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11 Ways to Save Money in College (That You Can Start Doing Today)

Did you know that eating Top Ramen for every meal every day for a year would cost you under $150?

While it’s the staple of college kids’ meals, you don’t have to ditch your meal plan and load up on noodles, because there are plenty of other great ways to save money in college.

11 Ways to Save Money in College 

Here are 11 surefire ways to save money in college that you can start doing today!

1. Budget

While it may seem boring, this is one of the key steps to saving cash.

Making a budget for yourself is one of the key ways to save if you’re wondering how to save money as a college student. Taking a little time each week or month to create a plan for where your money is going will help you stay frugal and responsible. 

2. Housing

Housing can be a pretty hefty cost for most schools. While it’s normally nothing compared to tuition, the place and type of housing you select can still greatly affect those college payments. 

You can commute from home or somewhere cheaper off-campus if you are able to avoid paying your school. If you don’t want to commute, having a roommate (or two!) usually always lowers the cost of housing, as well as choosing between suite-style rooms or communal living styles. 

3. Transportation

Where you go and how you get there can also be a great factor in your college costs. You have to find what works best for you in terms of public transportation vs. having your own car vs. carpooling. 

If you are living on campus, considering carpooling over having your own car can save you tons of money because of gas and insurance. Plus, you get to make new carpool friends!

4. FAFSA

Filling out the FAFSA, while it may be tedious, is a great way to determine how much money you can get in federal aid. It takes some time, but is worth it in the long run if you’re hoping to get some financial support that way. 

You also only need to do it once a year, so it can’t be that bad to bite the bullet and fill it out when the time comes around. 

5. Books

Saving money is one of the benefits of renting textbooks compared to buying them full price. Both have their positives as you’ll get money by reselling and you’ll save money by renting textbooks.

It just depends on what better suits your preferences! 

6. Food

While the ramen bit earlier was a joke, the way you spend on food is a great way to save while you’re at school. 

Limiting the times that you go out to eat with friends can help you save money (especially if you have a budget!) You can also look into the different meal plans that your school offers and see if there are cheaper options that fit with your diet. 

7. Scholarships

Scholarships are one of the best ways to save money at college. Earning scholarships is basically like getting gifts for working hard at something!

However, that means you should put good effort into doing well at school, as well as search for other scholarships you can apply to. Usually schools give out scholarships that you can apply for each year and there are tons of scholarships that are eligible for college students everywhere to apply for. 

8. Graduate On Time (Or Earlier!)

Graduating on time will save you tons of cash because you aren’t paying to be at the school. This also goes for graduating earlier – you save tuition, room, and board because you won’t be there!

This is all a matter of how much work you can handle of course.

If you can manage early graduation, it would save you a bunch of cash, plus you get a head start on searching for a job. Then you can get to work on paying off any student loans even sooner!

9. Work

Working on or off campus can help you have a steady flow of money while at school. Then you’ll always have an amount to set aside and save gradually, as well as some to spend every now and then. 

Many campuses have on-campus job opportunities as well as work-study programs that you might find to be helpful. And don’t forget about the magic of private jobs like babysitting! 

Working makes a world of a difference when it comes to saving and spending your money wisely. 

10. Conserve

Conserving your utilities can make a big difference when it comes to saving money. Being diligent about not using too much electricity or water add up, as well as not using A/C or heating when you don’t need to. 

Let’s not forget about how these moves can help the environment as well! You’ll be saving your money and helping the earth at the same time. 

11. Make Honest Judgements

Finally, make honest judgments about what you do and don’t need when you’re shopping. We all know it’s fun to spend a little on things you don’t necessarily need, but be mindful of how often you choose to do that. 

There are also tons of fun ways to buy things that you’re looking for, like hitting up the closest thrift store with your friends. It’s ok to make purchases, but make ones that will meet more of your needs than your wants!

B.F.A. in Saving Money!

And there you have it – with these 11 ways to save money in college, you’ll at least get a BFA in financial smarts!

Higher education can be stressful for a number of reasons. From big tests to licensures to GPA – not to mention the social aspects – you’re in for a lot of learning. 

But money does not have to be one of those stressors – at least not as long as you keep up with these helpful tips on how to save money in college. 

Make sure to check out some of our other posts for more interesting reads, and check back soon for more content!

It’s never too late to start a business. If you’re tired of working to increase someone else’s bottom line, then perhaps it’s time you do something about it. While it may not seem like the most favorable moment in the world to start a new venture, there are consumers still shopping and looking to professionals for help every day.

While ten years ago, your business plan may have been a hard sell, today, you can work from the comforts of home and make megabucks. Did you know that eight out of ten consumers do most of their shopping online, which is about 79 percent of the population? Now is the perfect time to venture out into an e-commerce-based company.

Ten Reasons Why Now is the Time to Start a Business

If you’ve been mulling over a career change for a while, then perhaps you need to try your proverbial wings and take a nosedive into one of the most exciting adventures ever. If you’re still not 100 percent sure about such a bold move, then here are ten reasons why there is no better time than the present.

1. You’re Ready

The best reason to start a business is that you are ready for such a venture. If you already have a business plan, you think about it night and day, and you are daydreaming about all the possibilities, then there’s nothing holding you back. Sure, you may feel like you’re skydiving out of a plane with a faulty parachute, but anything new has risks.

There are so many opportunities to start a business from home that won’t even cost you much money. The beauty of using your home as your office means that you don’t have overhead and all those other costs. You have no excuses to get out there and take the plunge. Just put one foot in front of the other, and soon you will be walking into overwhelming possibilities.

2. You Have Nothing to Lose

Unless you’re fresh out of school, you have some work and life experiences that you can build on. Thankfully, the opportunities to make money doesn’t come with as much risk as it may have before. What you need more than anything is to have the dedication and the willpower to succeed.

If you choose a career path that is in alignment with your passions, then you will be doing something you love. You’re not just there to collect a paycheck; you are doing something that you want to do to help your family. Some of your most straightforward ideas can net you an enormous amount of cash. Think about it; One small chance could change your entire life.

3. People Need You Now

If you pick the right product or service, then it’s recession-proof. For instance, your area might not need another carpet cleaning company, but they always have money for things like pet products, specifically flea killers.

When you choose a start a business, you must pick something that is a necessity, no matter how bad off the economy. Some things are untouchable when it comes to sales, and you must find your niche and market it.

You have hundreds, if not thousands, of people that have money to spend on what you can give them.

4. You’re Underemployed or Laid Off

One of the biggest motivators to start a new business is if you recently received a layoff or you are underemployed. The job market has been tight, and you may be working way below your means. Would you like more money and the freedom to do what you love?

You hear a lot of talk about climbing the corporate ladder, but many companies offer little to no way to advance. You deserve to move up in the company, and there’s no better place to be then at the top. Stop working for pennies when you can make the bank deposits you need to thrive in this life.

If you are working below your grade or you received a furlough, then it’s a sign from the universe that it’s time to make a drastic change for financial prosperity.

5. You Can Take Advantage of Numerous Tax Benefits

Are you tired of paying Uncle Sam every year during tax season? Well, starting a business means that you can take advantage of all the tax breaks allotted to companies. It doesn’t matter if your new venture is from home or in a brick and mortar building; you can still get these tax perks.

The advantages of owning a business increased on September 27th, 2010. Congress signed into law the Small Business Job Act. This program allows small businesses to get extra incentives to stay afloat. It helps the economy, and it helps you.

Writing off things such as a home office, travel expenses, and even meals and entertainment, can help you to get money back rather than paying during tax season. You won’t have to dread April 15th anymore.

6. You’re the Boss

While there are tons of reasons why you need to start a business, the most significant advantage of all is that you’re the boss. No longer do you need to punch the time clock, call off if you are sick, or ask for permission to take a mental health day.

When you are in control, the whole world changes. It doesn’t mean that you are any less accountable, but the employees are now in your control. You can say what, when, who, where, and why. Isn’t that a great feeling?

7. Employees are Your Choice

When you work for a company, you have no say in the people you rub elbows with daily. Now, some of those people have been amazing, but others you would love to see move onto something else. The great thing is you get to pick the people who will work with you in this venture.

You will have good employees and bad ones throughout your business, but you have the power to change things. You don’t have to put up with slackers or those that would rather leave early, show up late, and take ten extra minutes on their lunch break.

There are good people out there that will work for the money that you have to pay, and they will impact your business. With recent world events, the talent pool of selection is more substantial than before. So many people are out of jobs that they will work for less just to have an income.

8. You’re Tired of Corporate Politics

One of the biggest reasons to make a career change is that you are sick of dealing with the red tape and politics at work. If you want to feel successful, then you need a management team that is behind you and will support you all the way.

Most companies start out good, but they must have proper management that is behind you, motivating the staff. If you feel that your current situation is stifling your growth, then it can be a significant indicator to you that it’s time to make a move towards something better.

9. Your Creative Juices are Flowing

Do you have so many ideas your head feels like it might explode? Creative people, who have a lot of willpower, are the ones who can take small concepts and turn them into a million-dollar corporation. Do you have what it takes?

Milton Hershey believed in his chocolate so much that he filed bankruptcy two times when his ideas failed. The head of the chocolate empire only attended school through the fourth grade. However, he didn’t let a lack of education stand in his way. Even though he declared a total loss twice, he came back the third time and built the candy bar company that everyone loves.

There will be trials and things that come your way in this venture, but you must let your creative energy and your desire to succeed overshadow any negativity.

10. You’ll Gain Independence

Finally, you will gain independence from all the things in life that hold you back. You won’t have a boss breathing down your neck, you won’t have to maintain someone else’s schedule, and you can come and go as you please.

While you may not start out making millions, having your independence is priceless. You can take off on a Friday evening and fly to Paris for a week. When you call the shots, you can suddenly see why so many people want to be in the driver’s seat. There’s nothing like being in control of your life.

Final Thoughts on Knowing It’s Time to Start a Business

The reasons to start a business are vast. You will feel successful because you have the power to change your destiny. Why leave your financial wealth in the hands of someone who sees you as a number or just one of the hundreds that make them money.

Stop taking orders from everyone else and have a seat in the pilot’s chair. Your entire life is about to change, as you are now in control.

The best way to start learning today has become easier than ever, with plenty of online courses offered online. Students can start learning the best concepts without having to leave their homes and at the utmost comfort. The increasing number of internet users makes it easier for them to access online courses and learn by themselves.

There are all types of online courses available for students to choose from. The list of these courses includes all types of courses that can help deliver excellent results. Starting from regular subjects, arts, music, and many more fields got covered under one roof. Also, these courses are uploaded and created by trusted tutors who can teach you all the best things there is.

Why Choose Machine Learning Courses?

The more you move forward in the right direction, the more appreciation and future growth you can retain. As per Gartner’s recent technology trends, machine learning and artificial intelligence have become the latest of all trends as they deliver excellent support for running the operations with the best intentions.

Therefore, if you want to secure your future by setting your cornerstone in the right manner, start learning machine learning as it helps generate excellent results, and the future scope lies here. By following the right set of instructions, you can also secure your career in the upcoming trends.

6 Best Online Courses that Deliver the Expected Results for Machine Learning Enthusiasts

To learn machine learning, it becomes crucial to find courses that are actually supported and curated by experts. Without learning to justify them, you can never rely on generating the best results. Students can choose from all available courses on different educational platforms where the best support can be garnered.

Here are the best courses to choose from the myriad of courses of machine learning available on online platforms. By selecting anyone as per your convenience and learning level, you can start your first step on the right note.

1. Machine Learning Course Offered by Stanford University

Coursera is one of the best online course platforms that combines all the best courses one a single platform. This course offered by Stanford University helps you earn a certificate from the university itself when you complete it. This particular course is curated by Andrew Ng, a professor at Stanford University who is also a co-founder of Coursera. 

Hence, the expertise and features offered by this course are incomparable as it helps deliver excellent content and teaching experience. The course has scored more than 2.6 million students and has 4.9 out of 5 ratings. Therefore, if you are looking forward to starting learning the same in the best way, this course is the best that you can find.

2. Machine Learning Course A-ZTM: Hands-On Python & R In Data Science

This particular machine learning course is offered on Udemy by data science experts Kirill Eremenko, and Hadelin de Ponteves. As the name of the course suggests, this course is a complete package for those students who want to start from the first step and take it to an advanced level. Also, this particular course helps you master the Python and R development that are two of the best programming languages of today.

The total course duration is 40+ hours, and it includes the video lectures along with practical exercises that the students can practice by themselves. For example, if an angular js development company wants its employees to learn and master from this course, they can rely on it as it gives them practicals too to check what their expertise level is. This course has received 4.5 out of 5 ratings by the students and professionals who enrolled for the same.

3. Deep Learning Course

Deep learning is one of the less explored areas of the machine learning universe. As the implementation of deep learning is becoming one of the important essences for businesses around the world. The more you consider running the course outputs to produce excellent results, you can actually garner the best experience.

This course is again introduced by Andrew Ng, who is one of the reputed experts in the field of machine learning. This single course includes five different courses under a single roof, and hence, it spans across a few weeks. e.g., if you want to deliver an home delivery software, you have to go through the basics and then proceed to advanced. Similarly, this course progresses to advanced level from the basics.

Still, this course gives you the chance to practice on the real-world data of medical, finances, natural language processing, and more. Hence, you not only learn how deep learning works, but you can also use this experience to empower your future projects.

4. Applied Machine Learning

This particular course is offered by Columbia Engineering Executive Education. This specific course directly teaches the concepts of machine learning that need your attention and help you brush up your concepts over the machine learning terminologies and more. Applied machine learning course includes all the algorithms and methods of supervised and unsupervised learning and helps you understand how the actual implementation is done.

It can get you a jumpstart to how the machine learning concepts work. This particular online course helps in learning the fundamentals of data science along with the practical implementation of Python and its libraries. It powers up your career as the course completion certificate will be waiting for you at the end of the course modules.

5. Machine Learning Data Science Course

The course offered by Harvard University ensures you get a new view of the concepts of machine learning and data science as well. This course is covered under Harvard’s professional certification program. Hence, upon completion, you earn a certificate from Harvard University, and it helps you learn from the best of machine learning concepts.

The course extensively puts emphasis on learning R programming language for the implementation of machine learning concepts and hence, introduces you to the future programming language. The course modules are well-distributed to generate the best results in no time. It also includes a module where real-life case studies are mentioned and used.

6. Machine Learning- Artificial Intelligence Course

This course is offered by Columbia University, and it powers up your basic concepts to deliver excellent learning experience. It is a micro master course that teaches the basics and helps you get started with any other advanced courses.

The course also teaches you how you can implement the concepts in the real-world by including the possible applications and case studies on each. It also includes dedicated modules for learning neural networks and helps determine the practical application of each. This course has received 4.5 scores out of 5.

Conclusion

By choosing anyone from these courses, you can ensure learning the best approaches that empower your career. The more you get involved in learning through these courses, the more results you can achieve with your earned expertise. With continuous developed practice and skills over time, you can become one of the leading machine learning experts to make a good sum of money and secure your future with the best of technology trends. So, what are you waiting for? Start preparing now!

How to Start a Successful Janitorial Business in 2019

Does the mere sight of dust get your blood boiling? Do you enjoy getting floors so clean that people could literally eat off of them? Have you considered getting the words “Cleanliness is next to godliness” tattooed on your body at some point?

If you answered “yes” to one or, better yet, all of these questions, you would be the perfect person to start a janitorial business. There are tons of office buildings, schools, retail stores, and other commercial establishments that would love to have you come and clean for them.

The janitorial services industry can be very competitive, though. There are more than 800,000 companies providing janitorial services at this time—and that number has continued to grow over the course of the last five years.

Here are six steps you can take to get your janitorial business off to a strong start.

Come Up With a Name and Logo for Your Business

Technically, you can create a name and logo for your janitorial business at any point during this process. You don’t have to hurry to come up with the perfect name and logo right away.

But until you have a name and logo in place, your business isn’t going to feel real to you.  So it’s a good idea to brainstorm some ideas and generate a name and logo as soon as you can.

Your name should be something that people will remember once they hear it. It should set the tone for your business and make your company stand out in the crowd.

Your logo, meanwhile, should look very professional so that you can use it to build up your company’s brand recognition. Work with a graphic designer in your area to come up with a great logo that represents your company well.

Find the Funding You’ll Need to Get Your Business Off the Ground

If you’re planning on starting small when you first launch your janitorial business, you won’t need too much funding to get things going. But you will need to find some funding to jumpstart your company.

You’re going to need to have money to pay for things like:

• Registering your business
• Obtaining the right business insurance policy
• Purchasing cleaning equipment and supplies (more on this in a minute!)
• Hiring people to work for you
• Launching advertising campaigns in your community

You can fund your janitorial operation by digging into your own savings account. You can also work with a lender willing to provide you with the money you need in the form of a loan. You can even ask family members and friends to consider investing in your business.

Decide Which Janitorial Services You’ll Offer to Customers

Which janitorial services are you going to offer to your customers once your business is up and running? The more services you can provide, the more likely they are to call on you to take care of all their cleaning needs.

Sit down and assemble a list of services that you’re going to extend to your customers. Your company should be capable of doing things like:

• Vacuuming carpeted floors
• Cleaning and polishing other types of flooring
• Washing windows
• Cleaning and sanitizing bathrooms
• Performing trash removal

When you’re done compiling your list, there should be dozens of services on it. Check out what your potential competitors are offering and try to go above and beyond their services to set your business apart.

Purchase the Right Cleaning Equipment and Supplies

In order to clean commercial establishments in your community, you’re going to need all kinds of cleaning equipment and supplies. From vacuum cleaners and mops to window cleaners and sponges, you’ll need to spend at least a few thousand dollars on equipment and supplies.

You might also want to take your janitorial business to the next level by investing in CleanTelligent software. It’ll help you keep tabs on the services you’re providing for your customers and allow your company to stay more organized.

Set Up a Website That Lists Your Services and Prices

Can you believe that up to 40% of small businesses are operating without a website right now? That’s insane when you consider how important a website is when it comes to marketing a business to the masses.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking your janitorial business doesn’t need a website. Set one up as soon as you can so that you can list all of your services on it and provide your customers with prices for them.

Make sure your website has a contact page, too, so that it’s easy for customers to get in touch with you about obtaining your services.

Begin Marketing Your Services to Those in Your Community

You can come up with an amazing name for your janitorial business, offer an extensive list of janitorial services, and provide people with the best prices in town. But if they don’t have any idea that your business even exists, what good will all of that do?

Marketing your business is of the utmost importance. You can market your business to those in your community by:

• Running ads in local newspapers and on local radio and TV stations
• Setting up social media accounts and connecting with as many local businesses as you can
• Sponsoring different events in your city or town

By marketing your business, you’ll be able to get your name and your logo out there into the world. It’ll lead to more people reaching out to you about obtaining your services.

Start a Successful Janitorial Business Today

As we mentioned earlier, there are already hundreds of thousands of janitorial companies throughout the country. But there is always room for one more.

If you’ve been thinking about starting a janitorial business for a while now, follow the steps listed here to kickstart your operation. Within just a few months, you can have your business humming along and providing great cleaning services to those in your community.

Looking to learn more about starting a small business? Browse through the rest of our blog to get more great advice on doing it.

How to Start a Successful Health and Wellness Blog in 2019

Did you know that 43% of people tend to skim blog posts? This means it is crucial to grab attention early and prioritize the online user’s interests. 

If you’re ready to start your own health and wellness blog, be sure to follow these tips to success.

1. Select a Health and Wellness Blog Theme 

The first stop on the journey to creating your own health and wellness blog is to select a theme or niche. What are you most passionate about within the industry? This is a great starting point for your theme.

Examples of themes include:

• Nutrition
• Fitness
• A Specific Sport (i.e. running or swimming)
• A Specific Diet (i.e. keto or low fat)

Once you select your blog theme you can dive into your niche and expertise. If you select a topic that you are truly passionate about it will come through in your content. Blogging will be a source of fun and income instead of stress and anxiety.

2. Design a Beautiful Health Blog Website 

Before you launch your new blog it is important to understand blog design best practices. There are a few key design and layout elements to consider when you build out our website.

• Use blog cards in your page payout for easy user experience.
• Short and sweet descriptions are best for capturing your audience’s attention.
• Design your layouts with images at center stage.

A nutrition blog with stunning photography or a fitness post with clear instructions will keep your followers coming back for more. A beautiful web page design will take your blog to the next level.

3. Create a Blogging Template

Have you ever bitten off more than you could chew? Creating your own health and wellness blog might get overwhelming at times. Consider making a blogging template to make your content uploads easier and more efficient.

A blog template will predetermine the layout of your posts including text, images, and social widgets. It can be beneficial to create 2-3 blog templates to use in rotation for convenient uploading.

A template will ensure you have all of the necessary elements in your blog with every post.

4. Market and Advertise your Health and Wellness Blogs

There are many reasons someone may create a health and wellness blog. Some people create a blog to market their business like Ask Dr. Kan, others want to share their fitness content, and some want extra income. No matter your reason, it’s important to advertise your blog.

In order to earn income from your blog, you’ll need to grow your blog’s following to monetize ads in the future. A great way to start your following is with social media accounts. Instagram is a great place to start for a health and wellness blogger.

Ready to Launch Your New Health and Wellness Blog?

Starting a wellness blog is exciting! Now you’re ready to launch your very own blog. Follow these tips on your journey to blogging success. If you’re interested in learning more about blogging check out our website for more information.

Start Em Young: When to Schedule Your Kid’s First Dentist Appointment

Dental health is incredibly important, not just for your teeth, but for your entire body. In fact, dental disease has been linked to other health problems, such as heart disease, stroke, pneumonia, and low-birth-weight in infants.

So it’s important to have regular dental checkups every year, but when should you first take your child to have their first dentist appointment? The answer may surprise you, read on to find out!

At What Age Should Your Child Have Their First Dentist Appointment?

Typically, your child’s baby teeth will begin to come in around 6 months of age. Every child is different, however, and some children don’t begin teething until closer to 12 months, or even older. The lower front incisors are typically the first teeth to come in.

As soon as that first tooth is visible, it’s time to make your appointment. You want to have your child see a dentist right at the beginning because the dentist will be able to check and make sure that your child’s teeth are developing normally.

If you have an established family dentist, they may be able to see your child, or you can make an appointment with a pediatric dentist who specializes in children’s teeth. Your pediatrician should be able to recommend someone if you are having trouble finding one.

Benefits of Starting Dental Appointments Right Away

It may seem like overkill to some to see a dentist for a single tooth, but there are several benefits of starting your child’s dental relationship young. The first benefit is the opportunity for early intervention. The sooner a dentist can check on your child’s tooth development, the sooner they can intervene if there is a problem.

Another benefit of seeing the dentist right away is the comfort of your child. Many children can be frightened of the dentist, but exposing your child to dental checkups, and making them familiar with their dentist at such an early age helps them to get used to it and consider it normal rather than scary. 

Lastly, establishing good dental care is important for children because the prevention of cavities is much better than treatment. The only thing worse than a baby with a toothache is what you have to do to fix it. Small children cannot use the same numbing and sedation medications that adults do when they get cavities filled and have to undergo a much more dangerous procedure where they are put under general anesthesia and go to the operating room just to have a cavity filled!

Start Them Early, It’s the Tooth!

So you see, as soon as you see that first tooth, a first dentist appointment is not far behind. Making sure that your child establishes dental care early will ensure that they stay healthy and keep that beautiful smile you love so much!

We hope you enjoyed this article. If you did, stick around! We’ve got many more to inform and entertain you!

How to Start a Real Estate Business: Your Complete Guide

Have you been thinking about entering the real estate profession? The real estate business is lucrative.

Agents can rake in high commissions in a matter of weeks. Did you know the average earnings for a real estate agent in New York is $102K a year? 

But these high commissions come with wisdom and expertise. Navigating the real estate industry can be complex and overwhelming. Especially for buyers and sellers. 

That’s why both parties need knowledgable real estate professionals to guide them.

In this post, you’ll learn the steps to gaining this knowledge and how to begin building a profitable real estate business.

Keep reading!

1. Know Your Neighborhoods

It’s no secret that real estate is a competitive industry. It’s unlikely you’ll be the only real estate agent in your area when you start your company.

To be successful, you need to assess your knowledge, experience, strengths, and weaknesses.

After doing a thorough examination, you can learn more about the area to position yourself better in the marketplace.

Here are some questions to consider:

• How fast are homes selling in each neighborhood?
• What is the mean of selling prices from block to block?
• Are sale prices close to asking prices?
• Are there any conditions in the neighborhood that is affecting the real estate market?
• Are some streets safer than others?

It’s important to familiarize yourself with the market where you intend to set up your real estate business. Having a handle on the market will put you ahead of the competition.

Stand Out Among the Competition

Your expertise will present you as an established professional. Knowing the cities, towns and surrounding neighborhoods where you’ll match buyers to sellers is key.

You must know a market analysis, accurate data for schools, crime rates and the reputation and characteristics of each neighborhood.

Mastering this knowledge will give you a leg up on the competition. And help buyers and sellers refer you to their friends and family.

Another important point for success is knowing your competition. Perform some research about how other real estate businesses approach selling in this market.

You can join online forums, join professional real estate groups, attend industry seminars and workshops or research real estate industry publications and news online.

2. Specialize in a Market Niche

Another way to make your real estate business stand out is to specialize in a niche market. A niche is an area of specialization. For example, would you prefer selling to investors, developers or target the residential market? 

Or do you want to focus on a certain geographical area like the upper east side of Manhattan? Maybe you want to specialize in selling coops or condominiums?

Does becoming the expert in short sales and foreclosures pique your interest? If not, maybe you want to narrow your interests to rental properties or retirement communities.

When you narrow your interests to a specific niche, you’ll have a better chance of success.

3. Get a Real Estate License

If you’ve never worked in real estate, you’ll need to obtain a real estate license to begin selling or renting properties as a licensed realtor.

Every state requires agents to be licensed. But before you take the real estate exam required in your state, you’ll need to enroll in a prelicensing real estate program.

The program will teach you the subject areas and the topics you’ll need to know for the exam and for operating a real estate business.

Here are some of the instructional content taught in real estate programs:

• Types of  property ownership
• Titles, deeds, and contracts
• Fair housing laws
• Fiduciary responsibilities
• How to work with financial lenders
• Real estate laws
• Federal laws

Keep in mind, rules, and regulation may vary from state to state, depending on the state where you will practice real estate.

After you pass your licensing exam, you’ll need to submit a licensing application. The state where you reside may also require you to submit fingerprints and a background check.

Once your application is approved, you will pay the licensing fees to become a licensed real estate agent. Then you may be hired by a real estate company or broker.

4. Write a Business Plan

Once you’re ready to open up a real estate business, you’ll need a business plan. A business plan is a document that outlines your goals for your entire business and how you will achieve them.

This document will detail how you plan to operate your business and accomplish each objective. In your business plan, be as specific as possible.

While your business plan doesn’t need to be 50 pages long, it does need to present an action plan with dates and milestones on how you’ll reach your goals.

5. Get a Business Insurance Policy

Many new business owners overlook the importance of protecting their real estate business with an insurance policy.

The insurance may cover your business for theft, fire, intellectual property litigation, property damage, and other coverages.

It’s essential to obtain insurance before you incur claims. This will protect your business in the event of a claim or accident.

When you’re advising a real estate client, they can sue you for professional malpractice. When you’re covered, it can be the difference in keeping your business running or having to close your doors.

6. Set Up an Attractive and Functional Website

A website can be a key moneymaker for your real estate business. It can attract people to your website and convert leads into paid customers.

To drive leads to your business and keep them, you’ll need a website that’s attractive, functional, easy to navigate with links that go to the right pages.

Your website should also be created with responsive design so it looks great on any device. You’d be surprised at how many real estate companies drive potential clients ways because of basic real estate website mistakes.

Time to Start a Real Estate Business!

Now you know the steps to building a successful real estate business. Put them to use and before you know it, you’ll be on your way to high commissions!

Need more business tips? Keep reading our blog.

Business Plan: 6 Key Questions to Ask Before You Start a Business

As of 2015, there are over 25 million entrepreneurs in the United States.

With the accessibility convenience that the Internet provides, it’s also easier than ever before to start your own business. Many times, you can even do it from your own home.

But, just because it’s easier than in the past to start your own company doesn’t mean you don’t need to be cautious.

In fact, there’s a handful of questions you need to ask yourself before you dive in.

Not sure where to start? Don’t worry, we got you covered.

Let’s take a look at everything you need to know about what you need to consider while creating your business plan.

1. “What Problem Can My Business Solve?”

This is one of the most important questions you can ask, and it’s important that you be honest with yourself.

If what you offer to your target audience solves a problem or makes their lives easier, they’ll likely pay money for it. But, if it doesn’t bring them much value, you may find that your company’s performance will struggle.

The good news is that the answer to this question isn’t always complicated.

It could be as simple as an app that helps budding musicians find open mic nights in their city, or a platform that lets people hire local petsitters.

2. “What’s My X-Factor?”

So, you’ve found what problem you’re going to solve. That’s great!

Except, it’s likely that plenty of other people have the same mission.

While competition isn’t inherently bad, it can make things a bit difficult as a business owner. This is especially true when you’re just starting out.

So, you’re going to have to find a way to stand out from the crowd if you want to get your audience’s attention.

Ways you can help differentiate yourself include:

• Provide above and beyond customer service
• Develop a powerful culture around your brand (Nike, for example)
• Have a relatable cause or story behind your business
• Be weird and unconventional

The more effort you put into being unique as a business, the better off you’ll be.

You can learn more about starting your own company here.

3. “What Funds and Resources Do I Have Available?”

This is another one where you’ll need to be completely honest with yourself.

If you don’t have the proper funds and resources (or can’t definitively secure them), don’t get too caught up in bringing an end-game vision to life.

For example, there are people out there who dream of having their own office and a dozen employees working under them. But, there’s no need to spend money on renting a workspace if you’re just starting out in most circumstances.

Instead, focus on what you can realistically obtain with what you have access to.

Even you only have a few thousand dollars or only know a couple of people in the industry, it’s important to accept that you’ve got some work to do before you start scaling your company.

4. “How Well Do I Know the Market?”

You wouldn’t set out to sea without checking the weather, would you?

The same applies here when entering a market for the first time.

You could provide the best product or service the industry has ever seen, but introducing it at the wrong time could spell the end for your business.

Similarly, you’ll also need to consider unexpected factors, such as unforeseen costs and how your audience reacts to your branding/marketing.

Put simply, you need to put in the time and research everything you can about the industry you’re about to enter. This means analyzing your competition, your audience, and the performance of the market itself are all crucial.

5. “How Do I Plan on Marketing My Product/Service?”

Yet another one of those make-or-break questions. 

How you market your product or service is just as important as what you’re actually offering. But, it’s not quite as daunting as it seems to come up with a strategy.

To get started, consider what is known as the Four P’s of marketing:

• Product- What you offer and how it will stand out among other products. Also, consider who you want to buy it.
• Price- What you charge for what you offer. Pursue the ‘sweet spot’ in terms of price that will optimize sales.
• Promotion- How you frame your product or service. For example, it could be marketed as a premium purchase or something that is intentionally barebones.
• Place- How you reach your audience. Essentially, this is your chosen method(s) of making sales (online store, phone, retail, etc.).

Flesh out each answer as thoroughly as possible and you’ll end up with a solid marketing plan.

6. “What Is My Exit Strategy?”

Sometimes, things don’t go as planned. That’s why inventions like seatbelts and lifejackets exist.

The same applies when starting your own business. Unforeseen circumstances could very easily cause your company to enter a downward spiral, such as an imploding market that leaves no need for what you offer.

So, you need to come up with a plan to cushion the blow as much as possible (or eliminate it entirely).

Common exit strategies include:

• Selling your company to another business owner
• Shutting down all operations and liquidating
• Merging with another company that provides similar products or services

Think of what the ideal solution to an emergency scenario would be, and then plan for it.

That way, you’ll be one step ahead when the need for a way out arises. 

Coming up With a Solid Business Plan Can Seem Difficult

But it doesn’t have to be.

With the above information about developing a business plan in mind, you’ll be well on your way to giving your company the best chance of success.

Want to learn more about how to succeed online? Make sure to check out the rest of our blog!

How to Start a Gardening Blog and Monetize It

Are you inspired to blog about gardening? The easiest way to share your passion for gardening is to start a blog. In addition to sharing information with the world on your blog, you also have to take advantage and make money in the process.

If you find the idea of starting a blog confusing, you can follow a  helpful guide to make an informative site that you’ll be proud to own. Learning how to write a blog and make money is not as difficult as you think. This article explores how to start a gardening blog using the easiest steps.

Here are some basics to get your blog up and running.

1. Set Up Domain and Hosting for a Gardening Blog

Create a keyword-rich domain name that reflects what you’ll be writing about on your blog. Expect to pay at least $15 per year from popular domain hosts. Dedicated hosting providers are flexible, they offer enhanced security and performance, and you also have the assurance that your personal information is protected.

Next, use a WordPress hosting platform that offers reasonable prices. The process is simple for you to connect your domain to a reliable WordPress host. There are many free WordPress themes and plugins for you to install.

Be sure to select a WordPress theme and design layout that represents your blog’s niche. 

2. Share Your Gardening Expertise

There is so much information that you can write for your readers. You can inform them about house plants for sale, how to set up a garden and other essential details.

Write search engine optimized content for every blog post you publish. SEO is an effective technique that helps your content to be found in all major and popular search engines. You can even install and activate SEO plugins on your WordPress blog.

These plugins are designed to help you save time and to gain more readers. Sharing your content across popular social media platforms also gives you the advantage to grow your traffic.

3. Earn Money

Once your blog has a constant flow of monthly traffic,  you can have it monetized with affiliate products. Affiliate marketing involves selling products and services for merchants that commissions for each sale. 

Almost all online merchants have affiliate programs that you can join for free. With just a few steps, you can install gardening related affiliate links and banners on your blog to earn money. 

A simple step for you to earn affiliate sales is to write quality SEO content that includes your affiliate links. This is a lucrative technique you can use to monetize your blog from your target audience. 

Create a Unique Blog That Attracts Readers

One important rule to make a successful gardening blog is to create helpful information for people.

To get long term success, be consistent writing valuable content people want to read. Readers love solid, engaging content and it makes them inspired to keep returning to your blog to get more updated information.

If you’re interested in learning about content strategy, keep browsing our site.

From Beginner to Pro: 5 Things a Beginner Needs to Start a Professional Blog

Did you know that there are over 80 million blog posts published every month? Blogging is a trend you don’t want to miss out on, and it’s easy to get started. Blogs are a fantastic way to share helpful information with the world around you and start generating content that is all your own.

Before you dive in head first, we’re going to show you five things you need as a beginner to start a professional blog.

Starting Your Professional Blog

If you’re thinking about starting a blog, there are a few items you must address before proceeding. A successful blog requires a lot of planning and a clear vision.

Have A Plan

The first thing to do is create a plan that walks you through the steps you need in setting up your blog, preparing for blog content, and pushing your content out on a schedule. Do you have a specific topic in mind you’re an expert on or you’re interested in?

Determine the types of topics you’d like to discuss, then you’ll set some goals.

Set Blog Goals

The goals of your blog will depend on the type of blog you’re rolling out. Is it personal or for a business? Are you attempting to raise awareness, make some side money, or use it as an online diary? It’s great to have goals even if your blog is just for personal use.

Set goals on the number of blog visitors you get per month, how many articles you’d like to post and when, and if you’re monetizing – a dollar amount.

Choose a Platform

There are many different blogging platforms to choose from. The most popular today are Squarespace, Tumblr, and WordPress. This is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make when setting up your professional blog. The platform you choose will dictate how you maintain your blog.

These platforms allow for blog hosting, support, adding plugins and making your site more customizable. Do some research and determine which is right for you or get some more info here.

Write Good Content, Ensure You’re Found

One of the biggest things to be successful with your blog is to continuously publish good content. If you’ve stuck with a topic, be relevant, and don’t wander off the path too far. You’ll keep your readers by providing them with valuable information, and create a community that keeps coming back.

Blog For Your Audience

Your audience is your greatest asset in blogging. Getting engagement from them is key. We’ve all stumbled across a blog that has thousands of posts, but no comments, likes, or reshares. It loses validity and credibility if no one is saying anything.

Make sure you don’t lose sight of who your audience is and be active with your readers. Turn your blog into a conversation and it will surprise them every time!

To Blog or Not to Blog

Now that you know these important steps, you’re ready to create a professional blog! With the help of these guidelines, you’ll develop a community of readers, release relevant content on a schedule, and use a platform to promote your work.

If you’re interested in learning how to write engaging and creative articles, take a look at our blog today.