Getting Started As A Beauty Blogger

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Hi lovelies,

Whether it's advice on wearing the latest fashions or giving makeup tips to others, you can do much to benefit the lives of the people who need guidance on topics beauty-related. 

You can benefit your own life too, as it is possible to make an income from blogging. This can be achieved through affiliate links, private ads, and the sale of products from your site. Check out the advice here on making money from your blog. 

But if you want to find success as a blogger, there are a few things you need to do at the beginning of your venture. Check out the tips below on getting started.

#1: Consider your area of expertise
If you're giving beauty advice to others, you need to know something about what you're talking about. This doesn't mean you have to go back to school to learn something new (although it could be an option), but you need to have some experience in the niche your blog will be covering. So, whether it's hair tutorials, nail advice, or tips on how to properly apply makeup, pick a topic that you are comfortable talking about. Your readers will respond better to what you are saying if you approach your posts with some authority and they might subscribe to your blog too. 

#2: Choose your demographic
Who will you be trying to appeal to with your blog? This is an important thing to consider, as the beauty advice you give to teenagers would be different from the advice you would give to ladies in their late 20s and 30s. 

Teens are more likely to be interested in beginner guides to beauty, for example, and the affordable brands that would suit their limited budget. Women aged 25+ would be more interested in anti-aging advice and the products that could help them maintain their youthfulness, such as those that are sold by Revinia. 

So, consider your demographic when deciding what to talk about in your blog. And do the same when choosing your writing style and creating the layout for your blog, as these are two other factors that need to be tailored to your chosen demographic.

#3: Focus on your website
The first thing you need to do is choose your blogging platform. There are many you could choose from, some of which are free, although as you're writing a beauty blog, you should choose something that can give your site a beautiful aesthetic. WordPress is a popular choice but commit to research, such as by taking notice of the platforms used by the beauty blogs you like online. 

You then need to come up with a name for your blog and buy a domain name, so come up with something that reflects the content you will be covering on your site. Remember to Google your intended site name to ensure it isn't already being used by somebody else.

Finally
There is more you need to do after following these initial three setups, including writing the content your audience will read and choosing the brands that you will be promoting on your site. We have plenty of advice to give you on this blog, so browse our pages to learn more. You will also find advice online on such things as brand ambassadorship and hiring guest bloggers, so continue your search to learn more about the ins and outs of becoming a successful beauty blogger.

Looking At Your Most Confident As An Influencer

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Hi lovelies,

Nowadays, influencers play much of the roles that models used to. Aside from partnering with brands to show them off in the best life, there is also pressure to play a certain idealized version of reality and it can be quite daunting to do that. If you feel like your self-confidence is a little shaken or that you don’t have what it takes, what can you do to fight that?

Show yourself a little care
If you want to feel truly confident and at ease with yourself and your place as an influencer, then you should first make sure that you show yourself a little love and take care of yourself. If you have problems with self-esteem, even little steps like taking care of your skin every day can be a great help. If you have trouble getting out of your shell, then it can help to do something spontaneous and active. Dancing is a great tool for this. You don’t have to be a good dancer, either, by any means.

Work to be your best you
You have to know what you’re in the business of selling. If you’re selling yourself and your beauty through photography, then yes, you should work to present yourself at your best. For a lot of women, this might mean tightening up and keeping a certain body weight. So long as you’re doing it healthily, there’s nothing wrong with managing your weight carefully. This doesn’t mean beauty can’t exist at every size, it just means you should know what steps will help you get the body that you’re most confident with.

Getting the body shape that you want
There’s only so much we can do with the bodies that we’ve been given naturally, of course. There are some things you can augment or hack with the right outfit choices, but you’re trying to change your silhouette, then you need practical options. For instance, a lot of women consider breast augmentation to give themselves a more hourglass-like figure. You shouldn’t feel pressured to make any changes that you don’t want. However, if you know what you want, it’s a good idea to identify what steps you can take to achieve them and cosmetic surgery is often more helpful than you might think.

Know how to work the camera
Confidence doesn’t just come from you, intrinsically. It also comes from how you’re able to display yourself to the world and to the online media spheres that you’re a part of. For that reason, if you’re an influencer, you must learn how to pose correctly for pictures. Knowing your angles, how to correct your posture and how to get a great profile shot can help you avoid having to delete half your images because you find one that you’re happy to upload.

If you’re able to naturally get yourself to the place of confidence that you need to conquer the influencer world, then have at it. However, don’t feel bad if you need a little extra help feeling at your most confident, either.

The Best Way To Ensure Your Visa Is Approved

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Hi lovelies,

Do you want to apply for a work visa? Perhaps you require a visa so that you can study in another country? Irrespective of the type of visa you need, or your reasons for coming to the USA, you are advised to hire one of the best immigration lawyers to assist.

When applying for a US visa, you are not legally required to employ an immigration lawyer. There is the option to do everything on your own. However, this is a very risky approach to take. In the USA, the laws are altering all the time. This highlights why it is vital to have an experienced professional who knows exactly what is required to make a successful application, be it an application for a K1 visa or a student visa. 

Furthermore, a large proportion of the applications are not straightforward. If you make any errors, or your application does not add up, you are going to find your visa application is refused, even if the mistakes were unintentional, which is often the case due to the confusing nature of immigration law for beginners. 

Despite this, the government may think that you have intentionally tried to deceive on your application, and so you may find that not only are you refused a visa, but also you may be banned from making another application for up to ten years. To ensure this does not happen, and you have the best chance of being approved for a visa, you need an immigration lawyer.

Do you want to appeal a visa decision that you have received?
Are you interested in making a visa appeal? This is something an increasing number of individuals are turning to, as visa applications are being refused more regularly nowadays. Therefore, continue reading to find out more about visa appeals. 

How you appeal your visa refusal is dependent on whether you’re making your appeal from within the USA or from an international location. So, let's start with making an application from outside of the USA. You must be granted the ability to do this. These details will often be in your decision letter. You will have 28 days to make your appeal. 

Now, let’s assess appeals from in the USA. Again, you can only appeal if you have the right to and the fees are the same. If you can appeal, you have two weeks to do so following your decision date. Should you miss this deadline, you must explain why, but there's no guarantee that the appeal will be heard. In both cases, it is better to appeal via the Internet as opposed to sending a letter or a fax. 

It is imperative to realise that if you have not been granted the right to appeal, you could have another option in the form of an administrative review. This is a review of the decision, and then an appeal could potentially be made. It's a good idea to secure legal advice on this matter.

Why Brands Are Bending Over Backward To Reach Out On Instagram

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Hi lovelies,

On this blog, we all know about the joys of Instagram for sharing our personal lives. But what the heck does it have to do with serious matters of business? 

Well, a lot, as it turns out. 

Before we get started, we should say that some brands understand the power of Instagram. But it remains a bit of a mystery to the rest of the business community. Executives don’t really know how or why they should be using it. 

In this post, we take a look at why some businesses are bending over backward to reach out on Instagram and why you should join them. 

Instagram Stories Make You More Relatable
Do you sometimes feel like there’s a gap between you and your audience? Usually, it comes down to relatability. Customers grudgingly buy from you, but they don’t really feel like they know what you’re about. 

Instagram “stories” help you to change this dynamic. These sequences transform you from a faceless corporation into somebody that people can trust. 

Instagram Is Packed With Influencers
Instagram, as a social network, has a lot of influencers - people with existing audiences who you can use to promote your brand. 

You can find Instagram influencers easily using aggregation platforms. These show you who is out there and how much they cost to hire or use. 

Today, many brands use influencers to talk about their products. Mostly, there’s an exchange relationship: the brand provides a product or service and then the influencer discusses it on the platform. 

Instagram Is Mobile
Practically all modern social networks are mobile. But Instagram stands head and shoulders above the rest as the most mobile of the bunch. It’s text-light and image-rich, making it ideal for small, handheld devices. 

Why does this matter to your business? The answer is simple: because most audiences overwhelmingly use their smartphones and tablets to access online content.  

Instagram Lets You Keep Tabs On Your Competitors
Instagram is also a great way to see what your competitors are doing. Practically everything that they do on the platform is public, so you can quickly see that tack they’re taking. You can then use this to brainstorm your own ideas and consider how you might respond to their marketing approach. 

Instagram Lets You Get Creative
Because Instagram is mainly pictorial, it forces you to get creative with your advertising approaches. You can’t just write a bunch of text and expect it to stick. That’s not how the platform works or what users want. 

Instagram forces you to take your content marketing in a different direction. You have to think about how you’re going to communicate with customers visually. Your brand has to have personality and you want to make it seem like it’s “cool” to shop with you. 

Instagram Provides Insights On Your Marketing Strategy
Lastly, Instagram as a platform provides loads of insights on your marketing strategy. Its analytics tell you whether your approach is working or if you could be doing things in a better way. You can also integrate it with your other marketing strategies. 

Tips To Practise Self-Care While Planning Your Vacation During Covid-19

Hi lovelies,

Tips To Practise Self-Care While Planning Your Vacation During Covid-19

Due to the restrictions on movement and the new status quo of working from home, you may feel cooped up indoors, and everything may begin to seem drab and monotonous. Working from home makes it much harder to set boundaries between work, family, and personal time. This often results in you working overtime and yet being less productive. People cope and deal with emotions differently; for some visiting a place like SeaWorld San Antonio, playing sports, or going to the movies helps a lot. Taking a break, especially by traveling, is actually needed for self-care and to reinvigorate yourself. Here are some tips to help you plan for that sorely needed vacation.

Consider the length of the break

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How much time will you need to feel refreshed? Have a look at the number of vacation days that you have accrued. This should give you an idea of how much time you have. Then decide on how long you want to spend on vacation. Note that you are actually leaving money on the table when you do not use your paid days off. Make the necessary checks with your office to work out how many days you will be taking off and begin making the necessary arrangements to begin your vacation.

Clear your workload
For many people, their reason for not taking a break from work is because of the pile of work they may come back to face. But this can be avoided by simply clearing your workload. Do not proceed on vacation with work left on your desk, which will only pressure you during vacation. So as much as possible, clear your desk before you go on vacation. Another thing to consider is finding out if you can finish tasks ahead of time so that you do not have so much to do when you get back from vacation.

Set boundaries
While working things out with your office concerning your vacation, it is important to set boundaries. Although you are on vacation, there may be things that require your attention from work. So, establish lines of communication and tasks before you leave. This will enable you to filter all work-related stuff and so that only those that absolutely need your attention will be brought to you.

Plan your vacation ahead of time

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Your vacation is likely to be more fun when you plan ahead of time. This gives you something to look forward to, and you can enjoy the things you have on your checklist. Consider all the places you want to visit and find out how they are operating during the pandemic and the rules they have to prevent the spread of the virus. This will better equip you with what to expect when you actually get to your destination.

The goal of a vacation is to take a break from your routine and be rejuvenated. So no matter how you decide to spend your vacation, ensure that you thoroughly enjoy it. It has been a physically and psychologically draining time, so make the most out of your break. 

Three Simple but Powerful Strategies To Break the Ceiling in the Business World

Hi lovelies,

The truth is, the business world is competitive and can only accommodate well-fitted ventures. The situation is said to get worse with the improved technology and more people opting for self-employment. Some of the challenges you are likely to encounter in this field include stiff competition, financial challenges, technology and innovation challenges, and lack of talent, to name a few.

To make it in business today, you must first shy away from the traditional way of doing things, woe and maintain customers and produce at the lowest costs. Moreover, make sure to do optimum research to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in the area you wish to venture. 

In addition to these, employ these three strategies to keep you ahead of your competitors.

Grow Your Customer Base
This means you have to do everything possible to attract and win new customers and encourage repeat buyers and referrals. So, what's the secret? It's simple; you need to have profound customer service skills and produce the best products in the market.  

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Small deeds such as timely communication and delivery of goods will go a long way in enhancing this. It would help if you also indulged in thorough research and development to produce the best products in the market today where things are changing at a faster rate.

Let the World Know What You Do
It's time you took your business to the world other than concentrating on your already saturated local market. Technology has made this possible, and the only thing you need is a computer, strong internet, and the ability to sell your business to the world. With these three strategies, you will get to take your products to the farthest corner of the universe. 

Take note, however, that you must be smart and offer the best for someone far away to trust you. It's also a must to position yourself strategically and stand out among fellow sellers. This requires that you put maximum effort into your business website and let it be ever live and updated. 

At this time, you need to consider hiring the services of professional marketing agencies such as Unruly Agency to help you expose the business to the world. You can learn more about this agency here at unrulyagency.com. 

With such agencies in your business, you do not have to worry about convincing the world to choose you and not your competitor. A professional agency will work on your website, which is your business's face, to make it appealing to potential buyers. They will also do market research to know what is selling and go the extra mile to keep you ahead of the others. 

Have Enough Cash
There is too much to spend money on in business today. If you are not training on a new skill, you need the money to introduce a new product to the market or buy outdated office equipment such as a computer. 

Therefore make sure always to have enough money to enable you to do the necessary to stay ahead of competitors. The 21st century is not the time to fear taking loans to expand your business. Go ahead and take whatever amount you need; as long as you strategize correctly, it will eventually pay off. 

Therefore don't fear and always remember that your competitors are working day and night to stay ahead. 

Conclusion
The business world offers so much room for growth today despite the many challenges. Get the best from your venture by implementing the above three workable strategies. 

Spend your spring vacation millionaire style! Here’s how?

Hi lovelies,
The best part of having tons of dollars in your bank is that you can take a vacation anytime you want and wherever you want. Today people are much more practical and love to stay in the present. Nowadays, people like to chant; Earn-Travel-Relax Repeat!

Don’t you always want a vacation to fulfill your champagne wishes and caviar dreams? But for some people, it isn’t that easy. But not for you. Now that you’ve worked really hard for years and want to take some time off to relax, it’s your chance to use the opportunity to go on a luxurious and fancy vacation.

If you are confused about how to spend your spring vacation millionaire style, don’t worry! We’ve got the basics for you. After reading this article, you’ll be all set to add a little grandeur to your upcoming getaway.

Let’s begin!

• Book an exotic vacation

Since you want to vacation just like rich people, then you need to make some similar choices. No millionaire would like to spend their vacation at any regular place since you want to travel as they do, then opt for a destination that you always wanted to go to but failed due to your work commitments. You can opt for exotic locations like Paris (France), Telluride(Colorado), Fiji, Lake Como (Italy), and Bora Bora (French Polynesia).

• Travel in a private jet

This might feel a little bit over the top, but hey! You are a millionaire for the day, so you can consider spending some of your hard money and feel like one. According to the experts at Advanced Aviation, you can now easily book an aircraft for your domestic or international travels. You can opt for light jets, helicopters, or airliners according to your needs and requirements.

If you ever dreamt of riding on a private plane of your own, now is the time to fulfill them because you get one life. Moreover, how long are you planning to put your dreams on the backburner? It’s time you make some spontaneous decisions just to make yourself feel good.

• Go overboard with luxurious resorts.

Imagine this, you are on an exotic beach and just arrived on your private jet. Would it look good if you stayed in a cheap hotel? Obviously not! As mentioned earlier, don’t worry about the money and treat yourself for once. Look for some luxurious resorts that provide quality amenities to their guests. This may include unlimited drinks, private pools, and free massages. Staying in a nice and luxurious resort will definitely make your millionaire vacation much more happening, relaxed, and memorable.

Wrapping Up!
Millionaires are known for their decision making and risk-taking skills. They analyze everything beforehand and use their resources to add some color to their life. And that’s what you need to do.

With little research and planning, you can enjoy your vacation millionaire style. You can always earn more money, but you can’t put your life dreams on the back burner anymore.

So, this spring vacation, it’s your chance to feel like Richie Rich!

4 Brilliant Ways To Be Successful at Everything You Do

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Hi lovelies,

While success may entail making millions annually for one individual, for others, it could mean making a sustainable living and getting a fortnight of paid leave so that they can travel and be with family. 

On the other hand, some people may desire to build something of their own, while others prefer to find a passive source of income to spend more time on their hobbies. Whichever the case, there are a few habits that can lead you to achieve success in any of your endeavors. 

They include the following. 

Construct a Positive Environment
Your environment can affect your success significantly. Unfortunately, most people tend to give this fact less credit than it deserves. The places where you spend a significant amount of your time, such as your work environment, significantly impact your mood and accomplishments. 

When you are in the right working environment, you tend to feel more engaged and enthusiastic about your work. A hostile environment, on the other hand, can diminish your inspiration and kill your joy. 

The same case applies to your home, especially since it is where you get to relax and recharge after a long day. Therefore, it would be best if you turned your home or workplace into a positive environment where you can prosper. 

Visualize Your Success
The visualization principles prove to work in a wide array of fields, from business to sports. Many individuals at the top of their professions confess to using visualization techniques such as manifestation to achieve top performance. 

Visualizing yourself doing the things you wish to do or living the life you desire can go a long way in helping you to succeed. Moreover, it will be much easier to instill a new habit or pick up a new skill if you can picture yourself doing it.

You can stay on the lookout for a law of attraction symbol to determine whether your manifestations are coming to pass. However, this does not mean that you should remain in your comfort zone, hoping and wishing. 

Talk Less and Do More
It is typical of people to talk about what they want to achieve. However, few of them are ready to put in the effort required for success.

To become successful, you must acquire the skills to push you ahead of your competition and work smart. Moreover, it would be best if you had a fundamental belief in what you are doing. You must also know your purpose and stick to your core values and beliefs. 

Be an Effective Communicator
Communication skills are often the biggest differentiators between those who are merely aspiring to be successful and those who manage to achieve success. If you wish to be the latter, you must possess the skill of effective communication. 

Acquiring this skill takes time and practice. It also requires that you strive to understand others as well as yourself. 

It is the goal of every individual to be successful in everything that they do. Learning these habits and making them your own will increase your chances of achieving success.

Creating A Professional Outfit To Assert Authority In The Business World

Hi lovelies,

In an ideal world, people would be judged on their actions alone, but even if we try not to, we are all guilty of judging a book by its cover sometimes. That’s why the clothes that you wear in the workplace make a big difference, especially for women. 

A High-Quality, Capsule Closet
From meeting important clients to winning the trust of your customers, every day of your professional life is marked by important events. You might wish to have a specific clothing item for each of them - but the harsh reality is that most of us pick variety over quality! However, as we all start to better understand the impact of fast fashion and low-quality materials, fewer but more sustainable items are becoming increasingly valued. From alpaca clothing to linen, cotton, or wool, natural fibers are on their way back - and investing in these items can complete your professional outfit.

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People will instantly make a judgment about you based on your wardrobe, and sometimes, that means that they take you less seriously than they otherwise would have done. But you can use this to your advantage if you focus on building a professional wardrobe that asserts your authority. Get your outfit right and you can immediately command the respect of others in a business environment. Here’s how to build a professional wardrobe that asserts authority. 

Choose A Set Of Essentials 
Practicality is also important when choosing a professional wardrobe, so make sure that you pick out some essentials that you will wear on a regular basis. A simple pair of black pants, for example, pairs well with most outfits, they look professional, and they are comfortable and practical. Skirts or dresses are fine in the summer but a good pair of pants will work all year round. Blazers are another great professional piece, which you can also use to create casual outfits outside of work. If you are going to buy a blazer, it’s best to invest a bit of money in a tailored one so the fit is better. You will get a lot of wear out of it, so it’s worth paying more for a good quality one. 

Use Simple Colors 
Simplicity is often the best way to create a striking outfit, especially in a business setting. Anything too elaborate can come off as unprofessional in some workplaces, so it’s best to stick with one or two colors. An all black outfit can be surprisingly effective and it makes a big statement, even though it is very classic. If you don’t want to go for all black, match two or three colors at most and avoid anything that is heavily patterned. 

Inject Your Personality 
Although it’s important that your business wardrobe is professional and simple, you should still inject some of your personality. You want to assert authority and differentiating yourself from others is a big part of that. A good work outfit is professional and understated, yet also memorable, which is a difficult balance to find. Accessories are a good way to add a bit of personality without taking away from the rest of the outfit and making it too overpowering. Interesting jewelry, for example, will boost your outfit and make it more memorable and, as long as you choose small items and avoid anything big and chunky, it will still look professional. Socks are another great way to add a burst of color to an otherwise professional, plain outfit. It creates a unique look and makes your personality part of the outfit but in a way that is still understated enough that you remain professional. 

Building a professional wardrobe that asserts authority will help you get ahead in the business world, so think carefully about your outfits.

How To Get Your Dream Job In 2021

Hi lovelies,

If there is one thing that we learn during difficult times, it is that we need to make the most of every opportunity that comes our way. This may mean that it is finally time to quit that job you hate. Whether you feel underappreciated by your boss and colleagues or are simply looking for a challenge, do not be afraid to reach for your dreams - no matter how ambitious they may be. 

With that in mind, here is a quick guide to getting your dream job in 2021!

Photo by Green Chameleon on Unsplash

Put a plan together. 
The first step towards obtaining your dream job is putting together a plan. If you aren’t sure exactly what industry you want to enter, you may wish to consult with a career counselor who can help you decide exactly what positions are right for you. You may want to consider the following: 

• Your professional qualifications 

• Your work experience 

• Your interests 

• Any skills that you have 

• How many hours you want to work

• What kind of workplace culture you want to enter

• Whether you want to work alone or as part of a team

Once you have narrowed down your choices, it’s time to put together a clear plan. For example, you may need to save money or provide your current employment with notice. You should also determine if you need to participate in any training courses and schedule time for this into your plan. 

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Complete any necessary training 
If you are entering a new field, it may be that you need to retrain to obtain a job. For example, if you wish to work as an occupational therapist, despite previously working in office administration, you might need to attend occupational therapy school.  This will allow you to gain all of the necessary skills you need to thrive and look excellent on your resume. Though the cost of the course may seem steep, consider it an essential investment in your future.

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Prepare for your interview. 
Job interviews are always going to be difficult. However, as we continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, it may mean that you have to interview for your new position online or in person. While this may save you from having to master your handshake, there are other skills you will need to focus on in order to be able to make a great first impression online. 

Before the interview, set up an appropriate space. Ensure that it is clean, tidy, and well-lit. Try to find a room in your home with a strong internet connection to not risk getting disconnected. Even though it is just a video call, dress in the same outfit you would wear to a regular interview. This demonstrates commitment and professionalism but can also help you get in the right mindset. This means it will feel less like a conversation and more like a traditional job interview.

Furthermore, focus on your communication skills. Speak clearly and calmly throughout. When asked a question, don’t rush to find a response. Think carefully about what you want to say and what you need to convey.

Using Apps to Teach Business Lessons

Hi lovelies,

The use of mobile applications is increasing at an immense rate! Therefore, it comes as no surprise that businesses are trying to use mobile training apps as a cost-effective and easy way to train employees. More and more apps are being developed for the purpose of education and business training. Below we feature a list of applications using their platform to teach.

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1. Better Lessons
This app seeks to reinvent classrooms-based learning, by providing personalised support for educators to create a new type of learning that is driven by the students. By using Better Lessons, teachers have comprehensive access to innovative lesson plans, resources, and strategies.

2. Skip-pill
Skip-Pill is a free app that seeks to improve business skills with two-minute videos. The short and snappy nature of the app is designed with the human attention span in mind.

3. Stepik
Stepik is a technology specific learning platform. It covers a range of courses within the computer science realm, teaching coding languages such as python.

4. Cursa
Cursa has truly mastered the art of eLearning, as they offer a number of business courses to study via video. After completing each course, Cursa awards you with a certificate to validate your newly learnt skills.

5. Candy Washington
With learning, you cannot expect a one app approach fits all, some businesses have gone down an alternative route. For example, Candy Washington uses podcasts to teach people about self-love and how to develop yourself on a personal level.

What makes a good teaching app?
Having an app is just half the battle, having a successful one is a whole other story and is dependent on a number of factors. For instance, it needs to be easily accessible, up to date, relevant and user friendly. These factors are all integral to a successful eLearning application. It has been recently found that 90% of mobile time is spent on mobile apps, and so it makes sense that businesses are trying to capitalize on this and utilize the growing use of mobile applications.

Developing an e-learning mobile application
You may be sitting there thinking you have a great idea for a new business teaching style app, and if so, there is a lot to consider! When you start your journey, it is important to understand how to start an app business before diving straight in. App creation is a long, but rewarding process, and with how technology dependent our society has become it is definitely a market worth getting into, whether that is creating a mobile application or using it. However, you do need to know the right people and gather an innovative team to work with. There’s nothing that can’t be achieved with the right people by your side.

It is no secret that these styles of training apps are the future of learning and development, not just in terms of developing business skills, but also in covering a whole spectrum of skills. We are lucky enough to have access to courses including coding, meditation, teaching, fitness, self-love and more.

How To Make A Great First Impression Online

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Hi lovelies,

Unfortunately, making a first impression is something you can only do once, so you need to get it right. According to a Harvard study of communication, it only takes seven seconds to make a first impression on another human being. According to Forbes magazine, your brain makes a thousand computations when you see someone in those seven seconds. Are they trustworthy, confident, likable, or competent? Within those seven seconds, a decision has been made, even though you probably haven’t even said hello. The other thing that is now going to impact first impressions is that, certainly at the moment and more increasingly in the future, first impressions will be made online. So how can you make a great first impression? 

When it comes to making a first impression online, the fundamentals are the same as in person, but there are just a few differences. For example, when you make a first impression in-person, you might be wearing a great perfume or aftershave; you can give a good handshake or dress to impress. However, making an impression online, in the first instance, you can usually do this on paper. For example, whether you’re looking for a new job or a date, you get the opportunity to write a profile or a CV. According to practicematch.com, your is typically the first glimpse that a hiring organization will see, so it is essential that you create a CV that sends the message that you are a viable candidate. What’s good about this is that the other person can read your profile or CV numerous times; however, they can only meet you for the first time once. 

Another thing is that you are the curator of your own online presence, so you can make sure that your online image is one that you want people to see. Make sure your Google yourself to find out what your web presence is, have a look at every link, and search the images as well.

When it comes to an online meeting, make sure that your camera is on because without it, you are limiting yourself to only your voice as your means of communication. It’s also important to stay focused and to be fully present with the person you are communicating with. This is about respect, and while it is more tempting over a video call or phone call to try to do something else at the same time, it doesn’t look good, and it’s obvious that your attention is elsewhere. Your body language matters, too, so make sure that you’re sat up straight, you’re smiling, and you’re as expressive as you can be. 

Finally, even though you’re online, it does matter what you wear. While you might not need to put shoes on, you should still get appropriately dressed and make a good impression just as you would in person. It shows that you care and have made an effort for that person. If you would do it to go out to meet them, then do it to stay at home to meet them. 

6 Employee Rights Every Worker Must Know

Image Credit

Hi lovelies,

Data from the Australian Human Rights Commission revealed that between 2018-19, 12% of all enquiries the Commission received were employment-related concerns. The Australian government’s Fair Work Ombudsman lists ten minimum entitlements all employers must guarantee for their employees. Ignorance on the part of employees can leave them in the dark on many rights that they are entitled to legally, leading to unwarranted endurance of a host of unfavourable conditions. Therefore, it is advantageous for employees to know their rights in the workplace. Do you want to learn more about your employee rights? Well here are six rights you must know.

1. Right to fair wages
According to the Fair Work Ombudsman, employees must be paid the correct pay rate for all time worked. Most work activities qualify as “work” under the law, so this pay rate includes the time you spend in meetings and training. Take-home tasks and receiving pay for overtime work are also considered under this law. In Australia, employee rights emphasise that your employer must pay everything they owe you or risk hefty fines. Many lawyers suggest checking for genuine accountancy mistakes if you discover you are being underpaid, proceeding to lodge a formal demand for better remuneration, and resorting to court action if your organisation ignores your request.

2. Right to protection from discrimination
A reported 82% of respondents in a survey acknowledged the presence of discrimination in Australian workplaces. Data from Statista in 2017 indicates that 56 % of Australian workers had experienced harassment and discrimination. Workplace discrimination involves any prejudicial treatment against employees or prospective employees because of the person’s specific attributes. The Australian Human Rights Commission lists the following grounds upon which discrimination is unlawful; race or ethnic origin, age, disability, family, sex, marital status, and pregnancy. In recent times, sexual orientation has become an additional consideration. Employers who are guilty of discrimination rooted on any of these grounds can face enforcement action from the Fair Work Ombudsman.

3. Protection from wrongful termination
Information from the Fair Work Commission’s annual report for 2016-17 reveals about 280 wrongful dismissal claims made weekly, representing 40% of total complaints and making it the most reported dispute the Commission has had to settle. A reported 96% of these cases reach informal resolutions before reaching a Commissioner. Section 772 of The Fair Work Act (2009) outlines that employees must not terminate employees’ employment for reasons like; absence from work due to illness, injury, maternity, and parental leave. If you feel you have experienced wrongful dismissal, you should contact the Fair Work Commission for redress.

4. Right to a safe workplace

Research from the Australian Bureau of Statistics in 2013/14 showed over half a million workplace injuries, an average of one person getting hurt while working every minute! The Safe Work Australia’s annual reports from 2018-2020 show that 448 workers have been fatally injured at work. You have a right to safe working environments to ensure your safety and productivity. Because of this, the Work Health and Safety Act was instituted in 2012 to highlight health and safety protocols designed to protect employees from workplace hazards and risks. Your employers are therefore liable to hefty fines and other penalties if they violate safety laws, and you are within your rights to consult services like Adviceline Injury Lawyers if they are doing so. 

5. Protection from sexual harassment
Any unwelcome sexual conduct constitutes harassment. The Australian Human Rights Commission reports that 71% of Australians have experienced sexual harassment at the workplace, with only 17% of victims lodging formal complaints. The Sex Discrimination Act of 1984 makes it unlawful to harass anyone at work in all Australian jurisdictions. You are entitled to report harassment at work by making complaints under Commonwealth law or State legislation law. Under Commonwealth law, you can notify the Australian Human Rights Commission of the harassment within six months of occurrence. Complaints made under State legislation laws typically have a longer time frame for lodging reports. 

6. The right to unionize

Research from Datacube 18 in 2016 indicates that there were 1.6 million trade union members in their primary job. A union is an organization that represents the interests of employees in an occupation or industry. The Fair Work Act of 2009 grants Australian employees the right to unionize freely. It is, therefore, illegal for employers to pressure employees to join or not join a union. It is also unlawful for employers to take or threaten action against employees for participating in trade union activities.

RV Travel is the Best! Here is Why

Hi lovelies,

It is becoming more popular for people to ditch fancy hotels and flights and opt to travel by a good old RV. You can hire an RV, or you can get your own and renovate the insides and turn it into something unique to you. 

If you are an avid traveler, then you might be wondering why RV travel is the best way to travel. 

It used to be that RVs were associated with retired people and larger families. However, that isn’t the case anymore. A quick browse of the many RV and VanLife hashtags on Instagram will show you how many people have gotten creative wither their RVs and how much of the world opens up to you when you travel on wheels. 

Photo by Fabian on Unsplash

Here are some of the reasons that RV travel is brilliant:

Money
When you book a hotel, you have a nightly cost, and you need to pay for meals out or the addition on your hotel tab for food. The RV cuts the cost on the need for a hotel; all you are going to need is gas and groceries - which works out much cheaper. You can find many RV parks online, and there are even wild camping phone apps that can help you find places to plug in overnight and, in many cases, for free. 

Harvest Hosts has a membership cost. It’s $40 for the year it’s worth it. You can stay as long as the host allows, and some even offer hookups. 

Your RV spot may be free, but you can bring gifts with you for the owner. 

Home from Home
If you want to take your dog? No problem. Cat? Sure. What about your favorite pillows and blankets? There is room for all of that in your RV. The one thing you might consider is upgrading your mattress; there are some companies that specialize in luxurious, affordable, and comfortable RV mattresses - learn more about their RV mattresses for sale. 

All of your creature comforts get to come with you on the road. So you get to enjoy all of the new sights in a new place, with everything that makes you feel like you at home. Pretty cool, right?

Flexibility
If you book planes, trains, and a hotel, you are tied into a specific itinerary. This can be great for some people; others, however, want to freedom to head to different places and make spur of the moment decisions. You can go where you want when you want to, and that is another reason that RV travel is incredible. 

You can stop in numerous places for as long as you like. You can check out the local street food markets, the best butchers in town, and if you see there is a festival in the next city - you can head there too. 

RV travel is freeing, affordable, and gives you the chance to catch a sunrise, wrapped in your own blanket with your dog next to you - if you want to. You can make a list of places you want to visit and add more on to the agenda, truly making your own adventure.

Making Money During COVID-19 By Creating An App

Hi lovelies,

Over one billion smartphones are in use today and you can guarantee that a large percentage of these will be iPhones. The popular Apple phone is a global hit and with their dominance growing things are only looking better. One of the aspects many people love about iPhones is their applications. There are apps for all different kinds of things; travel, recipes, online stores, keeping up to date with the news, social networking, games... the list goes on, and on, and on. With iPhones and applications flourishing, what better way to make money during COVID-19? If other people are profiting from this clever creation, why can’t you?

You may be surprised to learn that developing your own iPhone app is actually one of the easiest and fastest ways to make money online. Anyone can do it and you do not need any programming experience. If you have an idea you can simply design your app and reap the rewards by selling it on the iPhone app store. Your creation does not have to be complex and full of detail - even the simplest of games have made thousands of dollars. If you’re looking to make money because of persistent debt, rather than the COVID lull, read up on the Debt to Success System scam first.

The first thing you need to do however is to find your niche. Many of you may have a head start as you may already have an idea. However for those of you that don’t you simply need to do some research. Start off by brainstorming several ideas, then browse the internet to find out how many apps there are available similar to the one you want to create, is there a gap in the market for you? Or are there too many successful similar apps for you to stand a chance? Perhaps you may find something that has lots of iPhone apps on the market but they are all expensive - could you create a cheaper version? 

Once you have your idea you can get started on the creation itself. There are various sites available to make this process easier, and some of them are even free. One of the most popular sites is iBuildApp. The website is not only easy to use but it will not cost you a thing. You will begin by picking a template that suits you best and of course a name for your app. You will then use the ‘iPhone simulator’ to navigate through your app. There are lots of things you can do to make your app unique to you; style your background, add and change a logo, customize your buttons, and add and change the content. Once you are satisfied with your masterpiece simply submit it and watch the money stroll in. 

Of course, the main advantage of creating your iPhone app is that you can make money and how much you make really depends on you. You can promote your app through various different methods; Twitter, Facebook, and other social networking websites are a popular and effective cost-free option. However, there are other great aspects associated with establishing your very own application. You will have great fun and the process of creation will keep you entertained for hours on end. Not only this but once you have developed your app and it is out there for people to enjoy you will feel a great sense of pride. Millions of people all around the world will be able to witness your work. Who knew it could be so easy.

My Favorite Boutique Hotels in NYC

Hi lovelies,

Are you considering visiting New York City for business or leisure and staying in a boutique hotel? If so, which hotel are you considering for your time in NYC?

However, before we consider which NYC boutique hotels are my favorite, let’s look at the backdrop to traveling to New York and what is allowed and what is still prohibited.

It is now a well-known fact that the world has been hit hard by the novel coronavirus and its associated illness, COVID-19. New York City was under a strict stay-at-home order from the latter part of March 2020. All non-essential businesses were closed, including those in the tourist industry such as restaurants and hotels. The New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo, banned all social gatherings to prevent the spread of the virus. The lockdown was lifted 78 days later as the city slowly started to reopen.

The nypost.com article titled “Tourists won’t let COVID-19 stop them from visiting NYC” notes that 65 million people visited New York in 2018. And, even though many tourist attractions are still closed, visitors starting to flock back to NYC. And, these tourists will all need a place to stay during their visit.

By way of answering the unasked question of where tourists should stay, let’s look at a few of my favorite boutique hotels in NYC:

The Condor Hotel
The Condor Hotel is top of the list of preferred places to stay while in NYC.

The Condor is 20 minutes from downtown Manhattan. And it's situated in Brooklyn's Williamsburg area, a vibrant community that straddles the old and the new. It has a lively art, music, and boutique scene. The buildings' architecture includes a variety of former industrial buildings, modest homes, and a residential community of Hasidim.

The hotel itself has 35 beautifully appointed suites, each with a private balcony, and kitchenette, dining room, garden, lounge area, and meeting area. A free Continental breakfast is provided every morning in the dining room. Additional services offered by the Condor Hotel include free WIFI, free calls in the US, and Concierge service.

The Artezen Hotel
This hotel is situated just under a mile away from the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. It is located in the Wall Street Financial District. And the Artezen is also close to Brooklyn Bridge, the One World Trade Center, New York University, LaGuardia airport, and the Highline Park.

The hotel has 89 luxury rooms, each with a private bathroom, air conditioning, a flat-screen TV, and all modern amenities. While this hotel might not have many of the upmarket conveniences, it is a modern hotel, well situated and suitable for business travelers and tourists who want to explore the heart of Lower Manhattan.

Calling All Frequent Business Fliers: Stay Healthy While Traveling

Hi lovelies,

The great thing about being an entrepreneur and calling the shots is that you get to choose your schedule. If that means booking a flight to another state to conduct business, then so be it. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander!

Of course, flying and business travel, in general, come with adverse health risks. This is especially true if you travel a lot as the effects are concentrated since your body doesn’t get a break. If you want to put your wellbeing before your bottom line, you’ve got to try and maintain a healthy lifestyle while out of state or the country.

You can do that by following these fantastic business travel pointers.

Pixabay - CC0 Licence

Prepare For The Plane
Flying is one of the unhealthiest forms of transport. Not only are you thousands of feet in the sky, confined to a tiny space, but there is no moisture in the air and the food is processed. Entrepreneurs who have to travel for extended periods leave themselves open to a poor diet and dehydration, which is why it’s vital to prepare for the flight beforehand. Simply buying extra water and healthy snacks should be enough, as should packing a light moisturizer and trying to catch some Zs.

Stay Active
You have a lot on your plate during a business trip, and the last thing on your mind is exercise. If the deal doesn’t go through, you might not have enough money to afford a gym membership! Thankfully, staying active doesn’t mean working out every day. Instead, you can choose to walk to a meeting by leaving the hotel in plenty of time, negating what can be a sedentary lifestyle. Plus, there are tons of mobile apps with short HiiT sessions you can exploit while you’re away. As long as you plateau for the duration of your trip, you can get back to basics when you return home.

See An Emergency Professional
Another trait of a business trip is to spot the symptoms of a health problem and leave it until you arrive at home. Among other reasons, it makes sense not to bother too much as the hassle of finding a doctor, dentist, or audiologist is usually worse than the pain. On the flip side, a routine checkup or hearing exam could nip the issue in the bud and stop it from escalating. There are lots of emergency facilities across the country, and you should lean on them when you feel unwell. For international travelers, the key is to buy a comprehensive insurance policy previous to flying.

Sleep
Business trips are not the warm, fuzzy vacations that the majority of people assume they are when they hear you’re away on business. They’re fast-paced situations that are loaded with pressure, and this can prevent you from sleeping properly. Aside from ruining your balance and making things worse for the rest of the trip, working all night and not sleeping is pointless. No matter how much you try, you won’t be prepared for a meeting or presentation if you study the night before.

Do you travel for business? How do you maintain a healthy routine?

Ensure Your New Office Is A Success

Hi lovelies,

Whether you are starting up a business and opening your first office, or you are expanding or moving to a new one, you can be sure that it is always important to make sure your new office is going to be a big success. There are plenty of things that you need to bear in mind here, and we are going to take a look at them below. It is important your office works well, as in most cases that is going to be the hub of your business, and it will be important in ensuring that your employees are working to their fullest capacity and that the business keeps up a good image - and many other things besides. Let’s take a look at how to do it.

Image - CCO Licence

Plan It Out Well
The planning stage is hugely important if you want to make sure that your new office is going to be a huge success. If you want this to go as well as possible, you are going to have to think about getting the professionals in to help you make sure it goes right. With the right interior designers on your side, your office has a better chance of being laid out in a sensible and pragmatic way. That is going to make for a more productive office, and one which you enjoy working in all the more as well.

Create Necessary Space
It’s important in all this to think about your staff, and particularly how many of them there are likely to be. You might have an exact idea of this or just a general sense, but in either case make sure that you are creating the necessary space in which they can work as a team. If you fail to do that, you are going to struggle to make the office work as well as you would hope, with all of your employees treading over each other as they try to work. It’s important to keep this in mind early on in the design process, so that you can be certain your office is going to be suitable for your requirements.

Image - CCO Licence

Develop Some Rules
All workplaces have to have a number of rules if everyone is to use the space appropriately. If you fail to do that, then you might find that the brand new office soon becomes overrun with too many things happening at once, equipment being used improperly, and all sorts of other problems which you are going to want to avoid as best as you can. By developing some rules around the use of the office, you will ensure that the place is kept going for much longer, and that your people are kept safer while they are working as well. These rules don’t have to be strict, but you should have them in place so that you can keep your office as its best for longer.

With these simple things, you can ensure that your new office is a great success for your business.

5 Ways Self-Care Helps to Increase Your Bottom-Line

Hi lovelies,

As an entrepreneur who’s built profitable and purposeful companies through my lifestyle brand, Actress with Style, and my personal branding consulting service, The Billionaire Blogger Society, the single most important lesson that I had to learn to ensure the success of my businesses was to take care of myself first.

If I wasn’t full within myself then I would have nothing to give to my audience and to my clients, and before my business could flourish, I had to learn how to first flourish from within. Through building an arsenal of self-esteem building and self-care practices, I was able to show up for myself and my business in a more healthy, productive, and effective way.

What was born of this newfound mindset, is my first book, Sugar Pills: 10 Ways to Awaken Your Inner Power. From this experience of personal and professional growth, I wanted to share with you how to grow your bottom-line through healthy self-care practices. Be sure to comment on which insights speak to you and share your own story of self-care and securing the bag.

5 Ways Self-Care Helps Secure the Bag

#1: Secure the bag through inspired action

The only way that you’re actually going to make money doing what you love, is by doing it! One of the biggest hindrances to building a profitable business is by being paralyzed by fear and never getting started or by starting and then stopping the moment you hit a road bump. The way to get over this business building block is by building up your accountability, both to you self and to your team.

Self-care Tip: Awaken the Power of Accountability

The way to transform your vision, dreams, plans, and strategies, into a real life manifestation and accomplish your goals, is by holding yourself and your team accountable. Be accountable to show up for yourself, to think out of the box, to take risks, to learn from your mistakes, to not be afraid to fail, and to make sure that you surround yourself by people who are really there to support you and to cut dead weight when needed.

At the end of the day, the only person responsible for your success is yourself, so you have to take accountability and responsibility for your actions and decisions, and most importantly, for how you spend your time.

#2: Secure the bag by not settling for less than what you deserve

You have to remember that you’re running a business and not a charity. One of the biggest obstacles that I faced when building my brand was people asking me to work for free or at a discounted rate. If I had continued to devalue the work that I did for my clients, I would have never been able to quit my “survival job” and become a full-time entrepreneur.

The trick to not settling is to build up your self-esteem and self-confidence so that you’re so secure and grounded in who you are and the value that you provide for your clients, that you’re unwilling to disrespect yourself and your business by working for free.

Self-care Tip: Awaken The Power of Having Standards

Having and enforcing standards and boundaries is one of the most effective ways to activate your power. We condition people on how they treat us, so if you don’t have standards and boundaries in both your personal and professional life, then you can find yourself being stretched too thin, not fulfilled, exhausted, and worn out, because people will take from you as much as you’re willing to give, so you need to establish boundaries in order to protect your time, energy, and space. The best way to show people how you to treat you, is by example. The way you treat yourself is the number 1 indicator of how other people think that they can treat you.

Questions to ask yourself: What do I expect of myself, in terms of honesty, trust, respect, and accountability? What do I expect from other people, in terms of honesty, trust, respect, and accountability? Then make sure that your actions are in alignment with those expectations.

#3: Secure the bag by building an unstoppable team

The quickest way to manifest your professional goals and dreams is by building a team that believes in your vision and is equipped to do their jobs efficiently and effectively. The bottom-line is that your business and your brand is only as strong as your people so it’s imperative to be mindful of the employees that you hire and the friends and associates that you surround yourself with, because they will determine how far and how quickly you grow.

Self-care Tip: Awaken the Power of Your Circle  

Beware of the company that you keep. There’s a reason why the saying, “Birds of a feather, flock together,” always rings true. If you want to know where you’re at in your life and more importantly, where you’re going, just look around at your inner circle of friends. It’s super important to be able to trust the people that you surround yourself with and also make sure that you are surrounded by people that not only encourage you, but also are at a level that you aspire to be at.

You don’t want to be the most successful person in your circle and you also want to be with people that add value to your life. Take an inventory of who you have in your life and involved in your business and write-out what value they add to your life, business, and bottom-line.

#4: Secure the bag by having a vision for your life

If you don’t know what you’re going or what your endgame is, then you’ll continually to be lost and unproductive in both your life and career. Set goals and milestone for where you want to take your business and actually see yourself succeeding in those areas. You won’t be able to grow your business if you don’t have a clear understanding of what you’re trying to create. The trick here is to dream big and not limit yourself and the expectations that you have for your business because the only boundaries that your business has are the boundaries that you create for yourself.

Self-care Tip: Awaken the Power of a Vision
“Before the world can see it, the mind must imagine it.” You must know what you want your life to look before you can create it. The power of visualizing your success and life is paramount to manifesting those things into your reality. The best part is, visualizing and having a vision is 100% free and you can do it right now and start transforming your life.

Also, the vision you have for you life is a great checkpoint for how you move through your current circumstances and the decisions you make, you can ask yourself, “Is this in alignment and in service to what the greater vision for my life is?” Use your vision as a compass for daily actions.

When visualizing your life be sure to feel it. Feel what it feels like to cross the finish of your goal, to buy your dream home, ride in your dream car, have healthy and happy relationships, making your first million, or whatever it is.

#5: Secure the bag by respecting your elders

Just because we live in a digital savvy world, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a wealth of knowledge, wisdom, and insights from those that came before us. The best way to implement a profitable plan to build your brand is by creating a blueprint based successful strategies from established entrepreneurs and business leaders. This means being strong and vulnerable to ask for help, advice, and guidance when needed.
Remember: even though it is your business, you do not have to build it alone.

Self-care tip: Awaken the Power of Mentorship

Learning from someone who is has done what you’re trying to do is one of the most invaluable resources that you can have. The trick is to find someone that you can trust and that genuinely wants to help you win and achieve your goals. You can learn from their triumphs as well as their mistakes and they can insights on how to reach your goal quicker, how to adjust your mindset, and how to up-level your circle.

I’ve had trouble finding someone to be my mentor. I would reach out to people and for whatever reason, it never really worked out. So I turned to YouTube and watch people that I admired during their interviews, masterclasses, documentaries, and videos. If you can’t find someone to be your mentor in-person, then search for their personal and professional stories online.

5 Essential Elements of a Successful Brand Partnership

Hi lovelies,

A few months ago, I attended a pre-Oscar’s Social Club event hosted by Vanity Fair. During one of the panel discussions, “A New Paradigm: The Power of the Social Influencer,” I started to reflect on my own journey as a blogger and social media influencer. As the moderator, Louise Roe, and panelists, Wendy Nguyen, Andy Torres, Marianna Hewitt, and Rocky Barnes, shared their personal stories, I was inspired to look beyond my usual fashion and beauty blogging box to see how I could stretch myself as both a blogger and businesswoman.

Based on lessons learned from the mistakes I’ve made early on in my career—from not knowing my worth to partnering with brands for the wrong reasons—just like the panelists, I’ve been able to the transition from amateur to professional.

Making a successful switch from blogging as a hobby to blogging as a business wasn’t easy, especially when it came to landing paying partnerships with credible brands while maintaining my integrity as a blogger.

But with my new perspective, I reached out to Kura Nutrition, a premium brand from New Zealand that provides grass-fed dairy protein smoothie powder to kickstart your day in a happy and healthy way. At first glance, it may not seem like a natural fit for a primarily fashion and beauty blogger. But as I learned more about the brand and was able to speak with Louise Anderson, their head of digital and commerce, I found that both our brands had a similar ethos and vision. I was able to connect with Kura on a deeper level than just Instagram likes and pay-per-clicks.

Together, we created a blueprint for what it means to have a successful brand partnership that would translate into a meaningful experience for the brand, the blogger, and most importantly, the core audience.

Below are the five elements of how to create a successful brand partnership from the perspective of both the blogger and the brand.

1. Authenticity + Meaning: From the brand’s perspective

According to Louise at Kura, authenticity married to meaning is the most important element of a successful brand partnership. Customers are intuitive and smart enough to know when they are reading a press release that is disguised as a “blog post.” When that happens, all credibility for both the brand and the blogger goes out the window.

Both the brand and the blogger must be clear on who they are, what they stand for, and what value they are adding to their consumers and readers. The partnership has to be rooted in a deeper meaning than just exposure and a paycheck.

To achieve true authenticity and meaning with their blogger partnerships, Kura is doing more editorial-type blog posts rather than just reviews. The nutrition brand prefers to align itself with engaging, entertaining, and useful content. For example, Kura partnered with Rachael Hartley of Avocado A Day Nutrition, where she shared her personal experience using the dairy-based protein smoothie powder that was connected to a bigger and more important message, you can review the post here.

2. Collaboration + Common ground + Connecting live: From the brand’s perspective

Louise advises us to create a genuine connection between the blogger and the brand prior to agreeing to do a partnership. She suggests getting on the phone or FaceTime for at least 15 minutes to discuss ideas, share experiences, and to get to know each other on a personal level before jumping into a partnership. The blogger should be prepared to discuss what his/her goals are, what trends that you’re seeing, and any preliminary ideas that you have for a partnership. The brand should do the same to see if there’s a genuine connection.

Louise makes the crucial point that those 15 minutes early on can make a huge difference when it comes to the partnership’s content and will determine the parameters of the ongoing relationship. Connecting in person can also prevent any confusion or misunderstandings as to what is expected of both the brand and the blogger. It’s best to connect live and then confirm the goals and terms of the partnership through a written proposal.

3: Diversification: From the blogger’s perspective

One thing I’ve found to be super beneficial to my professional career as a blogger and social media influencer has been diversification. This means expanding beyond my usual offerings, brands, and types of content that I cover. Instead of just focusing on fashion and beauty, I turned my focus to lifestyle, entertainment, and health brands, which led to my partnership with brands like Kura Nutrition, Yoplait, and WeTV. It has also led to branching out from just blogging and social media to creating YouTube videos and being a consultant to fellow bloggers looking to expand their reach, get specific about their branding and marketing, and begin to generate some serious income doing what they love.

What makes diversification so beneficial to brand partnerships is that it opens up both the brand and the blogger to an audience that they may never have been exposed to previously. A nutrition brand may not have been able to reach the fashion community without the benefit of a blogger partnership and a fashion blogger may night be able to expand their reach without going outside of their fashion bubble.

The trick to success through diversification is to ensure that regardless of the genre, both the brand and the blogger share a similar vision and goal. If the partnership is rooted in common objectives, it’s bound to be lucrative and meaningful for both parties.

4: Tangible results:  From both the brand’s and blogger’s perspective

Brands would love for the blog partnership to result in direct sales through coupon codes and clicks, Louise says. But there are additional ways that they measure the value and success of a blogger partnership.

For example, the engagement on the blog post and social media shares are also important along with traffic to their website. Additionally, we can’t forget about the importance and value of aligning yourself with a blogger or brand that has a strong mission and presence that can in turn strengthen your own brand’s mission and presence. Once Louise discerns direct benefits for Kura through the partnership, she typically will then expand the relationship with the blogger into a larger series or partnership.

As a blogger, before signing up for a collaboration, I get clear on what I’m looking for out of the partnership, which can range from a combination of any of the below:

• Compensation: I put a dollar amount to what I believe the collaboration is worth.

• Gifted products: Am I willing to accept only products in the collaboration? Or products and compensation? Know this before agreeing to partner.

• Exposure: Will partnering with this brand mutually increase our brand awareness and visibility to key audiences? Figure out this component before signing up and create a strategy to best leverage the partnership from a public relations standpoint.

• Brand equity: Will this partnership elevate and strengthen my brand? Does it make sense to align ourselves and our messaging? Will my audience truly get value out of this content? Be sure that you can answer these questions before going into business with a brand.

5: A clear contract: From the blogger’s perspective

This one may seem like a no-brainer, but it bears repeating and emphasizing. Be sure to have a clear agreement of what is expected from both the blogger and the brand before, during, and after the campaign.

Get in alignment with the nitty and the gritty of the partnership. Things to confirm include:

• Duration of the campaign: How long will the campaign last? What are the exact dates that the campaign will run?

• Total number of blog posts: Agree on word count, number of posts, and key messaging.

• Total number social media shares: Be sure to be specify how many shares per social media platform.

• Specify the exact social media platforms that you are expected to share on: Maybe you’re not big on Periscope and want to skip that platform, just get clear on where and when you are sharing.

• Compensation: Confirm how much the compensation will be and when compensation will be received (before or after the campaign? How much time do they have after the campaign to pay you?) Be sure to agree on the exact dollar amount and/or the amount of product.

• Photography and video content: Confirm if you’re expected to provide original photography and/or video content. Also confirm if this is worth a higher rate.

• Hashtags and handles: Be sure to confirm the official and relevant hashtags and handles to use on your social shares during the campaign.

BONUS INSIGHTS FROM KURA NUTRITION:

Stand for something that goes beyond your product or blog:

For example, Kura Nutrition is a big supporter of Animal Welfare. Their cows are healthy and chomp on grass 365 days a year and roam in beautiful pastures. Unfortunately, some animals are not as lucky and Kura donates to and partners with an incredible organization called Global Animal Partnership. GAP has a 5-step rating system to help you understand the treatment of animals in the food production process and enable you to support positive animal welfare practices with your purchase. You can read more about Global Animal Partnership here.

How can a blogger stand-out from the pack and get a brand’s attention?

• Be an awesome person: Have great credibility within your community of bloggers, brands, and fans.

• Be professional: Be responsive and don’t sell out to brands on your website. Produce useful content.

• Be creative: Try different, unexpected content and channels.

• Be surprising: For example, curate your Instagram with a grid of photos along with short, on-point videos.

Where do you find bloggers for your brand partnerships?

According to Louise, Kura frequently collaborates with bloggers they already know—as a small company it saves them time and they are can get personalized introductions.

Kura also finds a number of bloggers through general Internet searches and social stalking. Louise will review social media conversations to see if any blogger stands out in the comments that might be a good fit for Kura. She will also respond to bloggers who reach out to her directly but it needs to be

an authentic, non-spammy communication in order to catch her interest.

Should a blogger work with agencies?

Louise says that although a lot of bloggers and brands work through agencies, it might be best to reduce the number of engagements and focus on quality that will result in better business for both the brand and the blogger.

Have questions or comments? Leave them below!