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Why Start a Business When You Can Buy One? Here’s What You Need to Know.

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Let’s explore the many benefits of buying a business vs. starting one from scratch.

The process of starting a business from scratch can be very daunting and time-consuming. There are many things to consider, such as business structure, marketing, R&D/product development (if you’re creating something), raising capital, finance, legal matters, etc. One of the first things you need to look at when starting a business is simply the amount of money it’ll take to get the business off the ground. For many people, it can be difficult to come up with or raise the initial investment needed to start a business from scratch.

Let me be clear here, I’m not advocating against anyone starting a business or anyone building a new company at all. I’ve conceptualized at least 15 or so different business ideas and was able to bring a handful of them to life, although many didn’t get off the ground or even go to market for that matter.

I think all entrepreneurs, at some point in time, should get their hands dirty in creating something from scratch. I think most will probably conceptualize an idea or two that they want to take to market because it may be the next greatest “thing,” in their specific target marketplace, and they’ll have an awesome learning experience doing so — and some will inevitably achieve the success that they imagined they would.

The many benefits of buying a business

With that being said, though, I think that the notion of buying an existing business may be a much better option both from a fiscal responsibility standpoint (and pragmatically, for that matter). When you buy a business, you’re acquiring a customer base, established systems and processes, potential assets (physical and digital) and much, much more!

Another reason buying a business makes sense is that you can usually get it at a discount. This is because businesses often sell for less than their actual value, since the owner(s) may be motivated to sell quickly due to personal or financial reasons. And lastly, an existing business comes with an established reputation and goodwill, which can save you a lot of time and money in marketing and advertising costs.

These factors alone can give you a significant advantage over businesses that are starting from scratch. But the key to success in purchasing a business is finding “the right business” to purchase. It’s subjective, I know, but there are some general frameworks that you can use to guide you and aid in your journey to evaluating and eventually closing on your first business acquisition.

There are more businesses for sale today than there are buyers

As you may or may not know, businesses for sale have grown exponentially in the last decade. There are many reasons for this, including the current state of the economy, retirement and quite a few others.

Business owners are facing financial difficulties in some instances and are unable to continue operating their businesses. While it may not seem like a good thing, in a down economy, there is an opportunity for those looking to purchase a business. I’m not suggesting that it’s a time to take advantage of someone, but I am saying that you can acquire businesses for fair prices, in some cases, well under market value.

There’s a significant cohort of business owners who are about to enter or seeking to enter retirement. They may not have family members or children to pass their business on to, so in some cases, businesses simply go out of business or cease to exist. Herein lies an opportunity, for you, as someone seeking to become a business owner.

It’s easier for existing businesses to generate cash flow

Simply put, cash flow is the lifeblood of any business, big or small. It’s the money coming in and going out, and it needs to be managed carefully to ensure the business is healthy and profitable.

It is generally easier for an existing business to generate cash flow than for a startup business or brand-new company. This is because an existing business typically has revenue streams from customers and other sources, while a startup or new company may not yet have any of those things. An existing business should be generating income through existing channels or specific sources that it currently employs.

Increasing cash flow is just as important as reducing expenses when it comes to boosting profitability. A business can only grow if it has enough cash on hand to invest in new opportunities. Remember: Increasing cash flow is essential for long-term success in any business.

You’re purchasing a proven model

When you’re starting a business, one of the inevitable questions that you’ll be asking yourself is “How am I (or how are we) going to make money?” Fortunately, this isn’t necessarily one that you’re going to have to answer if you’re buying an existing business. Existing companies typically have proven revenue models. This means that they’ve successfully sold and continue to sell its products or services. The repeatability of this model is what you’re looking for when you’re purchasing a company.

A startup business, on the other hand, may not have a proven revenue model because it has not yet sold its products or services. This can be due to a variety of reasons, such as the company being new and therefore having no track record, or because the products or services are not yet ready for market. Either way, a lack of a proven revenue model can be a major obstacle for a startup business.

There are many reasons to buy an existing business instead of starting one from scratch. Perhaps (as I’ve mentioned), the most compelling reason is that you’re buying a proven business model. The riskiest part of starting a new business is figuring out whether your business model will actually work and be profitable. With an existing business, you know that the business model works and that the business can be profitable.

Hopefully, I’ve inspired you to jump-start your journey toward acquiring your first existing business! Remember, you need to completely educate yourself in business before you start trying to acquire them. There are inherent, built-in risks associated with business ownership that so many fail to recognize or understand. This isn’t meant to discourage you, it’s simply to let you know that the details really do matter in business, so don’t overlook them!

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Sourced from Entrepreneur

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Not Succeeding? You’re Trying Too Hard, Says Top Tech CEO

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By Adelia Cellini Linecker

Some company founders talk about the brilliance of their business idea. But not Zendesk CEO and co-founder Mikkel Svane.

“Our concept was … very mundane,” Svane told Investor’s Business Daily. “We took something that we thought was over engineered and too complex … and made it simple and fast.”

Seemingly simple inventions that make life easier spark revolutionary business change, says Svane, 48. And finding such inventions is Zendesk’s (ZEN) guiding principle through its 12-year history. “We tried to hide the complexity of (products) from our users. Empowering people to do things better and more easily can be transformational,” he said.

What is Zendesk’s seemingly simple invention? The San Francisco-based company sells software that companies use to manage customer-service call centers and websites. It offers service and support in over 30 languages to businesses worldwide across a multitude of industries, with more than 145,000 paid customer accounts.

Zendesk’s financials prove Svane’s strategy is working. Zendesk is on pace to earn $37 million this year, excluding one-time items, up 62% from 2018. And revenue is set to hit $814 million, 36% higher than in 2018. The company has matched or beat consensus earnings estimates the past 19 quarters. And the stock? It’s up more than 450% since its first-day of trading in May 2014, topping the 68% gain by the S&P 500 during that time.

So how did Svane take Zendesk from its humble beginnings in Copenhagen, Denmark, to Silicon Valley success?

Zendesk CEO: Take The Long View

At the startup stage, Svane and two other Zendesk founders burned the midnight oil in cramped quarters for years. Each had needs — related to money, family and career — that pulled them in different directions at various times. Navigating those early rocky years without sinking under pressure is essential for startups.

“Founder dynamics is one of the most complicated things when you build a company,” Svane said. “I think you can look at every single company with multiple founders, and they all struggle with it. Everybody has their quirks and everybody has to find their role. Everybody has different things that motivate them and different needs to be able to function.”

Svane says he often hears about these challenges when he talks to young founders.

“They feel that one person is not working hard enough or that person is just here on vacation,” he said. “You can’t dwell on that. It’s really important in the early phase that you give each other room. Everybody understands that it’s not a competition and everybody at some point will have their opportunity to shine.”

Hire Wisely

In his book, “Startup Land,” Svane explains Zendesk’s unconventional hiring strategy. First, he says, the company looks for “athletes.”

“I think of athletes as generalists vs. specialists,” he said. “We like people who really show interest and are curious … They are constantly asking: How can I also do this? Can I also be good at this? They have this curiosity and they want to try everything. People who have many skill sets and can master many disciplines. We also need people who realize that just because they know one thing they don’t know everything.”

He looks for frequent travelers as potential employees. They’ve explored, moved around and are typically good at figuring things out. Women, mothers, in particular, are also great workers because they are used to multitasking. People who are OK with swearing also get his nod. Why? “People who get ruffled by bad language will probably have trouble rolling with all of the other less than perfectly pristine moments,” Svane wrote in his book.

Diversity, too, is important to Svane. Tech companies can become a “posse of young white men in jeans and hoodies,” he wrote. “A diverse workforce enables the company to make sure no predominant group sets the tone. Instead, the company finds its own common tone.”

Believe In Your Team

Analysts who follow the company say Svane’s leadership style is crucial to its success. Patrick Walravens with JMP Securities, says Svane hires the best people he can find and let’s them do their job.

“He does not like to manage … he likes to lead,” Walravens said. “He doesn’t like running meetings … he doesn’t like telling people how to do their jobs. (And) he wants to hire people who are better than he is, he wants to give them a little bit of direction, and then let them go.”

Steve Koenig of Wedbush Securities agrees Svane’s focus is on providing guidance and avoiding micromanaging.

“His leadership style involves planting really great people around him,” Koenig said. “He orchestrates the vision; the team around him carries out the execution. His style is loose and free form; (the management team) provides the button-down execution.”

Zendesk CEO: Create A Culture Of Empathy

As intense as working at Zendesk can be, Svane is acutely aware of the flip side of his success. He doesn’t need to look far to keep him grounded, he says. Outside the doors of Zendesk’s offices in San Francisco’s Tenderloin district lies a world vastly different from the often charmed existence of its employees.

“In Silicon Valley we can get very much into ourselves,” Svane said. “What we do can get very important. And we often forget about things that are right outside our doors. I think being here has changed the tone of the company.”

Looking outside, “We realize that there is a different world. It’s not just about smart software and fancy water and massages and joggers. There are people with real problems with real issues that have nowhere to go in this neighborhood. And I think it brings a sense of humility in the conversation and openness and patience and trying to understand things.”

Lead By Example

Svane leads by doing. “Paying lip service to diversity and inclusion initiatives perpetuates a cycle of discrimination,” Svane wrote in an article for Entrepreneur Magazine in May 2018. “To develop a truly inclusive and compassionate company culture, change has to happen from the top down, with the C-suite leading the charge.”

Svane was writing about the time several years ago when he took his daughters on a tour of the South with the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus. They performed in cities where typically marginalized people would have had a hard time expressing their stories. Svane says the experience taught him a few things about the power of empathy and how Zendesk can have a positive impact in communities.

“In every city we land, my employees and I commit to being good neighbors and embracing the community with empathy and compassion,” he wrote. “We commit to connection. We commit to becoming a part of the fabric of the places we are a part of.”

Svane says creating a culture of empathy is not only good for individual growth but also good business. It motivates him to stay focused on maintaining the trust he’s worked hard to build among customers.

“I think (empathy is) good for the longevity of the business; that we understand that this is a journey and … realize everything we have is something that can easily be taken away too,” he said. “That humility gives us what it takes to get up every morning, get to work and work retain the trust and business of our customers.”

Zendesk CEO: Take Failure Seriously

Intense awareness can come across as fear of failure. And Svane is almost counterculture in Silicon Valley when it comes to his views on failure. He makes a clear distinction between making mistakes and failing. Sure, mistakes can be learning experiences, and you should not be afraid to make mistakes. But failure is a different story, he says.

“Truly failing is really hard,” Svane said. “You have to disappoint your employees … you have to disappoint all your customers. (And) you have to disappoint your investors. You have to disappoint your family, your friends, everyone around you. Starting all over is incredibly hard.”

True failure is not something Svane commends or celebrates. “It’s not something we should take lightly,” he said.

Svane’s Keys

  • Co-founder and CEO of Zendesk, which sells software that companies use to manage customer-service call centers and websites.
  • Overcame: Humble beginnings and conflicting demands while launching the company challenged Svane and his fellow co-founders.
  • Lesson: The best business ideas and products are simple. Don’t over complicate your business or career.
  • “I think (empathy is) good for the longevity of the business; that we understand that this is a journey and … realize everything we have is something that can easily be taken away too.”

Feature Image Credit: Mikkel Svane, CEO and co-founder of Zendesk. (Zendesk)

By Adelia Cellini Linecker

Sourced from Investor’s Business Daily

 

 

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7 Habits of Successful Entrepreneurs According to Venture Capitalist John Steuart

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By Bruno

John Douglas Steuart is a venture capitalist and successful entrepreneur, but he didn’t become one overnight. He attributes much of his success to his education and experience through decades of hard work.

Countless hours building teams and perfecting his business strategies led him to become an expert on entrepreneurship. He recently discussed seven habits he believes helped him succeed and can help others too.

1. Research, Research, Research

When interviewers asked Steuart how he brings ideas to life, he commented that research is an absolute must. He explained that all entrepreneurs already have passion and knowledge, but they must research extensively to support their ideas also. Research leads to well-thought-out decisions.

2. Create a Passionate and Collaborative Team 

Steuart explained that his team is one of his greatest assets. He emphasized the importance of ensuring everyone has space to contribute and nobody is afraid to share ideas. Partnering with fellow great minds can quickly turn ideas into reality.

“There’s nothing more exciting than when my team comes up with a new solution to improve healthcare services and technologies,” he said. “They create real answers to problems and make people’s lives easier when they are most vulnerable.”

He stated that a great leader should know and collaborate with everyone on the team. All team members have different skill sets, and a combination of everyone’s best assets creates an unstoppable force. Entrepreneurs can never do everything independently, and acknowledging that is a significant step toward success.

3. Always Stay Up-to-Date

Steuart keeps himself updated on the latest technologies, business trends, and what’s happening in other parts of the world. He encourages entrepreneurs to commit themselves to lifelong learning and constantly bettering themselves. He added that it doesn’t always have to be through schooling, but improving oneself can be as simple as reading a book about leadership or productivity.

4. Believe in Oneself

There is a solution to every problem, and Steuart believes solutions are in every individual. He expressed the importance of not giving up on oneself even when the hurdles of entrepreneurship seem too large.

“Never be afraid to go for a goal that you think is worth the risk,” he said. “You never know the difference a single leap of faith can make on your future.”

5. Persevere With Passion

John Douglas Steuart helps entrepreneurs reach their business and personal goals. He believes he couldn’t have achieved his current level of success without steadfast perseverance and continuous passion.

He explained that being smart, a great leader and an excellent communicator are traits that help individuals create successful businesses, but passion and perseverance are even more important than book smarts.

6. Be Okay With Failure

All entrepreneurs will face some failure, but all setbacks can be less catastrophic with an excellent support system. Steuart emphasized the importance of an entrepreneur ensuring they have enough knowledge, resources, and support to deal with setbacks like failed products or even bankruptcy.

One of his most significant failures was in 1993 when he filed for bankruptcy for a healthcare product that never took off. He explained that he learned an important lesson about researching the potential market and creating products or services that appeal to a large class of consumers. His support system, knowledge, and extensive research allowed him to pull through the setback and onto bigger and better business options.

7. Always Prioritize Health

John Steuart explained that a person could not successfully run a business if they’re not in good health. He wakes up early each day to exercise and eat a healthy breakfast before sitting down to work. He firmly believes that health is wealth, and a healthy lifestyle with sufficient rest is a critical factor in success.

John Steuart and Entrepreneurial Success 

Steuart co-founded his first company, Savvy Properties, after graduating college in 1988. What started as a small company providing affordable housing options to students grew into a major real estate company serving Berkeley, Albany, North Oakland, Pinole, East Bay, and Emeryville.

He then moved on to invest in the Alafi Capital Company, leading the company into profitable investments as the Chief Finance Officer. Following Alafi, he helped co-found Cybergold, then Claremont Creek Ventures.

Steuart remains a part of Savvy Properties and is now enjoying life as a semi-retired businessman, overseeing the work of his well-established teams. He prides himself on providing hundreds of job opportunities for the community of Berkeley, California, and far beyond.

By Bruno

Sourced from INFLUENCIVE

 

 

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3 Things Every Entrepreneur Can Learn From Failure In Business

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By Jesse James

When it comes to the entrepreneurial journey, learning is the pathway to success. That learning usually comes from failure. No entrepreneur likes to fail, but the fact is most do.

Some very successful entrepreneurs of yesterday and today experienced failure and learned from it on their way to success:

  • American inventor Thomas Edison tried thousands and thousands of times to invent the electric light bulb before eventually succeeding.
  • Walt Disney’s first animation company, Laugh-O-Gram Studio, went bankrupt, but Disney went on from there to create an entertainment empire.
  • Steve Jobs, cofounder of Apple, was fired from the company in the mid-1980s but was hired back in 1997 and led the company to meteoric growth.
  • Author J.K. Rowling submitted Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone to 12 publishing houses, which all declined to publish it—now more than 120 million copies of this book have been sold.

These are just a few examples of famous entrepreneurs who experienced failure on their way to success.

Statistics bear out that failure and setbacks are common on the road to business success. Consider that data collected by the SBA from 1994 to 2019 shows that approximately 68% of new enterprises survived at least two years, and after five years the new business survival rate dropped to less than 50%.

While failures may be a given in the entrepreneurial journey, failure is not fatal. Successful entrepreneurs learn from their mistakes and apply these learnings to the pursuit of their dreams. Some of the most important things these and other entrepreneurs learned from failure in business include how to be resilient, fearless, and adaptable.

What we can learn from failing in business

Resiliency

Failure teaches entrepreneurs the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties, which is the definition of resiliency. With every failure, entrepreneurs can learn tenacity and perseverance (think Thomas Edison), two key characteristics of resiliency that are critical for pushing through missteps and fighting the urge to quit.

Research shows how important resiliency is to business success. A study conducted by researchers at Smith School of Business at Queen’s University followed first-time entrepreneurs over a period of two years as they developed, launched, and operated new enterprises. The study found that resilient entrepreneurs viewed business setbacks as puzzles they were fully able to solve and tackle. The researchers noted that entrepreneurs who had this “challenge appraisal” mindset “were more motivated and able to be proactive in identifying ways to improve business processes and outcomes, and to adjust them on the fly.”

The study also found that resilience was a crucial skill that helped entrepreneurs respond to unexpected challenges and that businesses owned by resilient entrepreneurs were more likely to survive than other businesses.

Fearlessness

Embarking on a journey of entrepreneurship is a risky proposition and is full of uncertainties that often elevate fear of failure and rejection. These fears can stop aspiring entrepreneurs from facing risk and pursuing their dreams.

A Zapier-commissioned Harris Poll survey found that approximately three in five Americans (61%) have had an idea for starting a business, and about a third (34%) have had more than one. The survey revealed that an overwhelming majority of those people—92%—did not turn their ideas into a business. For 33% of survey respondents, fear of failure is what stopped them from pursuing their dream of entrepreneurship.

Entrepreneurs who have failed learn first-hand what Winston Churchill meant when he said, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” With this perspective, entrepreneurs no longer allow fear to stop them in their tracks. Instead, they view failure as an opportunity to learn from mistakes and use what they learned from failure in business to move forward despite their fears.

Learning from adversity is what helps take the fear out of failure. Devoting time to analysing what happened, why it happened, what worked, and what didn’t provides the clarity and insight required to determine what changes need to be made to achieve success. The knowledge and practical experience that comes from failure inspires a fearlessness and confidence in entrepreneurs that drives them to try again and again.

Additionally, the fear of rejection often prevents entrepreneurs from even trying. Jia Jang’s 100 Days of Rejection Therapy challenge truly puts this into perspective. Without even trying, many will simply write something off as impossible because they’re scared of being told “no.” However, Jang’s experiment showed that the worst thing that an entrepreneur can do isn’t asking for something they might not get—it’s not trying at all.

Adaptability

Failure is also a lesson in adaptability. When one idea or approach fails, entrepreneurs must be able to adjust to new conditions and be willing to experiment and test new ideas. Embracing change, staying nimble, and pivoting are part of the adaptability that helps entrepreneurs overcome obstacles, learn, and innovate. When industries, markets, and customer preferences change, this adaptability also helps entrepreneurs navigate these new situations and problem-solve to make an idea work or come up with a new one.

Netflix is a good example of a company that adapted its way to success. Founded by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph in 1997, the company’s first business model centred on allowing consumers to rent and buy physical DVD movies. In 1999, the company added a subscription offering that allowed people to rent as many DVDs as they wanted, receiving rentals in the mail. The company adapted its business model again in 2007, moving away from physical media to take advantage of new technology that made it possible to stream content instantaneously via the internet.

Sometimes you need to fail in order to succeed

Of the more than 31 million entrepreneurs in the United States, many have experienced failure on their road to success. They have tried and failed, and likely failed a few more times during their journey. These failures are far from fatal. Entrepreneurs who learn the lessons of resiliency, fearlessness, and adaptability from failure in business are able to conquer obstacles and setbacks to achieve success.

Michael Jordan captured this idea well when he said: “I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times, I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

Feature Image Credit: getty

By Jesse James

Jesse James is Director of Strategic Partnerships and Solutions at VizyPay. He is 15-year veteran of sales, sales leadership, and entrepreneurship. He was previously Director, Recruitment Services at DHI Group, Inc and Chief Revenue Officer at FiQore Technologies, Inc. Connect with him on LinkedIn.

Sourced from Forbes

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How Do People Find Your Blog? With Tips to Keep Them Coming Back

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By Steve Allen

Can you imagine starting a blog and having no one read your articles?

Maybe you’ve already written some, but you’re unsure how people will find them.

In this post, I’ll show you all the places people can find your blog and what you can do to improve your blog’s exposure.

You’ll learn:

  • How to get seen on social media including YouTube and LinkedIn
  • Increase your visibility on search engines like Google
  • Get more traffic from other blogs
  • Get visitors from forums and Q&A sites like Reddit and Quora

The best part?

You’ll know exactly how people can find your blog AND how to keep them coming back, convince them to join your email list, and transform them into loyal followers.

Let’s dive right in.

How Do People Find Your Blog on Google?

People will find your blog on Google in two ways:

  1. Organic results
  2. Paid results

Paid results are shown at the top of the page, like this:

And organic results show below:

To get your blog to show up under a paid search result, you’ll need to join the Google Ads platform.

It works by listing keywords you want your blog to show up for and paying Google each time someone clicks on your ad.

The cost of clicks will depend on your niche and the competition of the keywords you choose.

On average, ads get clicked 19% of the time compared to the rest of the page.

Organic Results

If you want Google to display your blog posts in the organic search results, then you need to optimise your blog for Search Engine Optimization (SEO).

Organic results are free, but will take longer to show up.

To get the most organic blog traffic, you’ll want to show up in position one.

Here’s a breakdown of how many people click through the organic search results:

And here’s how you do it.

  • Then make sure you include your keyword in article titles and throughout the post.
  • For best results, publish as much content as you can around the same topic.

This will build up topical relevance for your entire blog and help you rank more of your articles higher in Google.

Another way to optimize your blog to increase your rankings is to get backlinks from other bloggers (more on this later).

How Do People Find Your Blog on Facebook?

There are four places people will see links to your blog on Facebook. They are:

  • Pages
  • Groups
  • Ads
  • Search

Facebook Ads

Like Google, Facebook ads are a great way to get your blog seen and result in more traffic.

You’ll need a page and an Ads Manager account to post ads:

An ad with the goal of sending people to your blog will cost money each time someone clicks on the URL.

Again, the costs will vary depending on a multitude of factors, but you are in complete control by setting a daily budget.

Facebook Search

Another way people can find your blog on Facebook is through the search feature.

If someone is searching for a topic relevant to a blog post you have shared on your Facebook page, they can be shown in the results.

Like this one here about growing tomatoes:

The more Facebook posts you share on your page and the more you optimize the post with the relevant keywords, eye-catching images, and engaging copy, the more traffic you’ll get from Facebook search.

Facebook Pages

Facebook pages are another excellent way to help people find your blog, build a social media following on Facebook, and drive more traffic.

Once you have a Facebook page, follow these tips to grow your engagement and drive tons of traffic to your site.

  • Post high-quality posts that grab your followers’ attention. The more engagement, the better.
  • Video has been on the rise in recent years, so why not turn your blog posts into videos and share those on your feed?
  • Recycle your best-performing posts.
  • You can also boost posts with an ad to kick-start your engagement.

Facebook Groups

Facebook groups are great for building a loyal community on Facebook and getting your blog seen by more people.

The best way to grow your reach in a Facebook group is to share a ton of value without always posting links to your blog. This will get the conversation going with other members and they will soon start promoting your stuff for you.

Then every so often, let them know about new articles to get more eyes on your blog.

Learn more about how to start a thriving Facebook group here.

How Do People Find Your Blog on YouTube?

There are quite a few ways people can discover your blog on YouTube.Here are the most effective places to link to your blog content:

  • In the video description:
  • Links in video cards:
  • In a pinned comment:
  • The end screen (you can place YouTube videos and other links here):
  • Your channel profile banner:
  • Your channel about page:

It’s a good idea to add a link to your blog and specific articles in these areas whenever you have the opportunity.

Then, you can focus on posting videos on your channel and using the YouTube algorithm in your favor to grow your engagement and reach.

Here are some ways to get the algorithm on your side to grow your channel:

Check Other Content to See What’s Already Performing Well

This helps your videos show up in the suggested sidebar when people watch videos similar to yours.

To find out what’s already performed well, go to a similar channel to yours and look at their videos with the most views.

Then open up a few of them and see which videos show up in the suggested section.

Creating videos like the ones suggested will help your own videos show up there.

Optimize Every Video

To increase the chance of your videos showing in search results, optimize your videos.

You can do that by talking about topics that people are searching for, including the keyword in the title, and saying the keyword and related terms in the video itself.

Also, make sure you add relevant keywords to the tags box under the advanced option of every video.

Niche Website Management

Keep People Engaged Throughout the Video

This is possibly the most effective way to grow your channel quickly because YouTube wants people to stay on the platform for as long as possible.

You can do this by starting your video with a pattern interrupt, a Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) technique that shifts a person out of their current state and helps them focus on what you’re saying.

Tell the viewer exactly what they’ll learn in the video early on and give them an incentive to stick around to the end.

That could be a gift you want to offer them or something insightful they will find interesting.

How Do People Find Your Blog on TikTok?

Did you know people can find your blog through your TikTok account?

It’s true.

Unfortunately, the only place you can put a link to your blog is in your bio. Not only that, but you need a business account and 1,000 followers.

There is another way to create a clickable link though, which is covered in another article called How to Add a Website To Your TikTok.

To get your first 1,000 followers so you can add a link in your bio and help people find your blog, you’ll need to post high-quality posts frequently.

Check out How to Make a Viral Video on TikTok to learn how to grow your following.

How Do People Find Your Blog on Pinterest?

There are just two places to link to your blog on Pinterest.

Standard Pins:

And your profile page:

But how do people find your blog when using Pinterest?

Like all social networks, the Pinterest algorithm determines the best content to show its users.

If you want to increase blog traffic with Pinterest, then you can improve your reach by optimizing your Pins and posting regularly.

To add your blog URL to your profile, edit your profile and enter it under the website option.

Then, linking to a blog post happens automatically when you or someone else shares your content on Pinterest.

Alternatively, you can include your blog post link when creating Pinterest Pins manually.

How Do People Find Your Blog on Twitter?

On Twitter, people can find your blog through the Tweets you post and from the link on your profile page.

Your profile:

In a Tweet:

It’s important to remember that people who use Twitter or any social network will need to grow their following to help people find their blog more frequently.

To grow your following on Twitter, follow other bloggers or influencers who are in your niche and comment on their posts with valuable insights.

The people who follow these accounts will soon start following you and find your blog that way.

People can also find your blog posts when searching for topics on Twitter.

The more you post relevant content that is well optimized, the more you’ll show up in the results.

How Do People Find Your Blog on LinkedIn?

LinkedIn is the social media site for B2B professionals and business owners.

You can send traffic to your blog by placing a link on your profile page and in posts you share.

Also, make sure you create a company page for your blog because you can add a link here as well.

Then, you’ll need to grow your reach and engagement by posting content on the platform.

You can do this from your personal and company profiles. Provide original content that your connections will find useful and you’ll generate a steady flow of blog traffic.

How Do People Find Your Blog on Forums and Q&A Sites?

Want to get more traffic with Reddit or Quora?

These are also great sites where people can find your blog.

Reddit is like a modern day forum where people can discuss almost every topic under the sun.

You can create an account, add your blog URL in your bio, and join subreddits in your niche. Then share things that the users will appreciate. Some people can get thousands of visitors using Reddit.

Quora is a question-and-answer site that has become extremely popular in recent years. Instead of people having discussions on Quora, users ask questions, and bloggers, experts, and thought leaders answer them.

You can be one of those people who answer questions, sharing your perspective on topics related to your blog.

Then add a link to blog posts you’ve published that expand on the topics.

How Do People Find Your Blog Through Other Blogs?

So far, we’ve looked at all the ways people can find your blog through social media and Google search results.

But how do you get a steady flow of traffic from other blogs?

There are several ways to increase your visibility and traffic through blog marketing.

Blog marketing involves getting other bloggers to link to your content. When their readers see a link to your article, they will click through to your blog.

Here’s how you can do it.

Other Bloggers Linking to Your Content Organically

This is the most organic way to get consistent traffic from other bloggers.

The best way to accomplish this is to focus on creating quality content on your own blog.

Then, link to other bloggers’ blog posts and reach out to them, letting them know you linked to them. Some will soon return the favor and link back to your blog.

Guest Post

Another way to get links from other blogs to your blog is through guest posting.

This is where you create an article for another blogger in your niche for a link back to your blog.

Podcasts and Interviews

A little known strategy for getting links back to your blog is by being a guest on another blogger’s podcast.

They will usually link to your website, which can help grow your blog readership.

How to Get People to Read Your Blog Posts?

You can ask people to read your blog in direct ways without being pushy. The key is to write influential words that develop trust and motivate people to take action.

Here are three tips for getting people to notice your blog and read your content.

1. Focus on Great Content with Tons of Value

Learn how to create blog content and develop a consistent publishing strategy.

Make your articles as valuable as possible so your audience will read for longer and want to join your email list.

2. Hook Them with Your Titles

No matter where people see a link to your blog, you’ll need to grab their attention. To do that, use catchy headlines on social media and in email subject lines. Also, optimize your SEO titles to get more traffic from Google search results.

3. Ask Them with a Call to Action

Most people are busy and easily distracted, that’s why it’s important to prompt them to take action at every opportunity including in your social media posts, in your bios, in your blog post introductions, and in your emails.

People have doubts and need motivation to take action, so tell them what you want them to do. They will appreciate the confidence in you and see you as a leader they can trust.

Conclusion

How do people find your blog? Well, this post provided you with tons of ways – through social media, Google search results, and even places like Reddit.

Ideally, because you want people to find your blog, the most effective way to get seen in the long run is by publishing quality articles and increasing organic traffic.

Then you can focus on other means of traffic when search traffic is steady.

 

 

By Steve Allen

Sourced from Niche Pursuits

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A phishing campaign is spreading brand new malware targeting Facebook users

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By Sead Fadilpašić

Ducktail updates its arsenal with new weapons

Ducktail, a known phishing campaign that hijacks Facebook accounts running advertising campaigns for businesses, is now distributing a brand new infostealer malware.

According to researchers at according to Zscaler (opens in new tab), Ducktail previously used LinkedIn to distribute a piece of malware written in .NET Core that would steal Facebook Business account data stored in a web browser and exfiltrate it into a private Telegram channel which acted as the malware’s command & control server (C2), communicating with target systems to coordinate cyberattacks.

Now, however, Ducktail has been spotted distributing a new malware variant that can not only steal Facebook-adjacent data, but also other sensitive data stored in browsers, such as data related to cryptocurrency wallets, account information, and basic system data.

Stealing browser data

The C2 has also been changed – the data no longer goes to a Telegram channel, but rather to a JSON website that also stores account tokens and other data needed for on-device fraud.

Zscaler also claimed that the malware is being shared as an archive file uploaded to a legitimate file hosting service. The attackers, they say, made sure that the malware doesn’t get flagged by antivirus software by only loading in memory.

Users can mitigate the damage caused by Ducktail and other malware by switching to an anonymous browser, or simply making sure not to save sensitive information in their browser of choice.

This is especially important because, if malware compromises an endpoint with a Facebook Business account, they may search for additional sensitive financial details such as PayPal data. This includes amounts spent on certain purchases, verification statuses, and more.

In most cases, attackers using malware try to trick people into downloading it by presenting it as movie subtitle files, adult content, or cracks for illegitimate software.

While it’s true that Ducktail’s new infostealer could be evading antivirus software, software that comes with in-built web protection could still be of help against it by blocking access to suspicious sites that may be carrying it.

Via: BleepingComputer

Feature Image Credit: Pixabay

By Sead Fadilpašić

Sead is a seasoned freelance journalist based in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. He writes about IT (cloud, IoT, 5G, VPN) and cybersecurity (ransomware, data breaches, laws and regulations). In his career, spanning more than a decade, he’s written for numerous media outlets, including Al Jazeera Balkans. He’s also held several modules on content writing for Represent Communications.

Sourced from techradar.pro

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TikTok and others scrape your data, whether you use their apps or not

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By Cal Jeffrey

TikTok doesn’t have as many trackers out there as Google and Facebook, but its ad platform is young

A hot potato: Data collection has become so ubiquitous that most people just assume that any website or app they use is tracking them. Indeed, even after Apple’s recent privacy crackdown, Meta has been caught in the act of scraping personal data via a loophole. However, even the savviest users might be surprised that TikTok is tracking them even though they have never used the company’s website or app.

According to a Consumer Reports (CR) investigation published last week, TikTok has been planting trackers called “pixels” on hundreds of websites. Partnering with security firm Disconnect, CR looked into about 20,000 websites searching for TikTok’s pixels specifically. The pool included the top 1,000 most visited websites and many of the biggest, .org, .edu, and .gov domains since those tend to have more sensitive user data.

The study found that hundreds of companies share data with TikTok. Some prime examples of websites allowing TikTok to embed pixels include the United Methodist Church, Weight Watchers, and Planned Parenthood. Perhaps most disturbing is the Arizona Department of Economic Security’s sharing of user data regarding visits to its domestic violence and food assistance pages. By the way, none of these groups would respond to CR’s requests for comment. Big surprise.

“I was genuinely surprised that TikTok’s trackers are already this widespread,” said Disconnect’s Chief Technology Officer Patrick Jackson. “I think people are conditioned to think, ‘Facebook is everywhere, and whatever, they’re going to get my data.’ I don’t think people connect that with TikTok yet.”

“The only reason this works is because it’s a secret operation. It shouldn’t be happening in the shadows.” — Disconnect

Consumer Reports says that the number of Meta and Google pixels it found dwarfs TikTok’s by a long shot. However, it pointed out that TikTok’s advertising platform is just getting started, whereas Google and Facebook/Meta have been at it for years.

Consumer Reports was mainly concerned with personal data from organizations with which users would likely have an issue, like hospitals or advocacy groups. Analysts looked closely at the identified TikTok pixels to see what information they shared. TikTok pixels regularly transmit visitor IP addresses, unique ID numbers, pages users view, and what they click and type. It also has access to search requests. All of this is regardless of whether or not the user has a TikTok account.

When asked for comment, TikTok spokeswoman Melanie Bosselait said, “Like other platforms, the data we receive from advertisers is used to improve the effectiveness of our advertising services.”

Bosselait added that her company does not create profiles to sell to advertisers. She also claims that data from non-TikTok users is only used for “aggregated reports that they send to advertisers about their websites.”

“We continuously work with our partners to avoid inadvertent transmission of [certain sensitive] data,” TikTok claims. This type of information would include anything about health conditions, personal finances, or children.

However, CR states that previous investigations have shown that even though sites like Meta and Goole have policies barring transmitting sensitive data, trackers often send it regardless. TikTok’s pixels are no different.

For example, CR looked at the national Girl Scouts domain and found that TikTok has a pixel on every page of the website that can transmit personal information if a child is visiting. The analysts also found that searching for “erectile dysfunction” on WebMD resulted in the tracker reporting the query back to TikTok.

Those are just a couple of examples that returned sensitive information to the company despite its privacy statements and rules. If users knew a website they do not even visit had access to this data, they’d likely be outraged.

“The only reason this works is because it’s a secret operation,” said Jackson. “Some people might not care, but people should have a choice. It shouldn’t be happening in the shadows.”

Some company executives were unaware of what data their firm was sharing or to whom. Consumer Reports informed the Mayo Clinic that its public website (not the patient portal) was sharing data with TikTok. Disconnect checked later to find that the clinic had removed the TikTok tracker but that the site still used a “considerable number” of other pixels, including those from Microsoft, Google, and others.

Currently, there is not much that consumers can do about this situation. However, CR notes that switching to more privacy-friendly browsers such as Firefox or Brave and strengthening security settings can reduce a lot of tracking. Privacy-protecting extensions are helpful too.

Feature Image Credit: TikTok App by Solen Feyissa, Data Value Chain by Open Data Watch

By Cal Jeffrey

Sourced from TECHSPOT

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Hidden trackers invade your browser. Here’s how to delete them.

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By Kim Komando

As long as your phone is on, it’s sharing data. This happens whether you have an iPhone or Android, but one company is tracking much more than the other. Tap or click here to see if Apple or Google collects more data.

I bet your home address, phone number, and even more personal information is a search away available to anyone, often for free. I value my privacy, so my team and I put together a great resource to help you out. Tap or click here for steps to remove yourself from 19 of the largest people finder sites.

Advertisers are notorious for watching what you do and where you go online. That’s valuable and very profitable information. Here’s one way to stop some of the spying:

The bad kind of cookies

Think of cookies as the trail you leave behind when you’re online. A first-party cookie is created and stored in your browser when you visit a website. It keeps things like your login info and shopping cart, so you don’t have to fill them in again each time. First-party cookies also preserve options and settings.

That’s useful, but cookies can be invasive too. Companies use cookies to track where you go and what you do online. They’ll even do it on a website other than the one you’re visiting. Advertisers love cookies because they help customize the ads you see. If the ads appeal to you, you’re more likely to click them, which yields a higher return on investment.

Pro tip: You can block third-party cookies and other invasive tools through your browser. The level of protection varies, but it’s worth the time to change your default settings. Tap or click here for tips on changing your privacy settings in some of the most popular browsers.

Blocking third-party cookies and tracking is one thing, but how about not being subject to tracking methods, to begin with? That’s where AdChoices and WebChoices come in.

Kinship caregivers: Growing number of grandparents are raising grandkids — and it’s sending them into poverty

Banish tracking cookies from your browser

AdChoices is a program from the Digital Advertising Alliance, a group of advertising and marketing companies that self-regulate to offer you choices for targeted advertising. Why would they self-regulate? So, no one else steps in to do it, of course.

Try it out next time you see an ad online. Look for the small AdChoices icon. It looks like a blue triangle with a lowercase “i” in the middle.

Click that to get information about the ad, change its settings and block it. Not all advertisers participate in the program, but you’ll know it when you see the symbol.

Go further: Delete this secret ID hiding on your phone that gives away your personal details

Within AdChoices is a tool called WebChoices. You can use this tool to opt out of many companies in one step. As with AdChoices, it only works for companies that participate in the program.

Get this: I used it to kick out 144 different tracking cookies!

Here’s how to use WebChoices:

• Go to https://optout.aboutads.info. WebChoices will scan your browser and computer to find out whether first-party and third-party cookies are enabled, along with a list of companies creating targeted ads for you. You’ll also see which companies you have already opted out of if you’ve used the tool.

• After the status check is complete, click Continue.

• Look at the Customizing Ads on your Browser column to see which companies use targeted ads. If it says Yes, you can opt out of that company by checking the box under the Opt-Out column.

• Or you can select everything by clicking Opt Out of All.

• After making your selection, click Submit Your Choices. (You can skip those steps by clicking Opt Out Of All as a first step.)

• The website will process your selection, and you click View Updated Results to see how it turned out.

The WebChoices tool works for the browser you’re currently using, so run it for each if you use more than one browser. If you didn’t catch every company the first time, try rerunning the scan.

If you delete cookies, you may not see the opt-out choices for the company, so run the scan now and then.

Keep your tech-know going

My popular podcast is called “Kim Komando Today.” It’s a solid 30 minutes of tech news, tips, and callers with tech questions like you from all over the country. Search for it wherever you get your podcasts. For your convenience, hit the link below for a recent episode.

PODCAST PICK: GPS survival tip, sign digital docs, Google Photos update

In this episode, Google updates Photos with redesigned Memories and a new collage editor, use your photos for a virtual clothing fit at Walmart, Keurig’s new smart brewer makes a mind-blowing amount of coffee and how to get your real signature on digital docs. Plus, a rescue helicopter nearly abandoned a stranded man by mistaking his distress call.

Check out my podcast “Kim Komando Today” on Apple, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player.

Listen to the podcast here or wherever you get your podcasts. Just search for my last name, “Komando.”

Learn about all the latest technology on the Kim Komando Show, the nation’s largest weekend radio talk show. Kim takes calls and dispenses advice on today’s digital lifestyle, from smartphones and tablets to online privacy and data hacks. For her daily tips, free newsletters and more, visit her website at Komando.com.

Feature Image Credit: Getty Images

By Kim Komando

Sourced from USA TODAY TECH

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5 Steps For Building A Personal Brand As A Web3 Founder

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By Himanshu Bisht

Personal branding is essential for any entrepreneur, but it’s especially important in the world of Web3. With blockchain technology estimated to grow exponentially in the coming years, thought leadership in this space can offer a big advantage to founders and builders.

In my experience helping Web3 entrepreneurs build successful brands and creating my own niche presence, there is one common pattern I have found: People follow people. They don’t follow lifeless company logos and brands. Perhaps this is why more and more founders are spending significant time building their personal brands now.

Personal Branding Myths Busted

Personal branding is often seen as narcissistic and self-indulgent. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Personal branding is one of the most effective marketing tools available, and it’s a key driver of success for entrepreneurs.

A personal brand is not about having millions of followers. It’s about authority, trustworthiness and relatability. It’s about building a genuine fan base that appreciates your content and looks up to you as a thought leader in your space.

Now, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of personal branding for entrepreneurs in Web3.

My 5 Steps For Building A Personal Brand As A Web3 Founder

1. Define Your Niche

The first step to building a personal brand as a founder is getting clarity. Be precise about what you’re passionate about and what you want to be known for. This will help you attract the right followers and build a personal brand that is unique and authentic.

Remember, personal branding is a two-way road. Whether you want to talk about DeFi, or you are more excited to talk about cryptocurrency, it is important to choose a topic that you are interested in talking about and is something people want to hear about.

2. Choose Your Social Media Platform

Social media is a powerful tool for personal branding. In fact, most of the Web3 audience is hanging out either on LinkedIn or Twitter (also known as “crypto Twitter”). By being active on platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn and Medium, you can reach a wider audience and share your ideas with the world.

3. Create Content That Educates And Entertains

Once you’ve defined your personal brand and chosen your platform, it’s time to start creating content—but not just any content. Make sure your content is engaging, informative and entertaining.

The best personal brands are built on a foundation of great content. If you can consistently produce high-quality content that educates and entertains your audience, you’ll be well on your way to building a personal brand that people know and trust.

4. Attend Web3-Specific Industry Events

Your personal branding journey doesn’t stop at content creation. To really take your personal brand to the next level, get out there and meet people face to face. And what better way to do that than by attending Web3-specific industry events?

By attending events and networking with key players in the space, you’ll not only gain valuable insights, but you’ll also make important connections that can help you further your personal brand.

5. Collaborate With Other Thought Leaders In The Industry

As you start building your personal brand, it can be helpful to collaborate with other thought leaders in the industry. You can do this through guest blogging, co-hosting events or even just engaging in thoughtful debates on social media.

Not only will collaborating with other thought leaders help you further refine your personal brand, but it will also help you reach a wider audience and solidify your position as a thought leader in the space.

Final Thoughts

For Web3 founders, there are big advantages to building a personal brand and providing thought leadership in the space. In fact, these are key factors in attracting the right investors, customers and followers when you are starting something new from scratch.

By following the steps outlined above, you can start building a personal brand that will help you attract your desired audience. So what are you waiting for? Get started today.

Feature Image Credit: getty

By Himanshu Bisht

Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn. Check out my website.

Himanshu Bisht is an experienced startup marketing expert. He helps entrepreneurs build impactful companies & powerful personal brands. Read Himanshu Bisht’s full executive profile here

Sourced from Forbes

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Evercore: Apple’s App Store is headed for its first quarterly decline

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“The slowdown should be well understood by investors as… Apple guidance indicated Services growth should decelerate further in the Sept-qtr.” — Analyst Amit Daryanani

From a note to clients that landed on my desktop Monday:

All You Need to Know: App Store revenue [fell] for the second straight month in September. Revenue declined 4% in the month, which brings the Sept-qtr revenue growth rate to -1.5%, the first quarterly decline in the history of the App Store.

The slowdown should be well understood by investors as the App Store grew only 5% in the Jun-qtr and Apple guidance indicated Services growth should decelerate further in the Sept-qtr.

Gaming was the main culprit for the decline as revenue from gaming apps was down 13% and the non-gaming part of the App Store grew 10%. Gaming revenue growth has been low single digit or negative since April-21 as we began to see a hangover effect from the significant pull forward driven by COVID. Declines began to accelerate in May-22, likely due to worse macro, especially in the critical Japanese and Chinese markets and the negative impact on the mobile gaming ecosystem from ATT.

The App Store remains the largest component of services revenue, but it has become less important to the overall services growth rate and Apple was able to post 12% Services growth in June-qtr despite App Store growth of just 5%. New opportunities (payments, advertising) are becoming more significant drivers of growth…

Net/net: Consensus is calling for 11% Services growth which is slightly above our +9% estimate, but should still be achievable despite a 1.5% decline in App Store revenue. We would caution investors against making a call on Services purely on the App Store data as it is only ~30% of revenue and it is difficult to forecast the other components.

Maintains Outperform rating and $190 target.

Cue the bar chart:

My take: If those other Service components include advertising, they may be a mixed blessing.

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Sourced from Philip Elmer-DeWitt APPLE 3.0

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