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Tristan D. Porter

How to Advertise Your Business with Mass Texting

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Did you know that nearly half of those surveyed said they spent an average of five to six hours on their phones each day, not counting work-related mobile use? That’s time spent scrolling through social media, answering emails, and texting.

Perhaps that’s why text message marketing is so effective. Customers open marketing texts at a mind-blowing rate of 98 percent, compared to just 20 to 25 percent for email. And most customers open marketing texts within 15 minutes, making them a great option for advertising time-sensitive promotions. Offering a lunch special at your restaurant? Have a flash sale?

Text message marketing could make it a success.

Business with Mass Texting

Your customers are already on their phones all the time, and they trust marketing text messages enough that they’re willing to look at most of them promptly. Text message marketing could be just the tool you need to take your business to the next level by strengthening the loyalty of your existing customers and laying the foundations for that loyalty in new customers. Here’s what you need to do to make mass texting work for your company.

Follow the Rules

A big part of the reason why customers are so willing to open and read marketing texts is that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) have gone to great lengths to protect consumers from being bombarded with spammy marketing texts. There are federal regulations you have to follow when using text messaging to market your business, goods, and services.

The main thing to remember is that you need explicit, written permission from each customer you plan to text. Customers must opt into this kind of marketing, which seems like kind of a roadblock on the surface, but it really isn’t, because it means that you’ll be contacting people who definitely want your text messages. You can obtain the permission you need by using a keyword campaign. Customers who want to sign up for your marketing text messages can text a keyword to a specific code to opt-in.

Don’t Text at Odd Hours

It’s easy to use a mass texting service to contact your customers any time of the day or night, but that doesn’t mean you should. Texting late at night or early in the morning could disturb your customers and make them want to opt-out of future text messages. Stick to texting during normal business hours.

Don’t Overwhelm Subscribers

Overwhelm Subscribers

Subscribers may be interested in getting discounts or special offers from your business, but that doesn’t mean they want to be bombarded with every little update and piece of news you have. If you send too many marketing texts, customers will opt-out. Send texts only when you need to advertise a promotion, especially if the deal is time-limited. Limit how often you text customers and don’t spam all your customers with a message that might only be of interest to a subset of them. Create customer contact lists so you can send your messages to those who might be most interested.

Create Value

Customers aren’t going to stay subscribed to your marketing texts if they don’t think they’re getting something out of it, so you need to create value with every text. Each message you send to your customers should contain relevant information and contribute to another good experience with your brand.

Think about what your customers want before you send out a marketing text. Sneak peeks, promotional offers and coupons are all popular choices for marketing texts. Think about the kinds of communication customers have with peers and friends, and try to emulate that kind of friendly interaction when sending marketing texts.

Make It Easy to Opt Out

In order to follow FCC guidelines for the use of marketing texts, you need to make it easy for customers to opt-out of receiving future texts. But customers will also be more inclined to sign up for text messages, to begin with when they know that they can easily stop them later if they become too annoying. Include opt-out instructions in every text message. Most companies achieve this by instructing customers to text the words “STOP” or “OPT-OUT” to a special code.

Mass texting can be a great way to promote your business. You can send coupons, time-sensitive promotional offers, sneak peeks, company news, and more directly to your customers, right on their phones, which they’re probably looking at anyway. Find your customers where they are, and engage with them on a deeper level, thanks to SMS marketing.

Why Should Canadian Entrepreneurs Go for a Mazda CX-30

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Mazda surprised the world with the launching of its first-ever e-car named Mazda MX-30. Its attempt to heed the call for a greener vehicle finally came to life. Yet, what other people fail to notice is its other subcompact crossover. Mazda CX-30 is here to provide you with a one-of-a-kind driving experience. It remains in line with its iconic zoom-zoom, and you can get one with the M Hybrid technology.


Now that it is also available in Canada, businesses are also eyeing this new model. Whether for personal or business, it is a reliable and optimal choice. With that, we will look at why entrepreneurs should go for a subcompact crossover like Mazda CX-30.

Average Car Prices Amidst the Pandemic

Mazda cx-30


Canada’s average car prices (except light trucks) ranged from $28,200 to $37,000 in 1Q 2020. But when the pandemic spread, it upended the market trend. Despite the fear of going out, many people still had to work or do business. This fear became evident in their transportation means.

For instance, bus ridership dropped by 14% from 4Q 2019 to 1Q 2020. When the pandemic peaked in 2Q 2020, the number plunged from 420 million to 90 million. In only a quarter, bus ridership changed by -79%. It mirrors how Canadians shifted from riding public vehicles to buying private cars.

Public Transit Ridership

Chart Taken from Statistics Canada

The industry faces car shortages with an inventory drop of 8.5% monthly and 53% YoY. It is no wonder that car prices skyrocketed, with a new all-time high at over $40,000 this year. With that, even the used car market sees an influx of buyers. Now, the average used car prices are almost $30,000.

Meanwhile, the prices of the Mazda CX-30 in Canada remain unperturbed. GX is the cheapest at $24,850, followed by GS at $27,650, and GT at $34,150. You can also customize your own, so prices may be higher. The good thing about it is that the Mazda MX-30 can be all-wheel or front-wheel drive. Your choice depends on the terrain and the most prevailing weather conditions.

An all-wheel-drive configuration is better in the wet and Winter season due to its firm grip. But, it is rare and expensive. Meanwhile, an FWD configuration provides better fuel economy and interior. Plus, you can use it in any season. But for safer winter driving, be sure to use winter tires.

This makes Mazda CX-30 an optimal choice for businesses, especially for startups. But as mentioned above, there is flooding demand for new and used cars. The good thing is that the Mazda CX-30 has only become available in Canada recently. As such, there is still a chance for you to find one.

Car prices

Capacity

The Mazda CX-30 can accommodate five people with ample legroom in the rear seat. The driver and the passenger seat beside him can ride in comfort with an airy ambiance. Subcompact crossovers like this model are more spacious than the typical sedans. They have a larger space for cargos or boxes containing your products.

Moreso, the new version of this model comes with a front and rear 360-degree exterior camera. It also has front and rear sensors that can detect anything near your vehicle. Hence, you will know in advance if your car will hit any object or vehicle. You will have an amazing driving experience while the products inside the vehicle are safe.

Given this, it is no wonder it got a Good+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. But these extra protection features are not available in the Mazda CX-30 (GX).

Navigation

Business owners will love the Mazda CX-30 for its navigation system. It can guide you when meeting clients or delivering products to an unfamiliar place. It also has a dual-zone automatic climate control system. With its good temperature adjustment system, products remain in good condition.

Moreso, it features a rotary controller on the center console. You can have a pleasurable ride regardless of the distance. Depending on your device, you may either use Android Auto or Apple Carplay to connect. Hence, you can enjoy it while working or doing business.

Engine, Performance, and Safety

With regards to the standard engine, the model comes with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. This is good for 186 horsepower, the highest output for subcompact crossovers. Even so, it appears that it can be improved further. Now, it produces 227 horsepower, which can even go up to 250 with premium fuel. It enables you to go on a long trip with heavy cargo for deliveries or client meetups.

The model has good fuel economy. With an FWD configuration, it gets 25 and 33 mpg in the city and highway, respectively. It gets 24 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the road with an AWD configuration. Moreso, the Mazda CX-30 makes sure that safety is not compromised. It got the highest IIHS Top Safety Pick+ Award, given its good ratings in crash tests. Moreso, the NHTSA rated it five out of five stars in the frontal and side crash tests. Thanks to its standard front crash prevention systems. This includes automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and a rearview camera.

Warranty

The Mazda CX-30 offers the same warranty coverage. It has a three-year or 36,000-mile basic warranty. You can scale it up to a five-year or 60,000-mile powertrain warranty. With that, your business car has financial protection in case of an accident. Also, you will not have to spend much on the repair and replacement of damaged items.

The Mazda CX-30 has some similarities to the other models. But, its new features guarantee more comfort and better performance. It provides you with comfort, entertainment, and convenience. And overall, everything about it is worth the price.

STEM Survival – 6 Tips for Future STEM Majors

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STEM pathways are some of the most challenging options you can select for schooling. However, they’re also among the most rewarding. While it takes a lot of hard work to make it in a STEM field, we promise it’s worth it, and today we’re sharing some tips to help make things a little easier for you.

Seek Tutoring

The first thing to do is seek guidance from someone who has already followed the path you’re pursuing. At a high school level, this is best done by engaging the services of the best VCE tutors Melbourne has to offer. They’ll be able to assist you with any concepts you don’t understand and with a tutor on your side, you can achieve the grades you need to get into your preferred higher education course. The key is that you have to be willing to put in the work too.

Go to Seminars and Conferences

Another great way to make the pathway to your career flow smoothly is to attend seminars and conferences. Hearing from experts who’ve achieved the goals that you’re aiming for is both educational and motivational. In some cases, they can even count as course credits.

You never know when an extra point or two toward your schooling will come in handy, and because you’re learning about something you’re interested in, you should have no trouble engaging with the lecture.

Take the Advanced Course

Speaking of course credits, if your school offers them, advanced courses are a great way to further your learning and prepare yourself for the future. You’ll most likely need to sit an exam to get into these types of courses, but both your tutor and your mentor can help you prepare. Though it will take more work, the extra knowledge you gain will be invaluable.

Get Hands-on

If advanced courses aren’t offered at your school or don’t fit in with your already busy schedule, you could also consider getting hands-on with a school-funded club or community initiative. As society focuses on increasing interest in STEM pathways, more extracurricular options are appearing, and they can be greatly beneficial for your future career.

These offerings are also a great option for those who choose to take advanced courses, but it is important to be mindful of your workload and only join a club or program if you have the time and energy to do so.

Attend a Summer Program

Many school districts now offer camps or mini-courses over the summer break, and if it is possible for you to join one, you can get a competitive edge in your desired industry.

Get a Mentor

Finding a mentor in your desired field is a powerful way to get ahead. As they’re already working in the career you aspire to have, they can provide a whole host of tips and tricks that can help you get where you want to be.

A mentor can also introduce you to people who could provide great learning resources or opportunities that you may not have otherwise been able to access. For these and other advantages, it’s certainly worth looking into.

Finally, it is important to remember that you have chosen one of the most challenging pathways available to students. While this certainly shouldn’t dissuade you from following your dreams, it should be kept front of mind so you can show yourself compassion when you feel like you’re lacking. All skills take time to grow, and you’re still young. Make sure you’re drinking enough water, getting enough sleep, and not being too hard on yourself. You’ve got this.

Post-Pandemic Windfall: Why You Should Invest in Rental Properties

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When it comes to investing, the first thing that comes to the mind of most people is stocks. For decades, people have invested in stocks and made (and lost) a significant amount of money. Though any type of investment comes with risks, there are other ways to invest your money than just stocks. The real estate industry is another popular sector to which investors tend to entrust their money: and with a real-estate boom on the rise as the COVID, pandemic begins to wane, with good reason.

Here are three reasons why you should consider investing in real estate, specifically rental properties.

insurance in property

#1: Rental Properties are Extremely Profitable, Generating Loads of Passive Income

Rental properties are either residential (homes) or commercial (businesses) properties that are leased or rented over a certain period of time. Another popular type of rental property is a vacation rental, in which tenants rent for a shorter period of time than they would for residential property (typically less than six months). Whichever type of rental property you choose to invest in, doing your research and ensuring that you take the proper steps to make your property a success will greatly increase your chances of gaining a secondary income from your investment. This secondary income can allow you to purchase more rental properties, all while diversifying your investment portfolio and building your wealth.

The proper steps to take to ensure that your rental property will be successful depends on the type of property you choose to invest in. However, for any type of property, where it’s located is probably the most important factor determining whether or not your property will turn a profit. No matter what type of rental property you invest in, you’ll want to make sure that it’s located in a fairly accessible place that is seeing or is projected to see economic growth. People tend to want to rent places that have access to a variety of things, whether it’s recreation, entertainment, and good schools (for families) or high traffic areas (for businesses).

#2: You Have the Option of Hiring a Property Manager

Becoming the owner of rental property means that you’re the landlord— whether it’s a residential property or a commercial— and all of the responsibilities of a landlord fall on your shoulders. This can be particularly challenging, especially if you have a full-time job or if your property isn’t located in the same city as your primary residence. Fortunately, you can hire a property manager to do all of the grunt work for you. This will give you more time to focus on other matters, whether it’s your primary job, family, or other endeavors. Just make sure you hire a property manager that you trust because their work is still a reflection of you.

If you choose to remain the property manager, just keep in mind that it’s important to be responsive to your tenants, whether they’re a family renting a residential home or business professionals renting an office space on commercial property. Proper communication skills are one of the keys to being a successful landlord, and you’ll want to gain a reputation for being a good landlord if you want to invest in more rental properties.

#3: It’s Easy to Get Started.

Even though the real estate market is currently seeing lower prices on all types of properties, it can still be pretty expensive to get started investing in rental properties. Fortunately, there are companies that offer rental property loans to help first-time and seasoned investors get started with and expand their real estate portfolios. Keep in mind that some lenders may require more information than others, so do your research when looking to partner with the right lending company. Every investor’s goals are different, so choose a lender that will help you reach yours.

Like with any investment, it’ll take some time to see a profit. Just be patient and trust that your research and hard work will pay off, allowing you to become a successful real estate investor.

How to Choose Secure Bank Bonuses?

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While many banks offer bonuses for opening new accounts, identifying how to choose a secure one is crucial. Some banks offer multiple sign-up bonuses, while others offer just one. Either way, you should know what to look for before opening a new account. It’s important to be aware of the terms and conditions for claiming a bonus. A bonus is a good way to get your idle cash to work for you.

To qualify for a chase secure banking bonus, you must be a new customer. Many banks require that you make a certain number of deposits within a specified time period. Others give free money as a signup reward. To get the most value from a bank’s bonus, keep the fees and other restrictions in mind. Some banks may require you to spend a certain amount of money to earn the bonus. You should also know that if you have an open account with a bank, the bonus will be reported to the IRS as interest.

Look for the Best Bank Bonus

Once you’ve determined your financial needs, you need to look for the best bank bonuses available. Some banks offer hefty sign-up bonuses, but they also require that you deposit a certain amount into the account. To make the best choice, choose a bank that allows you to make a direct deposit and has a low monthly fee. The minimum opening deposit is typical $500, but this can vary. While it’s a good place to start, there’s no need to make a large initial deposit just to receive a bonus.

Read Terms and Conditions

It’s important to note that you should always read the terms and conditions of any bank bonuses before applying. The most common conditions include a minimum deposit amount and the time period in which the bonus must be posted. These conditions vary from bank to bank but are generally related to direct deposits. In general, you must maintain a balance for 60 days or deposit a minimum of $10,000 in order to get a bonus. In addition to the above-mentioned criteria, be aware of the conditions associated with a specific promotion.

It is also important to understand how to choose secure bank bonuses. Oftentimes, these offers are for new customers only and can last for a few months or longer. While a one-time bonus is great, it’s important to consider the amount of money you’ll be depositing. A secure bank account with low monthly fees and low minimum deposit fees is the best way to select a secure bank. There are many advantages to securing bank accounts, but the main consideration is whether you need a bank that offers the best terms for you.

Opportunity Cost

Some banks offer bonuses in order to attract new customers. Having an account with a high APY may be worth it, but it’s important to consider the opportunity cost. If you’re only earning a few dollars a month, a bonus might not be worth it. If the opportunity cost is high enough, a high-yield savings account may be more advantageous for you. In addition to a great APY, you should consider whether or not to pay any fees in order to obtain a bonus from the bank.

While most banks have different bonus requirements, there are some that are worth checking out. If you’re looking for a new account, you should check for an offer that will allow you to earn more money. In some cases, the bank will match or beat the offer of a competitor. In other cases, a higher bonus can be worth it for you. In the end, a secure bank will be more affordable for you.

How to Create a Holiday Budget and Stick to It

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It’s no secret that people love to buy gifts for their loved ones. Every year, the holiday fewer takes over, and people are eager to spread joy. However, it is important not to go overboard. If you accidentally splurge, consumers typically end up regretting their shopping sprees.

Thus, it’s critical to keep a budget in mind since it enables you to stay true to your financial objectives and use your money wisely.

Here are some good tips for you to manage your spending during holidays.

Set a Spending Limit During the Holidays

Setting a spending cap is crucial when it comes to maintaining your holiday budget. By setting a strict limit for yourself, you will feel more inclined to stick with your budget and won’t overspend unnecessarily.

It is also a good idea to suggest a price limit between family or friends. Then, none of you will overspend on gifts. It will also help you ensure that you are sticking to your budget while still getting what you want for everyone. Setting a price range stops you from buying something too extravagant for one person while not getting enough for someone else.

However, try setting a flexible spending cap that allows for some flexibility within certain parameters. In that way, you won’t feel as restricted.

Prioritize and Make a List

We often find ourselves buying things just because they’re on sale or we saw a great deal for something that we don’t even need. During the holidays, buying too much is quite common as retailers push us to spend more than what we want or need, especially if it’s a store you don’t usually shop at. According to Fox Business, 70% of Americans fail to stay in line with their budget during the holiday season.

It is a good idea to make a list of the things you plan to buy. If possible, order them online to avoid accidental splurges once you are in the physical store. After all, it is easy to get overwhelmed and start purchasing random gifts for yourself.

Start Saving in Advance

If possible, try to start saving up in advance during the summer for holiday spending. Having some of your own money saved up makes it easier to stick with the plan without sacrificing too many items or breaking the bank account.

You can start saving today by setting up a savings account specifically for holiday spending. Once you have that set-up, put some money away weekly or monthly to slowly build up your holiday spending pot. This way, it’s easier to stick to your budget since you know exactly how much you have available. Also, don’t forget about unused funds from last year – try bringing those leftover dollars into play as well.

Keep Track of Your Expenses

One of the biggest reasons for overspending during the holidays is simply forgetting how much you’ve spent. It happens to everyone, especially when there are many things to buy and places to go. So, keeping track of your spending throughout the season will help you from going too overboard on holiday purchases.

To help build awareness of what you’re buying, try using a notebook or smartphone app that keeps a log of your daily spending. This way, every time you purchase something, it will be recorded so that next time, check if it’s still within your budget or not.

Look For Affordable Alternatives

One of the best ways to make sure your money doesn’t go anywhere is to look for affordable alternatives. Many other options can be as good or even better than what’s being advertised in most cases.

If you’re preparing to go out for a nice dinner, then don’t rule out looking into cheaper restaurants in the area – they most likely have great deals and special offers too! Also, during shopping, keep an eye out for promotions or discounts from stores around you.

Sometimes it pays off to shop online as you can find discount codes or coupons online. Additionally, Virtual Private Networks are great for avoiding price discrimination, a practice when certain clients will pay more than others for the same products. There are many online tools like Atlas VPN can help you change your IP address and, in turn, your location so that you can avoid location-based discrimination.

Use Credit Cards to Track Expenses

For most, credit cards are a helpful way to keep track of spending. In fact, by linking different expenses, it’s easier to see where you’re at financially and determine whether you have enough for that next purchase.

In addition to linking expenses together, it is also possible with many banks/cards to set up free text alerts that will notify you every time your account reaches a specific limit (such as when maxing out the card).

Conclusion

Most of the time, overspending is just a result of not being organized enough during the holidays. So, if you can figure out your holiday budget beforehand, it will be much easier to stick with your spending plan without going overboard.

Joining the Medical Field: High Demand Healthcare Jobs Hiring Now

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It is no secret that since the pandemic, healthcare occupations have been in demand like never before. COVID-19  coupled with an aging population is causing the healthcare industry to skyrocket. If you are looking for a rewarding career path that is both lucrative and flexible, you may want to consider taking a job in healthcare.

The past two years, and the rapidly spreading COVID-19 pandemic, have caused significant damage to many different occupations and job markets. However, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare industries are projected to grow much faster than the average occupation. Healthcare jobs are expected to rise at least 16% from 2016 to 2026. If you are serious about finding consistent work with high potential for growth consider the following healthcare occupations.

Physician Assistants

Just like doctors, physician assistants are medical professionals that treat and diagnose illnesses in patients. Responsibilities include prescribing medications, managing treatments, and therapies, and acting as a primary healthcare provider. Since COVID-19 caused hospitals to fill up in record-setting numbers, patients have been advised to seek medical treatment outside of hospitals. This has increased the demand for private practices, minute clinics, and physician assistants.

Physical Therapist Assistants

If you are looking for a career path that is constantly growing and always in demand, you may want to consider a job as a physical therapist assistant. As a physical therapist assistant, your primary role is to help improve the physical capabilities of your patients. As one of the most rewarding occupations in healthcare, you will be able to witness your patients grow from the start of an injury or illness to the end of a full recovery. While assisting the physical therapist, you will help your patients perform specific tasks to improve their mobility, strength, and other physical attributes.

Respiratory Therapist

Respiratory therapists are in high demand, especially with the damage COVID-19 can do to the respiratory system. As a respiratory therapist, you would be responsible for working with patients who have difficulty breathing. Some causes of respiratory issues stem from asthma, emphysema, cystic fibrosis, and various sleep disorders. Respiratory therapists also have the freedom to work in many different professional settings. You could find work in emergency rooms at a hospital, private medical offices, asthma clinics, and more.

Medical Secretary

With the growing need for medical practices, medical secretaries are becoming more and more in demand. While not entirely correlated with patient care, medical secretaries are the backbones of the doctor’s office. Tasks include everything from greeting patients to managing records, collecting insurance information, and processing payments. Medical secretaries also schedule patient visits, oversee the medical supply inventory, and arrange hospital visits.

Healthcare Manager

Healthcare managers play an essential role in the day to functions of any healthcare industry. Responsibilities include overseeing various departments such as physical therapy, doctors, offices, hospitals, nursing departments, and more. Healthcare managers, also known as medical managers, coordinate and direct healthcare providers’ everyday business operations and tasks.  You would do everything from hiring new employees to managing billing operations and creating work schedules.

Registered Nurse

While one of the most popular careers in healthcare, nursing is also the most flexible. There are limitless amounts of nursing career paths to take, resulting in high-demand jobs in every department. Registered nurses can find work at hospitals, private clinics, nursing homes, schools, and more.

Responsibilities include observing and analyzing patients, treating patients, recording medical data, operating medical equipment, and communicating with doctors, patients, and families. Nurses can also work anywhere in the country and even travel from state to state working in different hospitals.

Job Security and Higher-Than-Average Pay

As the healthcare industry continues to grow, more and more career paths arise every day. You can now find consistent work in every aspect of healthcare, from technology, administrative work, services, and more. If you’re looking for a new career path, now would be a great time to discover what the healthcare industry can provide for you.

How To Be Financially Smart When You Work From Home

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Remote working isn’t new, but it certainly hasn’t always been as prevalent as it is today. With more employees allowed to work from home due to the changes necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, flexible work arrangements are likely here to stay.

The Benefits Of Remote Work

Working in the comfort of your own home has its set of perks. For instance, this setup can help you carve out time to attend to other responsibilities, enjoy quality time with your family, and prioritize work-life balance. On top of those obvious benefits, working from home will let you save money from your daily commute, coffee runs, lunch takeout, and more.

Steps To Be In Better Financial Shape While Working Remotely

However, if you’re new to this work arrangement, you might encounter a few challenges as you make the transition. For instance, you might not anticipate having extra time on your hands.

Given that spare time, why not take this opportunity to be in better financial shape? After all, remote work can affect how you handle your finances. To get started, follow these four steps to become financially smart while working from home:

1. Buy Only The Things You Need

For some employees, spending more time browsing the internet can imply more opportunities to splurge on nifty items they see on sale. It can be tempting to add random items to your digital cart with all the online ads, flash sales, and notifications you receive from your favorite brands. It’s perfectly fine to buy furniture, home office supplies, and certain devices to support your productivity needs, but make sure to purchase necessary items only.

To save money from creating your makeshift office, try to look into the resources you already have at home. Perhaps you can find long-forgotten things that could still be of some use to you. You may also opt to repair equipment instead of purchasing new ones. By being resourceful, you can stick to your budget and give old items a newfound purpose.

Furthermore, working from home can be the perfect time to shop for home goods you’ve been putting off purchasing for some time. Of course, make sure to check the item’s quality before placing your order.

For instance, suppose you want to buy mattress online. Read up on whether or not the item will provide you with adequate support as you sleep. You’d want to wake up feeling refreshed and energized to tackle a new set of tasks at work.

Remember: you should reward yourself accordingly. Keep an eye out for online sales to save money, but be careful so you can catch yourself before you overspend.

2. Review Your Budget

estimating-budget

The next step to becoming financially savvy while working from home is to create a budget that works for you.

To make your life easier, learn to take advantage of budgeting templates and applications to classify and record your cash flow. The categories you can use include but aren’t limited to your utility bills, credit card statement, discretionary spending, savings, and investments. In this way, you’ll know where your money’s going and be able to readjust your budget so your financial goals aren’t negatively affected.

Learning to tweak your budget as the need arises allows you to be flexible without having to consume most of your financial resources. At the same time, in keeping track of your finances, you can decide whether or not it’s best to have a side hustle for additional income.

As you look at your tracker, you’ll also be able to reflect on your spending habits and money management techniques. Upon reviewing them, determine if these are still helping you progress toward your financial goals.

3. Build Your Emergency Fund

If your income has been affected due to business changes, keeping track of your expenses will enable you to shift your priorities and remind you to allocate money to more important things, such as your emergency fund.

Having a backup plan is a financially savvy move because with this, you can be more prepared and calmer when emergencies and certain contingencies strike. No matter how secure you think your job is, a cash reserve can make a big difference. With extra cash on hand, you won’t have to scout for ways to borrow money. This’ll help you stay on budget and avoid touching your savings.

Start building your emergency fund by allocating money to it every month. Depending on your income, you can put as much money into this reserve. Ideally, an emergency fund should be anywhere from six months’ to a year’s worth of your income.

However, if you’re still paying off debt, you can set aside a minimum of three months’ worth of your income. In this way, you can sleep well at night knowing you’ll be covered for the next few months or so if you suddenly lose your job for some reason.

Additionally, it’s a must to have an emergency fund if you plan to put your money into the stock market and other similar volatile investments. Your cash reserve can help you stay afloat during economic downturns.

4. Inquire About Company Reimbursements

While it’s true that working from home does help you save money, this shift might also contribute to hidden costs that could accumulate due to lifestyle changes and home office needs. If you have to use money from your savings to purchase work-related devices and supplies, try asking your human resources (HR) department if the company has reimbursement programs.

Your company might be able to cover expenses for software upgrades, office stationery, digital platform subscriptions, and Internet costs. In this way, you can minimize your work-related expenditures and put more of your earnings into savings.

Final Thoughts

Inevitably, working from home can change the way you handle your finances, but that adjustment doesn’t have to be a bad thing. In fact, it can be used as an opportunity to begin tackling tasks you’ve been putting off, such as revisiting your financial tracker and assessing your spending habits.

Moreover, by following the steps above, you can learn how to plan and take control of your finances so you can save more without having to compromise on your basic needs.

7 Clever Tips to Hire the Best Salespeople

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The demand for salespeople is always high. Companies that know the secrets in hiring salespeople have enormous opportunities for success.

This article provides tips to help you hire top-tier salespeople. After reading, you’ll see your firm hiring and retaining more sales talent.

1. Be Objective

In business, you hear a lot of opinions about what makes a good salesperson. People say a good salesperson should be an extrovert or have a pleasing personality.

Most of these takes are a bland summary of broad platitudes. These stereotypes also obscure the realities you face.

Remember that sales jobs vary depending on the product or service you’re selling. There’s a lot of stereotypes about a good salesperson.

Instead of relying on stereotypes, understand the relevant sales tasks in your market. Think of these tasks when you’re looking for the person to be responsible for them.

hiring salesman

2. Look Where High Achievers Gather

Although interviews are helpful in candidate interviews, sometimes it won’t be enough. Interviews won’t prove that the candidate is hardworking or has a great work ethic.

If you want to see potential sales talent in action, you need to look outside the office.

Join monthly commerce breakfast meetings and look around the room. You’ll find people who, by their very presence, are trying to improve themselves.

Attending an early breakfast meeting demonstrates motivation. This is why it’s essential to look outside interviews if you want to see dedicated candidates.

3. Go for Referrals

Ask clients if they’ve met any salespeople who will fit in with your company. There’s no better way to measure a salesperson’s performance than by the way they serve customers.

4. Post Attractive Job Descriptions

Consider several things when you post a job ad. The first is tone.

Generally, salespeople are action-oriented. You can appeal to this trait by using active verbs. Enthusiastically describe the responsibilities to catch their attention.

You should also say what’s important. Provide details about the career path and information about your company culture.

You should also include important details, like company name and location. Remember to be honest and inform them of what they need to know.

To help you get started, take a look at sales job description templates. There are templates for various sales positions, like sales executives, coordinators, and managers.

5. Be Honest

Candidates expect transparency in every interaction with your company. So inform them of the positive and negative aspects of the position they’re applying for.

If you’re not offering training programs, tell candidates ahead of time. Otherwise, retaining hired sales talent can be a challenge.

6. Have a Database of Salespeople

Some sales managers have experienced “Warm Body Syndrome.” This refers to a sense of panic that prompts them to hire the next candidate who walks through the door.

You can avoid this mentality by redshirting. This action is creating a database of salespeople that you met outside interviews.

This allows you to hire salespeople during staffing emergencies without hiring just anybody.

7. Use Effective Interview Questions

Structured interviews can be more reliable than unstructured interviews. The former allows you to ask questions relevant to the qualities you’re looking for.

With effective interview questions, you can gauge if the salesperson can communicate well.

If you’re hiring for leader posts, like sales managers or directors, ask them who they would hire for their team. If they have developed their teams in the past with no issues, they’ll have a couple of names ready.

You may also try adding sales simulation in your interviews. Give candidates a product and make them sell it to you.

Doing this can help you assess the candidate’s potential. If they can think on their feet and can sell the product to you, they may be successful with your firm.

The tips mentioned above can help you expand your sales team. With these tips, your sales managers can hire dedicated salespeople with ease.

3 Easy Tips on Dealing with Rejection as a Salesperson

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People who work in sales are no strangers to rejection, it’s just part of the job. That doesn’t mean, however, that it isn’t upsetting or difficult to deal with.

No matter how great of a salesperson you are, sometimes a client just doesn’t have an interest, need, or budget for what you’re trying to sell. Letting rejection get to your head is a sure-fire way of trapping yourself in an unbreakable cycle of rejection.

In sales, it’s important to know how to deal with rejection, learn from it, and move forward in order to continue doing your job.

salesman calling prospects

Don’t Take it Personally

In an interview with Sales Talent Agency, Michael Back, the founder and CEO of Honk, said that he’s always looking to hire people that are hungry. This means people that are willing to work hard, learn, and build a successful career.

The most successful salespeople are able to hold onto that hunger, even in the face of rejection. It’s much easier said than done, but you really can’t take your rejections personally. They usually aren’t a reflection of you or your aptitude but rather a reflection of the client’s needs and wants.

The first step is acknowledging and accepting that you are going to have to deal with rejection. While you should not go into your calls expecting a rejection, you should be prepared for the possibility of it happening. This way, you will not be caught off guard and will be able to come up with strategies that help you respond appropriately to rejection.

Don’t Give Up

Upon receiving an initial “no,” it’s important to continue the conversation. Most importantly, you need to remain professional. It can be tempting to want to hang up as soon as you hear “no,” however if you are polite and respectful, the client will remember this and be more likely to say “yes” in the future.

Just because a client says “no” once, doesn’t mean they always will! Unless someone asks to be removed from your list, continue to reach out to them on a semi-regular basis. Be careful of calling too often and turning them away completely, but an occasional check-in won’t hurt.

While not everyone will be willing to give you an honest answer, it can never hurt to ask why they said no. Whatever information you gather may be helpful to you when making future calls. Additionally, it gives you an opportunity to clarify any possible misunderstandings about the product or service you’re selling. This could be your ticket for turning their “no” into a “yes!”

Learn from Your Wins and Losses

After each successful and unsuccessful sales attempt, take note of what you did so you can analyze patterns. Try out different sales tactics and ways of formulating your pitch to get a wide range of things to work with. Over time you will be able to develop a system that will get you far more successful sales than rejections.

You can also talk to members of your team for any tips and tricks they may have. Remember that they too are very familiar with rejection and will likely be happy to offer you anything they’ve learned along the way.

Keep in mind, however, that even the best-crafted pitch may not work on every client. You’ll have to learn how to read the room and understand when certain things are and aren’t appropriate.