Monthly Archives: April 2023

Branding Expert Evan Tynan Explains Why All Businesses Need Good SEO

Most small business owners have heard of search engine optimization (SEO). However, about 70% still need an SEO strategy in place. Branding expert Evan Tynan explains why failure to pay attention to this all-important marketing tactic can have enormous ramifications for any small business. He also offers insight into simple yet effective ways any business owner can improve his or her SEO without spending a lot of money.

Over 80% of shoppers learn about a product online before making a purchase, Evan Tynan says. If consumers are still looking for a company online, they are likely to wait to buy it. The internet plays an all-important role in brand recognition, as consumers are more likely to purchase a brand they know about than an unfamiliar brand. At the same time, more is needed to have an online presence simply. The overwhelming majority of consumers won’t bother looking past the first page of search results, and the first three results on the page receive far more views than results further down the page. SEO boosts a business owner’s standing on Google, boosting brand recognition, website visits, and sales.

At the same time, Evan Tynan says general SEO differs from what most small business owners need. Instead, local outlets should focus on local SEO. This means boosting a business’s standing in search results related to one’s immediate area. For instance, a local restaurant specializing in selling seafood won’t benefit if people who don’t intend to visit the town see the restaurant’s website. However, it can benefit significantly if local people and people visiting the town can easily find the restaurant’s website. Tynan points out that it’s easy for a small business owner to improve local SEO. Some easy ways to do this include claiming a business’s Google My Business listing, adding a location page with a Google Map to the business website, creating local content, and using local keywords when creating PPC advertisements.

Evan Tynan explains that taking measures to boost a business’s local SEO will only sometimes show instant results. However, he accurately notes that it is a tried and proven way to boost a business long-term. A good rank on Google’s search engine will generate brand name recognition, boosting website traffic and sales. As a growing number of customers come to the business, they will tell others about the business on review sites and social media. This will generate even more brand name recognition and sales. Even a company that does not sell goods or services online would use SEO to its fullest potential, as it can lower marketing costs while increasing a company’s customer base.

William Collins Key Factors That Drive Real Estate Development

As a successful real estate developer, William Collins knows the benefits of investing in both residential and commercial real estate. From single and multi-family apartment complexes to mixed-use retail/residential, warehousing, public storage, and fulfillment centers, real estate is still a passive investment that can bring an annual return off the financial investment of between 6% and 12%.

Real estate investments should represent a significant portion of an investor’s wealth. Even a homeowner’s investment in their home will likely have a greater value than their savings account, says William Collins. Consider the following 3 factors that can drive the success of your commercial real estate investments.

Factors to Consider for CRE Investing

Demographics

The location has always played a significant role in the value of the real estate, both residential and commercial. The composition of a population, which includes age, race, gender, income, migration patterns, and especially population growth will determine the area’s demographic.

Use demographic information to guide your real estate choices. William Collins suggests you avoid investing in neighborhoods that are seeing an exodus of residents and businesses. But, factors like income, age, race, and gender can always be used to guide you on the type of commercial real estate to invest in. It may be low-income housing construction, senior residential units, or a new strip mall with high-end retailers.

Interest rates

A major impact of investment opportunities is how much interest your financial agents are charging you for the construction project or major renovations to current structures. When interest rates rise, the cost of obtaining a mortgage loan or personal loan increases, lowering both the demand and the price of real estate.

William Collins suggests sticking with a real estate investment trust (REIT) that can bring a return similar to bonds and stock market returns when it comes to interest rates. When interest rates decline, the value of bonds and REITs will typically increase.

“REITs’ reliable income is derived from rents paid to the owners of commercial properties whose tenants often sign leases for long periods of time, or from interest payments from the financing of those properties.”

The Economy

The overall health of the economy will always be a good way to choose your CRE investing paths. Some important economic indicators include the GDP, employment data, manufacturing activity, the prices of goods, etc. But, keep in mind that when it comes to the US economy, it is very cyclical, which makes timing more critical than ever.

William Collins suggests that any real estate investor be cognizant of current and trending economic conditions, both locally and globally.

Even when the previous 3 factors are affecting the US commercial and residential real estate markets, you can still count on a bolster from federal and/or state policies, subsidies, tax credits, and your own tax deductions.

Dominion Expediting President Riccardo Cervini on Five Ways to Accelerate The Building Permits Process

Delays Can Be Costly

The time necessary to obtain a building permit can dramatically affect a project’s timeline. Unfortunately, the process often requires more time than project managers foresee, says Riccardo Cervini, president of Dominion Expediting & Consulting Corp. Delays can be costly. However, builders and developers can increase their chances of faster approvals by taking a few steps, Cervini says.

Know Your Local Government

Riccardo Cervini notes that delays often occur because the project fails to comply with local building codes and zoning regulations or because someone has filled out the application incorrectly. Understanding the requirements in your jurisdiction can help you file correctly. Meeting those in the local permit office ahead of time also can help you connect with the right person along the way.

Be Organized

Starting the process well beforehand helps, preferably before your offer to buy the property is accepted. Find out what is involved in obtaining the permit and develop a plan to complete each step. Then check off each step as you complete it. Keep in mind to always do your homework before getting involved with a developmental project; this will help you save time and money.

Schedule the Land Survey As Soon as Possible

Most building permit applications for exterior work require a site plan showing the building relative to the property line. You’ll need a land survey to determine the property line accurately.

Limit Your Focus

If you are managing many projects at once or one that crosses several jurisdictional lines, try focusing on one project and one jurisdiction at a time. You must submit one customized application for each project in each jurisdiction. Riccardo Cervini explains that focusing on the requirements for that project or jurisdiction will keep you organized, prevent you from feeling overwhelmed, and be faster in the long run.

Hire A Professional

Expediting companies or consulting firms can help accelerate the process. They already understand the building codes in each jurisdiction and have contacts in the permits office. They also know the process and handle all the paperwork from start to finish. They deal with the red tape and stress with local municipalities, so you don’t have to. An experienced and seasoned firm such as Dominion Expediting & Consulting Corp will streamline your permitting process. Keep in mind that hiring the right company for your developmental project is money well spent.

3 Business Tips For People Over 60

As you start to get older, you may notice some shifts happening not just within your body, mind, and personal life, but in the ways you work as well. If you own or operate a business, you may have to make some adjustments in how you do things. This is to be expected! Over the course of 20, 30, or 40 years, you will age and change and so will your industry. Evolution is a part of running any business, and sometimes it can be a little uncomfortable. If you’re in need of some fresh advice, here are 3 business tips for people over the age of 60. 

Don’t Get Stuck In Your Ways

Just because you’ve been doing business a certain way for a long time doesn’t necessarily mean that that’s the best way to do things in this day and age. Evaluate yourself and your practices and compare them to similar businesses in your area. Assess whether you’ve seen any steady decreases in profit in recent years and if so, consider why that might be. 

Try not to be too elitist or get stuck in your ways and refuse to change. Every successful business owner knows that they need to change with the times in order to keep up and stay relevant! 

Have A Plan For Retirement

Whether you’ve already reached retirement age and are considering retiring soon or you’re just trying to plan ahead for the future, having a plan for retirement is important for anyone but even more so if you own or run a business. There are a lot of decisions to be made, such as whether or not you’re going to do a “soft retirement” where you gradually cut down on hours before leaving entirely. 

You’ll also need to choose who your successor will be – as in who will run the business after you retire. This may be one of your adult children, or a trusted colleague who you know will do a good job. Most people don’t suddenly stop caring about their business just because they’ve retired, so knowing it will be in good hands will help give you peace of mind so that you can really enjoy your golden years. 

Listen To Your Body

As people age, it’s very common for their minds to still feel young and sharp while their bodies begin to slow down and deteriorate. You may not be able to move as quickly or work as many hours as you used to, and that’s OK! Remember to listen to your body and if something is too much for you, ask for help or make proper accommodations. 

Aging is a part of life and reaching your 60s definitely doesn’t mean life is over in any way! Hopefully these tips can help you to adjust the way you do business in a way that works for you – now that you’re a little bit older. 

Tips for Hiring a Professional Freight Unloading Service for Your E-commerce Business

Freight unloading is the process of removing cargo or goods from a container, truck, or other modes of transportation, and if you’re an e-commerce business owner you know the importance of logistics in the supply chain process. There are several methods of freight unloading. As all of these methods require careful planning and coordination, you want to hire an experienced freight unloading service or risk your cargo being mishandled and delivered too late if at all. 

Here are some tips to help you choose the right service for your e-commerce business.

Research and Compare 

Rather than hiring the very first service provider that comes up, when it comes to hiring an unloading service you want to do research and compare. This is because different services have different strengths and weaknesses and by comparing you can find one whose strength matches your business’s specific needs. 

You can start with a simple internet search of online directories like Google Maps, or Yelp. Consider finding industry-specific directories as well. Alternatively, you can ask other e-commerce businesses or industry contacts for recommendations on reliable unloading services.

Once you have a list of potential hires, narrow down the list by reading reviews and testimonials from previous customers on the service provider’s website or other online review sites to gauge experience, quality of service, reliability, and professionalism. When reading reviews, try to find a balance and be cautious of reviews from biased sources or ones that are all from a single source.

Check for Licensing and Insurance 

Accidents happen and regulatory compliance is there to protect so it’s essential to check that licensing and insurance are not just existent but up to date when hiring a freight unloading service. 

Specific licensing requirements vary, but generally, a license indicates that the service provider has met certain criteria and is authorized to perform the services they offer and without insurance, you could be held liable for any accidents or damages that occur during the unloading process. You can check licensing and insurance by asking for a license number and insurance policy information and then verifying this information with the appropriate regulatory agencies or insurance companies. Or you can ask for proof of insurance and licensing to be provided to you directly.

Discuss Pricing 

Of course, money is a priority for any business so it’s a good idea to ask for quotes to discuss pricing as soon as possible and before any agreements are signed. 

When discussing pricing with a freight unloading service, it’s important to understand the factors that can impact the costs. For example:

  • Type and size of goods that may require special equipment or handling techniques
  • The distance needed to be traveled to the unloading location 
  • The time frame, such as requiring the service provider to work outside of regular business hours
  • Additional services required such as sorting, labeling, or packaging 

By considering these factors, you can choose a professional freight unloading service that meets your e-commerce business’s needs and ensures the safe and efficient unloading of your goods.