Traditional Marketing vs Influencer Marketing: Which Is Better?

It wasn't all that long ago that television ads were the best way to get a consumer to buy something. As consumers, we tend to think about whatever is in front of us and there was a time that television was America's favorite time-passing activity. But thanks to the invention of streaming channels and social media, commercials are a thing of the past for small, or even midsize, brands. 

Traditional marketing has had to make way for another way to reach out to consumers: influencer marketing. And in more ways than one, influencer marketing is taking over the marketing game from traditional marketing one swipe at a time. 

Traditional Marketing Vs. Influencer Marketing: What's the Difference? 

Traditional marketing goes beyond television ads, of course. It comes in many shapes and sizes: banner ads, youtube ads, sponsored ads on your favorite social media platforms. Essentially, any effort a brand makes to seek out their customers in a less organic way is considered traditional marketing. 

Influencer marketing is a different beast entirely. This is a way to position your brand so that it's combined with something your target audience already loves: popular people on the internet, usually Instagram. 

Instead of running a targeted ad, brands reach out to popular influencers and offer them something in exchange for being featured on their curated feed, usually in pictures or even testimonials. 

How Do They Reach Leads? 

For traditional marketing to reach leads, marketers have to discover entire strategies on their own. There are tools in place that can help marketers guide their ads to the people who are more likely to see them, but ultimately there isn't much control outside of that. 

Traditional marketing requires a lot of upkeep. The rules and trends of traditional marketing are always changing. 

Influencer marketing allows your brand to infuse itself into an entire community all at once. Every time an influencer posts about a product, viewers find it organically, and it reaches them in a different way. 

Most social media algorithms are stacked against marketing in favor of allowing consumers to interact with posts that have higher engagement. So, the more engagement your chosen influencer gets, the better likelihood that more people will see it. 

This, along with careful studying of an influencer's reach, will ensure that your brand will reach the right audience every time. 

Content Longevity 

By the time your ad is done running, that's it. You won't be able to find it online anymore. Any hope for reaching leads and garnering engagement ends as soon as your advertisement window comes to a close. However, with influencer marketing, it's there for good. Once your promoted post goes up, it stays, even when the influencer starts to work with other brands. 

Consumer Opinion 

When it comes to traditional marketing, the odds aren't great that your target audience is even going to look at your banner ad anyway. An older study showed that almost 43 percent of internet users don't pay attention to banner ads. This is a phenomenon called "banner blindness." The trend of users being blind to banner ads has only grown since then and isn't helped by increased ad blockers and the elimination of 3rd party cookies.

Consumers aren't intentionally ignoring your ads. The human brain is just exceptionally good at understanding where the important content on a screen is located. 

So, when it comes to influencer marketing, their eyes are going to be trained to go exactly where your brand is. After all, engagement with the influencer is exactly what they came for. 

Additionally, there is a level of trust when it comes to influencers and their community. Influencers are amazing at building trusting relationships with their audience. They build an authentic connection. 

Budget Considerations 

In order for your brand's traditional ads to run for a while, you'll have to have a steep marketing budget. It's not cheap to tailor your ads to a wide but specific audience and get your content in front of them. 

Whether it's pay-per-click or an entire ad campaign, running traditional ads is expensive. 

Influencer marketing is different. There are influencers with audiences of all different sizes, which means there is an influencer who is willing to share your content without breaking your marketing budget in half. 

Micro-influencers are a great way to generate word-of-mouth buzz about your product, and smaller influencers don't charge as much. 

Versatility of Content 

You're fairly limited when it comes to traditional ads. You don't have a whole lot of room to experiment in. Algorithm woes mean that you have to follow a formula to get your content in front of the right people. 

Influencer marketing's bread and butter come from new, exciting, and experimental content. There's virtually no limit to how you can get your brand's message across. 

You can connect with influencers all across the internet, whether it's Twitter, Pinterest, TikTok, YouTube, or Instagram, to create a marketing campaign that is truly unique and attention-grabbing. 

SEO Improvement 

Lead generation isn't the only benefit you'll experience from influencer marketing, either. The more your brand is talked about and linked back to, the better your SEO is going to be. 

These valuable backlinks tell Google and its algorithms that your brand is trustworthy and notable, so it will push your content higher up the search rankings. Both traditional marketing and influencer marketing can both increase searches for your brand, business, product, service, or name if done correctly.

Influence is King 

There is still something to be said about traditional marketing, of course. Tried and true traditional marketing a great way to announce a promotion or something new in your brand and it's a tried and true method of reaching customers. But don't discount influencer marketing: it's a way to reach a wider audience of excited new consumers through a person they already trust. 

If you're looking for more information about how to bootstrap your business, keep reading for more marketing tips! Visit the Influencer Marketing and Digital Marketing sections of the Bootstrap Business Blog to compare influencer marketer and traditional marketing results for yourself!

Smart Financial Decisions to Make Daily

With any luck, this year will be a heck of a lot better than last year was financially. That doesn't mean we shouldn't use the past year as a guide for how things have the potential to go, and how we can make financial decisions that prepare us for those pitfalls 

We're going to take a look at some smart financial moves that you should consider making in the next year, especially if you're hurting a little bit like most of the people on earth are at the moment. 

Let's get started on making smarter financial decisions: 

Savvy Financial Decisions to Make This Year 

The first thing that anyone trying to thicken their wallet should do is create a budget. How much money do you make, and how much do you spend? 

More importantly, how much can you spend? See where you're slipping and what you could do to adjust your habits in a way that sets you up with a fatter savings account. The real difference between those who are financially healthy and those who aren't isn't how much money they bring in. 

What matters most is your attitude toward money and how you can control yourself to set yourself up for the future. Where does the bulk of your money go? Is that where you'd like it to go? 

If not, pull out a pen and pad and figure out how to make it go where you do want it to. That might mean changing habits, entering healthier lifestyles, adjusting your social life, or more. 

The thing that many people forget about finances is that they aren't just numbers. They're your attitudes, your behaviors, your accounts, and your impulses. To control those things would mean that you have better control of your finances. 

Generating Wealth 

The next step is to figure out how to start generating more wealth for yourself. We're not talking about becoming the next Jeff Bezos, but it's always a good idea to have multiple streams of income coming in. 

One excellent way to do that is to build your credit up over the next year. Purchase a credit card and use it occasionally so that you can pay off the small monthly balances. Be sure to prioritize all rent and municipal bills so that you can start to generate good credit. 

Once you're to a place you'd like to be, you might use that good credit to take out a loan for a financial venture. You might start up a juice filling line, or take out a mortgage on a house. Who knows, maybe you will use the extra financial resources to bootstrap your own business!

Mortgages are excellent ways to build wealth over time with minimal effort. Similarly, starting a small business might be the best thing to do this year if you can find your niche and target a willing market. 

Need More Financial Tips? 

Hopefully, our short discussion can help you facilitate your financial decisions in the coming year. There's no better time than now to start planning for your future and reining yourself in so that you can save a little cash here and there. We're here to help. 

Explore our site for more ideas and insights into ways that you can effectively bring yourself into a better financial state. Bootstrap Business Frugal Finance section is all about helping you make smart financial decisions for your business and personal finances.

Leveraging Deep Learning To Facilitate Easy Robotic Gripping And Movement

Often, a general-purpose robot is designed to interact with daily objects intelligently. However, robots come with poor grasping skills. For example, if you were to ask a robot to fetch up a cup, remote, or even a toy it would mishandle it. However, it would have an easy time executing the task if it is specially designed to grasp that particular object within regulated settings. 

A robot’s grasping capabilities differ from that of a human being in that; young ones develop their object gripping abilities fast within uncontrolled and cluttered settings. Can a robot develop gripping skills as babies do through recurrent trial and error in the warehouse or factory setting? 

Understanding Deep Learning? 

Deep learning is an AI (artificial intelligence) function that emulates human brain operations when it comes to data processing and the development of patterns. It is a subgroup of machine learning in AI that comprises networks that can learn from unlabeled or unstructured data without supervision. 

Deep learning is also known as a deep neural network or deep neural learning. This function is also effective when it comes to managing multimodal data produced within robotic sensing applications. 

Shopping During A Pandemic 

The Covid-19 pandemic has necessitated lockdowns and other safety measures that have popularized online shopping. However, the more the demand rises, the more many retailers struggle to execute orders without compromising the safety of their employees in the warehouse. 

Researchers have come up with new AI software that grants robots the expertise and speed to grip and move objects smoothly. What this means is that the robot could soon collaborate with employees within the warehouse. 

Automation Of Warehouse Tasks 

Automating tasks within the warehouse can be a difficult task seeing that the robotic execution of various functions that occur to humans naturally can be hard. These functions include: 

• Determining how and where to pick various types of items 

• Coordinating the arm, shoulder, and wrist movements required to transport each item from one place to the other. 

Robotic motion can be rough, and this escalates the risk of breaking the robot and products. According to engineering chairman and author Ken Goldberg, William S. Floyd Jr., 

"Warehouses are still operated primarily by humans because it's still very hard for robots to reliably grasp many different objects. In an automobile assembly line, the same motion is repeated over and over again, so that it can be automated. But in a warehouse, every order is different." 

Not long ago, researchers developed a grip-optimized movement planner. It was capable of computing the way a robot should: 

• Fetch up products, and 

• How it should maneuver to relocate the object from one place to the other 

However, the planner produced rough motions. Even though software guidelines could be adjusted to generate smoother movements, computation of the calculations took close to one minute. 

In a newly released study, researchers incorporated a deep neural learning network to accelerate the planner’s computing time. Robots can learn through examples with neural networks, after which the robot can be accustomed to similar motions and objects. 

It is worth mentioning that these estimations are not always accurate. According to researchers, the motion planner can enhance the estimations that neural networks produce. Computer science expert and researcher Jeffrey Ichnowski said: 

"The neural network takes only a few milliseconds to compute an approximate motion. It's very fast, but it's inaccurate. However, if we then feed that approximation into the motion planner, the motion planner only needs a few iterations to compute the final motion." 

The team of experts managed to reduce the average computation time up to 80 milliseconds from 29 seconds. The researchers believe that these and future machine learning advancements in robotics will be necessary for robots to help within the warehouse. 

Advancements In Robotics Will Transform Shopping Activities 

Researchers opine that the Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way people shop for pharmaceuticals, groceries, and even clothing. As more people get used to shopping online, this practice is likely to continue beyond the pandemic. The Coronavirus economy will continue expediting the shift to robotics and deep machine learning technology in warehouses and factors.

What Are B2B And B2C Payments?

There are some important differences when it comes to B2B and B2C payments. Businesses must grasp these differences in order to provide a better and much more satisfactory client or customer experience during the payment process. 

B2B Payments Defined 

B2B stands for Business to Business payments and it refers to transactions that take place between merchants. It takes place when one business sells to another business and not directly to the consumer. 

B2C Payments Defined 

B2C stands for Business to Consumer payments and it reflects a transaction that takes place between a business and a consumer. This means that the business is selling its products or services directly to the consumer and not to another business. 

Why Are These Models Different? 

Their basic difference lies in the way how the payment processing operates for either one of those instances. There are four principal differences that separate B2B from B2C payments and they are: 

1. The Size Of The Payment 

Payment size refers to the average price of each transaction. In general terms, B2B transactions tend to be much more substantial than B2C transactions. This is because it is much easier to pay a bill for, let’s say, $100 than one that involves thousands of dollars. 

2. The Payment Methods 

In B2C transactions, it is not uncommon to use electronic methods that are received immediately. This means that the authorization is also received right away. Thus, the funds are immediately debited and transferred to the vendor’s account. 

B2B purchases are larger and, in most cases, instant payments are not an option nor a possibility. Direct debits, bank transfers, or paper checks are still common payment methods, and none of them require authorization. Still, they may represent a higher risk such as cases when a check bounces or a payment does not go through. These types of payments can also result in delays which can end up compromising a business’ cash flow. 

3. The Frequency Of The Payment 

Frequency refers to the fact that there are many more B2C than B2B transactions. This means that a business that sells to consumers will have plenty of transactions every day, while a business that sells to another business may only bill them occasionally. 

Also, online commerce has allowed businesses to reach previously unreachable customers, expanding their sales. On the other hand, B2B customers are more likely to make repeat purchases since they need frequent restocking of supplies for their businesses to keep running as they should. 

4. The Payment Terms 

The terms and decisions behind each sale also play a role. This means that the process of conducting business between two companies is much more elaborate and often takes much longer than a transaction between a business and its customer. 

Why Are These Differences Important? 

Because when working with a merchant processing company, it is important for businesses to understand in which way these differences will impact their payment processes so that the business can operate in the most effective way. How? By saving money through the elimination of unnecessary fees, streamlining certain information for speedier processes, and more. 

If you are in the process of choosing between different B2B or B2C payment companies, Interchange Pros recommends you always go for one that offers both reliability and compliance while giving you a cost-effective solution that fits your needs.

5 Tips For Finding The Best Business Broker

If you are thinking of buying or selling a business, you may have considered using a business broker. A business broker helps people buy and sell their businesses. Business brokers can help you figure out the value of your business, find potential buyers, and conduct interviews with them. 

Different states have different regulations for brokers. Some states require that brokers have licenses. Brokers in the state of New Jersey such as neumannassociates.com, require 150 hours of prelicensure education. When selecting a business broker, there are certain qualities that you should look for. 

1. Find A Dedicated Business Broker 

There are some real estate agents who are business brokers on the side. It is a good idea to find an agency that has a department that is devoted to business brokerage work. Some brokerages may also have separate departments for real estate sales and brokerage work. Selling a business is complicated and involves a lot of detailed paperwork. 

It is also helpful if they have experience in your particular area of business. They will be better able to do research and understand what is important in your field. 

2. Check Out The Professional Accreditation 

Even if your state does not require official licenses for business brokers, there are some ways you can find out if they are qualified to handle the sale of your business. A worthwhile broker will have accreditation from professional organizations. The firm you hire should have memberships in the local Chamber of Commerce. You may also want to look for a broker who has an M and A Source Accreditation. A person who has this accreditation will have a Mergers and Acquisitions Master Intermediary. Having such an accreditation means they have at least three years of experience and that they have been the lead broker on at least 3 transactions of over $1 million in sale price. 

3. Ask For References 

When you patronize any business, you are obviously going to do a Google search on that business. Some of the reviews that you will find are bound to be paid for. Ask any potential broker to provide you with references. The internet can be a great source of information, but you want to back up your research with actual conversations with real clients. 

4. Ask The Broker Plenty Of Questions 

If a potential broker claims that they have a lot of experience selling businesses in your field, don't be afraid to quiz them. They should be aware of the ins-and-outs of your business and know what would be important to potential buyers. 

5. Ask About How They Will Market Your Company 

The most important aspect of selling anything is making the public aware that it is for sale. A business is no exception. 

The brokerage should do more than just advertise your business online. Ask them what kind of connections they have and what they will do to put your business out there. If they have been in business for a while, they should already have relationships with some investors. 

Sell Smarter With The Best Business Broker

Selling a business is complex and time-consuming work. The right brokerage firm can make it easier.

What Are Wrongful Termination Examples?

One of the expectations that every employee has is that they will be treated fairly in every aspect of their job. From the amount that they are paid to the way that they are treated at work. If the time comes when employees are dismissed, then that should be fair as well. 

However, in many cases an employee is wrongfully terminated for reasons that have nothing to do with their performance. Of course, any employee who gets terminated will feel that it was done so wrongfully, but there are actual examples of wrongful termination that should be redressed when they occur. 

If an employee believes that they were wrongfully terminated, then they should contact an employment attorney to help them. The attorney will determine if the case is valid and take the steps needed to help the employee, which could be compensation or reinstatement of their job. If you live in Los Angeles and were wrongfully terminated, then you should visit this website to get the help you need. 

Examples Of Wrongful Termination 

If you were terminated for any of the following reasons, then your work termination can be considered to be wrongful. 

Sexual Harassment 

When someone gets fired for sexual harassment, it is usually because they refuse any quid pro quo arrangements where they exchange sexual favors for advancements at work. Needless to say, firing someone because they refused to engage in sexual conduct is considered to be wrongful termination. 

Racial Discrimination 

Anyone who was fired because of their race or ethnicity was wrongfully terminated. The EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) enforces the federal law that prohibits discrimination or termination based on race or ethnicity, which means that any such termination is not just wrong, it is also illegal. 

Age Discrimination 

As with racial discrimination, age discrimination is also illegal, meaning that firing someone because of their age is illegal. Employers will sometimes contrive to terminate someone when they reach a certain age in order to hire someone who is younger, and often cheaper. Any such termination is wrongful and is subject to legal intervention. 

Other Forms of Discrimination 

Racial and age discrimination are among the most common, but there are others as well. Some people may get fired because of their religious beliefs while sometimes women may get terminated if they become pregnant. Some employees are even discriminated against due to height, weight, hair, tattoos, or other physical attributes. These kinds of discrimination are also illegal and anyone who was fired because of them has grounds for a wrongful termination claim. 

Retaliation 

Sometimes a company will retaliate against an employee by firing them. Some reasons for retaliation may be if the employee files a complaint against the company, if they have a dispute with the company, or if they become a whistleblower against the company. Any form of retaliation against an employee is illegal, and that includes terminating said employee.

FMLA (Family And Medical Leave Act) Violations 

The FMLA act allows employees to leave work if they meet the eligibility requirements and their employers are covered. This includes maternity leave, sick leave, leaving to take care of someone who is ill, and other valid reasons. That means that it is wrongful for an employer to terminate an employee because they exercised their right to take leave for medical or family reasons. 

Contact An Employment Attorney If You Were Wrongfully Terminated 

If you were terminated because of any of these reasons, then your termination was wrongful and you have the right to take on your employer. You will need the help of an employment attorney to do so, which is why you should contact one as soon as possible following your termination. They can help you to get your job back or get you the compensation that you deserve.

5 Best Boat Upgrades Worth The Money

It may be the dead of winter, but the summer boating season will be here before you know it. And while you dream about cool waves and the warm sun, now's a great time to start making plans for your first days back out on the water. 

Start looking for cheap fishing boats for sale or getting your boat into shipshape with these top boating upgrades and maintenance tips. 

1. Invest In An Automated Identification System (AIS) 

While we all love the shiny little extras, safety needs to come first on all of your boating trips. And having an AIS onboard is an easy way to help ensure that you and your guests will be enjoying yourselves safely for years to come. 

These devices are automated systems that track and identify boats on the water. They're already mandatory on commercial vessels, but recreational boaters have been slow to adopt them. However, they're a great way to help avoid collisions on the water. 

2. A Seakeeper Will Be A Great Treat For Sensitive Guests 

Nothing can spoil an outing like someone in your party coming down with a sudden case of seasickness. Even on calm waters, the more sensitive among us can have a hard time with the motion of the ocean. The Seakeeper is a relatively recent gadget that aims to help stabilize a vessel. For those of us prone to motion sickness, fatigue, or anxiety, it can be an absolute lifesaver. 

3. A Battery Monitor Will Prevent Some Unpleasant Surprises 

Another scenario that will kill your summertime fun is getting out onto the water, only for your boat to run out of power. Hence why a battery monitor is one of the most useful boat mods that you can invest in. 

With one of these installed, you leave out the guesswork and focus on enjoying your trip. 

4. Upgrade Your Audio Set-Up 

There is nothing like celebrating the coming of summer season by taking a few friends out on the water. And naturally, it is not a party without music. But if you have just been using an old stereo to provide the tunes, it could be time for an upgrade. 

For keeping the boat party going, nothing quite matches up to a Roswell tower speaker. These speakers were designed from page one with marine use in mind, so you can trust that they will always look great and sound great. And since they are built-to-last, you will definitely get your money's worth out of them. 

5. Beautify Your Boat 

Lastly, you will want your vessel to look its best for the first day of summer. 

Your seating upholstery is one of the spots on your boat that sees a lot of wear and tear, particularly if you like boating with friends and family. If it looks like it is seen a few seasons too many, replacing it will help your boat look like new. 

Beyond that, you will definitely want to budget time for a deep-clean, and maybe even a fresh coat of paint for your sea-worthy vessel. 

Start Planning Now for the Summer Boating Season 

As the long, cold winter drags on, we are all dreaming of having sunny days again. And after this season, in particular, you won't want to miss a single day on the water waiting to have repairs and upgrades done. 

But if you start now, you will be ship-shape as soon as the summer boating season rolls around. It's time to boat better on a budget for a sensational summer!

Of course, doing a full-upgrade to your boat doesn't always come cheap. For tips on how to finance your overhaul, be sure to keep up with all the latest lifestyle and financial tips on our blog.

How Much Does Appliance Repair Cost?

Are you struggling to find a professional technician at an appropriate repairing cost? I can imagine how hard our life is without electric appliances and how badly it impacts day to day activities. It affects or daily productivity, but we can not neglect this factor. We have to face these kinds of the problem at every coming day.

If we talk about the repairing cost, it’s increasing that a typical electric appliance will cost around 170$ or much more. One appliance repair cost up to 50$ or 150$. Sometimes repair fees exceed this cost and varies from appliance repair complexity. 

Some websites provide quality appliance repair services. All you need to research carefully analyze the cost of different websites read their reviews. Compare their cost of repair and confidently select the technician whom you want to hire. 

What Is The Cost Of Everyday Home Appliances? 

You might be wondering about your home appliance and its cost because these things get fritz most of the time, so you better prepare this already. If there are significant appliances, then they cost highly, and small appliances cost less. 

It depends on the appliance. However, there are different appliances which costs are different so let’s discuss some of them. 

Refrigerator Or Freezers 

Refrigerators and freezers require easy to repair. It takes less repair time if you want to repair side to side refrigerator. It is economically a little bit expensive than other top freezers. Spare parts can found easily at any appliance repair near shops. 

It costs up to 230$ to 300$, but it is not the significant actual price will depend on the real rate of repairing complexity required for the refrigerator appliance repair. If it has a normal fault or buzz and not cooling, its compressor is not working, and it can cost up to 20$ to 200$. 

Freezers typically cost up to $200 to 250$, and the problem mostly occurs with their cooling capacity. This problem starts when the door opens again and again, warranting a repair. 

Washing Machine 

The washing machine mostly stops performing when there is a leakage in the machine body, and water dripping can cause leakage, and it will abrupt washing machine motor. 

It will usually cost up to $125 to 200$, and its simple repairs that are quickly fixed can cause up to 50$ to 100$. It is best if you repair it quickly as it takes time to repair its problems. 

Dishwashers And Disposals 

The plumping issue is the high cost of dishwashers and food disposals. Its prices are meager. Mostly can be up to 50$ to 100$ for the food disposals. And for dishwasher, it mostly comes up to 100$ to 150$. But sometimes its electric plug is also the main problem, so it is better if you check your plug before calling any professional for electric appliance repair. 

Electric Water Purifier 

It is used in offices, hospitals, homes, schools, and many other places. It mostly cost less up to 50$ to 100$. Its main problem is its motor will stop performing and will need repairing. 

Appliance Repair Cost Conclusion 

You need to check your appliance before calling any professional for your appliance repair. Sometimes, the appliance repair problem is expensive and seems too complicated to fix on your own. In the worst case scenario, it might be cheaper to buy a new appliance than to spend the time and money fixing an old broken appliance.

4 Franchise Marketing Tips You Need to Know

The success of any business depends on a few basic factors. 

First, a business owner needs to be financially responsible and efficient at managing money. Second, the business needs to provide a desired service, product, or solution for consumers. Finally, a business must effectively market its brand to a target audience. 

This third point accounts for a vast majority of the 50% of small businesses that fail after a few short years. You may not realize it, but owning a franchise doesn't necessarily protect you from this scenario. As a franchise owner, you have to work just as hard at franchise marketing as other small businesses have to work with small business marketing. 

We want to help your franchise advertising efforts. Keep reading for our top tips on how to market a franchise. 

Understand That Franchise Marketing Is Different 

First, you need to accept that there are some differences when it comes to marketing a franchise. 

For example, they may provide you with a corporate website that doesn't allow you to make any changes. You may also have marketing platforms and formulas you're required to use. 

Additionally, understand franchise companies are all about the big picture. If there's another chain near yours, it could be your biggest competitor, even though it's part of the same franchise. Follow this link to learn more about why franchise marketing is different. 

Invest Time and Effort Into Your Website 

Next, you need to make sure your website is effective at generating leads and making sales. 

Start with search engine optimization (SEO). You need to have a high local SEO ranking to make sure consumers in your area are being led to your website. 

Furthermore, your website needs to be completely user-friendly. It must load quickly and be optimized for mobile devices. It also needs to be easy to navigate and visually pleasing. 

Increase Community Awareness With Social Media 

One of the most important franchise marketing tips is to get on social media and connect with the local community. 

Post daily content that's informative, relevant, and engaging. It can be articles about your industry, how-to videos, funny memes, etc. Build a following in the community to gain brand awareness and generate more leads for your franchise. 

Implement an Effective Referral System 

Referral systems can be effective tools for marketing a franchise. It's also an incredibly affordable way of getting the word out about your business. 

There are several ways you can do this. First, create an incentive program for customers who bring other people to your store. They can receive discounts or small free products based on how much business they bring in. 

You can also encourage customers to leave positive reviews on Google, your website, or your social media page. Customer reviews and testimonials will go a long way toward improving your business's credibility. 

Looking for More Franchise Marketing Advice? 

If you've invested in a franchise, it's vital that you know how to generate leads in your community. 

While owning a franchise can be safer than starting your own business, you still need to invest time and effort in franchise marketing to make sure your store is successful. 

And if you're looking for more franchisee or franchisor business information advice, be sure to check out some of our other articles before you go. Our website was created to help small business owners, franchise owners, and all other entrepreneurs spread brand awareness and increase their success.

7 Benefits of Hiring a Tax Attorney

When dealing with any tax issues, a tax attorney will be there to stop you from making and mistakes that could leave you thousands of dollars worse off. 

Tax attorneys specialize in tax laws and have expertise in IRS tax codes, so they are a great source of support when dealing with more complicated tax matters. 

These can include buying or selling a business, planning your will, tax audits, and more. 

Making a mistake with one of these issues can leave you facing months or years of legal and financial headaches and a tax attorney is there to help prevent that. 

Benefits of a Tax Attorney 

There are plenty of reasons to hire a tax lawyer in today's complex economy. Not all financial situations are black and white. 

Here are the key benefits of using a tax attorney for your business or personal finances today. 

Saving Time 

Tax attorneys already know tax laws, and they will also know how to apply them to your situation. 

If you count up all the hours it would take you to handle your tax issues yourself, you might have a legal issue dragging on for months. 

Saving Money 

Hiring a tax attorney is an investment, not a cost. Their expertise often means you will save more from your tax liabilities than their fees. 

The fees of a tax attorney will vary but if you have a more complicated tax issue or more of your finances at stake, it will be worth it. 

Expertise 

Tax attorneys will not only know the law but how to interpret and apply it too. There is a much lower risk of something being misunderstood or applied incorrectly when you use an attorney. 

Safeguard Your Income 

If you have a tax debt, the IRS can apply a levy where they are able to withdraw money directly from your bank account or from your wages before they're even paid to you. 

A tax attorney will be able to help prevent this from happening. 

Protect Your Credit Score 

If you do have an outstanding tax debt, the IRS can file a Notice of Federal Tax Lien. This can show up on your credit report and lower your credit score. 

Using a tax attorney can help prevent this from happening, and if there is already a lien in place, they may be able to help arrange a release from it. 

Peace Of Mind For You And Your Family 

Especially if you are planning to leave money to your loved ones in your will, you don't want them to have to deal with any legal issues after you have passed. 

Using a tax attorney can make sure your planning is done right, so there will be no issues in the future. 

Protection From The IRS 

Dealing with the IRS on your own can be overwhelming and intimidating. Working with someone who is used to dealing with them on a daily basis gives you a safety net and can reduce your stress. 

Get Started With Hiring a Tax Attorney 

When you understand what a tax attorney does and the benefits of hiring one, the next step would be to find the right one for you. 

Aim to find a local lawyer, and who has expertise in the tax area you're dealing with. They will be able to give you the most specific advice on tax law.

What is the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and How Can it Help Your Small Business?

This year has been one of many setbacks for everybody, especially for those running small businesses due to Covid-19. The recent pandemic has brought in new ordinances that place limits on companies, including limiting the number of customers who enter their shops, offering carry out and delivery options, and even shutting the business early. 

Luckily, help has come in many forms, with one of these forms being the CARES Act. This relief bill brought about a ton of beneficial measures to small businesses, including the Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP. That said, what does the PPP do. exactly? This business 101 guide was put together to help you understand what the Paycheck Protection Program is all about, and how your small business can benefit from the bill. Keep reading to learn more about the PPP small business benefits during the Coronavirus pandemic! 

What Is PPP? Your Business 101 Guide on What to Know 

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, And Economic Security Act, also known as CARES Act, is a bill that consists of many different grant and loan opportunities designed to aid small businesses. The Paycheck Protection Program is one of the loans within the CARES Act that used federal funds to help small businesses. 

The PPP originally started as a $350 billion program aimed at providing small businesses with up to eight weeks of cash-flow assistance through loans that were 100 percent federally backed by the Small Business Administration. 

When the financial needs of companies increased and the CARES Act became more pronounced, the PPP program was expanded to further cover small businesses. Now, the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act have combined to add an additional $310 billion in funding. 

Important Aspects of the Paycheck Protection Program 

Although there are many aspects of the PPP, some of the more important ones include: 

• All small businesses are eligible. 

• You don't have to make payments until either your forgiveness application is processed or 10 months after your coverage period ends. 

• There are no fees to apply. 

• No collateral is needed to apply. 

• The loan will cover your business expenses for 24 weeks. 

• The loan can be forgiven and would essentially be turned into a non-taxable grant. 

With these factors in mind, it's clear that your company would benefit greatly from the Paycheck Protection Program, especially in these uncertain times. Make sure you look into applying for this beneficial federal loan today. 

Are you ready to get the benefits of the Paycheck Protection Program? You'll want to connect with a financial service professional to make sure you're the help that you need to file for the CARES Act correctly. Let's make sure your company continues to grow and thrive financially! 

Stay In The Know 

Now that the business 101 guide has helped you understand what the Paycheck Protection Program is, you can apply for it with confidence knowing it will help your business to succeed even in the midst of a pandemic. Check out our site for more tips and tricks that can help your company succeed. We're sure you're going to love what you find here on the Bootstrap Business Blog!

How to Find Quality On-Budget Style Pieces That Last

Fashion is never really cheap. When you consider that trends tend to rotate every season, even the cheapest clothes can start to add up if you're keeping your look up to date. 

But there are ways to maintain a classy appearance without looking outdated. Here are a few pieces you need to have on hand to maintain budget style for entrepreneur frugal fashion. 

Quality Over Quantity 

Your fashion budget might be able to justify trendy pieces every now and then, but your closet certainly won't. If you find yourself turning a spare bedroom or office into a clothes closet, you might have too much stuff. 

Well-heeled fashionistas don't rely on quantity to make a statement. Instead, you should focus on quality pieces in order to accomplish budget style. 

Quality is where you should spend the bulk of your clothing allowance. This means better fabric, fit, and durability. 

Fast fashion is notorious for cutting corners on garments leaving you looking disheveled. Never resort to fast fashion for work clothes especially if you're an entrepreneur. 

You want to appear put together in a way that you can achieve if the hem of your pants is crooked. These wardrobe pieces will help you carry over year after year if you choose good quality. 

Denim 

Designer denim isn't the holy grail. There's no reason you can't find budget style when it comes to a new pair of jeans. 

But budget style doesn't mean poor quality. Take your time to shop for a new pair of jeans so you can find great sales. 

Make sure you try on your jeans as all brands aren't created equal. It's the comfort and cut of the denim that makes or breaks it for customers. 

Find your fit and wait until the brand offers a sale to make your purchase. Shopping clearance is also a great option because you often get an additional percentage off the sale price. 

Denim is fast becoming the office standard in many workplaces. Make sure you still look neat, and professional with a pair of high-quality jeans with your button-down or blouse at work. 

Blazers 

Another staple piece to keep in your wardrobe is a blazer. You need blazers on hand to help dress up your outfit for an impromptu meeting or formalize a dress you're wearing. 

Blazers are versatile staple pieces that typically last for years to come. Don't worry about trying to maintain a trendy look with blazers. 

Your classic navy or brown will go far with upgrading your professional attire. You can add your own personal flair when you check out these curved face masks if you want a touch of personality when wearing a blazer. 

Finding Your Budget Style 

Budget style options are on clearance racks across America. These are options that are usually perfectly fine but have to get out of the store to make way for newer trends. 

Take your time when shopping sales to find that just-right fit. Never buy frugal fashion clothing items according to price alone. 

You should rely on brands with a reputation for durable clothes instead of buying clothes on sale in mass-market stores. You can be frugally fashionable and functional without cutting corners.

For more information and tips, visit our blog for updates. We publish a wide variety budget style and frugal fashion articles for your low cost lifestyle!

How To Pitch Your Business Idea To Investors

Many ambitious entrepreneurs have great ideas that will change the world. But there’s a big gap between having an idea and turning it into a successful business. Most of that gap consists of funding. 

No matter how brilliant your idea is, you need money to implement it. Many new businesses never get off the ground because the founders don’t know how to show that their ideas are valuable and worth investing in. They might do their research and show potential investors detailed reports of their financial history and market analysis but what matters most is knowing how to pitch it. This is what will motivate investors to actually read those pages. 

You have at most 10 to 20 minutes, so what should you say in your pitch? 

Project Description 

Of course, you’ll want to start by giving a clear and short description of what your company is all about. This means its mission and products or services. 

The most effective way to increase the appeal of your products or services is to first describe the problem they solve. Any company at its core makes money from solving a problem. Talk about this problem and show its impact because this is what will convince investors that there’s a market for your solution. 

Then you present your company as the perfect-problem solver and share why it’s better than what competitors have to offer. It’s very important to keep this part short and sweet. Think about what works in advertisement. An ad is successful when it can show people what a product is and how it benefits them in a creative, clear, and eye-catching way. But most importantly, it shouldn’t take long because our patience and attention span can only take so much. Just like consumers can grow tired of watching ads, investors are also constantly bombarded with aspiring entrepreneurs such as yourself who want funding. 

Talk About Money 

What investors care most about is money. They’re not doing charity. They want to know what return they can expect from you. You can start by presenting the results from your target market research, which should include TAM, SAM, and SOM. 

TAM or total available market refers to the number of businesses or consumers your products targets – the total demand for your product. 

SAM or serviceable available market refers to the segment of the market within your reach. 

SOM or serviceable obtainable market is the segment of SAM you think you can capture based on your research. 

These pieces of information show investors whether your project aligns with their interests and if it suits the vertical and funding round they typically invest in. At this point, they’ll just trust your data, but if your pitch goes well and they seriously consider your project, they’ll have senior investment analytics experts review it. 

Then you’ll want to talk about how you plan to reach these customers and how much your customer acquisition cost will be. Tell them about the type of advertisement you want, the channels, and even some examples of messaging. This will let investors get an idea of how you can put your research to use. 

The next step is to build some credibility and show them that you’re someone they can feel safe investing in. Talk to them about what your company has achieved so far, including contracts, product launches, sales, key hires, and so on. If you’ve managed to secure funds like inventions loans, tell them how you used the money and how it helped you grow. 

Once you’re done talking about your present financial situation, you’ll want to talk about the future as well and go through your financial projections for the next three to five years. You should be able to back up these numbers and don’t get intimidated if you see some of your investors take out their calculators to double-check. 

Unleash The Power Of The Pitch And Close The Deal

Finish this part of your presentation by getting to the point and telling them how much money you need to get to the next level. If you have other investors, talk about ownership percentages and how much money has already been invested in your company. What’s even more relevant to investors is how you plan to use their money and your intended outcome. 

If you’re looking for large sums of investment capital, you’ll also need to talk about your exit strategy. Maybe you want to go public, get acquired or something else. Whatever it is, potential investors will want to know. It will help you to close the deal and secure investor funding for your business.

What About Your Competitors? 

There are so many products in the world today that can’t deny the possibility that there might be a few among them that address the same problem as yours. Does this mean you should give up? Of course not. There are different ways of approaching and solving a problem, and some are better than others. You have the advantage that you can learn from your competitors’ mistakes and create something better. 

Many entrepreneurs try to leave this part out of their pitch because they’d like to pretend there is no competition. This is not the best move because investors are more likely to be concerned about products that don’t have competitors. They’ll tend to think that there is no market for it. 

Even if your idea is so innovative that you really don’t have competitors with similar products, you should at least include some examples of companies that have products with similar features or address a similar problem. 

Tell A Story 

People are a lot more likely to remember stories over facts. Granted, you’ll be pitching to investors, so your audience will be particularly adept at remembering facts. Even so, presenting facts through an engaging narrative will help them relate to you and care about your success on a more emotional level, rather than purely financial. 

Framing your business idea and company mission as a narrative will show why you’re so passionate about it and why you’re going through all this trouble of securing funding. All the facts and figures we mentioned above show how you work towards your goals. A story during your startup sales pitch explains why. 

This is also a great way to talk about your team and why you believe they are the right people to lead this company to success. Talk about your key hires and why they are valuable to your startup organization. Sell your story and your startup during your investor pitch! 

Pitch Perfect 

Also, you shouldn’t be afraid to mention the type of skillsets you are missing from your team and that you need additional funding to get it. Admitting that you don’t know everything shows investors that you’re realistic and know where you stand in your startup pitch.

How To Get The Best-Quality Vehicle

Purchasing a new car can be a daunting task. Car salespeople might pressure you to leave the dealership with a new car, so it is essential to be armed with relevant information about the vehicles you're interested in. If you have never done it before, it might become confusing and stressful. No matter your preferences, you need to put all your time and effort into searching for the right car. You won't change it too soon, so it has to be a wise decision. 

If you need a piece of advice about how to shop for your first car, a used car, or a brand-new car, you are just in the right place. We have gathered here some useful information about some aspects you should consider when purchasing a vehicle. Let's get started on how to find the best quality vehicle! 

What Kind Of Deposit Can You Afford? 

Let's be honest, buying a new car can be expensive, especially when you have so many other things to pay for. Even the cheapest cars might feel impossible to purchase. Luckily, today's financing options are many, meaning that you have the chance to pay for your vehicle in smaller amounts. This way, you will be able to afford a car that meets your needs. First, it is best to consider a price – set up a realistic budget to make your goal seem much more achievable. 

For example, if a car costs around $10,000-$15,000, you can spare an amount of $100-$200 a month. Think about how much money you saved, how much you earn, and how much you can pay a month. It would help if you also considered the following aspects when buying a car: 

● If you have trouble financing your car purchase, you may consider an auto loan. 

● If you can pay the full price, you might even be able to negotiate with the seller. 

● Do you think you don't have enough money? Start saving more, or ask a family member if they can help you with the initial costs. 

● Do not forget the additional costs that come with purchasing a car, such as maintenance, gas, or insurance. 

Research The Cars Before Going To The Dealership 

Researching the cars you are interested in before is like doing your homework. Once you determine how much you can afford to spend on a vehicle, it is time to consider what options you have. Spending time doing your research before will help you afford a car that meets your needs. Before considering buying a car, ask yourself: 

● For what purposes are you buying a new car? Work? School? 

● Are other family members going to drive the car? 

● What features do you want your next car to have? 

● Do you plan on traveling a lot and carry around tons of luggage? 

By answering these questions, you will be able to determine a particular style of car you want. However, your goal is to minimize the expenses as much as possible. It will also help if you consider visiting the St. Louis Ford dealership and choose one of the thousands of vehicles available. 

Know Your Credit Score 

Checking your credit score before running to the dealership can be really helpful. By having a good credit score, you will be able to negotiate a better price and save more money, maybe thousands of dollars. It is really exciting to buy a new car, but what comes after purchasing it can be a drag. If you have poor credit, you will only obtain high-interest rates no matter how much you will argue with the salespersons. But an excellent credit score can give you more chances to negotiate the price of the vehicle. 

So, before starting to look for your dream car, take a look at your credit score. Give yourself the necessary time to raise your credit score. It may seem like a lot of waste of time, but it's imperative to have patience and upgrade your credit score as much as possible. Are you wondering how an excellent credit score should look? A 750 is considered a perfect credit score, so you will probably even get the best rates. It means that you will pay a lot less than you would have expected. Therefore, it is important to know your credit score before heading to the dealership. 

Give The Car A Test Drive 

When buying a car, you might skip the part where you test it. But it is well-recommended to test drive a car, just to make sure that it all works perfectly fine. There shouldn't be any noticeable noises, squeaks, or shudder. It could cause you significant expenses later on if you don't inspect the car from the beginning and give it a good test drive. No matter if you decide to purchase a new or used car, it is essential to take the necessary time and get familiar with the model. Shopping for a vehicle can be stressful, but you won't have any doubts if you use the right tips and strategies.