What if you were told that you burn calories even without exercising?

Oftentimes, when we think of burning calories, we think of hitting the gym, dancing the Zumba, jogging in the park, and busting out the Wii Fit. We fail to realize that everything we do that requires movement of the body actually burns calories.

If you’re a waiter, at the end of the day, you’ve burned some mega calories running back and forth from kitchen to table and back again for hours and hours. You’re a stay at home parent? Chasing after kiddos, playing catch and roughhousing burns calories! Everything does!

Is vacuuming every day going to turn you into a sports calendar model overnight? Nope.
But it WILL help you stay on track with your diet, especially if you’re logging your caloric intake. If you’ve discovered that you’re about to go over your daily calorie allowance by noon – then it’s time go out and rake some leaves.

So, if the word “exercise” makes you wanna run… the other way… no worries. Here are 30 realistic and “non-exercisey” activities that you can do (or do MORE of) that will burn 100 calories.

Dancing – 20 minutes

Vacuuming – 25 minutes

Gardening – 30 minutes

Do the week’s ironing – 40 minutes

Raking the leaves – 40 minutes

Washing your vehicle (wax and clean out the inside for more burn!) – 30 minutes

Fidgeting (yes, fidgeting!) – 1 hour 30 minutes

Light housework (dishes, dusting, sweeping, etc) – 20 minutes

Grocery shopping – 30 minutes

Serious cookin, (making everything from scratch and prepping everything by hand with no fancy gadgets) – 40 minutes

Give someone a massage – 25 minutes

Sit in a Sauna – 15 minutes

Rough house with this kids – 25 minutes

Chop wood – 15 minutes

Take a long nap – 1 hour 25 minutes

See Also: 7 Easy Tips on How to Get the Perfect Nap 

Rearrange a room – 15 minutes

Play pool (billiards) – 35 minutes

Bowling – 30 minutes

Making Love – 30 minutes

Laughing – 1 hour 18 minutes

Play Scrabble with friends – 2 hours

Go fishing – 25 minutes

Play table tennis (ping-pong) – 25 minutes

Singing – 40 minutes

Putt-Putt Golf – 30 minutes

Walk the dog – 25

 

Sit on an exercise ball – 1 hour

Chew gum – 1 hour 40 minutes

Walk to work – 20 minutes

Drink 4 glasses of ice water. You body will burn up to 25 calories trying to warm the water when it enters your body.

See Also: 6 Ways to Lose Weight (and Still Have Fun) 

 

The post 30 Unusual Ways to Burn 100 Calories Without Exercising appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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Being called The Welsh Bridget Jones at the age of 25, is that a compliment or an insult?

Will I end up 43 years old dancing around my living room in a onesie singing love songs to my Bengal cat?

Or more importantly, will I find my Mark Darcy?

I date quite a bit, more than the average woman- just because I guess I can? I have no commitments, no ties and there is always a possibility of free food. However, my dating history has been one that my friends just could not believe. I was aware the guys I dated were unusual, weird to say the least so that every date I have been on deserves to be written about.

See Also: 7 Secrets for a Successful Long Distance Relationship 

For about 6 months, I had been speaking to this guy “Alex” who was in the middle of traveling the world.

He would FaceTime me or ring me most nights of the week, sending me flowers for my birthday and telling me how much he wanted to see me when he got back.

I’m going to be honest here- I was dating other people… Obviously?

He was 2937261 km away. A girl’s got to keep her options open.

Anyway, 6 months of texting back & forth… Countless boring as s**t photos received of mountains, clouds, and castles (I get it.. You’re traveling), he finally comes home. I go to meet him and bring my puppy. Now, ladies, everyone knows that a puppy is extremely beneficial when it comes to dates.

We go for a walk down the beach. I’m dressed up, got ma hair did, and strappy top (it’s f*****g freezing as it was in the middle of October) and I’m cursing myself while the sea air frizzed up my already afro hair.

From my point of view, the date goes 8/10. My dog farts on his lap but I found it funny even though he was dry heaving the majority of the way home.

Now… I’ve spent SIX months being pretend-faithful to this dude. I’ve been listening to him talk about every single thing he did in his day. I rarely get a chance to say anything because he speaks about his trip for the entire 240 minutes we were together.

We get home and he pies me off. I get this text. He doesn’t want any sort of commitment. He wants to go “traveling” again. Of course he bloody does!

So I’m raving, tamping, fuming obviously.

A month goes past… Anyway who the devil pops up. Mr. Waste YO time.

I didn’t reply.

It’s been 7 months. He hasn’t gone traveling.

Moral of the story. Don’t spend 6 months talking to a dude traveling who doesn’t appreciate dog farting humour.

See Also: The Dos and Don’ts of a First Date for Men 

The post Worst Dates Series #1: The Traveling Guy appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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This is my story of how I was finally able to develop healthy eating habits.

Emptiness enveloped me once again. Visions of chocolate cake and double cheeseburgers ran through my head. As the stress and sadness of the day took over, it compelled me to binge once again destroying any hopes I had that the day would be a healthy eating day.

I remember feeling like this for years. I would wake up from overeating (pizza, cheeseburgers, and cake) the night before feeling horrible. I constantly had diarrhea and low energy. I also could not lose weight no matter how many times I went to the gym. Emotional pain and despair ruled my life. I knew there was a way to improve my life I just did not know what or how.

How you can stop this vicious cycle

We, as humans, need to be connected with one another. Living in an emotionally isolated desert for so many years, I am proof that this is true. Having a support system and network to help you meet your goals and intentions is the only way that you can succeed with living a healthier life.

You have already decided to make your health your number one priority. Now all you have to do is to surround yourself with people that take their health seriously as well. While no one but you can control what you put in your mouth, you are more likely to eat healthy if you feel loved and supported.

For many this may be the missing link

I remember when I first started out in trying to take control of my life and my health. I was so confused. Everything was so new and I did not know where to start. I would be frustrated and hungry. I was afraid to “lose” my lifestyle change.

Some of my coworkers would say, “Are you one of those gluten free freaks now?” This would make me feel and respond defensively at first. Then I began to say, “Not having gluten has really made me feel so much better. I’m not so sick all the time.”

Habits to form once you are on your healing path

Now that we have talked about all of this change and getting support in our lives, how can you start?

I recommend just taking one small step.

This may mean having more veg than starch on your plate for dinner or skipping dessert all week and just eating it on the weekend. Whatever change you want to implement, make it small enough to manage but big enough to create a result.

Another suggestion would be cleaning out your fridge. Freeing it of junk food will make your food decisions easier. We humans tend to take the easier path. So if it is easier to eat a steak and an arugula salad ( which you now have on hand), than walking to the burger place or waiting for delivery, 8 times out of ten we will take the easier option. If you design your life so that healthier food is easier to get when you are hungry, more than likely, that is what you will go for.

Putting a system into place where healthy food is more accessible is a great place to start. You will be amazed at the results. You will lose weight and have more energy in a short period of time. Eating whole and unprocessed foods that appeals to you is the best way to accelerate your success.

See Also: How to Find Time to Cook Healthy Meals 

Feedback you may receive as you transform

Before I fully committed to constantly improving my health, I would receive a lot of negative comments.

I remember working out really hard for 3 months. Then my mother would put me down saying, “wow Jerome your cheeks are so plump”! and my aunt telling me, “Your shirt is waaaaay too small. You need a large, not a medium. Look how your stomach sticks out.”

You can only imagine how those words made me feel. I felt so small and insignificant. I felt terrible about myself.

After I fully committed to better health, the feedback I would get went more like “omg Jerome, every time I see you, you look better and better” and “Jerome, you are like disappearing!”

I was not really disappearing or starving myself. I just had more energy and was less inflamed. I was evolving into my true body weight and overall look. My happiness skyrocketed and my stress plummeted. This continues to this day. You can never stop improving.

Being kind to yourself is the fastest way to rapid progression

Since you are reading this article, I know that you are on the warpath to make immediate changes. Just remember that you have spent years and years eating and behaving one way and now you are completely doing the opposite.

You will experience setbacks. Try to not let this upset you. Having setbacks is a normal part of the growing process.

Remember that you are fully committed. Insignificant setbacks will not ruin the whole process. Time is your friend. Over time you will see massive positive results from all of your hard work.

People may judge you and put you down

You have complete control of your destiny. If anyone tells you differently, have awareness around how they made you feel then make a rational decision about how you will proceed with the relationship.

You absolutely deserve to be around people that fully support you and your lifestyle changes. You will more than likely face opposition from other people, but just remember that they’re really just projecting their own insecurities onto you.

It has nothing to do with you and everything to do with them. People can be quite hurtful and you may feel as though you want to give up. Every time you rise and go forward, you just get that much stronger.

Only you have the power to take action

As I mentioned earlier, support is key in starting your journey towards your healthiest self. Let your support network know that you are excited about the changes you are making. The challenges ahead may require more support than you are used to or may expect to need.

If you are having difficulty with some aspect of your transformation, try to not keep it bottled up. This may jeopardize your success making you feel isolated again. Remember, there are always people out there willing to support you.

I never knew how fast and far I could go in just a few years with improving my health. I now know it is possible to live my best life on this plane. Never let anyone tell you otherwise. With support, lasting change will come easily and naturally for you.

Remember, I am always here to provide you with support in your goals.

I would love to hear your stories. We can all grow by sharing each other’s stories towards absolute greatness!

See Also: Four Simple Ways to Teach Your Kids to Say “NO” to Junk Foods

 

The post How To Develop Awesome Eating Habits Without Failing And Binging appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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What better way to live than having fun and being productive at the same time? Fun productivity techniques enable you to both enjoy the moment and be more productive for the rest of your life.

I’ve tried out a lot of productivity techniques and all of them ended up boring, even for productivity nerds like me. These 4 are the exceptions, though.

Here are 4 fun ways to improve your productivity and focus:

Make Everything Into a Challenge to Motivate You

This is my favorite technique when I’m going through a huge list of chores or boring work stuff. I make the list into a fun challenge — a game.

Do you say it’s impossible to turn your drudgery into entertainment? Not so. We just need a goal, a reward, and competition.

First, define the goal and the time you have to complete it in. Set a timer showing a challenging amount of time and then start the clock.

Next, you need to identify the reward to get you going. Some rewards may include:

– Watching a guilt-free movie
– Eating a snack
– Spending an hour on your hobby

After you’ve done it a couple of times, you can set out to beat your previous high score. See? It became almost as fun as a real game.

Look at Cute Baby Animals to Improve Focus

Yeah, this was a real study. Researchers presented pictures of baby animals to test subjects. The participants who looked at pictures of baby animals outperformed the ones who didn’t in tasks requiring attentional focus.

So, it isn’t a simple waste of time to look at baby animals. Before doing any work that requires focus, glance at some photos of baby animals in blogs or Reddit.

See Also: 5 Techniques for Increasing your Focus in 5 Minutes 

Increase Your Writing Speed by Playing Typeracer

Learning to type faster (touch typing) can save you thousands of hours in your career. The average typing speed is about 40 words per minute (WPM). Increase that to 80 WPM and it halves your typing time. I’ve done that very thing with TypeRacer.

TypeRacer is an online game where you race against other players also trying to increase their writing speeds. You are using cars but it instead of fuel, they’re powered by typing. The faster you can type the quote shown, the more likely you are to win. For gamifying email, I suggest The Email Game.

TypeRacer is addictive because you want to beat the other players, your high score, and get into the top list. When I introduced it to my friends, they didn’t even think it was a productivity technique. A dozen people started playing when they had their break!

Spend More Time on Your Favorite Things by Taking Breaks

I probably don’t have to convince you that it’s fun to do whatever you find really fun. It’s actually extremely productive to take a break doing just that when your work performance starts to drop. The break then lets you recharge and get back to your desk focused. And there are even more benefits.

As long as you don’t do pseudo-work *cough* email *cough* you can spend time on your favorite hobby, gossip to your colleagues, or read an awesome book. My personal favorite is to relax by taking a walk outside. My favorite tools for scheduling those breaks are the chrome extension Toggle and the iPhone app Focus Keeper. Set the timer, work, and break when it rings.

Living an enjoyable and productive life is one of the best things you can do and I think these techniques can help you do that. Make everything into a challenge, look at baby animals, play the TypeRacer game and spend more time on hobbies by taking breaks. I hope you have a lot of fun improving your productivity.

See Also: 10 Productivity Musts for Freelancers 

 

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If you’re like most people, the sight of an airport security line stretching all the way to the door makes your stomach drop.

In the past, you could show up a couple of hours before your flight and still have time to grab lunch before takeoff. Now, you’re left daydreaming about chips and salsa while waiting in a standstill line.

While long airport lines are an annoyance when you’re traveling for pleasure, they can be truly detrimental when you’re flying for business. After all, you don’t want to miss an important client meeting because you got held up in security. So what’s going on, and how can you avoid the worst of it?

Waiting for Trouble

Lines are expanding for a number of reasons . People are flying more than ever before, security threats are at their most public, and problems within the Transportation Security Administration itself (including management, strategy, and staffing) have prevented an adequate response so far.

In spring 2016, TSA reported a shortage of labor and more intensive searches because of increased security risks, causing lines at airports around the country to swell. Some airports have gotten so frustrated with the agency that they’re actually threatening to terminate their contracts and return their security procedures to private contractors. Lines that used to be unusually terrible have become routine, and rush hour at the airport today can take hours to navigate.

The bigger the airport, the worse the blockage seems. If you’re flying out of LAX, take along a snack. This airport averages 40-minute waits, and the longest delays last nearly two and a half hours. Not everywhere is terrible, of course. Places like Palm Beach International and Tampa International in Florida whisk their travelers through security in about 10 minutes.

Still, that doesn’t help someone flying between LAX and LaGuardia for business, so the question remains: What can savvy travelers do to avoid the longest lines?

Work Around Rush Hour

Friday afternoons are especially bad for airport security: Waits can double when business travelers head home and leisure travelers head out. Start your trip a day earlier, if possible, or grab dinner in your departure city before catching a later flight. With the lines as long as they are, you’ll probably get home around the same time anyway.

Get Prechecked

Two primary programs exist for frequent travelers: TSA PreCheck and Global Entry. TSA PreCheck puts you in an expedited line that typically takes less than five minutes. One pass is good for five years and costs just $85. If you fly with any frequency, having one will make life much easier.

If business is across the pond, Global Entry is the way to go. Not only does it include all the benefits of TSA PreCheck, but it also lets international travelers skip most of the lines when returning to the country. Global Entry costs $100 — just a bit more than TSA PreCheck.

See Also: Things You Didn’t Know That Occur While Traveling 

Lounge Around

No one ever accused airport terminals of being comfortable. However, an airport lounge can make any airport wait feel at least semicomfortable. Some premier credit cards offer lounge passes as perk to members, or you can purchase a one-day pass if you don’t travel frequently enough to justify a long-term membership.

Go Against the Flow

If you’re near a major airport and a smaller one, see whether you can route through the smaller one. Long Island MacArthur Airport in Islip, New York, doesn’t have all the amenities of JFK, but the security lines are significantly shorter on most days. It’s probably not worth it to work out a complicated route just to go through a different airport, but if all else is equal, going small can save a lot of time.

Utilize Social Media

Airport Twitter feeds and crowdsourced sites like WhatsBusy are a godsend when it comes to dodging lines. If your local airport recommends arriving earlier today, listen. You never know when arriving an hour earlier could be the difference between a 30-minute and a 90-minute wait. And wouldn’t you rather spend that extra hour sitting down?

See Also: Must-have Apps for Women Who Love to Travel Alone

Perfect Your Screening Routine

Frequent travelers should already have game plans for going through security, but it never hurts to evaluate your routine. Slip-on shoes, easy-open backpacks, and mostly empty pockets go a long way to ensure a smooth trip through the metal detector. If you’re not sure whether something will be admissible as carry-on luggage, check online before your flight and save yourself the hassle.

You can’t get rid of security lines entirely, but these steps can eliminate most of the headache and keep you sane before takeoff. Hopefully, things will return to normal soon, but until then, follow this advice to make your trips through security as short and simple as possible.

 

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A car is an important purchase. If you need an affordable car, you should purchase a used car. Used vehicles are reliable, and some used cars have aftermarket accessories.

There are several things to consider when buying a car.

Choose a Maximum Price for a Used Car

You need to decide how much you can afford to spend on a car. If you do not set a maximum price, you might go over your budget.

Years ago, buying a used car was a complicated process. Fortunately, several things have changed in the used car industry. Most used cars have warranties, and many used cars are in great condition.

Use Car Finders

When you visit a car finder website, you can find tips for buying a used car. You should use the comparison tool on the website. You can find detailed information on the vehicle’s interior and exterior. If the car is a newer used car or truck, the vehicle may still be listed on the manufacturer’s website.

Select a Few Cars

Make a list of used cars that are within your budget. If you want to save money, you should consider several brands.

You should compare at least four vehicles. The dealership might not have your first choice, but the dealership might have other vehicles that fit your criteria.

See Also: What Science Says About The Car You Drive 

Locate Used Cars in Your Area

When you know what type of vehicle you want to purchase, you should start searching for local dealerships. If you live in a large city, there might be several dealerships in your area. You should search for dealerships within a few miles of your location. If you have any questions about the vehicle’s history, you should contact the dealership. All new and used motor vehicle dealerships must give consumers accurate information.

Test Drive the Vehicle

You should check the lights and windshield wipers. The dashboard should not have any illuminated lights. If any red lights are on the dashboard, you should let the car salesman know about the issue. A mechanic can let you know if the lights are a small or large issue. You should also check the mirrors. You should look for blind spots. You need to be comfortable while you are driving, so you should make sure that the seat is not too firm. If you are short, you may need adjustable seats. You should also inspect the tire tread and tire pressure.

Bring a Mechanic to the Dealership

You may want to have a mechanic look under the hood for additional peace of mind. In addition to inspecting the car, a mechanic knows how to buy used car accessories.

A professional car dealer should not have a problem with you seeking a second opinion. Some dealers will allow you to take the vehicle to a mechanic. If the dealer allows you to take the car to a mechanic, you will have to pay for the inspection.

See Also: How to Find a Good Mechanic in the Age of Social Media

Use Car Brokers

If you cannot find the perfect used car, you should use a car broker. The broker can help you find the best used cars to buy, and he can give you used car buying tips. Some brokers will help you negotiate the price. A broker usually charges a percentage of the used car price or a flat fee.

Complete the Paperwork

If you are financing the vehicle, you should have a clear understanding of the contract’s terms and conditions. You should sign the paperwork when you are satisfied with the price.

 

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Smaller businesses have a slightly more difficult path to success than others. To achieve success as a small business, you’ll need to do everything you can to ensure its growth. Various steps need to be taken, but there are also some tips and tricks that you can use to give yourself an edge.

In any case, this article will teach you how to ensure the growth of your small business and how you can keep it on top for a long time. After you’ve read the article, you’ll have some extra knowledge up your sleeve that will definitely benefit your small business.

Let’s start!

Developing an effective & efficient small business framework

The usual frameworks that work with big businesses can actually offer some insight for smaller businesses, but there are a couple of problems. Small businesses don’t necessarily need to grow constantly to be able to operate. Also, big businesses don’t need to spend a lot of time managing the start of their existence, while small businesses have to. Developing an effective & efficient small business framework is imperative to its survival.

Specialize in one thing & give your best

You won’t get far if you try to do everything at the same time, especially if you don’t specialize your business in one thing. Most businesses that try to achieve multiple things end up burning to the ground.

Don’t multitask because you will have to divide your resources and attention to multiple things and that isn’t good. Pick one thing and give your best by constantly working towards improving your business and the service/product it offers!

Partner with another small business

It’s understandable that most people want to work alone, without interference. This is mostly true for big businesses as they don’t need to partner with others except in the case of an emergency or an expansion.

Consider partnering with another small business as you will both get a boost in the number of customers and you’ll be making more money. Explain your business goals to the other business owner and discuss the terms for partnering. This also builds up trust, so you’d be wise to do this.

Using checklists

Checklists are fairly necessary when it comes to managing a business because they let you gain insight into your clients’ needs plus you’ll be able to get a better perspective on what needs to be improved regarding your business. Even though it might seem redundant at first, checklists are important, and they shouldn’t be overlooked. So, invest in making a great checklist for the business.

Become a leader in the industry

Once you’ve set your business up correctly, strive to become the industry standard. Lead by example and show others that you are a leader. It will not only help your own business in getting more efficient and recognized, but you’ll also gain the respect of other business owners that may look up to you. Provide the industry with something new and provide it in a special, interesting way. There are many things you can do when it comes to this so be creative!

See Also: 3 Easy Ways To Reclaim Your Power As A Leader 

Boost up your e-mail marketing

E-mail marketing has somewhat fallen out of favor, but it’s still a very powerful and important tool in marketing. Social media is currently the base platform for advertising, but e-mails are just as powerful.

Try not to send generic emails all the time because people get bored of them quickly. Think of new ways you can promote your business through e-mails and you’ll start seeing an increase in clients!

See Also: 8 Top Marketing Tips for Small Businesses 

 

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One of the major challenges faced by corporations nowadays is developing an office layout that promotes employees’ mental and physical health, as well as motivating them towards greater productivity. Developing such an effective office layout should be done by management and office administration at various levels.

 

A good company knows that workers are humans and not robots. Extra effort is needed to keep them satisfied and happy at work. Studies show that a well thought-out office design helps to enhance employee performance and productivity.

So how does your business define productivity? Is it generating more leads? Working faster? Or, coming up with creative ideas?

In this article, I’ve compiled a list of fundamental office design elements that affects an employee’s work performance.

Provide Thermal Comfort

You might not have thought of it but the first thing that matters the most in any work environment is the thermal comfort. Employees struggle when the office is too cold or too hot.

It’s very crucial to provide thermal comfort to your employees. It can be done by maintaining the right combination of temperatures, humidity, and airflow.

Create A Noise-Proof Environment

When you talk about office design problems, noise is possibly the most relevant. Researchers revealed that exposure to prolonged noise leads to serious health ramifications. It isn’t surprising that many employees are negatively impacted by noise, and hence his or her performance at work.

On the other hand, some people work in open offices, and they perform their tasks happily in the midst of hustle and bustle. In the end, it depends on a person’s comfort level and the environment that an employee works best in.

So, while designing the office layout, you have to keep these things in mind:

• Try to develop separate areas for quiet, individual and collaborative, noisy work.
• Always ensure that employees with similar job responsibilities sit at the same place.
• You can also offer noise cancellation headphones to employees as well.

Access To Sunlight

It can be so demotivating to work in a windowless or a soulless working environment. Natural light plays a significant role in the well-being of a human. Having wide windows taht look out onto open spaces will inevitably create a positive effect on the employee’s work performance and also help in reducing stress.

So, while designing the office layout, you have to keep these things in mind regarding natural light:

• Try to use the glass partitions for maximum light transfer.
• Set up an outdoor area for employee break time.
• If feasible, go for office spaces that have windows that can be opened.
• Decorate your office space with plants.

Get The Right Aroma

Do you think that smell doesn’t impact the employees’ work performance? Studies show that scent always plays an active role when it comes to the fulfillment of the workforce.

For instance, a study conducted by the biggest fragrance manufacturers in Japan, Takasago revealed that typists made lesser mistakes depending on the scent they smelled. Lemon, jasmine, and lavender fragrances caused employees to make 54%, 34%, and 20% less mistakes respectively.

 

So, you have to keep these things in mind when it comes to scents in the workplace:

Always have good quality air fresheners in your office space as these scents bring more than one benefit to performance. For example, lavender calms, lemon encourages focus, and jasmine contributes to developing feelings of optimism, confidence, and energy.

See Also: 5 Steps to Creating an Inspiring Workplace 

Choose The Right Color

Now comes the color of the office. Color is an imperative factor in leaving a positive impact on an employee’s work performance.

Here are some facts:

• Bright colors – As per several studies, bright colors are related to concentration and accuracy.
• Blue – Blue is linked to calming effects.
• Red – Red is linked to a feeling of energy and strength
• Yellow – Yellow is connected to attentiveness and vigilance
• Orange – Orange is related to an increase in enthusiasm and self-esteem

So, consider colors when planning your office layout such that:

• Use colors strategically in areas where you want to invoke certain moods.
• Make office spaces look brighter with the help of light colors.

See Also: How to Organize Your Writing Workplace for Better Productivity

 

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Do you run an online business? If you do, you probably already know that for most websites, only 2% of visitors convert into customers at their first visit. Due to this reason, retargeting is an intelligent and cost-efficient way to make yourself visible to the other 98% that don’t make any purchase on their first visit.

For those who are new to online marketing, the terms retargeting and remarketing seem to have the same meaning. Even though the two terms are often used interchangeably, there is a big difference between them.

What is retargeting?

Let’s start by explaining what retargeting really is. Basically, retargeting works as a base of a marketing automation software that helps you target your visitors, study their browsing behavior, segment your audience and send personalized messages in order to convince them to make a purchase.

Technically speaking, a browser cookie is dropped every time a person accesses your website. Once he leaves your site, this cookie will then facilitate the sharing of messages while he continues to visit other websites, inviting the visitor who wasn’t converted yet to get back to your site and buy something.

This is actually a great online marketing strategy because you can target specific visitors who have shown interest in your products and services. It increases your chances of getting a purchase from an already-interested audience.

Retargeting vs Remarketing

While many online marketers refer to these two terms to describe the same idea of reaching those 98% of visitors who leave your website without making any purchase, the truth is that they are not one and the same. The big difference lies in the strategy of reaching your audience.

Remarketing relies on a marketing automation software that uses cookies to drop ads, while retargeting primarily uses email. Retargeting refers to email campaigns that are related to cart abandonment, upsell/cross sell emails, or lifecycle marketing emails.

Even if they have a different approach, both remarketing and retargeting are very effective marketing instruments so a combination of these two for a bigger marketing campaign is recommended.

See Also: 8 Common Content Marketing Myths You Should Stop Believing

How effective is retargeting?

If you are still not sure about retargeting, you should know that it can provide a 400% boost of ad response. People often see retargeting as a form of online stalking, but research concluded that only 11% of users see it as irritating, especially if the retargeting campaign is not run properly. Companies that used retargeting had a 50-60% higher conversion rate among visitors that were retargeted.

A strong online marketing strategy allows you to efficiently use these marketing automation tools to maximize your return on investment. Therefore, retargeting should be part of your general marketing strategy and should not be used independently, considering that marketing automation tools provide the best results if they work together.

See Also: The 5 Internet Marketing Trends That Will Dominate in 2017

 

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We all have our passions. But what if you could turn what you love doing most into your livelihood? What if it could actually make you money?

There are many benefits to setting up a company around your hobbies and interests. Starting any business is likely to take you through a rollercoaster of emotions – excitement, frustration, happiness. Anyone can set up a new company – but only a few individuals have the key formula of attributes needed to stick to it and make it a success. When you love your business, this becomes a lot easier.

In this post, we’ll teach you how to access your entrepreneurial side and start turning your passion into a business model.

Do Your Research

You may be passionate about certain things but how much do you know about the industry and commercial landscape? Any successful business is built upon extensive research and know-how. Gathering this information will alert you to any gaps in the market, the big names to look out for, and the sales strategies that have and haven’t worked in the past.

Networking at any stage of the business is a useful tool, so if you can, speak to the success stories in your area and find out how they started. Think of this as your own personal “advisory board.” The more varied opinions and information you can gather, the better.

For example, if you’re setting up a new clothing line, speak to other apparel brands, consumers, designers and buyers. Knowing as much as possible before entering the game will place you ahead of the curve and give your business the best chance of succeeding.

See Also: From Startup Idea to Successful Business: 7 Questions to Ask Before You Pursue That Venture

Just Get Going

“I don’t have the time right now,” or “Next year will work better.”

It’s easy to put off doing things until a later date especially if those things are as big, important and unfamiliar as starting your own business. But if you keep putting it off again and again, realistically, when are you going to get around to doing it?

There’s no time like the present. Start off with step one, above, which will make you feel more informed and comfortable with what you’re doing. After that, there’s nothing left to do but jump in and start making history.

Of course, it’s likely that at some point, you’re going to use what you’ve learned along the way to make some changes to your business model but this is inevitable and shouldn’t discourage you. Herein lies the most important benefit of starting a business around something you love – you’ll always have the enthusiasm and passion to keep going when the going gets tough.

Choose The Right Team

Make sure that the people you bring on board to share in your business journey are not only as excited about your product or service as you are, but that they also share the same vision. Pioneering a start-up is not always a glamorous business, particularly in the early days, when it involves mainly long hours and little money. You need people who are as determined as you are to make your business a success, to ensure that they stick beside you through thick and thin.

It’s also a good idea to use your team to strategically fill in any skills gaps you have. Big picture person? Choose a business partner who’s into the details. If you’re good with numbers and sales figures, look for someone with a creative background who can effectively market your small business.

The more skills you apply to your idea at the outset, the more you’ll see it flourish. This will also allow you to delegate the tasks which aren’t exactly your strengths, freeing up your time to work at what you love.

See Also: How to Save Your Startup by Hiring the Right People 

Don’t Be Afraid To Break The Mold

Studied theater at school, but now thinking of setting up a floristry shop? Don’t worry. It’s no big deal to change your career path at a later date. In fact, it’s healthy to objectively evaluate your life and make positive changes where things aren’t working.

Similarly, acknowledge at the outset that there will be some naysayers. The more unique and innovative your business idea, unfortunately, the more people there will be to tell you it won’t work.

If you’ve done your research and are passionate about your idea, don’t let this discourage you. People’s intentions may be good, but in the end, you’re the only one with the power to make your business thrive. Letting doubt and negativity cloud your judgment will do more harm than good. Surround yourself with people who support and believe in your project.

It’s Time To Talk Funding

We’ll be honest. It can be an expensive gamble to set up your own business. If you don’t have significant capital to begin with, you’re going to need to look for ways to raise some cash, and at this stage in the process, it’s necessary to get creative with money.

When pitching to investors, you’ll need to produce all of the hard work you’ve put in so far: your research, your business plan, your expert team. You’ll be forced to cheerlead your company and justify your choices – which can really help you to solidify and refine your business idea.

To raise funding, piggyback on the conversations already happening out there in the industry. Look for Facebook groups and forums which might already be looking for a solution just like yours and gather information on the funding opportunities out there. Consider initiatives like Kickstarter to rally support and raise interest.

To save money in the beginning, start small. Call in favors when you can. Work from your home. Look for creative solutions to financial obstacles.

It may feel tricky now, but earning a living from doing something you love? That’s priceless.

 

The post Five Steps To Turn Doing What You Love Into A Successful Business appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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