bug, here are some unconventional ways to get the ball rolling again:

Procrastinate systematically

Our Procrastination and Why Being Busy is Not Productive article already covered, well, procrastination. You might have learned that postponing an important task is never a good idea, especially since it might lead to more unproductivity. But sometimes, one particular task seems too daunting to even attempt.

One way to curb this is to procrastinate in a structured manner. Simply work on another task on your to-do list, then come back to that one important task. Chances are, after finishing a couple of easier things in your agenda, that tedious one will seem far more manageable.

Micro-reward yourself

Learning to reward yourself for completing what you set out to accomplish can do wonders for your productivity. And it doesn’t have to be anything extravagant. Stick to small gifts for yourself and save the big prizes for bigger milestones.

Your micro-reward can be something as simple as your favorite treat or one episode of the series you’re currently watching. Just don’t go overboard with it by indulging every step you take. Again, be systematic, even in the way you pat yourself on the back.

Surround yourself with plants

Sprucing your home office with greens actually comes with a lot of benefits. Libby Sander cites several studies in an article on the benefits of nature in your workspace. One study found that bringing plants into the workspace increased productivity by 15%. There was also an improvement in employee concentration and workplace satisfaction. In fact, simply seeing nature has been proven to increase both mood and self-esteem.

If you want some low-maintenance plants, here are a few options:

Cactus plants
Succulents
Cast-iron plant
Spider plant
Aloe vera

Try using a standing desk.

Here’s another thing you can tweak in your workspace: your desk. Replace that rickety old thing with a sturdy new standing desk. A feature on Pain Free Working explains that it’s simply a desk with adjustable height, so you really don’t need to be stuck on your feet if they start to ache. But it’s nice to be able to switch between standing and sitting when you work.

Studies show that home offices are simply not equipped with the right work furniture and equipment. Most notably, people worked with the wrong chair and monitor heights and improperly adjusted armrests. With a standing desk, you’ll have the freedom to alter your workspace as you please and even stimulate your mind. And with a more comfortable and ergonomic office, you’re more likely to be productive.

Take a quick nap

Inc highlights how power naps could be the solution to a bout of low productivity. A study from Harvard Medical School even found mid-day naps to be more effective than sleeping more at night or having a cup of coffee.

On a slow afternoon, try taking a 20- or 30-minute nap as a pick-me-up. Just don’t forget to set the alarm!

Complete an exercise routine

In a feature on exercise, CNet cites the benefits of doing physical activity in the morning. Working out when you wake up can improve your energy levels, alertness, focus, and decision-making capabilities. These translate to better productivity during the day.

Additionally, exercising in the morning also releases endorphins, which are happy hormones. This can keep you in a good mood sans the coffee!

Here are a couple of quick exercises you can do:

Lunges
Squats
Push-ups
Burpees
Planks

Final Words

Try some of these out and see if they work for you! Remember that boosting productivity still depends largely on the individual. So, what works for others might not work for you. Still, they’re worth giving a shot!

Exclusively written for utilityavenue.com by Thea Thompson

Author bio: Thea Thompson is a full-time freelancer in the copywriting and graphic design industries. When she isn’t looking for gigs, she’s baking pastries with too much sugar in them.

10 Great Articles About Becoming an Entrepreneur

Posted on March 7, 2021March 7, 2021 by Odette Fernandez

Our article Ten Reasons to Become an Entrepreneur has been the most read on our blog. We want to thank you for your support. The truth is that, at Utility Avenue, we want to help you become the best version of the business owner and entrepreneur you can be.

Today, we want to share ten great articles about becoming an entrepreneur. In this selection, you might find the motivation to push forward.

Take notes, and bookmark them for later. Come back to reread them when you need to.

The entrepreneurial path might be challenging, especially in times of Covid, but you got this.

1- “50 Signs You Might Be an Entrepreneur.”

Entrepreneurs and business owners have a certain kind of spirit and drive that keeps pushing them forward. Use this business article to find out if you possess the qualities of an entrepreneur yourself. In “50 Signs You Might Be an Entrepreneur,” John Rampton shares the signs that make you the perfect small business owner deep down inside.

2- “Richard Branson to Young Entrepreneurs: ‘Just Do It’”

If you have been thinking about launching a small business, this article will help you take the plunge. Richard Branson is incredibly inspiring to entrepreneurs who are looking to start young. In Oscar Raymundo’s Inc. article, Richard Branson explains why young wannabe entrepreneurs need to get over the inherent risk factor of starting a business. You can have a great business idea for years, weighing the pros and cons of creating it. According to Branson, you have to just do it. If you fail, you fail—and hopefully, you learned something valuable for your next business venture along the way. Feel the fear, but do it anyway. Stop overthinking and start working.

3- “The Psychological Price Of Entrepreneurship.”

The stress, worry, and fear that comes with being an entrepreneur can be very intense. Entrepreneur and investor Kumar Arora explains the psychological impact being an entrepreneur can have on a person from his first-hand experiences in his Forbes article “The Psychological Price Of Entrepreneurship.” Starting and running your own business can be an isolating and physically and mentally exhausting process. It is essential to keep your mental well-being in mind.

4-“CEOs Share Their Best Advice for College Graduates.”

This article shares some of the best advice CEOs had for college graduates. Nevertheless, most of it can also be applied to new entrepreneurs. Both recent grads and entrepreneurs are starting a new chapter in their careers, and the advice in “CEOs Share Their Best Advice for College Graduates” can be helpful to them both. The ability to listen, have patience, and be flexible were all traits CEOs highlighted in their advice to students.

5- “How to Hire the Right Person.”

Finding the right people can be challenging. Compiled from more than 500 interviews, the article “How to Hire the Right Person” by Adam Bryant of The New York Times brings together some of the best hiring advice from CEOs he’s interviewed. They advise walking candidates around, paying attention to what questions they ask, assigning them a take-home task, and more.

6- “A Study of 3,526 Companies Shows 1 Decision Makes Startups More Successful. Most Founders Do the Opposite”

The appeal of having a business partner is strong when you start a business. Some entrepreneurs feel more comfortable having someone share the work. Nevertheless, research shows that might not give the company the best chances of survival. Research has found that companies with a solo CEO were more likely to succeed. A story from Inc. breaks down the method used to derive the findings, but it turns out going it alone might be an advantage.

7- “7 Tips For Aspiring Female Entrepreneurs, According To A CEO.”

This article is based on advice from CEO and founder of the woman-powered app Mogul, Tiffany Pham. It’s a compilation of advice from her book (You Are a Mogul: How to Do the Impossible, Do It Yourself, and Do It Now.) While her book offers far more insight “7 Tips For Aspiring Female Entrepreneurs, According To A CEO” gives a quick preview to help other female entrepreneurs.

8-“8 Mistakes First-Time Founders Make When Starting a Business.”

When you’re just starting, it can be easy to fall into the same pitfalls many entrepreneurs fall into. But maybe with this article, you won’t have to. Mitch Zuklie (CEO, business, and legal advisor), wrote about the top mistakes he sees entrepreneurs make. He detailed the mistakes that include growing too fast and ignoring sound advice for Entrepreneur Magazine.

9- “How Things Change.”

“How Things Change” is a worthy 30-second read for any entrepreneur who feels discouraged. TechCrunch’s Greg Kumparak summarizes entrepreneurship’s crazy journey in just three tweets from Brian Acton, co-founder of WhatsApp. Things do change.

10-“10 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started My Own Business.”

“10 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started My Own Business” is written by entrepreneur John Rampton. He recounts mistakes he made when he launched his business and what he could have done to prevent them. This article might help you effectively build the business with fewer setbacks.

Final Words

If you liked these, feel free to share them.

Come back next week for part II of this selection of great articles about becoming an entrepreneur.

Best Online Teaching Jobs

Posted on November 8, 2020November 8, 2020 by Odette Fernandez

Online teaching jobs are all the rage right now. If you’ve considered teaching online, this is definitely the time to do it. The pandemic has shown educators that they’re capable of more than they ever thought possible. So many have discovered they actually really enjoy teaching online. So that begs the question – where are the best online teaching jobs? And what are the best companies to work for?

In this article, you’ll learn all about the top 5, absolute best teaching jobs out there. Then, pick the path that’s best for you!

Let’s get into it.

Best Online Teaching Jobs

Online Teaching Jobs with Magic Ears

Being a teacher for Magic Ears seriously is one of the best online teaching jobs out there in 2020.

This online ESL company doesn’t get enough love.

Firstly, it’s important to note that Magic Ears is one of the highest online English teaching jobs out there!

Did that get your attention? Good, because there’s more.

Secondly, their platform is super fun and engaging. Kids love using it, and teachers enjoy facilitating instruction with it.

Thirdly, they have a very flexible cancellation policy. This is especially great if you want to teach English online with multiple companies or teach full-time at a brick-and-mortar school.

As online teaching jobs go, Magic Ears is one of our favorite companies.

Requirements

To be hired, applicants must:

Passionate about teaching! The smiles should come through. 🙂
Be an English native speaker from the U.S. or Canada.
Hold a bachelor’s degree or higher in any subject, or be a student actively pursuing a bachelor’s degree (must provide official transcript)
Have a 120-hour ESL Certification*
ESL/teaching experience preferred

Please note that they are currently holding California residents’ applications due to AB5 restrictions (as are most other companies that hire home-based, online English teachers).

Technology Requirements

After you consider your personal qualifications, you should consider the technology you have available to you.

Computer with: CPU: i5-6200 and newer generations.
At least 4GB RAM
Stable internet connection with: Upload speed: 5Mbps. Download speed: 20Mbps.
An “over-the-ears” headset with microphone.

Please note that teachers cannot use in-ear headphones to teach classes.

Application Process

This image is directly from their website, and it outlines the application process with Magic Ears:

When you apply, allow up to 2 business days for processing at each step.

Throughout the application process, there are two places where you can find updates on your application’s status:

The email with which you applied (check your spam folder).
The Teacher Portal

Once you start the application process on the teacher portal, you can use the “Contact Us” link in your portal to easily reach out to Magic Ears when needed.

Payment

The payment system for most online teaching companies can be a bit confusing.

Their base pay ranges from $7.50-$10 per class depending on qualifications.

With the two available bonuses, your base pay can rise to $9.50-$12 per class for a total of $19-$24/hr. Most online teachers with Magic Ears are earning between $17 and $26 per hour.

The photo below better explains the pay structure for Magic Ears:

Online Teaching Jobs with iTutor Group

iTutor definitely ranks as being one of the best online teaching jobs available in 2020!

One teacher in our group made over $1,000 in ten days, just from teaching online with iTutor Group.

Imagine what you could do in a month!

Unlike other online teaching jobs, the company schedules bookings for you.

This means it’s easy for new teachers to break into the market and earn quickly.

Requirements

To to be hired, applicants must:

Uniquely, iTutor Group does not require teachers to be native speakers.
Bachelor’s degree or higher
TESL, TEFL, or TESOL certification
Minimum 5 hours of availability per week during peak times in China.

Please note that they are currently holding California residents’ applications due to AB5 restrictions (as are most other companies that hire home-based, online English teachers).

Technology Requirements

After you consider your personal qualifications, you should consider the technology you have available to you.

Desktop/Laptop PC: Intel Core2 Duo processor or better (no netbook or tablet).
Windows operating system: Windows 7 or 8 Internet Explorer web browser: Version 9 or higher. Mac: OS 10.11.12 or above (no iPad)
RAM: 2GB or more
Internet Speed: Minimum 800 Kbps download, and 500 Kbps upload wired internet connection: Cable, DSL, or Fiber Optics (no wireless connection).
Webcam: Either built-in or preferably high quality Creative, Logitech, or comparable.

Please note that teachers cannot use in-ear headphones to teach classes.

Application Process

The application process for iTutor Group is very straightforward.

Apply (very quickly!)
Select an interview time (you’ll be contacted if you pass the initial screening)
You’ll hear back about your interview result quickly – usually, it’s a matter of days.
Once you’re good to go, you’ll set your availability and start teaching!

Payment

Your payment includes a basic rate, with incentives added on top of that.

Performance bonuses compound upon each other each month, depending on some factors, including how students rate you and how often you teach.

Online Teaching Jobs with GoGo Kid

Online teachers who work with GoGo Kid often cite how much the company cares for its employees.

This is why we’ve included it on our best-of list of online teaching jobs for 2020.

Another factor that sets GoGo Kid apart is the fact that you can teach online with GoGo Kid from anywhere in the world, so long as you’re eligible to be hired with them.

GoGo Kid has some of the most flexible requirements of any online ESL teaching company out there. However, it also means it can be competitive.

Be sure that you read all of the requirements and follow all instructions correctly the first time!

Requirements

To teach online with GoGo Kid, applicants should:

Hold at least a Bachelor’s degree.
Have at least one year of experience working with children
Have a stable internet connection
Be willing to communicate not only with the students but also with the parents.

Technology Requirements

After you consider your personal qualifications, you should consider the technology you have available to you.

System: Mac OS 10.8x or higher. Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, or higher.
Memory & CPU: At least 4GB RAM, Intel Core i3 above
HD External camera or HD integrated camera.
A headset with a microphone, stable output, and input
Wired DSL Internet Connection – at least 20 Mbps

Application Process

The application process for GoGo Kids is also very easy compared to other online teaching jobs out there.

Complete an online application (Sign up + Basic Information)
Schedule an interview
Attend an orientation program
- a. Orientation Quiz
- b. One-to-Many Live Training Session
- c. One-on-One Mock Class Training Session
Submit the paperwork
Sign the contract

Payment

Your payment includes a basic rate, with incentives added on top of that.

Performance bonuses compound upon each other each month, depending on several factors, including how students rate you and how often you teach.

Check out their payment matrix below:

Class Payment	Per Class	Remarks
Base Pay(Level 1)	USD 7~10	based on your credentials and interview performance.
Base Pay(Level 2)	USD 7~10	based on your credentials and interview performance.
Credit Score(Level 3)	USD (7~10)+($1.5~$2)*100%	Today’s Credit Score and Classes Completed Today
Credit Score(Level 4)	USD (7~10)+($1.5~$2)*110%	Today’s Credit Score and Classes Completed Today
Credit Score(Level 5)	USD (7~10)+($1.5~$2)*125%	Today’s Credit Score and Classes Completed Today
Total per one hour	USD 14~25

Online Teaching Jobs with Q Kids

QKids is known in the online teacher world as having one of the most flexible cancellation policies.

Limited Attendance policies require 24-hour notice for schedule changes and a minimum of 5-hour notice to maintain overall attendance fee eligibility.

This makes it a great supplementary income stream for educators teaching online through other platforms.

The teaching style is also different, as everything is taught through games and play.

Requirements

To teach online with Q Kids, an applicant should be:

Eligible to legally work in the U.S. or Canada
Holding a Bachelor’s degree
Certified with a teaching license or holding an English teaching certificate (TESOL, TEFL, CELTA, ESL)
These are all required before lessons are assigned.

Technology Requirements

As it is with any online teaching company, technology requirements must be considered.

Here are the minimum technology requirements for those seeking online teaching jobs with Q Kids:

Minimum upload speed: 2Mbps. Minimum download speed: 4Mbps.
Test your speed here: http://www.speedtest.net/
*Cable connection is recommended.

Application Process

Here’s the application process with Q Kids:

Apply with all required materials
Initial screening
Demo Interview 1
Demo Interview 2
Trial Classes & Background Check
Secure your contract!

Payment

Q Kids has an involved pay structure, so see the full details laid out below:

$4 base pay for standby lessons (approximately 10 minutes with no teaching required).
$1 Performance incentive for each lesson based on family review
$1 Attendance Bonus for each lesson once a minimum of 15 lessons are taught in a week.

Online Teaching Jobs with VIP KID

Of course, I’d be remiss to exclude VIP KID when discussing online teaching jobs!

VIP KID is possibly the juggernaut of the industry.

On top of being one of the most popular TESL company, they also offer multiple revenue streams to teachers.

On top of teaching English online, you can earn incentives for completing classes and recruiting other people to become VIP KID teachers!

Requirements

To be eligible to apply for VIP KID, you must have:

A Bachelor’s degree (can be in any field)
Work authorization for the U.S. or Canada
Two years of experience teaching, coaching, tutoring, and/or mentoring
Highly reliable technology

Technology Requirements

Since VIP KID is such a well-established company, it has a reputation to uphold.

This means they have some pretty weighty technical requirements:

Desktop, Laptop, Macbook, iPad, or Microsoft Surface (no Chromebooks)
Windows 7, 8, and 10; Mac OS 10.X or higher operating system (Linux and Chrome OS are NOT supported by VIPKid)
Intel i5 processor or higher
8GB RAM or higher
Fast and stable internet connection will make a smooth teaching and learning experience. Ideally, a wired high-speed internet connection of ≥ 25 Mb/s

Application Process

Here’s the application process with Q Kids:

Apply with all required materials
Initial screening
Demo Interview 1
Demo Interview 2
Trial Classes & Background Check
Secure your contract!

Payment

Here are all of the ways to maximize your income with VIP KID:

The base pay rate is $7-$9 per class
$1 attendance bonus per class
Extra $0.50 for every class taught after teaching a minimum of 30 lessons in a month
Extra $1 for every class taught after teaching 45 classes in a month

References

Brittany Verlenich published this guest post first here: https://travelingteachers.co/2020/08/06/the-5-best-online-teaching-jobs-in-2020/

Join the Traveling Teachers community. They’re committed to helping you find your perfect path to teaching online.

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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.

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.