Instagram updated how hashtags work for discovery. Now, when users tap on a hashtag, they’re directed to broader search results, including profiles, instead of just a “Top Posts” feed.
The platform announced this change was rolled out to encourage users to explore different parts of the platform, not just posts.
Why we care. This update represents as opportunity to get your brand’s account discovered by high-value consumers.
Action needed. Ensure you tag your target keywords in both your profile and posts to boost the visibility of your brand’s account in the Explore overview. While profiles in hashtag searches may not always include the hashtag in every post, they typically have the word in their profile name or description.
What Instagram is saying. Head of Instagram Adam Mosseri said on Threads:
“We’re simplifying the hashtag and search experiences on Instagram to make it easier to see everything in one place.”
“Now, when you tap on a hashtag, you’ll see the search results for that hashtag. You will still be able to follow/unfollow or report specific hashtags.”
“Hope this makes it easier to find accounts and posts that are relevant to your search.”
In today’s fast-paced world, many individuals seek flexible employment opportunities that allow them to balance work and personal life. One avenue gaining popularity is starting a home-based cleaning services business. This venture not only offers the freedom to set your own schedule but also provides a valuable service to busy homeowners. If you’re considering diving into entrepreneurship, read on to discover the steps to kickstart your own home-based cleaning services business.
Introduction
With the increasing demands of modern life, many people find themselves struggling to keep up with household chores. This has created a market for home-based cleaning services. As individuals seek more convenience and time-saving solutions, the demand for reliable cleaning professionals continues to grow.
Understanding the Market for Home-Based Cleaning Services
Before diving headfirst into your home-based cleaning services business, it’s crucial to conduct thorough market research. Understanding your target demographic, their needs, and the existing competition will set the foundation for your business’s success.
Begin by identifying your target market. Consider demographics such as busy professionals, dual-income households, or elderly individuals who may require assistance with cleaning tasks. Understanding their preferences and pain points will help tailor your services to meet their needs effectively.
Next, research existing competitors in your area. Analyze their services, pricing structures, and customer reviews to identify gaps in the market that you can capitalize on. Differentiating your business with superior service quality, competitive pricing, or specialized cleaning solutions can give you a competitive edge.
Setting Up Your Home-Based Cleaning Services Business
Once you’ve thoroughly researched the market, it’s time to set up your home-based cleaning services business. Start by registering your business name and obtaining any necessary licenses or permits required in your locality. Check with your local government or small business administration for specific regulations and requirements.
Invest in quality cleaning supplies and equipment to ensure you can deliver exceptional results to your clients. Consider eco-friendly options to appeal to environmentally conscious customers. Additionally, investing in insurance coverage will protect your business and provide peace of mind to both you and your clients.
Develop a comprehensive business plan outlining your services, pricing, marketing strategies, and financial projections. Having a clear roadmap will guide your business decisions and increase your chances of success.
Marketing Your Home-Based Cleaning Services
Effective marketing is essential for attracting clients to your home-based cleaning services business. Utilize a combination of online and offline strategies to reach your target audience and establish your brand presence.
Create a professional website showcasing your services, pricing, and testimonials from satisfied clients. Optimize your website for search engines to improve visibility and attract organic traffic. Utilize social media platforms to engage with potential clients, share cleaning tips, and showcase before-and-after photos of your work.
Networking within your community can also be a valuable marketing tool. Join local business associations, attend networking events, and partner with complementary businesses, such as real estate agencies or home organizing services, to generate referrals.
Providing Exceptional Service and Building Client Relationships
In the home-based cleaning services industry, customer satisfaction is paramount. Providing consistent, high-quality service will not only retain existing clients but also generate positive word-of-mouth referrals.
Communicate clearly with your clients to understand their expectations and preferences. Tailor your cleaning services to meet their specific needs and address any concerns promptly. Building strong client relationships based on trust and reliability will foster loyalty and encourage repeat business.
Implementing a feedback system can also provide valuable insights for improving your services. Encourage clients to provide feedback after each cleaning session and use their input to make necessary adjustments and enhancements.
Conclusion
Embarking on the journey of starting a home-based cleaning services business offers endless possibilities for growth and success. By understanding your market, setting up your business properly, implementing effective marketing strategies, and prioritizing customer satisfaction, you can carve out a lucrative niche in this thriving industry.
Are you ready to take the first step towards entrepreneurship? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below! For more resources and inspiration on starting and growing your home-based business, visit www.homebusinessexpo.com.
AltaVista. Lycos. Yahoo. Once upon a time, these were the most popular search engines in the world. Then along came Google. It did Search better.
Since around 2002, Google has been the search engine – and its dominance has only grown year after year. It has ascended to monopoly status and 91.6% of the global search market share in February, per StatCounter. And a lot of “Google killers” have come and gone in the past 20 years.
“But more important, someone, somewhere in a garage is gunning for us. I know, because not long ago we were in that garage. Change comes from where you least expect it . . . The next Google won’t do what Google does, just as Google didn’t do what AOL did. Inventions are always dynamic and the resulting upheavals should make us confident that the future won’t be static.”
Could OpenAI’s ChatGPT be that unexpected change?
Why we care. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman seems to think it would be “cool” to figure out how to integrate LLMs and search – essentially changing the way people search and think about it. Granted, Google is still in an extremely strong position and is looking to launch a similar experience in Search Generative Experience.
Here’s what Altman had to say about Google, search, LLMs and more in an interview with Lex Fridman, released this week.
A better way. Altman started by essentially calling the current Google search experience “boring.” He doesn’t want to copy Google’s model – he seems to want to reinvent Search (to be specific: the way people find information) as we have known it for 20+ years:
“…if the question is if we can build a better search engine than Google or whatever, then sure, we should go, people should use the better product, but I think that would so understate what this can be. Google shows you 10 blue links, well, 13 ads and then 10 blue links, and that’s one way to find information. But the thing that’s exciting to me is not that we can go build a better copy of Google search, but that maybe there’s just some much better way to help people find and act on and synthesize information. Actually, I think ChatGPT is that for some use cases, and hopefully we’ll make it be like that for a lot more use cases.”
“But I don’t think it’s that interesting to say, “How do we go do a better job of giving you 10 ranked webpages to look at than what Google does?” Maybe it’s really interesting to go say, “How do we help you get the answer or the information you need? How do we help create that in some cases, synthesize that in others, or point you to it in yet others?” But a lot of people have tried to just make a better search engine than Google and it is a hard technical problem, it is a hard branding problem, it is a hard ecosystem problem. I don’t think the world needs another copy of Google.”
Again, think back to Schmidt’s quote I shared earlier – nobody will ever seriously challenge or beat Google by emulating Google Search. Just ask Microsoft (sorry, Bing).
Duane Forrester, VP, Industry Insights at Yext, believes we’re seeing a major shift in the traditional Search model right now:
“Why fight Google in search? Why not simply offer search with no ads. You’re already paying a subscription to use ChatGPT, so included is ad-free search. Easy way to kneecap the entire paradigm – simply change that paradigm.”
LLMs + Search. What would be cooler? Integrating ChatGPT with Search, according to Altman.
As Altman said in the interview:
“…We are interested in how to do that well. That would be an example of a cool thing.”
“I don’t think anyone has cracked the code on yet. I would love to go do that. I think that would be cool.”
There have been rumors that ChatGPT is developing a web search product. As I said at that time, I’m skeptical ChatGPT could compete with Google in traditional search – but what Altman is talking about in this interview is not a new version of Google. It’s something different.
Open AI doesn’t want to do what Google does. But clearly, Altman believes OpenAI isn’t at a point yet where they can do LLMs + Search to a high enough level – but he is clearly signaling interest in getting there.
As a side note, ChatGPT hit a new U.S. traffic high – 1.6 billion visits – in February, according to SimilarWeb.
Altman hates ads. Once upon a time, Google was beloved for its minimal ad experience. Clearly, that is no longer the case according to Altman:
“I kind of hate ads just as an aesthetic choice. I think ads needed to happen on the internet for a bunch of reasons, to get it going, but it’s a momentary industry. The world is richer now. I like that people pay for ChatGPT and know that the answers they’re getting are not influenced by advertisers. I’m sure there’s an ad unit that makes sense for LLMs, and I’m sure there’s a way to participate in the transaction stream in an unbiased way that is okay to do, but it’s also easy to think about the dystopic visions of the future where you ask ChatGPT something and it says, “Oh, you should think about buying this product,” or, “You should think about going here for your vacation,” or whatever.”
“And I don’t know, we have a very simple business model and I like it, and I know that I’m not the product. I know I’m paying and that’s how the business model works. And when I go use Twitter or Facebook or Google or any other great product but ad-supported great product, I don’t love that, and I think it gets worse, not better, in a world with AI.”
Altman said he believes OpenAI has a great business that can pay for its computational needs – without resorting to ads:
“…it feels like there should be many more leaps forward in advertisement that doesn’t interfere with the consumption of the content and doesn’t interfere in a big, fundamental way, which is like what you were saying, like it will manipulate the truth to suit the advertisers.”
But. This is all hypothetical at this point. And as Brett Tabke, CEO of Pubcon, pointed out, Google still has a major advantage over OpenAI – it’s treasure trove of data:
“Take Books. It’s estimated that Google has digitized around 40 million books—that’s an incredible resource for training large language models, and OpenAI doesn’t have access to anything on that scale.”
“Then there’s Maps. As we delve deeper into the world of visual language models, Google’s collection of billions of StreetView photos is a goldmine. Sure, OpenAI could get its hands on satellite imagery like Google does, but Google’s collection is something truly special that nobody else seems to have.”
“YouTube: When it comes to training a new video AI model, Google has all the cards.”
“Android: Google knows everything there is to know about phone usage.”
“Chrome: Like click data, you bet your browser they are using this data in search. It also must scare them watching the massive engagement numbers on ChatGPT.”
“Gmail: They know everything there is to know about email usage, email trends, email content, email everything. There has to be major actionable data coming out of Gmail that could be used to train an AI model.”
The interview. The interview is embedded below. Transcript here.
Google is now testing AI overviews in the main Google Search results, even if you have not opted into the Google Search Generative Experience labs feature. Google said this is an experience on a “subset of queries, on a small percentage of search traffic in the U.S.,” a Google spokesperson told Search Engine Land.
In May 2023, Google opened up a Search Labs section for searchers to opt in to see and use the Google SGE results, that contained AI overviews. Now some users in the U.S. may see these AI answers without specifically opting in to see them.
What searchers will see. Google will show AI overviews to a small subset of US users.
Google is first starting with a set of queries where it thinks generative AI can be especially helpful.
These queries are often more complex, or involve questions where it may be helpful to get information from a range of web pages – like “how do I get marks off painted walls.”
For these tests, Google said it has a high confidence in the quality and value these queries bring to users. In general, Google told us it would show AI overviews when it’s truly additive and in the instances when people would get a better response than what they’d see on Search today.
Google will be testing a few different variations – so what searchers may see in the experiments may not launch broadly to all users in this test.
Why now. Google told us they are they want to get feedback from searchers who have not opted into SGE specifically. This way they can get feedback and learn how a more general population will find this technology helpful, Google explained.
Ads. Google will continue to show ads in and around these new AI overview experiences.
Why we care. These AI answers may push down both the organic and standard search ads. It may result in less, or potentially more, traffic to your site, depending on where the citations are referenced from and where Google places the ads. The likelihood is, these experiences will likely drive less overall traffic to sites than what the current Google Search results do.
Time will tell when Google launches this fully but for right now, you no longer need to be in the SGE labs to see AI overviews, Google is testing it in the wild.
In the ever-evolving landscape of modern work, the idea of a home-based fitness business has gained significant traction. As individuals increasingly prioritize health and wellness, the demand for personalized fitness solutions has surged. This trend presents a unique opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs to carve out a niche in the thriving fitness industry. In this blog post, we will explore the fundamental steps to kickstart your journey into the realm of a Home-Based Fitness Business.
Introduction
Launching a home-based fitness business requires careful planning, dedication, and a solid understanding of both fitness principles and entrepreneurial strategies. While the prospect of owning and operating your fitness enterprise from the comfort of your home may seem appealing, it is essential to approach this endeavor with a strategic mindset.
Identifying Your Niche
Before delving into the logistics of setting up your home-based fitness business, it is crucial to identify your niche within the vast fitness market. With numerous segments ranging from personal training and yoga instruction to online fitness coaching, pinpointing your area of expertise is essential for establishing a clear business focus. By narrowing down your niche, you can tailor your services to meet the specific needs and preferences of your target audience.
Crafting Your Business Plan
A comprehensive business plan serves as the roadmap for your home-based fitness business, guiding you through every stage of development and growth. Your business plan should outline your mission, target market analysis, marketing strategies, financial projections, and operational framework. By meticulously crafting a well-thought-out business plan, you can set realistic goals and navigate the challenges inherent in the competitive fitness industry.
Setting Up Your Home Gym
Setting up your home gym requires meticulous attention to detail to ensure that it meets the needs of your clients and reflects the professionalism of your business. Beyond selecting high-quality fitness equipment, consider the layout and design of your space to optimize functionality and flow. Incorporate elements such as mirrors, storage solutions for equipment, and comfortable flooring to enhance the overall experience for your clients. Additionally, personalize your home gym with motivational quotes, inspiring artwork, or soothing music to create an immersive environment conducive to achieving fitness goals. By thoughtfully curating every aspect of your home gym, you can elevate the client experience and establish your home-based fitness business as a reputable and desirable destination for health and wellness enthusiasts.
Setting up your home gym extends beyond physical equipment to encompass the technological tools necessary for delivering virtual fitness experiences. In today’s digital age, offering online classes and remote training sessions is essential for reaching a broader audience and maximizing the growth potential of your home-based fitness business. Invest in equipment such as high-definition cameras, quality microphones, and lighting solutions to ensure professional-grade video and audio production. Explore streaming platforms and software solutions that facilitate seamless online class delivery, allowing you to connect with clients worldwide and expand your business beyond geographical constraints. Incorporating these technological advancements into your home-based fitness business not only enhances the accessibility and convenience of your services but also positions you as a forward-thinking leader in the fitness industry.
Marketing and Branding Strategies
In the saturated landscape of the fitness industry, effective marketing and branding strategies are essential for distinguishing your home-based fitness business from the competition. Leverage digital marketing platforms such as social media, email marketing, and search engine optimization to reach your target audience and promote your services. Establish a strong brand identity that resonates with your ideal clients, conveying professionalism, expertise, and a commitment to helping individuals lead healthier lifestyles.
Crafting a compelling brand narrative is essential in capturing the attention and loyalty of your target audience. Share your personal journey, expertise, and unique approach to fitness through engaging storytelling across your marketing channels. Emphasize the benefits and results that clients can expect from your services, fostering a sense of trust and credibility in your brand. Incorporate visual elements such as logos, color schemes, and imagery that reflect the ethos of your home-based fitness business, ensuring consistency across all touchpoints. By crafting a cohesive brand narrative, you can forge deeper connections with your audience and differentiate your business in a crowded marketplace.
In addition to traditional marketing tactics, consider collaborating with influencers, fitness enthusiasts, and local community organizations to expand your reach and credibility. Partnering with like-minded individuals and entities allows you to tap into established networks and gain exposure to new audiences who may be interested in your offerings. Host workshops, seminars, or community events to showcase your expertise and provide valuable insights into health and wellness topics. By fostering meaningful connections and collaborations, you can amplify the visibility and impact of your home-based fitness business while fostering a sense of community among your clients and supporters.
Conclusion
Embarking on the journey of starting a home-based fitness business presents various opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs passionate about health and wellness. By identifying your niche, crafting a comprehensive business plan, setting up a functional home gym, and implementing effective marketing strategies, you can position yourself for success in the competitive fitness market. As you embark on this exciting endeavor, remember that perseverance, dedication, and a client-centric approach are key to building a thriving home-based fitness business.
If you’re ready to take the next step in launching your home-based fitness business, we encourage you to explore the resources available at homebusinessexpo.com. From expert advice and industry insights to practical tips and tools for success, our platform is designed to support aspiring home-based entrepreneurs like you.
Since the pandemic-induced lockdowns, online goods and services have become increasingly popular for many consumers, including ordering food online. People don’t need to drive somewhere and line up to get their favorite food with online ordering options. They can just go online and order from their favorite restaurant.
Despite pandemic restrictions loosening over the past couple of years, online ordering and food delivery remain part of daily consumer activity. Data suggests that the online food delivery market will be worth $1.22 trillion in 2024.
Restaurants offering online ordering options can effectively reach more customers in new places. Let’s explore the concept of online ordering and how you can implement it in your restaurant business.
Types of Online Ordering Systems
In the restaurant industry, online ordering often refers to the process of allowing customers to place food orders through the Internet for pickup or delivery. Online ordering systems for restaurants are a convenient way for consumers to buy food from their favorite establishments with little to no additional effort.
Restaurants can implement online ordering systems in various ways. There are two main methods to offering online ordering to your customers. You can incorporate the system into your restaurant’s website or work with a third-party provider.
Own website or app
Your restaurant can opt for the in-house solution and incorporate your online ordering system into your website or app. This option allows you to gain complete control over your online ordering system and pocket the profits.
These customized platforms allow you to design the online ordering experience to reflect your branding, menu offerings, and unique selling points. This approach provides a consistent brand experience across all platforms, reinforcing your identity and fostering customer loyalty.
These direct channels also allow your restaurant to engage directly with your audience, gathering relevant information that could help with future business decisions.
However, this level of control will also require you to do all the work. You need to set up your own website or app, create your listings, and integrate your product pages with your point-of-sale systems.
If you have the resources, setting up your online ordering system in-house can enhance profitability and deepen customer relationships.
Third-party apps
Another online ordering option you could explore is partnering with third-party apps or online delivery providers to broaden your consumer base. Popular examples of these platforms include DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub.
These platforms provide your restaurant with a ready-made infrastructure for online ordering. You only need to create your menu within the app, upload pictures, set your prices, and you’re ready to go.
Orders will usually come in through an integration with your current POS system. You’d receive the order ticket and make the meal, and the customer or a delivery person would pick it up.
A third-party online ordering platform also aids your marketing efforts. The app will recommend nearby restaurants to its users, making it easier for new patrons to discover your restaurant and explore your menu.
These platforms are much simpler to set up since you don’t have to develop the infrastructure yourself. However, third-party ordering platforms charge fees that will take a cut of your profits.
The Benefits of an Online Ordering System
Nowadays, everything we do needs to be fast-paced. Consumers often require instant solutions to their problems, including buying their food.
Thus, online ordering systems have become a strategic way for restaurants looking to stay competitive and meet the evolving needs of their customers. Here are some key benefits your restaurant could get from implementing an online ordering system.
Attracts new customers
Embracing online ordering and delivery opens the doors to a significant pool of potential customers who prioritize convenience and accessibility. With people living hectic schedules, many prefer having their food delivered instead of cooking a meal or going out to eat.
Providing an online platform for placing orders can help you reach people who prefer the ease of digital transactions and delivery over traditional methods.
Online ordering systems also serve as marketing tools, allowing you to promote your restaurant beyond your physical location. People don’t need to walk by your establishment to know your restaurant and what you offer.
You can combine online advertising, social media marketing, and search engine optimization to link to your ordering platform and increase brand visibility.
Provides convenience
Many consumers greatly value convenience. Online ordering systems help restaurants address this need by offering a seamless and hassle-free dining experience.
Customers could place orders from anywhere, whether at home, at work, or traveling. They could even place orders in advance to match their schedules.
It eliminates the need for individuals to visit your restaurant and line up, which can be tiring and time-consuming, especially during peak hours. They can look at your menu, customize their orders, and finalize their transactions with just a few clicks.
Boosts profits
Aside from enhancing customer satisfaction and streamlining the ordering process, online ordering systems can significantly impact your restaurant’s bottom line. As your establishment reaches more customers, you also gain more chances of making sales.
Online ordering systems also increase your efficiency and reduce overhead costs. After all, you don’t need to allot more space for additional diners with an online ordering system. These small changes and cost savings can significantly boost your overall profits.
Improves order management efficiency
Traditional order-taking and management methods, like phone orders or in-person ordering, have been in use for a long time. However, these methods can be prone to errors and inefficiencies.
With better precision and speed, an online ordering system can improve these processes, from order placement to fulfillment.
Online ordering systems can directly communicate with restaurant management and kitchen staff regarding pending orders. Some platforms can even be customized to consider current inventory levels to prevent overselling and menu items from going out of stock.
This automation improves overall efficiency, ensures accuracy, and reduces the need for manual intervention. As a result, restaurants can gain better cost and time savings, improving profitability.
Collects better customer data
Data is a powerful resource in the age of technology, even in the restaurant industry. It is essential for driving better business decisions and launching strategic marketing initiatives.
Online ordering systems make it easier for restaurants to collect data, such as demographics, order history, and behavioral insights.
Analyzing this data can help you gain a deeper understanding of customer behavior and preferences. You can easily detect purchasing patterns and identify emerging food and restaurant industry trends.
This information allows you to tailor your menu offerings, pricing strategies, and marketing plans to meet changing needs and preferences. Flexibility is essential to ensure your restaurant stays profitable and competitive.
Tips for Setting Up Your Online Ordering System
Online ordering systems offer significant benefits for restaurants and food service providers. However, setting them up and changing your systems requires careful planning and execution.
Here are seven essential tips to help you navigate the process effectively.
Photo by Ketut Subiyanto on Pexels
Choose an online ordering system
Selecting the right online ordering system is the first step to successfully implementing it in your restaurant. You can do it in-house or partner with established third-party food delivery apps.
Assess different ordering platforms based on factors such as ease of use, customization, integration capabilities, and pricing structure. Ensure your chosen platform aligns with your restaurant’s requirements and goals.
You can research popular platforms within your area. Observe what neighboring restaurants are doing or ask customers for feedback and suggestions.
Prepare your staff
Setting up an online ordering system will require comprehensive training and preparation for your staff. After all, it is a new system and will take time to learn and master.
Equip your restaurant staff with the knowledge and skills to navigate the new platform and its corresponding devices.
Schedule training sessions to familiarize yourself and your staff with the online ordering process. Emphasize the importance of accuracy, timeliness, and professionalism to ensure seamless experiences for your patrons.
Assigning specific responsibilities within your team to ensure someone oversees online ordering operations would also be helpful. Clear communication and collaboration within your team are essential to create a smooth workflow and provide good customer service.
Optimize your menu
Your menu is critical in attracting and engaging customers in your online ordering system. Review and optimize your menu for better consumption, ensuring readability, easy navigation, and visual appeal.
Publish a simple menu with items organized into straightforward categories that let anyone easily find what they need. Use high-quality images and engaging descriptions to showcase your dishes and entice customers to place their orders.
Upgrade your menu during special events and holidays to showcase seasonal offerings and promotions. Take reviews seriously and use them to refine your menu and adapt to changing tastes and trends.
Integrate multiple payment options
With the wide availability of online banking and mobile wallets, consumers have more ways to pay for goods and services besides plain old cash. Integrating multiple payment options is essential to accommodate diverse preferences and maximize convenience.
Many third-party online ordering apps allow customers to use various payment options, such as cash, credit, or debit cards. If you plan to develop an in-house online ordering system, integrate multiple payment gateways to provide the same accommodations.
Create a marketing plan
Launching an online ordering option requires more than your technical setup. You also need to create a strategic approach to marketing and promotion. How could your regulars use your new system if they don’t know it exists?
Use different platforms to promote your new system, such as social media, email, and digital advertising. You can also post signs in your restaurant and hand out flyers or posters.
Offer special discounts, incentives, or promotions during your launch. These programs can encourage people to use your new system and become loyal patrons.
Offer real-time order tracking
One advantage of adopting an online ordering system is the ability for customers to track their restaurant orders in real-time, giving them transparency and peace of mind.
Choose third-party platforms or software providers that offer built-in tracking functionalities. Send automated notifications or updates at various stages of the ordering process, such as order confirmation, preparation, and delivery.
These tracking functionalities also come with predicted pickup and delivery times. This feature provides clear expectations and minimizes delays or misunderstandings.
Test and optimize
As with any new initiative, continuous testing and improvement are essential to maximize the effectiveness and performance of your new online ordering system.
Regularly monitor vital metrics and gather feedback to address challenges and improve your delivery service.
Experiment with different layouts, calls-to-action, and promotional offers to see what resonates best with your target market. You can also track important metrics such as conversion rates and order volumes to measure the success of your system.
Adopting a data-driven approach allows you to refine your online ordering system over time. Performing these checks and improvements helps you constantly deliver good customer experiences and achieve your goals.
Maximize Restaurant Growth Through Online Ordering Systems
Online ordering options have emerged as an effective opportunity for restaurants to reach more diners and expand profit opportunities. Various software solutions and service providers are readily available to assist in this effort.
Setting up this new system requires an initial investment and careful planning. However, the rewards are often worth it. Ample preparation, organized execution, and continuous learning and improvement can help your restaurant make the most of its online ordering system and achieve your business goals.
TikTok published a new guide offering best practices for lead generation on the platform.
The comprehensive 25-page document, which was released in partnership with Hubspot, provides actionable tips on:
Lead generation forms.
Hooks.
Messaging.
Calls to action.
Why we care. Even if feel confident in your lead generation abilities, this document could shed light on areas you may have overlooked. Additionally, receiving best practice guidance about TikTok directly from TikTok is clearly more reliable and trustworthy than other sources.
Lead gen forms. TikTok provides a variety of tips for boosting lead generation through forms on your website or app, such as:
Visual help: TikTok suggests adding a logo, header image, and footer image to showcase your business and products and/or services more effectively.
Be conscious of number of questions: If youʼre looking to generate more lead volume, set a maximum of 6 questions.
Use logic settings and custom questions: With the advanced form, use logic settings to switch up questions based on how someone responded to the first question
Link to your privacy policy: Link to your privacy policy in your form to guarantee users that any personal information collected is secure and in accordance with local laws.
Include a review screen: This could potentially help with higher intent.
Don’t forget to say thank you: Include a thank you message and specify what the next steps are and how/when you’ll get back to them.
Hooks. Educational videos covering finance, real estate, and career services are highly effective, according to TikTok. So the platform recommends starting by highlighting your product or service’s benefits to attract viewers. Showcase how it can enhance their lives and solve their problems, offering a glimpse into an aspirational lifestyle. By proactively addressing viewers’ challenges, TikTok claim you will engage them and increase their likelihood of purchasing your offering.
Messaging. After hooking your audience, TikTok suggests establishing trust by delivering your main message clearly and memorably. This section should encapsulate your product or service’s selling points, core narrative, and key highlights. Build credibility by emphasizing the value and benefits of your brand, compelling viewers to become interested in your offering.
Calls to action. TikTok advises concluding with a clear and compelling Call to Action, urging viewers to take the next step. Wrap up with memorable closing remarks delivered through text, voice-over, or graphics, leaving a lasting impression on your audience.
Get the daily newsletter search marketers rely on.
Deep dive. Download TikTok’s lead generation playbook for more information. In order to access this document, you will be required to share some first-party data.
Google released a dedicated guide for developers called the Performance Max developer guide.
The document is aimed at helping developers access the necessary information to build PMax integrations more easily.
Why we care. For developers working on PMax integration, this guide consolidates all necessary information into one convenient location.
Additional improvements. Google Ads also announced several other improvements, including:
A new guide called “Structure Requests”, which provides detailed insights into the complexities of creating and updating PMax campaigns through requests.
Updating the developer documentation so that it now more clearly identifies and renames business goals for easier navigation and understanding:
Did you know you could transform your bathroom into a spa with just a few simple products? Creating an atmosphere to be like a spa at home can truly turn your daily routine into a relaxing and rejuvenating experience. With the right products, you can transform your bathroom into a sanctuary to unwind and pamper yourself after a long day. For instance, as soon as you wrap yourself in a luxury bathrobe, you are instantly transported to a spa where time stands still, and all your responsibilities and worries vanish. If you are wondering how you bring the spa to your home, the article has curated a list of 6 must-have products that are going to make you feel like you are in a 5-star spa at home:
1. Aroma Therapy Diffusers
Aromas trigger memories, and adding a diffuser with spa-like fragrances instantly transports you to a peaceful sanctuary. Ensure the fragrances you use are similar to those used in a 5-star resort or spa to transform your home into a luxurious ambiance instantly. You can choose essential oils such as lavender, eucalyptus, or peppermint to create a serene environment and promote ultimate relaxation. The gentle mists of these diffusers help you unwind after a long day and relieve tension and stress.
2. Spa-like Bathrobes
Nothing makes you feel more like you are in a spa than a luxurious bathrobe. Wrapping yourself in a bathrobe, lighting a scented candle, and putting on a face mask are little self-care rituals you can do daily to enjoy alone time.
A cozy bathrobe adds a touch of indulgence to your post-shower routine, making you feel like you have spent hundreds of dollars on a relaxing experience. Therefore, investing in a good bathrobe can really help you upgrade your daily rituals on a budget.
3. Plush Towels
Invest in high-quality plush towels to enhance the spa-like feel of your bathroom. Plush towels are thick and fluffy in texture, which feels incredibly soft on the skin and gives you an ultimate cozy feeling. When you wrap yourself in a plush towel after a shower, you instantly get transported into a spa filled with warmth and luxury.
4. Rainfall Showerhead
Taking care of your mental health is crucial to living a fulfilled life. Many people like going to spas because of the sense of relaxation they feel in the environment. Even though it is not possible to go to spas daily, you can upgrade your dribbly old shower with a rainfall showerhead that replicates the sensation of standing under a gentle rainstorm for a calming sensation. With a steady stream of water flowing through the showerhead, you can slowly feel your muscles soothing and stress melting away. Installing these in your bath makes every shower therapeutic and helps you relax after a long day at work.
5. Luxury Bathroom Rugs
Luxury rugs make any bathroom look warm and cozy while also adding a touch of sophistication. These rugs feel soft under the foot and have quick absorbency power that quickly soaks up moisture to keep your bathroom dry and slip-free.
In terms of design, they come in a variety of styles and different colors. However, to make your home feel like a spa, opt for neutral colors that leave a calming sensation in your mind.
Bring the Spa to Your Home
The products mentioned above may seem like small details, but they make a lot of difference in upgrading your everyday rituals. So, don’t wait any longer; upgrade your bathroom into a spa with a few or all of the above products and get transported to a luxurious experience!
Global container shipping rates have entered an era of unprecedented volatility over the past year. Where historically rates may have seen more gradual ups and downs, 2023-24 introduced extreme fluctuations within very short time periods.
Just take a look at the wild swings in 40-foot container rates within a mere matter of months. Prices bottomed out at $1,342 per container in October 2023. They then skyrocketed over 190% to hit record heights exceeding $3,900 by February 2024. It goes without saying that this budget-busting turbulence is something companies will struggle to deal with.
So what exactly is behind this new era of freight instability? What are the impacts on small businesses? And most importantly, what can be done to avoid getting capsized by these rising times of unpredictability?
FCL Shipping: Bearing the Brunt of Rate Fluctuations
When you think about the physical trade arming global business, full container load (FCL) shipping emerges as the unsung workhorse driving heavy freight transport year after year. Like a fleet of pack mules winding along silk routes, FCL containers persistently bear the brunt of moving mountains of raw materials, products, and commodities wherever commerce flows.
Few other logistics options could efficiently shift such colossal quantities across oceans with viability. And so steadily, reliably over decades, FCL shipping became interwoven into the worldwide supply tapestry – an intricate structure expanding right up until its threads started straining.
As the COVID turmoil unleashed knock-on impacts that were once unimaginable, companies were abruptly reminded just how profoundly entire supply chains rely on dozens of precise freight links running full-tilt without buffers. As we all know, the aftermath was chaotic, resulting in issues such as:
Even though we are more than four years down the line from the outbreak of the pandemic, these cascading effects are still placing significantly upward pressure and volatility on container shipping rates.
Yet, while recent challenges have tested historical norms, FCL shipping remains the lifeblood of mass freight with carriers urgently investing to grow resilience. Committed shippers and logistics players navigating this transition shoulder-to-shoulder must rediscover stability through emerging solutions.
The Ripple Effect on Small Businesses
Of course, these factors haven’t just rattled logistics carriers—the ripples propagate across practically every business tied to global trade. As transportation costs blast off to the stratosphere, companies are slammed and scrambling to adapt budgets and operations.
Many grit their teeth and absorb slimmer profit margins as overheads swell. Others reluctantly nudge product prices higher to safeguard viability—but risk hampering sales in the process. It’s a lose-lose whiplash from all directions. And that’s just the financial impact. Companies are also likely to experience:
Customer frustration mounting as delayed shipments erode delivery reliability
Inventory planning distortions from pricing unpredictability
Make no mistake – enterprises both large and small are facing intensifying margin and operational strains from this freight price volatility. For smaller companies, even minor logistics disruptions inflict significant harm since they usually don’t have financial wiggle room or supply chain agility to manage effectively.
But even multi-national organizations are not immune – struggling to balance stability and client service as risks accumulate.
Strategies for Mitigating the Impact
With mounting pressures across functions, what steps can small business leaders take to steer toward calmer waters? While some volatility triggers lie fully outside control, several proven measures promise relief by adding supply chain stability:
Diversify Logistics Mix
Leaning too hard on one shipping company or route is risky business these days. Smart leaders spread their options across different carriers, transport modes like air, ocean, and rail, and geographical pathways. For time-sensitive freight, skip congested seaports with air transport or dedicated railway lines. And consider regional suppliers to avoid far-flung shipping legs. The goal is to prevent overdependence on any single link in your supply chain that could break.
Realign Carrier Relationships
With rising costs squeezing their margins too, carriers need shipper partnerships that share the inflationary burden. That could mean deals ensuring minimum volumes in return for capped rate hikes or priority access when space falls short. The point is both sides boost flexibility to handle shifting conditions. Sweetening agreements with incentives further lock in capacity when markets and container shipping rates turn turbulent.
Invest in Visibility Systems
Flying supply chain blind is no longer an option when disruption lurks everywhere. Onboard tracking and predictive analytics tools to stay steps ahead of uncertainty. Real-time ocean and air freight analytics spot emerging bottlenecks before they ruin delivery targets. A crystal ball into production line hiccups lets you plan ahead. And modeling alternate routes or inventory locations accounts for constraints before they strike. Information is power when volatility rules the day.
Collaborate with Industry Peers
Facing parallel supply struggles, companies increasingly join forces — even traditional rivals — to smooth logistics friction. Manufacturers and carriers trade ideas in industry forums, and open-sourcing innovations like staffing solutions. Port authorities welcome joint technology investments to modernize overloaded terminals. Shippers discuss forming consolidated buying groups to influence better ocean rates.
The point is tapping collective ingenuity and capabilities to tackle shared obstacles. Pre-competitive cooperation allows those wrestling the same challenges to amplify each other’s strengths beyond what any can achieve alone.
Final Word
There’s no sugarcoating the fact that freight volatility strikes at the very foundations of business viability – the ability to reliably deliver goods while still turning profits.
Nevertheless, leaders who embrace transparency, explore diverse shipping options, intelligently leverage logistics partnerships, and prioritize customer service can steer brands through the turbulence.
The days of set-and-forget supply chains have passed. Visionary companies must now take a proactive approach to prepare for inevitable disruptions by maturing and futureproofing operations.
