Shaheryar Sadiq

How to Use Content Marketing to Develop Your Audience?

2020-10-02T10:32:17.281Z

Content marketing refers to the development and distribution of digital content for promotion. It is a comparatively new way of marketing that is focused on providing the audience with valuable and relevant information rather than pitching ideas and advertising products. Content marketing is used by some of the leading brands around the world.

Even the smallest businesses have incorporated content marketing into their marketing strategies. Why? Because it works! If you are still wondering how to use content marketing to develop your audience, fasten your seat belts because we are going to unfold some secrets that will help you utilize content marketing in the best possible way.

Where to Start?

Your content marketing strategy is like an outline for your business and your customers. It should be a detailed plan covering how you want to address your customers. There may not be a defined template to develop a content marketing strategy as it varies from one business to another. Just like each business is unique, so is their marketing strategy.

However, some basic steps are common to develop a content strategy (the details within may vary for each brand/business). These steps are:

1. Define Your Goals

The first thing to do when starting is to define your goals. I encourage brands to pen down a mission statement for their business before they start as it not only helps them understand their own business but also allows business owners to create content that aligns with their brand strategy. A mission statement is a string of sentences that highlight the purpose or the Raison d'être of a business. Three things that make up for a good mission statement are:

· Define your audience.

· Define the kind of content you want to showcase to your target audience.

· Define how your content might be beneficial to them.

Your mission statement will help your audience see what you are putting on the table. But what about the other side of the equation? This is what your goals highlight. Your goals typically include:

· Ways to improve your cash flow cycle.

· Improving sales over time and acquiring leads that will help you meet the goals you set for your business.

· Increasing the traffic that comes to your website as higher traffic means more conversion.

· Increase awareness about your brand.

· Improving the SEO of your website and improving your social media presence through digital marketing tactics.

2. Establish Key Performance Indicators (KPI)

Marketing is all about making well-informed decisions, and the only way to make those decisions is when you have enough data to support your choices. This is why you need specific key performance indicators for any marketing you are trying to carry out. These KPIs will help you keep your marketing aligned with your original marketing vision. Your KPIs will reflect what you plan to achieve in terms of your website's revenue, the sales, traffic, etc. In a bigger picture, they will help you analyze your marketing campaigns and precisely what you need to do to achieve solid results.

3. Know Your Audience

As a marketer, it is important to know your audience and exactly what they are looking for to determine what kind of content will attract them. There are three steps that you need to perform to get the right data regarding your audience.

· Collect Demographics

Demographics play a big role when it comes to knowing your audience. Demographics are statistical data such as age, gender, annual income, and place of birth, etc. These values help brands understand where exactly their audience is situated. There are plenty of online tools that can help you get hold of this information. Using the information in the right way can do wonders for your business!

· Pay attention to customer feedback

Customer feedback is a great way to help you understand your weaknesses and your strengths too. It will help you understand whether your audience likes the content you are producing. It also helps you incorporate new ideas into your existing content that are more popular among the audience. The right feedback can help you in the following ways:

- Learn what your audience prioritizes.

- Know where to reach your customers for maximum engagement.

- Create buyer personas.

4. Creating Buyer Personas

We highlighted in our last point that the right customer feedback could help you create buyer personas. Let's talk about buyer personas in more detail now. Think of buyer personas as customer avatars; these are like sketches of customers that you feel are the right fit for your business. These personas will be inclusive of information such as the challenges faced by customers when they visit your website, what exactly motivates your customers into making a purchase, and what are the channels through which your customers are visiting your website, etc. If you are finding it difficult to create buying personas, you can download a free template online. Eventually, as you can get the hang of it, you can create your templates too!

5. Find Out the Best Content Channel for Your Business

Each business is unique and has its customer base and target audience. Moreover, businesses work differently on various content channels. For example, a car cleaning business might be able to function in a better way on Facebook. In contrast, a skincare brand might be able to develop a better audience on Instagram. Similarly, for some businesses, it is important to function through a website. It is all about finding the right channel for you that is creating maximum leads in a given amount of time!

Conclusion

Using the steps discussed above can help you develop a better audience and help you stay more focused. Additionally, you can take help from content marketing tools that are available online. Enrolling yourself or your employees in digital marketing workshops can also be of great help and allow you to stay in touch with trending market practices. This is especially important in the world of digital marketing!

The Best Way to Clean Walls in Your House

2020-09-07T08:20:33.811Z

Are you looking to spruce up the grimy walls of your house? Even a new paint job starts looking stale after a few months. Spending big bucks on repainting or buying the most luxurious wallpapers is not a pocket-friendly option for everyone. But, getting a neat look is possible with some simple hacks at home.

I have been obsessed with cleaning since childhood and joined the cleaning sector ten years back to monetize my passion. I have worked at carpet cleaning Hertfordshire over the years, and I have picked up some great and affordable cleaning tips along the way. From wall-cleaning to floors, my notebook is full of useful tactics.

Today, I will share some valuable tricks for cleaning the walls of your home without damaging the expensive wallpaper and paint and breaking your bank. Let’s begin!

1. Make a Cleaning Kit

You do not need to buy a list of special cleaners for cleaning your walls. Most of the things are likely to be already present in your home. Gather all the things at one place to get ready for wall-cleaning:

- Buckets 2-3

- Water

- Baking soda

- Liquid soap

- Cleaning brushes

- Dust removing sprays

- Soft sponge

- Dusters

- Hydrogen peroxide

2. Identifying the Paint Finish

The products mentioned above are the basic supplies suitable for every type of wall. However, you may need to buy a few extra products if your walls are either extremely dirty or have a special paint finish. Therefore, know the paint finish of your wall before you begin.

These are the most common types of paint finishes found in homes:

- Dull, Flat, and Eggshell Finish

Never use harsh chemicals and degreasing solutions on flat paints. Also, be careful in scrubbing. Flat paints need to be cleaned with care. Harsh scrubbing can damage the paint.

- Glossy Finish

Usually, glossy finish paint is present on the walls of our kitchen, bedrooms, and washrooms. You can conveniently use degreasing solutions and scrub a little hard. However, don’t use a hard sponge.

3. Cleaning Walls

Once you have identified the type of paint finish, you can begin cleaning. Here is how you do it:

i. Cleaning Walls with Latex-Based Paints

Follow the below steps:

· Step 1: Use a soft sponge and dip it in warm water. Thoroughly clean the wall with this sponge.

· Step 2: Use a non-abrasive all-purpose cleaner and clean the wall again by dipping a sponge in it.

Tip: Be careful to turn off the electricity if there are some electric connections on the wall.

· Step 3: If the wall is still unclean and stains of fingerprints and other marks are visible, you need to go for the third step. Here you will make a thick paste of baking soda and water. Dip a sponge in this solution, rub it on to the stains, and leave it for five minutes. Afterward, clean the wall with a soft and moist dusting cloth.

Tip: If you still notice some grime, dip a duster in rubbing alcohol and clean the spot.

ii. Cleaning Walls with Oil Based Paint

Oil-based painted walls are cleaned in the same manner. However, it is ideal to use a solution of white vinegar for thorough cleaning. Dilute 5 tbsp. of vinegar in ½ liter of water and make a cleaning solution. However, if your walls are textured, you need to pay more attention to cleaning. Textured walls are likely to absorb more dust and dirt. So, mix borax (1 ounce) in a pint of water and clean the wall.

4. All-Purpose Cleaning Solution

Prepare a cleaning solution and use it as an all-purpose cleaner. This cleaner is ideal for oil-based walls and can be prepared in a few minutes. Here is the recipe:

- Take a quart of warm water and dissolve a teaspoon of liquid soap in it.

- Now add 1 teaspoon of vinegar into it.

- Let the solution stay on the stain for five minutes before scrubbing.

Tip: Use a white colored microfiber duster so that the color of the towel does not transfer to your wall.

5. Simple Steps for Newbies

- Before you start cleaning, line up the floor with a towel so that it can stay protected from excess water that may drip from your cleaning cloth.

- Be sure to dust the walls thoroughly before using any cleaning solution. Use a vacuum or a dry mop covered with a towel to dust properly.

- Now the walls are ready for a wet clean. Prepare a solution in two different buckets—one with warm water and another with liquid soap.

- Do a test patch before you start the actual cleaning of the walls.

- Dip a sponge in the liquid soap and gently clean the walls. Once done, clean the walls with a towel dipped in warm water. If cleaning becomes difficult with a sponge and is taking a lot of time, you can tie a piece of a towel on a broom. Now, dip the towel in soap solution and clean the walls quickly.

- Be sure to clean the walls in a circular motion.

- Always use a good quality of baking soda to get out the tough stains. Make a thick paste and rub the sponge on the stain for five minutes.

6. How to Maintain Cleaned Walls?

Prevention is always better than cure. Once you have done all the hard work to clean your walls, try to maintain them. Scrubbing the paint repeatedly will result in damage and a dull appearance. Use a vacuum with a soft brush for cleaning the walls once a week. Now, use a broomstick to clean again. For ideal results, spray a dusting spray.

Do not leave marks and stains for long. The longer they will stay, the harder they will become. So, wipe them off right after you notice. Also, avoid using excessive water for wall cleaning. Use a damp duster or towel with a thick solution.

Wrapping It Up

In short, cleaning your house walls is not a tricky task. With the handful of tips mentioned above, you can get rid of the tough stains, dirt, and dust in no time. Also, try to maintain your walls. If you pile up a lot of stains, cleaning will become like a never-ending task. Use the tips mentioned above and enjoy a neat look of your home.

How to Optimize the SEO of your WooCommerce Store

2020-07-02T12:46:46.600Z

There are several ways to maximize the SEO of your WooCommerce store. You can either do it through paid features, using focus keywords, optimizing page titles, growing your social media platforms, and so much more. Attracting traffic might not be so difficult at first – however, the issue is how to retain that traffic.

The search engine traffic coming to your WooCommerce store is of the highest quality. It might take a while to drive this kind of traffic to your store; however, once you do, rest assured that it is the most authentic and long-term form of traffic.

So how do you drive this kind of dedicated traffic? The answer is simple - Search Engine Optimization!

We have compiled eight tips for you to optimize the SEO of your WooCommerce store.

Tip #1 – Use an SEO Plug-in

WordPress provides several ways to improve SEO. One of the best ways is to have an SEO plug-in installed on your page. The plug-in is extremely helpful in improving your on-page SEO.

The Yoast WooCommerce SEO plug-in is one of the best SEO plug-ins that WordPress has to offer. This plug-in allows you to access several features; you can create images specific to the Pinterest theme and insert focus keywords for particular pages of your websites, among others. The plug-in also helps to add breadcrumbs that are important for your site’s structure.

Tip #2 – Ensure Your Woocommerce Store Is Mobile-Friendly

In today’s tech-savvy world, it is essential to have a mobile-friendly version of your website. Google prioritizes businesses with mobile-friendly websites when ranking.

To make sure that your website has a mobile-friendly version, run Google’s mobile-friendly test on your website. Passing the test increases the chances of optimization, whereas failing the test informs you of the areas that need improvement.

You can improve the website’s mobile version by including design elements that cater to a mobile-friendly version.

Tip #3 – Start a Blog

Blogs are known to bring a large amount of traffic to your website and improve your rankings on Google’s search pages. They have become a necessity in the world of e-commerce.

A blog gives your readers a chance to come back to your website and view your products and services that have been recently updated. Moreover, blogs can help with link building and help you create a network with businesses that belong to the same niche as yours.

You can use an online pdf editing tool to edit your blogs and make them more SEO-friendly.

Tip #4 – Invest In a Good Host

It may seem like a burden to spend on an expensive host for your website, however, think of it as a long-term investment.

You might be easily convinced that a shared host might be the perfect option for your WooCommerce store. However, when the number of your products and services increase and your website starts to attract traffic, it may not seem like a very good decision.

A host-specific to WooCommerce will increase the speed and overall performance of your website. No matter the traffic volume, a quality host will sustain your website for smooth user experience and thereby increasing your Google ranking.

Tip #5 – Simplify Site Navigation

A simple website helps you improve your bounce rate and helps to improve your website traffic.

It’s quite simple if you apply the situation to yourself; you would be more comfortable using a website that is easy to navigate rather than a super complex website.

There are several ways through which you can improve your website’s navigation and eventually improve your SEO. A Clean design, organized site structure, simplified menu, and placement of essential links on the navigation bar are some examples of an easy-to-use website.

In case you are unsure, you may reach out to companies that excel in Digital marketing. Their expertise can help you improve your site design.

Tip #6 – Improve the Structure of Your Website

Several WooCommerce stores have an overly complicated site structure. When, in fact, your site should be as simple as possible to facilitate search engine bots and ensure satisfying user experience.

Understand what constitutes good site structure; invest in designs that are intuitive to the user's need. Arrange your site in a way that makes the most critical information readily available to the consumer.

Consider the following suggestions to improve site structure and optimization:

· Each page of your website should have clickable links to the homepage.

· Interlink your content and product pages

· Create categories and sub-categories to group relevant products

Tip #7 – Add Meta Descriptions

Meta descriptions are the titles that appear on your content; while they are not directly involved in improving your on-page optimization, they work wonders to promote your clickthrough rates.

Essentially, Meta Descriptions are summaries of your webpage; they are a way to attract users towards the content and read it. They let users scan the small description to decide whether the website is worth visiting; if the description is enticing, it will compel the user to click on your website's link, ultimately increasing traffic and ranking.

Here are a few tips for creating Meta Descriptions that can help you optimize your WooCommerce site:

· Although there is no official recommendation, a Meta Description of up to 160 words is ideal. 160 characters fit perfectly in the rich snippet beneath the webpage title on Google search, increasing the readability and attractiveness of the description.

· Use a Problem – Agitate – Solve or AIDA method to generate Meta Descriptions because they deliver maximum value to the reader.

· Always end with a Call to Action (CTA).

Tip #8 – Remove Duplicate Content

The last tip we are going to discuss is related to duplicate content. If you are trying to improve the SEO of any website, you should avoid content replication.

What is Duplicate content? It can be any text, image, or video-based content that is posted more than one time on your website. At times, Google may even consider similar content to be duplicate, which may cause your rankings to take a dip and your SEO to suffer.

It might be challenging to come up with unique product descriptions, especially when you have similar products on your website. However, you need to have a creative team that continuously develops exclusive content for even the most similar items.

In case you are unsure, you may reach out to companies that excel in Digital marketing. Their expertise can help you improve your website overall SEO score.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, applying these practices to your Woo Commerce Store will help you optimize your SEO and generate organic traffic.

How Banking Firms are Using AI to Engage with Customers

2020-05-28T08:25:10.403Z

When we talk about some of the best digital transformation stories, the Finance sector always makes it to the list. Therefore, it is no surprise that it is a pioneer in the adoption of AI as well. The integration of AI has disrupted traditional methods and has changed how banks engage with their customers.

Artificial Intelligence has been progressing rapidly and is being used in almost every field of life. Not only can it manage a large amount of data without any chances of error, but it is also available round the clock and does not require any breaks. From hiring and screening of employees to the automation of industries, AI is everywhere.

Similarly, banking firms have also begun the use of AI in interacting with customers. Banks are employing AI to increase their efficiency and to deal more effectively with customers.

The pattern of interaction between the banks and customers has changed due to AI. The use of mobile banking is a significant contributor to the push for Artificial Intelligence in the banking sector. It is more convenient for customers to use online banking through their mobile phones.

We discuss some examples of how AI is being incorporated in the financial sector to enhance customer experience:

1. Personalizing Customer Experience

Banks engage in personalized customer experience by talking to the customers and making them believe that they can rely on the bank. Every consumer has a different need, and they have different behavior they show when they use the banking app. Because of machine learning, banks can now offer each customer a unique experience which suits their need. Since banks can now sort huge chunks of data related to customer history, including their demographic information and credit card information, the banks try to personalize the customer experience according to each customer’s individual needs.

Banks use AI to organize this tremendous amount of data and suggest related products and services to their customers. Some banks collaborate with software companies to get help in this regard. Thus, AI is used to personalize communication with each customer.

2. Use of Conversational AI

Conversational AI includes chatbots and virtual assistants; Banks are using automated responses to answer customer queries 24/7. A study shows that chatbots help the customer service agent to save up to 4 minutes of his time. Chatbots can easily tend to FAQs and simple demands of customers.

Some banks have incorporated advanced analytics that can give financial advice and make simple decisions on behalf of the customers. Virtual assistants provide services such as tracing expenditure and providing personalized financial advice.

Conversational AI increases customer satisfaction and enhances customer experience because it’s just like talking to a person. People can ask any question, they will get a smart answer based on their specific query.

3. Secure Online Banking

As has already been mentioned, banks have a large quantity of customer data, and most customers have been using online transactions, so it becomes important for the bank to protect confidential customer information. Here the banks turn to AI for making the online banking practices safe.

Since most of the banking is now being done digitally, the chances of fraud through hacking have greatly increased. Banks must make sure that the customer information is secure. Banks use AI to secure online banking practices. AI is used to analyze how the customers are using their apps and what kind of behavior they show while interacting with the app. If there’s any suspicious activity, AI will inform the concerned authorities. In this way, AI is making the customer dealings secure from fraud.

4. Automated Decision-Making Including Loan Approvals

Artificial intelligence can also be used to make business decisions automatically. The decisions that should be taken by an individual can be taken using AI, even the decisions that require higher-order thinking.

Banks have machine learning models that monitor the credit card history of customers. By knowing credit card history, AI can decide on whether to approve or reject the loan request of that particular customer. These machines decide whether a customer is creditworthy by analyzing the Internet activity of the customer. This analysis helps in selecting the most creditworthy candidates. Moreover, it can also predict which customer might fail to repay the loan.

However, debate arises on whether it is ethical to use such models for figuring out which candidates should be given loans. An AI model might be more effective than a traditional credit scoring system in a way that the more data that enters the AI model, the more accurate it becomes.

Challenges Faced By Artificial Intelligence In Banks

Even though AI is being utilized very frequently in banks, it still presents some challenges in its complete implementation. One of the challenges is that banks require a team of experts and a certain amount of money and resources. Some old school customers do not entertain the idea of online banking, which might become a hurdle in the use of AI.

Another challenge might be the actual implementation of AI. Employees become afraid that AI might replace them. In that case, the use of augmented Intelligence is suggested. Augmented Intelligence emphasizes that AI is only there for assistance and is employed to enhance human intelligence, not replace it.

Future Implications of AI in banking

Banks were originally designed to keep the money of customers safe. Nowadays, bank services have now become very crucial for customers. Banks provide different services, including checking accounts, transactions, saving account, credit cards, loans, and other financial services.

AI acts like a crimper tool between the bank and the customer as it connects them more closely. It has made it possible for banks to provide these services to the customers in a better way. Banks collaborate with technology companies, and make banking easier, aiding the customers. The use of AI has reduced risks and increased opportunities for everyone.

The need of the hour is for the banks to overcome the challenges that threaten AI integration into the financial sector. This will lead to a brighter future of banking and better customer services.

5 Expert Tips to Give Your Business Online Presence

2020-05-18T10:33:45.331Z

Having a positive online presence gives brands a competitive advantage against other players in the market. Many organizations are adopting digital marketing practices as a means to engage with their target audience and build stronger customer relationships. Digital Marketing increases exposure for the brand, which results in more conversions.

It’s a cost-effective and productive way to promote your brand and build rapport with potential customers. Do you want to create an online presence, but not sure where to start? Developing a strategy from scratch can be challenging, but the right information can help you kick start your journey.

Here are five expert recommendations on how to create a powerful online presence for your business.

1. Create Better User Experiences (UX)

When a user lands on your website, you intend for them to stay and explore, but if they leave immediately after arriving, then you’ll lose conversions. To make sure that your potential consumer stays on the website and leaves only after buying, you must enhance user experience.

User experience goes beyond the visual aesthetics and design of a website but focuses more on how a prospect feels when they interact with a website and its elements. A website that is responsive, usable, mobile-friendly, effectively optimized, and informative is guaranteed to drive engagement, boost conversions, and generate sales.

However, failure to abide by the appropriate web design standards will deliver a poor user experience and result in a higher bounce rate. It’s important to regularly update and maintain your website, so you retain positive impressions and deliver satisfying user experiences.

2. Publish Quality Content and Measure its Performance

Your online presence can only be elevated if you’re sharing relevant and engaging content with your target audience. If you fail to deliver something informative and valuable to prospects, they will immediately declare you as a poor source of info and leave your site or page.

To share relatable content, it’s crucial that you know your target market and what they search for to find services similar to yours. Observe the competitors in your niche and see the kind of content they use to attract customers. Then, create your own content marketing strategy with more refined and well-researched content pieces that are guaranteed to resonate with your audience.

Whether it’s for your business website, blog, or social media, content needs to be engaging and informative. To top it off, marketers can use business-relevant keywords, phrases, and hashtags to boost visibility and improve the ranking of your pages on search engines. Furthermore, once your posts go live, it’s essential to track the performance and other engagement metrics to verify the effectiveness of your practices.

Google Analytics is an excellent tool to have in your tool-kit when monitoring different metrics and delivers comprehensive reports on audience behavior. As a result, marketers can learn what’s actually working and which areas require more attention.

3. Optimize and Improve Local SEO

When it comes to building an online presence, you want your target audience to be able to discover your business in the vast quantity of content available online. This includes local search as well. If potential customers present in your locality are unable to locate your services online, then have your efforts shown any productivity?

Often, businesses tend to potential prospects by failing to optimize their pages for local SEO. When local SEO is done right, the search engine picks up the geographical location of the user and directs them to results that are targeted for that specified area. Businesses with a physical store in multiple locations or even a single brick-and-mortar store can benefit from this technique by directing traffic to their online store.

For instance, a user seeking professional carpet care in Dartford may use the keywords “carpet cleaning Dartford” to search for the top businesses in that area. This local search will direct them to all the companies in that locality and help them make an informed decision according to their requirements.

Most importantly, local searches are usually performed by people who are searching for services that your business offers, which automatically concludes that they have a higher conversion rate.

4. Stay Active on Social Media

Today’s business experts consider social media marketing a vital part of their business strategy. You can rest assured that your potential consumers are using social media. Research shows that the average urban consumer spends more than 70% of their time glued to the phone.

Morning, Noon, or night, people use social media networks to catch up on the news, business updates, and read other kinds of content. There’s no denying that frequently checking social media has become more of a habit than a hobby, and businesses will be foolish if they did not utilize it to their advantage.

With approximately 3 billion people using social media for numerous reasons, companies that neglect to have a social media presence are seriously missing out on growth opportunities. First and foremost, it’s essential to do some research on the kind of social media app your target audience frequents the most.

This will help you streamline your strategy and concentrate your focus on networks that can bring you the most benefits. When you start posting content on your social pages, be sure to follow a schedule and switch up between types of content.

Blog posts, short demos, infographics, gifs, guides, etc. are just some of the things you can share to keep followers engaged. Follow a balanced frequency of posting, so users don’t get tired of your posts, but don’t forget about your brand, too, once they’ve closed the app. This helps to stay relevant on social media and brings heightened exposure to your business.

5. Focus on Email Marketing

Believe it or not, but people still check their inbox regularly and enjoy receiving personalized messages from our favorite brands and businesses. By curating a refined list of prospects, who would like to learn more about your brand, you can send out messages featuring news updates, product launches, and more.

Brands can send out customized messages to loyal customers and regulars based on their previous purchase habits as a way to cement their relationship and continue to deliver value.

In a Nutshell

You cannot achieve success overnight, so be patient but follow these suggestions, and you’ll witness promising results soon. The stronger your online presence, the higher your credibility, and the better you are at converting traffic to quality leads. Consumers are more likely to trust a business that has a positive online image, so implement these techniques and reap the benefits.

How to Support Your Restaurant Employees during Corona Outbreak

2020-05-05T15:05:24.956Z

Do you know about 10 million people have become dependent on unemployment benefits in the US? In March, 701,000 jobs were lost to Coronavirus, and out of those, 419,000 belonged to the restaurant industry. This was reported at the start of March, and the number is still increasing.

In the USA, the service industry jobs account for 60% of the total workforce; therefore, it’s no surprise that restaurant workers are most affected by the pandemic. The following statistics shed light on their plight:

- 4,500 workers of Cameron Mitchell Restaurant are furloughed

- 7,000 international restaurants of Yum are closed

- 41,000 employees of Cheese Cake Factory are temporarily laid off

The out of work restaurant workers are suddenly out of a paycheck with no job prospects; they are worried about groceries, water, electricity, rent, and other expenses.

Though certainly challenging, there are some ways to support these restaurant employees. Let us see how we can help:

1. Order Takeout and Delivery

Many local restaurants are waiting for you to knock on their doors. They require every penny you can spend to save their restaurants. If you want to help them, and you have money to spare, order from them to keep them in business. Besides this, start telling your friends and family to buy from them. If it is feasible, go for a takeout. However, if the restaurant is located in a high-risk area, delivery is an ideal option.

Buying food for yourself is not the only way to support restaurants. You can order food from local restaurants and have that food delivered to people in need. Homeless shelters and charity organizations are always in need of food. This need has increase manifold since thousands of people have lost their jobs and are dependent on charity to meet their basic needs.

By ordering food for local shelters, you will be killing two birds with one stone; you will give food to people who are going hungry, and you will help your local restaurants stay in business.

Call your local restaurants and give your bulk order in advance. Distribute this food among the needy people. You can also ask the restaurant to deliver directly at different addresses and pay them in advance.

In San Francisco, Ryan Sarver started a plan through which people can buy meals made by chefs for the hospital workers. This is a two-way strategy for supporting hospital workers and chefs.

2. Tip Heavily on Deliveries

Another simple thing you can do to help the restaurant staff is to give a nice tip; don’t be stringent! The delivery person is taking a considerable health risk by continuing to work in the pandemic. What is more, most delivery people earn at least 50% from tips alone. Therefore, show your gratitude by giving a sizeable tip. A general rule of thumb is to tip 15 to 20% of the pre-tax bill.

It will be a sign of relief for the workers who are struggling to keep up with their jobs. Some workers are getting half of their salaries while others have no commissions at all. Make a habit of giving heavy tips until this situation lasts.

3. Buy Merchandise and Gift Cards

Another way to help your local eateries is by purchasing restaurant gift cards and merchandise. We admit that gift cards cannot bring in as much revenue as a full dining room, but they can bring in much-needed cash flow to keep the business open.

Most restaurants are laying off staff because they cannot afford them. If you purchase gift cards, you are putting cash in the hands of the restaurant, which will enable them to retain their staff.

On the other hand, a gift-card is good for you too; it is a good idea to show love and care to your friends and family. Many birthdays, anniversaries, and milestones moments have come and gone during this moment. As people are stuck inside, a restaurant cooked meal is a great change of pace and makes for a perfect gift. A gift card at a local restaurant can be a small celebration from your side besides supporting the restaurant.

Many restaurants have started to sell merchandise to generate cash; sweatshirts, coffee cups, caps, scarves, tote bags, and even scented candles are available. You can purchase these items from your favorite restaurants to get a memorable keepsake and help them out at the same time!

A small sushi restaurant is offering a unique service to its clients during the pandemic; to help customers celebrate their milestones in quarantine, the business is sending cake along with sushi delivery.

4. Donate to the Restaurants Directly

If we have money to spare, we can donate it directly to restaurants. Choose your favorite local eatery and write them a check. Your help may be the thing they need to keep them afloat. You will not only help one restaurant but all the people that work in that restaurant.

Restaurants can use donations according to their needs. The funds can be used to pay bills, pay salaries, and keep the restaurant running for another day.

Many individuals have opened an account for their local restaurant on Go Fund Me or similar crowdfunding apps to generate much-needed cash. You can go to these platforms and donate to the restaurant of your choice. Remember, no amount is too small!

5. Donate to Funds for Local Restaurant Workers

Celebrities, chefs, celebrity-chefs, and governments have initiated relief programs to support restaurant workers in this difficult time. One way to help your local eating places is to donate generously to these funds.

Some of the most notable ones are:

- Guy Fieri Relief Fund

Guy Fieri, a well-known chef, is working with NRAEF to generate funds for restaurant employees. The fund will give $500 to employees who have been laid off from jobs since the pandemic. Workers who have done a restaurant job for at least 90 days and received their last pay after March 10 are qualified to apply.

- Restaurant Strong Fund

This fund is created with an amalgamation of the Greg Hill Foundation and Boston Beer Company. Formed on March 18, it got $2 million from Boston Beer for giving it a kick start.

- Restaurant Employee Relief Fund

This fund is supported by Golden Road Brewing and many other companies. It is giving $500 to the affected restaurant workers.

- United States Bartenders Guild Charity Foundation

Big companies like Molson Coors Beverage Company and Jameson donated $1 million and $500,000 respectively. The fund is giving grants between $150-$500 to bar servers, and bartenders.

- Restaurant Workers COVID19 Crisis Relief Fund

Launched on March 15, the fund has collected around $2.6 million. It has distributed half of its funds directly to the restaurant workers. 25% of its funds will be given to the NGOs that are supporting restaurant employees, and the other 25% will be used as non-interest loans.

- Food and Beverage Industry Relief Fund

Launched for individually owned restaurants, the fund is donating $15,000 to restaurants. However, it is only available for restaurants with less than or equal to 100 employees.

Conclusion

The National Restaurant Association has predicted a loss of $225 billion in the coming months. We all are optimistic that the outbreak is going to end someday, and the restaurant business will thrive again. But for now, we should do what we can to help our dining places remain open!

Do you know any restaurant that needs help? Share details below to spread the word.

How to Become a Successful Freelancer by Taking These Online Courses

2020-04-27T12:59:01.986Z

Once considered a temporary and non-serious occupation, Freelancing has gained dramatic popularity in recent years. In fact, more than 35% of the American population is part of the gig economy.

Flexible timings, accessibility, and the incentive of making money on the side are some of the main reasons for the rising popularity of the Freelancing market. Since January, a new reason has propelled the freelancing market; COVID – 19.

Over 100 countries have instated partial or full lockdown in an attempt to flatten the COVID-19 curve. People are restricted to their homes, and most have been laid off as small businesses are shutdown.

For people limited to their homes, Freelancing seems a logical choice to earn a decent living wage. Even if you are financially secure, Freelancing gives you a chance to engage in an activity and stay productive while indoors.

Are you interested in Freelancing, but are not having much success in attracting customers online? If yes, then don’t worry! We have compiled a list of courses you can take to sharpen your skills and make it in the burgeoning Freelancing industry.

A few advantages that you can avail while working as a freelancer are:

· Freedom to choose the work you want to do

· The flexibility of time and location

· Can get opportunities to make more money than a traditional job

· More time to focus on skill-building

· Higher exposure

Now, if you are convinced to start working as a freelancer, there are a few courses that you must take before you dive into Freelancing. It is always a better idea to be prepared a little before entering into anything new. The following are a few courses that can help you in becoming a better freelancer. Even if you are already freelancing, glance at these courses and enhance your skills to manage your work efficiently:

1. Courses for Freelancers on Udemy

Udemy is an excellent platform for people for online courses and includes a wide range of subjects and topics. Whether you are a techie or an artist; there is a course for everyone at Udemy. Udemy has multiple courses for freelancers that can help them understand the dynamics of Freelancing. Through these courses, you can learn to live by staying at home, learn how to reach out to clients, which skills to gain or improve, and the areas to focus on. It highlights the areas which freelancers usually ignore.

These courses are aimed for beginners, they start with basics to make it clear for people on where to start. After completion of these courses, you would be able to independently work on projects.

Advantages

· The courses are specially targeted for beginners

· The courses are taught by experienced professionals

· Project management is taught for beginners

· The nitty-gritty of Freelancing is covered.

· The courses are self-paced

2. Freelance Courses by SkillShare

Building and branding yourself as a freelancer can be a tricky task and requires perseverance and patience, along with knowledge about the key steps. To stay updated and enhance the skills that you need to focus on, SkillShare has several interesting courses present for candidates interested in freelancing. The platform also offers skill-based specific courses for people who are stepping into Freelancing.

Advantages

· Audio/video-based courses which are easy to grasp

· Expert lead courses

· Self-Paced

· Short and precise lectures

· Tips on marketing and business fundamentals

3. Writing for the Web at Class Central

Many people choose content writing as a freelancing job. While a lot of people are available to write content, only a few realize its worth. The importance of quality web content can take you to places. People who are selecting content writing for the web need to take this course available on Class Central to enhance their writing skills. The course focuses on the need of the readers, improving writing style and structure as well as teaching the basic SEO skills to writers as well.

New writers may not be aware, but it is essential to integrate keywords that drive traffic to the published article. For example, a carpet cleaning business may ask you to write a blog for their website and include the keyword Carpet cleaning Batterseain your content for higher visibility.

Writing courses at Class Central is beneficial for people who are or want to pursue a career in web content writing, web publishing, digital marketing, advertising designer website coordinator, etc. You must work on the skill that you are planning to build your portfolio on.

Advantages

· Learn how to increase engagement via content

· Learn how to give your content better structure

· Learn the techniques of content optimization and search engine optimization

4. Freelancing 101 at CreativeLive

Another helpful course for people who are thinking of starting Freelancing is Freelancing 101: Turning your Side Hustle into Cash. This course focuses on enhancing business skills that you need to get more projects. The course focuses on building an action plan and work on building a network, which is a critical step in Freelancing. Moreover, focusing on competitor analysis and making your work stand out are also being highlighted in the course. Setting small goals and focus on achieving them can help you expand and grow as a freelancer.

Advantages

· Focuses on negotiation skills and making your work stand out

· Detailed classes focusing on important factors to improve your freelancer skills

· Easy access to lectures

· Helps in figuring out how to take projects that interests you

5. Courses for Freelancers – LinkedIn

Whether you are a beginner or an advanced freelancer, LinkedIn courses focus on enhancing and helping freelancers at different levels. There are helpful guidelines to focus on portfolio management as well as enhancing advanced skills that are essential for freelancers. The courses are concentrated towards proposal making, communication with clients, time management, contract formation, pricing and invoicing, etc. These skills are essential to learning to become a successful freelancer.

Advantages

· The courses are free of cost for the first month

· You can complete the course at your own pace

· Practical exercises can help you understand better

· Lectures can also be attended with offline option

· Easy and manageable lectures