Monthly Archives: January 2018

Unknown's avatar

The Problem With Electric Cars Is Dependability

by

Image source

The chitter-chatter surrounding electric cars has somewhat slipped away recent months, which is partly to do with the new revolution on our horizon (#autonomous cars), partly to do with some big-name players entering this fold and partly to do with the fact people have gotten used to seeing them on the roads. That said, the concept of electric cars is still fairly new and the number of people feeling brave enough to make the transition is not as high as people would hope.

Why? Because of dependability.

If you want to attract buyers then you need to be able to deliver both dependability and reliability. You don’t want a car that can’t drive more than 150 miles and has frequent faults, make your car so unsafe you have www.lane-lane.com/chicago-car-accident-lawyer/ bookmarked in your browser, costs a lot to repair and takes weeks to get back on the road. That’s not going to see people queue up on the sales floor.

With that in mind, we have pulled together a list of electric cars that are known – for better or worse – for their reliability.

The Worst:

  1. Believe it or not, the electric car that recorded the most driver faults was the Tesla Model S, with almost 40% of owners having to deal with a wide range of issues. Mmm hmm. It wasn’t like there was one recurring issue that people could expect and Tesla could fix, it was a split between things like bodywork problems, the interior trim, the electric motors, the door handles, the exterior lights and a few other tidbits. The good news on this front is that, of those who took part in the study, all of them had their issues dealt with under warranty. The bad news is, a lot of this 40% said their cars were off the road for a week or more.
  2. This entry saddened us a bit because we absolutely adore the Renault ZOE. It’s a great hatchback. Unfortunately, though, around 31% of ZOE owners saw their existence plagued by faults, namely with non-engine electrics. We’re talking heaters, air-con systems and even charging units. Much like with the Tesla issues, all the faults were repaired on Renault’s dime, while most of the cars in question were quietly eating up roads again in less than a week. However, there were some cases in which cars were described as “undriveable” for in excess of seven days.

The Best:

  1. If you had to pick just one company that had embraced the electric way of life more than any other it would have to be Nissan, and the jewel in their crown is the Leaf. Now we could go on all day about the ticks this car deserves, as this article proves cleantechnica.com/2017/08/23/2018. but the one we need to sing about is its reliability. Less than 8% of owners found fault with theirs. Less than 8%. And as seems to be standard in this industry, they were all fixed for free and, best of all, none of them was stranded in some overcrowded garage for more than a week.

Contributed Post.

If you like what you’ve read here, please let others know of this post, blog, and site.

And thanks for reading!  🙂

Unknown's avatar

While The Kids Are Away, The Parents Will Play…

by

Pixabay

Once you become a parent, your life becomes entirely focused on your kids. This isn’t a bad thing, of course, as kids can bring us plenty of joy and happiness. But there will be some times when you wish that you had a bit more time to yourself to do all the stuff you used to do before the little ones arrived on the scene.

So, there really is no wonder that most parents jump at the chance of some time to themselves when their kids go away. Whether they are just away for one night at a friend’s slumber party or for a week or so at summer camp, it’s really worth jumping on this chance to do your own thing for a few days.

Feeling a bit lost with all of this spare time you now have? Here are some great ideas of things that you and your partner might want to get up to – they range from practical things that you might have meant to do for some time to fun things that you wouldn’t normally get the chance to do with the kids in tow!

Pixabay

Sort Out Your Taxes

There’s no denying that things can get very hectic when you have to balance your work life and looking after the kids. There can be hardly any time to grab a quick cup of coffee as you browse the day’s headlines in the newspaper! So, how on earth are you ever going to find the time to get your taxes in order? Instead of letting all of your filing build up until it becomes a big rush right before the deadline, it’s a good idea to sort out your paperwork on days you don’t have the kids. Even if that means doing a little bit at odd times throughout the year, it will still cut down on how much work you have to do right before the final filing deadline!

Pixabay

Kickstart Your Job Hunt

Have you been thinking about looking for a better job lately? Maybe one that can offer you more responsibility and a better wage, or perhaps just one that will give you more free time with the kids? No matter how desperate you are to find a new job, you might find that the search is almost impossible when you have to spend so much time taking care of the kids. So, now that they aren’t around, you will easily be able to dedicate a couple of hours to your job hunt. Even if you aren’t particularly interested in finding a new job right now, you might find it very useful to use all of this new spare time to update your resume so that it is good to go when you are ready.

Pixabay

Conquer The Clutter

Kids left the house in a complete mess? No problem – you’ll have plenty of time to get everything back in order while they are away for a few days! Take a look through all of your belongings and think about which ones you could do without. You might want to consider taking these to a charity shop or recycling them. Now is also a great time to do some deep cleaning in those problem areas like your kitchen and bathroom. It’s worth taking as much as possible out of these rooms and really getting into every nook and cranny to remove any dirt and grime. It’s a great idea to get all of this clean before the kids get back as you will be able to use some really strong cleaning products without worrying about harming your children.

Pixabay

Take Advantage Of The TV

Do you never get to watch anything because your kids are always hogging the TV? Well, now is your chance to lie back on the sofa and indulge in whatever it is you’ve been missing out on! You might even want to treat yourself to a new Netflix or Amazon Prime package so that you have more shows and movies to choose from. It’s worth taking a look at Suddenlink for more ideas of the different internet and streaming packages you can treat yourself to. Seeing as the kids won’t be around, you can binge watch all the shows and movies that aren’t suitable for young eyes!

Pixabay

Go To The Movies

But why stay in when you don’t have the kids to look after? You don’t even have to go to all the bother of trying to find a babysitter. So, it’s the perfect chance to have a movie night with your partner. Why not turn it into a nice little date night and for a meal and drinks before or after the film? No matter what your taste in movies is, I’m sure you will be able to find one to suit you. There’s always a wide range of Hollywood blockbusters and smaller, independent productions out in the cinema.

Pixabay

Finish Your Book

Another thing that some parents regularly complain about is that they never get much chance to finish a book that they start reading. It can be quite easy to make time for reading if you are really dedicated – one option you have is to take a book to bed with you and read it before you turn the lights out, for example. But now that the kids are away for a couple of days, you will have plenty of time to get stuck into a good book throughout the day and evening. Once you get back from the office, you can make yourself a cup of tea and snuggle under a blanket on the sofa with that book that you’ve been trying to finish for ages.

Pixabay

Cook Your Favorite Meals

We all know just how picky some kids can be. Whether they are pushing their broccoli away or screwing up their face at the sight of mushrooms, there are a whole load of different foods that some kids won’t touch, no matter how hard you try to persuade them. Do you find that your picky kids mean that you have to restrict the meals and dishes that you cook and serve up for mealtimes? Well, if that is the case, then you will be very happy while the kids are away as you will be able to cook whatever you and your partner want! You’ll be able to add a lot more spice to dishes and you will also be able to be exotic when it comes to your ingredient choices. After all, you won’t have any pick taste buds turning their noses up at your food!

Give Something Back

It’s always good to give something back to society and your local neighborhood, especially if they have really helped you out previously when you were going through a difficult period. And there is no better way to give something back than by volunteering and getting stuck in with a local good cause. Some parents would love to do this more but they just don’t get the chance to with all of their responsibilities back at home. But now that you no longer have to worry about looking after the kids for a few days, you can think about spending a few hours volunteering with a charity of your choice. You might even like the idea of holding your very own fundraising event to try and raise as much cash as possible for a charity of good cause.

Pixabay

Connect With Loved Ones

When we are busy we also forget to keep in touch with our nearest and dearest. Even if we don’t forget, it can be pretty tricky trying to find the time to pick up the phone or write someone a quick email. It’s really worth thinking about who you haven’t been in touch with for a while and righting that wrong now that you don’t have the kids to distract you. Just think of how long you could spend on the phone to one of your besties who you haven’t spoken to for a few months – I’m sure that you will have loads of stuff to catch up on! This free time also gives you a chance to clear out your work inbox. Are there a few people who you should have replied to by now? Well, now is your chance to do that! And it also gives you a chance to clear out any junk and spam from your inbox. By the time the kids get back, your inbox should be at zero emails.

Pixabay

Rekindle Romance

It can be difficult to keep the spark in your relationship alive when you have to focus on the kids. Now that the kids aren’t around for a few days, you can work on rekindling your romance with your partner. All it’ll take is a couple of date nights and cozy evenings snuggled up on the sofa.

Hopefully, this long list will keep you occupied while you don’t have any kids to look after! You might enjoy this spare time so much that you start to send them away more often!

Contributed Post.

If you like what you’ve read here, please let others know of this post, blog, and site.

And thanks for reading!  🙂

Unknown's avatar

5 Fun Furniture Finds For Your Family Room

by

Family rooms are often the heart of the home when you have small children. It’s a great space to gather and watch a movie together. It’s also the perfect place to play games and spend quality time with a family. Kids love snuggling with mom and dad to read a book. This has to be the most comfortable room in the house so that you can ease into an afternoon with the children without getting achy. So what’s the best furniture to buy for a room like this?

Big is better?

While seating is important, sometimes what you really need is a little versatility in the room. When the kids want to hang out with you, they want to feel comfy and cozy. That’s not always easy on an expensive settee or sofa.

You might find a set of bean bags keeps things a little less formal. They’re great because they’re so portable. You can move them closer together, or push them away to another part of the room. Of course, a bean bag sofa means you can all hop on and enjoy an afternoon cuddle. Perfect for some quality family time.

Quality family time together. Picture source

Recline In Style

If you use your family room for movie marathons, you might prefer a totally immersive experience. Leather recliners can come with speakers, much like the high-end gaming chairs. Electric recliners allow you to find that perfect point of recline to keep you comfortable throughout the entire movie. Some even have a rocker frame so you can gently bounce yourself to a whole new level of relaxation. There aren’t nearly as many color options as bean bags might offer so matching to your decor choices might be more tricky. Still, with a sofa or armchair offering this level of deep comfort, a few shades astray won’t matter too much.

What’s on your coffee table? Picture source

Coffee Table Puzzles

Coffee tables are enormously useful in the family room. They provide the perfect perch for your pitchers, a stylish sill for your snacks, and a resting rostrum for your remotes. The best type of table for this space is one that includes plenty of storage options. Extra drawers give you perfect little cubbies to hide away candies, magazines, games and puzzles. Why not swap board games out every week so the kids can discover something new each time?

Cable Tidy

If you’re not too keen to wall-mount your TV, it might be worth finding a cabinet or TV stand that includes a cable tidy. These often run down the center of any stand. You can carefully tuck each cable inside, feeding it up toward the TV. At the bottom, they can then be fed toward the next device or the power sockets. It gives a great impression that the whole entertainment center is wireless plus you can have much more fun without the hazards of cables in the room.

Toy Chest

These come in so many designs that you might want one for each of your children! Pirates, princesses, animals and character themes make these big boxes lots of fun to play with. Of course, their primary purpose is to house all of the toys that come out at the weekend. What goes into yours?

Contributed Post.

If you like what you’ve read here, please let others know of this post, blog, and site.

And thanks for reading!  🙂

Unknown's avatar

Complete Contentment In Life Is Just 5 Small Steps Away

by

Pixabay:

While nobody truly knows the meaning of life, it’s safe to say that the purpose is to enjoy it. We only get a short time on this earth, and being happy is the only way to ensure that you won’t look back on it with regrets.

Many people needlessly make this pursuit of happiness overcomplicated. In truth, it’s possible to gain contentment in just five easy steps. Here’s all you need to know.

  • Help those less fortunate than yourself. Not only is it great for your karma, but it instantly provides a sense of emotional satisfaction that is difficult to replicate elsewhere. Moreover, it can be a great way to get involved in the community spirit and even encourage friends and family to join in. There are many ways that you can help. Take the time to find an idea that works for you, and you’ll never look back. If nothing else, it’ll make you feel like a more valuable person.
  • Take care of your family. It’s great to play an active role in helping others, but charity starts at home. Ensuring that your loved ones are healthy and happy should be a priority at all times. Sometimes it can be necessary to embrace the experts like those at Parc Provence to give elderly relatives the living support they need. Meanwhile, spending more time with the kids and family is sure to send your personal happiness, as well as theirs, through the roof.
  • Chase career goals. You don’t have to be the next Bill Gates to achieve happiness in business. Whether starting a business or climbing a more traditional career ladder doesn’t matter. Doing something that you feel passionate about will make you far happier in general life. After all, we dedicate far too many hours to feel anything less than satisfied in our jobs. If you can find a way of earning big money in the process, then that’s clearly a bonus.
  • Stay fit and healthy. Your body provides the foundations for everything you set to achieve in life. It also impacts your daily comfort, movement, and confidence. It’s very easy to get sidetracked by other commitments, but keeping your body in the best possible condition should not be overlooked. Gain tips from Get Healthy U and find a way of making time in your schedule for those tasks. When coupled with good nutrition, you’ll save money and feel stronger and healthier.
  • Stop worrying. Stress is the biggest happiness killer imaginable by far, and there are many genuine sources of it. Sadly, many people make those situations far worse by getting wound up needlessly. Accepting that life can’t be perfect is important if you want to unlock inner peace and happiness. Focus on the elements that you can improve while appreciating the things that are going well. In turn, every day will feel a little brighter. If that doesn’t signify contentment, what does?

Essentially, learn to appreciate the simple joys of life, and happiness will be assured. In many cases, this will encourage the other factors to follow.

Contributed Post.

If you like what you’ve read here, please let others know of this post, blog, and site.

And thanks for reading!  🙂

Unknown's avatar

Invite, Inform, Intrigue: The Three I’s That Make the Perfect Business Website

by

If you didn’t already know that you need to take your business online, then take this as your warning: get with the times and take your business online! More to the point, get with the times and make sure your business not only has a website but has a website that is inviting, informative and intriguing. For advice on how to achieve these three I’s on your business website, make sure to read on.

Image source

Making your business’s website inviting

The first I that you should be focussing on when it comes to your business’s website is inviting: simply, your website must be inviting because, if it isn’t, nobody will want to stick around long enough on it to learn anything about your business. So, make sure it is inviting!

The first thing that you should do when seeking to induce an inviting feel on your website is to treat it like your own home. You want guests to your home to feel invited and welcome whenever they step through your front doors, right? Well, you should be translating this desire to your business’s website. More to the point, you should be translating the desire on your part to have guests in your home feel invited and welcome as soon as they enter your home onto your site: you should want the traffic that is led to your site, through or for whatever reason, to feel welcome as soon as they click on to it. And, the best way to do this is to ensure that your website’s home page, generally the first page that is seen on a site, is in no way outdated or hard to navigate. You see, if your site’s home page looks as if it has come straight out of the 1990s, or if it is hard to get to grips with or use in general, then there will be no inviting feel to it. And, with this lack of an inviting feel comes an increased desire on the part of the traffic that has come to your site to leave it just as quickly as they accessed it. And, if the rest of the site follows suit after a bad home page, then you can be sure that whomever it is that has logged on to your site will not be staying around on it for too long. So, make sure you are working closely with website application development companies to ensure that your whole website is as up-to-date and as easy to use as possible. By doing so you would be able to be sure that your website is as inviting as it can possibly be.

And something else that you should be doing in order to induce an inviting feel on your website is to put as many faces to as many names as you can — and yes, this means putting a face to your own name, too! You see, when a consumer who is scouring your business’s site for information on it can see evidence of who it is they are dealing with, especially you, the boss, they are more likely yo feel invited and welcome, and thus they are more likely to bring you their custom. So, make sure photographs and even small personal bios of you and your team are uploaded to your site. Just hope that when it comes to photo day that you’re having a good hair day!

Making business’s website informative

Once you’ve reeled potential customers in with your inviting website, it’s time to start solidifying them as fully fledged customers. And, the best way to do this is to make sure your website is as informative as it can be — and that is why informative is the next I to be covered.

Being informative is something your website simply needs to be and simply needs to be taking seriously. Now, this could mean hiring a professional in the field of writing, such as a freelance copywriter, in order to write up your website a bio for all those who access the site to see — by doing so you would be able to be sure that the writing would be informative, straight to the point and, most importantly, error free. Or, this could mean making a live-chat feature available on your site in order to allow the potential customers who access your site the chance to gain real-time and active information whenever they access your site — by doing so you would be able to be sure that no customer will leave your site without finding out exactly what it is they need to find out.

You see, if your site isn’t informative and doesn’t provide your potential customers with the information they need to be turned into fully fledged customers, how is this going to happen? And, if this doesn’t happen, where are your customers going to be coming from in this ever-changing, technology-driven world of business that we live in today?

Making your business’s website intriguing

The third I, intriguing, is just as important as the two that came before it. Yes, it is important to make sure your customers feel invited when they access your site. And yes, it’s even more important that they leave it with all the information they need from it. But, making your site intriguing is important because that is what keeps your customers on the site while they are on it — and that time is the most precious time of all.

To keep your site intriguing, the first thing that you should be doing is becoming well versed on what is done to achieve that. To do this, try reading popular blogs or other websites created by the other businesses in your market. By doing so you would be able to see what works and what doesn’t in regards to enticing customer attention and, more importantly, keeping this attention intrigued. Something else that you could try is actually asking your customers what it is about your site that is, one, already intriguing, and two, what can be done to it to make it more so. You see, customer feedback is the best kind of feedback you can receive on your business, in all parts of it, so you should have no qualms in asking for it in relation to your site. Something else that you could try, or maybe even should try given the direction the world of the Internet has taken in recent times, is blogging. You should do so because when a business’s website has a blogging area the possibilities are endless as to what sort of information can be found and stored there, and guest bloggers could even be tasked with the job of writing blog posts for you that will speak directly to the audience you are targeting. Or, something else that you should be trying is making sure your business’s website always features links to the news and posts of the day to show your business to be forthcoming and to be one that always has its finger on the pulse of the latest trends.

So, as you can see, when you make your website inviting, informative and intriguing you give it the best chance possible of drawing in and keeping potential customers and then ultimately turning them into fully fledged customers. So, make sure to remember the three I’s above, and make sure to make your business’s website the best site in town (or in your market, at least)!

Contributed Post.

If you like what you’ve read here, please let others know of this post, blog, and site.

And thanks for reading!  🙂

Unknown's avatar

Shhhh! The Practical Path To A Peaceful Home

by

Pixabay Image

Our senses play a massive part in our lives. Smells have the ability to relax us and transform our moods, while sight can either stimulate or calm us. But, a sense which gets less attention is our hearing. Too often, we forget how much what we hear impacts our moods. But, sounds can have as much of an effect as the other senses we spend so long catering to. If you return to a noisy house the moment you walk through the door, you’ll instantly feel bad. It may be that there’s a loud road outside, or that the television is on full. It’s not unusual to get a headachey, claustrophobic feeling in situations like these. Continual noise outside the home can also interrupt sleep and relaxation. And, we all know how bad that can be for our health.

With that in mind, it’s worth maintaining peace in the home wherever possible. It’s a sure way to make you happier with your living situation and your life. And, lucky for you, there are some surprisingly easy ways to achieve the goal.

Double glazing

PXHere Image

If the primary source of sound comes from outside the home, you’d be amazed by the difference double glazing can make. Most often, we hear about this option for heat saving purposes. And, there’s no denying that it can save you losing a lot of heat through single pane windows. But, the sound reduction benefits are worth just as much attention. If you live by a railway or a busy road, these could be your saving grace. The moment you close the door, those outside sounds will become nothing more than a horrible memory. Say hello to peaceful evenings, and restful nights.

The right floor

If the primary source of noise comes from within your home, consider which flooring you choose. Wooden floors are an obvious no-go for the peaceful home. The echoing impact of a choice like this could give you a headache the moment you hear your shoes on the surface. If you do have wooden floors, investing in rugs can be a fantastic way to mute the sound. It may also be worth looking to the best underlay you can find, which can go a long way towards reducing noise. If you want to play it safe, opt for carpet. But, even with this choice, it’s worth investing in the right underlay for your needs.

Pixabay Image

Keep the volume down

Stepping away from interiors a little, it’s also worth setting a low volume limit and sticking to it. This could mean no raised voices, or no turning up the television past a set point. This may meet resistance at first. But, if you put efforts into enforcing these rules, everyone will soon get used to them. Make sure, too, to stick to this yourself. Keep your tone level, and put the subtitles on the television if you’re struggling to hear. Within no time, your home will be the peaceful haven you’ve always longed for.

Contributed Post.

If you like what you’ve read here, please let others know of this post, blog, and site.

And thanks for reading!  🙂

Unknown's avatar

Reduced Risks and Timesaving Tricks: How To Catapult Your Career

by

You want to make a change to your regular working life. The nine to five office job and unwanted emails are getting on your last nerve. The problem is, you’re not a huge risk taker and you don’t have the time to make a drastic life transformation. The truth is you can do anything you want to do without altering your daily routine too dramatically. Take on a little extra responsibility and you might see surprising results. If you find balancing your work and social life difficult, this shouldn’t make life too hard for you. We all want to boost our career without becoming a social recluse, so here’s where to start.

Feel Good and Volunteer

If you could work for any company in any industry what would it be? Now ask yourself, what might be stopping you from doing this. It might be that the company you want to work for is extremely competitive and seemingly unattainable. Forget the obstacles ahead of you and just go for it. Offer to volunteer in an industry you have real interest in. The chances are you will love it, so won’t actually mind working for free. More often than not volunteering jobs can lead to full-time job offers, so make a good impression and you’ll be winning. You only need to take a day out of your week for a plan like this to work, so go for it right now.

Extra Education

You might be stuck in an office, but you have bigger dreams in your mind. If you haven’t quite got the qualifications you need to get that promotion or apply for a new post, there are many ways you can get there. Join your local college and take an evening class which will help you to gain the skills you need. You may only need to attend one class each week and there might be a chance to take classes online. You could also consider an online mba program, which will be sure to capitalize on your expertise in a chosen field. Adding an extra qualification under your belt will help you to take that step further in your career. Small spouts of hard work is a sure-fire way to take your education to the next level.

Image

Build A Business

You have complete freedom when it comes to starting your own freelance business on the side. Keep your daily job and spend a little time at home in the evenings planning out a new business venture. This might be your ticket to success if you plan it out well. Having your own business to fall back on is an amazing way to guarantee financial security and you will have the freedom to work whenever you want. Start small and then grow as you go!

Choose these low risk and time savvy methods to give yourself a career boost today. Your confidence will soar and you will soon feel free from the confined walls of your current career. Be your own boss and have everything you have ever wanted!

Contributed Post.

If you like what you’ve read here, please let others know of this post, blog, and site.

And thanks for reading!  🙂

Unknown's avatar

Stepping Up Your Sales Patter: Techniques To Get The Tills Ringing

by

When you run a business, there is one simple goal: to make money by selling products or services. Whatever type of company you run, the ultimate aim is to generate as much profit as possible. If you aren’t making money, the business won’t be sustainable, even if you’ve got a loyal client base or you’re attracting rave reviews online. To maximize your margins, it’s always beneficial to keep costs low, but you should also be focused on driving sales. The more money you bring in, the higher the chance of getting into the black. If your sales have stalled or your main aim for the year ahead is to get the tills ringing, here are some techniques to try.

Image taken from https://pixabay.com/en/cash-register-drawer-cash-register-1885558/

A website that wows

A growing number of people search for services and products online. Google alone processes more than 40,000 searches per second. With the online market expanding by the day, it has never been more important to get your website right. Your site has the power to be an incredibly effective marketing tool, provided that it looks the part and it delivers everything the client is looking for. If you use a website to sell products, for example, the merchandise you sell should look fantastic on the screen, but the site should also be easy to use. If you have to jump through hoops to add something to your cart and complete the sale, there are customers that are bound to lose interest and go elsewhere. You need to design a website that enables the customer to choose what they want and buy it within seconds. If your site is dated or dull, now is the time to spruce it up, make the content engaging and ensure that it provides a positive, enjoyable experience for potential clients. Make sure the site is relevant to your brand and focus on the visual appeal. A basic template that is stuffed full of text isn’t going to set the world alight. Use video clips, images and short, interesting descriptions to give customers information and encourage them to buy. If you don’t know where to begin, it’s worth having a look around, seeing what your competitors are doing and getting advice from web design experts.

Image source: http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/view-image.php?image=184074&picture=website-design-build-amp-service

Phone sales

Although many companies are turning their attention to online marketing techniques, sales calls can still be an effective means of conjuring up business. If you have a sales team, it’s important to consider the way you make calls carefully. Not everybody is keen to chat on the phone, and for some clients, telephone calls can be an inconvenience. Choose the right time to make a call, avoid aggressive sales patter and ensure that every call provides the customer with useful information, which demonstrates what the company is all about and how it could benefit them. It’s incredibly beneficial to provide training if you’re taking on new recruits who have limited experience. Making calls can be daunting, and you want to ensure that everyone you employ has the ability and the confidence to showcase your business in the best light. Work on introducing yourself and the company, make the purpose of the call clear and try and arrange an alternative time to talk if that moment isn’t appropriate for the client. If you make a lot of calls, particularly to other countries, it’s worth looking into hosted VoIP services. This is a means of making calls via an Internet connection, which will save you a huge amount of money. When you are ringing customers, never underestimate the importance of courtesy, and make sure you have the answers to commonly asked questions. If a client isn’t sure what you’re offering and how your business differs to others, you’ll find it much harder to close a deal.

Image via https://pixabay.com/en/call-center-phone-service-help-1015273/

Social media

Did you know that Facebook alone has more than 3 billion users? Many of us use social media to catch up with friends and family, but it can also be a lucrative marketing platform for businesses. When you use sites like Facebook or apps like Instagram, you may have noticed sponsored posts or been asked to like or share pages or posts. As a business, you can tap this into the growing social media market by using your profile to market your company or by buying advertising space. If you’re selling a clothing range, for example, sites like Instagram are brilliant because they’re focused on images and you can connect the picture directly to the page on your website where the client can buy the items in front of them on their screen. If you’ve got a bar, and you’re planning an event, Facebook is an excellent place to invite people, give them information about buying tickets and drum up some interest. Use analytics to determine which platforms are most suitable for your target market and set up some profiles. Once you’ve got a page, which contains basic information about the business, what you do and how people can get in touch, share it and ask the people who follow you to do the same. Offering incentives, for example, entry into a competition or access to a flash sale, can help to boost the number of shares.

It’s really beneficial to be interactive on social media, so set up a live chat feature and make sure you respond to questions or queries. If you’ve got the app on your phone, you can ensure that you’re connected, no matter where you are. If you sell products or you accept bookings on your website, it’s essential to ensure that your accounts are connected to your website. This makes it really easy for a customer to check out your page and then follow up on a query or find out more. If you’ve got a restaurant, for example, and a client likes the look of a photo of today’s special, they can click on the link to your website, look at your menu and reserve a table in seconds.

Image by https://www.pexels.com/search/social%20media/

If you’re on a mission to get the cash registers ringing in 2018, it may be time to reconsider or revive your marketing and sales techniques.

Contributed Post.

If you like what you’ve read here, please let others know of this post, blog, and site.

And thanks for reading!  🙂