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Best Tips on How to Build a Startup Team

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how to build a startup team

There are a lot of things to consider when building your startup team. You’ll need to find the right people for each job, make sure those people are aligned with your goals and values and then manage them effectively so that they can do their jobs well. This is easier said than done, but it’s not impossible! Here are some tips on how to build a strong team from scratch:

Find your co-founder match

When you’re looking for a co-founder, it’s important to find someone who shares your values and can bring something to the table that you can’t. This is especially true if you don’t have any previous startup team experience—because now would be a bad time to try to learn how to do everything yourself!

You’ll want someone who has skills that complement yours. For example, if one of you has a technical background but not much business knowledge and the other has entrepreneurial experience but isn’t technical at all, then looking for someone who balances those two skill sets out should help ensure the success of your company.

It’s also important that this person will work well with others; if they don’t mesh well with other people on your team—or even just in general—that could spell disaster for everyone involved (and no one wants THAT).

Get to know potential team members

In order to find the right people for your team, you need to see how well they fit into your company and culture.

  • Do you and the potential team member agree on what success looks like?
  • Do you have similar goals?
  • Are they committed to learning and growing as a professional?
  • Is their work ethic aligned with yours?

When building a startup team, everyone must be on the same page about goals, values, and priorities. You want people who are excited about what they do – not just those who take up space in an office chair because there aren’t any other jobs available at their skill level (and current industry).

Hire early, hire slow

The most important lesson for a founder to learn is that hiring is as much about not hiring someone, as it is about hiring them.

Hiring early and slow means you’ll spend more time getting to know the candidate before bringing them on board, which gives you an opportunity to make sure they have the right skills, experience and personality for your startup team.

It also gives you time to think through all aspects of working with them: how it could benefit your business; what growth opportunities you’re offering; how their compensation package compares with others in their field (and whether they’re worth it).

Beware of the all-star

This is a person who has already succeeded in a previous role, and they are (understandably) reluctant to take on an assignment that might be beneath them. An all-star is often overqualified for the position, which means they may not be willing to take on the tasks that need to be done or are struggling with management issues.

All-stars can also cause problems due to their unique personality traits or mindset. For example, many high performers have a hard time working under someone else because they’re so used to being their own boss or having complete control of their work environment—and this can lead them down an unproductive path if they don’t adjust accordingly.

Your first employee is a bigger deal than you think

The first employee is a bigger deal than you think because they set the tone for the rest of your startup team and are critical to company culture.

  • First impressions matter. The first employee is often the most visible person in your company, and they’ll be seen as representative of your organization by outsiders whether they like it or not (and if you don’t have any customers yet, you won’t have anyone to impress).
  • It’s tempting to hire someone who knows how things work at a startup team since that person will be able to hit the ground running when it comes to tasks like interviewing candidates and doing marketing materials. But remember: You don’t want someone who only knows how things work at startups—you want someone who can help build a new way of doing things!

    If you’re looking for someone with startup team experience but they don’t have an entrepreneurial mindset, try looking at people who recently left corporate jobs or even just graduated college (a recent grad will probably be more open-minded than an established professional).

Consider outsourcing for your first few hires to save money and time

Outsourcing can be a good way to save time and money when you’re just starting out. If you don’t know what talent you need yet, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the options out there. Instead of trying to find the perfect candidate in one fell swoop, consider outsourcing for a few months before putting someone on full-time.

You’ll learn what skills are necessary for your role while also getting in touch with potential candidates who might be interested in joining later as a full-time employees or part-time contractors (or both). And if it turns out that outsourcing isn’t working for you after all? Well, at least now you’ve got some knowledge about what kinds of people will fit well in your organization!

Use contract labor for junior roles like design or development work

When you’re just starting out, you can use contract labor to get started. If you have a product-based business, this is particularly useful: it’s a great way to test the market and make sure your product is appealing before you fully commit to hiring full-time employees.

Contract labor can also be used as an opportunity to test your startup team—if someone does great work on a contract basis, it might make sense for them to join your ranks as an employee.

Don’t expect employees to carry the burden of your inexperience

When you’re just starting out, it’s easy to feel like your employees are responsible for your inexperience. You may think that if you only knew how to do X or Y thing, then everything would be perfect. But this is a fallacy. You have to learn how to manage people, and this takes time and practice—no one learns these skills overnight.

So don’t expect employees to carry the burden of your inexperience and show initiative on their own time; instead, take more ownership over the process of building a startup team—whether it’s by learning how to set expectations and hold people accountable or by delegating tasks that don’t require expertise from you but will still move the company forward.

Practice good management and equity practices

The way you distribute equity is an important part of building your startup team. The best way to do this is through a vesting schedule, which means that employees will earn their equity over time as they contribute more and more to the company.

Vesting schedules are also great because they give employees an incentive to stay with the company for the long haul—once they’ve earned their shares, it’s in their best interest to stick around instead of jumping ship after one year. But what if you can’t offer all founders equal stakes? If there’s only one founder and several cofounders, who gets more? How many shares should each person get?

Creating a strong startup team

It can be difficult, but it is possible if you take things slowly, consider the best fit for each position, and do not settle for the first person you interview.

  • You can’t do it all yourself.
  • You need a startup team of people working together to make the company successful, so don’t be afraid to recruit others and build a strong startup team.
  • If you’re having trouble finding the right people for your startup team, here are some tips:
  • Consider getting help from an experienced entrepreneur who has already built a successful business.
  • Not every entrepreneur needs to know how to code or run marketing campaigns, but they should have enough knowledge about their field of expertise (marketing, programming) that they can get their job done effectively without any problems.
  • Each person on your startup team needs to have different skill sets so that none of them overlap too much with each other’s roles for everything to run smoothly.

If you can get your startup team right, it’s the difference between success and failure. It’s also an area where many entrepreneurs fall short. By taking the time to build a strong team that complements each other’s skills and personalities, you will be able to achieve more than just working together—you’ll be building relationships that last well beyond when the company is no longer at its peak.

Keetria is an entrepreneur, wellness advocate, and brand strategy coach for creatives & entrepreneurs with 16 years of public relations expertise working with some of the world’s leading brands, startups, media personalities, and entertainers. If you would like to work together, don’t hesitate to reach out!

5 Unconventional Ways to Raise Money for Startups

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Your startup has been in the works for months, or even years. You’ve thought of every detail, from its name and logo to how it will be marketed and sold. You’ve even formulated an exit strategy—but now you need to raise money to get your idea off the ground. In this post, we’ll explore five unconventional ways founders can raise capital without going through venture capitalists or angel investors: crowdfunding, competitions, pitch festivals, grants, and government loans.

Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding is a way to raise money by offering your product or service to a large number of people. The most popular crowdfunding platforms are GoFundMe, Kickstarter and Indiegogo. Crowdfunding is a great way to get validation for your business idea. If you can’t find any early customers, then no one will come back later when you’re ready to sell more products or services. It’s also useful for raising funds without having to give up equity in your business (more on this later).

If you’re just starting out, crowdfunding may not be the best option for you because there aren’t many people who have heard about your company yet and that means there may be a limited demand for what you offer. On the other hand, if there’s already demand for what you offer (for example: dog grooming products) then crowdfunding could be worth considering as an alternative financing option. This is especially the case since investors are looking at metrics like conversion rate when deciding whether or not they want their raise money involved with projects such as yours!

Idea validation competitions

An idea validation competition is a competition in which you, the startup founder, submit an idea for a new product or service that you want to build. The organizers of the idea validation competition will then assess it and award one or more raise money or prizes for the most promising ideas.

An idea validation competition differs from a pitch contest in that it does not require you to make a formal presentation on stage. Instead, your work should be judged based on how well you write about your business plan to raise money and how much research you have done into what users want in this market space.

In addition, unlike most pitch contests which take place at events like TechCrunch Disrupt or SXSW Interactive Festival (and where every presenter gets their stage), during an ideation competition everyone’s ideas are posted online so no one feels like they’re getting lost in the crowd.

The good news is that there are many different kinds of Idea Validation Competitions out there – some focused on specific industries like healthcare while others focus on sectors within technology such as FinTech(Financial Technology). And since these competitions are growing(raise money) increasingly popular among startups looking for funding they’re often open year-round with multiple rounds each month so don’t wait around – submit your idea!

Pitch Festivals

Think of a pitch festival as a cross between a job fair and speed dating. You get to meet with lots of investors and potential partners, all in one place. Pitch festivals are also great for gaining exposure for your idea—you can do it at events like SXSW Interactive or TechCrunch Disrupt that draw thousands of attendees from around the world.

If you’re planning on applying to pitch festivals, here’s what you should know:

  • Know your audience. Who are these investors? What are they looking for? How much raise money do they have available to invest? Do they prefer early-stage startups or later-stage ones? Do they like consumer products over enterprise software?
  • Have an elevator pitch ready. Even if you’re not sure someone will ask this question outright (and many won’t), it’s good practice to have something ready just in case so that you don’t waste anyone’s time when they try asking about your idea too early on in the conversation.”

Government grants

If you’re looking for funding and don’t have a lot of experience, grants may be a good way to go. While grants typically aren’t as prestigious as venture capital or angel investment funding, they can provide the necessary capital to get your business off the ground. Grants are often awarded to startups that are socially responsible, environmentally friendly, or innovative.

In order to qualify for government grants, there are certain criteria that you’ll need to meet some which include:

The startup must be registered as a business in the country where the grant is being offered. You’ll need to have a business plan, which means you’ll need to know exactly how you’re going to use the funding and what your goals are.

Angel investors

  • An angel investor is a person who invests in startups, generally when they are at the seed or early stage of funding.
  • Angel investors are not as concerned with financial projections and projections as VCs, but rather focus on other factors like the team or market opportunities.
  • Angel investors often invest their own raise money in startups and can also bring their professional networks to bear on behalf of your business. They may be willing to invest up to $25,000 in a company with no formal pitch deck, but expect you to have done some research about them before approaching them directly (e.g., social media accounts).
  • You can find angel investors by starting with your network (friends and family), then expanding outward based on those who have invested in similar companies previously.

Recap: Ways to raise capital other than venture funding

There are many ways to raise capital other than venture funding. Here are a few options:

  • Crowdfunding – A great way to get your name out there and test your product, but you have to prove that people want it.
  • Idea validation competitions – You might win raise money or be able to pitch at a prestigious event. These are great if you’re just starting out, but they can also be a distraction from focusing on making sales.
  • Pitch festivals – Same as above, but these tend to be more focused on startups with proven traction and products rather than ideas alone (though there are exceptions).
  • Government grants – Some governments offer non-dilutive funding for early-stage companies; it may take some time before these help you make raise money or even see any return on investment (ROI), but they’re an option nonetheless.
  • Angel investors/seed funds/VC funds – If you’ve already been rejected by VCs above this level then try pitching them again with more experience under your belt!

Conclusion Raise Money

Raising capital or raise money is a critical part of starting up your business. The more capital, raise money you have, the more resources you’ll have at your disposal and the more time you can spend figuring out how to use those resources effectively. But don’t worry—there are plenty of unconventional ways to raise capital that don’t involve selling equity or taking on debt (which could limit your ability to grow). If all else fails, crowd-funding campaigns might be a good place for startups to start when looking for funding opportunities.


Keetria is an entrepreneur, wellness advocate, and brand strategy coach for creatives & entrepreneurs with 16 years of public relations expertise working with some of the world’s leading brands, startups, media personalities, and entertainers. If you would like to work together, don’t hesitate to reach out!

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5 Powerful Podcasts for Business and Entrepreneurship

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powerful business podcasts

Nowadays there’s a podcast for everything. From true crime stories to comedians roasting each other, there’s no shortage of content to keep your ears busy on your morning commute or during a long run. But what about entrepreneurship? Are there any good podcasts out there that can help small business owners and entrepreneurs learn new skills and get motivated? The answer is yes!

Starting and running a small business is no easy task.

There are a million and one things to think about, from finances and marketing to product development and customer service. It can be tough to know where to start or even where to turn for help. Luckily, there are some great entrepreneurship podcasts out there that can offer advice, insights, and inspiration.

Here are five of the best entrepreneurship podcasts to help build your business.

1. The Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders Series: This podcast from Stanford University features interviews with some of the biggest names in the entrepreneurial world. If you’re looking for some big-picture thinking on starting and running a business, these podcasts are perfect for entrepreneurs ready to launch their new venture.

2. How I Built This: This popular podcast from NPR tells the stories of how some of the world’s most successful businesses got their start. If you are interested in first-hand accounts of entrepreneurship in action, this could be the perfect podcast for you.

3. SOB: Style of Business: This podcast covers a wide range of topics related to small business ownership and startups. If you’re looking for practical advice on everything from creative inspiration to marketing and finance, Style of Business will get you moving in the right direction to achieve your goals.

4. The Fizzle Show: This podcasts is all about helping creative entrepreneurs build sustainable businesses they love. If you’re struggling to find your passion in your business or if you’re just looking for some motivation – don’t sleep on The Fizzle! There is a lot of great information and advice in each episode.

5. Startups for the Rest of Us: This podcast is geared towards helping so-called “regular” people start and grow their businesses. If you feel like you’re not cut out for entrepreneurship, or if you’re just looking for some relatable stories, this podcast will fuel you with the courage and inspiration you need to move towards your goals.

Podcasting is a great way to learn and be inspired as an entrepreneur.

By listening to podcasts, you can gain new insights and perspectives on what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur.

What type of podcast are you listening to help build your business? Let me know in the comments below. I’d love to hear about it! And if you need help getting started with your podcast, don’t hesitate to reach out. We can chat about the different ways we could help you bring your vision for your business to life.

Keetria is an entrepreneur, wellness advocate, and brand strategy coach for creatives & entrepreneurs with 16 years of public relations expertise working with some of the world’s leading brands, startups, media personalities, and entertainers. If you would like to work together, don’t hesitate to reach out!

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5 Reasons Holding Companies Are Used For Real Estate Portfolios

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what are holding companies

Real estate is an immensely sought-after investment venture (having recently hit $10.5 trillion in value) that, unfortunately, has several idiosyncratic risks. These risks should not deter investors away from this market but merely inform them of the precautions they should be taking to safely capitalize on their investments.

While often the first thing that comes to mind, insurance is not the most effective safeguard that investors can employ to protect their real estate portfolio. That title goes to holding companies, which not only mitigate risk but also grant several other fringe benefits.

After explaining what a holding company is, and how it’s structured, this article will explore the reasons it is used for real estate portfolios.

What Is A Holding Company?

In the context of real estate portfolios, holding companies are entities designed to contain several subsidiaries, each of which is responsible for a single, specific asset (i.e. a property) of the owner. The purpose of the holding company is merely to hold all of these other subsidiaries responsible for each property of the owner.

Furthermore, holding companies will not get involved in the daily undertakings of each of their subsidiaries to maintain a separation of the risks of each business. It is common for holding companies to be formed as an LLC in a business-friendly state such as Nevada or Texas.

Limited liability companies (LLCs) have become more popular as holding companies than corporations since the latter is far more complicated to manage and is less adaptable to taxation.

Why Use Holding Companies

  1. Tax Benefits

Since the IRS views holding companies used for real estate purposes with a single owner as equivalent to a “disregarded entity” (such as a sole proprietorship or general partnership), it benefits from the tax advantages associated with these structures. Namely, they are subject to a reduced form of tax called ‘passthrough taxation’ since any capital gains and income tax the business would be liable for is only paid by the owner instead, rather than both.

On top of this, if the holding company chooses to organize itself as an LLC (which it is recommended they do, not least because there is no extra tax associated with this decision) it is able to avoid double taxation too. This would mean that neither the rental income of the property nor its raw value can be subject to tax penalties.

In fact, mortgage interest on the property is tax-deductible for owners of single-member LLC holding companies. That being said, the IRS takes a slightly different approach with multi-member LLCs, which are considered more similar to partnerships if anything.

  1. Insulates Against Economic Downturn

Establishing a holding company in order to manage all the properties on your real estate portfolio is an extremely effective measure to insulate oneself against the effects of an economic downturn on properties.

Since property values are highly volatile and, to quite a large extent, determined by the state of the economy itself it is important for real estate investors with multiple properties to use holding companies to protect themselves most effectively from a drop in the value of one or several of their properties as a result of an economic downturn.

  1. Precludes Personal Liability

It is well known that real estate investment can yield great returns, due largely to the pure amount of capital involved in single deals. Because of the size of this capital, and the highly volatile nature of the housing market, it is paramount that real estate investors use holding companies in order to protect their personal assets (i.e. their liquid, car, house, etc.).

Holding companies are able to provide this protection because they are normally either LLCs or corporations – both of which curb a business’s liabilities to the business itself. This stops the owner’s personal assets from being drawn upon to cover business debts in the event the business becomes bankrupt or is subject to a lawsuit.

As such, only the holding company’s business assets would be at risk in the case of these events, so the owner can rest easy that their personal assets are not on the line with every investment.

  1. Association LLC Benefits

Since holding companies are very often established as LLCs, they get to share in a number of additional benefits associated with this structure, primarily its:

  • Cheapness – LLCs are by and wide much cheaper than corporations to maintain, the starkest example of this is the difference in fees each business structure has to pay for its authorized number of shares. That being said, the cheaper state registration fees of LLCs do not go unnoticed either.
  • Transferability – ownership of LLCs is fairly simple to transfer, which perfectly suits the needs of a holding company as the owner can use this as a way to ‘gift’ the LLC to their heirs every year to avoid some taxes without the need to sign a deed.
  • Straightforward nature – LLCs are far simpler to manage than corporations because the latter is mandated by law to have appointed directors while no such requirements are present for LLCs. This means that it is much less of a headache to apportion responsibilities and roles between owners (or even a third party) at an LLC

  1. Increased Privacy

Since holding companies can be LLCs, owners who do not wish their ownership of the company to be public knowledge can establish it as an anonymous LLC. This is a specialized way of registering an LLC which means that the owners of the LLC do not need to be publicly recorded by the state in a database of some sort.

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Manage Your Startup While Working Full Time

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Starting and managing your startup or small business while working a full-time job can be difficult. It takes a lot of time and energy to get a new business off the ground, and it’s often hard to find the extra hours in the day to do everything that needs to be done. 

In this blog post, we will discuss some tips for how to start and manage your startup while working a full-time job. We’ll also offer some advice on how to make the most of your limited free time!

If you’re considering launching a startup, or if you’ve already started one and are struggling to balance your work and personal life, read on.

Set Realistic Goals While Working Full Time

First, it’s important to set realistic goals for your startup. Don’t try to do too much too soon – it’s better to make slow and steady progress than to try to accomplish everything at once and then burn out. It’s also important to be flexible; as your business grows and changes, so will your goals.

Use Technology to your Advantage

Second, take advantage of technology. There are a lot of great tools out there that can help you manage your time more effectively, stay organized, and automate tasks that would otherwise take up valuable hours of your day. Utilize these tools to make your life easier and to free up time for the important tasks that only you can do.

Get Good at Delegating Task

Third, delegate! If you’re trying to do everything yourself, you’re going to quickly become overwhelmed. Delegate tasks to employees, contractors, or even friends and family members who are willing to help out. This will allow you to focus on the most important aspects of your business, and it will also help other people feel invested in your startup’s success.

Take Care of Yourself

Finally, don’t forget to take care of yourself! While Working long hours can be stressful, and it’s important to make time for things like exercise, relaxation, and socializing with friends outside of work. A healthy mind and body will help you be more productive overall, so make sure to schedule some time for yourself every week.

By following these tips, you can start and manage your startup while still While working a full-time job. It won’t be easy, but it is possible! With careful planning and execution, you can build a successful business while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Good luck!

Do you have any startup tips of your own? Share them in the comments below! And if you found this post helpful, please share it with your friends!

Keetria is an entrepreneur, wellness advocate, and brand strategy coach for creatives & entrepreneurs with 16 years of public relations expertise working with some of the world’s leading brands, startups, media personalities, and entertainers. If you would like to work together, don’t hesitate to reach out!

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Minority Entrepreneurship: How to Find Resources to Support Growth

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Many minority entrepreneurs have a great idea for a business but don’t know where to find the resources and support they need to make their dream a reality. In this blog post, we will discuss some of the best places to find help and advice when starting your own business. We will also talk about how to generate leads for your products or services, and give you some tips on how to grow your business. So if you’re ready to start your own company, read on!

Ways to find resources & support

One of the best places to find resources and support for minority entrepreneurs is online. There are several informative blogs and online resources that offer advice and information on starting your own business, as well as providing a directory of minority-owned businesses. You can also find helpful articles, tips, and advice from other minority entrepreneurs on sites like Medium or Reddit and even on Instagram.

Another great way to find resources and support for your minority business is to connect with other entrepreneurs in your community. There are often meetups or networking events specifically for minority entrepreneurs, where you can share ideas, get feedback, and find potential customers or partners. You can also join online communities such as Facebook groups or LinkedIn groups dedicated to minority entrepreneurship.

Ways to generate leads for your business

If you’re looking for ways to generate leads for your minority business, one of the best places to start is by networking with other businesses in your community. You can attend local business events or meetups, or even connect with businesses online that could potentially complement your target audience. Another great way to generate leads is by offering free consultations or samples of your product or service. Providing samples or trial periods of your product will give potential customers a chance to try out what you have to offer, and if they like it, they may be more likely to buy from you in the future.

Finally, if you want to grow your minority business, one of the best things you can do is invest in marketing and advertising. There are many ways to market your business online and offline, and minority-owned businesses often qualify for special discounts on advertising rates. You can also get involved with minority business organizations or your local chambers of commerce, which can help you connect with other minority-owned businesses and get your name out there. In some communities, resources like Score are available for business owners and entrepreneurs.

Support Resources are Available for Minority Entrepreneurs

Minority entrepreneurship is a growing field with plenty of opportunities for those who are willing to put in the work. While it can be difficult to get started, there are plenty of resources available to minority entrepreneurs if they know where to look. 

With a little bit of effort, anyone can find the advice and support they need to start their own business and begin generating leads for their business. All it takes is some research and networking. By following these tips, you can find the resources and support you need to grow your business today.

Keetria is an entrepreneur, wellness advocate, and brand strategy coach for creatives & entrepreneurs with 16 years of public relations expertise working with some of the world’s leading brands, startups, media personalities, and entertainers. If you would like to work together, don’t hesitate to reach out!

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How to Use Infographics to Drive Traffic to your Journal Articles

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how to use infographics

Consider the articles you like to read. Are boxed text pieces, tables, and pictures “more easy reads” for you? Do color graphics catch your attention and pull you into the content? Consider how much more likely you are to engage with something that has a visual component while surfing through social media updates or reading online diaries.

The author’s objectives are to connect with the public and share material, with the objective of educating, informing, and motivating. Isn’t it time they made maximum use of all possibilities and formats to achieve these goals? An infographic is a way to display your article information, appeal to your current readers, and attract new audiences. Infographics are used by 65 percent of organizations to complement their content marketing strategy.

Why should I devote time to creating an infographic?

The best answer is that an infographic can be used as a marketing tool. By taking the time to design an attractive and well-crafted graphic, you are increasing the visibility of your work and attracting new readers.

You don’t have to be a professional designer or artist to create an infographic. There are many infographic tools available online that allow users to create simple designs with basic shapes and colors. In addition, most journal publishers will have staff who can help you with the design process.

What are some best practices for creating infographics?

Here are a few tips:

– Keep it simple: Use short phrases and sentences, avoid jargon, and use easy-to-understand language

– Use strong visuals: Choose high-quality images, use bright colors, and consider using icons or illustrations

– Be creative: Think outside the traditional journal article format and get creative with your design

– Tell a story: Use your infographic to tell a story that will engage readers and make them want to share your work

By following these tips, you can create an infographic that will help you achieve your goals of increasing the visibility of your journal articles and attracting new readers. Give it a try! 

How to use infographics to drive traffic to your journal articles

The first step may be the most difficult: coming up with a topic. After you’ve collected your data and organized it, it’s time to present it in a way that is visually appealing. 

After that, provide a solution to a problem!

People are more likely to engage with your content if they feel like you’re providing them with a solution to their problem. Make sure your design is clean and easy to understand. Use strong visuals and avoid using too much text. 

Also, tell a story with your infographic. Infographics must also have a fantastic design in order to capture attention and draw people in. People learn better through pictures, therefore this is the greatest method to interact with them. When creating an infographic, consider using one of the best infographic tools available online. This will allow users to create simple designs with basic shapes and colors. 

To be more professional and fantastic, infographics should also contain educational and entertaining facts to look more attractive and professional. According to some best practices for creating infographics, keep it simple by using short phrases and sentences, avoiding jargon, and using easy-to-understand language. Also, use strong visuals such as choosing high-quality images and using bright colors. You can also use icons or illustrations. Be creative in order to think outside the traditional journal article format. 

Most importantly, tell a story that will engage readers and make them want to share your work! By following these tips, you can create an infographic that will help you achieve your goals of increasing the visibility of your journal articles and attracting new readers.

Keetria is an entrepreneur, wellness advocate, and brand strategy coach for creatives & entrepreneurs with 16 years of public relations expertise working with some of the world’s leading brands, startups, media personalities, and entertainers. If you would like to work together, don’t hesitate to reach out!

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Best Small Business Growth Strategies for 2022

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For a variety of reasons, 2021 was a difficult year for small company owners. 2022 gives a fresh opportunity to build your business, whether it was a successful or unsuccessful year for you, or if you’re just getting started. Eight small company growth methods and recommendations are included below to assist you in achieving your objectives.

Create a Successful Business Plan

You should prepare a business strategy if you do not already have one. Writing a business plan pushes you to consider different areas of your company, including your products and services, target clients (more on that later), competitors, and marketing strategy.

A business plan also aids in the formulation of revenue predictions and the setting of firm objectives. Take the time to consider all of these factors and set objectives for the year. It’s time to dust off your old company plan and refresh it with new objectives and predictions.

Boost your Online Visibility

Having an online presence is critical for future success, regardless of whether your firm is thriving offline. The eCommerce business is increasing at a rate of roughly 23% per year, and some experts predict that by 2040, online sales will account for 95% of all purchases.

2022 is the year to have a website for your company if you don’t already have one. A website may assist your firm gain reputation, expand sales capacity (particularly in the future), develop brand recognition, allow you to engage in email marketing, and much more.

Another channel you can’t overlook is social media. 45 percent of social media users said they used the platform to study companies and items, and 67 percent said they bought something they saw advertised on social media. Even concentrating on one or two social media channels where your clients are engaged might help your company grow significantly.

Quality Employees to Attract and Hire

A solid team is one of the most important components of a successful business. Quality and devoted staff may make a huge difference in the success of your small business.

According to the most recent labor data, the United States still has 10.6 million job opportunities and insufficient applicants to fill them. In reality, for every job opportunity, there are just 0.7 jobless people.

Write precise and informative job descriptions to attract great employees by letting applicants know exactly what will be required of them. Then, to make your firm as appealing as – or more appealing than – your rivals, match incentives from other businesses in your field.

This might include a welcome bonus, a hybrid work model, or other perks.

Develop a Positive Company Culture

Businesses have faced large waves of resignations in what has been dubbed “the Great Resignation,” in addition to facing financial difficulties and implementing Covid-19 safety standards.

Developing a strong business culture is one of the greatest methods to retain outstanding personnel. In 2022, make an effort to bring the whole business together for events – as securely as possible – to establish trusting connections via transparency, to have an open-door policy so workers can voice their concerns, and to be as flexible with scheduling as feasible.

Reduce Your Business’s Risks

While running a company does come with risks, having proper business insurance will protect you from serious liability risks. 75 percent of firms, according to one research, are underinsured.

There are many various forms of company insurance to consider, but general liability, workers’ compensation, and commercial property insurance are the three most important.

– Liability in general. General liability insurance protects you and your company in the event that a client, customer, vendor, or other third party is injured on your premises or while using your products and services.

– Workers’ Compensation Insurance. Workers’ compensation insurance is almost mandatory for all employers. It pays for medical expenses and missed earnings when employees are injured on the job or get ill as a result of their work.

– Commercial real estate. Accidental damage, vandalism, or loss of the physical structure and assets are all covered by commercial property insurance.

Make sure you have the correct sort of business insurance and enough coverage so that you and your company are protected in the event of a disaster.

Make a Marketing Investment

Invest in marketing and spread the word about your company to get ahead in these unpredictable times. In 2022, marketing must be a component of your business growth plan, but it doesn’t have to be expensive.

Utilizing social media ads, google ads, regular print advertisements, and other marketing strategies can all be effective ways to make your business known and attract potential customers.

Directing visitors to your website and establishing an email list may also be quite successful if you have one. Make marketing a priority in your budget, regardless of the path(s) you take.

Concentrate on the Correct Customers

Do you know who you’re trying to reach? Do you understand their wants, needs, and passions? If not, you should make this a high priority because you won’t be as successful if you can’t satisfy your clients’ demands.

Making customer/buyer personas is a fantastic method to get started thinking about your consumers’ problems and how to address them.

Are your products and services satisfying the requirements, wants, and interests of your target customers? Make contact with your current consumers and solicit feedback. They’re the ideal individuals to inform you how you’re doing and even provide you advice on how to better.

Make Customer Service a Top Priority

This may come as no surprise, but customer service must be prioritized in order to expand your business in 2022. If you don’t provide better service than your competition, your clients will move elsewhere.

When customers’ concerns are promptly addressed and their problems are rapidly resolved, they feel appreciated. Always go above and above to assist your clients, and make sure your employees are well-trained to deliver the finest possible service. Also, it is a good idea to get a business phone number.

Don’t forget to request reviews and testimonials, as 88 percent of purchasers trust internet reviews as much as personal recommendations.

Keetria is an entrepreneur, wellness advocate, and brand strategy coach for creatives & entrepreneurs with 16 years of public relations expertise working with some of the world’s leading brands, startups, media personalities, and entertainers. If you would like to work together, don’t hesitate to reach out!

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All You Need to Know About Choosing the Right Colors for Your Brand

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Your Brand

Colors play a huge role in branding, without proper explanation and the use of color, you may be sending the wrong message to your audience. You may not know, but every color that you see out there, particularly in the marketing domain explains color and a story behind it. There is always a relationship between the branding colors and the message that you want to convey to your audience. Therefore, it is important to research well and then choose a color for the brand while still looking for the answer to a very obvious question “who is going to make a Logo for me”? Once you have decided on something, it is important you send over the message to the designers so they know what they are expected to do.

With the use of the right color in the logo, you can influence your audience. There is a critical influence of color on the way we see the world. In case you are planning to start a new business or maybe thinking of rebranding, it’s time you understand the impact of colors on the consumer’s behaviors.

It is time you take a closer look at how you can incorporate colors into your brand strategy by keeping the following things in mind because obviously, you do not want to mess up your branding.

Colors and Its Meanings in Branding Life (Your Brand)

First thing first, here we are going to discuss how each color indicates something and means something in marketing. The use of the wrong color can just completely jeopardize your whole branding. Nevertheless, here we go!

  1. Red: If you are looking to grab attention and get your audience excited about something, red is the color to go with. It signifies anger, comfort, love, and life.
  2. Yellow: When advertising something adventurous, travel, enthusiasm, or happiness, yellow is the color to choose.
  3. Green: Sustainability, health, knowledge, and anything educational or healthy, if your brand promotes any of such a thing, go with green.
  4. Blue: It is the color of competence, integrity, high quality, reliability, and honesty.
  5. Purple: When it is about creativity, respect, and royalty, there is no better color than purple.
  6. Pink: It signifies romance, sophistication, compassion, love, and gentleness.
  7. Black: When you have to be sophisticated, serious, and intelligent, choose black.
  8. Grey: Choose grey, if your brand is all about class, timelessness, practicality, and neutrality.
  9. White: It shows innocence, space, cleanliness, and purity.

If you are still confused about how to choose the right colors for your brand, you need to read stay here and keep reading.

5 Tips to Choose a Brand Color

  1. Create Your Brand Identity

The colors that you choose for your brand say a lot about you, we have already discussed it before. However, you need to understand how the colors reflect your brand identity. They are one important part of your whole identity and how you should go about it. The whole palette explains your values and the message that you want your brand to communicate. In order to reach this point, you need to first explain your brand identity.

The most common practice that is followed normally is listing all adjectives that explain your brand character, list them as if you are talking about a person in general. Ask questions to yourself and see what perception you want of your brand in your customer’s minds. What is that thing that differentiates you from the other brands in your industry?

2. Explore the Meanings of the Colors

The industry you are in and the message you want to send over to the customers is the deciding factor in the overall branding. However, you must understand that colors are not the exact science and there is no particular equation that can accurately explain what the color defines. And this is where we make the use of the color combinations. If your message does not come in the palette of regular colors, it is time you make some right combinations.

As we have already discussed colors, explain the brand message therefore, proper study and research should be done to ensure you are on the right track. In order to understand, if you have chosen the right color for your brand you need to think of the differences in the meanings of the different shades when combined with the other colors. Blue alone may show something else but when combined with another color, it would mean something else.

Following industries use these colors in order to signify the right meaning.
a) Food industry: You would see most of the logos of the restaurant industry in the warm tones, one of the reasons is because they attract attention and hunger. Colors like yellow, red, and orange are a few of the many colors that are used for this purpose. However, when the brand is all about nutrition and health, green is the color that most brands use for their identification. And of course, pink and blue for the desserts and sweets.

b) Health and wellness: When we talk about health and wellness, cleanliness is the first thing that comes to your mind and nothing represents cleanliness better than blue color. The blue color shows responsibility and trustworthiness. Other colors to choose from are green and orange as they represent nature and wholesomeness.

c) Fashion: If your brand is all sophisticated and elegant you MUST go with the black color. No fashion brand can ever go wrong with the black color. You would be surprised to see how black and white are the most classic colors and they are always the safest choice. Nevertheless, you can also go with pink, red, and orange as well to show excitement, passion, and confidence as well.

d) Technology: You would most see blue color when it comes to advertising technological products. The color symbolizes intelligence, efficiency and trust. Moreover, you can also use orange as well as it is more friendly and optimistic. Other than this, purple also stands for creativity and quality.

3. Look for Inspiration

There must be a story behind your brand? Or a reason why you started it? Or something that must have influenced you to begin your brand. When you are working on branding your brand, you need to look for the reasons why you started the brand, what was the initial inspiration for you. It would help you decide your brand colors. Look through the colors your competitors are using the palettes they go through and try to think of their pattern. We are not in any way recommending you to copy their theme or influence, but you should look for inspiration from them. You both are in the same industry and nobody can guide you better than someone who has already been in your shoes. Think of all the lessons that you can take from their color choices, and the ways you can be different from them.

4. Choose the Main Color

Once you have taken all the inspiration from the competitors, it’s time you decide on the main color. The primary color will later then decide the whole palette for the brand. Such as the primary color for Tiffany’s is blue, you would see different shades of it in their whole branding. The same goes with the brands like Pinterest and Facebook, there is always so much that you can do with your primary color. The only thing is how you choose to do it.

Choose one main color that you think explains your business the best and their meaning is perfect for a brand. In order to reach the final color, you can try o the different colors and then choose the one that goes with the brand the best.

5. Choose Secondary Colors

You cannot depend on a single color for your whole branding, as good as it looks sometimes you have to choose other colors as well for the same purpose. When you have chosen the final color, look for the combinations and the colors that make the best combination with the primary color. You can choose more than one for it and then make sure the meaning of the combination is not confusing for your customers. It might be tricky for you but once you have decided on the whole palette everything later becomes easy.

Wrapping up!

Going with a branding color only because it’s your favorite is one irrational decision, you should know the science behind all the colors and understand why should it go with your brand. Most brands make the mistake of going with the colors only because the color is trending or the vibe of the color is good. It is not recommended at all. Changing your branding, again and again, is not possible therefore it is important when you are taking an initial step you should know when and how to go about it. The color you choose for your brand says a lot about you as it has a strong subconscious impact that most people do not know about.

Keetria is an entrepreneur, wellness advocate, and brand strategy coach for creatives & entrepreneurs with 16 years of public relations expertise working with some of the world’s leading brands, startups, media personalities, and entertainers. If you would like to work together, don’t hesitate to reach out!

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Things to Consider Before Hiring Developers

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hiring developers

When you employ developers for your company, you may save the burden of recruitment. There are several things you may do to prepare for the procedure. Here are some ideas to help you get started with your planning. In and of itself, recruiting in the software sector is difficult. According to a Forbes report, there may be a developer scarcity in the industry. So, finding great talent to recruit might be difficult.

So, if qualified developers are already rare, where do you look for them? Or, to put it another way, how can you compete in terms of remuneration with significant IT firms?

You may always prepare for the recruiting process to relieve some of the stress. Before you hire developers, there are a few things you can do to prepare.

Before you hire developers, keep these things in mind.

Hiring requires more than just placing a job ad. When a result, think about these items ahead of time as you recruit software engineers, both before and during the process. These pointers may even make hiring easier for you and your company.

1. Get your company’s name out there.

Do you want to compete for top talent with other significant corporations? To improve employer branding, brainstorm with your marketing and human resources teams. Potential applicants will approach you for opportunities if everything is done correctly.

Present your organization as a wonderful place to work in order to achieve this. Make a point of emphasizing your company’s culture and ideals.

Also, avoid placing anything in front of your new job that can jeopardize your integrity. Otherwise, if word comes out that you were dishonest in promoting your organization, your reputation may be jeopardized.

2. Familiarize yourself with the software development cycle.

This will allow you to assess how well the person will fit into your workplace. In addition, applicants can assess their ability to perform successfully on the job. This reduces the chances of new recruits quitting after onboarding because their expectations were not met.


3. Clearly define qualifications.

What technical skills are required for this position? What kind of experience do you think qualifies as relevant? Is there anything specific you’re looking for in terms of soft skills? Before you submit the recruiting notice, you must address these critical questions.

Many failed hiring occurs as a result of businesses failing to properly define what they require. This may lead you to recruit developers who do not fit the culture of your company or who do not perform effectively on the job.

As a result, make a list of the qualities that are required for the position. You may also make a list of desirable talents to assist you in reaching a compromise in various scenarios.

4. Make a detailed job description.

While hiring developers, be cautious when establishing the job description. Make sure precise duties and responsibilities are listed for the potential applicant to evaluate.

Any company-specific needs, such as technology to be employed on a certain assignment, should also be included. You may also customize the position’s details.

For instance, if you require the role to work on a shift that corresponds to a different time zone. This may appear to be extraneous information, yet it might play a significant role in an applicant’s choice. It can also play a role in the retention of new hires.

5. Make a plan to assist in the verification of credentials and portfolios.

This is a piece of cake if you have a well-established HR department. However, if you’re still a small business, it could be tempting to skip over the applicant’s qualifications. However, even if you opt to engage freelance developers, this must not be the case.

Now, to make things easy for you, seek assistance from the staff. You may start with react interview questions when interviewing people and even ask the help of experienced developers to check credentials and portfolios. Because they have the technical expertise, they know who’s who.

Also, be sure you arrange the applicant’s credentials to be verified. It’s important to keep in mind that candidates may misrepresent themselves. As a result, it is preferable to be comprehensive during the recruiting process.

6. Prepare an evaluation of technical skills based on real-life events.

Create a test utilizing real-life challenges to assess how well a candidate fits within your business. You may look back at prior projects to see what troubles you had and try to replicate them.

Request that the candidate address the problem for you during the technical skills evaluation. Inquire about their solutions throughout the interview. This way, you can get a sense of how they operate and see if they fit your expectations.

7. Have a recruitment consultation lineup

Do you believe you aren’t qualified to acquire coding assistance? Then seek for persons with whom you may consult during the hiring process. These folks might be industry contacts or senior developers on your team.

There is no shame in seeking assistance. So, anytime you hit a stumbling block in one of your activities, ask them to assist you.

8. Look into the developer rate standard in the business.

Because good developers are in high demand, you’ll need to make a compelling employment offer. To make this happen, conduct some studies on industry salary and benefit requirements. After you’ve received an estimate, you’ll need to determine your budget and devise a strategy for presenting the offer.

Before hiring coders, do your homework.

The expense of hiring new personnel might be significant. It extends beyond the remuneration and perks you provide. However, you must also consider the costs invested prior to finding the suitable developer.

As a result, it’s important to be as informed as possible while hiring software engineers. And with these pointers, you’ll be more equipped to deal with the obstacles of recruitment. Take note of what relates to your scenario and tailor the rest of the advice to your needs.

Keetria is an entrepreneur, wellness advocate, and brand strategy coach for creatives & entrepreneurs with 16 years of public relations expertise working with some of the world’s leading brands, startups, media personalities, and entertainers. If you would like to work together, don’t hesitate to reach out!

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