Attracting new customers can be challenging, but when you do, you want to make sure they are impressed with what your business has to offer. As a business owner, this often means that you will have to go above and beyond what your customer expects. Whether it is continuously engaging your existing customers or attracting new ones, maintaining a good impression on your brand could create lifetime relationships with your ideal customers.

Luseta Beauty’s rewards program is called Beauty Garden rewards, and customers can earn “petals” in exchange for various free incentives.

The actions you must engage to attract your customers will differ from business to business, but it is worth knowing that it will always be an investment in the end. Oftentimes satisfying customers is not easy, and an effective marketing plan is not cheap. However, going to great lengths to achieve a good balance will ensure that you are building a brand that lasts.

In the end, every business owner knows that happy customers lead to success. So how do you impress customers so that they not only return but also spread the word about your business?

Here are six tips to help you stand out from the competition and impress your customers:

01

Focus on quality Marketing efforts

The first step to impressing new customers and even potential new business partners rests in working on how you present your business. If you try to save money on marketing, you must keep in mind that the quality and value of your marketing strategies are going to be what leaves an impression on your customers. Being conscious about Socially Responsible Marketing (SRM) is the first step in creating a brand that resonates with a larger audience.

Moreover, when you are planning your next marketing campaign, think bigger, but effective. Hire a drone to record your shots, invest in animation (create an animation video), and do what other businesses are not doing. You can learn more about getting a drone for your business and explore new technologies that can help you achieve your vision.

It might sound like you are being a bit over the top, but going for what is new and premium in the market is exactly what you need to grab the attention of both customers and partners. Why? Because these tools will allow you to achieve the best results possible. Quality is always an indicator of a business’s success, so make sure you are communicating this to your audience.

02

Keep open communication

When you buy a product from a new business, you want to know that you are going to get what you have paid for. If you do not and are not satisfied, you will want to know that you can easily and quickly communicate with the business about getting it sorted. If you keep your communications closed, you are not going to be able to reassure your customers that their orders are secure and that they are not going to lose out when they buy from you.

It is also important to be ready to answer any questions about your products or services, as you may have prospective customers who are ready to make a purchase but would like to learn just a little more. The quicker you answer their questions, the more likely you are to address their concerns and make a sale, so have someone ready and waiting to respond to all customers who write in. It may even be a good idea to have an automated response set up for certain questions.

03

Provide quality products & services

It is one thing to show off and make many promises about your products and services, but you must ensure that you are capable of actually following through with them. You would not want to waste a great marketing campaign on something that your customer is ultimately going to be disappointed with. When you are making these promises of quality, be confident that you can deliver them. Sure, quality products and services are more expensive to put out, but this is fundamental if you want your business to grow a reputation for quality.

Selling poor-quality products is going to be cheaper for you, and will save you a chunk of money in the short term, but it is not great for long-term business; It is disappointing, and if your competitors are offering better products while being heavily committed to socially responsible practices, you are going to lose your customers to them. It is important that if you change up suppliers at some point, you do not lose the quality that you have always provided. Your existing customers may feel cheated, and your business’ reputation will decline.

04

Surprise them

If you have highly anticipated products, features, or services you are planning to launch, know that the wait can kill the excitement for your customers. If you are going to announce something, you will want to make sure you are not announcing it too early on in the process. Being spontaneous is much more effective and allows customers to make their purchases based on the excitement, rather than waiting for all of the hype around it to die.

The problem with many marketing campaigns is that by the time it is released, customers have moved on. Since customers are constantly bombarded with marketing messages, their purchasing decisions rely on their immediate needs being met, so timing is everything. Ensure that your marketing campaigns are lined up in a way that guarantees that you are maximizing your reach and engagement.

The truth is, no one is going to complain about sudden positive changes within your business that came without a formal announcement. Implementing a reward system? No need to announce it beforehand. Hosting a sale? Announcing it too early is not going to do your business any good. Let things be spontaneous—your customers will be excited to know that you have been diligently working on new things. If you already have the right marketing channels in place, like social media, you can quickly announce these things just in time for customers to take part.

05

Offer rewards & incentives

If there is one thing that is sure to impress your customers, it is seeing that you are giving out rewards and incentives to returning customers. It is not often that a business surprises its customers with free products, so reward programs are a very good way to create a loyal community. Allowing your customers a discount after spending a certain amount of money, or giving them a free product after a certain number of purchases, will make them more likely to return to your business over a competitor’s. 

Of course, if not done correctly, these reward systems can work against you, so it is important that you plan it out properly and make sure you can implement it without it costing your business in the long run. The good thing about having rewards as incentives is that it might be what causes your business to grow quicker in popularity, which is why it is worth implementing so long as you are prepared. Having to remove a rewards program later down the line is not going to be good for your reputation, so be sure to plan it out so that you can justify these expenses and guarantee a return on your investment.

Luseta Beauty is a company we discovered that has this all figured out. The way they bring rewards to their most loyal customers is through various ways to earn “petals”, which they have used to term their rewards points. From free shipping and vouchers to free products and birthday petals, they are making it fun to shop with them. Why would customers not want to be rewarded for the things they buy? They also offer access to exclusive promotions and tester panels with different tiers depending on how much customers spend within a year.

06

Listen to feedback

It is not often that a customer gets to feel the reward of having taken part in the development or improvement of a business. It helps the customer to feel valued, and it shows that the brand itself cares about what its customers want. Taking feedback from your customers and using it to improve your business can be a great way to show that you value your customers, and are committed to providing a positive experience for them.

When you ask for and act on customer feedback, you are showing your customers that their opinion matters. This can help build trust with your customers in a day and age where the customer really influences every aspect of a business. It can also be a big differentiator in today's crowded market and can lead to increased customer retention and referrals.

Takeaways

Overall, impressing customers is about much more than just delivering a product or service. It is about customer service, being a trusted solution, and building a relationship with those who choose to do business with you when they could have easily gone elsewhere. Let them know that they are valued and that they made the right decision. When customers see that you are not just in business for profit, but rather to deliver an exceptional experience and provide long-term value, they will be more committed to your brand and look to you for their future needs.

Entrepreneurship is full of twists and turns that you least expect. The ups and downs can cause your energy to drain very quickly if you do not set up healthy boundaries and create harmony within your business and life. Your business is reliant on your being full of ideas and motivated to get things done. So, how can you protect your creative energy and prevent yourself from burning out?

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A post shared by Cristina Abion (@hellolovelyliving)

@hellolovelyliving at the Hoover Dam, Nevada. Stina: “I find a balance between business and life by connecting with nature.”

Protecting your energy as an entrepreneur will ultimately create more balance in your work and personal life, as it will give you more time in your schedule to do the tasks that you enjoy. With this in mind, here are a handful of useful methods you might want to use if you are hoping to create more space in your working day as a business owner.

01

Outsource Logistical Tasks

As a creative person at heart, you may find that logistical or administrative tasks suck the artistic energy out of your soul. Perhaps the idea of taking inventory or packing up products makes you want to hide out in a hole somewhere and never surface again. If this is the case, then you may want to look into logistics help for your business. If fulfilling orders is taking away valuable time from your business, then this is certainly a strategy you should look into right away.

02

Get Outside in Nature

There is truly no better way to get your creative juice flowing than being outside in nature. There are so many ways to get your mind into a positive headspace. One of these is breathing in the fresh air and surrounding yourself with beautiful nature. The next time you are feeling low on creative energy, try this out and see how quickly it can transform you.

03

Be intentional About time Management

When it comes to managing your schedule, make sure you plan your creative tasks on the same day so that you are always in the right headspace. Try to schedule phone calls, video conferences, and finance meetings on similar days too—this way your mind can stick with the same train of thought for as long as possible.

04

Take Regular Breaks

If you do not take time out for regular breaks during your working day, you will not be able to stay as creative as you would like to be. Forcing yourself to be creative will only slow down the process and make you feel frustrated, too. Allow yourself time to breathe, make a coffee, or do menial tasks such as doing the dishes. These small, but important breaks away from your business will bring your best ideas to the table quicker than you might think.

Takeaways

Taking a step back and allowing your creative energy to recharge is a priceless activity you can do for yourself. Although you may feel as though you have to work constantly to achieve your goals, you will actually start to achieve more if you give yourself some grace. Giving yourself some time out throughout the day and making smart decisions with regard to your schedule will ultimately give you more energy as a creative so that you can make your business as successful as you want it to be.

Have a pricing guide to present to your clients that showcases all of your services and payment terms.

Running your own marketing business can be a gratifying way to earn a living on your terms doing something you love, but it can be pretty stressful at times, especially when you are struggling to get a client to pay you on time.

There is nothing worse than when a client will not settle their invoice. You spend too much time chasing them and stressing about what you will do if the money does not come through. The good news is there are several things you can do to ensure your marketing business gets paid on time.

01

Send prompt invoices

Using software to send payment invoices automatically when a job is complete is an excellent way to get paid on time because the sooner you send the invoice, the sooner it is likely to be actioned by the client. It does not always work out that way, but as a good first step, immediately sending out your invoices is helpful, and it is simple to do with an automated system.

02

Create clear terms and conditions

Right from the start, when working with a client, no matter who it is, you should ensure that you have a written contract with transparent terms and conditions around every aspect of your time working together, including payment timescales.

By creating a detailed contract, you will ensure that both parties know what is expected of them, and you can ask for payment at a specific time. You can also create a clause that lays out the fees you will charge for late payments and what will happen if a payment is not forthcoming so that you have legal recourse should the worst happen and the client refuses to pay despite you holding up your end of the bargain.

Have a company profile to present o your clients. It includes a pricing guide so that all bases are covered prior to you working together.

03

Track payments

One thing you should always do as a small marketing business is to track the payment patterns of your regular clients. Doing this is one of the best ways to reduce the risk of your company not being paid on time or, even worse, not being paid at all.

If you track payment patterns and you find, for example, that X company always pays a month late or that you have to endlessly chase Y company to pay at all, then you can make decisions about firming up their contracts so that they settle their debt in a more timely manner. You could also opt to refuse to continue business with them at all if it is too time-consuming and stressful to chase them. This will put your business in a much better position from now on and reduce the odds of you losing money in the future.

04

Offer incentives

If you are struggling to get paid on time, then take a leaf out of the marketing playbook and offer your clients incentives to pay just like you would create incentives for customers to buy products from your clients.

If you offer, say, a 10 percent discount for early payers or a freebie for clients who pay on time when it comes to them making their next order, you will find those slow payers suddenly become prompt at paying off their invoices., and everyone wins. Of course, only do this if you can afford to do so, and it is built into your business plan, but if it is viable for you, it can be very effective indeed.

05

Offer more payment options

Something else that can help your marketing business to get paid on time is offering multiple payment options--from Paypal to credit cards to bank transfers. By providing a wide range of options, you are making it easier for your clients to complete the transaction, which means they are less likely to hold off on doing so until they can find a convenient time in their window.

It has never been easier to set up numerous payment options, so there is no reason not to do this if you want to get paid on time and have an easier time planning your company's cash flow in the future.

Not getting paid on time sucks, but you can vastly reduce your chances of having it happen to you by simply incorporating some or, even better, all of the strategies above into your business model going forward. If you want to be paid promptly, these changes will help.

The List

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This month, Marianna Hewitt and Lauren Ireland celebrated their 5th birthday celebration at Upside Pizza in NYC. They have been successful in understanding their customers’ needs since the launch of their flagship product, the Jet Lag Mask, and have since launched many other products. Their nostalgic pop-up events like this one with a Self-Care shop incorporate the iconic Summer Fridays branding to achieve a memorable experience for their customers.

01

Understand Your Customers’ Schedules 

Many freelancers paid by the hour must abide by time clock rules. This often means they are responsible for logging their working hours and dedicating a set amount of time each day to a project. Understand your customer schedules and how it corresponds to your routine. Ensure you are fulfilling your contractual obligations, especially when it is tied to whether you get paid.

02

Stick To A Routine

As a freelancer, you are largely responsible for managing your time. We all have routines, and you know what works best for you. But basic rules like the time you get up, eat, and sleep will help you stick to a routine and avoid you working unusual hours that leave you feeling run-down. Try to work a set amount of hours each day, take regular breaks and create a schedule that will help you stay consistent.

03

Set Boundaries With Clients

Make it clear to your clients when you are available. If you are working with clients outside your time zone, try to find some overlap in your working day where you can connect if needed. Respect your boundaries and ensure your clients know exactly when you are and aren’t reachable. This will also help establish a good working relationship with your customers and give you a clear work-life boundary.

04

Seek Financial Advice

Seeking financial advice can directly tie into the hours you work. If you are having cash flow problems, the earlier you know, the quicker you can explore new avenues for business growth and regain control of your time. The more money you earn is directly tied to the hours you work as a freelancer, so keeping on top of finances avoids spiraling hours to make up for financial losses in the business.

It is also best to pay attention to common personal and business expenses that can easily be prevented by choosing a bank that has no monthly fees, no overdraft fees, and free ATMs. These common expenses can add up, so this decision will be very important to avoid unnecessary expenses down the road. We are impressed with Chime because it checks off all the boxes and makes banking smarter. Earn $100 when you join Chime. Learn more.

Social media template and theme planning and scheduling tools can automate daily tasks that are often time-consuming.

05

Use A Project Management Tool

A project management tool like Asana can help you organize your time and meet your schedule and deadlines. When you are extremely busy, a project management tool can help keep you on track and ensure you can complete your projects to deadline and budget. Project management tools can help you break down large tasks into more manageable ones so that you can be more effective with your time.

06

Make Sure You Switch Off

Managing work-life balance as a freelancer can be challenging. Nonetheless, switching off is an essential part of being effective. Make time for yourself, whether protecting your hour lunch break or ensuring you finish at a reasonable time in the evenings. Do what helps you switch off best, whether that’s playing a video game or going for a run. 

Get social media templates and themes, scheduling tools, and graphic design support to help you be efficient with daily marketing tasks.

07

Invest In Automation

Automation can help you win back vital time as a freelancer. You might invest in social media planning and scheduling, automated email marketing campaigns, or prompts to potential customers that leave their cart on your eCommerce site. You can look at opportunities to automate tasks like sending invoices or payment follow-ups to help you win back time you can spend on other areas of your business.

08

Define A Reminder Schedule For Payments

Spending valuable time chasing your invoices? Setting a reminder payment schedule is vital to appearing professional and saving time. Following up on overdue invoices is stressful and, when done manually, can eat into your working hours. Setting clear reminders and payment deadlines is vital to saving yourself time as a freelancer.

09

Get To Grips With tracking your time

Do you know how long it takes you to complete tasks? An accurate picture of your tasks can help you manage your working hours and get the right project timelines. It also ties into your payments. Recording your timelines ensures you set accurate prices for your goods and services. Underestimate your hours, and you risk getting both underpaid and working extra hours to complete pieces of work.

10

Block Off Time

Blocking off chunks of time to focus on specific tasks can help you get into a flow state and manage your workload better. A flow state refers to becoming fully immersed in whatever you are doing. It describes when people achieve their best work with focus and clarity. Giving yourself allocated hours to focus on specific tasks can help you achieve a flow state and make the most of your time. Physically block off hours in your calendar to complete your projects.

11

Document Everything

Document all your workflows and processes. Identifying your business operations can help you identify where you can streamline and template your work. It is also great when your mind is blank, as you can refer back to something you have drafted previously as a prompt. Documentation is great to review as your business scales, as it can be used to train new employees or collaborators quickly and effectively.

12

Give Yourself Buffer Time

Even if it takes you three hours to complete a task, it doesn’t mean you should only give yourself three hours. Buffer time is essential as a freelancer. It protects you on days you feel tired and ill, days your boiler breaks or your internet goes down. You don’t need to cram your working days with constantly focused work. Give yourself some buffer time to protect yourself against life’s unforeseen events. 

If you are questioning the value of buffer time as part of your hourly rate, it is still essential. You and your clients would be much happier if you built in time for fact-checking, proofing, and project revisions.

Takeaways

It can be tough to manage your time as a freelancer. Fortunately, resources like project management software and financial advice can help you manage your time as a small business owner. Sticking to a routine, setting clear client boundaries, and managing your timelines are important resources for working effectively. There are also many chances to automate and save time, including drafting documentation, setting reminder schedules, and investing in automation. Try these tips today and see how it helps you manage your freelance business.

@hellolovelyliving on Pinterest

If you have a retail business, you should always be looking for new ways to improve it. You can not simply assume that just because you are doing fine now, that is how it will always be. In fact, with more and more businesses opening up all the time and plenty of competition all around you, this kind of thinking could even spell the end of your business; you will fall behind, and customers will move on to other stores that offer them what they are looking for and move with the times. 

As a retail business owner, you constantly need to be updating and improving your store or website (or both). It is not an easy thing to do, but if you want to be successful and stand the test of time, it is a challenge you will need to take on and work hard at. With that in mind, here are some of the ways you can improve your retail business; this should give you an idea about where to start with this ongoing task.

Know When Your Peak Hours Are 

Most stores will have busy periods and quieter times. If you want to improve your business, it is a good idea to find out when your peak hours are because once you know, you can choose to do a variety of things with that knowledge.  

One thing you can do is run promotions. You can choose to run them during the busy periods to ensure you stay busy, or you could run the promotions at quieter times to encourage more people in when normally sales would be slow.

Another idea is to use quieter times to work on tasks you might not have time to do otherwise. This could be updating your website, posting on social media, or even doing practical jobs like stock checks and tidying up your store. In this way, you can ensure that even if you are not busy with customers, you are improving your business nonetheless. 

You might already know your peak hours because you know when you are particularly busy. However, if you are unsure or you want to be certain, you only have to make a tally of customers throughout the day for a week or so. When you have this, you will immediately be able to see which times are busy and which are not, and use that knowledge to your advantage. 

Make It Easy For Customers To Buy From You

The last thing you want to do when you are a retail business is to put barriers in front of customers that will prevent them from buying from you. What you want is to make things as easy as possible. This is why you need to look objectively at how you run your retail business to ensure that you are not stopping potential customers from completing their buying journey; remember, you might be doing this accidentally, so it is wise to think carefully about it. 

One reason people might not choose to buy from you is that you do not offer their preferred payment method. You might be cash only, for example, or perhaps there is a charge for using a credit card. The best thing to do is to allow all kinds of payments; you will open up your store to many more people. The key is to find a reliable retail payment processing system that will give your customers as much choice as possible but will also work for you and your business. Take your time in discovering as much as you can about any potential method you want to put in place, and you will find more people who are happy to buy from you. 

Train Your Team

If you have employees working in your store, you must train them well. They need to be able to interact with customers positively, in order to make the experience a pleasant one. With so much competition, if a customer feels they are treated badly or even simply indifferently, they will not return to you, and they will go where they feel appreciated and have a more pleasant experience. Training your team in good customer service will certainly improve your retail business. 

You should also train your team in sales. Cross-selling and up-selling will increase your profits and if it is done well, your customers will not feel pressured and instead will feel as though they have been offered good advice and bought things that will help them. Everyone will be happy, and your store’s reputation will improve because of how well you treat your customers. Staff training should not just be a one-off thing that happens when they start the job; have it regularly, and your team will also feel valued.

Takeaways

Retail businesses must cope with more turbulent times as the online marketplace continues to explode. With so much competition, retail businesses must look to improve intangible things such as the overall customer experience and customer service. What stands out today is when companies establish a connection with their customer almost like a relationship. Consumers are becoming more and more conscious about their purchases, so a brand must stand for something more meaningful and make the buying process and brand experience more enjoyable. Ask yourself, “If I were a customer, what would my ideal experience be once I walk inside the store?”

@unsplash

According to the SBA (Small Business Administration), approximately 50% of all US businesses are home-based. Additionally, reports from the Pew Research Center reveal that 16 million Americans are self-employed. This makes up nearly 30% of the total workforce. The majority of these businesses are sole proprietorships; thus, every decision, be it related to inventory or financial investment, is made without any additional advice or support.  

Unlike large companies, small business owners like sole proprietors do not have a CFO (Chief Financial Officer) to advise them about their company’s financial condition or direction. Thus, home-based businesses struggle to maintain their good standing or fail to grow. What can a home-business owner do in this situation? The answer is simpler than you think: Hire a financial advisor. In this article, we discuss a few points to consider when hiring one.

What does a financial advisor do? 

Generally speaking, financial advisors assist entrepreneurs with deciding the course of action for their revenue earned. However, their role is not limited to financial advice. Rather, there are numerous services that you can select from based on your current and ongoing needs.

• Debt Management: Creating strategies to pay off debt and avoid the same costs in the future. 

• Tax Planning: This includes tax return preparation, planning tax-loss harvesting security sales, enhancing tax deductions (and exemptions), using capital gains tax rates wisely, and more. 

• Insurance & healthcare advice: Providing the best solutions for you and your teams’ healthcare on a long-term basis. 

• Budgeting: Strategies to meet business goals (both short-term & long-term) within your budget. 

Apart from this, financial advisors can also assist you in retirement and estate planning.

Signs you need a financial advisor

Though you do not need any specific reason to work with a financial advisor, certain signs call for professional assistance. These signs include: 

• You do not know how and where to invest business earnings.

• You are frequently losing money on your investment(s).

• You do not have an estate plan.

• You are currently struggling with debt payments.

• You are constantly failing at creating a budget. 

If you have already designated personnel to manage your finances and assist you with business decisions, you do not necessarily need to appoint a new person. Instead, you can connect with a financial advisor business coach to train your already appointed staff. They can help you in deepening your client relationships, and you will be able to envision your business's future growth with just a few helpful insights. 

It is important to note that not all coaches are created equal. Try to find one with a well-developed signature program that aligns with your business goals and objectives. A signature program is a coaching framework that has been refined and perfected over time, providing a structured and effective approach to achieving specific outcomes. With a signature coaching program, a business coach can help you develop new skills, improve your performance, and achieve measurable results, ultimately leading to the success and growth of your business.

How to choose a financial advisor? 

A financial advisor can make or break a business. Therefore, you must practice due diligence when appointing one for your home-based business. Some of the things you need to take into consideration when selecting a financial advisor include: 

• Is the financial advisor certified? Check the certification of the advisor.

• What types of services are offered and what are the fees? If they have connections with a prime broker for small and emerging hedge funds, that's better.

• Understand the financial advisor’s approach and beliefs, and check if it aligns with your goals. 

• Look for someone who has the appropriate tools and resources to teach you financial freedom.

Takeaways

It does not matter whether you own a small business or a global enterprise; you need a financial advisor or an entire team to help you make the most appropriate financial decisions for your business. Nevertheless, it is good to keep in mind that every financial advisor will have different strengths to bring to the table. Not any one individual receives the same level of training and experience, so you must be vigilant in selecting a professional that is knowledgeable and capable of bringing you positive results.

@hellolovelyliving enjoying the motivational quotes at Contra Coffee and Tea in Orange, CA

Your productivity and efficiency depend on several factors. Think beyond your skills and tools because your workspace is one of the most crucial aspects you may likely miss. Surprisingly, it can affect your stress levels, elevating them or lowering them according to your environment.

Whether you work from home or run an office, you must ensure a positive ambiance for your workspace. Fortunately, you can do it without an extensive and expensive makeover. Try these practical ideas to create the perfect ambiance for your office.

01

Start with a decluttering project

The easiest way to create an aura of positivity for any space is by decluttering it, and this rule also applies to commercial areas. Commit to a weekly cleanup and monthly de-clutter project for your work area. You can go even further by doing the same de-cluttering routine with your devices. Encourage your team to take care of individual zones and supervise the project. You will have a lighter and healthier space once the clutter is sorted through and discarded.

02

Prioritize comfort

Comfort is the key to creating a positive, vibrant workspace that promotes efficiency and productivity. Invest in comfortable and practical furniture pieces that support a healthy posture. Non-ergonomic furniture can affect the well-being of your team members and affect the overall vibe of the workplace. The material the furniture is made from also matters, making this an area to focus on, too. There are multiple options to consider, with customized foam chairs and similar options being recommended.

Moreover, you cannot expect to impress clients and visitors by ignoring details such as these. Additionally, allow employees the freedom to create a homely atmosphere for themselves with family pictures and mementos in their personal desk space.

03

Pay attention to air quality

The air quality inside your workspace is crucial in creating a health-promoting atmosphere. Routine checks and maintenance of your HVAC systems provide a good start. You can install commercial air fresheners to eliminate odors and keep the interior of your business smelling fresh. Ensure fittings at strategic points such as the reception area, restrooms, and common zones to get the best results. Incorporating indoor plants into the office space greatly contributes to the air quality and ambiance more than any other factor, so ensure that you choose indoor plants that naturally purify the air.

04

Ensure optimal illumination

Optimal lighting and illumination ensure positive and happy vibes for an office. Maximizing the entry of natural light should be a priority because it decreases your energy bills along with improving the overall appearance of the space while encouraging higher productivity amongst your staff. A little design rework is worthwhile as it can save you a fortune on power bills down the line. Install LED lights in dark corners because they may appear gloomy even on a sunny day. Avoid harsh lighting as it can overwhelm employees and affect their mood.

05

Add character

Adding character to your office is a wonderful way to create an environment that feels good. Consider doing a paint makeover with an accent wall to display your awards and achievements. Adding wall art showcasing motivational quotes is another idea worth trying. You can also personalize the space to replicate your brand colors and elements. Just be creative and open to experimenting, and you can transform an ordinary office into a welcoming workplace.

Takeaways

Creating the perfect ambiance for your office is easier than you imagine. Get started with aesthetics and make sure it feels good to the senses. Personalize your space even further in creative ways so that anyone that enters your space has an overall welcoming experience from the moment they walk into your workspace to the moment they leave. First impressions matter, so your attention to detail will not be overlooked and will be appreciated more than you expect.

@hellolovelyliving displaying her finds at The Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano, CA

We’re only a few weeks away from the time when leaves begin to change colors and the weather transits into a colder phase. While many of us look forward to drinking hot beverages and delicious foods that come with the social setting of festivities, the winters can also be depressing for many. To help you mitigate the feelings that arise from the loss of sunlight and warmth, this blog will address five ways to help make winters more comfortable. In the long run, these steps will also help you live a proactive and healthier life. Without any delay, let’s dive right into it!

01

Get your vitamins in check

Several people experience a clinical condition known as Seasonal Additive Depression, but don’t realize the cause. Since it has now been established that depression is not caused due to a change in brain chemicals, it has much more to do with how our mind responds to stimuli. Changes like lessened natural light, shorter days, and an uncomfortable temperature can lead to seasonal depression.

However, the right nutrition can change the narrative and help you sail past these symptoms easily. Top up on your Vitamin C, D3, B12, A, and E from natural foods or supplements. Visit farm stands like The Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano, California for fresh, organic, garden-to-table produce.

02

Start consuming CBD supplements

If you’re having trouble dealing with symptoms like depression, anxiety, or insomnia, cannabidiol can be an excellent healer. In several research papers, cannabidiol has shown a substantial improvement in the mental and physical symptoms of depression, be it clinical, seasonal, or short-term. These days, the legalized status of CBD and THC also makes it easier to purchase from trusted dispensaries like Purple Penthouse. Founded by local stoner babes in the DC & NY area, you’ll be supporting WOMEN IN WEED by ordering from Purple Penthouse in the male-dominated weed space. Make sure to research your strain on the dispensary’s knowledge base to know your ideal product.

03

Work around the daylight hours

During fall and winter, the amount of natural sunlight we receive reduces substantially. This can also cause a hormonal imbalance in your body, leading to mood swings. Make sure to spend time outside during the daylight hours, or get warm lighting like UV lamps, sodium bulbs, and others to compensate for the loss of warmth.

04

Add habits that bring joy

When times become a bit gloomy, happiness can be created with comforting habits and routines. Take up an old hobby that keeps you busy and your mind occupied. Listen to uplifting music, watch good movies, and give yourself time to rest during these months as per what makes you feel great!

05

Work on therapy

Winters are also known to bring out dark thoughts if we have a history of anxiety and depression. To navigate this path, the help of an experienced professional like a therapist or counselor is essential. If you’re struggling to reign in your thoughts and regulate your emotions, reach out for therapy to receive the support you deserve.

Takeaways

By paying attention to the little things regarding your health, you can lead a happier state, especially during the gloomier months. We hope that the tips mentioned above bring you long-lasting relief from the winter blues, and let you enjoy the season of festivities instead!

Photo by Mathilde Langevin on Unsplash

A business can benefit a lot from compelling content. And it’s no secret; almost 90% of non- and for-profit organizations use content to market. With it, they can effectively showcase their products and services. They can also use it to attract customers and make them more interested in their brands. Or they can simply use it to improve their online presence.

If you’re having trouble creating compelling content for your business website, you may want to know these brainstorming tips.

01

Clearly define the purpose of your content

While you know that you need compelling content, you should also determine why you need it. Is it to improve your rankings on search engine results pages? Is it to improve the time visitors spend on your website? Is it to advertise and promote new products and services? Is it to complement the new convenient functionalities of a business app, like Jobber, that you’re using or going to use?

Even if your content is great, it doesn’t matter if it can’t help you achieve the goal you have in mind. For example, 82% of customers do business with companies because of their content marketing efforts. If you don’t clearly define your content’s purpose as content marketing, you can’t hope to experience that same benefit many businesses experience from their content.

02

Scour social media platforms to see what’s trending

There’s no denying that the top social media platforms are where most of your target audience will always be present. Before, these platforms were only exclusive to allow people to reconnect. However, nowadays, it’s become a place where people get their news, entertain themselves, and even do business in. You need to take advantage of that when creating new and compelling content.

Scour social media platforms to see what’s trending. Know what your target audience is looking for and what they want to see. Even if those things aren’t related to your business, you can always try to exploit them and incorporate them into your content. 

For example, if cryptocurrency is a hot topic right now, you can try to create content discussing if using cryptocurrency to pay for services and products you offer might or might not be a good idea. Or, if digitization is trendy, you may go for a topic that discusses how an invoice template helps your business.

03

Pick and research the topics you need for your content

As soon as you establish the purpose of your content, the next step is to pick and research the topics you want to write or create videos about. Suppose that you have a property maintenance company, and you decided to make compelling content for more people to hire you to get their properties maintained. 

With those things in mind, you may want to create content about topics such as the following:

• Why properties need to be maintained

• Why you should maintain your property while you’re on a family-friendly vacation

• How property maintenance can improve your property’s value

• Why you should let professionals deal with their property’s maintenance

Doing those things can narrow the ideas you need to bounce off during your brainstorming session. And it will allow you to be laser-focused on topics that can help you achieve your goal by creating compelling content.

04

Revisit your old content

Before you think of new ideas for your site or social media account’s new content, you may want to revisit your old content. Try to find the pieces that worked before and build on them. On the other hand, you can try to re-explore topics that your old content may have failed to cover completely. 

Revisiting old content can help you find inspiration without looking beyond what you already have.

05

Check your competitor’s content

Aside from checking your old content and social media platforms, you can also observe your competitors' websites. Imitating your rivals, and how they produce, and create content for their website would be a great idea as it saves the business’s time and effort.  

For example, if they primarily post videos as their content, you might also want to focus on creating videos. And that’s a good idea. After all, more than 62% of customers often say they love video content. So, if your competitors use video and they’re experiencing success, there’s no harm in imitating their content strategy. 

06

Keep an eye out for news related to your industry

If you’ve already exhausted most of the sources of inspiration and ideas listed in the previous sections, you may want to try sourcing content ideas from the news. The only limitation with this one is that the usefulness of news to your content depends on what kind of business you have.

For example, if your business is highly niche, the news coverage in your industry may be far fewer. However, it doesn’t mean it’s the end for you. Instead of waiting for news to happen, you may want to create one for yourself. Be always on the lookout for any newsworthy events in your business, and use those events as topics for your content.

Takeaways

Those are some tips on how you can brainstorm ideas to create compelling content for your website. Thankfully, they’re not exactly difficult to pull off, so go ahead now and start brainstorming for the new pieces of content you’ll post on your website.

Needing more assistance and support with content creation? Stina at Hello Lovely Living can help you define your goals and come up with a content creation strategy that works for you. Get in touch with Stina here.

References:

1. Demand Metric. “Content Marketing Infographic.” Content Marketing Infographic | Demand Metric. Accessed August 10, 2022. https://www.demandmetric.com/content/content-marketing-infographic

2. Zimmerman, David, Simki Dutta, and Leigh-Anne Truitt. “How Content Marketing Benefits Businesses.” How Content Marketing Benefits Businesses | Clutch.co. Accessed August 10, 2022. https://clutch.co/seo-firms/resources/how-content-marketing-benefits-businesses 

3. McCoy, Julia. “5 Big Content Trends You Need to Know Now.” Search Engine Journal, April 14, 2021. https://www.searchenginejournal.com/content-trends/329253 

4. Murray Hunter. “How to Build a Business By Copying and Improving Other Businesses.” MIC. September 22, 2012. https://www.mic.com/articles/15176/how-to-build-a-business-by-copying-and-improving-other-businesses

@hellolovelyliving at Coffee Dose in Costa Mesa, CA

The success of any business has always rested on building a brand and creating appealing designs that can spark the interest of buyers and start trends in the market. 

If there's one thing we've learned as a naming agency providing catchy and creative names for businesses, it's that the perfect brand name can make or break your business.

Take Coffee Dose in Costa Mesa, CA, for example. What started as Jeni Castro laying in bed with her husband blurting out a casual, "I want to open a coffee shop." has resulted in multiple locations across Orange County along with a cult-like following.

“It really comes down to her branding,” says Stina, Hello Lovely Living Founder. She started with a catchy name with a personality to match, and it took on a life of its own. “Visit the cafe and you will see branded mugs that say “Karen Tears” and Anti-Bitch blend coffee. You get where she’s going with her message, and that is memorable. It’s all about creating an experience.”

So, if you're looking for inspiration and are unsure of the most lucrative name to give your company, this article can help you find the best one.

@hellolovelyliving

@hellolovelyliving

Three important steps

in choosing the best business name

01

Study your brand

Besides developing an excellent product, your business’s brand is the most important component you should focus on fine-tuning and perfecting since it affects how you want your business to be seen. Crafting a trusted brand identity is one thing you cannot afford to ignore while naming your brand.

Consider the consulting firm Accenture. What strong ideas come to mind when you see, read, or hear the name? For starters, it boasts a smooth, sophisticated, and high-end tone. For one of the world's premier consulting organizations, this works quite well.

A normal digital gadget, such as the Alexa or iPhone, would not be named in the same manner. And that’s because these kinds of names would be inappropriate for their identity and what they are seeking to achieve.

02

Consider various name concepts

This is the exciting part! Gather your naming group (if you have any at this point), get some markers, a notepad, and a whiteboard, and let your imagination run wild! Remember, the brainstorming phase is not an analytical stage. You do not need to assess names right now. Simply step up your creativity and let your imagination flow.

Don't be hesitant to jot down bad names. In fact, we strongly advise you to compile a list of names that make you feel uncertain. You never know what you’d be able to make out of them. 

That said, here are some easy tools to help you with naming:

• Thesauruses

• Visual names, sometimes with a color component

• Industry jargons

• Words that rhyme

If you eventually wind up with 200 potential names at the conclusion of the brainstorming session, that's a good thing since the next stage is we’d be focusing on reducing this list.

03

Validate & Test

We all agree that your top choice from the list of names is the perfect business name for you! But before you can cheer, you must first pass a few crucial assessments. A thorough evaluation procedure will assist you in determining whether your preferred business name(s) are viable and available.

So make sure you get:

• Customer feedback: This is essential when it comes to validating your business name. And it can be done by gathering honest feedback from friends, family, or even random people you meet at a bar or cafe. Don't hesitate to tell them why you require their help.

• A Good Domain Name: A good website is essential for every company, and so you must determine whether your desired name has an accessible domain name. In an ideal world, you would have immediate access to nameofyourbusiness.com. However, this is not always the case, and you’ll have to visit a domain marketplace and pick one of the premium domain names for sale that aligns with your brand. 

• Trademark: You may despise this method because of the procedures it requires, but it can save you a lot of legal troubles along the way, as most modern words have already been trademarked in some fashion. You must therefore determine if the name of your firm satisfies the trademark standards or is encroaching on someone else's trademark. Ensure you consult with a legal professional, as failure to register a trademark could result in cease and desist letters in the future.

@hellolovelyliving

@hellolovelyliving

Takeaways

Brand names may increase sales and financial performance for your company, making it the game changer that is required to surpass the competition. Creating a business name that resonates with your company's identity is a fantastic way to pique the interest of your target clients.

Grant Polachek is the head of branding for Squadhelp.com, 3X Inc 5000 startup and disruptive naming agency. Squadhelp has reviewed more than 1 million names and curated a collection of the best available names on the web today. We are also the world's leading crowdsource naming platform, supporting clients from early-stage startups to Fortune 500 companies.

@hellolovelyliving

Have you ever been curious about the science behind eye colors? There are so many fascinating eye colors, yet few of us know what causes them to be so different. When someone has an eye color that is captivating, we are quick to want to know where they’re from. Beautiful eye colors look exotic and rare and attract our attention immediately.

Eye color is an interesting topic because it's one of the first things we notice in a person, and it's what sets our perception of someone with blue eyes apart from someone with green or brown eyes. If you’ve ever wondered what determines eye color, keep reading.

Genetics and eye color

The eyes are the windows to the soul, and they are also the first thing people notice about you. This is why eye color has always been a topic of interest for many people seeking to make an easy, yet dramatic change to their appearance.

The science behind eye color is complex, but it can be explained with a few simple concepts: Eye color is determined by genetics, which means that it is hereditary. Melanin plays a determining role in what our eye color will appear as.

There are six main eye colors: brown, blue, green, hazel, amber, and gray. The most common eye colors are brown and blue because the amount of melanin influences the light as it appears in our eyes. The more melanin, the less color, hence a brown eye color. On the other hand, blue will reflect more visible light and color and contain less melanin.

What are the Different Types of Eye Color?

As mentioned earlier, there are six main eye colors: 

Brown eyes: Brown eyes have more melanin than the other eye colors. This is the most common eye color in the world. 

Blue eyes: Only 8% of the world’s population have blue eyes. They contain the least melanin.

Green eyes: Green eyes are said to be the most beautiful eye color in the world—with only 2 percent of people having them. 

Hazel eyes: Hazel eyes have a brownish-green hue, and their color is lighter than green eyes. 5 percent of the population has these beauties.

Amber eyes: Amber eyes have a golden yellow or coppery color without specks of gold, green, or brown and are uncommon at just around 5 percent of the population.

Gray eyes: Scientists say that gray eyes have less melanin than blue eyes, so they reflect the most light and are the rarest out of all the eye colors.

Is it possible to change your eye color?

Eye color is a result of genes and environmental factors. There are many myths about the possibility of changing one's eye color, but there is no scientific evidence that a semi-permanent or permanent change is possible without colored contact lenses or surgery—and surgery is proven to be dangerous.

However, it is supposedly possible to change your eye color naturally with food. Interestingly, what we eat can influence our eye color to a certain extent.

Eye color and emotion

The color of your eyes is a unique trait that, although may look similar or identical to others, is unique to you. You may want to experiment with different colored contact lenses to exude a specific quality or feeling in your countenance.

The following are some qualities that can be exuded with different eye colors:

Blue: Idealistic and gentle

Brown: Reserved and serious

Green: Creative and imaginative

Takeaways

It’s amazing how eye color can influence how we perceive a person. Stina, founder of Hello Lovely Living uses colored contact lenses as a way to express herself. Wanting to adopt a cleaner beauty regimen, she has dramatically withdrawn from using makeup, and in exchange opts for colored lenses as a way to use color to add interest and novelty to her daily look.

“Having made the switch to colored contact lenses a few years ago, I have cut back on makeup products tremendously. Colored contact lenses brighten my eyes and give me a finished look without having to really do anything to my face. I appear fresh-faced with a pop of color to my eyes on a daily basis—and with little effort.” says Stina.

@hellolovelyliving

When setting up and maintaining your boutique enterprise, buying from wholesale clothing vendors will undoubtedly be the most cost-efficient and profitable method of sourcing items to fill your shop with. Buying in bulk almost always allows purchases to be made at a lower cost per item, so you can turn your attention to growing the choice of clothing available at your shop instead of worrying about the financial side. 

Another great thing about purchasing wholesale women’s clothing is that there is a huge range of choices. Dear-Lover, a leading online wholesale fashion marketplace, sources fabrics for its clothing from over 650 vendors, so each piece is unique and of a bespoke style. 

That said, an extensive collection can make it difficult to decide what to place an order for. Even if you’ve been working in the industry for years, it’s always tricky judging what will sell. This is where it’s paramount to truly understand your customer and their needs. Below are a few top tips to help judge what your consumer wants. 

Choosing the Best Wholesale Women’s Clothes According to the Customer 

There are several factors to consider when making a bulk purchase of boutique clothing, and properly thinking about each one will ultimately help you source the very best selection for your business. 

No.1

Clothing Trends 

Consumers of fashion are largely led by what they see each other wearing, with particular emphasis on the current style of celebrities and others on social media. If you take a walk around your city and see hundreds of people all wearing, for instance, denim shorts or skater dresses, you might feel tempted to follow suit. This is how trends emerge and spread across the population - it’s important to stay attuned to these clothing fads! 

No. 2

Seasonal Dress

Part of selling successfully in your boutique is choosing to source, dependent on the season. You don't want to buy a surplus of cozy, knitted jumpers just as the weather starts getting warmer. Customers tend to buy according to their current desires, as opposed to thinking about their future wardrobe, so you should really maximize your efforts to select clothing that is optimal for the appropriate season and weather.

No. 3

Quality Materials 

When buying wholesale women’s clothes, it’s important to assess the fabrics and materials used in creating the final product. Customers look for clothing that will last—they want to wear and enjoy pieces for several years to come, particularly those hoping to save money. 

No. 4

Versatility 

Customers love buying clothing that can be worn for different occasions and events. To cater to this, try procuring styles that could be dressed up or down such as lace blouses or long skirts. With different shoes, jewelry, and a change of hairstyle, a whole new outfit can be made from the same few clothing items.

Takeaways

Choosing boutique women's clothing can be a time-consuming task, but put yourself in the customer's shoes, and the rest will come easily. It is with a comprehensive understanding of your consumer base and clear knowledge of what wholesale clothing vendors have to offer that your business will have the opportunity to flourish. 

@hellolovelyliving

Thinking of booking a vacation? While it is essential to plan every detail, from flights to hotels, you must also determine where you’ll stay. Whether renting a cottage or condo, staying in a B&B, or booking a cruise cabin, numerous accommodation options are available. Each type offers unique experiences, personal service, and cost savings. To help you choose the suitable accommodation for your upcoming trip, we have listed some things that you must consider when choosing the right place to stay:

What is your budget?

A vacation can be costly. Although many people associate vacationing with luxury, not everyone can afford that accommodation. It is best to start with the basics to avoid spending more than you can afford. If you want to stay in a hotel, you can look for special offers and discounts online. You can also consider renting a vacation home through websites such as Airbnb. If you have a larger budget, you can always look for luxury or five-star hotels like Costa Rica Villas. If you have a smaller budget, you can still find quality places to stay. Sapphire Resorts reviews can help you determine accommodations suitable for you.

Is the location easily accessible?

If you are traveling with your family or friends, you might want to choose a conveniently located place like Jamaica Villas. You don’t want to make plans to visit multiple areas of interest and be out of the way. If your accommodations are conveniently located, you can walk to nearby shops and restaurants. If you are traveling with a group of colleagues, you might want to consider booking centrally located accommodations. This will make it easier to attend meetings within a short distance from the accommodations. It is also helpful if you travel solo and want to explore the city.

@hellolovelyliving

What amenities do you need?

When choosing a vacation accommodation, you need to decide what amenities you need. Hotels often offer swimming pools, fitness centers, restaurants, and more. Vacation rentals such as condos, cottages, or cabins can have similar amenities. Hotels provide privacy, but vacation rentals provide a more intimate experience. If you are traveling with a family, you might need a vacation home that features a kitchen. Some vacation home rentals even come equipped with washer and dryer facilities. Hotels might provide kitchenettes, but they might not offer the same level of convenience. If you are traveling with a special someone and want a romantic getaway, you might wish to book a Bed and breakfast. Hotels might have romantic amenities, but B&Bs provide a more intimate and personal experience.

What are your language skills?

If you are traveling to a country where the primary language isn’t English, you need to be aware of the level of communication with the staff. Hotels might employ multilingual staff, but vacation rentals might only offer English-speaking staff. This can be a critical factor when choosing your accommodations. Many people are not fluent enough to make their own way in a different country and while it is a good idea to learn some helpful phrases, nothing can prepare you for conversing with locals if your language skills are limited. While this might not seem important, knowing the language can impact the experience you have and you might find it easier to stay at a resort that has English-speaking staff for convenience.