Legal Branding

Car Ownership Tips to Save You Money

on January 14, 2020

With more than 75 million cars sold in the world every year, there are a lot of car owners out there. While some of these have been sold to companies in fleets or used by companies as employee cars, many have been sold to individuals for their own personal use.

Having a car is incredibly freeing, but can also be expensive. There are many costs that go along with car ownership, and the amount you spend can add up. As a result, car owners (whether they are individuals or companies) are looking to save money any way they can. Without any further ado,  this article is going to go over a few car ownership tips to save you money.

Utilize Fuel Cards and Other Perks

Source

If you own a fleet of cars or other vehicles for your small business, you know how expensive it can be. Between maintaining them and getting them filled with gas all the time, the costs can add up. Thankfully, many companies offer fuel cards that not only allow you to save money, but also save time and track/improve productivity. Be sure to check iCompario to compare some of the best fuel cards and the benefits they offer.

However, these types of benefits aren’t just for companies. There are several credit cards and loyalty programs out there that can help you get cheaper gas at the pump, along with other benefits. So if you drive a lot too and from work or school, or use your car to drive for work, be sure to look into these. They have the potential to save you a ton of money if you spend a lot of time driving one way or another.

Shop Around for Everything

Another way to save is to make sure you shop around. You need to shop around for the best car insurance, the best financing option and the best shop to handle maintenance. The more places you look, the better chance you will have at finding a great price and deal.

However, this “shopping around” begins even before you buy your vehicle. You should be sure to shop around various dealerships and look at a number of vehicle options to match your needs. If you run a small business with a fleet, compare all different makes and models that can do the job.

Of course, in addition to cost, be sure not to forget about things like reliability and quality. Buying the cheapest option will save you money in the short term, but could cost you a lot more in the long term.

Perform Routine Maintenance Checks

Source

The biggest cost of buying a car is, of course, the things like monthly payments and down payments. However, maintenance can also cost a pretty penny if you’re not careful. If you are driving your car frequently, getting routine checks every now and then is a very good idea. Sure, they will cost you a little but can save you from a larger bill down the road.

Getting maintenance can help your fuel economy in some cases and can get you more time out of your car parts. It will ensure any potentially serious issue can be dealt with before it becomes a major hazard. If you simply never take your car in, you may never know when something needs fixing until it is too late.

In conclusion, the tips outlined in this article should be able to help you save money when it comes to owning a car. There can be a lot of costs associated with ownership, so saving some money where you can is a good idea.

Legal Branding

Installment Loans Online Explained: All That You Must Know

on January 14, 2020

The word “installment loan” may be new to you, but you may have used actually used it at one point in your financial journey. It refers to a short term loan that allows you to borrow a certain amount of money over a period even when you have a pending loan. Installment loans with friendly Lender come in handy when an emergency strikes given that you can get instant funds within a short duration. In this article, we will tell you more about installment loans online. 

Types of Installment Loans

In as much as you would want to avoid loans, we know that emergencies can pop any minute, and understanding the type of installment loans puts you in a safe position in such scenarios.  There are generally, a payday loan or short term loan with varying repayment periods. Here are some of the installments loans online you ought to know:

1. Mortgages

Everybody wants to live in a nice house, but if the savings aren’t enough, a mortgage is a way out. A mortgage is an installment loan that allows you to buy a house. Generally, they have the most prolonged repayment durations of the types of installment loans. There is a nice article where you can learn more about mortgages.  The article covers the main types of mortgages including mortgages for first-time buyers

2. Personal loans

As you may have guessed, personal loans help you to take care of personal needs; bills, health expenses, traveling, and others. Because they do not require collateral, of all types of installment loans, they have the shortest repayment period and the highest interest rates.

3. Auto loans

Auto loans are designed to help you get a car. Depending on the lender, the repayment periods will also tend to vary. 

Installment loans can be collateralized or non-collateralized. For example, a mortgage loan will be collateralized with the house being purchased and an auto loan with the vehicle. To get any of the installment loans listed above, you need to fill in a form provided by the lender. Here, you will be required to provide personal details, the amount, and the purpose. The lender will proceed to review the creditworthiness such as the legal age, financial competence, and credit score to determine if you can receive any amount and if yes, how much. This is followed by a discussion about the down payment, payment amount, and the duration. In some cases, the borrower may be requested to pay for the application processing fees and loan origination fees. 

Benefits of Installment Loans Online

1. The convenience of the application process

You can conveniently apply for a loan online, and depending on the working strategy of the lender, you can get a response within minutes or a few days. In addition, online application allows you to review the data before sending and send clean copies, unlike in hard copies.

2. Quick funding

When looking for fast financing, credit unions, and banks are often discredited because of the lengthy waiting process and the daunting tasks. As if that is not enough, the transaction process can take days or weeks. With online installment loans, on the other hand, once the application is reviewed and approved, the money is transferred almost instantaneously to the account. 

3. The flexibility of the terms

Yes, you read that right. Online installment loan lenders tailor the conditions according to the needs of the borrower, such as the amount and the repayment duration. This is contrary to the process in the majority of financial institutions. Usually, the terms are standardized, and there is a slim-to-no-way of negotiating the terms to suit your financial capability. 

Many borrowers settle for long-term loans because they will pay small amounts and have enough for basic expenses.

4. High loan amounts

Local laws regulate the majority of online installment loans. As a result, you may realize that residents in particular regions get higher loans and longer repayment durations than others. Nonetheless, the amounts in online installment loans are generally high.

5. Options for all credit ratings

When you have a poor credit score, all doors to getting a loan seem to be locked from the inside, and you are left in the cold to freeze. But that is not the case, thanks to online installment loans. Even when the credit score is poor, some lenders go the extra mile and give small amounts that can help solve some financial problems.

What to do when choosing an online lender for an installment loan

The best way of finding the right installment loan is by familiarizing yourself with the products in the market. Not to scare you, but the term “installment loan” is predatory, and anyone can fall victim. Online money lenders have flooded the internet, but not all of them are legit. Some lend money and act contrary to the terms.

As a result, you must exercise extreme caution when choosing a lender. Some guiding questions include: is the lender legally registered? What do others say about the services? What are the terms, and are they flexible? Compare the lenders, seek reviews, and inquire from others. Doing the research and gathering the information sets the pace for everything else. Eventually, you will know whether to settle for a particular lender or keep looking. 

Another tip that will help you secure the right loan is reconsidering your thoughts. The majority of financial experts recommend sleeping on the matter for a few days because what may appear as a ‘need’ may be a mere ‘want.’ This, in return, helps in making an intentional decision. Finally, do not fall for long-term loans. While they ease the financial burden, the deal may not be as good as it appears at first glance. Some lenders take advantage of the fact to increase the interest rates, and this can significantly damage your financial status. 

In conclusion

Getting a loan is a mental process as much as it is physical because you must know how you will repay. So, as you think about online installment loans as financial safety nets, be sure to gather as much information as you can and when the time comes, make informed decisions. 

Legal Branding

Why Buying Life Insurance In Your Twenties Makes Sense

on January 14, 2020

When you are in your twenties, life insurance may not really be on top of your financial planning list. You may think that this is something that you can postpone for at least a decade. Rather than taking a policy to cover your life, you’d invest in one for your home or car. But believe it or not, life insurance is as vital for the young as it is for the middle-aged and older people. Whether you are single with dependent parents or married with dependent spouse and children, a policy will protect your loved ones. Beyond that, there are several reasons and circumstances when buying life insurance during your twenties makes perfect sense. Let us reveal them to you.

You have a massive debt burden

An average American twenty-something owes thousands of dollars these days, with debts usually comprising student loans and personal loans. There could also be liabilities such as credit card dues and car loans. If you happen to die with massive debt, don’t expect that your survivors will have a clean slate. Your co-signor could, in fact, be held responsible for the repayment of these loans and debts. Getting insured is a smart move if you want your family members to have enough money to pay off your liabilities in case of your sudden death. Beyond that, they can use the money to pay off your burial expenses and meet their living expenses as well.

You get married in the twenties

Getting married is not just an emotional commitment but it changes your financial dynamics as well. What’s more, having a financially-dependent spouse and children adds up to your financial responsibilities further. Once you are married and have a family that depends on your income, you need to consider the impact of your death on them. Would your spouse be able to meet the daily expenses with their income alone? Do you have a wedding loan or home mortgage to pay off? How much will they need for child support and college education if they die? Researching various life insurance policies, such as Globe Life insurance policies, and others similar, and taking out the best life insurance policy for your family during your twenties is a perfect answer to all these questions.

You are in a partnership business

Starting a business at a young age requires a lot of planning, more so if you are a part of a partnership enterprise. According to the article, MetLife Life Insurance – A Comprehensive Review, a permanent insurance policy is a good option for business stakeholders who are putting together a business succession agreement and want to leave their partners with cash from the policy. This will make things easier to sort out in case one of the partners dies. The others can use the cash to buy their share and compensate their family members so that the firm can run smoothly.

You can save money

 

Another good reason to buy life insurance when you are still in your twenties is that it comes significantly cheaper at this age. Obviously, you may be single and independent right now, which will not really motivate you to take up the expense. But you may probably settle down a few years later and having a policy will be a plus point for your financial profile at that stage. As a rule, insurance for youngsters is less expensive. The younger you are, the lesser you will need to pay. So it surely makes sense to take one sooner rather than later.

Permanent insurance or term insurance – Which is the best option?

Now that it is clear that getting a life cover in your twenties is a smart move, you will have to decide the kind of policy that would work. Permanent life insurance covers you for the duration you pay the premium. It comes in two options- whole life policy and universal life policy and both enable you to accumulate a cash value that you may borrow against. Term life insurance covers you for a specific term, from a few years to decades. It pays death benefits to your beneficiaries if you die before the policy term ends.

Deciding between the two when you are in the twenties requires much thinking. Permanent coverage covers you for longer and builds cash value but it costs considerably more than term life policies. If you have a small budget, term insurance is a better idea while those who can spend more should definitely opt for a permanent policy. Remember that there is no one-size-fits-all approach for life insurance and proper planning can enable you to pick a policy that is just right for you considering your age and circumstances.

Digital Branding

Benefits Of SMS Marketing For Startups

on January 13, 2020

There is no doubt that startups need all the help they can get when it comes to building their customer bases. Fortunately, there are marketing technicians that have proven successful. One such marketing technique is known as Short Message Service. Combining SMS with other techniques into a single marketing campaign will offer more benefits than utilizing them alone. Below, you will discover a list of SMS marketing benefits and much more.

Broaden Your Audience

SMS marketing is an effective technique for broadening your audience. Unfortunately, too many owners of startups do not try to expand into other audiences. They rely on a single audience to peddle their products and/or services. If you want to be competitive in the online business world, you will need to broaden your audience. Fortunately, SMS marketing is there to help you throughout the process.

Quick Results

SMS marketing offers quick results, which is exactly what startups need. According to studies, it takes less than seven seconds for a text message to go from a sender to a recipient. With that said, the fast results provided by SMS marketing will help you boost your customer base in no time. As long as you utilize effective text messages to achieve maximum results with this type of marketing. If you can successfully pull that off, you will be able to set back and watch your customer base grow at a moderately fast pace. SMS Marketing is on the rise and there is nothing going to slow it down any time soon.

Reach Large Target Audiences Easily

Another benefit of SMS marketing is its flexibility. Startups have the option of reaching only a handful of consumers or several large target audiences. The flexibility offer by this type of marketing technique is extremely rare unless you are comparing it to email marketing. 

Spend Less And Make More

At the end of the day, you have to understand that many companies want to spend less on advertising procedures. If you fit into this category, you’ll find that SMS marketing is one of the most effective and affordable methods of advertising your business. You can learn more here on how to utilize SMS marketing and you’ll be able to slim down your costs while making more money. This will make a big difference in the long run. You can use any SMS marketing tool to find new customers without spending so much making it one of the most effective marketing methods for start-up businesses.

Automated As Well

Another thing to note is that your time is vitally important. You should do everything you can to save time. If you’re able to do that, you’ll be able to pour more time and energy into areas that need it the most. With that being said, you should try to automate your company’s marketing procedures. One way to do that is by taking advantage of automation and SMS marketing. This technique will allow you to spend more time on other activities without compromising on your advertising campaign.

Therefore, it is easy to see why SMS marketing is becoming one of the most popular advertising methods for start-up businesses.

Direct Reach

One of the best things about this form of marketing is the fact that it allows businesses to reach customers directly. When you want to advertise to local customers, you want to reach out them to them directly. You’ll want to get on a personal level with that individual. This is why you should take advantage of SMS marketing techniques. They’ll allow you to build a relationship with the customer. Once you’ve managed to do that, you’ll find that sealing the deal is much easier.

Transforming that customer into a long-term customer will prove to be easy as well. Suffice to say, this form of marketing could be the best. If you’re not reaping the benefits of this form of marketing right now, you need to change that!

Summary

Ultimately, there are numerous types of marketing to use but some are more effective than others. If you’re looking for an incredibly effective form of marketing that will serve your company well, you should look no further than SMS marketing. It’ll make a big difference for your business. And, it can help start-up companies develop a customer base very rapidly. Whether you’re running a start-up business or your company has been operating for many years, you should not hesitate to take advantage of SMS marketing because it will pay off in the future.

Digital Branding

Steps On Building Authority To Your Website

on January 13, 2020

Creating a website that may be considered as an ‘authority’ might take some time. Nonetheless, there are some important factors that when implemented properly, may affect the time it takes your site in becoming an authority. 

These main factors that we are saying are also the basic factors in building any website. However, the approach is much more different. In this post, we are going to look at the five steps on building SEO authority to your website.

Step 1: Website Creation & Branding

Create your own website. If you haven’t decided yet how to build your website, try to use a builder, like WordPress or some other builders if you know any. When you build your website, consider the following factors:

  • Create a brand that can ensure people know what your site is about once they visit.
  • Create your brand logo, which is professional and memorable at the same time.
  • Select an effective color scheme, which may time together with your logo and brand.

Branding is very important before you even start your website. This is essential in becoming an authority for your niche, and people will surely recognize your brand.

Step 2: Keyword Research

Evaluating the competition and researching effective keywords is so important. These are essential in content creation. You may start off with the low competition keywords and build content, about 30 articles. This will allow you to have a grace period, which allows you to rank for your content.

After that, make medium competition keywords, which will help you rank in the searches. This will establish your site and build your image of what your site is going to be in the search engines.

Step 3: Content Creation

Search engines like Google are in a semantic world. This means that when your theme your keyphrases/keywords & contents properly in your articles, you’ll definitely rank better. You should create content that is of great quality. Remember, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. 

Quality is determined by content, which helps someone ion solving a problem –learn techniques to create better content that will catch your audience’s attention. With great content, comes more return visitors, and higher ranking on SERP.

Step 4: Social Networking

This is huge for a deal and has great potential. You can build your website’s presence on various social networking sites. They have the biggest capacity of your brand and the authority of your website. Getting highly targeted links and traffics from social networks is important in starting to build your brand, as well as establishing the human side of your businesses.

Step 5: Building Backlinks

Creating a backlink profile is necessary for building authority to your website. The most important factor in doing so is to make the links relevant to your niche. Straying off-topic might cause you penalties. Ensure that when building backlinks, you are following the best practices.

While the abovementioned elements might seem the same as those you read in other SEO articles, there’s actually an elusive difference. Done right, these five major factors may allow your website in building authority much faster and will maintain your site’s presence as an authority for the years to come. It might take some time to build authority to your website, but through simple methods, you can speed it up!

About the author

Usman Raza is the co-founder of a Christian Social Media Agency and marketing strategist working with various brands online. Usman is the content marketing manager at an Email Marketing Agency in Los Angeles, Best PSD to WordPress, and Nano Hearing Aids. He is devoted to helping small businesses bridge success gaps by providing in-depth, actionable advice on digital marketing, SEO, and small business growth. Follow him on Twitter @usmanintrotech.

Digital Branding

Modern Email Marketing Tactics: Impact of Emails in 2020

on January 13, 2020

At a time when everybody else is talking about memorable memes and quirky tweets, you must be wondering why on earth are you reading about email marketing? Well, let me tell you why: 

Because it’s still working, that’s why!

People are so curious to buy Hotmail accounts on UseViral and other sources. Yes, you heard that right. Email marketing is still effective by all means!

With that said, it’s important to understand email marketing strategy has changed dramatically in recent years, and if you’re expecting the 2000s email marketing strategy to work in current times, you’re are highly mistaken. After all, a direct sales offer via email is nowadays led to the spam message folder and left unread until eternity – in fact, statistics tell us in March 2019, 56% of global email traffic was based on spam messages.

Just like the times we are living in, email marketing has come to utilize all modern ways available – if intelligently employed email marketing can successfully run appealing and informative campaigns and not just end up being categorized as Spam.

Had not to email marketing been modernized and kept upgraded through recent years, perhaps it would not have survived the current age, rather rendered too limited in its impact. If you want an email marketing strategy that brings fruitful results to the table, you need to be aware of certain tactics and trends as you make your way into 2020.

Don’t forget, times are calling upon you to

Blend with the Trend.

Days when notifications are badly ignored, emails still get a response. This is because emails are considered important. Almost everybody uses email and deems it significant enough to open immediately. Talk about boomers or Gen Z, politicians are to their modern lives.

With the following email marketing tactics, you can emphasize any preceding impact to boost up your business marketing in no time: 

 

1. Start Connecting with Your Audience

 

If you’re old enough to drink, I bet you must have experienced receiving tons of emails asking you to become part of a veteran community. And the baffled look on your face must have shouted out loud that you knew nothing about it – not to forget how you must have wondered about the poor results of bad segmentation in email marketing. 

Modern-day email marketing has urged marketers to understand their audience. And by understanding, we don’t mean collecting email addresses rather doing what you need to do in order to up your email marketing game i.e. knowledge about the interests and preferences of your target audience. Other than this, email segmentation can be conducted based on recipients’ gender, age, location, etc. 

Such segmentation based on interest has proven to be extremely beneficial for email marketing campaigns; also with greater media relevance, open rates are far more than inscribed rates.

 

2. Talk to Your Audience

 

Do you know what keeps the audience interested? Content that speaks to them!

In older times, emails, even when sent to the right audience, ended up making the recipients disinterested in a product because of the utterly boring language employed in the email content. This brings us to one of the latest trends in email marketing i.e., customization. 

After segmenting your targeted audience and gaining all the relevant information about what they like and dislike, it’s necessary to customize emails. Customization helps businesses relate to recipients at a personal level – and that in turn inculcates a sense of trust among the audience as people tend to feel more connected with the brand and by way of that with the business organization.

I understand making emails customized enough to appeal to each individual is A LOT of work. HARD WORK. However, what you can do is segregate recipients based on generation; for instance, the millennial generation tends to find precise and informative messages combined with a visual more appealing.

3. Be Direct and Give a Call-to-Action

In older times, one of the most annoying elements in emails was the lack of clarity of purpose.

Now that you’ve segmented your recipients, received the knowledge of their interests and preferences, and generated an email that has attracted attention, what next? Well, now it’s time for you to focus on the core purpose. The clarity of your purpose will reflect through an effective call-to-action included in your email.

Whether you want your readers to like your Facebook page, subscribe to newsletters or visit your website, you need to lead them towards that objective – and that can be done via a striking Call-to-Action.

It has been observed by replacing “find your solution” with “learn more” the click-through rate in emails rose by 77%. 

 

4. Exercise Prudence with Email Blasts

 

As per the latest email statistics published by expanded ramblings, an average office employee receives almost 121 emails per day, which is A LOT. If you don’t want your email to end up in one of the spam folder piles, you need to exercise control over the number of emails you send out to your subscribers. 

Take Away

The previous decade instructed us in many ways that we may benefit our businesses with – digital and social media marketing, high-speed internet with cox deals, etc. to say less. However, it did take some serious effort to upgrade email marketing enough for it to survive in contrast to many foregoing elements of online marketing. Modern-day email marketing tactics, some of which we have touched upon in today’s write up, tend to restore marketers’ faith in the impact of emails as a marketing medium.

CBD - from hemp to oil
Local Branding

10 Best CBD Packaging Designs

on January 12, 2020

What is CBD? What are the trends in CBD packaging?

CBD or cannabidiol is one of the many components of the Cannabis plant. A lot of noise is being heard about CBD, and many are curious about its effect on the human body. There are several ways to consume this compound, and it includes inhaling of cannabis smoke or vapor, as a spray into the cheek, and by mouth.

You can have it as oil which has CBD as its only component and not THC or Tetrahydrocannabinol. Even in the past, the cannabis plant is generally used as a cure for some illnesses. Until now, ongoing research and studies are being conducted to verify the benefits of these plants.

The origins of CBD

CBD gain popularity because of its helpful claim to treat anxiety and chronic pains. Luke from [Health Rebels] says that that it can help patients with insomnia so they can sleep better. It is also found out that it can also help to cure several kinds of skin problems. It is also believed to improve skin complexion and make your skin healthier.

The benefits of Cannabis plants attracts a lot of people to try CBD products available in the market. This will, in turn, can trigger an increase in the demand which businesses can take advantage of. As of now, there is a steady increase in CBD products in the U.S, which come in different CBD packaging, uses, and effects for its buyer.

Cannabis production

Types and Strain Of Cannabis

People are usually confused between the types and strain of Cannabis. In a brief explanation, the cannabis plant can be divided into three subspecies: the Cannabis Ruderalis, Cannabis Sativa, and Cannabis Indica. The ruderalis is not usually bred since it has a smaller size, and its medical potency is not as significant as the other two. On the other hand, sativa and indica plants are the ones being bred by growers due to their ability to be used in medicines and other industries.

The difference between Cannabis Indica and Cannabis Sativa lies in their anatomical characteristics and the physiological effects they produce. The sativa plants are usually longer in height, and the branches are thinner compared to the indica species. In contrast, indica species are shorter and bulkier-looking, with its leaves appearing broader and thicker than sativa species. In terms of effects, indica species tend to make the body relax and decrease its energy, which gives like a “body high,” while sativa stimulates the brain function giving you the feeling of “mind high.”

Here are other differences of Sativa compared to Indica species:

  • Sativa plants require more time to grow fully compared to Indica subspecies.
  • Indica species have more odor that can be earthy, skunky or musty.
  • Sativa species tend to have fruity, sweet odor. The difference in the aroma is brought by the presence of terpenes, which is a compound found in these Cannabis plants.

Know Your Cannabis

It’s essential to understand not only the subspecies of Cannabis, but it’s also good to know that there a lot of Cannabis strains. Cannabis has at least 1,000 strains being bred by growers in different areas of the world. Strains or hybrids of Cannabis plants came to be by breeding different species of the plant, which aims to produce a new strain of Cannabis with more beneficial results than the parent plant.

However, different strains of Cannabis may have different results on the body. Users and growers must understand and familiarize themselves with these strains to make sure that they are growing or using the right Cannabis strain for your body or to whichever reason you want to use it.

There is a lot of available information on the internet and medical books on the different strains of Cannabis and its effect on the body that offers interesting information about these species. For example, Indica often has more CBD than others and Sativa takes longer time to flower than others. Here, you find out more information about one of these strains.

CBD oil packaged in glass with dropper

Top Packaging For CBD Products

Since the demand for CBD products has increased, many products have come out in the market, and the competition has become fierce. To gain more clients, a business must bring innovation and creativity in creating its own products. Aside from creating great products for consumers, it is essential to make a unique brand that will gain attention from the people. A well-made packaging will definitely attract consumers. It will make the business grow much better.

The packaging and its content are essential in creating the overall quality of the product; this will help in promoting the brand well. All the necessary information must be printed in the product’s packaging. Also, you need to choose the desired design with its color, shape, and sizes that will stand out in your customer’s view. It is especially true for Cannabis since there are still people who are not yet convinced of the effect of Cannabis.

Here are a few CBD packaging designs ideas you may want to try if you’re planning to sell cannabis products.

1. CBD Packaging With Illustrations

One thing you can do to promote your Cannabis product is to put a good illustration that shows the benefit of the plant to the body. Since these plants have also been used in illegal drugs, you have to tread carefully in making logos and illustrations that showcase the benefits of Cannabis.

Make sure you don’t put illustrations that product recreational uses of the. It is also crucial since social media platforms can be restrictive in terms of Cannabis ads and promotions.

Use of the leaf in CBD ads

2. The Familiar Leaf Logo

The leaf logo of the Cannabis plant might be a bit cliche for you, but its still an easily identifiable mark for CBD products. Since customers do not have a lot of time in screening products, a familiar leaf logo can be a great help to make people remember your products.

The leaf logo may be an overused icon, but you can always put a unique touch for your own brand, You can make the leaf logo stylized or make the with modernized appearance. Don’t hesitate to add some elements to make your brand unique and catchy to the eyes. Sone topnotch CBD selling companies have been using this kind of packaging design, such as Bionico and Lazarus Naturals.

3. The Use Of Green and Organic Design

Another best packaging design of popular CBD products is the use of color green or muted brown in their packaging. Due to these color combinations, the CBD products can appear very natural and organic to the customers. It would also be useful to add how the product is grown, which can showcase the natural root of your products.

Although the color is not many, most companies use this kind of design strategy to persuade the customer that CBD products produce good benefits to the human body.

Buying the right CBD oil

4. Leverage The Health Benefit of CBD With Health Symbols

Since people are now starting to see the medical benefits of medical marijuana and other CBD based products, businesses are trying to leverage that information and use it to promote CBD products. It is extremely beneficial when persuading customers who might still be hesitant in using the products due to its possible bad connotations with recreational drugs.

Companies are taking advantage of these health benefits by putting pharmaceutical symbols in their packaging design. It’s not uncommon to see the cross symbols or other medical-related logos on most CBD products.

5. Minimalistic Packaging Design For CBD Products

Keeping it simple is also the name of the game in most product designs. Most companies are taking the leap from striking logos to simple yet elegant packaging design. The same is true for popular companies that sell CBD based-products. Creating a minimalistic design for their packaging reinforces the idea that CBD can be used as a tool for relaxation and meditation.

The minimalist theme should not just apply to the design but also to the materials used for the packaging. More and more consumers are aware of environmental issues, and they want the brands they buy to take green initiatives. Hence, keep your packaging waste minimal by using an eco-friendly box for your CBD products.

This kind of packaging design has been able to appeal to the younger generation of clients successfully. It’s also a good thing since it can open the door for broader acceptance of CBD products in different age groups.

6. Play With Words

Some companies still package their CBD products with a clever reference to how it used as recreational drugs. By adding an explicit reference to its recreational uses, their products can appear fun and playful which can be an advantage if the company wants to stand out with the growing competition in the CBD industry.

Image source

7. The Use of Glass Packaging With Dispensers

Like how other natural oils available in the market, the use of small glass packaging is also becoming a trend in CBD packaging. These glass packages usually come with a dropper or dispenser to help the user get the right amount of CBD oil from the bottle.

It is also a popular CBD packaging design since it gives a similar impression when using essential oils. It’s a good packaging strategy as there is quite a growing market for essential oils nowadays.

8. Sustainable Packaging

It’s a well-known fact that people are now more conscious consumers than ever before. Due to this, the packaging of the different products has aimed to put sustainability as part of their strategy. The same can be said with CBD companies who now include creative packaging solutions in their CBD products.

Some of the few examples of this sustainable packaging strategy include the use of recyclable options such as metal cans, pouches, card boxes, and compostable bags.

CBD in cosmetics

9. CBD Packaging for Beauty and Personal Products

Beauty products infused with CBD oil have also been getting popularity due to its excellent effects and results. Thus, CBD has been added to create beauty care products such as cream gels, lotion, balm, and moisturizers. Due to this, a lot of packaging relies on the use of tubes, jars, and amber glasses which is ideal storage for these products. The use of amber glass with a dropper is a common packaging strategy as it can also block direct sunlight from the product.

10. Supplements

CBD can also be packaged as a supplement in the form of tablets, soft gels, capsules, and even gummies. This kind of packaging design is a popular choice for many topnotch CBD companies since its more convenient for buyers to buy CBD in this form.

Last Reminders And What To Look Out For In Packaging CBD

While FDA just has small information for the labeling of products using CBD, businesses should follow the administrator’s basic mandatory requirements.

The FDA required food label should have the following parts:

● General food labeling
● Name of the food.
● The net amount of its content
● Ingredients
● Nutrition labeling.
● Claims

The FDA required a supplement’s label should have the following parts:

● General dietary supplement labeling
● Identity statement
● The net amount of its content
● Nutrition labeling
● Ingredients labeling
● Claims.
● Premarket notification of new dietary ingredients

It’s better to put the name, address, and contact information of the manufacturer or distributor. Also, it’s important to know the different state has different rules regarding CBD products labeling.

Digital BrandingLegal Branding

Most Impactful Ways To Generate And Nurture Your B2B Leads

on January 10, 2020

The number one question for every business:

“How to generate leads?”

And while 47 percent of marketers prioritize generating quality leads, a report revealed that 32 percent of marketers said that lead generation is also that one area that poses the biggest challenge. 

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So, how can you generate and nurture B2B leads?

Integrated Content Strategy

An effective B2B content strategy needs to be tailored to the needs of their prospects at different stages of the sales and marketing funnels. This also means that that sales and marketing teams need to seamlessly work together in order to create the most effective silos at every stage. 

Here’s how content marketing can help generate leads:

  • Offering valuable and relevant information which solves pain points
  • Building a respectable brand identity and online presence
  • Engaging audience member and initiating Calls To Action
  • Providing carious contents targeted to relevant audiences at every stage of the funnel: webinars, e-books, native ads, social media posts, and blog posts

Utilize Marketing Automation Tools

If your lead generation process is not yet automated, then you have been missing a lot. Automation can help:

  • Send emails at sale
  • Segment your email list, targeting them with relevant message and content
  • Moving qualified leads over to the sales team for better conversion
  • Notify you when leads perform an intended action
  • Offer better alignment between marketing and sales

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In short, automation can make your lead generation and nurturing campaigns less tedious to manage while still giving you accurate results.

Optimize Your Websites and Landing Pages

Good website design not only offers a professional and trustworthy feel on your brand, but it also helps bring more traffic and better engages any potential leads regardless of how they got to your site, both paid and organic. In addition, relevant content that directly appeals to the interests of the audience and addresses their pain points is crucial to the success of the website. 

Landing pages, on the other hand, should also be optimized in terms of design and messaging. Call To Action buttons need to be in the proper placement as it plays a crucial role in lead generation. 

Host a Webinar

Webinars are forums not only designed to educate participants but to also connect with your prospects. Leads that are generated via webinar signups are typical of higher quality than those generated from other gated offers. Why?

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People who attend webinars are typically in the advanced stages of information gathering. And they are looking for in-depth data that should enlighten them more and help decide on a deal.

Influencer Marketing

Not only for B2C companies, but influencer marketing is also crucial for the B2B organizations since it generates quality referrals and positive word-of-mouth interactions which are crucial to online engagement. 

Thus, you will need to research and engage with influencers in your industry across multiple channels. It is a powerful way to reach relevant audiences in huge numbers by positioning the influencer as your B2B brand’s advocate. 

Call Warm Leads

If you’ve been nurturing leads for a while but have not managed to convert them, then it is time to start making some calls. Call a warm lead:

  • When free trial ends
  • A few days after a pdf download
  • If you do not hear from them after a webinar

The lead’s last action should be your opening line for the conversation. For example:

  • If they completed a trial, ask if they need an extended trial period. 
  • If they downloaded a material, ask if it was helpful and if they need any more reading material or in what other way can you help. 
  • After a webinar, ask if you can visit their office or if they are open to having a one-on-one demo. 

Warm leads are a lot closer to a buying decision than anyone who has not had contact with your brand before. And a simple call can be the only thing to propel them to finally buying. 

Conclusion

These are just some of the best ways to generate and nurture B2B leads. Consider including these to your strategy and prepare to see better lead generation results!

Digital Branding

Want to Create Compelling eLearning Content? Consider These Points

on January 8, 2020

It is rightly said that ‘content is king’. No eLearning course is successful without content which is well-researched, informative, and compelling enough to grab the attention of its audience. Hence, it is a driving force and also a crucial factor in providing you with an edge over your competitors. But, how to create high-quality eLearning content that engages? It’s not a strenuous task! In order to find a substantial answer to this question it is first necessary to clarify another mystery i.e. How to start blogging which would then allow eLearning firms to create relevant pieces while keeping up with the interactive quotient.
However, there are certain points that must be taken into consideration while you are creating your eLearning content. Applying the following tips and utilizing modern tools and services can assist you in the same alongside various content providers for eLearning.

Set clear objectives

Why are you creating the respective eLearning course in the first place? What are the insights you wish to provide to your audience? What specific knowledge do you want them to gain? What particular skills do you wish them to master? These are some of the prerequisite questions you must have answers to as it will help you set a crystal clear objective and provide a good idea of what goals you want to achieve.

Include visuals and media

Once you have your well-defined objective and have already started with the creation of the eLearning program, keep in mind to add relevant media irrespective of what the content is about. This will help you engage your target audience and create a smooth learning process for them alongside providing a satisfactory user experience. The different forms of media which can be incorporated into your eLearning content include images, videos, infographics, charts, animations, and interactive content like quizzes and puzzles.

Follow a specific theme and organize your content

Some other solutions for eLearning content needs include following a specific theme and organizing your content. So, plan well in advance what type of content will be included and in what order it shall be presented. Try using a storyboard as it can help maintain an outline while you create your course and it will help you include all important points without venturing into unnecessary ones. Storyboarding actually brings together all the elements which will make up the course. For instance, you can start your storyboard with writing your course title which is followed by a brief course overview. 

In fact, your eLearning courses should have a specified time for each module and every unit should comprise a specific set of learning materials. For instance, a lesson or unit may consist of a 15-minute educational video, a 30-minute powerpoint presentation, and a 10-minute quiz.

Too much information is menacing

Well, the theory ‘the more the better’ doesn’t apply here at all. Hence, you need to make sure that you don’t overload your course with too much information. It will not make it effective or informative but will rather scare the users away. Also, keep in mind to not include too many visuals and graphics and it is advisable to incorporate them only when required. 

Moreover, you must pay attention to the length of the course as well as the human mind consumes maximum information within the first 45-60 minutes. So, make sure it takes an employee not more than 60 minutes to consume a particular lesson.

Proofread always

Lastly, there is always some scope of improvement hence it is recommended to make sure you proofread and edit your course content. It must be perfect along all lines especially that of grammar and syntax. For the same, you can also utilize various proofreading and editing software available and check every paragraph for typos and mistakes. 

The aforementioned tips are highly effective and help in creating high-quality eLearning content. So, implement these today as a part of your course creation process and keep the knowledge of your employees up to date. Set clear goals, prioritize your audience’s interest, stick to a course, add relevant media and you’re just one step away from designing an amazing eLearning course.

Personal Branding

How to Become a Brand Manager

on January 8, 2020

I think you will agree when I say: that starting a new career in brand management is hard. What does the role entail? 

Which skills do you need as a brand manager? How much do brand managers make annually? These are some of the questions you’re probably asking.

Turns out starting a career in brand management is easy if you know what you’re doing. And in today’s post, we show you exactly how to become a brand manager that every team wants. 

Read on to learn the basics of starting a successful career as a brand manager.

Who is a Brand Manager?

A brand manager is responsible for “defining and promoting a company’s personality, both on the shelf and in the community.” The main role of a brand manager is to create a branding strategy for a company.

Brand managers wear many hats in an organization, covering everything from market research, branding, advertising, product development, packaging and so on.

Generally, brand managers are responsible for a company’s brand image and reputation in relation to the target market. 

They carry out market research to determine what ticks, and then use the data to formulate creative branding and marketing campaigns that lead to customer engagement.

It’s an interesting career choice for anybody with a knack of creative thinking and a good grasp of analytical skills. A passion for all things marketing is an added plus.

Salary Prospects

If you want to become a brand manager, you’re probably wondering how much the job pays. Well, brand management is one of the better-paying marketing jobs. 

Most brand managements work within teams on a full-time basis, which comes with bonuses, health insurance, house allowances, commissions, and such benefits.

According to Payscale.com, brand managers take home anywhere between $60,000 and $130,000 per year depending on skills, experience, and the size of the company. 

Your salary goes up as you earn certifications and gain more skills and experience.

How Does the Future Look?

The future is bright for all brand managers especially with the advent of digital advertising and social media marketing. 

Every organization needs a brand manager to remain competitive and expand their market share. You might have the best product in the market, but if your branding fails, you won’t sell much, if anything.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “…overall employment of advertising, promotions, and marketing managers is projected to grow 8 percent from 2018 to 2028, faster than the average for all occupations.”

That being said, how do you become a brand manager?

5 Top Tips to Start a Career as a Brand Manager

In the following section, we cover a couple of tips to help you cover your bases as far as becoming a brand manager goes. The tips will help you prepare for any brand management role, and ace the interview when you start job hunting.

Get the Right Education

Most employers require at least an undergraduate degree in marketing, business, brand management, advertising, or a related major. Some employers will also require a post-graduate degree such as an MBA for high-level positions.

Since brand managers must play many roles on a day-to-day basis, a bachelor’s degree is a great starting point for building a successful career. 

Formal education offers you advanced instructions in various fields such as advertising, business, and economics, all of which come in handy as you scale the corporate ladder.

Gain Experience

Most employers usually require their ideal candidate to have some years of experience before applying for the job. You’ve seen this repeated in nearly all job postings. 

It goes without saying that the more experienced you’re, the better your salary becomes like a brand manager. This applies to entry-level, middle-level and high-level jobs; more experience means better career prospects.

But if you’re just starting out, how are you are supposed to have experienced for the job? Well, you can start with a brand management internship.

Most companies are more than eager to offer brand management internships that come with a lot of on-job training.

An internship can help you develop real hands-on experience as a brand manager. The best part is most companies will offer you a salaried position after the internship.

But even if the internship doesn’t lead to direct employment, the experience you gain will look good on your resume when applying for a brand management job.

If you cannot get internships, you can try pro-bono work. Talk to your friends, charities, religious groups, and local businesses, and do their branding to gain experience.

Earn Professional Certifications

Academic qualifications show the employer you have the background to fill the position. Professional certifications, on the other hand, show the employer you have the relevant skills, expertise, and passion for the job.

There are a number of industry certifications available to all aspiring brand managers. Some notable certifications that will help you better compete include CBM, CPM, and ACPMPO among others. Earn as many as you can, and stand out from the crowd.

Certifications offer you advanced skills and resources that make you a better candidate in job interviews compared to individuals without certifications.

Network

If you want to work alone, branding (and even marketing in general) should be the last profession on your mind. 

Brand management involves actively working with others in a rapidly changing environment. You will work with people, and that’s the end of the story.

As such, you should invest in building a network of likeminded people. While working with your team on a daily basis is great, you need to expand your network to people outside your company.

Network with other brand managers and marketing professionals via social media. On top of that, attend networking events to meet up with other people in the industry. 

Don’t just go for the business card; endeavor to cultivate real relationships that can lead to better career prospects down the line. In other words, foster professional and/or personal relationships with your network.

I say this because you never know who will recommend you for your dream job. Don’t make it all about you; networking is supposed to be a mutually satisfying activity for all parties involved.

A simple “brand management events” search in Google should point you in the right direction. To be a successful networker, brand manager and marketer in general, you need to develop a cocktail of other skills, which leads us to our last point today.

Develop Your Soft Skills

As a brand manager, you must develop a couple of soft skills to thrive. It’s vital to keep in mind that you will need to communicate with your superiors and juniors on an ongoing basis. 

This means you must hone your communication skills to ensure your team creates a cohesive brand image.

You’ll rely on said communication skills to explain your strategies to superiors based on real-world data you collect from astute market research.

The successful brand manager must also be creative. Brand management involves a lot of creativity, and the ability to come up with ideas that help the company stand out at any given time.

Other than that, you need to develop other soft skills such as responsibility, conflict resolutions, time management, focus, trend savviness and so on.

When you combine soft skills, experience, academic qualifications, experience, certifications and networking, nothing will stop you from becoming the brand manager every employer wants.

Conclusion

Becoming a brand manager is easy when you know what you’re doing. We hope our tips help you to start a fulfilling career in brand management. As we have seen in today’s post, the job is both exciting and lucrative for the passionate candidate.

Do you have any questions or suggestions? Please let us know. Cheers to a successful career as a brand manager.

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