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Marketing Tips for Launching a Start-Up in College

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Taking the first steps to launching your start-up may seem daunting at times. There are a lot of opportunities to be very successful, but it’s hard to know exactly where to start. Often times businesses can launch without a business plan or even a clear goal in sight. But if you want to increase your chances of beating the odds and being one of the only 25% of new businesses that actually still exist after 15 years, there are some steps you can take.

What is Market Research?

Market research is a great baseline that helps you understand the current climate of your environment. It can share with you critical information about how your business is solving a problem in the current landscape. The biggest things it will show you are who would be using your product and service, where those people are and how your business stacks up against others already attempting to do the same thing.

One great tip for creating a market research reports is hiring third party groups such as, ACCE. According to their website, ACCE, has a “Trained Sensory panel has provided detailed evaluations on everything from artisanal coffees to ready-to-eat snacks and entrées.” 

Examples of How a Market Analytic Report Would Work

In the case of artisanal coffees, maybe you are looking to find out what type of coffee you should offer your clients. By going out into the field and seeing what type of shops already exist. You may realize you need to learn more about espresso machines. This way you can make a smart decision on what type of espresso drinks don’t already exist in your area, allowing you to fill a gap in the marketplace. 

Unique Ways to Market Businesses Once You Complete a Report 

Once you gather all your data, there are a number of different ways you can market your business to stand out from the rest. Marketing materials, such as promo items, business cards, scale models, etc. can be helpful tools. One new and exciting way to create these are with laser etched marketing materials. Promo items that have been created custom for your business give you a unique competitive edge. Click this next link to learn more about purchasing a laser marking machine to create these etched marketing items.

The Importance of a Website 

There are over 2 billion websites registered in the world. This means you need to understand the importance of creating a website that helps market correctly for your specific business. You have to have an easy to navigate site with clean, concise writing, impactful images and calls to action. 

Real Life Examples

One example of a website that is easy to navigate is Calhoun Super Structures’: https://calhounsuperstructure.com/our-buildings/building-profiles/. As you can see, this site has clear navigation, interactive calls to action like the “get a quote” button and a simple layout that gives you the information you need fast. Another example of good call to action buttons can be found on a frost protection pipes website, Heat Line. These buttons at the top of the page show exactly what the business wants you to do: order, ask for a quote and sign up for their newsletter.

Looking for more tips on how to market your business? Stay tuned to https://www.uwiretoday.com/ to learn more.

Relocating After College

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One of the most exciting times in life is right after college when you get to relocate to start your next adventure. There are a number of things to consider during the process and we are here to remind you of a few points before you make the big move. 

What location is right for you?

Did you like where you grew up? Did you like where you went to college? Or are you ready for a complete change and want to go somewhere totally different? If you are considering the later, be sure to do your research! Moving companies are instrumental in this process and can really be a make-or-break to help a smooth transition. Consider companies with trusted names like Bekins Moving Solutions: https://www.mybekins.com/location/phoenix-az-movers/ or get a referral from a friend. Once you decide on a new area, consider where exactly what type of home you will live in. 

Homes, Apartments, Condos, Townhomes and more!

Depending on your budget, there are a number of options for your next home. Have you considered buying a home? Maybe even relocating a current home onto a new plot of land? If that’s the case, there are tools and services to help such as construction tool companies who offer products designed for this. Click here to learn more about it. But if you’re trying to be a tad more traditional, consider websites like www.zillow.com and www.realtor.com to make the home searching process easier. 

Assimilate into the culture

When you’re in a new town, it’s important to get to know the lay of the land. Consider joining clubs or groups to meet new people. Joining religious or charity organizations are also a fun way to meet new people. If you move to places like Florida or California, maybe you get into surfing. For a Florida move, consider https://threemovers.com/florida/ and remember not to overpack on sweaters, sweatshirts and winter gear – you won’t need it! If you move to areas near the woods maybe you take up activities like hunting or Crossbow: https://www.tenpointcrossbows.com/product-category/crossbows/.  Either way, be sure to get out and about so you have friends to help you through this transition. 

Get a Side Hustle to Make a Little Extra Cash

If you moved for a new job, that’s great! Congratulations! We all know that is a huge accomplishment and a very exciting time in someone’s life. But you know what makes a new big move even better? Getting a little extra cash during a side hustle job so you have the freedom to do more things! A lot of popular, lucrative businesses include high end POS systems. Click here to see a tool that can help your online business make fast, easy transactions. If you do not have a physical store, consider online payment systems to make more money. This side hustle will allow you to have more cash and enjoy your new city! 

Want to learn more college tips and tricks? Visit our site for articles on these topics: https://www.uwiretoday.com/ 

Why Businesses Need Online Payment Systems

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Today’s world is moving fast. Business owners and consumers both have limited time every 24-hours. In business, the best way to save time and maximize profits is to make the transaction process as simple and easy as possible. This is where online payment systems come into play! 

How do online payments work?

According to Twispay, “When the customer places an order on the merchant’s website, the payment gateway securely gathers and stores the transaction data, which is processed and forwarded to the financial institution and to the credit card networks, which, in turn, transfer the encrypted information to the customer’s card issuing bank for approval.

When the payment is confirmed by the issuing bank, the information chain is backtracked, and the merchant informs the customer, within three seconds since the order, that the transaction has been completed successfully.”

Payments and Security

Today, credible online payment systems come with a security guarantee. There are also services like PAAY which offer EMV 3DS authentication, which adds and extra layer of protection to your transactions by offering “41 required data points and over 100 optional points the merchant can choose to send to the issuer.” These extra security points may be important if you work with data sensitive and personal information. An example of a business that works with personal information is healthcare. Here is a sample website: https://spectrumhealthcare.com/services/seniors-for-seniors/.

How can you make more money with online payments?

Customers love easy payments and are more inclined to spend more money if it’s easier to do so. There are a couple ways you can make this process work. One example can be found on this website for a grooming brush for horses. As you can see, there is an option to “add to bag” or “buy now.” Because that button for “buy now” allows customers who have their credit card number saved in their online payment system, the transaction can happen in literally the click of a button, making the business more money, faster!

Other Online Payment Features and Tips 

Online payments also allow for businesses to offer bulk orders or purchase multiple of one product. In the case of Naked Winery, they do just that: https://www.nakedwinery.com/Shop/Wine. As you can see, the shop allows you to choose specific quantities and buy more at a time. 

It’s also very important online to create consumer confidence and show the buyer that your business is legitimate, allowing them to feel more comfortable buying your products online. Stemmler Meats does a good job at this by thoroughly outlining their services. Now, people who visit their site understand exactly the type of trustworthy company they are buying from.

To learn more about tips and tricks for business or news for college students take a look at https://www.uwiretoday.com/.

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The Best College Jobs 2020

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When you’re in college, you have to balance a lot of things including going to class and spending time with friends. Some students sleep in really late after a night of partying, while others go without sleep to finish projects. One thing that rarely gets mentioned when you’re enrolling in school is what kind of job you should have. Even many scholarship students need to work in order to pay for housing, food, and textbooks, while the vast majority of students need to work to balance the amount of loans they take out.

There are numerous factors that make for a great college job.

  1. The first thing to look at when finding the best job for you is the schedule. You’ll want to find a job that is flexible for your school schedule and doesn’t require a time commitment that you just can’t commit to.
  2. The pay is important, but so is the relevance to your future career field and experiences necessary.
  3. While working in a call center might provide great money for the time invested, finding a job in a medical office would be more relevant if you’re looking at applying for medical school.
  4. The location is also important: you want something that’s easy to get to, and many students elect picking a job on campus purely for its convenience.

Let’s look at some of the job opportunities available to you when you’re in college.

1. Freelancing

Freelancing is the new way for people to work. Large numbers of the workforce have moved from holding traditional jobs to freelancing. This means you’re not tied down to a 9 to 5 job, and it can offer a variety of experiences in your future career field, especially when you do something like writing. Depending on what you do, there could be great money in it. Some people write blog posts for $100 for something that might only take a couple of hours to write.

2. Working in the Library

The library is often a central location at school and working there provides some great opportunities. You’ll learn where everything is and can make pretty decent money, depending on your school. There’s also the fact that you can get in good with the other library staff members, which can make finding resources or ordering materials go in your favor when you have a big project due.

3. Front Desk Staffer

This can be anywhere from working in the dorms to working at the front desk of a fitness center. These jobs often come with downtime, and you may find yourself having a little extra time to study while you’re earning a paycheck. Especially when you’re working on campus, you can meet new people and potentially learn new things while you’re working here.

worried woman behind books

4. Tutor

There are endless options for working as a tutor, so if you’re an expert in a subject, get ready to make some money. You can tutor in a variety of places, from teaching students in grade school off-campus to working with other college students that need help in a course you’ve already excelled in or even teaching the English language to new learners. Like other forms of freelancing, there’s also the gig economy. You can sign up to tutor through online sites, such as Chegg Tutors, and work solely online through an online learning platform. You’ll often make good money, and you can usually set up tutoring times around your busy schedule.

In Summary, keep this in mind while looking for a job while in college

There are lots of different job opportunities for college students. Make sure you check on campus, and you can even ask around in your school department to see if there are any job openings. Oftentimes, professors need research assistants or lab assistants, and there’s no reason why it couldn’t be you if you’re qualified for the job.

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How Social Media Can Affect Your Ability to Get a Job

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When you’re joining the so-called real world and getting a job, one of the things many companies and employers look at is your social media. This can be hard to imagine, especially after four years of school, where many people post pictures of themselves with their friends doing all sorts of crazy things: zip-lining on vacation, heading to concerts, drinking… Did you know that your potential employer can look through all of those pictures you have posted, and it might even make an impact on whether or not they hire you?

Some managers will send job seekers friend or follow requests on social media. They may also Google you and see what comes up. Many times, these managers are interested in learning a bit more about you, from your likes and interests to what you do in your free time. They may also look for key things that could make them not want to hire you.

Complaining about Your Job, Boss, or Customers

This should go without saying, but you never want to put your complaints out there in writing where others can read it. Future employers may see that you have badmouthed your current or previous employers and not want to hire you. There’s also the fact that if you’re complaining about your job, you might not like it, and employers want to hire people who are going to stick around.

Complaining about customers is another big no-no. Even if the customer was in the wrong, you don’t want to showcase yourself as possibly immature or bring bad light to the company you’re working for.

Posting Photos Partying and with Alcohol

While many people understand that drinking is common as you age, some companies don’t want to be associated with alcohol. School systems are another big group that don’t want their teachers sharing pictures of wine or beer on their social media in case parents or students see them and think the behavior is acceptable. If you like to party with your sorority or friends, make your photos private even while in college. You never know when someone might be looking at them.

co-workers cheers a drink

Never Post Slurs or Tasteless Comments

Offensive comments are another major no-go. Anything from racial slurs to inflammatory comments can be used against you at work. If you’ve already gotten a job, it could even cost you the career you have in front of you. It’s good practice to keep inflammatory opinions to yourself, and it’s especially important to keep those comments from being posted online, where they can be seen by millions, including your future boss.

Practicing Proper Grammar

Did you know that using texting language could be used against you when you’re up for a new job or promotion? Employers look at poor grammar and spelling in a negative light, even when it is online. There’s no telling if you don’t actually know how to spell properly or if you’re just messing around because you can only use a certain number of characters on Twitter.

In Summary, Keep this in mind on how social media can affect your job

Social media can be a benefit to people when used appropriately, allowing your future boss to see that you share common interests, for instance. But all too frequently it can be used against you, if you use it to complain about people or post inappropriate pictures. Practice good judgment anytime you post something online, so it can’t be used against you.

student looking at laptop chewing pencil

How to Get a Job After College

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You’ve worked for it for at least four years, through midterms, final exams, and research projects that took up hours of your time. The perfect job after college. How do you achieve this goal that might seem so impossible, especially when you realize how many other people are competing for that particular job, as well. There are some key tips you can utilize to be successful in getting your dream job after college.

Start Planning Now

According to Forbes, too many college students are waiting until the spring of their senior year to start looking at career options and dream jobs, and that might be too late. Starting in the fall of their senior year, or even earlier, is one of the main keys to being successful. It gives you time to research companies, prepare portfolio pieces, build a strong graduate CV and acquire internships that may lead to career opportunities.

Develop an Online Presence

No, your Facebook page is not what we’re talking about here, although all of your social media should reflect a version of you that is looking to get a job: no drinking or partying photos up on Instagram. What this means is that you set yourself up with a webpage that can showcase your talents. If you’re looking to go into finance, why not start a blog and catalogue the ways you’ve saved money through college and your goals for paying off student debt? You should also start a LinkedIn page and make connections with people in the field you’re looking at entering. This is a great way to network before you’ve ever left college.

Find Internships

Internships are a great way to prepare you for future job prospects. It’s even better when you can get internships with major companies, particularly within your field. This brand recognition can be the key to opening lots of doors for you post-graduation. If you do a good job during your internship, you might even qualify for a job with the company. Working hard at an internship or multiple internships is a major key to landing a job after college. It doesn’t matter if you’re fetching coffee or helping develop reports.

Stay in touch with the contacts you make during your internships; they might come in handy down the road. One of your contacts may become your mentor, and you should keep your eyes open and make connections that will lead you to finding a successful mentor in your field. Too often students rely on parents or family friends, but if they’re not in your career field, their mentorship is going to be limited.

 

workplace group meeting

Take Advantage of the Career Services Office

Most colleges and universities have a Career Services Office, but too often students don’t use it. Depending on your school, they may offer help in developing your cover letters and resumes. Another major advantage is many schools have an alumni database that they can connect you with. You may find someone who attended your school who is willing to be a mentor.

The Career Services Office may also offer job and internship leads. This can be a great resource for students to look into, and all too often it is under-utilized. When preparing for your job interview, check and see what the office offers in the way of interview prep. You may find someone who can help you through mock interviews, so you can put your best foot forward.

In Summary

Finding a job is challenging for everyone, especially new grads looking to enter the workforce. The sooner you get started on preparing for job prospects, the better your chances are of landing your dream job. Start making connections early and line up internships at companies in your career field.

Resources

https://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2012/11/12/6-things-you-must-do-to-get-your-first-job-after-college/#5b42b5297f74