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The end game of any business should be to please its customers. Companies must understand the importance of providing services that customers need. It is futile to set up a business plan that does not address the demand and needs of your consumers.

Customer satisfaction can lead to loyalty. This will then help create a genuine following and community. Thus, business owners need to have open communication with their customers.

If you are also running a company, below are some tips you can follow in generating valuable consumer feedback:

Ask Personally

New business owners often want to be hands-on with their ventures at the onset. This means working shifts instead of focusing on administrative tasks only. An easy way to get feedback is to strike up a conversation with customers and ask about their experience.

Asking customers is a casual and straightforward approach. But, you can still ask about relevant topics. These include the quality of the food and temperature and lighting in your shop. You can even ask about your store’s ambiance and whether they like it or not.

It is possible to get valuable suggestions even with this simple method.

Conduct Polls and Surveys

Polls and surveys offer consumers the chance to provide feedback on different aspects of your business. It is up to you which particular aspect of your business you want an opinion on. Use an in-depth survey to ask customers about the service, the workers, the shop, and product prices.

You can conduct polls and surveys both online and offline. You can approach some of your customers and hand them pen and paper surveys if you have a physical store. Offer complimentary drinks or products to urge them to participate.

But, online surveys are more manageable for your customers to access. Online shops can use survey tools to create surveys. These tools can also have features that allow automatic analysis of findings.

Learn more about the purpose of online survey tools in this post.

Setup Feedback and Suggestion Boxes

Some customers may be too shy when asked upfront about their experience with you. Others may be too busy to answer a page-long survey. But, these people may still offer helpful tips, suggestions, or feedback.

Setting up accessible suggestion boxes allows customers to provide valuable feedback whenever they want to. You can place notepads and pens in your store for comments and suggestions. If you mainly work online, add an option to leave feedback on your page.

Bottom Line

Customer satisfaction plays a crucial role in the success of your business. A good rating from customers proves your company provides ideal service. Luckily, there are different ways to gather feedback from your loyal supporters.

Customer feedback makes way for customer engagement. This, in turn, helps build a genuine connection with your community.

It also helps you understand your customers and get insights into their experiences. From there, you can implement product and operation changes. Thus, you can improve your business process through customer input and suggestions.

Do not be afraid to hear what customers have to say. Always be open to criticism. Take it as an opportunity to drive your business in the right direction.

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Are you ready to start a home-based business but aren’t sure how to make the venture a success? Most people who try working from home as independent owners suffer from first-timer jitters, and that’s understandable. Not only is the quest a lonesome one, at least in the beginning, but it entails financial risk and the need to learn numerous new skills.

The initial hurdle is technical. You need to make sure you have enough computing power and a fast enough internet connection to support the kind of work you’ll be doing. Then, consider adding an MBA to your resume via online degree programs. Solo e-commerce practitioners must keep meticulous financial records and use blogging to promote themselves. The following suggestions can help you get your e-commerce, home-based company off to a roaring start.

Get the Right Computer Equipment and Connections

Do a thorough assessment of your computer and peripheral equipment setup. Remember, your private residence will be your official office for the foreseeable future, so make certain you have a fast internet connection, printers, fax machines, scanners, two phone lines, and an online backup resource for emergencies. Your digital marketing strategy will never get off the ground if you do not have the right equipment to push it through. You’ll also need the requisite amount of office equipment and a very comfortable, ergonomic computer chair. Even with frequent breaks, it’s imperative to find a chair and desk combination that is perfectly adapted to your height and posture.

Get an MBA Degree

Having the right set of intellectual tools goes a long way in e-commerce. The challenge is about more than the technical savvy to set up sites, manage blogs, and do other IT-related chores. Successful e-commerce merchants who operate from their homes need a broad base of business knowledge that only an MBA (master’s in business administration) can deliver. In addition to the challenge of learning a large amount of complex material, degree candidates have to find a way to pay for it all. The most efficient way is to take out education loans from private lenders. If you need an MBA loan, turn to private sources for the terms and conditions that suit your needs as a home-based business owner.

Keep Track of Expenses

For tax and budgeting purposes, maintain a detailed accounting spreadsheet of all your business-related spending. Don’t rely on your standard software. Instead, keep a separate journal that includes nothing but what you spent money on, when you spent it, and whom you paid. There are dozens of no-cost apps designed for this specific purpose. Review the data monthly to see where you can cut costs.

Maintain an Active Blog

Whether you include it on your main website or not, publish a blog that covers topics and news related to your main products and services. If you hate to write content or don’t have the time, buy inexpensive blog pieces from a professional service. Include a news feed and add at least three new articles per week to keep things fresh. Readers are potential customers, so remember that people need a reason to view your blog. By keeping it topical and straightforward, you’ll bring in more business.

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Good business relationships are a key part of a business’s success. Some may take a while to form, but those relationships can offer endless benefits down the road. For example, you might receive helpful advice or a business opportunity that allows you to grow.

Time and effort are required for strong business relationships. You can’t meet someone at a single event and expect them to remember you in a year’s time without following up! If you’re ready to make some new connections (and keep them), read on.

Nail the Introduction

First impressions really do matter, which is why you must concentrate on nailing your introduction. Know how to sell yourself professionally, from your body language to how you tell people what you do. Your goal is to be likable and trustworthy from the first moment. That way, other professionals will be more open to getting to know you and your business.

Understand Each Other’s Values

When forming business relationships, it’s important to both be on the same page when it comes to values. With aligned ideas and goals, each party will be able to help the other better. Some business partners may even turn into ecosystem partners, which in turn would boost profits for each business. If you want to learn more, here is The Ultimate Guide to Drive Co-sell Partnerships.

Attend One-On-One Meetings

In this digital age, many professionals rely too heavily on technology for their business relationships. While tech certainly helps keep up those connections, nothing truly beats a one-on-one meeting with a client or business partner. It establishes a stronger, more meaningful relationship that will stay in the minds of both parties.

Regularly Communicate

Business relationships need to be maintained, and that means keeping up with communications. That might involve a phone conversation, a quick email, or visiting when you are in the area. The next time you have a small favor to ask, don’t hesitate to reach out – this request will work in your favor.

Attend Networking Events

Attending networking events is a must for those wanting to form better business relationships, as that is where many of them start. Plus, you’ll get to strengthen the ones you already have. A good way to do this is by introducing two professionals that you know to one another. It’ll show each person that you value their expertise and knowledge to the point where you happily refer them to others.

Don’t Put All Your Effort into a Dead Business Relationship

If you put all your effort into keeping up a business relationship, then it might simply not be working out. It’s important to know when to cut your losses so that you don’t waste too much time on one relationship when you could be building another. Too many ignored emails and answering machines is a good indication that the business relationship isn’t going anywhere.

The best kind of business relationship benefits both sides. By forming new connections and strengthening the ones you already have, you’ll find more opportunities coming your way.

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There is certainly a lot that needs to be considered when you are looking for the best companies to partner up with. You need a business that is going to be reliable and never let you down. After all, their approach and the quality of the products that they supply you with is ultimately going to reflect on your business and what your customers think of you. With that in mind, we are going to take a look at some of the different things you need to consider when you are looking for the best businesses to partner with.

Make sure they offer an individual solution that is tailored to your needs. There is only one place to begin, and this is by choosing a supplier that is willing to adapt their offer to make sure that you have something that is fully tailored to suit your needs and requirements. For example, if you need a semiconductor optical amplifier to amplify (optical) signals that are meant to be transmitted over long distances, you will want someone who can tailor this solution to suit the application and your exact business requirements, rather than a business that just has a one-size-fits-all approach.

Take the time to read reviews that have been left by others. It also makes sense to take the time to read reviews that have been left by others. You want to be safe in the knowledge that the company you work with has an excellent reputation and that they are known for being reliable and offering high levels of quality. Make sure you check out independent review platforms so that you can be sure that all of the comments that have been left are authentic. No one wants to be duped, right?

Consider how you will communicate with the company. Last but not least, it makes sense to outline how communication will happen between you and the supplier that you are considering. After all, the last thing you want is to agree on a contract with a business and then find that they are impossible to get in touch with. Will you be provided with a dedicated account manager, for instance? Will communication happen via telephone, email, or both? These are the sort of things that you need to consider because you want to make sure that communication is seamless.

Final words on partnering with the best business suppliers

As you can see, there is a lot that needs to be considered when looking for the right business partner. It does not matter whether you are looking for a company to provide you with IT support or you need supplies for your manufacturing firm; it is important to take the time and make the effort to act with due diligence. Do your research so you can reduce the chances of there being any issues or problems along the way. After all, a high-quality provider can be worth their weight in gold!

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Email marketing is one of the most effective ways to generate income for your business. It’s a way to get in touch with your customers and prospects without having to be physically there. But it can also be frustrating when you notice that many people don’t open emails from you, even emails that are important. That’s why email open rates are one of the most crucial metrics for your small business to track.

If you have a low email open rate, chances are your customers aren’t engaging with your emails and thus not being exposed to the offers or information that could be beneficial to them.

Here are four ways you can improve your email open rates so that you’re able to get more eyes on the important content in your emails.

1. Always Provide Value and Include Relevant Content

When sending emails, always provide true value and relevant content. For example, if you’re emailing a list of information about your new product line, instead of writing an entire sales pitch in the first paragraph, provide some background on where you got the inspiration for this new product idea or how it’s evolved over time. This way, subscribers feel like they’ve received more value from your email and are more likely to open it and continue reading.

Emails without any relevant value or content are often ignored and end up hurting your open rates. That’s why email deliverability monitoring tools exist. They allow marketers to look at what content is getting sent and how subscribers are interacting with it, so they know when there’s a problem or an opportunity that needs more attention. Improve open rates by making sure all of your emails stay true to your brand and message.

2. Test New Email Subject Lines Using A/B Testing

A/B testing is a simple way to test out different subject lines on your email. This will allow you to determine which one has the highest open rates so you can use it as your primary subject line for future emails. That doesn’t stop there, as you have the option to further test out the effectiveness of your subject lines by changing them slightly and testing again. This is a great way for you to save time creating new email subject lines while still thoroughly assessing which one will be most effective in future campaigns.

For instance, if you were trying out different headlines for an event, you can split your list in half and send out two different emails with slightly different headlines to see which one resonates better with the audience. This way, you can get a better idea of which email subject lines to use for future events.

3. Create a Welcome Series for Your Newest Email Subscribers

Welcome emails nurture new subscribers to your list over time, but you only have one shot at a first impression. Make sure that “first email” is the best it can be by personalizing each welcome series message so that receivers know exactly who sent the information and why. You may even consider giving away some of your best content for free in this email.

Subscribers who receive welcome emails actually show more long-term engagement with business brands – an increase of up to 33%. Not only that, the more engaged your new subscribers are, the more likely they’ll be to open your future emails. So, go ahead and welcome them with open arms. The welcome series email should include a helpful tip or content, along with several calls to action at the end of the email.

4. Segment Your List and Track Email Performance

Another great way to improve email open rates is to segment your list. This means that you are able to separate people into different groups based on common features or demographics such as location, age group, and so on. This allows for more personalized content and offers the opportunity for greater engagement. Segmenting your list offers you the ability to send targeted emails, which are more likely to get opened.

You should also track email performance in order to find out which types of emails get opened most often by the recipient, when they are most likely to be opened, and how many replies you get. Tracking such data will give you a better idea about what your customers want and expect from you, as well as the information they are most interested in. It will also help you send more effective messages, increasing your overall open rates.

Implement These Tips to See an Improvement

With a thoughtful approach, you can make some quick changes and see measurable improvement in your open rates. By using these simple strategies to improve your email marketing strategy, businesses will be able to increase customer loyalty and engagement by providing relevant and valuable content that is more likely to be opened. This can ultimately result in increased sales and profits for you.

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Are you interested in forex trading but you don’t know where to start? You have come to the right place. In the simplest of terms, forex trading is the process of converting one currency into another. You will need to buy one currency while simultaneously selling the other. Currently, the forex market is one of the most traded markets in the world. According to Investopedia, forex transactions valued at $6.6 trillion happen daily, and this is equivalent to an average of $220 billion hourly.

If you want to successfully start trading in foreign currency, you will need to identify a forex broker. Do check out this list of the best forex brokers as you shop around and see what they have to offer and their fees before you sign up.

Who Is a Forex Broker?

While it’s actually possible to trade forex without a broker, it is not as easy as it may seem. As a trader, you would be required to deal with so many things on your end, such as identifying market trends of the instruments, finding interested parties for your currency and also, having enough money to be able to approach the bank directly and request the bank to allow you to trade in the interbank market.

Remember, if you are a small player in the market, large banks will not give you their time ,and this is where the forex broker comes in. A forex broker is a financial services company that acts as a link between the forex trader and the forex market. When you work with a forex broker, he/she will not only arrange for your trading transactions but also can leverage all your trade so that you don’t have to put all your savings in one investment. However, when choosing a forex broker, you must exercise caution to avoid negative results.

Here are five tips to choosing a forex broker for currency trading.

1. Check His/Her Reputation

The first thing you need to do when choosing a forex broker is to check his/her reputation. If you live and work in the United States, be sure to check if the broker is a member of the NFA or the National Futures Association. You also need to confirm that the broker is registered by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

Go to the broker’s website and under the “about us” section, check if the forex broker has provided his/her NFA member number. If you are not in the USA, be sure to research and find out if the forex broker you intend to work with is regulated by the regulating body in your country. Remember, a flashy website does not mean that the forex broker is trustworthy. If the forex broker is not regulated, do not risk your hard-earned money as you might be disappointed.

2. Choose a Forex Broker Who Has Low Spreads and Costs

You need to know that brokers earn money through commissions thus, they will charge a percentage from the entire spread. The spread is the difference between the price an individual is willing to buy an asset with and the price the seller is willing to accept as security. The brokers that do not charge commissions earn their money using wider spreads. If you want to succeed, make sure that you take time to understand how your potential forex broker makes their money. Remember, if the spread is too wide, it will be very difficult to make profits.

3. Consider the Customer Service

The foreign exchange market doesn’t sleep and your forex broker shouldn’t sleep too. Consider getting a broker who offers 24-hour customer service. If you get one who does not respond promptly, it can result in major losses. Before you sign any contract with a forex broker, make sure that you test out his/her customer service by either emailing the forex broker or sending him/her a message online and testing the response time. Doing so will help you determine if you will be able to work with the forex broker and if his/her response time is conducive to your expectations.

4. Ask About the Initial Deposit

Nowadays, you can open and fund a forex account with as little as $50. This is why the forex market is expanding by leaps and bounds every single day. However, you need to know that brokers are different. While some will offer standard initial deposit requirements, others will vary depending on the account you wish to open. Make sure that you ask before you agree to work with a particular forex broker.

5. Don’t Forget to Ask About the Trading Platform

The trading platform is the online trading system that allows investors and traders to position their trades. As such, the forex brokers platform should be one that is well designed with clear buttons for buying and selling and can be entered and exited with ease. Look for a demo account from each forex broker’s website, and ask to try out the trading platform before you open your account.

The post How to Choose the Best Forex Brokers for Currency Trading appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

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Dog crates were first introduced in the 1960s, but they became quite popular in the ‘80s. Initially, there was an outrage, with some people calling the use of crates “animal cruelty”. However, over time, many people, especially those living in the city, discovered the benefits of using dog crates. This article will analyze the benefits of dog crates.

Dog crates have several benefits:

1. Helping to toilet-train puppies
2. Keeping the dog from damaging your possessions
3. Allowing you to work without worrying about your unsupervised dog
4. Helping to boost confidence in rescue dogs

1. Helping to Toilet Train Puppies

Dogs are naturally very hygienic. They will be uncomfortable messing with their spaces, because they will not want to stay in the crate with a stinky mess. Crate toilet training is ranked as one of the best and most successful.

When put in a crate, the puppy will whine or scratch to signal that he has the urge to go. However, your response is also important because if you delay, the puppy will assume that he can mess up his living space.

2. Keeping the Dog from Damaging Your Possessions

If your dog is unsupervised for a few hours a day, the possibility that he will trash your house is high. Dogs get bored, and when they are locked in for too long, they will find ways to entertain themselves. Sometimes dogs become destructive when they are feeling insecure and abandoned.

A crate is a safe place for dogs. The dog may initially reject the crate, but over time it will learn to love it and find it to be its safe and private space ― the one place it can truly relax. Therefore, your home will be safe from your dog’s jaws, but more importantly, your dog will be comfortable and will feel safe while you are away.

3. Allowing You to Work Without Worrying About Your Unsupervised Dog

If you have work to do, but your dog will not let you be, the crate can give you the time you need to get things done. You will not even be distracted worrying about your unsupervised dog, because it will be in its safe and possibly, happy place. Besides ensuring that your dog does not damage your property, you will be sure that your dog will be safe.

4. Helping to Boost Confidence in Rescue Dogs

Rescue dogs tend to be overwhelmed with large spaces, especially when confined in animal shelters. If you got your dog from a shelter, he would still need some routine and familiarity. You may want to give your dog a chance to roam your house and feel like it belongs.

However, what your dog needs is familiarity. You can start with a crate. Over time, your dog will become more confident to explore your home, knowing it has its own space to lie down and relax.

Crates benefit dogs in various ways. However, it has to be the right crate. Otherwise, the crate can also be a source of distress if it is the wrong size or if it is made of a material that is unsuitable for your dog. When buying a dog crate, you need to consider your dog’s age, size, and temperament.

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For many of us, the first thing we do in the morning is grab a cup of coffee or tea in the name of focus. Then we proceed to turn on our laptop, take a deep breath and tell ourselves that it’s time to get work done. Rather than tackling the to-do list, we find ourselves scrolling on social media, online-shopping, checking our phones, and simply zoning out.

We’ve been working from home since 2020 but adapting to working from home proved harder than usual. Whether it’s trying to calm our worries about the current newscycle, or just feeling burnt out, sometimes it feels impossible to concentrate on work. This feeling is then followed by guilt and anxiety about how much work we need to get done in the next couple hours. This vicious cycle never ends, rather it makes us feel stuck and hopeless more than ever.

If you’ve been feeling this way, you’re not alone. Fortunately, there are products available that can help you focus while working at home: CBD oil and gummies.  We are all aware that CBD is useful for a range of issues such as sleep problems, pain, and anxiety. But we don’t talk enough about how CBD can help us focus better. That’s why Mindset Wellness created a product line with 5 different mindsets infused with terpenes to promote a certain mood. One can choose from Focus, Happy, Calm, Health or Rest or combine the mindsets to achieve a desired outcome. Happy and Focus sounds like the perfect work-from-home mindset to me.

Changing Your Mindset

Taking CBD may help you have a positive mindset, which will make you eager to work and complete tasks. Being optimistic also makes you more confident when making decisions. Use Mindset Wellness full-spectrum CBD Happy Products to improve your mood without experiencing the psychoactive effects of THC.

Less Anxiety and Stress

Feeling anxious and stressed can cause you to lose focus, negatively affect your health and decision making. Stress will also lead to emotional and mental burnout and not being able to think clearly, which can affect your productivity levels. Using Mindset CBD Calm products may help you keep your mind clear and get more work done.

Feeling More Alert

Most people consume coffee to stay awake but the caffeine in coffee can leave you anxious, wired and dehydrated. Consequently, if you’re feeling anxious and jittery it might be hard for you to focus on the task at hand.

Instead of downing cups of coffee, take Mindset Wellness CBD Focus products. This way you will still be alert, but without the jitters, restlessness, or lack of focus that too much caffeine can cause.

Reducing Physical Pain

Working for long hours from home and not walking around too much can cause back pain. The muscles over your eye or lip might start twitching. Your legs and hands might cramp. These physical tics can be a reason for distraction. Using CBD can help calm the errant nerve impulses causing such spasms. Use Mindset Wellness CBD Pain Relief Cream to relax your muscles and focus on working.

Resting Is Being Productive

Think about anytime you try to do anything when you haven’t had enough sleep. Mistakes are made, it’s impossible to concentrate and you aren’t producing your best work. Getting a full night’s sleep is proven to make us more productive; however sleep doesn’t come easy to many of us. This is where Mindset Rest Products shine, infused with melatonin, vitamin B12 and the terpene caryophyllene which also may have a relaxing effect.

It’s all about making a choice, now it’s time for you to choose your mindset. Shop Mindset Wellness and save 20% off with our code HOME20 today!

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Throughout the years, many people have traded, hoping that they might hit it big with the currency market. However, when these traders fail, they vow never to trade currency again and later come back to it after a few years. Only a small fraction of online traders makes consistent profits. Are markets so difficult to trade? Online trading often results in a loss of a lot of money. Why is this? Successful online traders adhere to the same strategies. Many traders, however, exit.

In order to be successful in online trading, you must approach it as a serious business — as a business, you have to be well prepared. Jimmy Norin, who co-founded tradingguide.co.uk believes that patience is one of the most important factors when it comes to successful online trading. You need to be in it for the long haul.

To make consistent profits with online trading, you need to follow these four steps:

1. Mentality Is Key

Start with the right mindset. This is the most important step. Online trading is not an overnight business. You cannot become rich overnight. Investing in is a highly challenging business, and like any business, you will definitely encounter challenging times. It is therefore better for you to avoid trading in the market if you do not have enough patience to endure the down times. You must also have a positive attitude. If you want to be successful, you need to have patience. Adapting to market conditions is what you need to do, instead of fighting them.

Money can be made in the market when the opportunity presents itself, and money cannot be made just by chance in the market. The market cannot be controlled, which is in contrast to the idea that it is a flexible business. However, you can also do other relevant things while waiting for an opportunity to present itself in online trading.

Finally, if you are new to online trading, avoid quitting your day job, as it is risky. Online trading can bring you a large amount of money, but it will not happen instantly. Stick to your day job until you are able to make a lot of money that will support you in the long term. Despite making more in the market than they make on their monthly salaries, some people remain at their day jobs. It is nice that online trading can be combined with your day job.

2. Find a Mentor

By not searching for trading strategies on forums, you can avoid stress. You need to pay a price to gain knowledge, according to common sense. All knowledge comes at a cost. It is possible to find some trading strategies available for free in some forums, but the detailed explanation of those strategies is not provided. Although the information is accessible free of charge, you cannot usually find a step-by-step guide on how to use the strategy.

In addition, you will lose energy, time, and money when you move from one forum to another. Why is this the case? The reason is that you have to execute the trading strategies one after another, requiring time, energy, and money (if the strategies are being applied to your real account one after another). In the end, the loss incurred will be much greater than the benefit, and this is why searching for the holy grail strategy in various forums is not worth the effort.

3. Discipline is Key

A disciplined approach is necessary if you want to make consistent profits in online trading or in any other businesses. Traders should simply stick to their trading plans if they wish to avoid losing money. Some people do not have a problem with discipline, but others find it problematic. Maintaining strict discipline when trading is vital. Without strong discipline, it is impossible to build a successful business.

4. In Case of Poor Online Trading Performance, Consult Your Mentor

You need to consult your mentor if you have already done everything you can and your trading performance has not improved. A professional mentor can offer assistance in resolving your problem or providing answers to questions about the trading strategy that he/she developed for you. It is awesome that students can talk openly about the challenges that they face in an interactive forum.

In this article, I have outlined four steps; however, there are several more that are more important and should not be overlooked. The majority of people view online trading as a very difficult thing or even as a gambling game. Because of the terrible experiences they had during the course of online trading, many people will start making negative remarks about online trading.

You may change their minds when they see that you consistently make money with online trading. The negative things people say about online trading are irrelevant. The important thing is that online traders make money consistently, and if you do what they do, you can do the same.

The post The Consistent Way to Make Money in Online Trading appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

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Demand for housing outstrips supply in most areas. The resultant building boom has brought significant opportunities for general contractors to get in on the action and profit from it. This comes in addition to homeowners undertaking repairs and renovations on existing homes.

As it stands, it is a great time to own a general contracting business. However, there is fierce competition. Here are ways that general contractors can ensure they ride the wave of the current housing boom:

Insurance

By law, general contractors must have insurance to obtain the necessary licenses and permits to operate their business. Owners should understand what general liability insurance covers, investigating their options by requesting a quotation from Contractors Liability. This insurance type comes at reasonable rates and covers the contractor, employees, and assets.

Attempting to operate a general contractor business without insurance is a recipe for disaster. Most clients, like property development companies, insist on insurance proof before committing to hiring a general contractor. Contractors without insurance pose a risk to the developer, one they are unlikely to take on. Even homeowners undertaking repairs or renovations are smart enough to insist that their general contractor has the relevant insurance.

Reputation

A general contracting business is only as good as its reputation. Too many horror stories of contractors who performed poorly and left customers in the lurch make developers and homeowners cautious about who they hire.

Consequently, a contractor with an excellent reputation is likely to get the job. An established reputation also ensures that potential customers understand that this is not some fly-by-night company.

An online presence with customer ratings and reviews helps to build a solid reputation. Not all reviews will be glowing and positive. However, when potential customers look at how contractors deal with those unsatisfied clients, they understand the commitment to customer service and rectifying problems. This makes a contractor a reliable prospect for them to hand a project to.

Marketing

Contractors need to make their presence in the market known by undertaking marketing efforts to raise awareness. Today, most marketing takes place on digital platforms. Therefore, contractors should ensure they have a navigable website and publish meaningful content in their blogs.

This should include SEO (search engine optimization) keywords to help attract potential customers to the site when they do online searches. Local SEO is critical as most developers and homeowners look for contractors working in their area.

Another valuable necessity is a social media presence that people will see on their timeline or newsfeed on social media. Always link posts to the website to allow customers to see evidence of previous work and reassurance that this contractor is capable and willing to do the job properly.

Keeping promises

General contractors face challenges when setting deadlines for the completion of work. So many things can go wrong, including inclement weather and underlying problems that make the job longer. It can be frustrating for the contractor and their client.

However, contractors should set realistic deadlines for job completion, factoring in a few lost days for unforeseen emergencies. Sticking to promises about job completion adds to a contractor’s solid reputation, making others likely to hire them.

Expertise

People hire contractors because they cannot manage a task themselves. They need to trust their contractor to get the job done properly. Building trust is a vital component of becoming an established contractor that developers and homeowners want to hire.

To persuade clients to engage their services, contractors should have the necessary expertise and experience to deliver their promises. They should make information about their qualifications and experience available to clients, including showing them a portfolio of previous projects.

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A market team has an important goal — driving leads. These business leads are important as these are the people who are interested in your wares. Lead generation is a priority for every marketing team, and there are different options to use, from email marketing campaigns to social media and more. The idea is to drive traffic to your website where interested people can go through the sales process.

Live chat to answer customer queries

Like children, customers are demanding, and when they want help, they want it now. It is precisely why live chat technology is so important. Without it, you don’t stand a chance of winning impatient customers over. When customers have a sales query, they rely on quick website engagement to get their queries attended to.

Free WordPress live chat integration is important on your WordPress site as it allows your customers to contact you. ChatSupport is one of the best solutions for all kinds of businesses who believe in being connected to their customers. It’s web-based live chat software that allows a business to convert their website visitors into leads by responding to customer queries and resolving all their problems.

Ensure quality content

There is nothing new about quality content but it has to be mentioned as it is so important. It’s where customers come to get more information on your products and services. Quality content develops the trust of your customers.

Quality and consistency in brand messaging determine the growth of your business. Your content needs to have an identifiable style across all your channels. Content marketing can generate leads and calls to action in your content is the way to generate new leads.

A quiz to convert customers

Quizzes are a great marketing option to convert customers. We’ve all listened to radio quizzes and how some people love to see how they stack up against other people. Quizzes are capable of turning ordinary people into active participants. Your quiz can be a social media post or an email. Before making use of the power of quizzes, know which types you want.

Take into account your industry and goals and also your target audience. Knowledge quizzes are attractively simple to test your audience’s knowledge on different things related to your brand. There must be a closing date and an announcement of the winner date. Allowing participants to share their results on social media platforms will allow you to reach more leads and more interest in your offerings.

You have to be findable online

You know how frustrating it is when you want information on a business and you can’t find any information on them or contact details. It immediately raises suspicion. If a web search by customers doesn’t deliver results for your business, they won’t be interested. Every small business needs to have as its goal a strong online presence where all information is updated and current.

We’re living in a digital age and it is essential for your business to be found online. There are many possible places to advertise your business online, some are free and some have to be paid for. Certainly, setting aside your advertising spend on web-based promotion is profitable as it leads towards better lead conversion.

Customer service

Audiences today are sick of the deluge of strategies businesses use to reach out to them. They simply want exceptional customer service. If only eCommerce businesses would understand that everything else can go out the window but customer service and how a business provides assistance to customers is the most important thing for lead conversion.

Ecommerce customer service is a prerequisite for success. Companies that don’t respond to customers quickly are enough for any customer to throw in the towel with a business. Businesses chase after many things for better lead conversion, not realizing that customer service is really the most important thing.

The post Ideas to Engage Your Online Audience for Better Lead Conversion appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

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If you want to host a successful music event, it is imperative to ensure that the sound system, production elements, and pre-show promotion are nothing short of top-tier. Just ask Sound in Motion, the Twin Cities’ undisputed top dogs in the EDM event production scene. Last week, the company hosted the Minneapolis leg of Above & Beyond‘s Adjunafamily Reunion Tour at The Armory, which was a resounding success thanks to careful pre-event planning and orchestration.

Sound in Motion continually brings the most sought-after EDM shows to the Twin Cities, and the Above & Beyond show was no different. Attendees were first treated to incredible sets by popular show openers like Gardenstate and Pretty Pink. Then, Above & Beyond took over the turntables and proved once again why they will always be absolute legends in the trance scene. Their beautiful set captivated the enormous audience and featured a stunning production setup that included gorgeous visuals and colorful lasers.

Like all of their past shows at The Armory, Sound in Motion did a superb job of generating awareness about the Adjunafamily Reunion Tour show. They first announced it on their Facebook and Instagram pages with a like/comment/share giveaway in June, which spread the word about the show right away. Then they posted a video, a “1 Week Away” post, and other countdown posts to help generate even more awareness about the show. These initiatives were highly effective in building buzz and boosting ticket sales for the event.

Sound in Motion’s Adjunafamily Reunion Tour show in Minneapolis was an unforgettable, wonderful experience that left attendees wanting more. Luckily, the company is hosting other upcoming events at The Armory, including three nights of Illenium shows from December 10-12, Lights All Night events for NYE from December 30-31, and Dillon Francis x Yung Gravy on January 15th. These shows will definitely attract huge crowds and be excellent marketing opportunities for lifestyle brands.

Contact: shannahch@gmail.com

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It is not a rare case that you are startled by a notification popup window showing “The file(s) you are trying to attach exceed the 25MB attachment size limit” when you try to drop a video file to the email. Generally, the commonly used email services only allow you to add attachment less than 25MB. Although some business email servers provide a higher option, 50MB is the maximum unless you purchase the extra huge attachment feature.

Many people face challenges when they need to transfer, share, or send a recording to their email due to the large size of the video document. Of course, these days, video quality is improving. However, its size is also growing. Email-like platforms and web-based media sites have some restrictions on video size. So how can we compress a video for easy transfer and share?

Email Large Videos Using Cloud Services

If you want to send large video files, cloud services are good choice if both you and your friend can easily access to the service. Dropbox, Google Drive, One Drive, and other similar cloud services make it easy to share large video files. First, upload a video file to another cloud service with an account, and then share the link generated by email with your friend or family. For those who cannot, or just do not like cloud, they can choose to reduce the video file size before attaching it to the email.

Video Compression Software Is Recommended

Compressing the video in zip file only helps you reduce the size in a few KB. It is kind of a useless attempt. The best way to shrink email video file size is to convert videos, especially HD / 4K videos, with a larger size than the email attachment limit into the best video codecs and formats.

There are many online video compressors we can choose. They are useful in some degree for videos less than 400MB, which is the general limitation of most online video compressors. In addition, the Internet speed is very important to upload and download the compressed video.

In this case, you can use some free video compression software that is beneficial for compressing and converting 4K / HD / SD videos into MP4, AVI, and WMV for email reading at fast speed with good quality maintained. WinX Video Converter is one of the tools that assists you to compress video file size for email without any cost.

Compress Video for Email with Free WinX Video Converter

Compressing video is a feature searched by thousands of people on Google every month. WinX Video Converter software helps you shrink and convert video achieving consistency between video size, quality, and processing speed. You can trim the size of video in either MP4, MKV, AVI, HEVC, or MOV standard video formats, or other lesser-known formats like YUV, OGM, etc. In addition, it is available for Windows, as well as Macs.

WinX Video Converter is one of the fastest tools to reduce video size. In addition, the claims are explicit as they are powered by Intel, AMD, and Nvidia hardware-accelerated GPUs. So, now bring your big 4K video files and compress them for you to send to your email.

Complete Guide to Compress Video File Size for Email

If you are pondering how to compress video file size with WinX Video Converter? Here is a brief step-by-step tutorial.

Step 1. Open WinX Video Converter on the computer after the installation, and import the target video file by clicking the “+ Video” button, or directly drag the file and throw to the main UI. You can also import numerous videos at a time.

Step 2. Now, select the output format you want to use for your video. WinX Video Converter has over 400 output formats to choose from to convert.

Step 3. Then, compress the video. Once you have clicked the gear icon, a popup parameter will appear. You can adjust video resolution, codec, frame rate, audio sample rate, bit rate, etc. However, it is not recommended to change the parameters (except resolution), or you may end up making your video even worse.

Optional: If you want to make small changes to a video while compressing or converting, you do not need to do it in a dedicated video editor. The process can be simplified with the internal editing tools of WinX Video Converter, such as trimming, cropping, merging photos, adding captions, and more.

Step 4. Once you have completed the tweaking, it is time to export the compressed file. Click the “Run” button to begin compressing the video. Rescaling can take a few minutes, so be patient.

Additional Information About Videos for Email Sending

Video file size: Most of the email servers limit the video file size to 25MB for sending. Therefore, you should reduce the file size to 25MB or smaller.

Video codec and format: MP4 is suggested to be sent by email for its best compatibility with any devices and platforms. Regarding video codec, HEVC is better in compression rate while H.264 is better in compatibility. You can choose either one according to your needs.

Video resolution: There is no limitation on video resolution sending by email. However, UHD video is not recommended since an HEVC 4K video in one minute can take over 400MB spaces.

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When you decide whether or not you would like to translate your business website, it is likely that a whole host of factors will play their part here. To begin with, you have the opportunity to reach an expanded audience, communicate better with a diverse group of users, and increase the conversions you are making. However, the other main reason why a multilingual website could be beneficial to your company as a whole is the matter of search engine optimization. So, let us take a look in a higher level of detail why a multilingual site could be beneficial.

Improve the Overall SEO Ranking

The first reason why you may want to enlist the services of a translation company and get your site properly translated is the fact that you can have your overall SEO ranking boosted as a direct result of this. Ultimately, the search engines crawling your site in a foreign language will naturally start to rank your site better if they can tell that what you are putting out there is positive content that makes sense and flows from beginning to end. According to Global Voices, if it is poorly translated and does not make a great deal of sense, this is always going to present a major potential issue.

Target Different Keywords Specifically

If you allow your website to simply go through an automatic translation service, this will naturally present the problem that you are not going to be able to target the keywords as well as you could if you translate them professionally. Ultimately, this can make all the difference when it comes to the overall visibility of your site and how well you are appearing. You can also ensure that content is specifically localized when translated to ensure that you are reaching the right audience that you could otherwise be at risk of missing out on.

More Visitors and Better Engagement

Another one of the main judges of whether or not an SEO strategy is successful is based on the number of visitors you are receiving and how they are interacting with the site. If they are simply clicking off within a few seconds, this means that the bounce rate is high, and your overall site SEO can end up suffering as a direct result of this. It could easily be down to poor translation. Ultimately, you do not want your customers to work any harder than is strictly necessary. Otherwise, you can easily find yourself in a situation in which you are increasing the bounce rate by not going through the process of having your site professionally translated, which can seriously impact the number of conversions and sales you’re able to make online.

These three reasons represent some of the main ones that could have an impact on your decision-making process when it comes to working out whether it is going to be worth having a multilingual website that is professionally translated.

The post Reasons a Multilingual Website Could Benefit Your Business’ SEO appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

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2022 is fast-approaching and it’s that time of year to pick out unique gifts for family, friends, and colleagues. Encourage the pursuit of learning by choosing to share presents that will spark creativity in the brain. From children’s books that will expand their language skills to a book on becoming an astronaut, and from vibrant puzzles to calendars featuring beautiful places, there are a wide range of intriguing options that will make great gifts. These books, puzzles, and calendars are entertaining, insightful, and will be a hit at your next holiday get-together.

Unfollow Your Passion

Terri Trespicio went viral with her TEDx talk “Stop Searching for Your Passion,” garnering in over 7.1 MILLION views. Now, you can add Terri and her headline-making talk to your bookshelf with UNFOLLOW YOUR PASSION: HOW TO CREATE A LIFE THAT MATTERS TO YOU (OSD: 12/21) — just in time for holidays and the New Year! In Unfollow Your Passion, Trespicio questions everything you think you need: passion (fun, but fleeting), plans (flimsy at best), and a bucket list (eye roll), to name a few. By providing the key in unhooking yourself from other people’s agendas, boning up on the skills to move you forward, and exploring your own creativity, memory, and intuition to unlock your unique path to meaning, you will simultaneously excel in confronting the challenges that stop you in your tracks, like boredom, loss, and fear. A sought after speaker, Terri Trespicio has the tools you need to begin creating and sharing work that matters, not only for yourself, but for everyone around you.

150 First Words

For ages 0-3, this bright new large-format first-word board book offers a fun, interactive approach to successful language learning. 150 single words and short phrases are introduced, then along the border of every scene a photograph of each item is presented to encourage additional search-and-find activity. This matching game allows ample fun and time for parents and caregivers to connect with babies and for toddlers to learn by repetition. Merriam-Webster’s 150 First Words is $9.99.

Word of the Day

Become a word virtuoso in just one year with 366 boffo words selected by the masterminds at Merriam-Webster. Inspired by Merriam-Webster’s popular Word of the Day digital feature, this charmingly illustrated book builds knowledge one day at a time with 366 masterful words, written especially for kids ages 8-12. Each unique word includes a scholarly definition, pronunciation, and an indubitable nonfiction fact as an example sentence. At the end of each month you’ll find a story that contains all the words introduced that month, with an audio version so kids can hear it spoken aloud as they go. Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day: 366 Elevating Utterances to Stretch Your Cranium and Tickle Your Humerus is $13.49.

First Big Book of Why

WHY do elephants have trunks? WHY are clouds different shapes? WHY does my tummy rumble? Britannica’s huge, authoritative, and lavishly illustrated question and answer book will satisfy even the most curious kids, with over 100 questions verified by Britannica experts.

Spanning a range of topics including animals, the body, machines, space, and more, this book provides clear and accessible explanations ― and even explores some of the mysteries that experts are still trying to solve! By encouraging kids to question how the world works, Britannica First Big Book of Why supports STEAM learning and nurtures enquiring minds. With stunning photography and gorgeous original illustrations by Kate Slater, this is the ultimate gift for kids aged 4+ who need to know WHY! Britannica First Big Book of Why is $21.97.

Listified!

Ever wondered which 10 dinosaurs were the largest, and what they weighed…in cats? Or how much of your DNA you share with other animals…and bananas? Listified! takes the best and most amazing parts of the universe — erupting volcanoes, medieval machines, jumping spiders, exploding stars, and everything in between — and organizes them into a quirky list form for curious kids and their friends and family to enjoy. Britannica’s Listified! takes you on a journey through 300 lists that illuminate everything from the human body, to prehistoric creatures, planet Earth, outer space, and the mysteries beyond. Great for ages 8+, here are three mind-blowing facts from Listified! to get you started…A Tyrannosaurus rex could swallow 15,000 hamburgers in a single bite. A bolt of lightning is the width of your thumb and five times hotter than the surface of the Sun. If you tied all your hair together into a single cord, it could support the weight of 18 cows. Listified!: Britannica’s 300 lists that will blow your mind is $16.98.

The Child That Would Be Missed

After over a decade in the Marine Corps, Eric Sowers and his family moved back into their home in rural North Carolina. Though he would not return to Iraq or Afghanistan, his memories brought the war back to him as he struggled to be a father and husband. Through the flames of rage, shame, and addiction, Eric persevered to discover moments of joy and a path to inner peace. Within The Child That Would Be Missed, let Eric walk with you through the challenges you endure in your life and how to find joyful moments to cling onto. The Child That Would Be Missed is $9.99 in Kindle format and $17.75 in paperbook format.

The Method: A Golf Success Strategy

Be your own golf instructor! When you are in question of how to do something in the golf swing and cannot see your golf instructor, this book is the instructor away from your instructor. Whether you’re a beginner golfer or have been playing for years, this book presents every topic a golfer who wants to improve will need to know about: the physical side of golf, the mental side of golf, short game, and more. The Method: A Golf Success Strategy is $25.

Book Nerd

Book nerds appreciate the smell of a brand-new paperback, revel in the thrill of traveling to a new world, and treat characters in novels like new friends. Here to celebrate that devotion to the written word is Book Nerd (April 13, 2021; $12.95), compiled and illustrated by bibliophile Holly Maguire, whose affectionate, masterful artwork and comedic wit make for the perfect companion and gift for booklovers everywhere. Filled with mottos, artwork, jokes, punch-out bookmarks, and more, Book Nerd is a highly giftable ode to those who love the world of books and a celebration of their utter devotion.

Yoke: My Yoga of Self-Acceptance

Internationally acclaimed leading voice in wellness Jessamyn Stanley’s new book, Yoke: My Yoga of Self-Acceptance (June 22, 2021; $15.95) takes readers on an autobiographical journey to self-acceptance. Jessamyn writes generously and openly about her path to body liberation, her search for authenticity, and the limitations and hypocrisies she has come to see in yoga culture. Tying it all together is Jessamyn’s singular voice — funny, frank, and warm, producing a work that is a unique and compelling blend of memoir, philosophy, and self-help.

Woodland Dance!

Destined to be a read-aloud favorite, Woodland Dance! (September 28, 2021; $7.95; Ages 0+) is the newest board book from Sandra Boynton — a mystical, waltzing nighttime counterpart to the upbeat, broad-daylight Barnyard Dance, the Boynton classic with over 4.7 million copies sold. With a mesmerizing rhythm and rich forest colors by the light of the moon, a lone fox on a mountaintop gives her bugle a long, steady blow — summoning hedgehogs and frogs, raccoons and ducks, bears and moose, beavers and squirrels. Then, in a moonlit glade, in pairs and in families, they dance all night long to the music of The Woodland Dance Trio (boar flute, deer violin, moose cello.) And as dawn breaks, the animals wander off to bed as the Trio plays one last piece to welcome the sun. Such tenderness! Such a magical book to share with a magical child!

Jungle Night

Jungle Night: Beloved family favorite Sandra Boynton — her books have sold more than 70 million copies!—and world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma have created a cool bedtime experience like no other. A new and nifty wide-format board book, Jungle Night (March 23, 2021; $7.95; Ages 0+) takes us through the night jungle to hear the distinctive gentle snore of each animal: “Listen to the tiger: ZEEE-ZOOO-HAAA. Listen to the cheetah: CHEE-CHEE-TAAAH.” The downloadable Jungle Night recording, produced by Boynton, is a narration of the book by her son Keith Boynton, with a mystical steel drum backdrop by Lithuanian percussionist Mantas Savickis, and all the animal snores are interpreted by the expressive and playful cello of Yo-Yo Ma. He even does the elephant’s stop-the-show snore — though admittedly that took Ma’s cello PLUS the classic horn salute of the James R. Barker steamship. (Seriously.)

The ABCs of Black History

A New York Times bestseller, The ABCs of Black History (December 08, 2021; $14.95; Ages 5+) takes a bold journey through the alphabet of Black history and culture. It’s a story of big ideas, significant moments, hope, and love. And it is a beautiful representation of the ideas and personalities that embody a wide range of Black people and experiences in lively verse matched with vivid imagery. Using the alphabet as a frame to introduce Black history, the story begins with Anthem—an introduction to James Weldon Johnson’s Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing — and ends with Zenith, a tribute to the mountaintop Dr. King spoke about before his death; readers will travel across continents and centuries, navigate triumph and heartbreak, and celebrate creativity and joy. Written by Pushcart Prize–nominated poet Rio Cortez and illustrated by Lauren Semmer.

Gastro Obscura: A Food Adventurer’s Guide

Created by the curious minds behind the #1 New York Times bestseller Atlas Obscura, Gastro Obscura: A Food Adventurer’s Guide (October 12, 2021; $42.50) is a “captivating book [that] celebrates the incredible global diversity of food, ingredients, and cooking practices” (Alice Waters). Through over 500 entries spanning all seven continents and fifty states, Gastro Obscura serves up a loaded plate of incredible ingredients, food adventures, and edible wonders. Travel to the rainforests of southern Nigeria, where you’ll find a berry that’s a thousand times sweeter than table sugar. Discover the quirks of Victorian table etiquette, the dizzying array of Mexican candy — from sweet-and-sour salted apricots showered in chili powder to banana bubblegum with a liquid banana core—and the illustrious history of butter-carving competitions in America. Sip beer made from the fog of the Chilean Atacama Desert, experience the joys of bouncy meatballs in the Chaoshan region of China, down a shot of what has been dubbed the world’s worst liquor in Chicago, and learn the glorious history of the seemingly humblest of foods: mustard and pickles. These are just some of the many wonders contained within the pages of Gastro Obscura.

Hear My Voice/Escucha mi voz

A moving picture book for older children and families, Hear My Voice/Escucha mi voz (April 13, 2021; $19.95) is one book—English on one side, Spanish on the other, with both languages meeting in the middle. The voices of real children, taken from publicly available court documents, are paired with the powerful artwork of 17 Latinx artists, including Pura Belpré Award– and Caldecott Medal–winner Yuyi Morales (Dreamers) and Pura Belpré Award–winner Raúl the Third (Vamos! Let’s Go to the Market). These innocent voices have gone unheard for too long. Offering an opportunity to better understand human migration and children’s rights, Hear My Voice/Escucha mi voz compassionately introduces this difficult topic while providing an urgent call to action and simple steps to help. In addition, royalties from the book will directly benefit children in migration, so anyone who picks up this book will make a difference.

The Reverse Coloring Book ®

Get ready for the next mindfulness and creativity blockbuster that’s already a viral TikTok favorite: The Reverse Coloring Book ® (August 31, 2021; $14.95). It’s so simple, yet so profoundly satisfying. Each page has the colors, and you, the artist, draw the lines. Created by artist Kendra Norton, these beautiful and whimsical watercolors provide a gentle visual guide so open-ended that the possibilities are limitless. Trace the shapes, draw in figures, doodle, shade, cover an area with dots. Be realistic, with a plan, or simply let your imagination drift, as if looking at clouds in the sky. Each page is an invitation to slow down, let go, and thoughtfully (or thoughtlessly) let your pen find its way over the image. With reverse coloring, you create something truly your own.

Directions: Really Good Advice for Getting from Here to There

Written by beloved “illustwriter” Hallie Bateman, Directions: Really Good Advice for Getting from Here to There (March 30, 2021; $12.95) is a lively and uplifting collection of insights, observations, aha moments, well-worded reminders, and epiphanies that readers can dip in and out of as they would a daily horoscope, fortune cookie, or Magic 8-Ball. BookPage notes that it’s “a fun one to leave by the bed in a guest room or an Airbnb, since almost anyone will find a direction or two that resonates with them.” These simple truths give readers permission to lovingly accept themselves in all their imperfect glory.

You Don’t Have to Be Everything: Poems for Girls Becoming Themselves

You Don’t Have to Be Everything: Poems for Girls Becoming Themselves (March 30, 2021; $14.95) edited by Diana Whitney is filled with works by a wide range of poets addressing the complex feelings of coming-of-age, from loneliness to joy, longing to solace, attitude to humor. These poems offer a message to teens in their most difficult years of self-acceptance and strength, giving them permission to let go of shame and perfectionism. The collection includes works by Amanda Gorman, the first National Youth Poet Laureate; bestselling authors like Maya Angelou, Elizabeth Acevedo, Sharon Olds, Naomi Shihab Nye, and Mary Oliver; and Instagram-famous poets including Kate Baer, Melody Lee, and Andrea Gibson. The perfect gift for any young person grappling with the challenges of becoming themselves.

Sisters: Better Together

Sisters certainly have their fair share of laughs and good times, along with epic fights and meltdowns. In Sisters: Better Together ( July 20, 2021; $12.95), a sweet ode to this unique, often complex but always loving relationship, authors and sisters Alice and Doris Lieu have created the perfect tribute one sister can give to another. Filled with vibrant illustrations and funny, heartwarming, and sometimes cheeky text, it has everything from portraits of famous sisters, to relatable quotes about sisterhood, to examples of what makes a sister (a sister is a lifelong sidekick, an accomplice, and a sometime nemesis).

Oakley the Squirrel: The Search for Z

Help little Oakley the Squirrel find the letter Z  in this charming picture book with photos of real squirrels interacting with adorable handmade miniature sets and props. Oakley the Squirrel: The Search for Z (June 22, 2021; $7.95 US; Ages 0+), created and photographed by artist, educator, and former guidance counselor Nancy Rose, introduces budding readers to not only the alphabet, but also the fascinating, ubiquitous creatures living right outside their doorsteps!

The Montessori Toddler

It’s time to change the way we see toddlers. In this bestselling parenting book — using the principles developed by the educator Dr. Maria Montessori — Simone Davies shows how to turn life with a “terrible two” into a mutually rich and rewarding time of curiosity, learning, respect, and discovery. With hundreds of practical ideas for every aspect of living with a toddler, The Montessori Toddler (March 19, 2019; $19.95) provides step-by-step ways to cultivate daily routines with ease, like brushing teeth, toilet-training, dealing with siblings, losing the pacifier, and so much more.

The Montessori Baby

It’s time for the babies! A follow-up to Simone Davies’s bestselling The Montessori Toddler comes The Montessori Baby (May 11, 2021; $19.95). Drawing on principles developed by the educator Dr. Maria Montessori, The Montessori Baby shows how to raise your baby from birth to age one with love, respect, insight, and a surprising sense of calm. Co-written by Simone Davies, author of the bestselling The Montessori Toddler, and Junnifa Uzodike, The Montessori Baby is filled with hundreds of practical ideas for understanding what is actually happening with your baby and how you can mindfully assist in their learning and development. Thoughtfully and beautifully laid out, it’s a calming and empowering guide filled with straightforward, step-by-step advice on understanding and supporting babies at every milestone.

How to Astronaut: An Insider’s Guide to Leaving Planet Earth

How to Astronaut: An Insider’s Guide to Leaving Planet Earth (September 15, 2020; $27.95) by Terry Virts, one of only four astronauts in history to have piloted a space shuttle, flown a Russian Soyuz spacecraft, performed space walks, and commanded the ISS, is a book for everyone who wants to know what space travel is really like. From fighter jets to unwieldy space suits, space station cuisine, and an uncensored look at answering the call of nature in zero-G and from bad bosses to bureaucratic nightmares, this offbeat and often hilarious collection of short, readable essays gives a sneak peek behind the curtain of real astronaut life.

How Dreams Speak: An Interactive Journey into Your Subconscious

Scientists tell us that everyone dreams between three and six times every night. But what do our dreams mean? Artist and writer Nicole Chilton decodes these metaphorical messages, from the classic flying dream to the appearance of a butterfly, in How Dreams Speak: An Interactive Journey into Your Subconscious (August 17, 2021; $14.95) with gorgeous watercolor images that inspire the reader to daydream while turning the pages.

Good Night, Spencer and Spencer Loves You

Spencer the sweet little cat stars in a new series of die-cut board books that introduce early vocabulary and daily routines to babies and toddlers. Good Night, Spencer (July 06, 2021; $6.95; Ages 0–4) shares a cozy bedtime routine.

Spencer Loves You (July 06, 2021; $6.95; Ages 0–4) features a story about Spencer’s family members and the things they love to do together.

1,000 Places to See Before You Die® puzzle

Good news for those struck with wanderlust — the beauty and excitement of a global journey is now at your fingertips. Travel-savvy puzzlers are invited to piece together stunning global locations from the Golden Gate Bridge to the ice sheets of Antarctica. Curated by Patricia Schultz, who rewrote the book on travel with her 1,000 Places to See Before You Die® and other titles, this collection of landmarks and beautiful scenery brings to mind a collage of postcards from a life-changing trip.

Where the Crawdads Sing 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle

Immerse yourself in the gorgeous waterways, wetlands, and wildlife that make up Kya’s world with the Where the Crawdads Sing 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle (August 31, 2021; $19.95). The beautiful landscape described in the novel comes to gorgeous life in each image, from an inquisitive owl to a light-soaked marshland. For all those captivated by the magical corner of North Carolina’s Outer Banks that the Marsh Girl calls home, this puzzle offers the opportunity to sink inside this gorgeous environment piece by piece, image by image.

How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse Page-A-Day Calendar 2022

People are fascinated by zombies — as evidenced by eleven seasons of The Walking Dead and the perennial popularity of zombie films. But if the undead were to actually come shuffling down your street, would you know what to do? From author Scott Kenemore, horror novelist and member of the advisory board to the Zombie Research Society, How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse Page-A-Day Calendar 2022 (August 14, 2021; $15.99) is a tongue-in-cheek calendar filled with tips and survival strategies, plus fascinating trivia to keep zombie fans entertained. The hordes are coming — will you be ready? Printed on FSC-certified paper and 100% recyclable.

5-Minute Daily Meditations Page-A-Day Calendar 2022

In this time of collective anxiety and uncertainty, it’s no surprise that people have been turning to meditation to find peace of mind. Introducing 5-Minute Daily Meditations Page-A-Day Calendar 2022 (August 03, 2021; $15.99), a brand-new calendar featuring 5-minute meditations to help readers get centered, focused, and in the right headspace to take on each day. Meditation teacher Sah D’Simone, author of Spiritually Sassy, leads a heart-based healing movement rooted in tried-and-true techniques and infused with joy and authenticity.

The Kid’s Awesome Activity Calendar

The perennially bestselling calendar that keeps kids engaged, sparks their imaginations, and promotes hours of zany, unplugged fun. Each month, The Kid’s Awesome Activity Calendar (July 27, 2021; $15.99) features a colorful hand-drawn spread with seasonally themed illustrations and creativity-inspiring prompts: “Help design some snow monsters!” Plus word searches, mazes, and other lively activities and games. The calendar includes 300 stickers to place on the calendar or anywhere a kid wants.

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