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Beyond Silicon Valley: Where to find startups to invest in

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Silicon Valley has long been at the forefront of entrepreneurialism, an epicentre of technology where some of the world’s most influential companies were established. Venture capitalists continue to pour money into new disruptors in California, but it’s not the only place where potentially lucrative startups can be found.

Several new locations are challenging Silicon Valley’s longstanding dominance, aiming to become the most fertile ground for future tech heavyweights. With these destinations providing factors like access to large talent pools, generous central government support, affordable office space and more, these places are auspicious for startups and investment. Here are some of the cities were opportunities are rife for shrewd investors.

Madrid

The Spanish language is no stranger to the world’s startup scene. The US as a whole has more Spanish speakers than Spain, while more than 38% of Californians speak Spanish. This has led many Silicon Valley companies to employ Spanish-speakers, with fluency being a requirement for many job roles. Translation company Global Voices have noted an increase in Spanish translation requests with many businesses looking to expand into lucrative hispanic markets.

One such market target market is Spain, and in particular Madrid. However, the Spanish capital city has a thriving startup scene of its own. This includes Mobusi, a mobile performance advertising agency with clients throughout the world, and Tewer, who develop and engineer new solar energy technologies. Startups in the city have been aided by the wide range of accelerators and incubators, such as Zinc Shower who help entrepreneurs from the creative industries through funding, training, and networking.

With plenty of affordable coworking space available, an Entrepreneurial Visa encouraging foreign investors, and an outstanding quality of life, Madrid is a breeding ground for startups and a potentially lucrative playing field for investors that get in early.

Santiago

Another hispanic market being targeted by startups and investors alike is Chile. The South American nation’s capital, Santiago, is one of the world’s leading cities for young businesses, so much so that its startup scene has been dubbed “Chilecon Valley” by The Economist.

Chile has benefited from the US’s aggressive immigration policies, welcoming international entrepreneurs that have been prevented from setting up in the States. But many homegrown startups are also creating large investment yields, such as fleet management software Beetrack and real estate platform GoPlaceIt.

Arguably the largest influence on the scene has been the publicly funded seed accelerator Start-Up Chile. The accelerator was named as the most active in the world in 2015, and has helped numerous startups find their feet. With entrepreneurs from over 79 countries involved in the programme by 2016, it is also one of the most diverse in the world.

The Chilean government ploughs around $12 million a year into the entrepreneurial scene, making the country one of the most generous in the world for startup investment. With low living costs, one of the highest living standards across South America and a gateway into the South American market, Santiago is an eminently attractive location for investors and entrepreneurs.

London

London has one of the most flourishing startup scenes in the world, so much so that the startup cluster in Old Street was named Silicon Roundabout in tribute to California’s legendary techhub. With a hugely diverse workforce and significant help for new businesses, the city serves as a hotbed for startups, many of which have already seen substantial success.

With more than four million workers, 230 languages spoken across the city, and a number of universities providing a constant supply of talent, the environment is favourable to business innovation. This is bolstered by the various help available for startups, such as schemes run by incubators like Seecamp, Entrepreneur First and Firestartr that are aimed at getting burgeoning businesses going. The British government have also proven magnanimous, with their Entrepreneur Visa and kind corporation tax rates encouraging the very best talent to flock to the British capital. All of this makes the city a great place for startup investment.

Paris

Between the second and third quarters of 2016, French startup investments rose by over 200% to $857 million, only $62 million behind London’s total. Much like London and Santiago, increasing efforts from the government and incubators in encouraging entrepreneurs have galvanised the Parisian startup scene.

The French government has made a concentrated effort to attract more foreign investors, with the French Tech Visa encouraging international tech talent to come to France, including those that want to open a venture capital firm in France. There are also tax breaks for startups, with the Jeune Entreprise Innovante (JEI) granting assistance to firms that meet certain criteria, such as being less than 8 years in age and having maximum of 250 people.

Toronto

Another great place to find startups to invest in is Toronto, especially those looking to invest into the tech market. Around 2,500 to 4,100 tech startups currently based in the city with roughly 400,000 people employed in the sector, so there is plenty of talent to work with.

There is substantial support for startups in the city from the government, incubators and universities.  Government help includes the Scientific Research and Experimental Development Program, a tax incentive for companies conducting research, and the Industrial Research Assistance Program that provides advisory services to entrepreneurs.

Companies are also eager to see entrepreneurs in the city succeed, a notable example of this is MaRS Discovery District, a not-for-profit corporation that provides entrepreneurs with skills through its venture program. The education sector has also done its bit, for example, in 2010, Ryerson University launched the Digital Media Zone (DMZ), a scheme which has supported more than 130 companies. All of this has enticed entrepreneurs to flock to the Canadian capital, making it one of the best cities to find talent to invest in.

9 Ways To Cut Costs In Your New Construction Business

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9. Shop Around For The Best Materials

Take the time to shop around to find the best materials for your projects. This may require a bit of time, but you’ll be able to save a lot of money for those initial projects. Also, you’ll have created new contacts in the process, people you can go to for the next project. That means, you’re actually saving a decent chunk of change over a long period of time.

8. Meet With Your Potential Clients

When you set up a bid, call that client and meet with them. Even if you don’t get the job, they’ll be more likely to recommend you because you had the initiative to speak with them. It also looks like you care about your work, and took the time to ask what they really wanted. Doing so builds trust. It displays many important leadership qualities that people want out of a business owner, and they’ll probably hire you because they know who you are.

7. Start A Blog

You can start a blog for free in today’s world, or you can pay a small fee every month to host both a blog and a website for your business. Having a blog is nice because it allows you to connect with people in a deeper way, rather than just having a barebones webpage. You can build up an audience of people who will come to your blog and then check out your services. If you do it right, many of those individuals will turn into valuable customers! For more information, Entrepreneur Magazine has this excellent article!

6. Create A Detailed Budget

Not just for individual projects, but for every potential business expense and endeavor that you need to undertake. This allows you to organize your finances, know where everything is going, and where everything needs to go. This way, you are more organized and you have a clear idea of the big picture.

5. Hire Multipurpose Contractors

This may cost a tiny bit more money, but it’s worth it. When you do, you’ll have contractors that can work in a variety of different fields needed for the completion of each construction project. It saves money in the end, and it’s one less thing to worry about.

4. Rent A Work Van – Instead Of Buying

There are many passenger van rental options, and we’ve found that Flex Fleet Rental is the best on the market due to their inexpensive pricing, effortless rental process, and good vehicle quality. That, and they are specifically for people who run construction businesses. We highly recommend Flex Fleet Rental!

3. Spend Money On Good Tools

When you’re starting off, spend the extra money and purchase some good, high-quality tools. This is very important, as they will last quite a bit longer than the mediocre tools. Plus, you won’t need to repair or replace them as often, which does save quite a bit of money as your business continues to grow.

2. Use Digital Marketing Strategies

Market your business using inexpensive digital marketing strategies such as blogging, as well as using search engines and social networks like Google and Facebook, to create advertisements targeted towards people in your local area. These methods are far cheaper than print advertisements, and considerably more effective.

1. Plan Thoroughly

Make sure to plan thoroughly. Map everything out. Write up a budget. Set some money aside, just in case. Know where you’re going and what you need to do. This is imperative to ensure that no money is wasted.

Renewed Hope: Disease-Fighting Robots

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‘Early detection saves lives’ is a common chorus of medical professionals when it comes to cancer – and while some provocative studies and headlines have stirred controversy by suggesting otherwise, guidance released by the World Health Organization (WHO) in February of this year cut through these claims by emphasising the importance of early cancer diagnosis.

The WHO’s announcement was well-timed: it came on the heels of the announcement of a new artificial intelligence software that helps doctors spot breast cancer risks. Then, just last month, researchers at the University of Waterloo in Canada publicised another breakthrough in artificial intelligence (AI) which supports early detection goals for skin cancer. It seems that robots equipped with AI are at the forefront of a completely transformed diagnostic process. How does this potentially life-saving technology work, and how could AI affect the larger medical field? Here, we take a closer look at the artificial intelligence that’s changing the way we recognise disease.

Using software for hard diagnoses

In order to diagnose breast cancer, women undergo painful mammograms and unnecessary biopsies over a long and drawn-out process. However, a new AI system developed by researchers from Houston Methodist interprets mammogram results 30 times quicker than a team of doctors. The AI is able to read and translate patient charts at top speed, reporting breast cancer risks based on its analysis.

The AI tech aimed at skin cancer operates under many of the same principles. It targets melanoma, which is usually diagnosed through the visual examination of moles. In today’s standard diagnostic process, doctors take note of changes in the skin’s appearance and then use a biopsy to test the area for cancer. If diagnosed and treated in its early stages, melanoma can be removed relatively easily. However, once it progresses past a certain stage, the cancer can be deadly.

The new AI diagnostic technology is essentially a heightened version of the doctor’s visual examination that allows the machine to see what the human eye cannot. By integrating machine-learning techniques into a skin analysis system, researchers have created a robot that looks at photographs of the skin and reads the levels of certain chemicals which are typically markers for melanoma. Doctors can then examine and treat a patient based on these results.

Benefits and the bigger picture

Both AI systems reduce the risk of false diagnoses, cut back on healthcare costs and biopsies, ease the workload of medical staff and allow patients to come in for treatment sooner. Such benefits could help improve the flaws of healthcare while saving countless lives.

For entrepreneurs like Mark Zuckerberg or tech investor Tej Kohli, philanthropy, business and disruptive technologies such as robotics make for a mutually beneficial combination. Both have demonstrated their faith in AI (Zuckerberg argued for AI’s potential against Elon Musk’s less optimistic views; Tej Kohli’s investment vehicle Tej Kohli Ventures are baking the robotics venture studio Rewired), but these diagnostic developments seem to prove just how beneficial the technology can be for everyone. AI is more than just a vehicle for fear-mongering about the future or an esoteric and inaccessible field. It offers the possibility for innovations that could revolutionise medicine and science: today, diagnosis; tomorrow, a cure.

Does Investing in Domain Names Make Sense? How Much Can You Make from It?

Is it possible to make money with domain names? The short answer is yes but there are many things you need to know about it if you think of getting involved with domain name investing. Making money with domain names is unlike other business or investment venture.

How Making Money with Domain Names Works

The basic idea of making money with domain names is buying domain names to be sold later on. It’s similar to trading shares, currency, or other assets. You buy something at a low price to be sold later on  at a higher price.

Buying a domain name essentially means registering one under your name or your business name. There is no physical item that will be obtained. A purchase can be done entirely online.  Becoming the owner of a domain name, however, is not permanent. You will have to renew your registration if you want to retain ownership of the domain name.

One excellent way to make money with domain names is by signing  up with a domain name marketplace. Domain name marketplaces typically provide everything you need to buy and sell domain names. They serve as a registrar and they can conveniently facilitate the auctioning or advertisement of your domain names. You may not have to actively promote the domains you are selling as they are automatically presented to potential buyers whenever they search for available domains on the marketplace. If a buyer buys your domain name, you automatically receive the payment and the ownership of the domain name is immediately transferred to the buyer.

Nothing’s stopping you from promoting the domain names you are selling on your own, though. You can create placeholder or advertisement pages for your available domain names so if someone does online searches that are relevant to your for-sale domain name, they may find your placeholder site on search engine results and see the ad for the domain name you are selling. For example, you can create a single-page website (placeholder) for your domain name “thebestdomainname.com” wherein you indicate on the site that the domain name “thebestdomainname.com” is for sale.

If you don’t want to rely on domain name marketplaces or auction sites, you can register a domain name with less known domain name registrars that may offer lower prices. Many web hosting companies, for example, provide domain name registration services at highly competitive rates.

How Much Can You Make?

You may have encountered reports of domain names fetching prices in tens or hundreds of thousands. Some domain names were even sold for millions of dollars. These are not fictitious. Many domain names have been sold for envy-inducing prices. Insurance.com was sold for $35.6 million in 2010. VacationRentals.com fetched $35 million when it was bought by vacation rental marketplace HomeAway, Inc. PrivateJet.com was obtained by Nations Luxury Transportation, LLC in 2012 for $30.1 million.

Other domain names that instantly added millions to the bank accounts of their former owners are Internet.com ($18 million), Insure.com ($16 million), Hotels.com ($11 million), Fb.com ($8.5 million), Business.com ($7.5 million), Beer.com ($7 million), iCloud.com ($6 million), Casino.com ($5.5 million), Asseenontv.com ($5.1 million), Korea.com ($5 million), Freeport.com ($4 million), GiftCard.com ($4 million), and Shop.com ($3.5 million).

Take note, though, these million dollar prices are not the norm. These are a rarity. It’s virtually impossible to buy (at low prices) high value domain names similar to the ones listed above nowadays, let alone sell them for millions. Based on the most recent market study of major domain name marketplace Sedo, most of the domain names sold in 2011 were priced not higher than $2,500. Around 46% were in the 0-$500 price range while 40% were in the $501-$2,500 price range. Only around 1% of the domains sold were priced higher than $50,000.

The median prices of the most popular domain names based on the Sedo market study have been a mixed bag. For .com domains, for example, the median price in 2010 was $3,185 but it decreased to $2,775 in 2011 and $2,148 in 2012. For the .net domains, the median prices  2010, 2011, and 2012 were increasing, at $1,599, $1,602, and $1,880 respectively. When it comes to .org domains, the median prices were $2,217 in 2010, $1,289 in 2011, and $1,315 in 2012. The price trends are not clearly increasing or decreasing especially in recent years, with the introduction of new domain names. There has been no comprehensive recent study on domain name price trends across different marketplaces for both the traditional and new domains.

There’s money in the buying and selling of domain names. Domain name investing is not a lost cause. However, it’s  not something you can do as a major business venture. The profits are unpredictable and there are many things you need to take into account as you buy and sell domain names.

It is particularly important to look at the new dynamics with the introduction of the new domain names. Should you invest in new domain names like .cafe, .restaurant, or .store or should you stick with the traditional domains like .com and .net? Many would seem to believe that it would be better to focus on traditional domain names.  However, it’s worth noting that a new domain name, casino.online, was sold in early 2017 for a record $201,250. This is the highest ever price for a new domain, which may signal that new domain names are beginning to be acknowledged

Domain name investing at present seems to be sending mixed signals. You have to study various aspects and different factors to have a good estimation as to whether or not investing in certain domain names is worth it. You also have to take cybersquatting laws into account. If you want to engage in domain name investing, keep abreast with the trends and don’t risk large amounts for domain name investments.

Is staying in smarter, than eating out?

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In the last few years, there have been a number of reports blaming the ‘millennial’ generation for the recent decline of sales in the restaurant industry. According to these reports, restaurant sales have begun to decline, because the millennial generation prefers to stay home or eat at ‘fast casual’ restaurants like Nandos or Panera Bread – places with minimal sit-down experience. Is this simply the smarter financial option? 

For many, especially those on a lower income, eating out is simply a less attractive option. Going out and eating at a restaurant is often expensive, but it’s also time-consuming. Fast-casual restaurants like Panera Bread, Nandos and Chipotle are on the rise because they offer consumers lower prices for quality food, far better quality than the traditional fast-food restaurant. But they’re also successful because they’re not working on the premise that the customer wants to pay to sit in for a few hours: in other words, they have a high customer turnover rate.

Staying in all together has also risen in popularity. This may be in part due to the emergence of delivery services like Deliveroo, that bring restaurant food directly to your door. So if you’re craving some quality restaurant pasta, you can get it delivered rather than having to go out to a restaurant. Takeaways have always been popular, but it is only recently that this has grown to include high-quality options. As with fast-casual options, these services might be gaining popularity because they account for a demographic that wants restaurant-quality food without the time-consuming act of going out to eat.

There are also clear economic benefits to staying at home, even when spending on restaurant-level food. For those ordering as a group, paying delivery is rarely much of an expensive addition, as the cost will be divided. Ordering all of your food at once also cuts down on the temptation of impulsive additional requests while eating. If you’re having the food brought to your home, you can also cut out drinks – one of the biggest profit areas for the restaurant industry, because of price markups. Most of us don’t want to pay restaurant prices for fizzy drinks but when you are dining in a venue, you have little option but to pay or drink tap water. Eating in your own home, you can drink as much supermarket-priced soda or alcohol as you want. 

These trends within the restaurant industry are quite new and right now it’s debatable how many will stick and how many are just trends. Only time will tell how our eating habits have evolved but, for now, staying in definitely seems to have a future in the industry.

Infamous Traders Who Changed the Game

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“Vice and infamy have their altars and their religion.”

– William Hazlitt

The world of finance is a living and breathing community. Trillions of dollars change hands every day and naturally, some investors will walk away as winners. Still, there is a certain amount of infamy attached to this environment. Some individuals have pushed the boundaries of what is known as “fair” while others have crossed them entirely. Let’s look at a handful of traders who are known for their unscrupulous actions as well as the impacts that they have had upon the fiscal sector.

Tasou Hamanaka

 Mr. Hamanaka was a chief trader at a Japanese copper-based corporation known as Sumitomo. In 1996, it was suspected that his team had cornered as much as five per cent of the copper market. Known for its aggressive trading style and for taking no prisoners, his dealings were eventually uncovered. The Sumitomo Corporation suffered a loss of $2.6 billion dollars and Mr. Hamanaka was imprisoned for eight years. Since then, Japan has forced trading firms to adopt more transparent policies.

Nick Leeson

Many would argue that Nick Leeson is the most famous rogue trader in history. In 1995, Mr. Leeson caused Barings Bank to file for bankruptcy after more than 233 years of continuous operation. Prosecutors found that he was opening up a number of risky positions in relation to Nikkei-based futures contracts. Unfortunately, things did not go as planned. As a result of his illegal dealings, the bank accumulated a net loss of a staggering $1.3 billion dollars. Not only was the institution forced to permanently shut its doors, but Mr. Leeson was jailed for more than six years. It is interesting to note that his story served as the basis for the film Rogue Trader starring Ewan McGregor.

Bernie Madoff

No list of infamous traders would be complete without mentioning the debacle known as Bernie Madoff. This former stockbroker is now known as being the chief ringleader of the largest Ponzi scheme in history. It is said that he eventually cost his clients in excess of $64.8 billion dollars. More than 4,800 individuals fell victim to his fraudulent activities and some of these were high-profile names. The list included Steven Spielberg, Kevin Bacon, Kyra Sedgwick, Larry King, Zsa Zsa Gabor and John Malkovich. However, the true tragedy is associated with those countless souls who invested a portion or all of their life savings only to be duped in the long run. Mr. Madoff is currently serving a prison sentence of 150 years and he will likely spend the remainder of his life behind bars. His actions also highlighted the many loopholes found within the Securities and Exchange Commission; causing regulatory changes to be made.

A Few Bad Apples 

While there are always a few unscrupulous individuals within any industry, the financial markets still offer a wealth of opportunities. By understanding the core basics and learning spread betting (amongst other skills), you will not have to rely upon anyone else for your financial future. The power is in your hands.

Liverpool Student Property Market Attracting Foreign Investors

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UK Student Property is Booming

It’s no secret that confidence in the student property market has peaked in recent years, opening up rare opportunities for investors to take advantage of excellent rental yields and no-fuss arrangements.  

Although many UK investors have been straight onto the student property trend, investors from overseas are no strangers to this flourishing market that owes itself to the solid foundations of the UK’s higher education system. With most student properties fully-managed by local agencies, investors can commit to a venture in the student sector from the comfort of their home country.

Such an established and globally renowned educational sector assures a continuous flow of tenants in need of student accommodation that outstrips supply. A predicament absent from so many other countries, internationals looking for an investment in a market other than residential are likely to wind up in UK student property territory.

Liverpool is UK’s Best Student City

It’s true that many UK cities are benefiting from an increase in foreign investment. Nevertheless, Liverpool stands out from other urban areas as a top spot for student property investment. A combination of pull factors enticing tenants to select Liverpool as their city of study alongside affordable prices and excellent rental yields for investors makes this a city at the forefront of UK student property investment.

A City for Student Tenants

Students are firstly attracted to the high level of credibility associated with all three establishments. The redbrick University of Liverpool is ranked in the top 1% of education institutions in the world whilst Liverpool John Moores University and Liverpool Hope University also rank within the top 75 according to league tables by The Complete University Guide.

Following on from this, Liverpool is a city identified by its eccentric culture across the UK and all over the globe. Students flock to the abandoned warehouse nightlife of the Baltic Triangle, the galleries and museums of the Albert Dock and the unconventional cafés on RopeWalks’ famous Bold Street.   

Affordability also plays a key role in asserting Liverpool as one of the best study cities in Britain. The cost of living here is relatively lower than other areas in the UK, from monthly rents to the cost of a weekly shop.  

A City for Investors

With 3 major universities and a total of over 70,000 students, overseas investors can be assured that there are plenty of tenants around looking for suitable accommodation. With investment companies locating the best student areas in close proximity to Liverpool’s city centre attractions and university campuses, it’s simple and stress-free for those abroad looking to select a student development that suits them.

In terms of regeneration, renaissance continues to sweep across the former Capital of Culture in the shape of colossal waterfront developments, improved train links, renovated ports and of course, student accommodation. The positivity radiating from numerous contemporary major projects sets the city in good stead for the future and foreign investors can be assured that the latest student developments are being designed with this modern ethos in mind.

Furthermore, Liverpool’s excellent potential for rental yields is on every international investor’s radar, with an average of 8% considered a strong  rental return on student investment. Initial average property costs are low, supplying the opportunity for maximum capital appreciation over time.

For more information on buy to let investment opportunities in 2018, contact RWinvest on Tel: +44 (0)151 808 1250, via Email: info@rw-invest.com or visit the website at: https://www.rw-invest.com

5 Smart Ways Ecommerce Business Owners Can Increase Profit Margins

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The ecommerce industry is getting more competitive than ever, wouldn’t you agree? As a marketer, you feel the need to crush the competition before it crushes you. One determinant of success is profit margin.

A business’ profit margin reveals a lot about its profitability and is expressed in percentage. It tells how much money is left after you deduct the cost of acquiring or producing your products from your revenue, and divide the number by the same revenue. Even if an ecommerce company’s revenue and profits are high but they have a low profit margin, they aren’t performing well enough.

There are a few things you can do today to boost this important number no matter what products you sell. Below, we teach you seven strategies that are worth your time and effort:

1. Raise your prices.

The thought of increasing the price of your items may scare you off but it’s a very practical means to boost your ecommerce business. Don’t worry, you still get to avoid the risk of losing your best customers. You could provide occasional discounts and deals, bundle certain products, reduce the size of the items (to make the increase less obvious), and offer extras.

Also, make sure that people find your price increase reasonable. When was the last time you changed your prices? Does the quality of your product justify the raise? If your audiences are happy to begin with, a slight increase in price won’t be a big deal.

2. Leverage a faster and cheaper shipping method.

You’re probably practicing dropshipping but having problems with delivery times. You know how delays in receiving orders can affect your relationship with customers. No shopper wants to do repeat business with a company that creates poor experiences. Customers don’t have a lot of options for courier services except those that are offered by the ecommerce store.

Fortunately, you can rely on a solution that combines affordability and convenience. An example of this kind of service is the ePacket shipping method. Customers from over 30 countries are now beneficiaries of the ePacket. They’re able to track their orders and enjoy free returns.

3. Improve customer retention.

Too many businesses focus more of their efforts on customer acquisition and sales but less on customer retention. A study conducted by Bain & Company revealed that improving retention rates boosts profits for up to 95%. Most companies also attest that keeping your customers costs less than acquiring new ones.

The first step to improving customer retention is to identify factors that make a customer leave – and work on avoiding those things. For example, you could prevent poor customer experiences by hiring an expert customer support. He should be responsible for answering emails and handling live chats. Other ways to boost retention include building personal relationships with them through email, running live webinars, and social media sharing.

4. Upsell and cross-sell.

Upsell, cross-sell… What are these two techniques and how do they differ? Upsell and cross-sell are often used interchangeably.

Here are their definitions: An upsell happens when a customer is about to purchase a product but you recommend an upgrade or more advanced version of the same product. Cross-selling is when you get customers to spend more by suggesting other products that relate to the original product they want. Regardless of whether you upsell or cross-sell, what’s important is that you recommend products that add immense value.

5. Manage your expenses better.

In the early stages of your ecommerce business, you’re more inclined to watch where you spend your dollars on. However, as your business grows, cost management somehow takes a backseat. You’ll be able to avoid financial leaks by planning out an effective and organized tracking system from the start.

One technique is to keep different types of business receipts. If there’s anything that you use for both your personal life and ecommerce business (such as home office and internet), have those recorded as well. You might also consider hiring a bookkeeper to keep an eye on your business’ cash flow.

Final Thoughts

There’s no point in running a business if you don’t do anything to boost its profitability. You’re just going to waste your valuable investments in that case. The five simple techniques mentioned in this post will hopefully open your mind to areas that affect your ecommerce business’ financial health – starting with your prices to cost management. Let us know what you think in the comments below.

How to Succeed as a First Time Landlord

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Although recent tax changes relating to the buy-to-let market have rocked the investment world and may well be putting potential investors off, not everything is as it seems and first time landlords can still find success. Although all investors experience some form of scepticism at some point, first time investors almost certainly experience it more than others, purely due to their lack of experience.

However, regardless of the new tax changes, and with special thanks to low interest rates and the possibility for property prices to increase, now is a very good time for first time investors to take the plunge. Becoming a first time landlord can often be very difficult and confusing, so we have created a list of some of our top tips for first time landlords to succeed within the industry.

Education and Research are Essential

When first time landlords turn their heads to property investment, one of the biggest mistakes that they make is rushing into it without conducting all of the relevant research and becoming fully educated. Getting to know the market is very important for the success of first time landlords, as looking at different locations, different property types and general financial figures can help you to make informed decisions at every stage of the process. If you were to go forward with a property but were looking to charge rent at a much higher rate than similar properties within the area, then you are unlikely to have much success.

A key part of the education and research process is getting to know the responsibilities that you have as a landlord. Becoming a landlord is often extremely hands on, from preparing the property to catering to your tenants, and landlords need to be aware of what is going to be expected of them, as well as what the law requires of them. Without determining your responsibilities, you may find that the job requires much more of you than you first realised, and this may not be a healthy addition when looking to achieve success.

Finding the Perfect Investment Opportunity

Finding the right buy-to-let investment opportunity for you is another key factor to becoming a successful first time landlord. Firstly, choosing the right property type is the first part of the process, and researching which property types may be best for you and your individual circumstances. Once you have decided upon which property type you would like to invest in, the next step is to look into different locations that have your desired property type available. You would then research the areas to find out whether or not tenants may be looking to live there, as well as what you can hope to achieve financially.

An important point to keep in mind is the desire for tenants to live in your property. If you feel that you have found a property that tenants would be queuing up to live in, then you have almost certainly found the perfect property for you.

Consider your Potential Tenants

In relation to finding the perfect property, you will also need to consider your potential tenants, to ensure that the two go hand in hand. If you are looking to target a particular audience or category of tenants, but you invest in the wrong property type for them, then any work that you do to appeal to those potential tenants is effectively going to be a waste of your time. So whether you choose a property type first or choose to target a specific group of tenants, you need to be able to interlink the two of them, as that will bring you more success.

As well as this, your layout, location and price of the property needs to be appealing to potential tenants, attracting them to your property initially, and then encouraging them to choose your property once they have had a viewing.

Insurance for Landlords

Landlords should ensure that they have everything in place in relation to their insurance, including informing your buildings and contents insurer of any changes to any current policies you have. Although the insurance is not currently a legal requirement, it is certainly advised to have something put into place, protecting your investment in more ways than one.

Hopwood House are property investment specialists, with a wide range of investment opportunities throughout the UK and overseas in the buy-to-let, student property and hotel investment markets.

Is Direct Mail Worth Your Time in 2018?

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Consumers are demanding more from brands today. It’s not enough to sell – you need to provide an incentive, a narrative behind their reason to buy your products. To shout the loudest in the age of digital marketing, you must stand out and provide something more than your competitors. Information regarding your consumer’s buying habits and wants is readily available, so use that data to your advantage – knowledge is power. Washington Direct Mail, a UK mailing house, are sharing the possibilities for marketing in the future, and why direct mail is making a comeback.

Over the past several years, as the internet rose to the powerhouse it is currently, direct mail took a back seat for marketing strategies. However, as email marketing begins to overload our inboxes – with the average worker receiving more than 100 a day – brands are looking to alternative methods of speaking to their prospects. Let’s face it; no one wants to sift through their personal emails after doing the same task at work for eight hours.

Digital advertising is over saturated in 2018 and companies should look at taking their foot off the gas and becoming more personal. There’s nothing more personal than direct mail delivered through your door and landing in your home. You can place your message into the hands of your audience, leaving no room for doubt that they have seen your mail. Your email marketing may go straight to their junk folder and, subsequently, deleted. Direct marketing insights suggest that direct mailers are kept in the house for 17 days, with over 66% of direct mail is read.

Direct mail response rates have more than doubled over the years. When paired with digital advertising, direct mail campaigns can lift open rates by 118%. Technological advances within the industry have significantly contributed to the rise – particularly as consumers look elsewhere to digest information. We are living in an online world, with over 80% accessing media time over the phone, but customers are looking to turn away from the screen. Those who you wouldn’t expect, such as Millennials, are part of the change – 66% said they would be more likely to use a voucher delivered to their door, rather than online. With those powerful statistics in mind, there are several marketing formats that are proving popular, and will continue to do so in the future.

Dimensional Mailers

Dimensional mailers are, in simple terms, mail that has dimensions. It’s not your usual envelope, but a promotional package. Dimensional mailers afford you the chance to inject personality into your campaign, and get people talking. Take Smart, for example, sending out cardboard helmet templates for their prospects to assemble. This clever marketing trick not only caused a stir on social media, but completed the objective of promoting their brand-new range of e-bikes. Dimensional mailers can cost a little more due to postage, but it could prove invaluable in spreading your message.

Multi-Channel Integration

Separately, you can argue both direct mail and digital advertising have their merits. However, put them together, and you’ve made magic. Combining the forms of communication has proven wholly effective for many brands, as you are expanding your reach but still targeting those relevant to your company. Multi-channel integration is easily achieved when sending out your campaign, through the use of QR codes and landing pages etc. Encourage your consumers to scan the code or visit the unique URL, offering them an incentive (such as a discount or freebie) to do so. From there, you can track the number of visits and measure the success of the campaign with the aim to replicate.

Programmatic Mail

Programmatic mail is the buzzword of 2018 for the direct mail industry, and is a clear example of multi-channel integration. For example, a shopper can be browsing your site, placing products in their basket but later abandoning their cart. Typically, they would receive an email reminding them of their basket, which would likely be ignored. However, companies are getting savvy to the increase in direct mail, sending mailing to the prospects house within 12 hours reminding them of their purchases. You cannot ignore the message when it is in your house, even if placed straight in the bin.

For businesses looking into the possibilities of direct mailing, we always recommend personalisation. Marketing addressed to the ‘homeowner’ will be ignored, and it’s not difficult to find that information. Ultimately, direct mail boasts proven results and it’s time to stand out from the crowd.

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