Posts in category: Business Energy Advice

By Yuwanda Black

If you want to increase your freelance income, find your unique voice. What do I mean by this?

A personal story: About three years ago, I started to market myself as an conversational writer. Meaning, my writing connects with readers, not by polished so that it sounds like business speak, but by being conversational in tone, as if the customer were sitting right across the table.

I enjoy this type of writing; it fits my personality. Hence, it flows more easily. And, you know what, my income has increased because of it. I cant attribute this change to so-called better work, but because it flows easier, Im able to work faster and with more creative juices flowing.

Sure, I can still do business speak pieces. But, I enjoy the conversational, more chatty pieces better because if theres one thing Ive learned in my 40 years on this earth is that people want — and need — a human connection. And, this usually occurs in the simplest of ways a dash of humor here, a universal anecdote there.

Big words, pie charts and spreadsheets all have their place, but people buy whatever because a human connection is made, hence, a relationship can be developed.

So, how do you differentiate yourself from all of the other freelance writers who may be smarter, more experienced, better educated, etc.? Your personality. Its what makes us all unique.

To give a couple of examples, I get sucked into Jenna Glatzers articles every time I run across one of them. Her sense of humor is outrageous and she tells you all kinds of quirks about herself on her website. Shes the Editor-in-Chief of absolutewrite.com, a good freelance writers resource, by the way.

Darren Rowse over at problogger.net is a bit more reserved online, but his genuineness (eg, trusthworthiness) as a person is very evident throughout his blog.

The last few days, Ive been wrestling with starting a personal blog. I started thinking about this because a few weeks ago I mentioned on my site (InkwellEditorial.com) that I was running my first marathon in November. Since then, Ive received personal inquiries (eg, how long have I been a runner, where is the marathon, how old am I, etc.).

So, I started to think, should I start a personal blog? And, if I did, how personal would I want to get. I still havent quite figured it out yet, but I know Im somewhere between Jenna and Darren.

NOTE: I mentioned the marathon because I wanted to explain to readers why I was putting off publishing a promised e-course.

Anyway, my point in this post is, figure out what voice youre most comfortable with and carve out a niche for yourself doing that type of writing even if its just a small niche. It will pay off simply because youll enjoy those types of assignments more.

Now that you know why you should find your unique voice, how do you go about it.

How to Find Your Unique Voice & Capitalize On It

Follow these 3 simple steps to find your unique voice.

1. Assess your sense of humor: OVERALL, is it dry, sarcastic, witty, self-effacing, dark, etc.

2. Ask 3-5 close friends to describe your personality: Sometimes, the way we see ourselves is completely different from how our friends view us.

3. Write freehand: When you’re writing just to write — just for you — what is the general tone of it?

By doing these three simple exercises, you should be able to get a pretty good idea of the kinds of writing at which you would excel.

About the Author: May be reprinted with the following, in full: Yuwanda Black is the publisher of

InkwellEditorial.com

: THE business portal for and about the editorial and creative industries. First-hand freelance success stories, e-courses, job postings, resume tips, advice on the business of freelancing, and more!

Source:

isnare.com

Permanent Link:

isnare.com/?aid=97918&ca=Writing

By Marco Terry

Obtaining business financing has always been challenging for small and mid size company owners. Traditional sources of financing, such as venture capital companies, angel investors or banks, provide financing that is hard to obtain and usually takes weeks or months to set up.

Angel investors and venture capitalists, although more generous than banks, only provide capital if you are willing to give them an ownership stake in your company. Usually a big one too. Banks dont demand an ownership stake. Instead, they will only lend you money if your company can show a three-year track record of profitability and if your personal credit record is spotless.

But, what if you dont want to give up ownership and if you dont meet banking requirements?

There is an option that is growing in popularity and it provides you with easy to obtain financing. Its called accounts receivable factoring. Factoring is an ideal tool for companies whose biggest challenge is that they cannot afford to wait 30 to 60 days to get paid by customers. By factoring your receivables, you can get paid in as little as two days. This helps business owners to easily meet ongoing obligations such as payroll and rent, and allows them to grow the business. In effect it eliminates the uncertainty of when youll be paid and allows you to streamline your cash flow.

Receivables factoring is very different than a business loan or line of credit. Rather than focusing on physical collateral (real estate, equipment, etc.) like banks do, factoring companies focus on your invoices. Are they from good credit worthy clients? Do they pay reliably on 30, 60 or 90 days? If they do, you have a good change of qualifying for invoice factoring.

Accounts receivable factoring is very easy to implement and works as follows:

1. Your company delivers the goods or services to the client

2. You invoice your client and send a copy of the invoice to the factoring company

3. The factoring company advances you between 70% and 90% of the invoice as the first installment

4. Once the invoice is actually paid, the factoring company advances you the remaining 10% to 30% as a second installment, less a small fee

Factoring financing is a great alternative to bank financing and venture capital that is easily available to small and medium sized businesses.

About the Author: About Commercial Capital LLC

We are a leading factoring company and can provide you with factoring financing and accounts receivable factoring financing. For a quote, please call (866) 730 1922 or go to ccapital.net/html/accounts_receivable_factoring.html

or

ccapital.net/html/our_services.html

Source:

isnare.com

Permanent Link:

isnare.com/?aid=104528&ca=Business

By Herbert Williams

Grants available for minorities are targeted for small businesses so that the people belonging to the minority group may avail themselves the sum of money to start and expand their business. There are billions of dollars available from the government and major corporations for Small Business Grants . When it comes to finding minority business grants, you do not need an expensive consultant. Whether grants are provided by the Federal or State governments most grants for business come in the form of subsidized business loans or small business loans guarantees.

There are various Grants For Minority Women that are present in all assistance programs. If your business plan points towards community development, AIDS assistance, Scholarships, Job training, Health care etc, you can easily qualify for these minority business grants. Be aware of the opportunities that exist for Minority Women.

If a Grants For A Minority Woman is what you need, you’ve come to the right place for information. Do you have the time and resources to search for Grants and apply? Even though rumor has it that grant money is being given away for free every year by the government and other organizations, the truth is that most of these grants come with a variety of requirements and restrictions.

I hope this article related to Grants For Minority Women doesn’t contain misspellings of the main issues. Such misspellings include kinority grants, minoritu grants, minoriity grants, minority grantss or even minority gran6s.

Applying for federal grants is easier now than any ever before thanks to all the resources available to help you. There are numerous guidelines you should follow if applying for federal grants. In fact, if the particular guidelines are not followed you will likely not have your grant application approved. Each agency has their own set of rules that apply for federal grants and it is important you find out, in advance, what the particular requirements are.

Basic Steps You Must Take To Create Your Application to get a Grant For A Minority Woman:

* Determine your funding needs. How much money you will need for materials, training of new employees, advertising, rent etc.

* When you know what you want, write down a list and short description of your goals. Make certain that your language is clear and concise and you have explained the purpose behind you goals.

* What are your goals? Decide exactly what you’re looking for. Are you simply looking for funds to make a purchase of materials, or are you looking for some other outcome as well? Who will gain or benefit from you reaching your goals and what, exactly, will that gain or benefit be?

* Gain support of family and friends. Talk to the people you’ve targeted as those you think will help you attain your goals. Present the project to them in a concise way. Be clear about what you need from them. Once you know you have their support you are ready to look for a funding source.

* Determine your funding needs. How much money you will need for materials, training of new employees, advertising, rent etc.

You’ll probably be surprised to know we found that lots of people that were searching for Grants For Minority Women also searched online for educational grant applications, business grant application, and even application for pell grant.

Many organizations — starting with the Small Business Administration (SBA) and branching out to groups both governmental and not — exist to help level the playing field, and by taking advantage of these grant opportunities.The SBA isn’t the only part of the federal government keeping an eye out for equalizing opportunities. The Federal government and some State commerce agencies also provide government grants for business financing in the form of loans and expertise for companies looking to expand overseas.

The main resources that should be of interest are the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Minority Business Enterprise Program (MBE).

Be sure and check the web for sites that will help you through the process and give you valuable information as well as the tools to become successful. Here are a few things you can find:

* Free Consultations with Grant Specialists who will help you fill out a complete profile of where you are now, and assist you in developing a plan that will help you achieve your financial goals.

* Grant guides that provide you with all the Tips, Tricks, and Trade Secrets for hunting down and obtaining Government Grants.

* Free Actual Government Applications

* Free Grant Writing Software to help make the impossible, possible.

About the Author: If you would like to have 7 Days Free Access to the Webs Most Comprehensive Private and Government Grants Database?

Click Here

and get a Free Grant Application as a bonus!

Source:

isnare.com

Permanent Link:

isnare.com/?aid=202180&ca=Womens+Interest

byadmin

Keeping warm in the winter can be a challenge, especially when you’re faced with high heating bills. Most people use space heaters and other direct contact heating to keep them warm while running their furnaces on low in the background. Whether you’re using propane tanks in Manchester CT, or power from your local energy company, there are ways to save on heating costs. Here are a few of them to get you started.

Whole Home Insulation

If you haven’t already done so, make sure that your home is fully insulated for the winter. It’s not enough to just insulate the attic and not the rest of the home, especially if you have an older structure. Your walls need to be insulated to keep the cold air from coming into the cracks and crevices of the outer walls of your home. You can have a company do this for you, or you can do it yourself. It’s one of the best ways to keep the heat in and save on heating costs in the winter.

Window Coverings

Your window coverings should have a thermal backing. Thermal coverings can help keep the cold out. You can also cover your windows with plastic to ensure that no cold air seeps in from that area. This is a simple task that can be done within a few hours, depending on the size of your home. When you’re out buying propane tanks in Manchester CT, stop and pick up a roll of plastic. It’s inexpensive and could make a big difference in the amount of cold air that enters your home from the windows.

Layered Clothing

When you’re at home in the winter, layer up your clothing to keep from having to turn up the thermostat. Add a layer of long johns to your normal clothing, and this could make a big difference in how you feel. Heavy sweaters that are easy to remove are also ideal in winter. Wool socks and other warm materials can be beneficial when the winter months arrive and you’re not able to pay for the increase in power needed to keep warm. You will need to keep your pipes from freezing, so turning your furnace off entirely to use a space heater or any other source of alternative heating is not recommended.

Start your search for propane tanks in Manchester CT now, and start seeing a difference in your energy costs.