Tag: Work from home

Why should you hire marketing experts?

Posted on 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?

marketing team

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.

COROrecession: Impact of the Pandemic-Caused Recession

Posted on by Odette Fernandez

Impact of the Pandemic-Caused Recession

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 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.

a confident and profitable entrepreneur
Photo credit: @marybethwoodphotography

 

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

_______________________________________
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.

The Gig Economy and the Impact of COVID-19

Posted on by Odette Fernandez

Gig Economy and the Impact of COVID-19

COVID-19 has impacted the world. It has brought uncertainty, and it has changed the landscape of life and business. Most countries have seen their economies affected, in some cases, very severely. But, it is vital to highlight how coronavirus has impacted the gig- economy.
 

impact of coronavirus in the gig economy

Some data about the gig economy

The gig economy has skyrocketed in the past few years. John McAfee said, “The gig economy is empowerment. This new business paradigm empowers individuals to better shape their own destiny and leverage their existing assets to their benefit.”

The gig economy brings a vast set of advantages:

  • No employer controls you.
  • You can set your work hours.
  • You get the flexibility to do many jobs.
  • It is excellent if you are a creative or an artist trying to make more money.
  • It is great for extra income if your job doesn’t pay much.

But not everything is rosy, as:

  • You don’t get a steady income.
  • You usually won’t get benefits from your employers.
  • With nobody to control you, it all depends on you.

The gig economy as it is now, it only gives you the illusion of controlling your time, and work hours, and income.

We need a new kind of economy: a new free economy.

The gig economy and the impact of COVID-19. What will happen next?

The gig economy and the impact of COVID-19 has been seen. Delivery riders and drivers have had a steadier job during the pandemic. Remote freelance jobs have acquired more value, as well.
 
The new challenges brought by COVID-19 will undoubtedly impact the freelance market. As the nation tries to recover from massive unemployment rates, the new normal may usher away from full-time jobs to side hustles and multiple gigs.
A CNN publication states that: “A lot of small businesses, even if they are squarely situated in the physical world, are going to see the digital channel as a source of resilience,” said Arun Sundararajan, a business professor at New York University and author of The Sharing Economy.
 
In this scenario, Utility Avenue emerges as the perfect choice for gig economy workers. 
 
Utility Avenue is a platform created for freelancers, hustlers, entrepreneurs, and small business owners. It offers real freedom, flexibility, control, and visibility to promote one’s services.
Download it and try it now.

12 Hobbies that can be Moneymakers

Posted on by Odette Fernandez

hobbies can be moneymakers

Some hobbies can be moneymakers! Have you ever thought that what you love doing can also make you money? A job can take up your time and energy, but a hobby is something you usually do for fun. It takes out the stress and serves as an escape valve for the daily pressure, but you could make a living with it. Some people have turned their passions into real professions, and have succeeded.

Last week, we talked about the reasons why making money with Utility Avenue is a good idea. This week, we have brainstormed some hobbies that can also be moneymakers. Some of them might be limited due to the COVID-19 situation worldwide, but others can be put into practice right now. Maybe YOUR hobby can make you money! All you need is a little bit of imagination and the will to get it done.

Hobbies that can be moneymakers

Athlete/Coach:

If you are a baseball player, a tennis player, or a swimmer, there are many ideas. How many times have you heard your coaches repeat instructions? How many times have you practiced those routines yourself? You can start passing all that valuable knowledge onto others. Also, you can easily set up your webcam and do it through video online. Check what  Billy Ripken has done, and that can give you an idea. You can also be a judge, umpire or referee since sometimes school or local championships need a person to call the game.

Chef/Cook:

If you love cooking, creating a Youtube chef show to teach how to cook is an option. You could prepare unique family recipes, or invite potential students to your kitchen, and have them assist while they also learn from you. Another idea could be having people make requests for what they want you to prepare and pay for you to have the final product delivered to them.

Bartender:

Apply the same concept can to a bartender. It is easy to find recipes online, but if you have that magic touch that makes a drink “The Drink”, and you can prepare it with style, check this. You could create a Youtube channel to teach people how to make them YOUR way. It would be a fun experience that could also help you earn some cash.

Fishing:

If you love fishing and you have a boat, you can host a “fisherman invitation” to have guest fishermen with you. If they are professionals, you could charge for the ride. But if they are amateurs, you can also charge for teaching them the little tricks that make you get that big catch. Don’t you have a boat? In that case, be the instructor for those who don’t know much about fishing and have a boat.

Dancing/Music:

Dancing and music are perhaps two of the most popular hobbies ever. Some people also have a natural gift to teach. So, how about taking your dancing or music skills and help those who are eager for a patient professor? You can do this either in person or online, so don’t let COVID-19 discourage you. You can make the popular salsa and tango available online. And if music is your gig, you can teach people how to play your instrument.

Handyman:

Loose power plugs, stuck window frames, stiff doorknobs: nothing gets in your way when it comes to fixing things. And you enjoy it. If you enjoy doing stuff around the house, put your name out there. Someone might need your expertise: either making renovations or helping people move, a handyman is always necessary. So, you can start making money out of that hobby.

Teaching/Tutoring:

Having teaching skills is not enough to succeed at that. People need to love it. If you are among those who do, you could help others. Right now, elementary school kids are not the only ones who need it. Some more advanced students can need help with math, writing essays, reviewing essays, and some more. If you have the time and you enjoy this, you can help others while you also help yourself make some extra money.

Interpreting:

Your language skills are unique. Your grammar is perfect in two or more languages. You have a good memory, and your delivery rate is incredible. So, you can turn all that into an interpreting gig. You can easily offer your services to people needing someone to interpret a formal meeting or a hospital visit.

Photography:

Photography is an excellent example of hobbies that can be moneymakers. It is a great privilege to be able to give people the gift of memories. You can focus on street, landscape, portrait, wedding, or macro photography. In time, you can start offering photography services. At the same time, you can also give photography tips to photography enthusiasts. Everyone needs some guidance when they start, and you can be that person.

Video/Video editing:

Video making can be an excellent way to generate income: all you need is a camera with video capabilities, the skill to do it, and a computer to edit the footage you take. You can also help others with their videos. Editing can be annoying for some people who don’t have a lot of free time and are willing to pay for someone to do it.

Writing/Blogging:

Some people have the passion and the skill for putting thoughts into words. If you have an in-depth writing knowledge, you could start your blog and post about your preferred subject, from arts to politics, to sports. A good platform option could be WordPress, but you can also use Blogspot or Medium, among others.

Dog-sitting/ Dog-walking:

For the god lovers out there, dog-sitting or dog-walking could be a hobby that can also be a moneymaker. After all, you love the company of pets, and you will get paid to work surrounded by love.

Final Words

If you have any of these hobbies, it might be a good idea to start a new venture. You never know, right? As Bill Gates once said: “Paul and I, we never thought that we would make much money out of the thing. We just loved writing software.” He never expected to become a millionaire by doing something he loved.

These are some ideas of hobbies that can be moneymakers, but there are more. Let us know in the comments about others.

Hobbies can also be moneymakers. Don’t forget that you would be getting paid to have fun.

And that is priceless.

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

Posted on by Odette Fernandez

work from home jobs

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

With the coronavirus pandemic spreading throughout the world, many have lost their jobs in the last few weeks and 22 million Americans have filed for unemployment. Since social distancing is key for flattening the curve, work-from-home jobs are the best solution.

If you can use technology to make some profit, the time is now. This way, you could cover any income gap you might be experiencing.

Here, there are the best ten work-from-home jobs we found:

1- Virtual assistant

Do you have any marketable skills? Do you have good communication skills? Can you provide any type of virtual assistance to people? You can become a virtual assistant. From bookkeeping, to technical support, people need guidance and they are willing to pay for it. Don’t be shy, market your tools and be ready to use them. Stay online and be fast to respond to all requests of potential clients.

2- Translator

Are you fluent in more than one language? Do your grammatical skills pair with those of your mother tongue? Are you a good writer? If the answer to these questions is yes, you can work from home as a translator. With the help of the Internet and automated translation tools, you can enhance your translation skills. You can also enter discussion groups and forums to debate about better ways to translate certain terms.

3- Tutor

Are you personable? Do you have skills teaching others and explaining things to make them look simpler? You can start tutoring online. As schools are still closed, kids will need tutoring. You can provide tutoring through video chat. Your knowledge will not be the only thing you can provide, as you can also recommend different sources for your students to read and research.

4- Bookkeeper

Do you have knowledge in accounting? Are you good at spreadsheets? Do you know how to deduct money flows and keep track of it? Those are requirements that can make you really good at bookkeeping. Keeping records of people’s transactions—mainly from the business standpoint—is something that can be done from home. Make sure your clients keep you briefed on all transactions, and keep track of all operations.

5- Tax preparer

If you have knowledge of accounting and making tax reports is something that comes easily for you, maybe it is time to start monetizing those skills. Preparing other people’s taxes is not an easy task, and getting paid for it will require even more attention and caution, but you can definitely do it. Get all the information from your clients, double-check with them and stay in constant communication via phone or chat.

6- Video editor

You love video. But more than that, you love playing with video editing software and are really good at it. For years, you have been making carefully-edited videos of every family celebration. Now, haven’t you thought about creating professionally mixed photos and videos for people that might need them? Video editing only requires you to have the software to do it, and a lot of creativity. If you want to know which are the best top 6 free video editing software, check this article.

7- Online shopper

Are you good at finding special products online? Do you know how to make a value assessment of the price and the quality of the product? Do you know which online store sells what people actually need? Those are skills that can be marketed since some people have problems finding what they really need online. As some services might collapse in the upcoming days, you can become more necessary and useful. Be sure to engage with clients and try to understand what they really need so you can come up with the best deal for them. They will appreciate it.

8- Programmer

If you are good with source code and program languages, you can market those skills online. While some companies are postponing their projects, others are still up and running and a good programmer is always necessary. Think of those who had personal projects that required good IT to put together, and they had not done it because they were too busy. Now they are at home and you might be exactly what they are looking for.

9- Medical interpreter

Are you fluently bilingual and have medical knowledge? This comes in handy in the current scenario. Many patients will get to the Emergency Rooms with very low or zero English communication skills. Stay on a hotline or make sure that your WhatsApp is active to take any calls at any given time. You can either be on call 24 hours a day or simply narrow your services down to a certain timeframe. In any case, be ready to work.

10- Community manager

Are you a social media geek? Do you handle Facebook, Twitter, and every other social media swiftly? Do you enjoy interacting with groups and connecting with people through hashtags? Those are skills that will make you a very good community manager. Businesses are not the only ones that need a Community Manager, since they can work for schools, hospitals, media outlets, etc. There might be a job for you out there!

Final thoughts about work-from-home jobs

When you decide which service, or services, you can provide, create the conditions to start working. First of all, make sure you have everything you need: a fully functional computer, all the programs you need, and Internet access. Second, create a schedule to optimize time. Then, organize your workspace, make a nice cup of coffee or tea, or play some music. If there are harmony and peace around you, you will have ensured a better chance for success.

While you create new ways to provide income for you and your family, just be safe. If you need the platform to promote your new services and market your skills online, Utility Avenue gives you the solution.

Utility Avenue is a community marketplace where you can turn your hobbies and skills into services so you can start making money right now.