• What are the benefits of podcasting for small business?
• What are the steps to podcasting for small business?
• Why meeting rooms are essential to podcasting for small business

Q: Should your business start a podcast?

A: Podcasting for small business represents an excellent form of marketing that is low-cost, engaging, and traffic-generating. The digital world today is littered with podcasting success stories, whether it’s Joe Rogan, Dave Ramsey, or Georgia Hardstark. If you’re looking for a marketing strategy that helps you stand out from the crowd and communicate directly with your customers, podcasting is a solid option.

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According to a recent global survey, more than half of podcast listeners have made purchases due to advertisements on the shows they frequent. 

Podcast listeners are also on the rise, growing by almost one-third within the past three years alone. 

Over 120 million people in the United States listen to podcasts regularly, while another study has determined that almost 200 million Americans tune in to podcasts each week. 

One poll found that podcast ads are the easiest to remember, with 86% of listeners saying that they can recall the advertisements they’ve heard on podcasts. 

Compare that with the “hit or miss” nature of social media advertising or pay-per-click. What’s the last social media advertisement you remember clearly?

When was the last time a Facebook ad actually made you want to buy something?

The statistics don’t lie:

Podcasting for small business can be an excellent choice. 

But is podcasting a good idea for your specific niche? What exactly makes podcasting an effective marketing tool, and what kind of results can you realistically expect?

Perhaps most importantly, how do you start a podcast for your business?

Let’s find out.

• What are the benefits of podcasting for small business?
• What are the steps to podcasting for small business?
• Why meeting rooms are essential to podcasting for small business

What are the benefits of podcasting for small business?

The first question you need to ask yourself is whether podcasting for small businesses is worth it. 

Here are a few benefits to consider:

Present yourself as an expert in your niche

Podcasting for small business owners allows them to present themselves as experts within their niche. 

This in turn can help cultivate your brand’s personality, identity, and trustworthiness.

For example, you might run a law firm as a solopreneur. Your podcast could include in-depth discussions about the latest legal debates in the nation, providing your audience with a clear and concise explanation of these issues from the perspective of a legal expert. 

Not only would this serve as a form of entertainment for those interested in legal issues, but it would also highlight your legal knowledge. 

People listening to your podcast might think to themselves:

“Wow, this person knows what they’re talking about.”

Many of your audience members might never become clients. But even if your podcast brings in one additional client per week, this could represent a serious boost in income – especially when a single case can result in a multi-million-dollar settlement. 

The same logic applies to real estate agents, architects, and many other experts in their respective fields. Your podcast allows you to boost your reputation and show the world just how knowledgeable you are. 

Repurpose existing content

Another major benefit of podcasting is the ability to recycle existing content and reuse it in a new format. 

For example, you might have written a 4,000-word blog for your real estate agent website about the latest trends in the housing market. 

Instead of coming up with a brand new topic to write about, you could simply turn that blog post into a podcast. This could be as easy as reading the blog aloud while recording it and speaking in a more natural, conversational tone. 

This strategy can allow you to diversify and double your content production without doing double the work. 

Excellent engagement

There are few marketing strategies more engaging than podcasts.

This format allows you to speak directly to your audience. Suddenly, your brand has a voice. When people think about your company, they have an idea of who they’re doing business with. 

After listening to a few episodes of your podcast, your customers might start to feel like they know you personally. They might listen to your podcast while doing chores or driving to work.

You can even give your audience members the chance to interact directly with your podcast by answering questions that they send in, or by reading comments left on previous podcasts. 

While blogs can be incredibly informative, there is something much more intimate about listening to someone’s voice. This helps build trust, and it can make your brand seem more human. 

Interview leaders in your industry

Podcasting also allows you to connect with leaders in your industry.

For example, you might be an architect who runs a house-building company in your local community. Your podcast could feature an interview with a famous European architect or a professor of architecture at a prestigious university. 

Associating your brand with leaders and intellectuals within your niche is an excellent marketing strategy. 

This makes customers associate your brand with the highest levels of professionalism and prestige within your industry – even if you’re relatively new to the scene. 

Even if you need to pay interviewees to appear on your podcast, it could be well worth the investment. 

Easy to advertise your products

Here’s the thing about podcast advertisements:

They’re almost impossible to skip. 

While web users have devised all kinds of strategies to avoid YouTube ads and popups, a podcast mid-roll is difficult to avoid. 

Podcast advertisements typically occur midway through the recording. You can read these 30-second ads out loud before transitioning back into the main content, which doesn’t give listeners a chance to fast-forward and skip the ads. 

Often, people are preoccupied with chores or driving while listening to podcasts, so skipping forward is essentially impossible. It’s just not worth the effort, which means that most people patiently listen to the ad.

Not only does this make ads more memorable, but it also increases conversion rates. Giving your products or services a shout-out midway through your podcast is straightforward and convenient. 

Educate your audience about your products

Podcasts are also highly informative. 

This is great news if your products are fairly complex, and you’re not quite sure whether your customers know how to use them effectively. 

For example, you might have developed a game-changing app or SaaS. 

But if no one understands why your software is so revolutionary, you’ll struggle to make much of an impact. 

A podcast allows you to patiently explain the real-world applications of your products, ensuring that your customers are aware of their benefits. 

A podcast is perhaps the easiest way to educate your customers. 

Cheap to produce

Podcasts are very easy to produce – especially if you’re fine with a fairly basic setup. 

All you truly need is a decent mic.

Even then, you can usually get away with using your smartphone’s built-in mic – at least for the first few episodes. 

Podcasts are much cheaper than YouTube videos (or any other type of video) because you don’t have to worry about filming anything. 

Of course, you could always film yourself conducting interviews or speaking straight into the camera, but the setup will still be cheaper than elaborate commercials or photoshoots. 

If you’re running a small business, podcasts represent one of the cheapest and most cost-effective marketing tools at your disposal. 

Can serve as an additional revenue stream

Podcasts can be even more cost-effective because of their ability to generate money. By allowing other brands to advertise on your podcast, you can cultivate an additional revenue stream. 

For example, Peter Schiff’s podcast hosts advertisements from a wide range of brands, including Shopify and Indeed. But he also has his own investing company called Euro Pacific Capital, which he speaks about more organically throughout his podcasts. 

This is a smart choice for businesses of all types and sizes. 

What are the steps to podcasting for small businesses?

After reading about the benefits of podcasting, you might be ready to start your own.

This is how you should get started:

Identify your niche

The first step to creating a podcast is probably the most important:

Identify your niche. 

This seemingly simple process will affect virtually every aspect of your podcast going forward, so choose carefully. 

Fortunately, you probably already thought about this when you created your business. Your podcast’s niche should mirror your overall business niche very closely. 

For example, you might be a financial advisor. Your initial instinct might be to create a very broad podcast about finances. But there are probably tens of thousands of finance podcasts out there already, so you need to get a little more specific. 

Ask yourself what area of finance you’re most familiar with. What’s your specialty? What topic can you talk about for hours without stopping?

By choosing specific podcasting business ideas, you can capture the attention of targeted audiences who are more likely to purchase your products or services. 

An obvious strategy is to create a podcast that covers a topic that very few podcasters are currently talking about. 

Once you’ve figured out your niche, you can plan your podcast more effectively. 

Plan your podcast

Planning your podcast is probably the most time-consuming step of the entire process. 

For starters, you need a captivating and interesting name for your podcast. 

Next, you’ll need to figure out the length of each podcast episode and how often you want to upload new episodes. It’s a good idea to keep these parameters as consistent as possible. 

For example, you might choose to record podcasts that are about 45 minutes in length. You might also choose to publish episodes every Tuesday. 

You’ll also want to think about the general style of your podcasts. 

Will you record your podcasts alone? 

Or will someone else join you each week, such as a business partner or a creative director?

Will you interview different guests each week?

Finally, you’ll need to choose a podcasting platform. Options include Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, Rumble, and many others. Each platform has some unique pros and cons. 

Of course, nothing is stopping you from posting your podcasts on numerous platforms for great exposure. 

Acquire equipment

Depending on how seriously you’re taking your new podcast, you might want to gather some equipment before you get started on your first episode. 

Sure, a smartphone mic is more than enough to get started. 

But if you invest just a few hundred dollars in some basic recording equipment, the increase in quality is noticeable. 

Remember, your voice is your main selling point here. Bad audio quality might dissuade listeners, while a silky-smooth mic can keep your audience coming back for more each week.

You might also want to purchase audio recording software. There are many free apps out there that can handle the demands of a basic podcast, but spending a little extra gives you access to interesting features that help you stand out. 

Every good podcast needs an introduction of some kind. This could be a simple jingle, a professional voice actor reading out the title of your podcast, or something even more creative. Don’t forget to add an outro as well. 

Upload and market your podcast

Last but not least, you need to upload your podcast episodes to your chosen platforms and start promoting your podcast. 

Use the same basic strategies for blogs and social media posts, and try to spread the word about your new podcast using solid SEO principles. 

Finally, don’t forget to explore various monetization strategies such as affiliate marketing and sponsorships. 

Why meeting rooms are essential to podcasting for small business

One of the most overlooked aspects of starting a podcast is the need for a quiet, reliable, and professional recording space. 

If you’re running a business from the comfort of your own home, this can be surprisingly difficult to organize. After all, homes can be quite noisy – especially when you factor in pets, kids, and that construction site down the street that seems to use heavy machinery 24/7. 

If you’re planning on filming your podcast, a professional, consistent environment is even more crucial. 

Fortunately, there are professional, flexible workspaces that you can book on an hourly basis.

For example, Alliance Virtual Offices provides businesses with on-demand meeting rooms in locations throughout the nation. Whether you live in Silicon Valley, New York City, or a more rural location, there’s probably an Alliance office nearby that you can use. 

With a clean, professional office vibe, these workspaces immediately give your podcasts an air of professionalism. More importantly, they’re quiet and private enough to let you focus on your recordings. 

Alliance even offers meeting rooms on an international scale, allowing you to film your podcasts while you’re on a business trip. Even if you prefer to record your podcasts at a home studio, Alliance Virtual Offices gives you the freedom to keep your episodes consistent even when you’re traveling the globe. 

In terms of the United States, Alliance offers meeting rooms in almost every single state, allowing you to book a reliable recording space from virtually anywhere in the nation. 

Of course, you can also use your meeting space for interviews, meetings with investors, photoshoots… You name it!

How to start a podcast with the right resources

Podcasting for small business allows you to take advantage of one of the best marketing strategies in the modern era. 

But creating a podcast isn’t as simple as speaking into a microphone. 

Like any other aspect of your business’s marketing strategy, you need to carefully plan your podcast before getting started.

Further Reading

• Running a Remote Business? Have a Meeting Room Rental Ready
• Creative Marketing Ideas: Surprising Benefits and Inspiration for your Remote Business
• Online Branding for Small Business: The Best Strategies
• The Small Business Owner’s Guide to Social Media Marketing Costs

With the right resources, you can make sure that your new podcast is a resounding success – helping you engage with more customers while boosting your reputation and perhaps even creating additional revenue streams. 

The possibilities are endless when you book professional workspaces for marketing projects like podcasting. 
Reach out to Alliance Virtual Offices today and experience the full benefits of a professional workspace at a much lower cost than a traditional office.

The post Podcasting for Small Business Is Easier than You Think first appeared on Alliance Virtual Offices.

• Why are small business hashtags important?
• Why most small businesses get hashtags wrong
• How to use small business hashtags for real growth

Q: What are good hashtags for small businesses?

A: The best small business hashtags are hyper-specific to your niche. The more targeted your hashtags are, the easier it will be to connect with your ideal customer. If your hashtags are too broad, you’ll end up competing with bigger businesses that’ll blow you out of the water.

In the spring of 2022, the Head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, made a startling announcement:

Hashtags do not affect reach.

Many small business owners looked around in shock, asking themselves how something like this could have happened. 

Don’t you need hashtags to build your online following? If hashtags don’t help you reach more people, then; what the heck is their point?

Many entrepreneurs who had built their entire marketing strategies around using hashtags scrambled to find answers.

This announcement might have created a lot of buzz, but it was old news for people who understood the platform. Of course – hashtags do not affect reach. 

That’s just common sense. 

The panic continued. Rumors swirled that Instagram was doing away with hashtags entirely. The sentiment shifted, and people began to wonder whether hashtags were about to go the way of the dinosaur.

But are hashtags truly dead in 2023?

Don’t give up on them just yet. 

One 2022 study found that hashtags can increase your engagement by up to 100% on Twitter. Your chances of being retweeted also increase dramatically. Use more than 11 hashtags on Instagram, and you can expect almost 80% more engagement. 

And although social media snobs might dismiss hashtags as “so 2021,” no one can deny that they have become central to our culture.

Young people today even tend to use hashtags when they speak aloud, using phrases such as “hashtag winning.”

Inelegant? Sure. 

But one thing is certain – hashtags aren’t going away anytime soon. 

The truth is that even if you take their reach out of the equation, small business hashtags still have plenty to offer as you build your social media marketing strategies. 

But why are hashtags still a big deal in 2023, and how can you use them to grow your small business without falling into the same traps as other entrepreneurs?

Let’s find out.

• Why are small business hashtags important?
• Why most small businesses get hashtags wrong
• How to use small business hashtags for real growth

Why are small business hashtags important?

So if hashtags aren’t helping you connect with a wider audience, then; what’s the point?

Essentially, the benefits of small business hashtags are restricted entirely to the search engine functionality of online platforms. 

Hashtags help you find what you’re looking for – that’s it. 

Hashtags cannot make your content magically pop up in front of people scrolling through Instagram or Twitter because that was never their purpose in the first place. 

In other words, hashtags only come into play when someone actively tries to search for niches and content that matches your business. 

This means that hashtags can be incredibly useful as you target your ideal customers – people who are already interested in your product. They may even be ready to hit that “purchase” button at the drop of a hat. 

Even better, all traffic generated by hashtags is organic. It doesn’t cost anything to add hashtags to your posts, and people find your content because they want to.

With hashtags, you don’t have to worry about pestering users with ads that they never asked for – potentially turning them off your brand forever. 

Ask any marketing expert, and they’ll tell you that in the long run, organic traffic is almost always superior to paid traffic. With organic traffic, you’re building a genuine online following filled with real people who are part of the same community. 

These are the leads you want. In many cases, they become loyal customers for the rest of their lives. 

Make no mistake:

Mosseri’s announcement is significant. 

But many people reacted with excessive pessimism, interpreting it as a total condemnation of hashtags. 

What many pessimists fail to mention is that a hashtag can still help you reach people who are following that specific hashtag. 

Check out a hashtag page on Instagram, and you may see a wide range of different posts depending on the popularity of the hashtag. 

Using a popular hashtag means that your content will probably get booted off the front page within a few days – or even hours. 

Use a less popular hashtag, and your content could remain on that page for months. 

The key thing to remember here is that Instagram doesn’t rank the “quality” of your posts based on which hashtags you use. Instead, they look at engagement – things like:

• How much time users spent looking at your post
• How many people commented on your post
• How many people liked your post
• How many people shared your post

These are the factors you should be worrying about if you want to increase reach. 

Remember:

Content is king. 

If you post something that you lazily threw together in a few minutes, slapping on dozens of hashtags isn’t going to magically turn it into a high-quality post. 

You’ll need to create a more nuanced strategy with your small business hashtags. Copy and paste at your own risk. 

With that said, small business hashtags have the potential to be incredibly effective when used correctly.

Small business owners are often innovators – people with new ideas that might change the world. 

In other words, small business owners are trendsetters. 

Hashtags allow you to popularize new ideas – even if no one has ever heard of them. The best news is that when you invent hashtags, you create a new online space in which you hold a monopoly.

If your product is successful, your new hashtag will grow in popularity with your audience while giving new customers an easy way to join the trend and purchase your game-changing products. 

Why most small businesses get hashtags wrong

Unfortunately, there are many potential pitfalls associated with small business hashtags. Many entrepreneurs end up falling into the same traps, and your hashtags may even prove to be counterproductive. 

Here are the most common mistakes when it comes to small business hashtags:

Trying to compete with bigger brands for popular hashtags

As an entrepreneur with a small business, you need to accept the truth: You’re a small fish in a big pond. 

Trying to compete with major brands for exposure is a real challenge – especially if you’re using the most popular hashtags in your posts. Unless your content is truly amazing, you’re probably going to be crowded out by bigger companies with more followers. 

There’s nothing wrong with using popular hashtags in your content, but be sure to mix it up a little with some less popular hashtags. 

The more specific you can get, the better. 

If you’re selling coffee, you might be tempted to use #coffee and leave it at that. But if you’re a small roaster, you’re competing against virtually every other company involved in the global coffee business when you use this hashtag. 

Ask yourself what makes your product unique. 

Instead of using just “#coffee,” you could use “#guatemela,” “#robusta,” “#singleorigin,” “#organic,” “#mediumroast,” or any other attribute that sets you apart from the crowd. 

This allows you to target a smaller but much less competitive audience. When you get into the truly specific niches, there’s a real chance of connecting with customers who are looking for exactly what you’re selling. 

The problem with trying to create hashtags

Many marketing professionals create hashtags these days. 

As previously mentioned, this allows you to turn a new brand into a hashtag, potentially making your business into the latest social media trend.

The problem is that this strategy can backfire spectacularly. 

Here’s the thing:

Anyone can use the hashtag you’ve just created… Including people who want to criticize your product. 

The Australian airline Quantas experienced this firsthand when it created the hashtag “#quantasluxury.” The goal was to have people use the hashtag when talking about the airline’s amazing quality. 

Unfortunately, the opposite happened. 

Suddenly, “#quantasluxury” was trending for all the wrong reasons – with social media platforms being inundated with scathing comments about the airline’s lack of quality. 

This is just one example of why creating small business hashtags can be much riskier than people realize. 

In addition, creating your hashtag is not enough. You also need to create enough of a buzz that people will start using and following the hashtag. 

The dangers of using trending hashtags

Sure, popular hashtags might not be effective for small businesses because they force you to compete with a larger crowd.

But there’s also another very important reason to avoid trending hashtags:

Some people hop on trends without taking the time to understand what they’re about. This could prove to be your biggest mistake as a small business owner. Hashtags may refer to highly controversial things. 

For example, the English soccer team Manchester City had a player called Gabriel Jesus. When they decided to run an online Q&A session featuring the player, they used the hashtag “#AskJesus.” The results were not what they intended. 

This is just one example of when a seemingly popular hashtag can damage your brand’s reputation. There are many others.

Remember, even if hashtags are seemingly innocent today, they may be hijacked in the future. Within days, the hashtag could have a very different meaning. 

It’s important to research hashtags before using them to make sure you’re not attaching your brand’s identity to controversial ideas. 

Overusing hashtags

When some people heard Mosseri’s announcement about Instagram’s hashtags, they reacted with a sense of relief.

Why?

Because they hoped that this would put an end to the rampant hashtag spamming across the platform. 

Many people – including small business owners – believe that when it comes to hashtags, the more the better. 

While this might be true to an extent, there are limitations to how far this goes. 

Adding random hashtags that have absolutely nothing to do with your product is not going to help. Conversely, it could even damage your brand’s reputation. 

The only effect is that you’ll show up on a hashtag page that is completely unrelated to your niche. People may see your content, but they won’t interact with it or become new customers. 

Many people find hashtags extremely annoying because their favorite pages have become inundated with spam. 

When it comes to Twitter, excessive hashtags can damage your tweet’s readability – decreasing the chances of engagement and sharing. 

How to use small business hashtags for real growth

Now that you’re aware of some of the most important hashtag traps, you’re ready to learn about strategies for real growth:

Don’t just use one platform

Instagram is a major talking point these days due to Mosseri’s announcement, but it’s not the only place you can use hashtags. 

There are plenty of other places you can use small business hashtags. TikTok is an obvious example, as are Facebook, LinkedIn, and Pinterest. 

You can even use hashtags in your blog posts to boost your SEO ranking. 

Twitter is another possibility, although this platform has become highly controversial due to the recent takeover by Elon Musk.

The controversial actions of the billionaire have scared many advertisers away, but many are willing to return if certain conditions are met. 

On the other hand, some say that Elon’s purging of bots on the platform has made Twitter a more attractive space for advertisers. After all, there’s no point in spending money on advertisements for bots. 

Even within Instagram, there is more than one place to post your small business hashtags. Reels are relatively new and can benefit tremendously from small business hashtags. 

Repost your customers’ content 

Another extremely effective strategy is to use hashtags to repost your customers’ content. 

This tactic works especially well if you have turned your brand name into a hashtag. For example, many boutique streetwear brands repost pictures of their customers wearing their products. 

First of all, it is very easy to use your new hashtag to find people on social media who are posting pictures of your products. You can then go through the options and repost the best pictures. 

Second of all, this entire process requires virtually no work on your part. It’s as easy as clicking on a pre-existing product and reposting it. 

In other words, you can let your customers become your most productive marketing professionals by creating small business hashtags. 

An even better strategy would be to sift through the options and choose content posted by people with a large number of followers. This helps you associate your brand with popular influencers – including up-and-coming stars who may one day expose your brand to millions of people. 

Avoid clichéd hashtags

Whatever you do, be sure to avoid clichéd hashtags when posting content. 

There are some hashtags out there that people have grown to hate. These include:

Some of these hashtags are incredibly outdated, while others have been overused to the point where they have lost all meaning. 

Either find more modern keywords or use options that are less universally hated. 

Create trends

Creating keywords is one thing.

But you can go one step further by creating social media trends.

Some of the most effective marketing campaigns of our generation have been relatively simple viral trends.

An obvious example is the Ice Bucket Challenge, which was started by the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Association. 

Many celebrities joined in, and the trend helped the charity raise hundreds of millions of dollars within a few short months. 

Another example is the #JifRapChallenge, which saw numerous rappers attempt to “spit a few bars” with their mouths full of peanut butter. 

The possibilities are endless, and it only gets better if you think outside the box. 

Of course, creating a viral trend is a serious challenge for even the biggest brands in the world – not to mention small businesses. 

But with a little creativity, this strategy has the potential to uplift your small business to the same level as major corporations in terms of global visibility – and this is perhaps the true magic of social media. 

Moving forward with your small business hashtags

By now, you should know that while hashtags aren’t magic bullets that can automatically connect you with customers, they still have excellent potential in 2023 and beyond. 

These days, it’s easy to dismiss hashtags as being outdated. After all, they’ve been around for over 15 years. But for the foreseeable future, they are intrinsically tied to the way we advertise and express ourselves online. 

Further Reading

• Social Media Marketing Guide for Small Business | Alliance Virtual Offices  
• Small Business Growth: Work On Your Business, Not In It
• The Small Business Owner’s Guide to Social Media Marketing Costs
• Creative Marketing Ideas: Surprising Benefits and Inspiration for your Remote Business

Avoid common mistakes with small business hashtags while using them correctly, and you can make the most of this effective, free marketing tool while generating plenty of organic traffic. 
To learn more about affordable options for small businesses such as Virtual Offices and Live Receptionists, visit Alliance Virtual Offices today.

The post Small Business Hashtags to Connect and Grow first appeared on Alliance Virtual Offices.

• What makes remote interviews unique?
• Best remote interview setups
• What to look for in remote candidates

Q: How is a remote interview different from an in-person interview?

A: A remote interview requires some degree of technical knowledge. Without a proper technical setup, it may be difficult to get a sense of the candidate’s personality, demeanor, and body language. That said, remote interviews can be just as effective as in-person interviews when conducted correctly.

According to the latest statistics, more than 15% of high-paying jobs are now fully remote. 

As you might expect, this is leading to a massive increase in virtual interviews. According to a recent Indeed survey, as many as 82% of employers use virtual interviews to hire candidates. 

Of these employers, a further 92% plan to continue using virtual interviews for the foreseeable future. 

This statistic tells us that when companies try virtual interviews for the first time, they generally see no reason to return to in-person interviews. 

Even as the pandemic slowly winds down, companies have no reason to stop conducting virtual interviews – although many of them initially switched to this method because of quarantines and lockdowns. 

This is just one aspect of a greater shift toward remote work that is occurring across many industries in the United States. 

If you’re making this transition, you need to know how to conduct a proper remote interview. The technology may be extremely promising, but you need to know how to take full advantage of these methods if you want to experience the full benefits of a virtual interview. 

So what exactly do you need to know about virtual interviews, and what makes them different? How do you set up a virtual interview, and how do you supplement this technology with other digital tools geared toward remote work?

Let’s find out.

• What makes remote interviews unique?
• Best remote interview setups
• What to look for in remote candidates

What Makes Remote Interviews Unique?

Several things make remote interviews unique:

Remote interviews take less time

First, you should know that remote interviews are typically much more time-efficient than their in-person counterparts.

Just consider the logistics involved, and you’ll quickly see why. 

A remote interview does not require either party to commute to an office building. That alone can save hours.

You also don’t need to process candidates when they arrive, show them to a waiting room, and then finally escort them to the interview room. Everything is done virtually in seconds. 

Finally, the interview itself may be shorter because the scope of a virtual interview is limited. 

Because fewer techniques are possible, you can get straight to the questions and then move on to the next candidate. 

Time efficiency lets you interview more people within the same period. This allows you to consider more options before you make your final decision. 

When you interview more people, you increase your chances of finding the best talent. 

Remote interviews cost less to conduct

When you conduct a remote interview, you can cut down on many costs.

Perhaps the most obvious cost is office space. This is just one example of technology that makes a fully remote business possible, and it means saying goodbye to rental costs, utilities, and a range of staff members.

For example, there’s no need to hire a secretary to greet each candidate, show them to the waiting room, offer them coffee, and so on. 

Cutting down on interview costs allows you to put those savings into other important areas. For example, you could even take those savings and use them to offer your new employees better wages or more attractive benefits. 

Or use that money for better advertising campaigns! 

The point is simple:

Saving money is always a good thing. 

Remote interviews make it difficult to assess body language

Remote interviews also have their fair share of downsides.

For starters, it’s difficult to assess someone’s body language during an online interview. Generally speaking, you only see their face and shoulders.

Who knows? They might be fidgeting with their hands off-screen. Or perhaps they have a habit of standing too close to people.

Maybe the candidate tends to engage in sexual harassment. Perhaps they find it difficult to maintain eye contact or communicate effectively when they’re outside of their own home.

These are all questions that are very difficult to answer with a Zoom interview. 

Fortunately, most remote interviews involve fully remote positions – so many of these issues may be inconsequential. 

There are fewer location restrains with remote interviews

Another unique aspect of a remote interview is that there are virtually no location restraints.

If you’re pressed for time, you can even conduct a remote interview while you’re on the train. If you’re on a business trip, you could interview candidates from your hotel room. 

Why not head to a nearby co-working center? 

The possibilities are endless, and it means that you can conduct your interviews without as many scheduling conflicts getting in the way. 

Some interview techniques are impossible remotely

Sometimes, a simple list of questions just doesn’t cut it during an interview.

You might need to give your candidate a hands-on task to assess their skills. Perhaps you need to see whether they can complete an exercise within a certain time limit. 

Maybe you need to divide your candidates into teams and assess their teamwork or leadership qualities. 

All of these techniques are very difficult or outright impossible in a remote environment. 

Even if you can figure out a way to assess certain hands-on skills in a remote interview, your candidates may cheat by searching the answers on Google or using other strategies. 

The truth is that when you conduct a remote interview, you’re limited to verbal assessment strategies. 

Sometimes, this is more than enough to choose the best talent. In other situations, you may feel quite constrained by remote interviews. 

Remote interviews are impossible without reliable internet

If you’re going to conduct a remote interview, you need reliable internet. 

In contrast, companies aren’t so reliant on technology with face-to-face interviews. 

This means that if you don’t have a reliable internet connection, your remote interviews could quickly become disastrous or frustrating. 

Reliance on the internet is also a two-way street. If your candidates don’t have a good connection, it can be difficult to hear their answers. 

Worst case scenario? The interview ends abruptly because of connection issues. 

The good news is that this can help you choose the best candidates. After all, if someone is struggling with their internet, they’re probably not a good fit for a remote position. 

You can interview a wider range of candidates remotely

One of the most important benefits of a remote interview is that it gives you access to a much wider talent pool. 

With in-person interviews, you’re limited to your local geographic area. This is especially problematic if you live in a rural area with a low population density.

Your local town may only have one or two candidates that are suited to your position. If you’re hiring for a highly technical or specialized position, there might be no one nearby who is even remotely qualified. 

Remote interviews address this issue by giving you access to the entire world. If you’re hiring for a remote position, there’s no reason to limit yourself to your local area.

You could find the perfect freelance writing candidate in Canada. Or perhaps there’s a skilled graphic designer living in Spain with perfect English. 

The possibilities are virtually unlimited, and remote interviews help you find the most talented individuals as you expand your company.

That said, some companies need to limit themselves to American employees due to tax implications or employment laws. Even then, you have a better chance of finding talented individuals if you can search the entire nation instead of your local county or state. 

It’s difficult to show off your company’s benefits remotely

Remember, an interview isn’t just an opportunity to assess a candidate. 

It’s also an opportunity for the candidate to assess you.

It’s no secret that companies around the world are struggling to find talent. Many of these companies are forced to compete with each other for the best candidates, and this means that employees often find themselves in the driver’s seat when it comes to the hiring process.

Forbes calls this phenomenon a “Talent Shortage Perfect Storm,” reporting that companies have been struggling to find qualified candidates since at least 2019.

So how does this affect remote interviews?

Well, it can be very difficult to show off your company’s benefits if you’re limited to a computer screen.

With in-person interviews, you have the opportunity to lead a new hire through your office building, pointing out all the attractive features:

“There’s the lunch area – we offer our employees free smoothies. On Fridays, we have fresh, brick-oven pizza.”

“Here’s a typical office. As you can see, we have floor-to-ceiling windows with excellent views of the river.”

“Our building is fully air-conditioned in the summer and heated in the winter. Oh, and all of our water coolers are fully purified.”

These are just a few examples of things you can say to your candidates to “sweeten the deal.” You can’t communicate these ideas through a virtual interview. 

It’s also difficult to help candidates understand your company culture, which can be a major factor as they make their final decision. 

With all that said, the ability to work remotely is one of the most attractive things for candidates right now.  

A recent survey found that almost 50% of surveyed workers stated that they will “definitely” seek a remote position for their next job. 

FlexJobs reports that 65% of respondents want to work remotely full-time. 

Another survey found that a stunning 97.6% of remote workers say that they want to keep working remotely for the rest of their careers. 

Although having a nice lunchroom is certainly a plus, the statistics are clear:

Most employees would rather make themselves a sandwich in the comfort of their own homes. 

Part of the remote interview involves candidates using technology effectively

One of the most unique aspects of a remote interview is that the interview itself is a test. 

Can the candidate set up a Zoom call effectively? Do they know how to turn on their mic or camera?

Are they fumbling around with their laptop charger mid-interview? 

These are all factors that you can consider when you make your final decision. 

The interview itself shows you how tech-savvy your candidates truly are, and this may be an important consideration if you’re hiring for a fully-remote, highly-technical position. 

Best Remote Interview Setups

Setting up a remote interview should be quite easy. 

The basic remote interview process

All you need is a solid internet connection, a mic, and a camera. While higher-quality cameras and mics are always helpful, you can probably get away with using your phone or a cheap laptop. 

From there, you need to sign up for a video calling app, schedule a call, and share the link with your candidates. Some apps allow your candidates to schedule their interviews ahead of time. 

Arrive a few minutes before the interview and make sure that your mic and camera are functioning properly. 

Conduct the interview, sign off, and move to the next candidate. 

That’s it!

Remote interview questions

Here are some sample remote interview questions you might ask:

• Do you have any experience with remote work?
• How do you like to communicate with team members in a remote environment?
• How would you rate your tech skills?
• What is the most challenging project you’ve ever been involved with?
• What would you bring to this company?
• What is your general philosophy? 

What’s the best remote interview app?

There are a few different remote interview apps to choose from, including:

• Microsoft Teams
• Zoom
• Google Meet
• Skype
• Slack

There are many options, and this general niche is becoming quite saturated. Many companies have jumped on the video conferencing bandwagon, and there is considerable competition between apps. 

You will need to consider the various pros and cons of each app to determine the right choice for your company. There are varying fees, limitations, and subscription tiers.

Figuring out the best video conferencing app is a subject for another article, but it’s safe to say that you have many affordable options at your fingertips. 

What to Look for in Remote Candidates

If you’re hiring for a remote position, you need to consider the fact that social skills are not very important. 

Instead, consider the candidate’s experience levels and technical abilities first and foremost.

Communication skills are still important, especially if you need someone who speaks fluent English. 

Your goal will be to assess whether the individual has been lying about their background or their experience. 

Remember, you need to determine whether the candidate is tech-savvy enough to function in a remote environment. 

Finally, consider whether they have a stable internet connection. It should be easy to assess their connection speeds based on the quality of the video call. 

You should also assess their working environment. Do they have a professional home office setup?

Are they trying to answer questions from a crowded, noisy cafe?

Are they sitting on the floor in their apartment? 

While these situations aren’t necessarily “deal breakers,” you should think about the candidate’s ability to work without distractions. 

If your candidate becomes distracted by something in their environment, gauge their reaction. Do they become flustered or annoyed? Or do they deal with these distractions in a calm, efficient manner?

Sometimes, these unexpected issues can tell you a lot about your candidates. 

Exploring Other Remote Interview Options With Alliance Virtual Offices

Alliance Virtual Offices offers a range of services for companies that are transitioning to a remote business structure. 

Among other things, Alliance provides companies with access to physical, on-demand office space. 

You can take advantage of this office space to make your remote interviews seem even more professional. 

When you interview your home office, there’s always the risk of sending the wrong impression. 

Your candidates may dismiss you as an untrustworthy company.

This is especially true if your dog starts barking halfway through the interview, or your children run screaming into your home office. 

By spending a few dollars on flexible office space, you give yourself a quiet, professional environment from which to conduct your remote interview. 

Access to a flexible office space also allows you to interview candidates face-to-face – even if your business doesn’t have an office. 

This helps you create a positive first impression, increasing the chances of attracting the most talented individuals. 

Further Reading

• How Businesses Should Use E-Marketing
• Resources for Small Businesses: Top Free and Affordable Tools for Entrepreneurs to Grow a Business  
• How to Stay Flexible Through Your Business Expansion
• The Most Convenient and Efficient Office Space for Small Business

In short, Alliance Virtual Offices gives you plenty of options when it comes to interviews. The best part is that you’ll never have to pay office rental fees and utility costs, giving you the best of both worlds. 

Alliance Virtual Offices also offers a range of other remote-work-associated services, including Live Receptionists, Virtual Addresses, Virtual Phone Lines, Mail Forwarding, and much more.
Check out Alliance Virtual Offices to learn more about how we can help with your upcoming remote interviews. 

The post Your Complete Guide to a Successful Remote Interview first appeared on Alliance Virtual Offices.

• Do affiliate marketers need to be strategic?
• The best tools for affiliate marketing
• Your affiliate marketing partner matters as much as your tools

Q: What tools are needed for affiliate marketing?

A: You don’t need much to get started with affiliate marketing. What you do need is an effective, organized way of producing content. You should also invest in a tracking tool for your affiliate links. The goal is to determine what kind of content generates the most returns and make gradual adjustments to increase your profits.

Earn Money with Alliance Virtual Offices

Earn as much as $550 per sale when You Refer New Clients to Alliance Virtual Offices

Download the Affiliate Quick Start Guide below

Affiliate marketing may be more challenging than you think.

Although this strategy is often touted as one of the best ways to earn passive income online, not everyone experiences success. 

According to some statistics, as many as 95% of new affiliate marketers fail to achieve any success. Many quit after a few months, and only a few stick with it over a long period. 

The most important thing to realize is that brands want you to succeed. They’re relying on you to help them sell their products. 

Without affiliate marketers, many companies would be unable to find new audiences and expand. 

The good news is that there are many tools for affiliate marketing that can help you achieve your goals. 

Whether you’re just starting or you’ve been an affiliate for many years, you can benefit tremendously by learning about these tools for affiliate marketing. 

At the end of the day, affiliate marketing represents a genuine dream job. 

It only requires a few hours of work per week, and it has the potential to provide you with serious levels of passive income. 

Keep your eye on this dream, take advantage of the best tools for affiliate marketing, and never give up. Check off these boxes, and there’s no reason you can’t become the next affiliate marketing success story. 

But why is it so important to approach affiliate marketing with a strategic mindset? What kind of affiliate marketing tools do you need to be aware of?

Let’s find out.

• Do affiliate marketers need to be strategic?
• The best tools for affiliate marketing
• Your affiliate marketing partner matters as much as your tools

Do affiliate marketers need to be strategic?

Affiliate marketing isn’t something you jump into headfirst without any real strategy. 

Sure, many people have experienced considerable levels of success with this method, and some have earned millions. But none of these affiliate marketing success stories involved blind luck.

You can’t expect to post a few affiliate links on your content and expect to start raking in millions. 

Just like any other marketing professional, you need to be highly strategic about almost everything you do.

Affiliate marketing is easy to get into because you don’t need any products of your own. But you still need to sell those products – and this is arguably the most difficult aspect of any business. 

There’s a reason businesses are willing to pay affiliate marketers to sell their products:

It’s because this process is so difficult that they’d rather simply get someone else to do it.

Here are some of the major challenges associated with affiliate marketing in the modern era:

Creating Effective Organic Content

One of the most challenging aspects of affiliate marketing is creating effective organic content. Organic content is almost always better than paid ads – at least in the long run. 

Unfortunately, it takes time to create good content, and you’ll need to wait for your audience to find it on their own. This can take years. 

The problem is getting worse thanks to Google’s ever-changing algorithm, which forces you to constantly adjust your content to maintain its ranking on the search page.

 Affiliates need to be much more strategic when it comes to their organic content, and they now have to compete with ads and sponsored content on social media platforms. 

Many affiliates today use a mixture of both paid and organic content to cover all their bases. 

Consumers Are More Aware

Another major challenge is the fact that digital consumers are now hyper-aware of typical affiliate selling techniques. 

A few years ago, you might have seen an influencer promoting a product and assumed that this individual genuinely believed in what they were selling. 

Today, consumers are much more likely to take a pessimistic viewpoint, assuming that influencers are just trying to make a few bucks. 

The same old selling techniques aren’t having the same impact, and affiliates are having to get increasingly creative. Many consumers are tuning out of social media and completely ignoring people who try to sell them products as a matter of course.

 This all means that your messages are more important than ever before. Trust has become essential. 

Changing Social Media Patterns

People are abandoning older social media platforms and moving towards new apps. The obvious example is the slow death of Facebook, which is losing thousands of active users every single day. 

These users are moving towards other apps such as Snapchat or TikTok, and affiliate marketers must be aware of these changes if they want to experience continued success. 

Posting ads or affiliate links on obsolete platforms may prove to be a waste of time and money. 

In contrast, you can establish an edge over your competition if you become one of the first affiliate marketers to make the transition toward newer, more popular platforms. Some of the best affiliate marketers post on platforms that no one else has even considered using. 

Rising Marketing Costs

If you decide to choose paid ads, you can expect higher costs. Brands are starting to realize that there are only so many users on social media platforms. 

Everyone is competing for the same customers, and these customers don’t have an unlimited amount of money to spend on products. Recent statistics show that almost 90% of marketers don’t think digital ads work. 

About one-third of all paid ads are fraudulent, and investment in ad technology has been declining by 10% each year over the last five years. 

CEOs are starting to wonder if digital ads are a waste of money, and it’s not getting any easier when costs continue to rise. Larger brands are still spending big on ads, but some believe that the party might come to an end sooner rather than later… 

Affiliate Marketing is Getting a Bad Reputation

A few years back, only insiders knew what affiliate marketing was. Nowadays, almost everyone is familiar with the term. 

Worse still, many people associate a negative stigma with the entire concept. Truth be told, this bad reputation isn’t entirely unjustified. Many affiliate marketers sell products that they don’t even bother to research. 

This leads to people receiving faulty, shady, or even non-existent products. Understandably, it’s getting increasingly difficult to convince consumers that you genuinely have their best interests at heart. 

Even people who hang on to every word of their favorite influencers become skeptical when they realize that affiliate marketing is taking place. 

The best tools for affiliate marketing

The good news is that modern affiliate marketers have a multitude of tools at their disposal. 

These tools for affiliate marketing can help you overcome many of the aforementioned challenges. Not only that, but they can help you make the most of the inherent benefits of affiliate marketing – namely, the passive nature of this income stream.

After all, it makes sense to automate and streamline as many processes as possible if the entire goal is to work less while earning more. 

Let’s go through some of these tools:

Tools for affiliate links

Check out these tools for affiliate marketing if you want to optimize your links:

• Ahrefs: Ahrefs is one of the most effective tools for affiliate marketing. Although you can use it as a general SEO tool, this particular tool places a specific emphasis on backlinks. You can use this tool to fill your content with the most effective backlinks, thereby boosting your overall SEO scores and getting your content in front of more people. 
• Yoast SEO: Yoast is another popular SEO tool among affiliate marketers and content creators. One of the best aspects of this particular tool for affiliate marketing is its canonical link customization features. It also offers meta description customization, sitemap customization, and much more. 
• Pretty Links: Pretty Links is one of those tools that was tailor-made specifically for affiliate marketers. Using Pretty Links, you can optimize your links and redirects. With this tool, your links look better, and you can keep your affiliate links much more organized. Ask what most affiliate marketers use to cloak their links, and they’ll probably say Pretty Links. 

AI tools for affiliate marketing

If you’re all about automation, consider these tools for affiliate marketing:

• CAKE: CAKE offers solid affiliate marketing software that helps you optimize your campaigns in a seriously streamlined manner. The result is an increase in both traffic and earnings. 
• Jasper AI: Jasper AI effectively automates the entire content creation process. With a focus on blogs, Jasper uses AI technology to churn out copywriting content for pretty much anything you need. It can also write YouTube scripts and high-converting email subject lines. 
• Postaga: Postaga is an AI-powered email marketing tool. With this tool at your fingertips, you can automate the entire outreach process. This is a solid choice if you want to find new affiliate marketing partners.
• Adscook: If you’re interested in running paid ads as an affiliate marketer, check out Adscook for an AI-powered Facebook ad creator. This tool makes creating ads quick and easy, and it also gives you plenty of data to help you boost performance. 
• Mailchimp: Like Postaga, Mailchimp offers plenty of automation when it comes to email marketing. It’s one of the most popular email marketing apps around, and it makes it easier to create high-converting emails. 
• Convertbot: If you’d like to add a chatbot to your affiliate marketing arsenal, Convertbot has you covered. With this tool, you can create a chatbot for your business without any coding skills. 

Tracking tools for affiliate marketing

Tracking is essential for effective affiliate marketing. This means that tracking tools for affiliate marketing are crucial. Consider these options to boost your success rates:

• Amazon OneLink: Amazon OneLink allows you to geotag your affiliate links. When someone clicks your affiliate links, they are automatically tracked and provided with the Amazon site that matches their geographic location. It’s a simple tool, but it makes life more convenient for your customers. 
• AnyTrack: AnyTrack helps you learn more about where your affiliate links are coming from. You can also integrate this tool with Google Analytics or Facebook Pixel to gain even more valuable insights. 
• Voluum: Voluum is one of the most intricate tools for affiliate marketers. It provides serious marketing analytics power, giving you the ability to track, manage, and optimize all paid and organic traffic sources. The cool thing about Voluum is that it also offers a significant amount of automation. 

Essential tools for affiliate marketing

Last but not least, we have a few tools that are must-haves for any affiliate marketer. These might not be complicated tools, but they’re worth having on your tool belt:

• Grammarly: Grammarly is a solid grammar app that helps you avoid mistakes in your writing. You’ll find Grammarly pretty helpful if you’re doing a lot of blogging, and remember: Google punishes you for grammar mistakes. 
• Duplichecker: Google also ranks duplicates to try and ensure that plagiarised material isn’t too high on the results page. With Duplichecker, you can figure out whether your content is too similar to existing content. 
• Hemingway: Hemingway is a distinct resource because it helps you write more “readable” content. It’s a great, free tool that helps you get rid of bad habits like passive voice.
• Image Attributes Pro: This simple little tool helps you handle one of the simplest (and yet most tedious) aspects of creating high-ranking content: Image attributes. 
• Google Analytics: You don’t necessarily need to spend money on a fancy SEO app to learn what people are searching for nowadays. Google Analytics is free, and it can help you learn more about trending search queries on the world’s biggest search engine. 

Your affiliate marketing partner matters as much as your tools

Before we wrap things up, let’s take a step back and examine something that is much more important than your choice of tools:

Your choice of partner. 

Choosing the right company to work with is going to have a much greater effect on your success than your affiliate marketing tools. 

You can buy all the fancy tools you want, but you’re not going to have much luck selling a product that no one actually wants. 

This is why you should consider partnering with Alliance Virtual Offices.

This company offers an extremely lucrative affiliate program that can generate hundreds of dollars from a single sale.

Even better, Alliance Virtual Offices provides you with all the tools you need for continued success. 

One of the most important tools they offer is an almost never-ending stream of pre-written content that you can use to generate sales.

It’s as simple as copying high-converting ad copy they’ve already written, putting in your affiliate links, and posting it.

But wait… what does Alliance Virtual Offices sell?

We’re glad you asked. 

Alliance Virtual Offices is one of the premier providers of Virtual Offices to businesses across the United States. Unsurprisingly, these kinds of services are in incredibly high demand.

Many are veering towards a remote-first model as businesses emerge from the pandemic. 

This means that they’re ditching the world of physical offices and letting their employees work from home. 

Alliance Virtual Offices helps streamline this transition by providing Virtual Addresses and on-demand workspaces that businesses can book whenever they need to hold meetings.

This gives them the best of both worlds – providing them with all the benefits of a physical office without any of the costly downsides. 

And as we head towards a recession, businesses are very concerned about cutting costs in the modern era. 

Alliance Virtual Offices also offers other cost-saving services such as Live Receptionists and Virtual Phone Numbers. 

These services are even more appealing for new businesses, as they can register a new LLC with a Virtual Address to experience serious tax benefits in corporate-friendly states. 

Another strategy would be to register a new LLC with a Virtual Address that boosts its reputation, whether it’s in downtown Manhattan or the hills of Silicon Valley. 

The point is simple:

Businesses need these kinds of services, and they’re an easy sell for any affiliate marketer. 

If you’re ready to move forward and partner with Alliance Virtual Offices, our program takes care of virtually every aspect of the process, from tracking affiliate sales to payment processing. 

Moving forward with effective tools for affiliate marketing

The world of affiliate marketing continues to face notable challenges. Consumers are going to tighten spending as we head into an uncertain economic territory, and big brands are less optimistic about digital ads than ever before. 

But here’s the good news:

With the right tool for affiliate marketing at your disposal, you can overcome virtually any hurdle imaginable. 

Further Reading

• Online Branding for Small Business: The Best Strategies 
• Is Staying a Local Small Business Killing Your Profits?
• The Complete Guide to Influencer Marketing for Small Business
• Retirement Business: Should You Start a Side Hustle After 60?

Thanks to companies like Alliance Virtual Offices, there are always going to be popular services that virtually anyone can sell. 

Arm yourself with the right tools, partner with the right companies, and adopt the right mindset. 

Do this, and there’s nothing you can’t achieve as an affiliate marketer.

The post The Best Tools for Affiliate Marketing to Boost Your Income first appeared on Alliance Virtual Offices.

• Why is high-ticket affiliate marketing so profitable? 
• Why do people struggle with high-ticket affiliate marketing? 
• How to use Alliance’s Program for high-ticket affiliate marketing success

Q: Is high-ticket affiliate marketing profitable?

A: Yes, high-ticket affiliate marketing has the potential to be extremely profitable. That said, selling high-ticket items can be challenging – more so than selling a low-ticket item. But this challenge comes with an excellent reward, as you only need to sell one item for serious profits. If you manage to nail your marketing process, there’s no reason why you can’t rake in the big bucks – often with only a few sales per month or year.

Earn Money with Alliance Virtual Offices

Earn as much as $550 per sale when You Refer New Clients to Alliance Virtual Offices

Download the Affiliate Quick Start Guide below

According to the latest statistics, high-ticket affiliate marketers earn an average of about $6,500 per month and almost $80,000 per year.

Some of the most successful high-ticket affiliate marketers reportedly rake in millions annually. 

If you’re searching for a solid form of passive income, you really can’t go wrong with high-ticket affiliate marketing. 

Like other forms of affiliate marketing, this has become a vital part of the digital economy, with big brands relying on affiliates to generate up to 25% of their total sales. 

And it’s not slowing down, either.

According to Forbes, the affiliate industry grew by almost 50% between 2018 and 2021.

Affiliate marketers help connect sellers with buyers. Customers can find what they’re looking for with the help of these talented marketing professionals, and companies rake in higher revenues as a result.

Get Your FREE Guide Today!

How to Create Super Converting Blog Posts

And here’s the most important thing:

Companies are willing to pay out lucrative bounties and commissions for affiliate marketers who help them sell high-ticket products and services.

In other words, everyone wins:

The sellers, the affiliates, and the customers. 

Affiliate marketing is one of those subjects that has been discussed and dissected ad nauseam on the internet, and bloggers never fail to mention this strategy in their lists of “Top Ways to Make Passive Income.” 

But is affiliate marketing worth the hype? How much can you really earn when you get into high-ticket affiliate marketing?

And perhaps most importantly, which high-ticket affiliate marketing programs should you choose for unparalleled success? 

Let’s find out.

• Why is high-ticket affiliate marketing so profitable? 
• Why do people struggle with high-ticket affiliate marketing? 
• How to use Alliance Virtual Offices’ Program for high-ticket affiliate marketing success

Why is High-Ticket Affiliate Marketing So Profitable?

First, it makes sense to take a step back and figure out how people are making so much money with high-ticket affiliate marketing.

High Ticket Affiliate Marketing Meaning

So what exactly is “high ticket affiliate marketing?”

Let’s break it down:

The phrase “high-ticket” refers to products and services that have relatively high price tags. These are things like:

Generally speaking, high-ticket items and services cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. They do not include cheap items worth between $0 to $100, such as kids’ toys, phone accessories, pens, most clothing, and trendy knick-knacks like fidget spinners. 

By now, you can probably guess why high-ticket affiliate marketing is so profitable. If the price of the thing you’re selling is higher, you stand to earn more money for each sale. 

Simple, right?

To sweeten the deal even further, the commissions and rewards for high-ticket items are often much greater than for low-ticket items. 

So, while you might earn a 5% commission for selling a single pen, you could earn 20% or 30% for selling an online subscription service to a new member. 

And here’s the thing:

Because each high-ticket item comes with such a lucrative reward, you don’t need to sell as many of them each month to generate solid profits. 

While you might need to sell 10,000 pens to generate real income, you only need to sell a handful of high-ticket items to generate the same profits. 

Sure, making a high ticket sale is more challenging than selling a single pen. But in other ways, it relies on less technical skills. 

Alternatively, making a high-ticket sale is often a very personal affair, and affiliates may rely on more emotional and “traditional” persuasion techniques. 

The classic example is a car salesman who employs face-to-face marketing tactics to sell each high-ticket item. 

Typically, no one needs to be convinced to buy something as basic as a new pen. They either want one or they don’t. 

If you engage in low-ticket affiliate marketing, you need to rely on highly technical strategies like paid ads, traffic generation, SEO, data analysis, and so on. 

In contrast, you could meet with prospective clients in a face-to-face manner and explain the benefits of the high-ticket item in a much more organic, personal manner. 

You might also rely on webinars, networking events, and virtual meetings to pitch high-ticket products and services.

At the end of the day, high-ticket affiliate marketing can be easier than low-ticket affiliate marketing because there is less emphasis on highly technical digital marketing techniques.

It’s relatively easy to convince someone to buy a high-ticket item if you genuinely believe in its benefits. 

High Ticket Affiliate Marketing Niches

If you want to be a successful high-ticket affiliate marketer, it’s important to choose the right niche. Examples of high-ticket affiliate marketing niches include:

• Gaming
• Software
• Electronics
• SaaS
• Remote Work
• Virtual Courses
• Trading
• Health

High Ticket Affiliate Marketing Programs

Once you’ve chosen your niche, it’s time to choose your high-ticket affiliate marketing program. Examples include:

You might have noticed that all of these programs involve some form of software or online service. This is the norm for high-ticket affiliate marketing, and most pros recommend this route.

However, you can also promote high-ticket products rather than services using a range of affiliate marketing programs. For example, there are plenty of products on Amazon with price tags of $500 or more that you can efficiently sell via Amazon Affiliates. 

Why Do People Struggle with High-Ticket Affiliate Marketing?

Here’s why people often struggle with high-ticket affiliate marketing:

High-Ticket Affiliate Marketing Products are Difficult to Sell

Naturally talented salespeople might prefer the personal, face-to-face process of high-ticket sales, but there are still notable challenges associated with this process.

It’s much easier to convince someone to buy a single pen than a new piece of software with a price tag of $2,000. 

As a high-ticket affiliate marketer, you need to form close bonds with your leads, create engaging content, and learn all about the psychology of closing a deal. 

In contrast, selling a pen might be as easy as creating a basic social media advertisement. 

When you’re promoting high-ticket items, the sales process often takes months to complete as clients carefully consider the pros and cons. It requires insane levels of patience and a persistent mindset. 

Worse still, you might dedicate months to a potential sale only to lose your lead to a competitor at the last minute.

This isn’t for the faint of heart. 

High-Ticket Affiliate Marketing for Beginners Isn’t Always Easy

High-ticket affiliate marketing might not be best suited to total newbies. It might be a better idea to get a feel for the e-commerce world with basic strategies like retail arbitrage before you dive headfirst into the “big leagues.”

Because of the unforgiving nature of high-ticket affiliate marketing, you might find this extremely discouraging as a beginner – especially if you go months without a single sale.

In contrast, veteran affiliate marketer is more likely to remain persistent, as they know that this strategy has the potential for serious rewards. 

That said, nothing is stopping you from trying your hand at high-ticket affiliate marketing if you’re a total beginner. 

It’s Best if You Already Have an Online Following

There’s no denying it; you need an online audience for success as an affiliate marketer. Without a following, you might find this process very challenging. 

If you only have a few hundred followers, you’ll need to boost your exposure considerably before you can start generating real profits. 

This alone becomes a full-time job before you even consider selling any high-ticket items online. 

That said, there are plenty of people out there who have “started from scratch” before earning serious profits.

You Might Have to Adapt to Trends

Affiliate marketing often involves following the latest trends and adapting to a changing market. For example, many high-ticket products in high demand a few years ago are no longer popular today.

This means the affiliate marketers who sold these products were faced with either finding a new product to promote or slowly crashing. 

Remember, an estimated 92% of all SaaS startups fail within three years. This means that a company might be willing to pay you big bucks for promoting its services, but its marketing budget might eventually run out.

And then you’re back at square one.

Fortunately, this is more of an issue for low-ticket items, as affiliates who sell these products must constantly switch between fidget spinners, crocs, or whatever else seems to be the latest fad.

Businesses Are Cutting Spending Right Now

Another major challenge for high-ticket affiliate marketers today is the fact that many businesses are actually in the process of cutting spending.

It’s no secret that some of the biggest tech companies in the world are cutting tens of thousands of jobs, and some predict that this trend may spiral into other sectors as well. 

In other words, it’s getting harder to convince companies that they need high-ticket items. 

Many of them would rather cut costs, become super conservative, and prepare for the economic storm ahead. 

How to Use Alliance Virtual Office’s Program for High-Ticket Affiliate Marketing Success

Fortunately, many companies help other businesses save money during these uncertain times, and some of these companies have incredible high-ticket affiliate marketing programs.

An obvious example is Alliance Virtual Offices.

This company specializes in allowing businesses to cut the shackles of a physical office, transition to a more affordable virtual workspace, and cut unnecessary jobs. 

In short, it’s exactly what countless businesses are looking for right now.

As you’d expect from a high-ticket affiliate marketing program, Alliance Virtual Offices offers solid rewards and bounties for promoting their services:

Platinum Virtual Office Plan – $65 Bounty

Alliance Virtual Offices’ Platinum Virtual Office Plan is essentially their flagship service. A Virtual Office comes with a Virtual Address. 

A company signs up for a Virtual Office and a Virtual Address, allowing them to choose from a wide range of prestigious locations throughout the United States. This might include New York, Silicon Valley, and other major hubs. 

The Platinum Plan gives them 16 hours of access to a private Meeting Room or Office whenever necessary. Plus, Alliance Virtual Offices receives all business mail, securely storing it for pickup or forwarding if necessary. 

Virtual Phone Unlimited Plan – $30 Bounty

Alliance Virtual Offices’ Virtual Phone Unlimited Plan provides a dedicated business number – maintaining credibility even if a CEO is working from home with their remote workers doing the same. 

Virtual Phone with Live Receptionist

• 50-Minute Plan – $125 Bounty
• 100-Minute Plan – $175 Bounty
• 200-Minute Plan – $260 Bounty
• 200-Minute Plan – $375 Bounty
• 500-Minute Plan – $550 Bounty

Many companies fear damaging their reputations if they switch to a remote workspace. With Alliance Virtual Offices’ Live Receptionist service, these companies don’t have to sacrifice their customer service.

Instead of hiring an in-person receptionist and paying rental fees for traditional office space, companies can use Alliance Virtual Offices’ Live Receptionist service for a fraction of the price. These professionals answer your business calls, giving you more time to focus on expanding. 

Virtual Office + Meeting Room Hour Bundle – $150 Bounty

If you sell these two services bundled together, you can earn an impressive bounty of $150. 

Monthly Coworking Plan – $100 Bounty

Coworking plans are popular not only for established businesses that need space to conduct meetings and interviews but also for “solopreneurs” who need a break from their home offices.

This service also caters to “digital nomads” who might be traveling through the United States and working on their laptops. 

Why Alliance Is an Easy Sell

If you’re looking for a new high-ticket affiliate marketing program to try out, Alliance Virtual Offices will prove to be an easy sell – especially as we head into 2023. 

Tons of companies are looking for ways to cut costs right now, and Alliance Virtual Offices is an obvious choice.

Instead of selling them yet another subscription service, you’re selling them the freedom to move towards a remote office system while maintaining functionality and their reputations.

The best part is that Alliance provides pre-written content that you can post without much effort. This high-converting marketing copy can convince even the most skeptical leads. 

All you need is an online audience.

Even if your following is still pretty small, there’s probably someone you know who’s trying to run a business amidst these uncertain economic times.

Once you let them know about Alliance Virtual Offices, word of mouth can take over. Before you know it, you’re making solid passive income. 

Considering the high bounties, it’s worth a shot.

Facing the Challenges of High-Ticket Affiliate Marketing Head-On

There’s no doubt that affiliate marketers today are facing serious challenges. 

Over the past few years, the affiliate industry has thrived in an era of cheap money, Covid-19 relief payments, and lockdown-induced Amazon shopping sprees. 

But things are changing now, and affiliate marketers need to adapt. 

High-ticket affiliate marketing might just be the answer – but choosing the right niche and program is essential. 

Further Reading

• Strategic Debt: How to Leverage Small Business Microloans
• The Small Business Owner’s Guide to Social Media Marketing Costs
• I Want to Start a Business But Have No Ideas | 21 Trending Businesses for Solopreneurs
• Modern Business Solutions: Boost Efficiency, Maintain Flexibility

Ask yourself how you can help major companies save money and weather the coming economic storm.
Try Alliance Virtual Offices’ affiliate marketing program today, help businesses in need, and rake in the rewards you deserve.

The post High-Ticket Affiliate Marketing: How to Close on Big Buys first appeared on Alliance Virtual Offices.

• Why is small business IT support so important?
• Why is small business IT support near me so difficult to find?
• The best small business IT support solutions
• Moving forward with your small business IT support

Q: Why do small businesses need IT support?

A: Although you might assume that only larger enterprises need IT support, this resource is also important for smaller businesses for several reasons. As a small business, it’s even more important to get your name out and be noticed in the digital marketing space and a minor interruption in your online service can also cost you potential customers. Finally, cybersecurity protects your valuable intellectual property.

In May of 2022, Chinese hackers stole intellectual property worth trillions of dollars from 30 of the biggest multinational corporations in the world. 

Among the stolen data were blueprints, diagrams, formulas, and manufacturing secrets that were not yet patented. 

In 2021, ransomware attacks increased by more than 100% – with small-to-midsized businesses at the highest risk. Each attack can easily rob companies of hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars. 

A recent study also shows that a staggering 93% of corporate networks can be easily penetrated by most hackers. 

60% of all corporate data is now stored in the cloud, with 90% of large enterprises adopting a multi-cloud structure for their operations. 

Whether you’re trying to protect your company’s intellectual property, avoid ransomware attacks, or transition to an entirely new way of storing data, it’s clear that IT support is essential.

You may think that you don’t need IT support. After all, you might be running a small company with only a handful of employees and a fully-remote business structure. Maybe you’re running a solo enterprise with just one employee (yourself). 

In this article, we’ll explain why even the smallest companies need at least some form of IT support. Even better, we’ll show you how to get the small business IT support you need to strive for greater success, security, and productivity.

• Why is small business IT support so important?
• Why is small business IT support so challenging to find?
• The best small business IT support solutions
• Moving forward with your small business IT support

Why is small business IT support so important?

There are many advantages of IT support that are particularly relevant for small businesses:

• Cybersecurity
• Convenience
• Fast Growth
• Cutting-Edge Tech
• Less Downtime

Cybersecurity

As a small company, you might not feel like cybersecurity is a big deal. 

After all, why would hackers target you?

Don’t they have bigger fish to fry?

While it’s true that hackers might target larger corporations with ransomware attacks, you can’t discount the possibility of having your intellectual property stolen. 

Often, smaller startups revolve around innovative ideas. Sometimes, it’s this idea that represents the true value of a company – not its startup capital or assets.

Unfortunately, intellectual property is easier to steal than ever before. Many startups have had their ideas ripped away before they even had the chance to create a successful business. 

With solid small business IT support, you can protect your intellectual property and ensure that your proprietary ideas generate profits for your company. 

IT Support protects your company against intrusions and hacks from all angles – whether your employees are betraying you or you’re being attacked by your competitors. 

Convenience

Why spend time on IT support tasks when you could be doing more important things?

As a small business owner, it’s always important to delegate your tasks effectively. If your talents lie in areas like marketing, negotiations, and leadership, it doesn’t make sense to waste hours handling lost passwords, network interruptions, and other minor inconveniences.

It makes much more sense to enlist the help of a small business IT support solution. With these tasks properly delegated, you can focus on growing your company and earning more significant profits. 

Fast Growth

Speaking of growth, small business IT support can facilitate rapid business expansion with innovative technological resources. 

If your long-term goal is to move up the ladder as quickly as possible, IT support is a must. 

After all, most startup entrepreneurs want to move past the little leagues as quickly as possible and move into the realms of medium-sized businesses – or perhaps even major corporations. 

Not only does IT support free up more time for you and your talented team, but it also enhances productivity with a range of effective tools. 

With greater productivity and less wasted time, there’s nothing that can stop you from reaching your highest possible goals. 

Cutting-Edge Tech

IT support staff are extremely knowledgeable, and they may be aware of cutting-edge technological tools that can completely transform the way you do business. 

Without IT support staff, you might never become aware of these possibilities – giving you a major disadvantage against your competitors. 

These tools can be used for cybersecurity, CRM, payment processing, and a range of other tasks that your business carries out daily. 

Less Downtime

Even a few hours of network interruption and downtime can cost you tremendously. 

With small business IT support, you can minimize these interruptions or avoid them entirely. 

This can help you continue to serve your customers. Additionally, it helps ensure that your existing customers don’t jump ship in frustration because your services became unavailable at a critical moment. 

Long periods of downtime lead to periods of unproductiveness. With no network, your employees have no choice but to twiddle their thumbs and wait (while still being paid, of course). 

In addition, you might miss out on opportunities to gain new customers if your network isn’t available. For example, someone might click on one of your online ads only to be redirected to a broken website. 

Whatever the case may be, network interruptions can seriously damage your reputation. Nothing says “unprofessional” like an unreliable network. 

The Benefits of Cloud Computing for Small Businesses

Even as big tech shrinks in the United States with tens of thousands of layoffs, the cloud computing industry is still expanding. 

But how is this possible if the entire economy looks like it’s heading for a major recession in 2023?

Easy:

Cloud computing offers incredible value as an IT solution – especially for small businesses. 

That’s not to say that cloud computing isn’t losing momentum – because it is. According to CNBC, Microsoft Cloud Services is now growing at approximately 35% – which is down about 15% from previous years. 

But the most essential point is that it’s still growing. 

In a period of economic uncertainty, cloud computing is an obvious solution. It replaces more expensive hardware solutions, and it goes hand-in-hand with remote work. 

Whether you’re running a small business or a major enterprise, cloud computing represents a welcome source of financial relief if you need to trim your budget and weather the coming economic storm. 

And within the cloud computing world itself, there are multiple tiers of services. If a company cannot afford the “premium package,” it can downsize to the standard service. 

This means that although cloud computing might not be growing at its previous rate, it’s certainly not going away. 

For small businesses, cloud computing also offers another significant benefit:

You no longer need to hire in-house IT staff. 

Instead, you can enlist the services of a remote IT support team that guides you through your cloud computing solutions rather than actually showing up at your office and tinkering around with your ethernet cables.

And now that we’re on the subject of remote businesses…

IT Support Can Help You Switch to a Remote Business Structure

Reliable small business IT support helps you make the transition to a remote business structure in a much more seamless manner. 

Almost every company is considering the possibility of remote or hybrid work for its employees. That said, making the switch isn’t always easy and you might encounter many IT issues along the way. 

Instead of stumbling through these problems and solving them by trial and error, you can make it easy on yourself by simply asking your IT support team for help. 

Often, these IT specialists also operate remotely – making it even easier to contact them and get the advice you need. 

This helps you lower your small business IT support cost even more as you leave your physical workspaces behind, embracing not only cloud computing but also remote workers and remote IT support for your small business. 

Small Business IT Support Helps You Evolve Faster

At the end of the day, one of the most important benefits of running a small business is the chance to take advantage of new niches and opportunities that larger enterprises aren’t even aware of.

Often, these new opportunities revolve around new technology. New niches are constantly popping up – and each one can be filled by a potentially successful small business. 

Small business IT services ensure that you make the most of your status as a small business, evolving with changing technology and bravely venturing into uncharted territory. 

Without solid IT support, many small businesses would not have the ability to bring such innovative new ideas to the table. 

Why is small business IT support near me so difficult to find?

Small business IT support is often difficult to find because entrepreneurs tend to wait until after an issue has occurred before seeking help. 

In other words, they don’t have a dedicated IT support team in place, and they might not even have software that makes IT easier to deal with.

After an issue arises, these small businesses are suddenly forced to scramble for anyone who can provide them with solid advice and guidance. 

This might involve reading online articles, watching YouTube videos, or desperately reaching out to the first IT support team they can find. 

The real problem is simple:

You might have no idea what is causing your issues. You might see that your network is down, but you might not know whether the core root of the issue lies with your router, your ethernet cables, or the network provider. 

In other words, you might be asking for advice on how to fix something that isn’t even part of the problem. 

This can lead to hours or even days of wasted time as you contact an IT specialist and troubleshoot the issue only to find that the real problem lies elsewhere. 

Throughout the entire process, you might be losing time that you could be spending on growing your business. You might also spend considerable funds that could be invested into new marketing campaigns, supplies, or other important business expenses. 

So what’s the moral of the story?

Isn’t it obvious?

Get a dedicated team of IT support specialists!

But wait – what if you can’t afford a team of IT specialists who are ready and waiting for your call at a moment’s notice?

The best small business IT support solutions

It should be obvious that a dedicated team of IT professionals is impractical for small businesses. 

It is too expensive – plain and simple. 

In addition, you might be transitioning to a fully-remote office. In this situation, a team of IT professionals would have nowhere to work.

Fortunately, several more affordable IT solutions are perfect for small businesses:

• Tech Solutions: Tech Solutions offers on-demand IT support whenever you need it. This saves you from having to hire an IT team full-time, and it means that help is always a phone call or an email away. This company’s Remote IT Help plan is tailor-made for small businesses – especially those transitioning to a remote-focused operation. 
• Webflow: Webflow is a website builder that makes creating your online real estate easy and quick. No coding experience is necessary, which allows you to bring your ideal website to life without wasting weeks trying to learn how to program. This website builder is especially helpful for small businesses, as it allows you to monetize members-only areas, engage in eCommerce, and use solid SEO strategies to stand out from the crowd. 
• Hostpapa: Hostpapa is another website builder that gives you a complete range of additional services, including domains, hosting, and email. According to Hostpapa, you can create a professional website for your small business in just minutes. They also take security very seriously, which gives you peace of mind as you protect your intellectual property. Finally, Hostpapa prioritizes high-speed networks, creating a solid user experience for your customers. 
• Paychex: If you need to pay your employees seamlessly without worrying about accounting errors and miscalculations, Paychex is an obvious choice. According to this company, you can run payroll in just two clicks after getting the entire system set up. Another solid feature here is the 24/7 customer support that is based entirely in the United States – giving you plenty of IT support if you ever run into any issues. This company also has a team of over 200 compliance experts that will help you make changes if state or federal employment laws evolve. 
• Gusto: Not only does Gusto handle your payroll, but it also handles your HR. This includes reporting, timesheets, insights, employee benefits, onboarding, and much more. It’s an all-in-one team management tool that can seriously simplify your activities as a small business – especially if you have a larger team. One thing that stands out here is the fact that you’ll get access to plenty of data that can help you make solid, informed decisions as you move forward. 
• Alliance Virtual Offices: Alliance Virtual Offices has been helping numerous small businesses transition to a remote or semi-remote structure during the pandemic. Their Virtual Offices include real, physical space you can book for meetings and team-building – perfect for hybrid-remote work systems. Alliance Virtual Offices also offers virtual addresses that let you register an LLC in any state – allowing you to take advantage of potential tax benefits. In addition, Alliance’s Live Receptionists also simplify customer service by answering your business phone line while you’re busy growing your enterprise. 

These are just a few IT solutions you can take advantage of as a small business. Each business is unique, and your needs might require slightly more specialized solutions. 

But the main point here is simple:

You don’t need to spend a fortune on small business IT solutions – not when there are all kinds of new businesses popping up that specifically cater to small businesses. 

With these small business IT support solutions and a remote-focused operation, you can reduce costs and continue to grow at breakneck speed. 

Where Can I Find small business IT support solutions near me?

Whether you want to protect your company’s intellectual property, begin to transition towards cloud computing, or make the switch to a remote work environment, IT support is always a solid option for small businesses. 

It’s easy to feel disheartened when you realize that a dedicated IT support team isn’t quite as affordable as you thought. 

But remember:

There are many other options available specifically geared toward small businesses. 

And even though the economy is beginning to slow down, cloud computing and other related industries continue to gain popularity. It’s easier than ever before to start, operate, and grow a small business with so many technological solutions. 

Choose the correct options, and you can handle IT support, customer service, accounting, and a range of other options while running a successful remote or semi-remote business. 

Further reading

• Modern Business Solutions: Boost Efficiency, Maintain Flexibility
• Unlock Your Business’s Full Potential With E-Marketing
• Leveling Up Your E-commerce Operations? These are the Most Effective Tools for E-commerce Imaginable

If you’re searching for even more tools and resources for your small business, be sure to check out Alliance Virtual Offices. 

We provide Virtual Offices, Live Receptionists, and many other remote-focused solutions that can make your life as a small business owner much easier. 

If you’d like to transition to a remote business structure, lower tax obligations, and handle customer service with ease, reach out today to learn more about Alliance Virtual Offices.

The post Outstanding Small Business IT Support Resources first appeared on Alliance Virtual Offices.

• What services does a Virtual Office provide?
• What services should you look for in a Virtual Office?
• Why Alliance Virtual is the best Virtual Office provider.

Q: What services do virtual offices offer?

A: You can expect a wide range of services depending on your chosen service provider. Most Virtual Office providers offer little more than mail forwarding. On the other hand, a reputable provider like Alliance Virtual Offices gives you flex space for meetings and team-building, a wide selection of virtual addresses in prestigious locations across the country, and additional features like Live Receptionists and Virtual Phone lines.

According to Forbes, 62% of employees around the world between the ages of 22 and 65 now work remotely at least occasionally. 

In other words, remote work is no longer a quaint novelty. 

It’s the status quo.

This transformation has occurred in just a few short years – fueled by the pandemic and growing dissatisfaction with the “9-to-5 grind” of a typical office lifestyle. Many business owners were caught off-guard by these changing times, and some still lag behind. 

If you’re still wondering how your company can evolve and adapt, you might want to consider a Virtual Office. 

Switching to a remote business plan is one thing. Achieving success in a purely digital environment is another prospect altogether. 

To transition towards this new ecosystem seamlessly, you need to take advantage of the latest tools. 

And we’re not just talking about a simple Zoom subscription. 

A Virtual Office gives you many of the same benefits as a physical workspace while reducing costs, eliminating commute times, facilitating effective remote work, and even creating tax benefits for your company. 

One thing you don’t want is to remain stuck in the past. The latest statistics show that Americans are quitting their jobs in the millions. Many are searching for greener pastures – including the increasingly prevalent option of working from home. 

In fact, one study found that 60% of job seekers quit their prior positions specifically to find remote work opportunities. 

If you fail to take advantage of options like Virtual Offices, you might lose some of your best talents. 

But what exactly is a Virtual Office, anyway? What kind of virtual office services can you expect from the best providers? How can these services benefit your company, and how do you choose the best option in a world filled with competing providers?

Let’s find out…

• What services does a Virtual Office provide?
• What services should you look for in a Virtual Office?
• Why Alliance Virtual is the best Virtual Office provider.

What Services Does a Virtual Office Provide?

A typical provider may offer a range of Virtual Office services, including:

Virtual Addresses

One of the most basic Virtual Office services is a virtual address. A virtual address is a straightforward concept,  allowing you to register your business in almost any city you can imagine across the entire nation. 

Ideally, you would choose a virtual address when you first set up your company and register as an LLC (or any other business type) with the IRS. 

But why would you want to do that?

A Virtual Address offers many significant advantages. First and foremost, it allows you to file your business taxes in any state you like. This can result in some very real tax benefits for your organization. 

It’s no secret that some states offer much better business tax rates than others – especially when it comes to LLCs and corporations. 

The cool thing about a virtual address is that you don’t actually need to live in the state or city where you register. 

You also don’t need to set up a physical headquarters or office. You can stay in your current location (or travel the world) while experiencing those tax benefits. 

But that’s not the only reason you should consider a virtual address. 

Suppose you’re running a tech startup out of Wyoming. In that case, you can give your business much more legitimacy if you register with a virtual address smack dab in the middle of Silicon Valley.

Perhaps you spent 30 years working on Wall Street before retiring in a rural area with cheap real estate, such as Billings, Montana. 

If you’re currently running a financial consulting agency as a solopreneur, it might make more sense to register your business with a Manhattan address rather than using your home address in Montana.  

This is the power of the best Virtual Office services in New York.

Your business address says a lot about your company. By strategically choosing specific locations, you can associate your company with a particular niche or market. An effective business address is one of the most overlooked aspects of a solid branding strategy. 

Mail Forwarding

Mail forwarding is one of the most important virtual office services you should be aware of. 

The first major benefit of mail forwarding is heightened security. If you are running your business from the comfort of your own home, the last thing you want is a security risk. 

It’s very important to separate your work and home life. If you register your business with your home address, virtually anyone can show up on your doorstep without warning. 

LLCs and corporations are often required to make public filings with the IRS and the US government. This means that your address and many other details become accessible to anyone who looks hard enough. 

Whether you have kids at home or live alone, running this risk is never a good idea. You never know who might show up – whether it’s a disgruntled customer or an ex-employee with an axe to grind.

Privacy and security are critical priorities, and you don’t know how valuable they are until you lose them. Ask any famous celebrity, and they’ll tell you how much of an impact lack of privacy can have on someone’s life. 

Putting aside security risks, you also have to consider the possibility of spam mail. As soon as people realize you’re running a business out of your home, you might become overwhelmed with all kinds of random mail. 

The worst thing about this is that your personal mail will be mixed in with piles of B2B offers, scams, job applications – you name it. 

Sifting through this mail can quickly become a full-time job – and it’s not an effective use of your time as an entrepreneur. 

The good news is that mail holding and mail forwarding can store all your letters and documents in a secure location separate from your home, representing some of the best Virtual Office services. USA providers will inform you when you’ve received important letters.

From there, they can hold onto the mail until you’re ready to pick it up.

OR

They can forward it to your current location. 

This leads to another important benefit of mail forwarding:

It allows you to travel the world with no strings attached. One of the most notable benefits of working remotely is the ability to experience the lifestyle of a digital nomad. 

When you’re no longer tied down to an office location, you can work from your laptop at a cafe in Rome. Book an Airbnb in New Zealand for 6 months and take advantage of their inverted winters to completely escape the cold season. 

Or why not live in a beachfront cabin in Thailand? The possibilities are endless, and mail forwarding reduces issues that can hold you back from truly enjoying this lifestyle. 

Virtual Phone Lines

To be clear, mail forwarding and virtual addresses are the two most common virtual office services. Even very basic service providers will offer these features, and you should consider anything else an added bonus. 

That being said, Virtual Phone Lines are also quite common. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology has been around for ages, offering many advantages over a traditional, landline-based office phone system. 

Not only is a Virtual Phone line system more affordable, but it is also very easy to set up for your employees. The phone line is powered by internet data, which leads to almost unlimited scalability that is ideal for teams of all sizes. 

Voice quality can be excellent, allowing your workers to multitask effectively. Phone calls between employees have become very easy, and each worker gets a professional phone number instead of relying on their own cell phones. 

Virtual Phone lines might be a rather basic example of Virtual Office services, but they can add professionalism and legitimacy to your organization if you’re transitioning toward a digital ecosystem. 

What Services Should You Look For in a Virtual Office?

Now that you’re aware of some of the most basic Virtual Office services, it’s time to review some additional features only the best providers offer. 

These services allow you to go above and beyond your normal requirements to truly get the most out of your new remote work ecosystem. 

You should know that many providers do not offer these additional Virtual Office services. In fact, many so-called “virtual office providers” are nothing more than glorified PO boxes. 

Choose a more reputable and functional provider, and you can transition to a remote business structure with more efficiency and ease. 

The Importance of Semi-Remote Work

The most recent statistics show that most Americans have the option to work from home – but they’re not necessarily forced into this system if they don’t want it. 

If you give your employees the ability to work in a physical environment, you can have the best of both worlds – experiencing the flexibility and freedom of remote work while providing opportunities for social interaction and clear communication. 

The option to work with others in-person might be especially attractive to any extroverted employees in your company. 

Aside from offering opportunities for social interaction, some tasks can only be carried out effectively in person. These include:

• Brainstorming and collaboration
• Parties, award ceremonies, and celebrations
• Interviews for important new hires
• Meetings with stakeholders
• Meetings with potential investors
• Meetings with B2B clients

Use your best judgment and determine which tasks might be better suited to an in-person environment and which tasks your employees can handle remotely. 

The key takeaway here is that flexibility is important when choosing Virtual Office providers. 

Support Staff

One of the most important Virtual Office services is the availability and accessibility of support staff. 

Does your provider return your calls or emails in a timely manner? What is their reaction when something goes wrong? Is it easy to get answers?

These are all questions you need to ask yourself when choosing Virtual Office providers, and many do not offer extensive customer service. 

Live Receptionists

Another feature you might not see with a run-of-the-mill Virtual Office provider is a Live Receptionist service. 

If you were relying heavily on an in-person receptionist in your physical office space, a Live Receptionist fills exactly the same role at a fraction of the price. 

This allows you to stop paying expensive salaries for workers that have become surplus to requirements in a digital age. 

If you can’t part with your receptionist, you could always promote them to a higher position in your customer service department while allowing a Live Receptionist to answer calls. 

Either way, you’re getting the most out of your available employees with a Live Receptionist. 

Live Receptionists can answer all your business calls – including customer service, complaints, returns, inquiries, and much more. 

These trained professionals can take notes during calls and provide you with important information – allowing you to respond to the most pressing matters while delegating simple tasks to your Live Receptionist. 

A Live Receptionist operates out of a call center, adding to your remote workforce. You don’t need to set them up in a physical office space, which augments your existing remote structure. 

Why Alliance Virtual Is the Best Virtual Office Provider

If you want reliable Virtual Office services that go above the bare minimum, choose Alliance Virtual Offices. 

Alliance Virtual Offices covers all the bases with its core Virtual Office services, including:

Over 1,000 Reputable Addresses

Alliance Virtual Offices lets you take your pick from over 1,000 Virtual Addresses, including some of the most prestigious locations in the nation. 

This includes New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco – but you also get the opportunity to register in tax-beneficial states like Alaska. The options are almost limitless. 

Reliable Mail Forwarding

One of Alliance Virtual Offices’s signature Virtual Office services is mail processing and pickup. Your mail and documents will be kept in a secure location until you’re ready to pick them up. 

If you’re traveling the world or simply don’t have enough time to pick up your mail, Alliance Virtual Offices gives you the option of frequent, reliable mail forwarding. This lets you stay on top of your mail wherever you might be…

Virtual Phone Lines

Virtual Phone lines and business numbers are also at your fingertips with Alliance Virtual Offices. This add-on feature is extremely popular and provides plenty of scalability and convenience. 

Alliance Virtual Offices also provides several additional Virtual Office services that you might not find with other providers, including:

On-Demand Workspaces

One of the Virtual Office services that truly sets Alliance Virtual Offices apart is the availability of on-demand workspaces. These aren’t just PO boxes – they’re real offices you can visit. You can book meeting spaces and work rooms that meet your company’s unique needs.

Why pay monthly rental fees when you only need to use physical space a few times per month? It’s the most affordable and intelligent option for a semi-remote future. Alliance Virtual Offices even employs front lobby receptionists that welcome your visitors. 

This helps you set a professional first impression when meeting clients, investors, or stakeholders. 

Live Receptionist Service

Alliance Virtual Offices is one of the few companies offering a Live Receptionist feature in addition to its other Virtual Office services. 

This helps you boost customer service while delegating more essential tasks to get the most out of your available talent.

Alliance Virtual Offices’s Live Receptionists can learn basic information about your company, setting an excellent first impression when communicating with customers or leads. 

Attentive Support Staff

Alliance Virtual Offices’s support staff is always there to help – whether with their online chat feature,  phone service, Client Service Center, or email support team. 

Alliance Virtual Offices staff are also present at each physical office location, guiding you toward your pre-booked workspace and assisting you in any way they can. 

This is much more than a glorified PO box. 

Access to the Best Virtual Services Might Be Easier than You Think

America’s workforce has spoken: They want remote work and are willing to quit their jobs to get it. 

Further reading

• Resources for Small Businesses: Top Free and Affordable Tools for Entrepreneurs to Grow a Business
• Lazy or Lucrative? Pros and Cons of a 4-Day Work Week
• How Businesses Should Use E-Marketing

There’s only one question that remains:

Are you going to evolve with the changing times, or will your business become a historical footnote?

The choice lies entirely in your hands.

It’s never been easier to transition toward a remote or semi-remote structure. Reach out to Alliance Virtual Offices today if you’ve ever wondered, “What are the best Virtual Office services near me?”

The post Virtual Office Services MUST Include These Key Features first appeared on Alliance Virtual Offices.

• What is real estate inflation?
• Why is real estate inflation so high right now?
• The best way to invest in the current market

Q: What happens to real estate prices in inflation?

A: Housing prices increase during periods of inflation. However, experts have been warning for years that the housing market bubble will eventually burst. Inflation could indirectly lead to lower prices because of a recession and a subsequent housing market crash accompanied by higher mortgage interest rates.

In late October of 2022, CNN announced that the housing market had reached its peak and that prices were beginning to fall. 

Could this be the end of real estate inflation?

Is the bubble finally bursting?

Experts seem to think so – but it might not be the catastrophic crash that so many homeowners are dreading. Goldman Sachs predicts a price drop of about 10%, while Wells Fargo has made similar forecasts. 

While some have predicted more extreme dips, the consensus is that the housing market will remain strong, continuing its generally upward trend despite a short-term correction. 

But how is this even possible? Inflation continues to rise in the United States and across the world. Doesn’t high inflation cause higher real estate prices?

As many of us are discovering, it’s not always that straightforward. Many factors can lead to price declines during inflation for real estate.

Inflation can have many knock-on effects on the real estate world, indirectly lowering prices even when everyone expects them to rise. 

But how does real estate inflation work?

What do you need to know to invest intelligently during this period of uncertainty? Is real estate still a solid inflation hedge? 

Let’s find out…

• What is real estate inflation?
• Why is real estate inflation so high right now?
• The best way to invest in the current market

What is real estate inflation?

If you already know what inflation is, you probably have a pretty good idea of what real estate inflation means.

Inflation occurs when more dollars chase fewer goods. It’s the age-old law of supply and demand. 

If many people want to buy something, the price of that asset goes up. If fewer people want to buy something, the price of that asset goes down. 

Inflation enters the equation when the value of each dollar decreases. This occurs when the amount of money in circulation increases – most notably via money printing. 

If the value of each dollar goes down, then it takes more dollars to buy a home. As a result, the price of properties across the United States goes up – even if the inherent value of that property stays the same. 

But how could a property maintain the same value if its price is going up? 

Well, to determine the true value of a home, you have to compare it to something similar – like another home of the same type and location. 

In other words, your home isn’t increasing in real value during periods of real estate inflation because other homes are increasing at the same rate. 

If you sold during a period of real estate inflation, you would have a ton of cash – and that’s great. But to buy back into the market and purchase a similar home to live in, you’d have to give that money right back to pay the inflated costs. 

What this means is while you can certainly make a ton of money off property sales during periods of real estate inflation, you also need to consider what that cash is worth. 

Here’s a hint:

It’s worth nothing. 

Why is real estate inflation so high right now?

There are other factors to consider with real estate inflation:

• The higher cost of building materials
• The higher cost of labor
• Supply chain issues
• No incentive for construction companies to create new homes

Higher Cost of Building Materials

When the price of everything goes up, it costs more to build a home.

Unfortunately, this means you won’t be able to use those materials as a real estate inflation hedge. For example, the cost of lumber, concrete, and other building materials has increased dramatically with inflation in recent years. 

Higher Cost of Labor

The cost of labor is also increasing, as employers need to pay their workers more money to deal with the rising cost of living. If they don’t give their workers raises, they’ll find somewhere else to earn a living. 

If it costs more to build a home, these added costs must be passed on to the buyer. 

And if it costs more to build a home, there’s less of an incentive for construction companies to engage in their business. 

Supply Chain Issues

This means that fewer new houses are being built in the current inflationary period – especially when you factor in supply chain issues that make it difficult to bring materials to building sites. 

Even if construction companies are willing to pay for expensive materials, having them delivered is another matter altogether. 

All of these factors lead to fewer new homes. This in turn means that there is a higher demand for existing homes. And according to the laws of supply and demand, this pushes prices higher. 

The Coming Housing Market Correction

But is real estate inflation truly continuing to rise?

As previously noted, we are approaching a major correction in the market. Even as inflation and the cost of living continues to rise, housing prices are slumping slightly in the United States. 

Many experts believe prices will drop considerably within the next few years. 

But why is this happening and how is this even possible?

During inflationary periods, you would expect the real estate inflation rate to increase rather than see a price correction.

However, there are several factors to consider here:

• Rising interest rates
• Possible job losses
• Sellers willing to accept losses
• Inflation

Rising interest rates

Rising mortgage rates are putting pressure on the real estate market, and this is something that Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has openly acknowledged.

As the Federal Reserve continues to increase interest rates, the cost of home ownership is increasing. In some cases, monthly mortgage payments have increased by thousands of dollars per month.

Buyers are wary of this, and they may be discouraged from getting into the housing market as a result. This in turn decreases demand, lowering prices. 

Possible job losses

As we head towards the possibility of job losses and stagflation, many workers will have to put their dreams of home ownership on hold. 

Numerous companies have cut workers this year, including Twitter, Meta, Snap, and Robinhood.

 The Bank of America warned in October that the US economy will soon start losing 175,000 jobs per month. 

No one can afford to buy a home if they don’t have a job. It’s that simple.

Sellers willing to accept losses

This ties in with the first two points:

With job losses and rising interest rates, many Americans are starting to go under. Faced with no income and higher mortgage costs each month, some are being forced to sell their homes at a loss.

They just need to get the money and get out of the market. 

When this starts to happen on a wide scale, the housing market as a whole takes a hit. 

Inflation

We know what you’re thinking:

“How can inflation cause lower house prices while simultaneously causing higher housing prices?”

Hear us out:

When people start to experience a higher cost of living, they’re left with less money in their bank accounts at the end of each month. 

This in turn makes it difficult to save, which means that the possibility of home ownership drifts further and further away. 

This also leads to fewer new buyers entering the market, contributing to less demand and lower prices. 

Of course, in the “bigger picture,” inflation can also cause recessions or even depressions, indirectly causing housing market crashes. 

Why Many Believe the Housing Market Will Continue to Rise

But before you write off the housing market altogether as a viable inflation hedge, you should know that many experts are still very optimistic – even in periods of high real estate inflation. 

Here’s why many believe that the housing market will continue to rise:

• Low supply
• Millennial demand
• Stricter mortgage policies

Low supply

There aren’t many homes for sale in some of America’s hottest real estate markets. 

This means that the fundamental driving forces will continue to push prices higher.

Everyone needs a place to live, and home ownership is still very much the American Dream.

With fewer options to choose from, buyers are willing to pay high prices in a desperate bid to get into the housing market. 

Millennial demand

Demand for new homes is also increasing, and recent real estate inflation news shows that over 31% of people purchasing homes are first-time buyers. This represents the largest share of homebuyers in the United States, and many of these individuals are millennials.

This is a great sign for the housing market, as it means there is a steady supply of first-time buyers to add new fuel to the real estate economy. 

Stricter mortgage policies

We learned many lessons from 2008, and stricter mortgage policies provide greater price stability for the modern real estate world. 

Banks are not allowed to provide risky buyers with mortgages any longer. 

The requirements for buying a home are much more involved, and unlike in 2008, the entire market isn’t propped up by homeowners who are just one step away from defaulting. 

This means that a massive crash, while not impossible, is far less likely. 

The best way to invest in the current market

So with all of these factors in mind, could real estate be an inflation hedge?

Or will inflation go down, causing you to lose money?

Even if prices are slowly declining, a real estate inflation hedge is still a wise decision for the long term. Prices are likely to rebound after a brief correction.

After all, the median house of an American single-family home in 2002 was just over $150,000. Today, the average price of a median single-family home is almost $430,000. 

Keep in mind that between 2002 and now, in 2008, there was a major housing crash. This shows that even if the market crashes, real estate continues its upward trend almost inevitably in the long term. 

If you’re willing to keep hold of your real estate property for many years, it’s still a very reliable inflation hedge. You’ll only really start to risk losing money if you plan to “flip” homes in the short term.

The obvious solution is to live in the home yourself. As long as you can afford the mortgage, this is better than renting and provides you with actual utility. 

Crypto and stocks cannot put a roof over your head or shelter you from the cold. Only a home can do that. 

You might also choose to buy an investment property and rent it out. Even if the value of the home decreases and your mortgage rates increase, you can still take home a profit each month by setting your rental fees at the right price.

And due to the lack of supply in the housing market, there is a constant need for rental properties. During periods of inflation, recession, and stagflation, people tend to rent properties instead of buying because they prefer to take a cautious approach.

And even if they can’t afford fancy tech gadgets or electric cars, people always need somewhere to live. 

Add Airbnb into the equation, and real estate properties can still represent a solid hedge against inflation. 

That being said, waiting for a few months or even a year could be a smart move – especially since so many experts are predicting a price correction in the short term. 

While you wait for prices to drop before swooping in and grabbing properties at a discount, you can explore other investment options, such as stocks – especially commodities. 

Or why not start your own business?

With service providers like Alliance Virtual Offices, it’s easier than ever to start a business with minimal capital investment. 

Use a virtual office instead of renting out a physical office space, and you can run your entire operation from the comfort of your own home without spending thousands of dollars on lease costs and utilities each month. 

You can even hire remote employees who also work from home. 

Alliance’s Virtual Office service allows you to pick a prestigious office address at a major metropolitan center like New York – giving your business the outer appearance of a major corporation – even if you’re pulling the strings from your home office in a rural area. 

These office spaces are real – you can meet with investors, potential new hires, and team members in private and professional conference rooms. You only pay for these spaces when you need them. 

Just keep in mind that waiting can be a little risky when it comes to the housing market.

Many investors have looked on from the sidelines – desperately waiting for that “perfect moment” to give into the real estate market. 

But if that moment never comes and prices continue to rise, you might end up waiting forever. 

No one has a crystal ball that tells the future, and even the most respected experts can’t tell you with 100% certainty what’s going to happen with the real estate market.

As Peter Lynch once famously said:

“Far more money has been lost by investors trying to anticipate corrections, than lost in the corrections themselves.”

That being said, starting a business is never a bad decision – especially if it’s something you feel passionate about. The most successful businesses can rake in far more cash than a typical real estate investment. 

Investing real estate inflation: the moral of the story

As you can see, there’s a lot to consider when it comes to the future of the real estate world. 

The relationship between inflation and real estate is complex and nuanced. 

After reading this article, you might feel a little unsure about what to do next. 

As crazy as it sounds, this is probably a good sign. No one knows what the future will bring, and it’s normal to feel uncertain about the real estate world…

Because the future is uncertain!

Here’s the moral of the story:

If you want to buy a home, buy a home. 

If you want to start a business, start a business.

If you’d rather wait for a dip in the market, go ahead and do that. 

Or invest in commodities!

Listen to the experts – consider their predictions. But at the end of the day, do what feels right for you.

Further reading

• Strategic Debt: How to Leverage Small Business Microloans
• The Complete Guide to Making Your Business Recession Proof
• Lazy or Lucrative? Pros and Cons of a 4-Day Work Week

If your dream is to own a home and if you can realistically afford to do it, then you shouldn’t wait around because of some economists’ predictions. 

Life is short, and you can spend your entire life waiting for that “perfect moment” to invest. 

And if starting a business is your true passion in life, why not focus on that instead?

Reach out to Alliance Virtual Offices and get started with a Virtual Office today.

The post Real Estate Inflation: Is Now the Time to Invest? first appeared on Alliance Virtual Offices.

• What is the typical consumer’s mindset?
• What mindset in business should you cultivate?
• How and why you should create an effective mindset in business

Q: What is the right mindset for business?

A: The right mindset in business allows you to seize opportunities and take calculated risks. This is the only way to grow your business, and it embraces positive change rather than remaining close-minded and conservative. The best entrepreneurs are always forging ahead with new ideas and innovative endeavors.

According to recent statistics from Gallup, 34% of all entrepreneurs report feeling worried about the future. 

A further 45% of entrepreneurs feel high levels of stress – to an even greater extent than their own workers. 

The data also shows that entrepreneurs are actually quite risk-averse, which is surprising considering the fact that they’re putting everything on the line. 

A psychologist named Michael A. Freeman was recently quoted by Inc. Magazine as saying:

“People who are on the energetic, motivated, and creative side are both more likely to be entrepreneurial and more likely to have strong emotional states.”

These “strong emotional states” may include intense focus, high levels of optimism, and incredible self-confidence. 

But there’s a clear trade-off, and these strong emotional states may also include depression, despair, hopelessness, worthlessness, loss of motivation, and even suicidal thinking. 

Taking all of this into account, it should be very clear that mindset in business is incredibly important. 

Establish the right mindset in business, and you can strive toward success in the most effective way possible. 

It all starts with those firing neurons in your brain. Your thoughts are what propel you towards actions and behaviors that can make or break your company. 

Establish the wrong mindset in business, and you could quickly begin a downward spiral that ends in bankruptcy, hopelessness, or worse. 

Even if you’re the kind of person who dismisses psychology as pseudo-scientific nonsense, you owe it yourself to at least consider how your mindset in business might be affecting your entrepreneurial career. 

So what makes an effective mindset? How do you improve your mindset, and how can these changes affect your bottom line?

You might be surprised at the answers…

• What is the typical consumer mindset?
• What mindset in business should you cultivate instead?
• How and why you should create an effective mindset in business

What is the typical consumer mindset?

Before we get into the best mindset in business, we should take a step back and make one thing very clear:

Most people do not have a business mindset. 

Instead, they have something called a “consumer mindset” – also known as a “fixed mindset.” Understand the characteristics of this mindset, and you’ll immediately see why a business mindset is so different by contrast. 

So what are some characteristics of a consumer mindset?

The Fixed Mindset of Typical Consumer

• Change Aversion: Perhaps the most important characteristic that sets consumers apart from entrepreneurs is their unwillingness or inability to take risks. This stems from their natural aversion to any kind of change – whether it’s a new job, a new place to live, or a new relationship. Most people simply want to uphold the status quo and continue living in the same way. Risk represents danger, and they’d rather play it safe with a bi-weekly paycheck rather than starting a business. 
• Follow the Leader: Consumers are followers, not leaders. They accept new trends, purchasing whatever items entrepreneurs present them with. Sometimes, they have no idea they even wanted these products before they were put on the market. An obvious example would be Steve Jobs’ first iPhone. The tendency for consumers to follow rather than lead is why so many of them end up working for a wage rather than starting their own business. In contrast, entrepreneurs are willing to lead and hire employees. 
• Consumption: Although it might sound obvious, consumers consume. They do not add anything new to the world, and they do not come up with new ideas that change our society. They simply consume products that other people have created. This lack of creativity prevents them from becoming entrepreneurs and adding value to the marketplace of ideas and products. Many people have creative personalities but never cultivate these traits for entrepreneurship. An entrepreneur is willing to draw upon their creative powers to start a new business. 
• Accepts Failure: Consumers accept their failures without much of a second thought. If they fail once, they rarely try again. In fact, they view failure as a validation of their own limitations and inadequacies. This leads back to a comfortable, safe lifestyle as a wage-earner. In contrast, entrepreneurs show perseverance in the face of failure, learning from their past mistakes and viewing the experience as an opportunity for growth. 
• Things Will Never Change: On that same note, consumers believe that nothing will ever change – that their current situation will continue for the foreseeable future. This includes their current skills and natural abilities. In contrast, an entrepreneur knows that they can develop their skills and abilities, transforming not only their natural talent, but also their intrinsic personality traits. Even an entrepreneur with serious self-confidence issues and a natural aversion to risk understands that these issues can be resolved in a relatively short period of time. 
• No Real Goals: A consumer has no real goals for the future. They may only think about the next work week, how they’re going to spend their next paycheck, and what they’re going to do on the weekend. Again, there is no sense that this predictable schedule will change in the future. In contrast, an entrepreneur has complex, long-term goals. Entrepreneurs are also willing to set very high goals, pushing themselves towards heights that others would consider impossible. 
• Unwilling to Delegate Tasks: A consumer may also be very reluctant to delegate tasks, preferring to do all their work themselves instead. This may stem from a lack of trust, an inability to collaborate effectively, social withdrawal, or ineffective communication skills. This severely limits consumers, as they can only achieve things that can be completed by one person. In contrast, an entrepreneur is much more willing to collaborate and delegate tasks, allowing them to focus on more important things. 

How Covid-19 Has Changed the Mindset of the Consumer

In many ways, the typical consumer mindset has gone unchanged throughout human history. 

Even in the earliest human civilizations, there was always a clear distinction between business owners and the average consumer. 

But with that said, major changes in our society can also affect the way a consumer thinks. For example, Covid-19 has caused consumers to shift their behavior in the following ways:

• Obsession with Safety: Consumers are now more obsessed with financial safety and security than ever before. Today, consumers are much more likely to save their money, exhibiting extreme caution and “hibernating” through these troubling times. This increases the divide between consumers and entrepreneurs, as the former is even more unlikely to take risks and explore lucrative opportunities. While consumers are saving and stockpiling for a rainy day amidst job losses and economic uncertainty, entrepreneurs are willing to take risks and start businesses. 
• Criticism of Profit: Consumers today have become highly critical of virtually any business that profited during the pandemic. The most obvious example is “big pharma,” which raked in record profits while others were losing jobs and being forced into quarantine. Many consumers now believe that profit is inherently wrong, making them even more unlikely to start new businesses and escape the “9-to-5” daily grind. 
• Unable to Start Businesses: Even if consumers are willing to start new businesses, many are completely unable to do so. This is because of economic uncertainty, supply chain issues, and high inflation. Many have lost their jobs, taking away the “safety net” that many entrepreneurs rely on while building their businesses from the ground up. Suddenly, consumers can’t afford to become entrepreneurs because they’re too preoccupied with finding their next paycheck, their next meal, or reliable housing.

That being said, consumers aren’t completely risk-averse. Many invest their money in assets that they see as “safe bets,” including real estate and stocks like the S&P 500. But when it comes to entrepreneurship, starting a business is a completely foreign prospect that seems far too risky. 

What mindset in business should you cultivate instead?

But what is the mindset in business definition? What exactly does an effective business mindset look like? Here are a few traits to consider:

Characteristics of a Positive Mindset in Business

• Playing the Long Game: It seems like everyone is constantly searching for “get-rich-quick” schemes. Here’s a hint: They don’t exist. If you believe that a particular opportunity can quadruple your money within a few short months, it’s probably too good to be true. The best entrepreneurs set distant goals – often decades into the future. They don’t expect immmediate results, and they’re willing to work for years before seeing any returns. The goal is often to turn a small capital investment into a multi-million-dollar fortune within two or three decades. 
• Self-Confidence: One of the most important aspects of a positive global mindset in business is confidence. The best entrepreneurs never lose hope, and they expect success rather than desperately hoping for it. They know that they are capable of reaching high goals, and they have faith in their own abilities. This allows them to take calculated risks without being overly cautious. 
• Creativity: Entrepreneurs are some of the most creative people on the planet. While they might not be “artists,” they have incredible ideas that can transform our societies. Entrepreneurs are not afraid to cultivate their creativity, brainstorming ideas and trying out different strategies for success. Often, entrpreneuers try things that no one else has attempted in the past – leading to unparalleled levels of success. 
• Accountability: Entrepreneurs aren’t afraid of making mistakes, but they also own their own failures. Instead of making excuses, these business owners learn from their mistakes and consider what went wrong. These lessons help them bounce back and try new, improved strategies with a higher chance of success. They know that the system is not rigged against them, and people can achieve anything if they try hard enough. 
• Empathy: One of the most overlooked aspects of a positive mindset in business in empathy – or the ability to put yourself in other peoples’ shoes. This is often the key trait that allows entrepreneurs to come up with effective ideas for businesses. If you consider what the average consumer is thinking and feeling, it’s easier to solve their problems – creating effective products and services that people actually want and need. 
• Resilience: Resilience is perhaps the most important trait for entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs never give up, and they are always willing to bounce back after even the most catastrophic failures. Some of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs hit rock bottom at some point before throwing their hats back into the ring. 
• Collaboration: Successful entrepreneurs are not afraid to ask for help, network with others, and collaborate. Even introverted business owners recognize the need for communication and teamwork. These entrepreneurs can delegate tasks effectively, receive advice from mentors, and lead others. 

The Concept of Money in a Business Mindset

Business owners do not view money as a “safety net.” They do not hoard their cash, saving it up for a rainy day. Instead, they view money as “fuel” for future endeavors – capital that should be spent and put to work. 

This is the complete opposite of a consumer mindset – especially in the post-pandemic world where people are saving cautiously and “hibernating” through troubling economic times. 

This is one of the most difficult psychological shifts for new business owners, because it forces you to be more courageous while going against your instincts as a consumer. 

One of the oldest mindset in business quotes was uttered by the ancient Roman playwright Titus Maccius Plautus, who said simply:

“You must spend money to make money.”

Investing in marketing, branding, networking, product development, talent acquisition, and many other areas can boost your profits considerably.

At the end of the day, this strategy can leave daring entrepreneurs with much more wealth than a business owner who cautiously saved their cash. 

The Concept of Time in a Business Mindset

Successful entrepreneurs can let go of their inhibitions and resist the urge to save their cash because of the way they view the concept of time. 

In the eyes of a true entrepreneur, time is worth far more than money. After all, it is the one resource on this planet that is truly finite. Whether you’re rich or poor, you only have so much time on this Earth. 

Entrepreneurs would rather have more time on their hands than a full bank account. They know that by taking risks and investing their money wisely today, they can experience a future of total freedom tomorrow. 

Ironically, success through entrepreneurship is the only real safety net any of us can hope for, and most wage-earners will experience financial insecurity and a scarcity of free time throughout their entire lives.  

This means that when people are overly cautious with their money instead of investing or starting businesses, they may experience less wealth and less time – exactly the opposite of what they hoped for. 

How and why you should create an effective mindset in business

By now, you probably understand why it’s so important to cultivate an effective mindset in business. Success is a clear consequence of this psychological shift… But what about the potential negative consequences?

The Risks of a Negative Mindset Might Surprise You

• Suicide: Many entrepreneurs have taken their own lives after experiencing failure. If you don’t create an effective mindset early in your entrepreneurial career, you may suffer catastrophic mental health issues. Jody Sherman took his own life after the failure of the eCommerce website Ecomom. Ilya Zhitomirskiy was just 22 years old when he committed suicide when his social media platform Diaspora failed to gather momentum. 
• A Lifetime of Regret: Failing to take risks might seem like the safe approach, but a lifetime of regret could prove to be a much worse consequence than you ever imagined. There’s nothing worse than constantly being haunted by opportunities that you never seized. Whether it’s that girl you never asked out or a business idea that never materialized, a sense of regret can be difficult to accept. 
• Blaming Others: Without a positive mindset in business, you may start to blame others for your own failures – including those closest to you. This can cause rifts in families and end friendships. When you take accountability for your own actions and remain resilient, your optimism not only maintains important relationships, but it can also make you a more attractive person. 

Actionable Tips for Building an Effective Mindset in Business

So how exactly do you create an effective mindset in business? What can you do right now to improve your psychological well-being and efficiency as an entrepreneur?

• Consider Meditation: Studies show that meditation can be very effective for entrepreneurs, boosting cognition, focus, energy, and a general sense of well-being. 
• Split Tasks into Smaller Chunks: If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the future, take it one step at a time and split larger tasks into smaller chunks. 
• Find a Mentor: If you’re struggling to adopt an effective mindset for business, you might want to find a mentor. Some people learn by watching and listening to others. A mentor can provide you with a real-life example of a positive mindset. 
• Constantly Learn New Skills: Entrepreneurs never stop learning, and they constantly learn new skills. They’re also brave enough to challenge themselves and improve upon their weaknesses without simply focusing on their strengths. 
• Invest in Marketing: If you’re feeling overly cautious about your money, try investing in marketing. This is a great way to put your capital to work, and you can start small with social media, paid ads, or blogs. You might also hire freelancers to create traffic-generating content. Make sure to engage in targeted marketing investment to maximize your ROI. 
• Take Time for Yourself: Burnout is a very real threat for entrepreneurs, and you should try to take time for yourself. Do something you love at least once a week and recharge. 
• Eliminate Distractions: The best entrepreneurs eliminate distractions and focus on their goals. Try putting your phone in another room while working on your computer. An effective mindset in business can even help you deal with sources of stress that are totally unrelated to your career. 
• Write Down Your Goals: Don’t just keep your goals in your head. Write them down and state exactly when you want to meet these goals. Set both long-term and short-term goals, and don’t be afraid to plan for decades into the future. You might also want to write down your fears. 
• Ask for Feedback: Be open to criticism. In fact, seek it out. Ask for feedback from just about anyone you come into contact with – whether it’s a co-worker, a friend, a customer, a mentor, or a family member. 

Building towards success with your mindset in business

There’s nothing wrong with being risk-averse as an entrepreneur. 

Being willing to accept change does not mean you need to go out and throw away all your cash in a desperate attempt to “get rich quick.”

Saving your money in a bank account is a smart choice – especially during times of economic uncertainty. 

Further Reading

• 10 Traits of Highly Agile Companies 
• Your Mindset Is The Secret To Successful Growth 
• How to Stay Flexible Through Your Business Expansion 
• How to have a ‘wealth mindset’ instead of a ‘poor mindset’ as an investor, from a financial psychologist

That being said, saving all of your money in an obsessively cautious manner will never result in true success. 

Strike a balance between these two priorities, and you’ll find that success is much closer than you think. 

If you’re ready to leave the consumer mindset behind and transform your psychology as an entrepreneur, Alliance Virtual Offices is here to help. 

With our Virtual Office service, you can invest intelligently in a remote business structure, lowering your monthly costs with additional tax benefits and in a reputable location.

With options like AVO, you can save money cautiously and take advantage of new opportunities as you grow your business. 

Check out Alliance Virtual Offices today to learn more. 

The post This Mindset in Business Can Double Your Success first appeared on Alliance Virtual Offices.

• What is inflation? 
• How does inflation impact recession? 
• What does this mean for small business owners? 

Q: Is inflation the same as recession? 

A: No, inflation and recession are two different concepts – although they may be related to one another. For example, high rates of inflation can contribute to or cause a recession. In turn, a recession can lead to inflation as the government desperately attempts to print more money and “kick the can down the road.”  

No one can seem to agree whether the United States is currently in a recession or not.  

If you ask White House officials and their loyal followers, they’ll tell you that our economy is nowhere near a recession. They might point to positive job numbers, a robust stock market, and a general sense of optimism.  

On the other hand, there are those who are very skeptical of the “official story.” These experts point out that the United States has already seen two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth. 

This was the technical definition of a recession – at least before Wikipedia scrambled to edit the definition in lockstep with the U.S. government’s excuses.  

So are we in a recession? Or are we merely approaching a recession? 

In the end, these arbitrary labels don’t really matter.  

The most important thing is to react to what’s really going on in the economy. If you ignore all the buzz and hype, you can cut straight down to the facts and survive the next few years.  

Whether you believe we are in a recession or not, there’s one thing no one can deny: 

We are seeing insane levels of inflation.  

But what is the relationship between inflation vs recession? Are they two sides of the same coin? Does inflation lead to recession, or vice versa? 

If you understand this complex relationship, it may be easier to take advantage of incredible opportunities within the next few years. 

As Forbes reports, there are two types of people who get rich during recessions: the rich and the lucky. 

Understand the complex relationship between inflation vs recession, and you might just be one of the lucky few.  

• What is inflation? 
• How does inflation impact recession? 
• What does this mean for small business owners? 

What is inflation? 

Inflation is simply an increase in prices.  

When the economy inflates, the purchasing power of each dollar within that economy decreases. This means that the cost of living (and everything else) becomes more expensive.  

Inflation has a negative connotation in today’s world, but in many ways, inflation is just a reality of life. For example, a candy bar that only costed a few cents back in 1922 could cost up to five dollars today. No one expects us to return to 1922 prices.  

It is only when inflation gets out of control that it becomes a problem.  

Today’s inflation numbers are calculated with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Wholesale Price Index (WPI). You’ll also hear mention of a “basket of goods” when the government discusses inflation.  

The problem is that these calculation methods are extremely vulnerable to manipulation. For example, the government can swap items out of the “basket of goods” so that inflation seems much lower than it actually is.  

If bacon becomes too expensive, they can replace it with eggs in the “basket of goods.” If eggs become too expensive, they can replace it with ham.  

Commentators such as Peter Schiff have also pointed out that our methods for calculating inflation are not the same as the methods used back in the 1980s. Schiff argues that if we were using the same calculation methods today, inflation would be at an all-time high.  

What causes inflation? 

The real question is what causes inflation.  

Experts divide inflation into three categories: 

• Demand-Pull Inflation: This type of inflation occurs when the economy’s production capacity cannot keep up with the increase in the money supply. In other words, there are more dollars chasing fewer goods. The age-old laws of supply and demand ensure prices rise as a result.  
• Cost-Push Inflation: When the cost of raw materials and labor increases, the finished products created with those raw materials also increase. If it costs more to make something, the consumer will pay higher prices. The “supply” part of the equation decreases, while demand stays the same or even grows.  
• Built-In Inflation: This type of inflation occurs simply because people expect prices to rise steadily over time. If people predict that their cost of living will rise, they will ask for higher wages. This in turn makes it more expensive for products to create goods and services, creating a “wage-price spiral.” 

For the most part, inflation today has been caused by unrestrained money printing by the Federal Reserve and central banks across the world. In order to pay for things like government programs (or more recently, aid to Ukraine), governments have simply increased the money supply.  

It’s important to understand that inflation disproportionately affects lower-income people, as these individuals are more likely to be living paycheck to paycheck. While a wealthy individual can shrug off a higher grocery bill, this slight increase in prices can bankrupt a poor family.  

Many refer to inflation as the “invisible tax” – and for good reason.  

In order to pay for programs and international aid, governments could simply raise taxes. However, higher tax rates are never popular – so they tax their citizens in a different way by simply printing money and increasing the cost of living.  

The elusive definition of recession 

To understand the “inflation vs recession” debate, you also need to know the definition of a recession.  

But this definition has become a surprisingly controversial subject as of late.  

Before 2022, almost everyone agreed that the technical definition of a recession was two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth.  

However, when the American economy actually experienced this in 2022, the White House and various journalists scrambled to redefine the term “recession.” 

Watching this play out in real time was surreal, and Wikipedia even quietly altered its definition of recession in lockstep with the White House.  

When faced with this problem, the White House claimed that the American economy couldn’t possibly be in a recession because of strong job numbers.  

They also vaguely stated that there were “many factors to consider” when defining a recession, and left it at that.  

It’s worth mentioning that these “strong job numbers” might not be as encouraging as they seem, since many of the jobs that were “created” by the current administration were simply people returning to work after the pandemic.  

For all intents and purposes, it’s easier to go with the “classic definition” of a recession – which means that the U.S. is already in the midst of one.  

Inflation vs recession definition 

When examining the relationship between inflation vs recession, you might be asking yourself: 

“What is the difference between inflation vs recession?” 

In simple terms, inflation can cause a recession, but inflation alone isn’t the same thing as a recession.  

“Recession” is a term used to describe economic downturn, which may or may not involve inflation.  

Inflation vs recession vs depression 

Now let’s add one more important term to the mix: 

Depression.  

A depression is the exacerbated version of a recession. If a recession lasts for more than three years, it becomes a depression.  

Depressions are also associated with a number of additional factors, including: 

• Reduction in global trade 
• A 10% reduction in annual GDP  
• Sharp decline in construction 
• Widespread unemployment 
• Impacts many countries 

Inflation vs recession vs stagflation 

Now for the final addition to the inflation vs recession debate: 

Stagflation.  

As of this writing, the U.S. economy may be experiencing high levels of inflation, but it still boasts solid employment. Growth is also continuing.  

But what happens if we get inflation and unemployment at the same time? 

You guessed it:  

We would get stagflation.  

This is worse than normal inflation, and it would be an extremely bad sign for the U.S. economy if we spiraled into stagflation.  

Stagflation is associated with several factors, including: 

• Less construction of new homes 
• Rising mortgage rates 
• Job losses 
• Less consumer spending 

How does inflation impact recession? 

Now that you understand a few key terms in the inflation vs recession debate, it’s time to learn about the relationship between these two concepts.  

Perhaps most obviously, inflation can cause a recession.  

When the cost of living rises to a certain level, consumers simply stop buying as many things. For some, this is a matter of choice. For others, it is a matter of necessity.  

Our current economy is built on the availability of cheap money. Consumers are willing to go into debt in order to buy the things they want – whether it’s a gadget from Amazon or a family home.  

When prices get too high, people can no longer afford to make these purchases – especially when their wages are staying the same.  

When people only purchase and spend money on basic necessities like food and rent, businesses begin to fail. 

If you’re running a business that thrives only when consumers have an excess of cash ready to spend, a recession can pose a serious challenge. It might even lead to bankruptcy.  

When these businesses fail, people start to lose their jobs.  

Suddenly, the economy isn’t just struggling with inflation – it has entered into a period of recession.  

Inflation can also increase the cost of raw materials, which can push an economy towards recession.  

A solid example of this is the housing market.  

If building materials are cheap, the construction industry experiences growth. If raw materials like lumber and concrete become more expensive, construction will slow. This also results in lower employment levels as construction workers are laid off.  

And why build homes if no one is going to be able to afford them when they’re complete?  

The same general logic applies to the automotive industry and virtually any manufacturing business. If it costs a lot to make something, businesses will cut expenses by firing individuals and increasing the price of their finished goods.  

Faced with high prices, consumers become much more cautious in their spending habits, with many choosing to save their money instead of spending it or investing it.  

Fortunately, this is exactly what the economy needs to fight inflation. With less spending and more saving, there are lower levels of stimulation in the market. This leads to lower inflation and eventual price stabilization – at least in theory. 

This is the textbook example of the relationship of inflation vs recession.  

But as many investors will tell you, the market can behave in extremely unpredictable ways – and the economy doesn’t always follow the examples laid out in economics textbooks.  

Inflation doesn’t always lead to recessions. For example, the rate of inflation could be manageable to the point where wages increase at the same general rate. This means that a consumer’s spending power is not affected, and economic growth can continue.  

In addition, a recession doesn’t always lead to a reduction in inflation. Stagflation is a clear example of this.  

Things start to get really volatile when the government decides to print money to fight a recession, digging their hole deeper and deeper.  

Instead of allowing a recession to take place and accepting that the economy needs to “correct itself,” nations may try to increase money supply in a misguided attempt to stimulate the economy.  

But this has led to serious problems in history. A key example is Zimbabwe, which experienced “hyperinflation” starting in 2007.  

In 2020, it was reported that the nation had reached an annual inflation rate of 737%, which has since made $100 billion banknotes more common. It’s important to note that Zimbabwe started printing money after it had already entered serious economic hardship.  

Inflation vs recession: Which is worse? 

Most experts agree that inflation is worse than a recession because inflation affects everyone, whereas a recession may only lead to job losses in certain sectors.  

However, it all depends on your specific circumstances. If you hold assets like real estate or commodities, an inflationary period can be extremely lucrative. 

If you’re saving up for a down payment on your first home, inflation can make this goal seem impossible as housing becomes increasingly expensive.  

In contrast, a recession may cause temporary hardship and a few years of economic shock, but eventually it can lead to price stabilization and a more “normal” rate of inflation.  

But try telling that to someone who has just lost their job.  

Again, inflation or recessions affect different people in different ways – and it all depends on your unique circumstances.  

What does this mean for small business owners? 

Business owners can create different plans for periods of inflation vs recession, meaning: 

Regardless of what the economic situation is, you need a “Plan B.” 

If it looks like we’re about to head into a recession, think about what people tend to buy during these times.  

Will your company be successful even when consumers reign in their spending? Or do you offer products and services that people only buy when times are good? 

If you fall into the latter camp, consider diversifying. Offer budget-friendly alternatives to your “flagship” products. 

Diversification is one of the best ways to remain recession-proof, whether you’re a small business owner or an amateur investor.  

Another effective strategy is to cut costs as much as possible without firing your most talented team members.  

This might be easier than you think, especially when you consider options like Alliance Virtual Offices.  

A virtual office allows you to cut all of the costs associated with a traditional office lease.  

You can run your business from home and allow your employees to work remotely. Alliance Virtual Offices also offers additional services such as mail forward and Live Receptionists, further supplementing your new remote work system.  

How to make the most of the “inflation vs recession” relationship 

Recession-proof strategies are within your grasp.  

While the inflation vs recession debate is interesting, sometimes you need to stop philosophizing and actually take action.  

Options like virtual offices and diversification can make a real difference as we head towards a reputation. 

It’s still not too late to recession-proof your business.  

Reach out to Alliance Virtual Offices today to get started with an effective action plan.  

Further reading 

• What is inflation: The causes and impact | McKinsey 
• Inflation vs. Recession – Forbes Advisor  
• Small Business Cost Savings: A Simple Way to Grow Your Income | Alliance Virtual Offices  
• JPMorgan president says a recession may be price to pay to beat inflation, market bottom not in yet 

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