Successful

Raising good kids is no easy feat. Children don’t come with manuals, and you must make instant decisions that affect their lives daily. Things are even more compounded when you have an ex in the picture, specifically when they are narcissistic.

Is it possible to raise a child in a split universe where one side is balanced, and the other is off-kilter? A narcissistic ex is a person that thinks of themselves first. Indeed, they will do things that will cause your children great psychological harm. Behaviors like not showing up for a visit, avoiding child support payments, and neglecting responsibilities are commonplace.

Not only did you want to sever ties with this toxic person. However,  you are forever bound to them because of your children. Walking away is hard when they’re always going to be there in some aspect.

Tips for Raising Well-Adjusted Kids

You don’t want your narcissistic ex affecting your child’s mental health. To ensure that they are well rounded and can roll with the punches, here are ten things that you may want to do.

1. Don’t Make Your Child a Pawn in a Game

It’s not uncommon for ex-lovers to be in a bitter battle over children. However, you must be the bigger person and not allow this battle to take your child’s mental stability with it. Never use your child as a pawn in this dirty game.

Many people use their children to get back at their ex without even realizing it. Some examples of this would be to say, “You can’t see your father because he hasn’t paid his child support this month.” In this instance, the mother tries to make the father look less than in the child’s eyes. She is putting negative thoughts in the kid’s head about the worth of their father.

The child will surmise that their dad didn’t want to pay for their needs, but that may not be the case. Even though all the things she said may be right, it’s never good to use the child to get back at the other party.

Your child is not a messenger, and you should never give them a message to give to the other party. In many instances, the parent who uses the child’s emotions as a vise will be the one that it comes back to bite in the end.

2. Put Your Children in Counseling

Some parenting situations are high-conflict arrangements, and your children can feel the pain of these rifts. You would be surprised how this stress can affect even the youngest child. Kids often feel guilty and like they are to blame for the way their parents act.

A narcissistic ex will make poor choices, but they can also direct their behaviors towards their children. Your kids need someone that they can talk to and a place where they are safe to say how they feel. While they love both their parents, they need that unbiased third party to help them cope.

3. Use the Court System

The court is well equipped to handle high-conflict cases where children are involved. If you find that your narcissistic ex is making everything increasingly tricky, you can ask a judge to appoint a parent coordinator.

A coordinator has training in reducing the stress of the situation, and the most important thing is that they can ease some of the angst your child feels too. An attorney is needed to help get this motion put through the court system.

4. Get a Court Ordered Custody Agreement

You may feel that to raise a well-adjusted kid, you need to work with their mother or father without the court system. While in a perfect world, that would be the case; when dealing with a narcissistic person, you need the court’s intervention.

The courts will establish a parenting plan that is fair to everyone involved. It’s best to have these guidelines because it gives you leverage should things be challenging. You can file a motion for contempt if the other party isn’t cooperating, which can be beneficial in a custody battle.

5. Never Argue with Your Ex

It’s easy to want to challenge someone who is selfish and thinking about only their needs. However, it would be best if you remembered that your children could feel your stress. Part of raising well-adjusted kids is making sure they don’t see their parents arguing.

Remember, you’re never going to win a battle of words with a narcissistic ex, and you’re just wasting your breath. Save everything for a court battle. Go by the court guidelines, and don’t let them get one over on you. Keep in mind that your children are always watching and listening to what’s going on.

6. Establish Firm Boundaries

Dealing with a narcissistic is not easy, and they love to start drama. Their goal is to turn the situation around to make you look like an unstable parent. It would help if you didn’t give them any ammunition for their battle.

Communication needs to be done in writing, like through text or email, so there is always a paper trail. You don’t want them to put words in your mouth. Text messages can be used in court, and this method of communication gives you time to think before you speak. Some people find it’s easier to say things in a text than by phone or in person.

When it comes to communication with your child, there should be set times, and someone should be listening in on the conversation. The narcissistic parent may call and try to invade your visitation time, and this is usually the case when your kid has a phone.

Always leave your emotions out of the situation when dealing with your ex, and stick to the facts. If you get emotional in your dealings, then you are feeding the narcissist’s ego.

7. Keep Records

You never know when your narcissistic ex will take you back to court. These people often forget about the best interest of the child and only want to fill their agenda. Your detailed records can help you to prove to the court what you’re dealing with from this person.

Keep a file with a communication log, any legal papers, social media messages, and texts between you, your ex, and the children. Anything that can be used to benefit your case before a judge, you should keep.

8. Watch Out for Triggers

As your child begins to age and becomes an independent person, the narcissist may have a difficult time processing the feeling that they are not needed. It’s not uncommon for a narcissist to have a flare-up as their child’s growth is a trigger for past feelings of abandonment.

Another common issue is dealing with the narcissistic ex is holiday madness. Just like anxiety and depression is stronger for some around birthdays and major holidays, the same can be said for the narcissistic person. When you learn their patterns, you can take steps to protect yourself and your children from these times of emotional upheaval.

9. Ask for a Guardian ad Litem

A Guardian ad Litem or GAL is a representative that the courts can appoint for your family. These individuals are to be the voice of the child and to express the best interests and wishes to the court. If you’re in a battle with your ex, then you need this person to advocate and support the child.

A word of caution when dealing with a GAL is that they don’t always view things the way you do. They look at things from both angles and submit a report to the court detailing the child’s wishes and what they feel is the best situation going forward. A GAL is a valuable person that can stand up in court and be an unbiased third-party working for the child.

10. Take Care of You

Make sure to spend the time to take care of your needs. How can you love and nurture your children if you’re continually using all your emotional and physical reserves to fight your narcissistic ex? A custody dispute is one of the most draining battles of your life, and you need to make sure that you don’t fall to pieces.

Don’t feel that getting a court advocate or a Guardian Ad Litem makes you weak. These people help you stay strong as they are there to assist in the battle. It would help if you had a counselor that you can talk to and clear the air about things going on in your life, and you need to take a break whenever possible.

Final Thoughts: Stay Strong for the Sake of Your Child, Despite Your Narcissistic Ex

You’re fighting to raise well-adjusted kids. Though you may not see an end to the battle in sight, there will be a day you look back on all these experiences and be glad there are over.

The narcissistic ex can make your life seem impossible, but you should stop and consider how your child feels. Your kids might feel caught in the middle of a tug-of-war, and they love both of their parents.

All good parents want their children to be successful. They hope to provide their kids with the tools they need to reach lofty goals and live a happy, comfortable life. But that’s much easier said than done!

It’s stressful being a parent as it is, just on its own – a rewarding but incredibly challenging journey. Add the pressure of creating higher chances of success for your child to the pile of your responsibilities, and it can all get pretty overwhelming.

Luckily, kids are capable of achieving success without fancy tuition classes, expensive private tutors, and too-high expectations. There is plenty you can begin doing today to foster them into a better life.

Here are 13 habits of parents who give kids a better chance of being successful.

1.    They Foster A Close Parent-Child Relationship

For children to be able to tackle the world, they first have to feel that they have a safe and secure relationship with their parents and family. This bond provides them a strong base for them and enables them to tackle the world better.

According to a study by the University of Minnesota, the positive effects of a stable and loving parent-child relationship has been proven by research to create the following long-term results:

• Better academic results in childhood
• Achieve higher academic attainment in adulthood
• Create healthier relationships with others
• Raise their future offspring in a healthy and supportive manner

2.    They Read To Their Kids

Reading bedtime stories is a simple, routine task that most don’t think twice about. Most children will end up outgrowing it quickly. The British Cohort Study, however, has shown that it nets positive results in children’s intellectual growth.

Here are some of the benefits that are gained as a result:

• Better reading, literacy, and language skills before elementary school
• Higher academic test results
• Faster progress in spelling, vocabulary, and mathematics

3.    Successful Parents Pay Attention

Despite what positive thinking might tell you, showering a child in gifts is no substitute for genuinely listening to them. Research by the University of Delaware in 2014 has shown that paying attention creates children that:

• Are more likely to become successful
• Establish healthier interpersonal relationships
• Achieve better academic test results
• Are more inclined to pursue higher education

4.    They Make Kids Do Chores (instills a successful work ethic)

It’s tempting to let your child focus on studying or working and do the household chores by yourself. However, the Harvard Grant Study has proven that this results in children who do not learn to contribute and help their peers.

Instead, it is better to teach your children to do the chores and have them help you manage the house. This responsibility teaches your children to understand that to participate in life. They also need to do the work that is involved. The study also found that children raised on doing chores become:

• More empathetic with those who are struggling
• Better collaborators and co-workers
• More capable of handling tasks independently

5.    They Limit Screen Time

A study conducted by Ohio State University in 2011 has shown that children who spend more time watching television develop poor communication skills. Time spent watching TV also inversely also reduces parent-children communication time. Instead, try doing the following:

·         Reduce TV-Viewing Time

Even if you’re watching the same show together, the suppressive effects of TV on your child’s communication skills are still an issue. This is because both parents and children don’t communicate while passively watching a show.

·         Read A Book Together

Reading together and talking about the story not only creates a healthy communication environment, but it also fosters a closer bond between both parent and child.

·         Play Together

Playtime with shared toys is another great way to teach a child communication and social skills, in addition to strengthening parent-child relationships.

6.    They Encourage Grit In Personality

Discovered by and defined by a psychologist from the University of Pennsylvania in 2013, grit is a success-driven personality trait that pushes one to maintain positive thinking and complete long-term goals.

What most people don’t realize is that there’s a reason not everyone is capable of imagining and committing to the future they want. Grit has to be taught and cultivated by parents in childhood, and then encouraged as they grow up and start pursuing goals.

Grit correlates with the following things that lead to successful lives:

• Higher grade-point average in Ivy League undergraduates
• West Point cadet retention
• Higher educational attainment
• Maintaining one’s US National Spelling Bee rank

7.    They Have High Expectations

Setting impossible standards is never healthy, primarily if you do not provide your children with any support. That said, a 2001 study by the University of California showed that maintaining positive thinking and high expectations for your children is essential. It can invoke the Pygmalion effect and create a self-fulfilling prophecy based on your expectations.

Regardless of income level, children of parents with high expectations tend to:

• Have higher academic attainment
• Score better on standardized tests
• Have better class attendance
• Be more likely to attend college

8.    They Practice Authoritative Parenting

Of the three parenting styles that were discovered by a study from the University of California, the authoritative parenting style is often the one that produces the most favorable result. This outcome means that the parent:

·       Is Not Authoritarian

Parents who practice authoritative parenting avoid forcing their children to conform to their specific ideals. As a result, their children do not feel controlled or restricted.

·         Is Directional

Practitioners of this parenting style provide a robust framework and firm guidelines. This gives the child a structure to refer to and seek guidance from while learning to develop their own.

·         Encourages Independence

While the child is given strong limits at first, those limits are gradually eased as the child grows older. The child is also encouraged to set, develop, and maintain their own limits as they become more mature.

9.    They Teach Social Skills

As it turns out, research from Duke University and Pennsylvania State University has proven that instilling good social skills in childhood better prepares them for their future. This shouldn’t really come as a surprise, considering that one of the important aspects of parenting is ensuring one’s child is ready for society.

Adults with good social skills are more likely to:

• Find full-time employment sooner
• Earn a college degree
• Be more emotionally mature
• Be better at sympathizing and empathizing
• Cooperate with peers without the need for prompting
• Be problem solvers

10. They Allow For Failure

Failure is part of becoming successful.

It’s tempting to micromanage a child’s life to avoid the disappointment and frustration associated with failures. However, research on helicopter parenting has proven that this actually is poor parenting, and can have damaging effects that last well into one’s adulthood.

This is especially so when most micromanaging parents end up doing tasks for their adult children, such as booking doctor appointments for them. While it does show some minor positive effects, such as increased success in college and finding employment, many of these children end up unable to live independently from their parents.

On the other hand, children who face age-appropriate failure are:

• More inclined to use positive thinking in the face of struggles
• More self-reliant when in the pursuit of tasks
• Better at dealing with anxiety and depression
• Better at bouncing back from a setback

11. They Work – Especially Mothers

The struggles and hardship of a working parent are not one to scoff at, but at least there are some silver linings to be found in providing good role modeling. Research by Harvard Business School has shown that children of working parents – mothers in particular – are more likely to:

• Stay in school for longer
• Earn better income
• Help more with childcare and household chores
• Study longer
• Hold better job positions

12. They Teach Self Control

A 32-year study that was published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that the results of having better self-control are profound enough to have a positive effect on the children’s outcomes as adults – even if they shared the same family background.

The same study also found that teaching children how to control their impulses not only made them more stable but also resulted in:

·         Better Health

Children with good self-control would go on to lead healthier lifestyles and be better inclined to avoid unhealthy snacks and developing unhealthy eating patterns.

·         More Money

As a result of having developed better impulse control in childhood, these children would go on to become adults that are less likely to splurge needlessly.

·         Better Behavior

Adults with better self-control are less likely to engage in impulsive, dangerous, or problematic behavior.

·         A Lack Of Substance Abuse Problems

Better self-control results in children who are less likely to develop substance abuse issues as adults.

13. The Parents Have A Good Relationship

Arguments and conflicts are inevitable in just about any relationship. However, research by the University of Illinois has shown that children of parents in high-conflict relationships often fare worse than their peers – regardless of the marital status of said parents. They are also far more likely to develop and harbor loss and regret as young adults.

As a result, it is probably best to do the following for the sake of your children:

·         Resolve Conflict Calmly And Quickly

Studies have proven that conflict affects children negatively, and results in poor adjustment for children.

· Don’t Avoid An Inevitable Divorce

If it is healthier for you and your partner to stay apart, then there is no point in staying together for your children. The negative effects of conflict will have a stronger impact on your children than that of a divorce.

·         Maintain Minimal Contact

Not all divorces are amicable. If each contact results in conflict between you and your partner, it is best to keep said contact to a minimum to avoid negatively affecting your children.

Final Thoughts On Some Habits Of Parents Who Give Kids A Better Chance Of Being Successful

So you haven’t been doing these habits? No worries! It’s never too late to start, and your child will still benefit from a gentle and gradual inclusion of these habits into your and their lives. Your love, encouragement, and thoughtful care of them will contribute greatly to their futures.

Remember, your child is their own unique, individual person. Their chances of becoming successful go up when they are supported and given unconditional love – and, of course, when they are raised well! But do keep in mind that stereotypical depictions of success aren’t compulsory for your child to live a happy, healthy life.

Raising children is not for the faint of heart. These little wonders don’t come with a manual, and by the time you figure out how to do things right, they are grown and gone. Thankfully, counselors have discovered what things that parents teach to make them grow from successful kids into thriving adults.

10 Habits of Parents of Successful Kids

There are no perfect parents in this world; there are only those who try with everything within their powers to raise good kids. Some children are more complicated than others, and for those challenging kids, you will need to keep reinventing your techniques. If you need a little parental help, then here are ten habits of parents who ensure they’re raising successful kids.

1. They Help Build Esteem

Successful kids are almost always the product of hard work. They have parents behind them that have helped to build their esteem. It’s easy to become so frustrated with life, even at a young age. Kids face pressures that adults often label as inferior, but in their world, these events are traumatic.

If you want your child to be successful in all aspects of life, then you must build their self-esteem. Even when they hit those rough patches, you will give them the skills and tips they need to overcome. Once they learn they did something once and can do it again, they will feel a sense of pride.

2. They Don’t Let Them Quit

Children are notorious for wanting to start something and then never finishing it. They may want to get involved in a sport or instrument, but they become bewildered after a short period. Parents mustn’t let children quit just because they are tired or have lost interest.

If they learn early in life that they can bow out when things get rough or they simply don’t want to do something, they will continue that pattern throughout life. Raising successful kids always starts with a drive and determination to keep going even when you feel like quitting. It will really be beneficial when they enter the working world.

3. They Teach Them Respect

Respect is taught at an early age. To get your children to respect you, there must be firm boundaries that they are expected to adhere to. Let them know what you will and will not tolerate.

If a child learns at the age of three that backtalking is not permitted, they will grow up with that mentality. Teaching principles such as these early on is the best way to raise successful children. If you want them to respect you, then you must also respect them.

A successful parent will never call names, put them down, or say anything derogatory, no matter how angry they become. Additionally, the child will automatically learn these words and actions are not permitted.

4. They Have Open Lines of Communication

A parent’s first choice is to yell, punish, or get angry when a child doesn’t do what they are told. However, you must step back and look at the situation through their eyes. Your child is subject to mood swings, bad days, and feeling off just like you.

The best way to combat when your child is acting out is to talk to them. Keep those lines of communication open. You must establish that they can easily talk about their feelings and find a resolution. Communication skills will follow them through life, and they are essential for working and having good relationships.

5. They Spend Time with Them

Your children need you. They don’t want to see you in passing as you are on your phone or computer all the time. Carve out a specific time that is for them each day. They can say how they want to spend their time.

They may want to play games, color, ride bikes, or watch a movie. If you just designed a particular hour like 6-7 pm every evening, make sure they know that they are important enough to be a part of your day.

You don’t want them to grow up with inadequacies because they were lonely or didn’t have time for them. Successful kids had parents who made time for them no matter how busy their life.

6. They Have Chores

Many parents are divided on the chore issue. Having responsibility doesn’t mean that a child must clean the whole house; it just means that they need to help. Having chores is essential for raising successful kids.

Do you want your child growing up thinking that they don’t have to do anything, and they will be waited on hand and foot? No! You want your child to know the value of hard work and why it’s essential to do an excellent job in the smallest of tasks.

7. They Teach the Value of a Dollar

Some kids are natural savers, while other children tend to love to spend their money the minute they get it. Giving your child an allowance and teaching them about savings accounts and a rainy-day fund is always advisable. They should know how it feels to save and wait to buy the one thing they’ve always wanted.

Children have lots of opportunities to put back money. Think of all the birthday and Christmas funds that they receive. Unless they need something, they should put it all in the bank but a small amount to spend. Many children can buy a nice car when they are 16 years old because their parents helped them to save.

If you just hand everything to your child, they will never know the value of a dollar. Many parents find that when a child must work for something they want, then they tend to respect it a bit more. There’s nothing wrong with a small allowance and utilizing tools to help them save.

8. They Give Firm Discipline and Direction

Gone are the days of corporal punishment, but you must discipline your children in ways that are effective for teaching. Discipline is a chance to redirect a child from a wrong behavior by showing them what to do that is right. Teach them that for every action, there is a consequence.

They should know that if they don’t make their beds and take the trash out of their room, they will be punished. Discipline should always be done in love and never in rage. Remember, they are little humans and make mistakes too. They just need a gentle nudging to learn that life isn’t always easy, and you need to do your part.

9. They Teach The Kids to Acknowledge their Feelings

The old philosophy that men aren’t allowed to cry, and girls cry too much is psychically disturbing. Your children should know from the toddler years that it’s okay for them to express themselves.

Now, you may need to show your children appropriate ways of expression, as anger is the most natural emotion to show. However, if you raise a male child to think it’s not okay to cry, then they will build anger and resentment inside. Allowing children to acknowledge their feelings and voice their concerns can help them prepare for the real stress when they get into corporate America.

10. They Enforce the Value of a Good Education

If you don’t make school valuable, then your children won’t value their education either. There should be firm guidelines for school from kindergarten on. Let them know that no matter what schoolwork and their learning come first.

Successful kids almost always have a parent behind them who is pushing them to be all they can be. Teach your children that college is not an option but rather a requirement for a good life. Once they have these things ingrained into their brains, then they will learn that school is an obligation that they must attend.

Final Thoughts on How Parents of Successful Kids Provide Firm Foundation

Raising successful kids is not an easy job. You need all the parenting tips and tricks you can find. Look to others who have raised good kids and ask them their secrets. Maybe they did something that you can efficiently utilize with your children.

Remember that everything you do, either positive or negative, will have an impact on your child and their future. Children require constant care and attention, and you must be steadfast on the rules and discipline for a good outcome.

Above all else, don’t forget to have fun and spend as much time with your babies as you possibly can. You will blink your eyes, and they will be grown. The real regrets happen after they leave the nest. So many people say they didn’t learn how to be a good parent until after their children were raised.

One of the best tips of parenting advice that anyone could give you is not to miss all the little moments as they will soon be gone. You don’t get a second chance at this monumental task. So you must ask yourself, are you raising a successful child?

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.

10 Digital Marketing Terms Every Successful Entrepreneur Knows

There are a million digital marketing terms, acronyms, and lingoes that get thrown around all over the web. These can become so commonplace that it’s almost embarrassing to ask what they are at this point. 

Don’t worry, pretty much everyone is unsure about at least one of these terms, and there’s nothing wrong with missing out on one or two. 

We’re here to give you 10 must know terms so you’re up-to-date.

10 Digital Marketing Terms You Need to Know

Some of these terms are absolutely essential, so you may already know them. That said, we’ll have to cover them just in case. 

1. SEO

Search engine optimization is one of the most important elements of digital marketing. It’s the process of making your site look good in the eyes of a search engine so that you can rank highly in the results. 

Many of the terms in this article will be related to SEO.

2. Keywords

You probably know the general term “keyword.” In terms of optimization, though, it relates to the words that users put into search engines. 

You should research the most popular keywords in your niche (we’ll cover that term next), and create your content with those keywords laced throughout your writing. 

3. Niche

This term is another one that has meaning outside of digital marketing. Generally, a niche is an area of content. 

So, your niche will generally pertain to the kind of content you have on your site and the other sites that also create that sort of content. You should look to the successful sites in your niche for inspiration on how to market your own site. 

4. Backlinking

Backlinks are links to your site from another site. If search engines were like a democratic election, backlinks would serve as votes in your favor. Links from high-power sites have more influence than those from unpopular ones. 

Further, sites in your niche will give more valuable backlinks.

5. Search Engine Algorithms

The search engine algorithm is the formula that search engines like Google use in order to select the most relevant sites for their search results. 

These are very complicated formulas, but SEO is ultimately the process of trying to understand them and using what we learn to make our sites fit better into the algorithm to rank higher. 

6. PPC

PPC stands for “pay-per-click” advertising. This is a form of advertising that can be used in a number of different spaces. Social media and search engines are just two of the primary places where PPC is used. 

The great value of PPC comes from the fact that the platforms it’s used on are highly specific when it comes to placement, and you only have to pay when your advertisement is clicked.

That way, you know that each advertising dollar you put in is one that went toward visibility for your site. When thinking about the platform to employ your PPC dollar into, you should think about doing some customer research. 

Some niches have users that frequent different social media sites or search engines. You should also consider your end goal before you start to put money into PPC. Users who frequent Pinterest, for example, are more inclined to make purchases as they browse through the site. 

People using Facebook, on the other hand, are more likely to make downloads and provide social shares. Depending on your marketing goal, you would want to choose one site or the other. 

7. Conversions

A conversion is an instance where one user follows your marketing platform down to the point where it’s time to make a download or finalize a sale, and it actually goes through. 

A conversion can ultimately be thought of as a success. They can come in different forms, as different businesses have different goals for their users. Maybe you want to sell a product, maybe you want to get a download, whatever your goal is, a conversion is when it becomes realized. 

Follow the link if you want to learn more about how to use SEO and PPC to lead conversions. 

8. Long and Short Tail Keywords

Not all keywords are made the same. Short tail keywords are those that have only one or two words. Long tail keywords are those that would be more considered to be phrases. 

So, “football cleats” could be considered a short tail keyword. “Pink football cleats for youth athletes” would be considered a long tail keyword. When it comes to ranking for these words in the results pages, you’re typically going to have more luck when it comes to the long tail phrases. 

These are more specific and less likely to have a lot of competition. If you were to search “buy trucks,” you’d probably find that the results were bogged down by industry leaders. 

It’s difficult to compete with companies that have millions of dollars for marketing at their disposal, so you’ll want to be more specific. “Buy super cool trucks with disco balls installed” would be a keyword with less competition that you could likely rank for. 

9. CTR

The CTR, short for “click-through rate,” is a measure of the number of clicks that a particular ad or post gets. This is a relatively simple term, in that it simply shows you how many clicks your item has gotten. 

That said, the acronym “CTR” is very commonly used in blogs and articles relating to digital marketing.

10. SERPS

SERPS stands for “search engine results pages.” This is another one that seems really common and intuitive, but it’s crucial that you know what the acronym means. 

This is exactly what it sounds like. SERPS are the pages that come up when a user types in specific keywords and generates a response page. Ranking highly in the SERPS is one direct path to online success for a business. 

Want to Know More About Digital Marketing?

Digital marketing terms are just the doorway to a huge industry. It’s essential that you understand a little bit about the ins and outs of digital marketing if you’re trying to find success online. 

Visit our site for more information about how to start making moves in SEO, PPC, and ranking highly in the SERPS. 

Getting Started as a Freelance Writer: 7 Tips for Becoming Outrageously Successful

There are a lot of great perks when it comes to freelance writing.

The ability to set your own schedule is a huge reason why some individuals pick up the proverbial pen and paper for work. Many writers find more fulfillment in their new jobs, citing the creative aspect of the work as a big advantage. Others, still, enjoy the flexibility of location. With a writing job, you can work anywhere, even poolside (as long as you can focus!).

If you’re interested in getting started as a freelance writer, there are many things that you should know before hopping in. Though there are many advantages, there are also many cons to freelance writing you should be aware of. There are many potential pitfalls to getting started that can be easy to fall in.

But don’t fear! Read on and we’ll walk you through how to become a successful freelance writer.

What Do Freelance Writers Do?

The internet is a massive wealth of information on an impossible amount of topics. As a result, there’s a wide variety of different types of jobs that freelance writers tackle.

You can focus as a writer on one type of writing, or variate your work between several types. Different types of writing reflect slight differences in the work of freelance writers.

Article writers write for print magazines, newspapers, and journals. It can be one of the harder areas of writing to break into but pays better than most online outlets. Web content writing is the most popular form of freelance writing, and includes writing to help boost SEO, readership, and general engagement on a variety of sites across the web.

If you’re familiar with more advanced topics, there are many companies who may look for writers knowledgeable about their area of work. Pharmaceutical and technical writers fall under this umbrella and may work to write clearly about these subjects.

Copywriting is another popular form of online freelance writing. It consists of crafting sales letters, product descriptions, and other promotional materials. Unlike other forms of writing, copywriting does require an understanding of what draws consumers to respond to promotional materials.

What Makes A Good Freelance Writer?

One of the big advantages of becoming a freelance writer is that there are no start-up costs and there is no specific education required. That being said, there are still a number of skills and strengths you should exhibit if you are to make freelance writing work for you.

You should do some amount of research prior to starting your freelance work. You should be familiar with how to write a blog post. If you’re not used to writing frequently, you should develop a writing process that is personalized to you.

You should have a strong sense of what good writing is, and be able to exhibit good grammar and clear sentence structure. Being able to research quickly and efficiently can be another important skill to have.

If you’re planning to write online, it can be key to have a decent understanding of Search Engine Optimization, as much of online writings aims to increase a site’s SEO.

Getting Started As A Freelance Writer

Finding the first few jobs as a new freelance writer can be difficult. You’re untested, new, and companies and sites won’t want to be the first to take a risk on you.

It can be helpful to attempt to establish a sense of yourself as a writer before you even take your first job. Draft or pick out a few writing samples you can include as part of your portfolio. Make a list of topics you feel knowledgeable about. Determine what your preferred rate of payment is (more on this in a bit). Selling yourself in the image of a professional writer can make a big difference in getting you your first few gigs.

There are a number of freelance writing sites you can pursue to find your first gig. MediaBistro, WritersWeekly, JournalismJobs, and even LinkedIn frequently host freelance writing job listings.

Networking with other writers online can be another good way to find work. Many freelance writing positions are initially advertised and passed off through social media, through a network of writers.

Continue to apply to places, and don’t be dissuaded if you aren’t accepted immediately. Once you do find your first few gigs, work will become easier, and your reputation will begin to speak for itself. Don’t be afraid to ask your current clients for referrals. Most successful freelance writers build their success through referrals.

How Much Does A Freelance Writer Make?

Due to the relative ease of entry into the business, freelance writing can be highly competitive. Because the market is so full, pay for many freelance writing jobs has dropped, especially in the case of online writing.

What a freelance writer makes is highly dependant on the type of writing they’re doing, their employer, and the amount of writing they do per week. Payscale reports that the average writer gets paid anywhere between $10.67 and $51.77 per hour, with a median income of $36,781 per year.

Starting out, you may have to take lower paying jobs to break in. This means you may not make your needed income, and you may need to find other ways to make money while you’re writing career gets started.

Guest blogging can be another highly lucrative way to make money online.  Check out this list of blogs that will pay for guest posts.

Copywriting is usually the highest paying form of writing work, and may sometimes even include royalties based on consumer purchases. If you can determine what your preferred hour rate is before you start working, it can help in deciding what writing jobs are worth your time.

It’s also worth mentioning that freelance pay is a spotty and sometimes frustrating system. Invoicing, organizing, and keeping track of pending payments from various sources can be its own form of work. The variety of income sources also can make tax season difficult. If you’re considering freelance writing, it may be worth finding help from a company such as Curchin Certified Public Accountants.

Though freelance writing payment can be difficult to deal with, it may be worth it to you for the flexibility and sense of fulfillment.

What Are You Waiting For?

Freelance writing has one of the lowest barriers of entry in any industry. All you need is yourself, some knowledge, and the device that you’re reading this article on.

Getting started as a freelance writer is as easy as putting together your portfolio and beginning to look for work. If you’re ready, you could start looking as soon as today. Why wait?

Don’t forget to check out our blog for more tips on writing and industry.

How To Create A Successful Social Media Marketing Campaign For Your Antique Business

Are you looking for a way to get more customers through the door of your antique business?

Running an antique business can be difficult, especially if you’re just starting out.

Statistics show that the antique industry isn’t enjoying the boom it’s had in the past, so it can be tough to attract a steady flow of customers.

Luckily, a social media marketing campaign can go a long way in promoting your business.

Read on to learn more about how to create a successful social media campaign.

1. Know Your Market

Posting ads for your antique business on Facebook are definitely worth the effort. But posting ads without a target market or niche isn’t so helpful.

Begin by identifying your market for a specific campaign. Are you targeting college students hungry for vintage furniture? Retirees nostalgic about their past?

Choose a specific market and then identify a need or struggle these individuals may have. For example, those college students may be looking for an affordable way to furnish their new apartment and look classy.

In your campaign, you’ll play up this need or struggle and show how you can satisfy it.

2. Do Your Research

No matter how large your marketing and development team is–it may just be you–it’s important to research the field before plunging in.

Research competition in your area. What are other antique stores doing for marketing, and how can you be better? How is Westland Antiques doing?

What ads do you see for antiques on social media? Are there any in your area currently?

Assess the competition but also consider demographics in your area.

3. Establish Goals

Before you start posting wildly on Facebook, set up some clear goals. What outcome do you want to have with your social media marketing campaign?

Be as specific as possible. If you want to attract more customers, put a number on it. If you want to boost sales, also put a number on it. Maybe you just want to acquire emails to build a list of leads.

Establish clear and actionable goals directly related to your needs as a business.

4. Pair It With Email

Social media campaigns aren’t just about making Instagram posts. Start by sending an email to current subscribers to give them a heads-up about your social media campaign.

Then, make sure that your campaign gets you new email addresses. You’ll want to send follow-up emails after you obtain these to stay with these leads and turn them into recurring customers.

5. Write Relevant Content

The key to successful social media campaigns lies in the content. It’s important to generate fresh, intriguing, and useful copy for your customers.

Yes, customers will perk up when they see discounts or special offers. But don’t forget about the power of video, for example, or images of your current antique inventory.

A top-notch content strategy will keep your customers coming back for more and get more email addresses on your list.

Your Social Media Marketing Campaign

Social media is a powerful tool, and it’s important to leverage it as you’re establishing your customer base in the antique industry.

Make sure you do your research and identify your market before launching your social media marketing campaign. Have clear goals that go along with your strategy and always follow up marketing efforts with email.

Want to learn more about what inbound marketing can do for your antique business? Sign up for free advice today at Article City!

How to Start a Successful Online Business

So you’re interested in starting an online business, but you’re not exactly sure where to start.

In many ways, starting an online business is similar to opening up a brick-and-mortar store. You’ll make a plan, organize your funding, produce a product, then get to work.

However, there are some unique aspects to running an online business that you need to consider in order for it to be successful.

Here are the steps you should follow in order to increase your chances of success:

Find the Market First

When starting an online business, many people choose the product first and then go looking for the market.

However, it’s best to do this the other way around: find a group of people with a specific problem, and then create a product that offers a solution to this problem.

Finding your market can be easy with some internet research. Here are a few suggestions:

• Check out online forums to see what issues people are trying to solve
• Do keyword research and make a list of keywords people are commonly searching
• Check out potential competitors in the field and see what they’re doing to meet the demand

Write Killer Copy

Once you’ve found a product that can offer a solution to your audience, it’s time to write some copy to sell that product.

There are thousands of books that explain how to write the best sales copy. But, the main thing you should focus on is writing copy that addresses the custom’s problem.

It should answer the question, “What’s in it for me?”

Create a Website

You know your market, you know your product, and you’re ready to tell why your products awesome. Now, you’re ready to create your website.

When someone enters your site, you only have a few seconds to grab their attention. In order to grab their attention you should:

• Keep navigation easy and simple on every page
• Use videos, graphics, and other visuals to grab attention
• Include opt-in offers so you can obtain email addresses
• Make it super easy to buy- no more than 2 clicks to get to the checkout
• Make sure your content is high-quality 
• Offer multiple payment options- many Paypal bingo sites succeed because they do this.

Use Search Engines to Drive Customers to Your Site

Using PPC (Pay-Per-Click) ads can be one of the best ways to drive some immediate traffic to your site.

Unlike organic searches, PPC ads show up on the top of the search results immediately. Plus, with PPC ads you can test out different keywords, headlines, and selling approaches to figure out which one works best.

Establish Yourself As An Expert

People are way more likely to trust what you have to say and buy your product if they believe you are an industry expert.

You can establish your expert reputation by:

• Giving away free expert content, such as articles, guides, e-books, and videos.
• Distribute the content through online directories or by including “send to a friend” links with each piece of content.
• Engage in industry forums or industry specific social network sites

Use the Power of Email Marketing

Anytime someone chooses to opt-in with their email, you have the opportunity to convert a visitor into a customer.

For some serious lead conversion, make sure you are constantly rolling out emails that offer exclusive incentives.

Starting an Online Business: Wrap Up

Follow these steps and you’ll be well on your way to operating a successful online business.

Please drop us a comment if you have any questions about this advice.