Mohit Tater's Blog, page 546

Everything you Need to Know before Starting an Email Marketing Campaign

Sooner or later, all entrepreneurs turn to email marketing, regardless of the level and specifics of the business. Whether you have a small online store or a well-known brand, you conduct business from your apartment or have large offices in different countries – email marketing in any case will do a good job for your business.

Mailings were one of the first Internet marketing tools. And this is the case when “age” does not mean old-fashioned, but does imply reliability and time-tested. If you think that in the rapidly growing universe of digital marketing, the “oldies” have no place left, as practice shows, this statement is not as true as it seems to be. The first, on the one hand, contradictory, but on the other, simple and obvious evidence, is that every day our email boxes are replenished with dozens of letters. Some of them we open, some delete and quite a big amount just stays buried in unread lists. But ultimately, the ratio of availability, price and the result – increase in conversions, traffic, orders, customer loyalty – justifies the effort.

Of course, in order for the result of mass mailing campaigns to be exactly what you would like, and for good email campaign performance to be a matter of success rather than random luck, you need to correctly design your email strategy.

Our company provides the opportunity to carry out mass electronic mailings, and SendExpert customers often come up with questions about how to improve their mailings and increase the effectiveness of email campaigns. Of course, we try to select individual recommendations for each client, taking into account the specifics of his work and wishes. But in any case, there are some universal tips useful when working on an email strategy and composing email messages.

1. Define your goals

For your campaigns to be successful, they must have specific goals. It is very difficult to achieve a result if it is not indicated in the strategy. If you create a newsletter without specifying its purpose, the chances that it will be effective are reduced to the usual chance.

2. Explore the audience.

The main rule of marketers and content professionals is to always know with whom and for whom you work. To write effective text, you need to know as precisely as possible for whom you are creating content. The same principle works with email campaigns. If the newsletters “go nowhere”, then they do not satisfy recipients. It is necessary to collect the maximum amount of data on the preferences and needs of your target audience in order to provide them with only the necessary information and suggestions.

At this point, segmentation is worth mentioning. This option will make the content as suitable as possible for different groups of subscribers. Bulk email service SendExpert usually offer a fairly wide range of segment capabilities. In our service, you can segment the database using groups and filters, the number of which is unlimited. But it is worth remembering that all segments should be reasonably selected, since an excessive number of groups and filters can also be very inconvenient and even disastrous for your campaign.

3. Analyze competitors

If you want to improve your letters, you should look to what other representatives of your business sphere offer. So you can “spy” new ideas for your letters and campaigns, avoid repetition, and also find out what your target audience is missing and give them exactly the content that they lack.

4. The structure and scripts of letters.

If you undertook email marketing and mailing, then the best way to organize your work is to first create a “chain” of letters and write down approximate scenarios for each. This will help to see the big picture and see if your communication with the subscriber-client will be built in the right direction.

5. Test it!

If you do not like the results of campaigns, then your audience is not interested in your newsletters. How to fix it? No matter how trite it may sound – through trial and error. We cannot accurately predict the ideal recipes for email communication. The subject, preheader, the location of the text and images in the letter, the form and color of the button, the call to action and the key phrase of the letter can all have a decisive influence on the final report. But we can try different options and choose the one that will receive the greatest response from subscribers.

To determine the most optimal approach of sending letters, SendExpert specialists always recommend our customers use the A \ B testing function, that should be in every secure messaging platform. It allows you to test different options for one mailing on a limited, randomly selected part of the database. The option that gets the best performance is automatically sent to the majority. 

These top 5 tips will help you increase the effectiveness of email campaigns, improve your mailing list performance and generally optimize your email marketing and make it more productive.

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Top 3 Startup Money Saving Tips That Really Work

Knowing how to save money is as important for a company as knowing how to earn it. A lot of companies, especially startups tend to focus on generating profit and maintaining regular cash flow without stopping for a bit to see where they can actually save some money and accumulate an amount that would be sufficient to bridge over some dry spells that might occur over time.

Now, you will probably find a lot of different suggestions on how to save money, and some might work but a lot of them won’t be much help. However, this article has limited the selection to three essential ones that can do the trick, so continue reading to find out more on how to save money at the very start.

Make sure you don’t overspend at the very start

This is a common mistake a lot of entrepreneurs make when starting a business, they think they need it all, but this is simply not the case. You can save a lot of money at the very beginning by opting to get just the essentials. Rent your HQ offices instead of purchasing them, you can do that later on, once your company has accumulated sufficient capital. Next, don’t over furnish it. Get as much office supplies as you currently have workers and buy more as your company grows.

Finally, don’t overspend on interior designs and different perks like the game room and so on. All of this comes later when you can afford it. The money you save at the start will help you feel safe later on even if you experience a slow month or two. And when you are up and running you can always purchase more items both for your office and for employees.

Make sure you get the right accounting team

Don’t be your own accountant, never be your own accountant, even if you have the expertise for it. Running a company and managing its finances can be tricky. This is why you need a good team that can take this on. Especially when it comes to taxes, where you can save substantially if they are done properly.

A lot of Australian companies are careful when choosing a tax accountant in Sydney, they make sure it’s someone who they can trust to work in their best interest and keep all the accounts in order. In return, not only does this approach save the company owners a lot of headaches, but it can also help the company save a lot of money. Relying on expert advice from a renowned accounting team can be very beneficial for your startup.

Find a low-cost way to market your company and products

A lot of startups feel like they need to s[pend a small wealth in order to have the right marketing for their service or product. But the fact of the matter is that even the best marketing options and the most expensive ones cannot guarantee the success of the company and the product.

So, it is very important to be smart about it, and not waste funds at the very start. Yes, you will need to invest in a high-quality SEO optimized website and a social media presence, especially if you take into consideration that 93% of online experiences begin with a search engine. But don’t hold a digital marketing company on retainer, it will simply cost too much.

Outsource to freelancers the work you need to be done, and make sure you limit the scope to just the relevant options. That way you will get the visibility you need within the customer pool you are targeting without spending insane amounts of money at the very start. You should also keep track of what methods are or aren’t working and adjust your strategy accordingly.

So, as you can see, saving money is possible for startups if you accept the reality of the situation. You are just starting your business, you are not a big corporation that can afford to hemorrhage money a bit here and there.

Keeping it nice and tight is what will help your business grow and making sure you don’t overspend can help you save up and have some wiggle room in case your company doesn’t take off as fast as you want it to.

Also Read- 7 Ways Startups Are Changing the Way Businesses Work

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Billionaire Guide on Small Business Branding That Helps You Get Rich

Introduction

It’s no secret that branding is essential to stick around in the marketplace forever and ever.

Many small business owners wonder if they could pay thousands of bucks to the marketing agencies and get their branding done. 

I won’t recommend you to spend dollars if you can do it yourself.

Yes, you heard it RIGHT.

But unless you formulate effective strategies, you’re never going to build an optimum brand and make it go viral among the audience.

What if I told you there’s an appropriate set of procedures that could help your small business earn a branding badge?

In this article, I’m going to direct you through an in-depth, step-by-step practical methodologies to brand your small business.

Let’s jump in…

Branding

“A brand for a company is like a reputation for a person. You earn reputation by trying to do hard things well.” ― Jeff Bezos

Branding is an absolute factor to let people recognize your business, and it is necessary to fulfill such branding efforts. So that you can interact with people in a better way and let them know what your company stands for.

It does not only helps in establishing a brand but improves your business value and sets you apart from rivals. Powerful branding drives influence and builds trust among consumers.

Branding does not only favors customer but improvise employee satisfaction too. Though you need to focus on viable branding practices, here are the key elements you need to work on:

Brand Identity

Your corporate identity (visual image) let the consumer identify and distinguish your business more accurately. It points to an optimal brand image that resembles your business offerings. It’s all about wrapping up your brand preferences, concept, and personality in a single image.

Consumer develops a specific opinion of a brand if its identity looks promising and trustworthy though it is recommended to create an optimal brand image for business.

Got no resources?

No worries.

You can hire an expert designer or get the job done from an experienced logo design company such as Logo Orbit that is well-versed in catering branding services.

Brand Website

As your primary goal is to build an audience, win their trust, and drive them to act upon specific CTA. You need to create a platform that perfectly showcases your offering.

Creating a website let your potential customers connect with your business even if they’re far away as their problems need your honest solutions. 

The more credible your website is the more visitors it will retain and favor you with more profits. Since here are few essentials to build a reliable website.

User-friendly Navigation

It lets people stay on your website for an additional minute or two. Though the use of infinite design elements can complicate the navigation of your web pages and your visitors might struggle with it, ending up leaving your site.

Use Header Wisely

Your brand logo needs placement on top of every web-page, including a brief headline about your business offers or expertise. Meaningful tagline creates a powerful impact. For Instance: “Apple ― Think Different” is more than a slogan as they are obsessed with matchless operating system and technology.

Content is Power

Customers are pleased with high-end content. Keeping your target audience in mind, you need to draft an impactful reading that primarily focuses on recognizing issues your visitors might struggling with and provide them with the ideal set of solutions aiming towards your product/service.

Not only text, but it is also recommended to utilize sufficient graphics such as images, videos or infographics as it will lead to better customer engagements.  

Reviews & Testimonials

It’s a human psyche as before buying any product or service they need to know reviews of existing customers. Positive reviews provoke visitors to take action and help them in quick decision making.

Also, do not forget to add CTA to your landing as well as supporting pages. There’s a chance to convert visitors into leads right after they read the reviews. You always need to direct them.

Design Elements

Eventually, design plays a significant role in capturing the viewer’s attention in the same way poor design could bring a sort of anxiety among people. And your business would be in trouble.

The basic elements of design you need to keep an eye on are:

Color Preferences

Although if you choose some particular color of your own choice. You’re on a wrong path, my friend!

Unsuitable colors might ruin the entire design structure so, knowing the color psychology is mandatory. As each color contrast has a diverse perception, For instance:

Red refers to Contemporary, Thrilling, Intensity.Green refers to Cheerful, Rewarding and ProductiveYellow refers to Affectionate, Sparkling and Modest.Purple refers to Luxuriant and Majestic.Pink refers to Womanlike, Skittish and Fresh.Blue refers to Reliable, Faithful and Balanced.Orange refers to Fun-loving, Immature and Refreshing.

So, knowing your niche and color psychology could help you better in picking the right color palette for your design structure.

Typography

“The first time I drew type, I felt like I was on the bottom of mountain Everest. In a swimming suit.” ― Nina Stössinger, Nordvest – Monokrom Type Foundry

Typography is a vital element that conveys your message to the visitor rightly. Though if you have fantastic content, it won’t work as the communication of words are struggling with the human eye. 

It works with a fair selection of fonts, accurate sizing including font & background color that improves the readability without a hassle.

Conclusion

I wish I could tell you if you select any of the above branding elements you would have a profitable small business. However, it is not so easy to retain your brand image.

Branding is an exclusive subject, and you need to implement each practice listed above.

Interestingly, putting a few yet extremely workable efforts in branding your small business is much better than ignoring the branding part as it will cost you to lose your brand image.

If you fail to successfully brand your small business, you will not be able to get a profitable business and might lose your brand’s ROI. 

I would recommend you to practice the above mentioned branding hacks that can help you level-up your business progress.

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SM Mistakes That Can Destroy Your Career

There are lots of opportunities on social media.  It’s so powerful, that for some professional business people, being on social media can create networking opportunities that boost careers sky high.  However, for some others, careers are ended on social media. You don’t want to be one of them. Always avoid these seven social media mistakes:

Don’t Complain About Your Boss

You never want to put your complaints about your job or your boss out there on social media. You may think your post is safe from the eyes of your boss. However, you must realize that a colleague could see the information and forward it to your boss.

Besides, the comment may not hurt your job now.  However, the past could come back to haunt you. For example, a potential employer might see it and conclude that hiring you is a bad risk given that you’ve badmouthed past employers. Always make sure to put your best foot forward.

Don’t Reveal Your Latest Job Offer on Social Media

Sometimes job offers are confidential. Also, just because you’ve received a job offer doesn’t mean it’s guaranteed.  If you break confidentiality, your employer may decide that you can’t be trusted, and they may revoke your job offer.

Whatever you do, don’t say anything negative about the job you’ve been offered.  For example, Mashable reported that a woman got on social media and said that the company Cisco offered her a job, but that she had to decide if the hefty paycheck was worth commuting to San Jose and hating the job. 

As you can probably guess, a Cisco employee saw the social media post, and the woman lost her job offer before her first day on the job.

Don’t Use Texting Language

It’s the 21st-century and texting language is all the rage.  Texting language is especially helpful when you’re posting on your iPad Air or trying to make a tweet fit.  However, how professional is that? You should always spell everything out. If you’re even thinking of doing or ever have done so on a CV – then just consider hiring an Australian CV writer or a CV writer in your nation to create a resume. You can’t be trusted!

Don’t Post Photos With Alcohol

It doesn’t matter if you’re over 21. Don’t post photos with alcohol.  Doing so can cost you your job.  Posting images of yourself with alcohol or in compromising situations is one of the top ways to not get an interview or job offer

Don’t Plagiarize

What’s typical to avoid on social media? It’s obvious things like bikini pictures, drug pictures, or videos of profanity use.  All of these things can make a person lose a job pretty quickly. However, there’s something even worse than that to damage a career and that’s plagiarism.

It’s important that you don’t plagiarize.   Why? Plagiarism is a complete “no-no” in the business world. Not only should you never do it, if you plagiarize, the act will follow you throughout your career.

You rant on social media, and it may not prevent a company from hiring you.  However, if you plagiarize, you are letting a company know that you lack integrity.  Furthermore, companies will see you as incompetent and lazy.

Not only should your professional accounts be plagiarism free; your personal accounts must also be plagiarism free.  For example, did you post a photo? If so, did you credit the photographer? Or in another example, did you quote an article?  If so, did you credit the author of the article?

Don’t Post Tasteless Comments

What can cost you your job? Posting a comment meant to offend a group or a person. Here’s an example – CNN reports that a former Washington National radio show producer tweeted content that was not only inflammatory but racist, about the folks in San Antonio, while he was drunk and after his team lost.

The other people on the radio show were not impressed, and he was fired as a result. So, whenever you are on the Internet, don’t post tasteless comments, even if you think they are just a harmless joke.

Don’t Mock Your Customers

Mocking your customers on social media is just like complaining about your boss on social media.  Both can have very poor effects. For example, there have been some waiters who took photos of poor tips and then post those photos online.  As a result, they were fired. 

So, don’t mock your customers.  It has the effect of reflecting poorly on your company, and most companies won’t put up with that.

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The Benefits of Cloud Computing

Cloud computing has different meanings for different people. It could mean streaming a Netflix movie from the cloud or it could mean storing data online and retrieving it later. Running productivity apps in Google’s cloud system (G-Suite) is another one of many examples that the cloud can be used for.

Most software development services today should be familiar with the benefits of the cloud and creating software specifically for it. They will help you combine the benefits of cloud computing with traditional standalone software in a seamless way, so companies can offer their customers a wide range of apps. The cloud can be used for different tasks in general development as well.

For a long time, cloud computing was an abstract phase not really understood or known by a wider audience of computing users. Many people could not understand how data could be retrieved seemingly out of thin air.

However, the term has become ubiquitous these days and understood by the general public as cloud storage services have become the norm. As larger companies like Amazon, Microsoft, Google and Apple embraced the cloud for storage and other services, more regular users jumped on the cloud bandwagon.

Data Management

Data is actually retrieved from servers running in data centers away from the user or client. The client requests the data on-demand (24/7 access regardless of location) and the data is sent through high-powered and secure networks connected to the Internet from servers that host it.

Users can tap into a server with the help of the cloud network and work on a document or spreadsheet. The benefit of this is that they can collaborate simultaneously in different locations of the world. The network records these states in a server ran by a company like Google or Apple and they can save their work simultaneously.

Early cloud services were an answer to users running out of space on their hard drives and wanting to offload storage without purchasing additional hardware. They also provided solutions to companies that wanted their data copied and secured somewhere remotely in case of an outage or data loss.

Many of these services now offer their own collaboration tools allowing their users to work on a variety of file types across far-reaching geographical zones. They also provide users the ability to share files with whoever they want or keep them private for their own access.

Implementations of the Cloud as Web Apps

Sometimes, software can entirely run from the cloud and the user does not have to install anything. All they need is their browser while the software is stored in a remote server and run remotely. An example of such software are apps running through web browsers commonly known as Software as a Service (SaaS).

Customers can access SaaS apps across any browser and operating system because they do not require local storage or a download of any sort to run. They often rely on a subscription model rather than a one-time payment for a lifetime of usage that is common for standalone apps.

Public, Private & Hybrid Cloud

To add further classification and differentiate between cloud systems, there are three cloud classifications to consider. The three different forms of cloud computing to consider include private, public and hybrid clouds.

Private Cloud

A private cloud operates in a private network of servers hosted by an individual company running its own servers in a room or in its own datacenter. The company then relies on a VPN or internal connections for its employees and partners to access the data on these servers.

Public Cloud

A public cloud is the most well-known form of cloud computing. It is what most computer users see when bigger companies offer them cloud storage or cloud services like SaaS. Businesses rely on the public cloud when outsourcing cloud services out from another company rather than relying on internal servers and software installed on each computer.

Regular computer users rely on a public cloud when they store their data with one of the well-known tech companies of today or stream services like movies from Netflix. Most of the known tech companies of today like Microsoft, Apple or Google offer some form of cloud software or services.

Hybrid Cloud

A hybrid cloud combines the best of both worlds. This approach takes the private cloud’s strong security within a tightly controlled network with the added benefit of the on-demand access, backup and collaborative features of a public cloud. 

What Businesses Need to Consider When Choosing Cloud

Companies today need to find the best ways to use the cloud and it is not an easy feat. They have to balance the need for internal security and keep information leaks at a minimum. At the same time, they should have backup data retrieval processes in place and access to this data on demand in case of an outage to keep their businesses afloat.

Data redundancy is a strong reason to rely on cloud outsourcing as even internal servers or backup servers can go out within a company or geographical-based outage. The public cloud is much more than just data storage and companies may not have internal software support to rival outsourced providers.

Scalability is also important because a company can grow or reduce their cloud demands according to fluctuating needs. Maybe the company needs more storage space or more users during certain periods of growth and later this can be scaled down when not needed.

There are obvious reasons to consider both private and public cloud approaches. However, a hybrid approach may make the most sense to balance out the strengths and weaknesses of both.

For startups, outsourcing everything from productivity apps to storage to a public cloud provider makes the most sense, while for large enterprises the more private and secure their cloud is, the better it is for their business at that point. 

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How to Find a Niche for Your Business

Too many would-be entrepreneurs believe that they can find success by selling as many kinds of products as possible. This refusal to limit their inventory can actually doom, rather than increase, their chances. Even Amazon started as a committed bookstore before expanding into selling everything. They found success by filling a niche. You would be wise to do the same.

Finding a niche for your business is as simple as selecting a specific type of product to offer and/or a particular demographic to reach. The difficult part is finding a niche in which you would have great potential for success.

As with most aspects of running a business, practicalities take priority. When you think you have landed on a type of product you could sell, consider how easily you can acquire such products. Are there any manufacturers or suppliers that offer these items to stores? If you can make the products yourself, can you get the materials from anyone at affordable prices? You should have answers to these questions before going in that direction.

Having a niche means appealing to a specific audience, and your niche can be as specialized as you want. Of course, you also want an audience large enough to give you a steady flow of revenue. One way to gauge the size of your target demographic is through keyword research. Various SEO analytics programs can show you the amount of daily traffic for the most popular search terms in your chosen field. Your chances of success improve in fields whose keywords get more than a few dozen search terms each day.

Additionally, finding a niche within a niche could really slash the amount of competition you face. For example, “pet supplies” could be considered a niche compared to the likes of Amazon. However, it is a massive market, and new businesses may still find themselves crowded out. You could instead sell a particular type of pet supply, like food or toys. Better still, you could offer a massive selection of that particular type — larger than stores that also sell everything else.

A similar principle applies for targeting a particular group. Using the same example, appealing to the owners of rats, snakes, or fish may yield more success than to pet owners as a whole. That may seem paradoxical, but consider this other paradox: larger stores try to cater to everyone, but may neglect the needs of smaller audiences. If you dedicate all your space and all your resources to just one such demographic, they may reward you with their passion and loyalty.

Here is one last piece of advice: you are in charge of deciding the parameters of your niche. You can be as creative and flexible as you want when choosing what to sell. Even if you start with one kind of product and one key demographic, you could grow and branch out as you gain more resources and popularity.

Gonzalo Gil 3dcart

Gonzalo is the founder and CEO of 3dcart, a leading ecommerce platform for online businesses. As an ecommerce expert, Gonzalo works with businesses of all sizes to help them build their online presence and succeed selling online.

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Planning to Start a Business in the Construction Industry? Here’s What You Should Keep in Mind

Epoxy resins are chemical compounds used for manufacturing adhesives, paintings, primers, plastics, sealers, and other materials. It is extensively used in construction and for decorative purposes. Epoxy resins are polyepoxides that constitutes of reactive polymers and pre-polymers. There are various types of epoxy resins such as Bisphenol-based epoxy resins and Novolac epoxy resin. The epoxy resins are broadly categorised into normal and uncured epoxy resins. The uncured epoxy resins have poor chemical, mechanical and heat resistant properties. These are made suitable for manufacturing adhesives and other materials by adding curatives through gelation. Epoxy resins are used for various commercial, residential, and industrial-based applications due to their chemical resistance, toughness, strong adhesion, and other specialized properties.

The demand of epoxy resins has increased rapidly with the growth of construction, automobiles, and electronic sectors across the globe. The epoxy resins market has witnessed a high demand which is expected to grow at Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5 percent by the year 2021. The epoxy resin price trend is heavily dependent on the cost of feedstock such as Bisphenol A (BPA) and Enoyl-CoA-Hydratase (ECH). In the recent past, the price of epoxy resins has increased by 16.8 percent and 2.1 percent for markets in the U.S. and Asia respectively. The cheap raw materials and labor cost in Asia has reduced the cost of production of epoxy resins. As a result, Asia has acquired a competitive edge in the global market for epoxy resins.

The key drivers of demand for epoxy
resins in APAC region constitutes of automobiles, construction, and electronic
industries. On the other hand, development projects based on installation of
windmills are the primary drivers for epoxy resins in Europe and North
America.The major supply markets for epoxy resins comprise of North America,
European Union, and APAC. These regions account for 9.3 percent, 11.6 percent,
and 77.3 percent of the total global supply of epoxy resins. The top global
suppliers of epoxy resins are Nan Ya, Sanmu Group, Kukdo, and Chang Chun. The
U.S. and Asia are self-sufficient in production of epoxy resins. In the recent
years, the U.S. has decreased its imports and Asia has curtailed its exports to
cater its domestic demands.

Epoxy Resin and its Application in Building and
Construction Industry:

The adhesives manufactured from epoxy
resins forms a strong bond that adheres to various substrates such as glass,
metal, wood, stone, and plastics. Apart from adhesives, epoxy resins are use
for manufacturing other materials like paintings, primers, coatings, and
sealers which are widely used in construction industry. In fact, in APAC region
such as China and India, construction industry is one of the primary drivers of
demand for epoxy resins. Asia accounts for 65 percent of global consumption of
epoxy resins and China is the largest consumer. Following are the few
application of epoxy resin in construction:

●      
Highly adhesive epoxy resins are ideal for numerous
building and repair activities due to its water, heat, and chemical resistant
properties. The adhesives are used for making laminated wood for decks, roofs,
walls, and other building application. It is also used for outdoor coating
which provides polished and glossy look to the product. Sealers made out of
epoxy resins provide durability to the concrete floors and other industrial
settings.

●      
Epoxy resins are also used for decorative purposes.
Decorative flooring such as chip tiles flooring and terrazzo are gaining
prominence with increasing urbanization. Decorative patterns are created by
arranging a layer of colorful and contrasting vinyl chip tiles on top of evenly
spread epoxy.  To provide an anti-skid texture
to a floor, polymer grit, and other augmented chip are added to the decorative
flooring. New innovations in technological has helped in creating a sustainable
architectural surfaces and countertops. The epoxies are blended with materials
like glass, recycled plastics, and other discarded materials to create strong
and durable materials.

●      
Water-based epoxy paints are commonly used for coating/
painting cast steel, cast iron and cast aluminum. These paints dry quickly and
provide a tough and protective coating. Unlike other paints based on organic
solvents, the water based epoxy paints have low volatility and can be easily
cleaned with water. Using such paints for industrial operations reduces the risk of
flammability.

●       The workers engaged in the construction industry come in a direct contact with epoxy resins.  Epoxy resins do not pose a serious threat to health. However, a repeated exposure over a longer period of time might cause skin disorder, irritation in the eyes and skin, and asthma. Safety measures at the workplace needs to be implemented to avoid such health issues.

The construction industry widely uses adhesives, paintings,
and other materials made out of epoxy resins. The growth of construction
industry in APAC and developing regions of the world has increased the demand
for epoxy resins. It has become one of the primary materials needed for all
types of construction vis-a-vis commercial, residential and industrial. Epoxy
resins is preferred over other standard glues due to its strong adhesive,
water, heat and chemical resistant properties. Although it does not pose a serious health threat, but
construction workers should take precautions to avoid health problems. 

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Should Sole Traders Go Limited?

One of the first decisions you should make when deciding to start your own business is whether you should incorporate it as a limited company or operate as a sole trader. Both approaches have their benefits and drawbacks, and which structure you choose to adopt will depend on what is a higher priority for your business.

Benefits:



Looks more professional

In the UK, incorporating your business with Companies House as a limited company adds to its credibility. Although you may only work for yourself, appearing as an incorporated legal entity can be helpful when trying to attract clients wary of sole traders, or ‘one-man-bands’. People are more likely to do business with an incorporated company with limited liability as it looks more professional than a sole trader. Clients and contractors may feel like there is extra security and legislation to protect them should something go wrong.

More funding opportunities

A lot of sole traders set themselves up as self-employed. But without a clear distinction between your personal and business funds, lenders may be reluctant to invest in your business or lend you money. If potential funders can see your business is a separate legal entity from your personal finances, they may be more likely to invest or offer you funding. Having a different business bank account can also make it easier for you to apply for mortgages and personal loans outside of the business.

Limited Liability protection

Sole traders and their businesses are the same from a legal standpoint. Meaning if a sole trader gets into debt, your creditors could go after your personal assets to recover the funds. The ‘limited’ in ‘limited company’ means that whatever financial difficulty a company may encounter, its effects won’t go further than the confines of that company. The director’s personal finances will, therefore, be safe, unless they have taken out personal guarantees on any loans. Many people consider this the main advantage of incorporating as a limited company; as long as there is no wrongdoing on the director’s behalf, they won’t be held personally liable for their company’s debts.

Drawbacks:



A lot more admin

With all the advantages and extra protection that limited companies provide, there is a considerable amount of additional administration in both setting up and day-to-day running.  You’ll have to pay corporation tax out of your profits, and potentially VAT. The extra accountancy work means it could be necessary to hire a professional accountant to deal with it all. Additional costs could be added depending on how much of your admin you choose to outsource. Doing the bulk of it yourself will save some money, but also means more work for you, and it may be better practice to hire a company secretary. There are also more setup fees; exact amounts depend on how quickly you want the process to take and how you choose to set up the company.

More scrutiny on you as a director

While sole traders can enjoy a level of privacy, if you set up as a limited company in the UK, your details will be publicly listed at Companies House. Once registering, all your company information: Business and service addresses, details of directors and shareholders, People of Significant Control (PSCs), and account details, all become public.

Before you can register as a director of the company, you should be aware of the restrictions: You can’t appoint someone who has previously been disqualified as a director, nor can you appoint individuals undergoing bankruptcy.

Less freedom

In addition to extra scrutiny from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), Companies House and the public, you have less freedom to operate than if you were a sole trader. You have to be a lot more responsible with your company’s finances, factoring in deductions that need to be made before taking money out. Registering a company name is a much more rigorous process when incorporating a limited company. The name must be unique enough, so you’re not mistakenly associated with another company.

Summary

While operating as a sole trader has its benefits, individuals should consider setting up as a limited company as one of the first big business decisions. Incorporating the business gives a more professional appearance, which can help attract clients and contractors, as well as when applying for funding and grants. Of course, limited liability protection can be a significant attraction, as this separates the director’s personal finances from any business debt. There are drawbacks to becoming a limited company, though. There is a lot more administrative work that needs completing, along with more scrutiny on you as a director and less freedom to operate how you please. You should consider which of these aspects are most important to you before you go ahead and decide on your approach.

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5 Financing Options Entrepreneurs Have Beyond Traditional Bank Loans

The world of entrepreneurship is a tough one. Let’s leave aside the process of getting a business off the ground, marketing your products and generating a stable income. Before you even contemplate these entrepreneurial challenges, you need to know how to finance your business. 

Depending on what kind of company you launch, you may need a lot of startup capital. Where will you get it? Most people would answer, “a bank.” However, banks receive far more loan requests than they can fulfill. Your application might not get accepted, given most banks’ strict lending criteria. And if you have a less-than-stellar credit score, conventional lending may not be an option for you.

Don’t despair just yet. There are other options that entrepreneurs can check out for financing their business.

Try Online Lending Companies

Because of online lenders’ negative image, many entrepreneurs refuse to consider online lending as a business financing option. It’s true that you must watch out for scams—but there are many digital lending companies that operate fully above-board. Just make sure to check the lender’s certifications and incorporation documents before providing them with your financial information. Investigating the potential lender will not only give you peace of mind but also open more financing paths for your business.

The biggest benefit of online loans is that they are likely to have less-strict requirements than conventional bank loans. Moreover, online lenders may be able to offer more attractive terms than an ordinary bank.

Go for short-term Business Line of Credit

Like a traditional loan, getting a line of credit is a way to borrow money. Lines of credit differ from traditional loans, however, in that they allow you get pre-approved to borrow a certain amount without committing to taking the money. Interest is only charged when you actually borrow against your credit line. For this reason, a line of credit can be very useful for a startup business—but you’re unlikely to receive one from a bank without a perfect credit score and strong financial performance. The good news is, you can get short-term lines of credit from lending companies. As opposed to usual lines of credit that can last for 10 years, a short-term line of credit only lasts for three or four years, with the debt paid back in monthly installments.

Set up your business with Equipment Loans

An equipment loan is specially designated for purchasing, installing and maintaining the equipment you need for your business. Say, for example, you’re opening a printing press, a gaming café or an innovative eatery. Whichever of these businesses you launch, you’d need various kinds of computers, appliances and machines. An alternative to traditional business loans for these kinds of purchases is a smaller equipment-specific loan. With equipment loans, the amount you can borrow is less than a traditional loan, but the terms may be more attractive.

Tap into Business Credit Cards 

Another way to establish your business is with business credit cards. Credit can be used for almost any aspect of financing a business: buying equipment, paying marketing expenses or funding business travel. Not only can you own more than one business credit card, but they may have low introductory rates for the first 12 or 18 months. Make sure to look for other discounts, bonuses and special deals as you shop for cards.

Personal Loans may make sense in certain situations

Using personal loans for business purposes can be risky, as these loans typically have high interest rates. If you really need to borrow money, though, a personal loan may be your best option. In addition to conventional banks, online lenders, peer-to-peer financing companies and local credit unions typically offer personal loans. These providers might also help you come up with other options you may have overlooked while searching for ways to finance your new business.

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New Kitchen Furniture Ideas

Here’s the thing! A kitchen sits at the heart of any dream home. A great place to have a bite while keeping the conversation flowing, it’s no space to be taken lightly. 

And when it comes to matters furnishing the house, it is one of those places many homeowners put all their thoughts and creative acumen to get everything right. 

If anything, with furniture you can’t stop at just about any functional set- comfort and style also counts big time.

But, with so many exquisite kitchen furniture units in all manner of shapes, sizes, designs, and colours- the task of choosing can be overwhelming as soon as you begin. 

To help you accomplish the dream kitchen upgrade, here are some simple yet realistic ideas you can practice.

1. Measure up

As a rule of the thumb, start by measuring available space. Only then you can think about what will fit where. Why? With preliminary measurements at hand, it will be easier to select the right furniture sizes with more precision. And by so doing you can avoid disappointments of acquiring units that do not match up.

At the same time, you should also take note of the dimensions of the furniture of choice. While you need to make the most of available space, ensure the size will allow better organization without compromising on functionality.

2. Match up to your style

Without a doubt, new kitchen furniture should not only enhance the look of your space but should blend in perfectly too. It means everything from the colour and design of preferred furniture should be well within the cover of the underlying interior decor style. So, at the back of your mind strive to settle on furniture that complements the architecture of the room as well as existing fixtures and fittings.

3. Be practical

Another fantastic approach is going for adaptable furniture items optimised to exploit available space. To this end, backless chairs or bar stools that can easily get tucked away should come into the picture. Similarly, creatively designed storage units that leverage the largely ignored vertical space are worth investing on. Then again, not always is going big the best option, instead versatile could be much better.

4. Quality construction

Quite simply, nothing else matters if your choice of furniture is of questionable quality. Ooh, yes! For you achieve that dream kitchen worth a spot in a top Home Magazine, the quality should be nothing less than decent. Think about the framing, nature of build material, joints, and reinforcements. A good piece of furniture should not show any sign of flimsiness. At the same time, the overall finish should be smooth yet resilient. 

5. Comfort is vital!

Beyond the physical qualities, you should also take into account comfort. Particularly for seats, it won’t matter much if everything else ticks but there is compromise on the aspect comfort. In your quest for the best, endeavour to find ergonomically created furniture that you can sit on for hours without your bum getting a raw deal.

Conclusion

Furniture lies at the centre of any living space. So whether you are upgrading or doing first time purchases for a new home a balance of quality, comfort, appeal, and functionality should be at the core of your selection. Now over to you! Go on and get your dream kitchen furniture.

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