Adapting to technological innovations is important for any business that strives to stay relevant and profitable. For instance, the early 2000s saw the introduction of the internet, which revolutionized the industry forever.
 
In 2019, the onset of COVID-19 accelerated the push for remote working and software implementation for businesses that may not have considered these changes for the foreseeable future. The use of technology has been a boom for businesses, leading to increased profits, lower expenses, and higher productivity.
 
However, it has created its fair share of problems as well, the prominent one being reduced focus on employee welfare and needs.  In this article by Allen Marketing Communications, Inc., a boutique travel and lifestyle public relations agency based in New York City, we explore how businesses can help employees adapt to the new paradigm shift while reaping the benefits of innovation.
 
Maintain an Open Dialogue
 
Forcing changes onto employees is never a good idea, even if it is in the business's best interests. For instance, while most employees may welcome work-from-home, others may prefer to continue working in an office setting. Additionally, as research has shown, work-from-home has led to employees working longer hours than before, which eventually leads to burnout and lower productivity.
 
Hence, before fully committing to such a change, maintain an open dialogue with employees to gather feedback regarding their expectations, reservations, and concerns. Post discussions create new policies to make a smooth transition.
 
Delegate the responsibility of managing such transitions to a Chief Information Officer (CIO). If the business does not have a CIO, consider handling the role yourself until you hire one. As reported by The Enterprisers Project, an experienced CIO will ensure that new technology implementations are promptly communicated with all stakeholders and completed on time.
 
Re-Train Employees
 
Software is only useful for a business when used correctly. If a major chunk of your employees struggle with the basics of new software enforced upon them, it is bound to reduce productivity and cause frustration. Similar to how new hires are provided training before being thrown into the thick of things, implement a company-wide training program to teach employees how to use new technology the right way.
 
While commonly used software such as a CRM (customer relationship management) tool will require training for all, team-specific training should be conducted as well. For instance, the marketing team can be trained in using the new social media management tool. Training will help employees adapt to changes faster and benefit from higher levels of productivity and job satisfaction.
 
Use Business Process Management Software
 
A common drawback of using multiple software tools for the business is the lack of cohesiveness between them. For example, the marketing team may not have access to tools used by customer service personnel. Hence, they’ll depend on emails or spreadsheets created by those in the customer service team to receive feedback on campaigns, customer demands, and more. Not only is this an ineffective and unreliable way of communication, but it also contradicts the whole point of using software to boost productivity.
 
A business process management (BPM) software connects all individual software used by the business, making it easy for stakeholders to access information as and when needed. Additionally, BPM & prioritization go hand in hand as by utilizing artificial intelligence (AI), BPM reviews your workflows and highlights inefficiencies and errors which can be rectified to increase productivity.
 
Gather Consistent Feedback
 
Adapting to a remote working schedule and using new software will be a big change for everyone. While training will make the transition easier, there will always be roadblocks along the way. One of the best ways to prevent new problems is to consistently gather feedback from employees, this can include:
 

• Scheduling weekly team calls to discuss their experience working with new tools and clarifying any concerns.

 

• Encouraging software suggestions from employees. For instance, an employee may have experience using a substitute tool that could be a better fit for your business.

 
Additionally, consider hosting in-person events periodically. This will allow employees to personally meet their co-workers, develop stronger bonds and receive a much-needed break from remote working.
 
Employees are the backbone of any business and by implementing these steps you’ll create a remote working culture that strikes the right balance between employee welfare and company goals.
 
Our travel and lifestyle public relations professionals are here to help.  Give us a call.
 
Guest Post:  Chelsea Lamb at Business Pop
 
Image Source: Pexels
 

 
Facebook, owned by its recently rebranded parent company, Meta Platforms, is one of the most prominent social media platforms. And, it’s no surprise that Facebook is frequently seen in big news headlines – Metaverse and news feeds – with their far reach in the social media world
 
In this blog, Allen Marketing Communications, Inc., a boutique travel and lifestyle public relations agency based in New York City, will share recent trends about Facebook, including the Metaverse on this social media platform.
 
Metaverse
Meta Properties, the parent company of Facebook, derives its name from the term “Metaverse.” According to Oxford Languages, it is “a virtual-reality space in which users can interact with a computer-generated environment and other users.” According to Cloudwards, Meta’s version of the Metaverse involves combining social media and virtual reality to “be able to do almost anything you can imagine.”
 
Cloudwards states that the “company hopes to eventually phase out Facebook’s integration with other Meta services in favor of improving the Metaverse.”  Eventually, there will be a seamless integration of Facebook into the Metaverse so there would be no more need for accounts to access the platform.
 
In the wellness industry, the Metaverse is presenting a new way for health conscious consumers to stay healthy and maintain their level of physical fitness while staying at home.
 
An Easier Way to Shop
Facebook provides its users with easy and fast ways to shop with both Facebook Shops and Marketplace. Facebook Shops allows you to create and customize your own online store on Facebook and Instagram, and customers and vendors can connect through What’sApp, Messenger, and Instagram direct message.
 
According to Hootsuite, one year after Facebook Shops has been introduced in 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the site has reported “one million monthly global users and 250 million active stores worldwide.” Some brands have even reported that their sales are 66 percent higher on Facebook Shops than on their own websites, maybe thanks to the ease of Facebook Pay.
 
Facebook Marketplace is another tool for consumers to use to buy and sell things; the main difference between Shops and marketplace according to Hootsuite is that consumers are using Facebook marketplace to look in specific geographic areas and most transactions involve the customer picking the product up in person. So if you’re looking to support more locally, marketplace may be the better choice for you.
 
Staying Connected During the Pandemic
Facebook has been at the forefront of staying connected during the Covid-19 pandemic, along with Zoom, with their Facebook Live function. The ability to broadcast live videos, news updates, and even concerts from home has allowed millions to find new and maintain old connections. In a survey conducted by eMarketer, it was found that 42.6 percent of respondents watch live video content most frequently on Facebook, second only to YouTube (52 percent).
 
According to HubSpot, Facebook Live lets users stream directly to the platform from their profile, a page, a group, or even an event. A recording of the video is posted to the page or profile so it can be rewatched, and while it’s live, viewers can share, react, and comment on the stream.
 
Facebook Groups Are on the Rise
Speaking of staying connected, Facebook’s recently updated Groups feature allows users to stay connected through communities of similar interests, whether it be for work, research, or just recreation. According to Hootsuite, the newest update in March 2022 allows group admins to keep their Groups safe, reduce misinformation, and make it easier for them to grow their Groups with relevant audiences. The new update even included QR codes that bring you to the Group page when scanned.
 
According to Oberlo, Facebook reported that, as of 2021, there were more than 1.8 billion monthly worldwide users participating in these online communities, which are managed by more than 70 million admins and moderators.
 
Add-ons For Ads
In efforts to increase transparency, Facebook’s Meta ad library will include summaries of targeting information for political, social, and electoral ads starting in July 2022, according to AdEspresso. The summaries will include demographic information, how much of their budget advertisers dedicate to each demographic, and whether an advertiser is using custom/lookalike audiences.
 
Messenger Ads allow businesses to create an ad on Facebook that will bring the user straight to that brand’s WhatsApp account when clicked to instantly chat. Soon, according to AdEspresso, businesses will be able to streamline this ad creation process by using the WhatsApp Business app rather than go through Facebook’s ad creation system.
 
Facebook Is a Moneymaker
Facebook Reels is another tool on the rise in the social media platform. According to Facebook, says Hootsuite, it’s their “fastest growing content format by far,” and they’re not just fun to watch, they can make you money, too.
 
Creators have the ability to monetize their public Reels with Overlay ads, which show up on the front of the Reel while it plays, like a banner ad. The more people engage, the more the creator makes – which can be up to $35,000 a month.
 
Meta Platforms, parent company of Meta, also owns quite a few other platforms that are very well-known, such as Instagram, WhatsApp, its own Messenger, and the VR company Oculus.  The parent company is creating seamless integrations between Facebook and its other platforms
 
Our team of savvy social media and influencer marketing specialists are here to help companies grow on Facebook.  We are here to help.  Give us a call
 
By Marley Merrihew at Allen Marketing Communications, Inc.

​ 
A second honeymoon? Yes, please! Babymoons are trending once again thanks to the Covid-19 vaccines and booster shots and expecting couples to take one last relaxing vacation together before the arrival of their newborn, whether it be their first or their fourth child. 
 
According to a study conducted by Liberty Travel and Babycenter.com “59 percent of new parents have taken a babymoon vacation that has included an overnight stay from home.”  It’s important for soon-to-be parents to be well-informed about the diseases and viruses that are present in any area they vacation to, especially considering the ever-present Covid-19 pandemic.
 
Allen Marketing Communications, Inc., a boutique travel and lifestyle public relations agency based in New York City, spotlights key trends as it pertains to babymoons.
 
Why Take a Babymoon
Having a baby, especially for the first time, is a tiring and time-consuming process, albeit with very happy outcomes. A babymoon is a way for couples to get one last chance to relax and destress with quality time together before their baby arrives.
 
It can be as simple as having a staycation at home – it will be more cost-effective, less strenuous vacation.   “It can be as simple as sending the kids to the in-laws for a weekend or booking a suite at a nice hotel in town. The important part is to unplug and be intentional about enjoying spending time together as a couple,” according to Brides.

​When to Travel
Usually, the best time to travel for a babymoon, whether it be domestically or internationally, is during the second trimester (between weeks 14 to 28). This is because, "By this time, the nausea and vomiting that is common in early pregnancy are gone, you have more energy, and you're not so far along that you feel uncomfortable," according to Brides.
 
Expecting mothers should always check with your doctor before traveling to be sure that you’re in a healthy enough condition to travel.  It is important to research the safety measures and vaccine regulations of the place you are staying to ensure you and your baby’s safety and wellbeing
 
During the Covid-19 pandemic, outdoor spaces with areas of natural beauty have provided ample space to social distance for the great escape.  In planning a babymoon, it is important to avoid traveling at high altitudes as they reduce the amount of oxygen available to the baby
 
Where to Go – and What to Do
Babymoons can be taken anywhere, but depending on how far along you are, what your doctor says, and the status of Covid-19 in your bucket list destination.
 
According to Brides, “the average babymoon stay is three to four days” Often, expecting parents are “finishing up work before maternity/paternity leave, and accommodating the increasingly frequent doctor's visits late in pregnancy.”
 
Glamping babymoons are trending at the moment for active, expecting parents seeking beach huts, cabins and cottages in the woods,  and luxury safari tents for some quality time in the great outdoors.  The Covid-19 pandemic has also seen an increase in RV rentals and expecting parents are also opting to rent a RV and embark on a vacation of a lifetime across the U.S.
 
For couples who prefer a city getaway, hotels offer babymoon packages that often include pregnant-friendly activities such as spas, prenatal yoga, romantic dinners with your partner, and even maternity photo-shoots.
 
For couples who venture abroad, it is no surprise beach destinations are trending with expecting parents.
 
Our travel and lifestyle public relations professionals are here to help savvy marketers tap into the emerging babymoon trend.  Give us a call
 
By Marley Merrihew at Allen Marketing Communications, Inc.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 












​Destination weddings are quite simply a wedding that takes place outside the engaged couple’s current town or city.  Two and half years into the Covid-19 epidemic, destination weddings are coming back to pre-pandemic levels.
 
Did you know . . .

• “Destination weddings cost on average $32,700 (excluding the wedding ring).” (Source:  The Knot)

• “Destination weddings tend to be multi-day affairs with lots of events (welcome parties, rehearsal dinners, group activities, etc…) that everyone is invited to … to create a personalized curated experience for loved ones” (Source: The Knot)

• “Destination weddings are nowadays less about jetting off to a far-off setting, and more likely to be a city or vacation spot that’s meaningful to the couple.” (Source:  Wedding Wire)

 
Allen Marketing Communications, Inc., a boutique travel and lifestyle public relations agency based in New York City, spotlights key post-pandemic destination weddings trends.
 
Micro-Weddings
The wedding micro-trend is exactly what it sounds: an intimate gathering of 50 people or less.  Smaller guest lists and ceremonies adhere to the CDC guidelines and keep guests safe while traveling abroad. According to Forbes, “The Gwen reports that two years into the pandemic, 65 percent of all wedding inquiries are for micro weddings and smaller affairs.”
 
Micro-weddings also enable newlyweds to have their cake and eat it too.  “A micro wedding allows couples to have a more personalized experience that’s unique to them and their story,”according to Hudson Valley News.  It also presents an opportunity for newlyweds looking to travel with loved ones and close friends after months of a lockdown.
 
Micro weddings lends itself to destination weddings – it’s more cost effective to have less people attend a destination wedding.   "A micro destination wedding also ensures less hassle with big groups while traveling, allows more quality time with each guest, and gives the couple and their guests the chance to focus on what the destination has to offer," according to Town & Country.
 
And, let’s not forget, the Covid-19 pandemic has brought Zoom technology front and center.  Couples connect with loved ones and close friends who may not be able to join them on location for their special day simply with high speed internet connection.
 
Outdoor Spaces Are Crucial
Although we have Covid-19 vaccines and booster shots, outdoor spaces still remain a priority for many couples planning their destination weddings.
 
“We're seeing clients prioritizing venues with outdoor spaces—whether that means balconies, terraces, gardens, rooftops, or just spaces that have roll-gates or big windows that can swing open for the best possible air circulation,” according to Brides.
 
Not only are outdoor spaces a beautiful addition to a wedding, but now they’ve become a practical way to keep everyone safe while still being able to get married amidst the pandemic.
 
In addition to the wedding ceremony, outdoor spaces also lend itself to creative seating arrangements for the after wedding celebrations featuring dinner and dancing in the open air and under the stars. 
 
Sanitary Measures Are a Priority
When you travel, hotels and airlines are normally kept very clean, but with the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic they are taking even more precautions to ensure the safety and wellbeing of their guests and passengers.
 
“In addition, the importance of food and beverage sanitary precautions is higher now than ever, and will likely stay that way going forward,” according to Brides.  You can rest assured knowing that you and your guests will be well taken care of at your dream destination wedding.
 
Travel Allows Flexible Booking
Covid-19 pandemic has caused much stress for couples planning a destination wedding – from having to cancel or postpone their wedding to losing their deposits or even not getting refunds from venues.  Travel suppliers who are couples flexibility increase their chances of landing a destination wedding. 
 
Destination weddings are very lucrative and hoteliers often reap the benefits when family members spend on average $8,000 or more to travel to special locations for the newlyweds.   It is important for travel suppliers to clearly state their cancellation, postponement policies to ensure couples have their dream destination in the location special to the couples.
 
Our travel and lifestyle public relations professionals are here to help savvy marketers tap into the profitable destination weddings business.
 
By Marley Merrihew at Allen Marketing Communications, Inc.
 

The world wide web has ushered in numerous innovative means of doing things. Moreover, it has also become a source of convenience for completing daily essential and leisurely tasks and activities.

It’s common knowledge, though, that the world wide web is prone to cyber-attacks. Your website, in particular, is one of the components of the internet that can be targeted for such harmful attacks.

In this article, our a boutique travel and lifestyle public relations agency has teamed up with Webster Solutions, to provide helpful tips on how to secure your site’s safety.

Read on below: 

Update Your Software and Plug-in tools To Their Latest Versions 
Keeping your software and plug-ins up to date not only offers innovativeness and ease of use. Updated versions of software and plug-in tools usually have security features in them.

So, don’t ever get the thought that updating your software and plug-ins is unnecessary. Avoid having regrets in the future. Always be prepared in combatting possible safety issues. Investing time in updating these tools in place of putting your website’s safety at risk is worth it. 

Make Use of HTTPS and SSL Certificates 
Having a safe URL is one of the paramount prerequisites to keeping your website safe. Your website needs HTTPS in securing the data visitors transmit through your home page. HTTPS is Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure.

HTTPS is a protocol that avoids the occurrence of interferences and interruptions while the information or data is being sent to the other party. SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer.

SSL is the source that’s utilized in transferring data from your home page and your website’s database. SSL encrypts data to avoid having other parties access it while it’s being sent in between the website and its database. 

Use a Password That’s Hard to Guess 
Your website can be secured via means of a log-in page. Choose a password for your site’s log-n page that won’t normally be associated with you. Picking a password that’s hard to guess may require you to be creative. 

Utilize a Safe Web Host 
Your site’s web host is like a shelter that protects your home page and its sub-parts. With this said, it’s no surprise that your web host is the provider of security systems for your server. These systems safe keep the data uploaded on your website. 

SFTP or Secure File Transfer Protocol with username, rootkit scanner, backup services for files, and safety tools updates enhance the security of your web host. 

The Utilization of Record User Access and Administrative Privileges 
Don’t take it for granted that your business’ employees are experts in using and accessing your website. Many employees are amateurs when it comes to utilizing online security features.

To stay on the safe side, create a record for your site’s administrative systems. Don’t forget to update this record regularly, as well. 

Modify Your CMS Default Systems 
Automatic system attacks are usually the kinds of cyber terrorism that websites incur. Attack bots usually prey on websites’ CMS (content management systems) features placed on default status.

After you set up your site’s CMS, modify the defaulted features right away. Modifying these features is one of the means to avoid giving leads for cyber attackers to access your data or attack your website. 

Give a Backup for Your Website 
Having more than one backup source minimizes the risks of security attacks on your website. What your backup source does is that it recovers your website and the latter’s components, if, and after a serious cyber-attack issue has occurred. 

One of the means of creating a backup for your website is to maintain its data off-site. Avoid safekeeping your backup sources on the server where your website runs. Safely keep your site’s backup sources on a home computer or hard drive folder.

Off-site storage is where you can safely keep your information, and, secure it from a hardware malfunction, hack, malware, and other viruses. The other means of securing a website backup is to store your data in a cloud drive. A cloud drive is where you access data from any device, and in any location. 

​Our talented team of web developers are here to help.  Give us a call.
By Vishal Dudhal, partner, Webster Solutions and consultant for Allen Marketing Communications, Inc.
​

 
As we evolve during the third year of the Covid-19 pandemic, families are starting to travel for long overdue family reunions and get togethers thanks to the Covid-19 vaccines and booster shots.  Families are once again exploring the world and checking off their bucket list destinations.
 
Family travel market presents key opportunities for savvy marketers.   An American Express study reports that “a family of four spends on average $1,145 per person or $4,580 on vacation.”
 
The Family Travel Association reveals key findings about the family travel market.
 

• “85 percent of parents anticipate traveling domestically in the next 12 months”
• “43 percent of parents anticipate staying in a hotel in the next 6 months.”
• “68 percent of parents say when their children are involved in the planning process, they become more excited about the trip.”

 
To help destination marketers and hoteliers tap into the family travel industry, Allen Marketing Communications, Inc., a boutique travel and lifestyle public relations agency based in New York City, spotlights key family travel trends for 2022.
 
Multi-Generational Trips Are Making a Comeback
During the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been a trend for those who can afford to buyout hotels, villas, condos and private yachts to reduce their contact with individuals who are not in their inner circle and to minimize the spread of the novel coronavirus.  This trend will continue in 2022 as families gather once again for multi-generational vacations.
 
Grandparents will continue to embrace Skip Trips – grandparents travel with their grandchildren often leaving parents home alone. “Grandparents, parents, and children are booking vacations together, whether they’re road-tripping to national parks or heading abroad for a milestone celebration,” according to Barrons.
 
As families get together for long overdue family reunions, there is a trend for splurge taking their vacations to the next level.  The Covid-19 pandemic has reinforced the message that life is short and it is inspiring avid travelers to venture to unique locations, with new airlines promoting their affordable prices makes going to some travlers’ dream locations easier than ever before.
 
Glamping Adventures
Glamorous camping, as this new word translates to, is essentially a luxurious camping – cabins, yurts, treehouses, glamping pods, and pop up glamper.
 
Glamping provides endless opportunities to social distance and enjoy areas of natural beauty.  Glamping experience has been expanded to include staying in a retro-fitted also known as van glamping.  Staying in treehouses has burst onto the scene making it popular for families to have a truly unique experience in the outdoors.
 
“Outdoorsy attributes the surge in camping to trends such as “vanlife” and “glamping,” as well as increased availability of Wi-Fi and cellphone service at campgrounds. These are among factors attracting younger generations to the great outdoors, as Gen Z and Millennials now represent 48 percent of all campers in North America,” according to the Orlando Sentinel.
 
Glamping adventures present endless opportunities to explore areas of natural beauty, social distance and reconnect with natural wonders.  In fact, there has been an increase in visitors to more than 400 national parks in the U.S. during the Covid-19 pandemic.
 
Off the Beaten Path, Micro-cations Roadtrips Remain Supreme
As families continued to look for socially distant getaways throughout the pandemic, trips to locations in remote, middle of nowhere places became much more popular.  Micro-cations is an emerging trend – quite simply short vacation, “four to five days added to a work trip, destination wedding, reunion.”
 
Micro-cations don’t have to be heavily planned in advance with plenty of flexibility is what families across the country are looking for nowadays. And, as is very convenient with these trips and what we learned is still probably the easiest way to travel, is the timeless classic of a road-trip.
 
For families, traveling by car is an economical way for families to escape for desperately needed quality time away from home.  During the Covid-19 pandemic, some families have stepped things up a couple of notches by renting RV’s and traveling across the country.
 
“These four-day-or-less trips allow you to see someplace new and get a break from everyday life. It's a good way to get the kids used to traveling without having to pack a ton of gear for everyone.” (Source: Tiny Beans)
 
Families are starting to check off the bucket list destinations once again.  One “change induced by the pandemic is that families reported that they are paying more attention to cancellation policies and to health and safety considerations when choosing travel destinations. Eighty percent of respondents said they will only book travel with companies that have flexible cancellation policies in place.” (Source:  Travel Agent)
 
Our travel and lifestyle public relations professionals are here to help savvy marketers capture their share of family travelers.  Give us a call.
 
By Robert Goldsmith at Allen Marketing Communications, Inc.

​
E-commerce in 2022 is still an active market despite how many people see it as a dying one. It is indeed starting to suffer saturation, but most of the reasons why this happens are because of the repetition in terms of style and approach.

In this article, our a boutique travel and lifestyle public relations agency has teamed up with Webster Solutions, to share advise about creating an effective e-commerce website.

Consider that you have all the tools already ready and the only thing left you have to do is select a marketplace, you can easily turn things around and make a compelling e-commerce website that can last for a long time.

If you’re new to this or are generally just stuck, no need to worry we got everything ready, and by the end of this article, you’ll know what platform to choose.

Before everything else, it is important to understand that committing to one platform would mean that you’ll stick to it forever. Meaning that if you decide to change service providers, it would take you a lot of time and resources to pull off, which isn’t that worth it. That’s why you should know yourself if you’re sure of the platform, and if it can sustain your business goals and give you advantages in the future.

There are tons of software and websites that you may use that are either paid or free, but in this guide, we’ll stick with the premium one since they are just better in terms of features and quality.

Wix
Wix should be a familiar service provider for you since it is similar to WordPress which helps you build a website from a template. However, Wix greatly differs because it’s beginner-friendly and the templates are made to match specific usage, something that they would expect from their customers.

As a service, they are great, and acquiring a plan is never a hassle. They have a free option but forget about that, their paid subscription is just better because it gives you a better website look and tons of customization options.

Its web editor is user-friendly, however, if you’re aiming to build a marketplace with Wix, you might have to invest even more since you have to hire a programmer to do everything, and to make sure that the website won’t suffer from bugs and design mistakes.

For a straightforward online shop, Wix is more than enough, and because it offers great scalability, no one’s stopping you from upgrading and moving to the next level besides yourself and your business.

WooCommerce
One platform that is gaining a lot of traction because of its simplicity and freedom is WooCommerce. Crafting a marketplace from scratch on this platform may not be easy, but it is something that a beginner can do when given just a couple of things to learn.

What’s best is that customization in WooCommerce isn’t that expensive so you don’t have to shell out a lot of your resources just to make your website look good.

It’s stable, mobile-friendly, and also straightforward, which makes it one of our favorites and a recommendation for people that are just learning online marketing.

Shopify
Not a lot of people appreciate Shopify enough because it has been in the game for a long time. Often when asked about the platform to recommend, most people would instantly say Shopify because it is the face of the online marketplace and it allows you to sell what you have in store.

It might be a paid service but everything that you are putting into this platform is worth it because it gives you peace of mind and saves a lot of time when it comes to website configuration and design.

Shopify is the perfect website to use if you’re eager to sell your products right away. The setup is easy and beginner-friendly, so you’ll spend less time customizing and more time earning money and publishing your items.

It may have the best features in the competition but Shopify isn’t really for everyone. Those that have limited and tight budgets might have a hard time keeping up with all the fees and also subscription, so if you don’t have that much audience and traction yet, we recommend checking out the other options.

Create your online shop today. Contact us for more info.

​By Vishal Dudhal, partner, Webster Solutions and consultant for Allen Marketing Communications, Inc.

Starting your own business can be incredibly rewarding — but it can also be stressful and terrifying at the same time.  There are many factors to consider when starting a business.

This article walks you through the process step-by-step and makes it as painless as possible. Whether you’re just beginning your journey into entrepreneurship or you’ve already started a business, Allen Marketing Communications offers tips to help you build a successful business.

Defining Your Goals
The first step in starting a business is defining your goals. Are you interested in starting a business because you want to create new products or services?  Or do you want to work for yourself?

Defining your goals before taking action helps keep you focused and on track. The more defined your goals, the easier it is to assess business ideas and opportunities.

Assessing Your Skills
One of your first steps in deciding what business to start is to assess the skills you have. While you may be passionate about your ideas, that passion may not be enough if you don’t have relevant skills or experience.
​
Carefully consider whether starting a business is a good idea for your particular situation and how much time and energy you can dedicate.

Assessing Your Current Schedule
When it comes to deciding what type of business is right for you, ask yourself two questions:
•How much time can you invest?
•What resources are available to you?
A part-time or home-based business might be better than a startup that requires high levels of personal and professional energy. If you work full-time, your options are more limited; evenings and weekends might be more feasible.

Defining Your Market
Once you decide on a business that's a good fit, writing a business plan can help you achieve your goals. If you start by trying to define your market, you’ll have a clearer idea of how to position your product and how to go about marketing it. The market is those who might buy or use your product or service.

Once you have identified your business, it is important to incorporate your business and secure the appropriate federal tax ID number.

Develop your unique selling proposition to distinguish your business from your competitors.

Researching Competition
Being an entrepreneur in New York City isn’t easy. You’ll be responsible for making and executing critical decisions, such as how much to charge customers and how many products to sell. If you try to start a business without researching the competition in your field of choice, you might fail.

Unique Business Ideas
A service business is the simplest to start, especially for a newbie. A service business is any company that sells services. In other words, instead of selling items or goods, you sell your ability, labor, or expertise.

You might also consider designing clothes and selling them online. For your apparel, create a logo for your clothing line that complements your brand. Choose from many beautifully made logo templates using an online apparel logo creation tool that you can personalize with your typeface, color schemes, backdrops, and layout.
​
Your Passion
When it comes to starting a business, your decision is a personal one, and it's likely to come down to what you’re passionate about. If you do what you love, then you will be successful in your business endeavor.

For help marketing your new business, visit Allen Marketing Communications, Inc., a travel and lifestyle public relations agency based in New York City.

Guest Post:  Chelsea Lamb at Business Pop

Image via Pexels

Using hashtags is an innovative means of tagging people on social media, such as Instagram, for this time and age. What you may not know is that hashtags are not only used for personal purposes.

In this article, our a boutique travel and lifestyle public relations agency has teamed up with Webster Solutions, to share tips on how hashtags can be used to grow your business on Instagram and boost customer engagement. Below are the reasons why this situation is the case: 

The Allowable Number of Hashtags to Post is Limited
The limitation of the allowable number of hashtags to be posted prevents spamming on Instagram. Customers can trust businesses that observe strict rules against spamming.

Many scrupulous organizations don’t sell and offer legit and high-quality products services, out to con customers out of their money. Sometimes, businesses that do what appears to be spamming of hashtags are the scrupulous ones.

Ideally, keeping hashtags to two to three or five to eight are not considered spammy according to the results from a recently conducted engagement study. Posting such several hashtags on Instagram generates a 10 percent rate improvement in customer engagement, in comparison to the posting of one, four, six, and seven hashtags.

Posting 11 hashtags generate the highest percentage number of customer engagement. Posting an excessive number of hashtags is not an issue when you do so after a couple of comments have been made. The multiple numbers of hashtags you post overshadow the older comments on Instagram. 

Hashtags Can’t be Placed Just Anywhere on Instagram’s Platform 
Instagram has a strict rule against placing hashtags just anywhere on its platform. Not complying with this rule can cause your business to be labeled as spammy. For hashtags to be considered legit, they need to be posted in the comments, photos, and videos sections. The captions below the photos and videos sections, though, are the parts of Instagram where customer and call-to-action engagements are focused. 

Hashtags Can Be Hidden 
If the moderator of your business’s Instagram account desires, they may hide the hashtags on Instagram’s comments sections. Hiding hashtags on Instagram is one way of subtly letting industry experts know your business is not spammy. Transform the hashtags to merely search words. You can do this by just putting periods and dashes at the end of each hashtag. 

Only Trending Hashtags are Recommendable 
There’s no way audiences can keep track and follow outdated hashtags. Hashtags are similar to keywords. Potential customers search for hashtags associated with the trending search phrases for the newest models and forms of products and services.

Keep in mind, though, that there are constant changes in the trending business hashtags on Instagram. Webstagram and Tailwind Hashtag Finder are among the examples of hashtag research tools. The frequent use of the same hashtags, though, can cause them to be removed and labeled as spammy on Instagram. 

Customized Tags are Useful 
Every business is recommendable to have special tags or hashtags that just going to tell the market to which the company belongs. Specifically, each project of your business is best to be labeled with an exceptional and rare single hashtag.

Spread the word of the usage of a customized tag for your business to your potential customers and followers on Instagram. Doing so may be the source of increasing the instances of customer engagement. 

Common Tagging Mistakes are Avoidable 
Tagging involves the use of a couple of single words or terms. With this said, it’s easy to avoid common tagging mistakes. Avoid adding tags at the end of posts on Instagram.

By the time you add your tags to posts, the latter would have gone live and have been seen by countless people, already. Another tagging mistake you should avoid is utilizing the same hashtag groups within 24 to 48 hours. Finally, don’t utilize broken and prohibited or banned hashtags. 

Hashtags Act as Topic Indicators 
The topic indicators associated with hashtags are commonly the subjects of interest about products and services businesses sell. Propagating the popularity of such tags makes your business appear, customer, rather than, sales-oriented on Instagram.
 
By Vishal Dudhal, partner, Webster Solutions and consultant for Allen Marketing Communications, Inc.