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Finding new customers is one of the greatest challenges of any business.

Today we’re living in an online world, it’s critical that you use the internet to advertise and find new customers.

But how?

For you, the answer might be Yelp which makes advertising easy. And, you could now grab this limited-time offer right here to get $300 in free Yelp ads when you sign up!

As one of the world’s largest online directories and review sites, Yelp connects millions of searching customers with local businesses every month. According to a Nielsen study, 74% of consumers who search for local businesses online turn to review sites.

That same study reported that 92% of Yelp users made a purchase after visiting the platform and that 79% of those sales were made within one week!

Yelp

If your business isn’t already using Yelp to advertise, you should start now. As there are over 29 million different businesses listed on Yelp, your competitors might be winning customers that could just as easily have been yours. And guess what? It’s only because customers are finding them first.

People use Yelp to find just about every type of business imaginable, from restaurants to home services to dentists and everything in between.

And there’s a place on Yelp for your business, too.

Sign up with Yelp today, claim your $300 free Yelp ads, and start reaching new customers! It takes less than a minute to create your account.

The post Business Owners: Here’s How To Get A Free $300 In Advertising To Help You Get New Customers appeared first on Wall Street Insanity.

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We all recognize the presence of large businesses and corporations in advertising. Whether it’s through witty TV commercials or logos plastered on city billboards, big companies with big budgets find plenty of ways to dwarf those who want to compete.

If you have a small business, startup, or even a side hustle, you might not have the funds or the cash flow to front thousands of dollars for basic paid advertising, let alone prime time spots on national television. Fortunately, today there are more ways than ever to get free advertising for your business. While large businesses are busy swinging for the fences, you can have a real impact by focusing on free advertising spaces.

In this article, we’ll take a look at 35 of the best ways to advertise your business without having to dig deep into your wallet to make it happen.

Let’s get started!

1. Connect with searching customers through Yelp

Founded in 2004, Yelp is now one of the largest online directories, boasting more than 4.8 million claimed businesses and nearly 200 million reviews to date.

The platform is home to approximately 91 million unique visitors each month, many of whom use the platform to find local businesses across almost two-dozen main categories that range from food and shopping to real estate and hotels.

Even national businesses, such as Honda and Regal Cinemas, attribute increases in traffic, leads, and customers to Yelp Advertising.

Particularly if your business thrives or relies on local customers, you’ll love Yelp’s Nearby feature, which brings searching customers to you. If your business isn’t already using Yelp, know that there are likely customers who are choosing local competitors instead.

Claim your business on Yelp today, and you’ll get a $300 free advertising credit!

2. Promote your business with VOICED Market

Consider partnering with VOICED Market, a platform that helps businesses gain exposure and reach new customers all over the world.

The platform handles the entire advertising process for all its merchants, from listing the product or service to promoting and selling it across not only VOICED Market, but its own network. This gives your business an additional revenue stream with very little effort.

The best part is — there is no upfront cost. All advertising costs are performance-based, meaning the platform only takes a cut when you make a sale!

Furthermore, a percentage of all VOICED Market profits goes towards feeding and educating those who are in need; this allows you to grow your business and have an impact in the community simultaneously.

You can apply to become a merchant today!

3. Start using Microsoft Advertising

With Microsoft Advertising, you can market your business across the Yahoo! and Bing search engines with highly specific, targeted ads. Customize an audience, target specific keywords or keyphrases, and set a budget for your ad campaign.

While Bing and Yahoo! are largely believed to operate in Google’s shadow, these search engines still present huge markets where businesses can achieve success in finding new customers; and in many cases, there are even better opportunities on these platforms than on Google. In fact, the average Bing desktop user spends 35% more money online than the average Google user does.

Juliana Dean, the digital marketing manager at Vegas.com, is just one of many people who have experienced this kind of success firsthand. By leaning on the intelligence of the system, as well as the expertise and ideas of the platform’s support team, she was able to increase the return on her business’s ad spend by 27%.

Spending just $25 on Microsoft Advertising today will earn you a $100 credit that can be spent on even more advertising for your business.

Get started with Microsoft Advertising and get your free $100 credit today!

4. Start a blog

Starting not just a website but also a blog gives you the opportunity to discuss your products, services, and mission in much greater detail than you would on a conventional landing page. By publishing quality content on a frequent basis, you’ll also establish your business as an authoritative voice in its niche or industry.

When starting a blog, it’s a good idea to launch it on the same site you use for web hosting. Bluehost offers affordable, high-quality web hosting services and even features a one-click blog install.

For just $3.95 per month, you’ll start with 50GB of SSD storage, a free SSL certificate to make your site secure, a free domain name, and access to outstanding 24/7 customer support. Better yet, you’ll be able to get your website up and running quickly with the assistance of the Bluerock platform.

With more than 2 million unique websites hosted, it’s easy to see why Bluehost is such a popular choice for a web hosting service.

Try Bluehost risk-free today!

5. Invest in SEO

The process of climbing search engine rankings is a fantastic way to advertise your business organically, but it’s not easy. Google, as well as other popular search engines, have evolving algorithms with factors that impact where a website or blog should rank for a specific keyword or keyphrase.

While some of these ranking factors are unknown, many of them are known. You can supercharge your blog and multiply your traffic by implementing solid search engine optimization (SEO) practices consistently.

SEMRush is a software company that will help you get the most out of your site’s SEO. By using SEMRush, you’ll have access to features such as keyword research, social media tracking, and on-page SEO checking, to name a few. You’ll be able to compare your website and your keyword ranking to that of your competitors. You’ll even have access to SEMRush’s audit tool, which can be used to perform a full assessment of your site, determining strengths and areas that need improvement.

Perhaps most importantly, SEMRush’s robust analytics interface allows you to track almost any metric imaginable — whether it’s a specific keyword, the backlinks that point to your domain, or traffic over a certain period.

With over 4 million users and more than 580 million domains, SEMRush has an excellent track record of helping site owners climb Google’s ranks with solid, proven SEO tactics and strategies. Some of these businesses include globally recognized companies such as Wix, Booking.com, and Air Europa.

6. Claim your business in online directories

Did you know that there are likely places online where your business is listed but you don’t own the listings?

You can easily put this to the test. Start with Google My Business (GMB), for example, which is the largest online directory. Simply run a Google search for your business and check out the results. If you’ve been in business for any significant amount of time, your listing should pop up in the right-hand column and should include all of the essential details about your business.

If you have already claimed this listing, you should be able to sign in (if you’re not signed in already), update your company’s information, and lock it as needed. If you haven’t claimed this listing, you won’t be able to make changes or respond to customer reviews; and over time, this has the potential to have a negative impact on your business’s online reputation.

7. List your business in all directories

If your business isn’t listed in all major online directories, make sure you go through and register your business on as many as possible. The more places where potential customers are able to find you, the better.

Owning a public listing will allow you to control and monitor your business’s information and make sure that only current, accurate details are posted. Better yet — including your business in online directories will have a positive impact on your search engine visibility.

Here are a handful of places where you’ll want to start:

• Google My Business (GMB)
• Yelp
• Bing
• Yahoo!
• Yellow Pages
• Better Business Bureau (BBB)

8. Write guest posts

Writing guest posts for other high-authority websites and blogs is a great way to not only get your name and your brand in more places online and tap into other audiences, but to also link back to your own website or blog and build your own domain authority.

While guest posting might require you to put some time into creating content for other businesses, this practice will pay dividends down the road. Backlinks are one of the most important search engine ranking factors, and when multiple authoritative websites link to your website, search engines will begin to recognize your site as being authoritative.

If possible, look for guest posting opportunities within your industry or niche. If you worked for a dental office and tried to write a guest post for an entertainment blog, for example, there wouldn’t be many circumstances in which you’d be attracting relevant traffic to your business’s site or blog. Furthermore, linking to your site would appear forced, and search engines would likely penalize you as a result.

9. Answer questions on Quora

Search engines are in the business of problem-solving. Ultimately, they want search engine users to be able to find answers to their problems quickly. Quora pages tend to rank high in Google’s search engine results pages (SERPs) because they tend to provide very practical answers to common questions.

As a registered Quora user, you too can offer your unique insight by answering relevant questions. Of course, you’ll want to answer questions that are most relevant to your industry or niche. This will allow you to flex your knowledge on these topics and promote your business naturally.

10. Publish content on LinkedIn

One of the reasons why LinkedIn is such an effective platform for advertising is because it’s filled with professionals who are looking to network and build connections within their respective industries.

In fact, roughly 45% of LinkedIn readers hold upper-level management positions at their respective companies. These readers are always in need of resources, services, and partnerships; and if you publish content on LinkedIn frequently, you can position your business as a solution for others and build valuable connections with industry leaders.

Don’t be afraid to put your business out there! After all, it’s plastered all over your bio.

11. Feature on podcasts

Some people are readers. Some people are watchers. Others are listeners.

Podcasts prevent a very unique advantage. Unlike most written content and video content, podcast listeners rarely “skim.” Approximately 91% of podcast consumers typically listen to an entire episode, or most of it.

With these levels of engagement, it’s easy to connect and resonate with an audience. If you want to reach those who like to consume hours of audio content during their weekly work commute, start featuring on podcasts relative to your industry.

Hosts are constantly on the hunt for guests who can offer value to their listeners. So long as you fit the bill, hosts are typically more than happy to have you promote your own products and services in return.

To land your first podcast appearance, make a connection with someone who hosts a popular podcast within your industry, and reach out — through social media, email, or even that person’s website — with a persuasive pitch about the value you can offer his or her target audience by featuring on the podcast.

12. Use your email signature to promote

Including your website and social media links in your email signature is one of the most passive ways to advertise. After spending a little time setting up your signature, your emails will do all of the work for you.

Continue sending emails as usual and, naturally, recipients will begin to notice the content of your signature. As your emails are forwarded and circulated throughout different organizations and groups, your business may also be exposed to a completely new audience.

13. Send out newsletters to subscribers

If you’ve already started a blog or a website that sees a reasonable amount of traffic each month, you can add email sign-up forms to your website or blog.

In building email lists, you’ll be able to start sending newsletters to your subscribers. This will allow you to advertise your paid products and services further without needing to create even more content.

Simply issue a newsletter that keeps readers abreast of new content each week. As long as these newsletters are compliant with the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003, you can deliver them to your subscribers with confidence.

With an email marketing platform, such as Constant Contact, you can design attractive, highly clickable email campaigns in a matter of minutes.

Constant Contact comes loaded with customizable templates and a tool that even allows you to create your own branded templates. After an email campaign has been created, scheduled, and launched, you can sit back and monitor real-time data, making adjustments as needed.

Constant Contact also provides custom email sign-up forms that you can add right to your website or blog! You can get started with a 60-day free trial!

14. Attend networking events

It’s easy to form connections and relationships online, but there’s a level of empathy that only comes with in-person interactions. Getting out to networking events will not only help you become more familiar with your industry and market but it will also help you make valuable connections that can be leveraged down the road.

Remember, the purpose of such an event is typically to connect businesses with other businesses. You won’t be doing anything out of the ordinary by seeking out like-minded business owners.

Start by joining a few relevant Facebook groups and scouring the platform for local events. Also, consider registering with Meetup or Eventbrite — platforms that allow you to explore both free and paid events in your area and industry.

Finally, ask your clients! What events have they attended in the past? Which events are they looking to attend in the future?

15. Speak at an event

While speaking at events isn’t for everyone, fortune favors the brave. If you’re able to get up and speak in front of a crowd, you’ll have an opportunity to build rapport and credibility among other business owners and peers — particularly if you’re able to share valuable, actionable information or make an impression on people.

Especially when the spotlight is on you, it’s likely that others will be more receptive to what you’re saying — even if it does include a little shameless self-promotion.

However, you’ll quickly find that it’s difficult to secure a guest speaking spot for an event with more than a dozen people without having connections to major players in your area or industry. So, you’ll need to first become familiar with others and the different events that are held. Join Facebook groups, follow Instagram hashtags, and keep a close eye on the different events your competitors and clients might attend.

Additionally, sign up with a service such as SpeakerHub, which connects people with speakers for their events. Be sure to complete your profile in full and list all of your qualifications, so that you’re considered a top candidate in your industry or area.

Another way — and perhaps the easiest way — to secure a guest speaking spot is to host your own event! Plan your event well in advance, get another speaker or two on board, and open your event up to the public to get as many heads through the door as possible for maximum exposure.

16. Hold a product giveaway or contest

Particularly on social media, holding a product giveaway or contest can be a highly effective way of exposing hundreds — even thousands — of cold leads to your business. As long as you’re giving away a really enticing product and creating shareable content, you should be able to generate shares with relative ease.

Employing a few of the following tips will help you get the most out of your campaign:

• Ask participants to follow your social media account(s)
• Ask participants to tag friends in your post (or theirs!)
• Ask participants to share your post
• Ask participants to use your branded hashtag in their posts
• Ask participants to share why they’d like to win

17. Post flyers and brochures

While largely seen as an old-school method of advertising, flyers, and brochures still work today. Just make sure you check your town’s rules for distributing flyers. Some towns have designated areas and bulletin boards for posting flyers, while others have no restrictions whatsoever.

18. Create video content for YouTube

Today, it’s impossible to maximize your online presence without prioritizing visual content. For many reasons, people resonate with video; and creating video content for social media’s largest video platform, YouTube, can help you reach and win those customers.

Whether it makes most sense for you to create vlogs, explainer videos, or tutorials for your business, identify the type of content that will help attract your target market and start creating that content.

Because YouTube is owned by Google, do you know what content ranks extremely high within the massive search engine? That’s right — YouTube content.

Not only does YouTube have the potential to help you generate more site traffic but it also provides ways to earn multiple streams of revenue within the platform itself! In fact, many YouTubers make decent money and top-tier YouTubers are multimillionaires.

19. Spread the word on social media

Social media is perhaps the most impactful vehicle for advertising that exists today. Not only does it offer access to the largest network on planet earth but it also provides a means for you to promote your business, its products, and its services for free.

If your business doesn’t already have pages set up on some of the larger social media platforms, you’re missing out on the opportunity to connect with potential customers — locally, nationally, and globally. At the very least, create social media pages on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram, which boast population reaches of 73%, 69%, and 37%, respectively.

20. Join and engage in relevant Facebook groups

Amidst all of the noise on Facebook, there are smaller, close-knit communities that allow people with similar interests to discuss, collaborate, and advertise for their businesses: Facebook groups.

Chances are that there are already groups you can join and use to interact with others online. Using Facebook’s search bar, enter a few keywords that are most relevant to your niche. Next, click “Groups” on the main toolbar and choose a few groups from the results.

If there’s nothing that catches your eye, you can always create a group! Pick a topic that is relevant to not only your business but also to other businesses or customers. While it may take a while to build a community, you’ll benefit from having complete control over the direction of your new group.

By posting regularly, sharing helpful tips (perhaps even your blog content!), and interacting with others, you’ll establish your business as a recognizable name within that group.

21. Post to photo and video platforms

While there’s plenty of value in blogging and posting about your business on Facebook and Twitter, don’t ignore photo and video platforms such as Instagram and Snapchat. Not only are these platforms home to more next-generation users but they also allow you to connect with people visually.

You can enhance your presence on video platforms for free by taking a do-it-yourself approach to video production. Using a video maker tool, such as Animoto, you can create professional-looking videos without any editing experience whatsoever.

Pull from dozens of beautiful pre-built storyboard templates and millions of stock assets, stitching them together using Animoto’s simple and user-friendly drag-and-drop interface. With complete control over aspects such as colors, fonts, and music, you’ll be able to create a unique clip that reflects your business’s branding and messaging.

Animoto is free to use, but you can gain access to even better tools and resources with a premium plan.

22. Encourage happy customers to leave reviews

Social proof carries incredible weight in the advertising world, where people are doing everything to paint their own businesses in the best possible light.

What others say about you is important than what you say about you. But when happy customers walk out your doors, what are you doing to make sure they share their positive experiences with other potential customers?

Whenever you gain a satisfied customer, you should ask that person to leave a review on one of your larger review platforms. Not only will this raise your overall ratings on various online directories but it will also give others the social proof they need to choose your business over your competitor!

You can even incentivize reviews by offering coupons or discounts on future purchases. With time, this kind of campaign has the potential to raise your overall reputation online and drown out the few negative reviews you may have received.

23. Ask customers for referrals

Similar to online reviews, referrals keep new customers coming through your doors. However, some people are hesitant to recommend businesses to their friends and family, largely because, let’s face it — it takes work!

With this in mind, consider incentivizing referrals with a customer referral program. For a successful referral, you might award a customer a 20% discount off his or her next purchase, or you might give away a promotional product. You might offer an online store credit or even make a charitable contribution. There is no shortage of ways to incentivize referrals.

As for the terms of your referral program, you have complete control! Just make sure there’s a real incentive in place that will encourage your happy customers to recommend your business.

24. Send cold emails (that aren’t spam!)

Cold emailing can be an effective method of free advertising for your business, but only when done right.

First and foremost, it’s important that you use a cold email sparingly to reach out to a prospective customer. Sending a few dozen cold emails in one sitting will likely get at least one or two of them marked as spam; and if this happens, your emails may start appearing in fewer inboxes. But even more importantly, failing to comply with the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 can even result in heavy fines and trouble with the law.

Second, your cold emails should never be ice cold. In other words, don’t grab a name out of a hat and send that person an email. You should know at least something about the person you’re emailing that qualifies him or her as a potential customer or client.

25. Join the conversation on Reddit

Reddit is home to millions upon millions of very specific discussions. You can find information about nearly any subtopic on the platform, including ones relevant to your own business.

There are likely dozens upon dozens of threads where you can connect with potential customers, answer frequently asked questions (FAQs), and ultimately, market your business.

26. Create shareable infographics

If you’re struggling to make an impact with your blog, you might want to try your hand with infographics. The reality is that some people prefer to consume visual content that is easier to digest.

Today, you don’t need to be a graphic designer to create professional infographics for your business. With information about your business in hand, use a tool, such as Canva, to bring your data to life in the form of engaging, shareable infographics.

27. Enter your business for local awards

One of the best ways to build your business and grow in recognition is to achieve local success. So, consider going head-to-head with your competitors for your town’s local awards this year!

First, there’s the exposure that comes with getting your name out in the community and the voting group. But more importantly, coming out on top will position your business as a preferred option in your niche or industry — at least on a local level. Furthermore, a local award is something you can show off to potential customers by mentioning it in your social media bio, on your website, or in other material collateral.

Start at the local level, scouring your town’s website and newspaper for upcoming awards and the guidelines for nominating your business. If you’d like to try your hand at some more difficult awards, you can nominate your business for one of this year’s U.S. Small Business Administration awards.

28. Trade advertising with other businesses

Especially if it makes sense to market to their audience, consider trading advertising space with another business. Whether it’s via your website, social media page, newsletter, or even a brochure, there are likely a number of areas where it’s mutually beneficial for both parties can trade advertising space.

29. Volunteer with nonprofit organizations

Particularly if you’re a local business, there’s real value to be had in getting your face out in the community. At many of these events, you might wear a nametag that also indicates your affiliation. At other events, you might occupy a booth that represents your company.

As a result, people who attend these nonprofit functions and events are more likely to associate your business with the noble causes, charities, and institutions you’re supporting.

30. Create a workshop or webinar

Supplementing your advertising efforts with education is one of the best ways to show potential customers that you’re not only knowledgeable about your niche but that you’re also invested in providing value.

Consider developing a free workshop or webinar that you can use to build trust and rapport between you and your audience. Of course, you can use this event to also advertise your business, products, or services; but you might instead use your workshop or webinar as a means to capture new leads. As long as you’re offering your audience with real value, there is more than one way to go about advertising.

While creating a workshop or webinar might require your time, the process doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, there are dozens upon dozens of places online where you can record and host your webinar for free. Here are a few:

• Zoom
• me
• GoToWebinar
• Skype
• Google Hangouts
• Webinato
• ezTalks Webinar

31. Take advantage of live video

Live video has taken the social media world by storm in recent years. In fact, Livestream reports that 80% of people would rather watch live video from a brand than read a blog.

If you’ve already spent time developing your brand’s social media presence and building a loyal following, you can use Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, as well as other platforms that feature live video functions, to interact with your followers in real-time.

If you’re not good at creating catchy content on the spot, you might need to come up with a detailed game plan for your live video. There are a handful of ways in which you can use live video to interact with your online audience:

• Host a live Q&A
• Create a live webinar
• Rattle off important announcements
• Give your audience an office tour
• Provide an exclusive look at something you’re working on
• Just say “hello”!

32. List your business in local newspapers

Although not nearly as effective as it once was, newspaper advertising can still be used to attract local customers. While most newspaper ads cost money and getting a free ad in the New York Times is a near impossibility, you may be able to get free advertising by appealing to your local paper. Here are a few tips that will help your case:

• Market an event or giveaway, rather than a product or service
• Choose an item or event that has a low price tag (or none at all)
• Keep your ad short (less is more when trying to get ad space)

33. Leverage business relationships

If you’ve already spent time connecting with other executives on LinkedIn, through Facebook groups, and at local events, it’s likely that you have developed at least a few relationships that you can leverage for your business’s benefit.

Keep in mind, however, that most businesses want to receive something beneficial in return; so you’ll need to make sure you have something to offer before calling on others for advertising help.

34. Partner with micro-influencers

There are some places you can’t reach and there are some people who might simply not be moved by your message or your brand. However, in the hands of someone with influence, your business, products, and services can become more enticing.

Influencer marketing has taken the marketing and advertising world by storm in recent years, and it forecasts as one of the most effective marketing methods going forward. 89% of marketers say that the return on investment from influencer marketing compares to or exceeds that of other channels.

While it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to partner with macro-influencers without some form of compensation (unless they really love your business), it’s much easier to partner with micro-influencers. Sometimes all it takes is a complimentary product or service to get them on board with your brand.

Instagram remains the most popular platform for influencer marketing. Start there and look for fans first, as these are the people most likely to deliver a passionate, persuasive campaign for your brand.

35. Hand out business cards whenever possible

One of the simplest ways to advertise is to hand out business cards as often as possible. In fact, you don’t always need to hand your business cards out personally. You can just as easily ask local businesses whether you can leave stacks of business cards, or you can even leave business cards lying around town. Simply having more eyes on your brand can result in more customers for your business.

Don’t have a business card? Does your current business card look old and outdated? Customize an existing business card template or create one from scratch on Canva!

Now, Let’s Get Your Business Out There!

Free advertising can be equally as impactful as paid advertising; and now, with the 35 unique methods we’ve covered, you have no shortage of options that can be put to the test. Choose the advertising spaces where you foresee your business being most successful and start spreading the word!

The post 35 Ways To Get Free Advertising For Your Business appeared first on Wall Street Insanity.

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While sharing your thoughts and ideas with the world might sound like a daunting endeavor, it’s relatively easy to start blogging. In fact, there are many places where you can blog online, and many require very little setup at all.

We’ll take a good look at 10 free blog sites so that you can start blogging as soon as today — without spending a dime.

Reasons to Start Blogging

Why start blogging to begin with?

Because a blog is often used as a means to generate revenue, we often forget that monetization isn’t the end goal for most. You don’t have to be on a mission to earn income. You may be looking to start blogging for a few different reasons:

• Express your thoughts and ideas: A blog doesn’t necessarily have to be for anyone other than you. If others come across your content and find value in it, that’s great! But don’t feel as though your blog has to serve any other purpose than providing a means for self-expression.
• Create content for your inner circle: Much of the time, blogs only ever reach friends and family on social media. Whether it’s to keep family up to speed regarding major life changes or whether you want to show off to your friends about your travels abroad, you might consider blogging for those interested in your personal journey.
• Grow a large following online: You may be a very talented writer who wants to share a gift with a melting pot of family, friends, acquaintances, and strangers. By launching a quick blog, you can showcase all of your skills and provide readers with valuable content simultaneously.

Best Free Blog Sites

The most important step you can take in your blogging journey is to simply start. Far too many people spend a lot of time dreaming and not nearly enough time writing.

We’ve pulled 10 of the best free blog sites you can use to start blogging quickly and with little fuss. Choosing one of these options will allow you to get right to blogging and publishing as soon as possible.

Start Blogging with Little Effort: Social Blogging Platforms

There are a few platforms that allow you to not only have your own little corner of the web but also exist within a community of other writers and readers.

These platforms involve very little setup at all. In fact, starting your own blog on any of these platforms can take as little as 20-30 seconds. Furthermore, these platforms allow you to reach people immediately, without having to drive any external traffic to your blog.

1. VOICED

VOICED

VOICED believes every voice matters and is one of the best free blog sites you can use.

The platform is designed to give all users an equal voice in today’s noisy world and doubles as both a blogging platform and a social media platform.

With this kind of versatility, you can publish a long-form blog post of 3,000+ words, or you can update your status in as many as 300 characters. Both actions will get your content in your followers’ newsfeeds and even expose your content to people around the world.

This makes your life as a blogger a cinch. Create, edit, and publish in the same place where others read, like, and share!

Getting started with VOICED is easy. First, visit VOICED.com and click the “Get VOICED” button in the upper-right corner of your page. You’ll be prompted to sign up with Google, Facebook or email. Next, click on “My Profile” from your avatar’s drop-down menu, and take a moment to make your profile perfect. Upload a picture, write a short bio, and include links to your other social media profiles and website.

Clicking the “Newsfeed” button will bring you to a page where you can update your status, view recent content, and find new voices to follow.

VOICED

Clicking the “Create Story” button will bring you directly to the platform’s blogging tool. Use this feature to write, edit, and format your blog posts before ultimately hitting “publish.” At any point, you can import media and even save your post as a draft.

Click here to create your free VOICED account in just seconds!

2. Medium

Medium

As a blogger on Medium, you can create and publish your first blog post by clicking on your profile picture and selecting “New Story.”

Once your first blog post is live, Medium will track important metrics for you, such as views, reads, and recommendations. These statistics are displayed in your Medium dashboard so that you can monitor your progress and engagement.

To sign up for a free account, visit Medium.com and click the “Get Started” button, which will present the option to sign up with Google, Facebook, or email.

3. Tumblr

Tumblr

We’re all familiar with the blogging giant, Tumblr. Launched back in 2007, the platform is now home to more than 484 million blogs.

Tumblr offers flexibility to users with regard to their blogs’ design. You can choose a theme for your blog, add a background to your page, and even tweak some of the minor design settings as needed.

But what makes Tumblr most unique is that its users aren’t always generating new content. More often than not, they’re curating a mix of visual and written content from others and reposting that content to their own pages.

Start Blogging with Minor Setup: Hands-On Blogging Platforms

While VOICED, Medium, and Tumblr offer some of the easiest paths to start blogging, there are circumstances in which you might want to have a little more control over your blog’s appearance.

These blogs require more setup, but they do offer greater potential from a design standpoint. However, keep in mind that these platforms do not offer built-in community. You will want to find ways to drive traffic to your blog — if, of course, the goal is to build a following online.

Also be mindful that these best free blog sites only grant you a subdomain when building out your blog, and that getting an original domain name (if you choose to go this route) and top-notch features will come at a premium.

4. WordPress

WordPress

Not to be confused with WordPress.org, which is the content management software often used in tandem with paid web hosting, WordPress.com allows users to start their blogging journey for free with similar capabilities.

Together, WordPress powers 35% of the internet and has become the go-to option for the majority of bloggers and site owners.

A free WordPress.com account will include:

• Free themes
• Free subdomain
• Essential JetPack features
• 3G storage

To start using WordPress.com for your blog, click the “Start Your Website” button on the home page. Follow the steps as you go through the process of naming your site and choosing a design for your new blog.

You’ll learn that customization options are fairly limited with the free version of WordPress.com. If you want greater levels of customization, you will need to upgrade to a Personal, Premium, Business, or eCommerce account.

In return, you’ll receive premium features, such as 24/7 support, greater storage space, and even a free domain name.

5. Blogger

Blogger

If you want to publish content quickly and still have the option to tweak your blog’s design down the road, Blogger might be the best way to go. Setup couldn’t be easier, particularly for a site that allows you to pick and edit your blog’s design.

Although Blogger is on our list of best free blog sites, its biggest drawback is that, as a user, you are not the owner of your site. Google can choose to pull your blog at any time, however unlikely that may be. Similar to WordPress.com and the majority of the free options we’re discussing in this piece, customization options are relatively limited.

To get started, visit Blogger.com and click “Create Your Blog.” You will need a Google account in order to use Blogger. Upon linking your Google account, you’ll be prompted to name your blog, choose a subdomain, and select a theme.

Upon completing this step, you’ll be redirected to the site’s dashboard, where you can further customize your new blog and start publishing original content.

6. Wix

Wix

Wix was launched back in 2006, and today, it boasts more than 120 million users in over 190 countries.

What’s great about Wix is that the platform is extremely user-friendly — for both individuals looking to start a blog, and also small businesses looking to build their online presence.

If you have little blogging experience, or if you don’t really want to get involved in the design of your blog, you can let Wix ADI (artificial design intelligence) create a website for you — simply by listing a few of your preferences.

A free blog with Wix comes with the following features:

• Customer support
• Up to 500MG storage
• Up to 500MB bandwidth

Upgrading to Wix’s VIP, Pro, Unlimited or Combo plans will give you access to greater bandwidth, storage, and customization options.

To launch your free blog with Wix, visit the site’s main page and click “Get Started” to sign up. You’ll be asked to complete a short questionnaire, which will help the site tailor its features to your blogging needs and experience.

7. Weebly

Weebly

If you want your blog to look great but don’t have the design chops needed to build out a beautiful website from scratch, Weebly is a great option for you.

With Weebly, you’ll get access to one of the most user-friendly site builders available. Simply drag and drop elements of your blog’s pages, bypassing all of the technical components and coding expertise typically needed to bring your vision to life.

Weebly

A free Weebly account includes:

• 500MB storage
• Customer support
• Information via the community forum
• SSL security

To start blogging at Weebly.com, click the “Create Your Website” button. While signing up may involve a few more steps than usual, the ease-of-use you experience on the back end of the blog setup process compensates for the extra time initially spent.

8. Jimdo

Jimdo

Jimdo offers a simple setup for your blog, albeit with limited themes to choose from. Even with some customization options, “what you see is what you get” generally rings true with Jimdo.

Similar to some of the best free blog sites we’ve discussed, Jimdo’s site builder is equipped with ADI. This technology has the ability to build out a custom blog design based on your answers to a few questions.

The page builder itself allows you to “add elements” to your blog and further customize your theme of choice.

A “Play” plan, Jimdo’s free version, includes the following:

• 500MB storage space
• 2GB bandwidth
• 5 pages on your blog
• SSL security

Visit Jimdo.com and click the “Start Free” button. Complete the different fields as prompted, and then check your email for a verification link. Choose a design template from the various options, or start with a blank template to take a stab at your own layout.

9. Strikingly

Strikingly

If you prefer the look of a landing page, consider blogging with Strikingly. With glowing endorsements from the likes of Seth Godin, Strikingly has quickly become a trusted blogging option since its inception in 2012. This one-page software allows you to publish your content to one location, keeping your design and customization needs to a minimum.

So long as you’re a fan of minimalism, Strikingly offers one of the easiest blog setups on the internet! First, visit the site’s main page, and then enter a name, email, and password for your account. After selecting a theme, you’ll immediately be redirected to the website builder tool, where you can make any changes to your blog as you see necessary.

Your free plan with Strikingly will include the following features:

• 24/7 support
• 5GB monthly bandwidth
• Simply store capabilities

10. Site123

Site123

Site123 claims to be “by far the easiest free website builder,” and it has a case. In just three simple steps, you can get your blog off the ground.

Start your blog with Site123 by clicking the “Start Here” button on the site’s main page. Complete the three necessary steps when prompted. Tweak your design as desired, and most importantly, start blogging!

Site123’s free plan comes with 500MB of storage, 1GB of bandwidth, and a free subdomain. You can get access to better features and capabilities by upgrading to Premium, which offers greater storage, bandwidth, and a free domain name for one year — all for $12/month.

Found an option that works for you?

There are blog options for all needs and personality types, and at no point should you feel pressured to launch a full-blown, self-hosted website to start sharing your ideas and opinions with the world.

There are plenty of free avenues you can use to get your voice heard online. Simply choose one of the best free blog sites we’ve discussed here today, and start blogging!

The post 10 Best Free Blog Sites: Places Where You Can Get Started Today appeared first on Wall Street Insanity.

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Craigslist is an excellent classifieds site for buying and selling items in your local area. There are plenty of features for users, and the layout is fairly simple if a bit unorganized. Best of all, it’s completely free to list and sell your items on Craigslist.

However, not everyone likes using Craigslist for buying and selling items. Some cite safety concerns from the anonymity; others simply don’t like the informal look of the site.

On top of that, Craigslist makes up only a part of the entire market of online buyers and sellers. Branching out to other sites opens up plenty of other avenues to buy and sell products.

Fortunately, there are plenty of other sites like Craigslist on the web.

The 21 Best Craigslist Alternatives

There are hundreds of classifieds sites out there, but we’ve compiled a list of the best. Check out these Craigslist alternative sites if you’re looking to buy and sell items online.

1. Oodle

Oodle is more than just a marketplace; it’s a classifieds aggregator. In addition to Oodle’s direct listings, you’ll find listings from other sites that Oodle collects and displays to you. For example, you might see car listings from dealerships on Oodle.

Oodle has a versatile selection of categories ranging from vehicles to pets. People can list services for sale as well. The interface itself looks like a Facebook newsfeed and is easy to navigate. They even give you safety tips for buying and selling in some categories!

Oodle requires a Facebook account to sell in order to reduce fraudulent activity. However, signing up takes only seconds if you have a Facebook account. You can then share your listing directly to Facebook to let your friends know you’re selling something.

2. Facebook

Facebook is one of the most popular Craigslist alternatives, despite being a social media platform. Facebook has billions of users, meaning you have a massive audience of potential buyers.

Now, there are two ways to buy and sell on Facebook: on the Facebook Marketplace or in Buy and Sell Groups.

Facebook Marketplace

You can buy or sell nearly anything on the Facebook marketplace, from insignificant items like a doormat to larger purchases like a car. People even list apartments/houses for rent on there!

Similar to many other sites like Craigslist, listing and selling items is completely free on the Marketplace. Creating your listing takes only minutes. Once you’ve created your listing, you can take advantage of your Facebook friends list by sharing your listing on your profile.

Buying items is easy too. You can search specifically for items in the search bar; if you aren’t looking for a specific item, you can browse various categories of items in your area.

They’ve built in a “Local” button too, which will show you listing within a distance that you specify.

Buy and Sell Groups

Finding local buying/selling groups is easy; just type in your city + “buy and sell” or “yard sale” in the search bar and you’ll be presented with a smattering of buy and sell groups.

Once you join one, you can search for items just like you would in the marketplace. Alternatively, you can scroll through recent postings in case you happen upon a cool item.

Make sure you understand your group’s rules before you list something for sale. Some groups are lax, while others have strict selling standards. Other than that, listing an item for sale is quite similar to the Facebook Marketplace.

3. eBay

eBay is an obvious choice when you’re looking for Craigslist alternatives for buying and selling things online.

When you buy an item, the seller usually ships it. eBay does provide local pickup options as well. This option is great for any local sales, as well as selling larger or more valuable items like cars and electronics.

Selling on eBay can be easier than Craigslist because you can more easily reach non-local buyers. This expands your reach, but it also allows you to target areas where certain items may be in high demand. If you live in Florida, for example, selling ski boots locally may be a bit difficult.

Listing and selling items on eBay does cost a small fee, but the massive reach, ability to set auctions, and safety are well worth it to a lot of online buyers and sellers.

4. Close5

Close5 is an eBay-run classifieds app for buying and selling locally. It used to be called eBay Classifieds.

Buying from this Craigslist alternative is a great experience. Its design showcases a large picture of each item as you scroll through the pages, and the price is listed below each picture. Buyers can contact seller directly in the app if they find something they like.

Listing items is free on Close5, so you can take advantage of eBay’s support without having to pay any fees. And again, the app’s interface is quite attractive, which may drive someone to buy your item.

Close5 is only available in Boston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco, and Washington DC at the moment. If you live in one of those cities, you could land some good deals or make some decent money on Close5.

If you don’t live in one of these places, check out some of our other sites like Craigslist on this list.

5. Locanto

Locanto is a worldwide classifieds marketplace with plenty of items for buying and selling, and is a great Craigslist alternative. You can select your location information and immediately start browsing for items to buy.

Many listings are local, but some of the paid ads are non-local.

As a seller, you can list your item for free in your city of residence; but Locanto offers a whole lot more for a fee. For example, you can pay to post your ad in additional cities, as well as pay to remove 3rd-party ads from your listing. For those willing to pay an additional fee, Locanto will send your ad to the top of a buyer’s search results.

Locanto is available in more than 60 countries worldwide, making for an excellent classifieds site overall.

6. Geebo

Geebo is another one of the international sites like Craigslist, letting you sell many types of items in over 160 communities.

Right on the front page, you can click on one of their many categories of items to browse. Scroll to the bottom of the main page if you want to search by community to find local results. The front page also has non-local featured ads.

Geebo’s slogan is “Safe Community Classifieds”, and they live up to it. Geebo’s innovated in the safety arena with their “SafeTrade” feature. SafeTrade is a program that provides buyers and sellers a list of police stations to meet and conduct their transaction at so they can maximize safety.

Geebo also works hard to screen out scammers. They personally review every ad that’s submitted to them to deter frauds and scams.

You can’t list firearms or animals for sale, but that’s another part of what makes Geebo such a safe marketplace.

If Craigslist sounds unsafe to you, Geebo is a great Craigslist alternative.

7. OfferUp

OfferUp has both a website and mobile app. It’s a bit smaller than Craigslist, but its popularity has exploded recently.

OfferUp is mostly focused on local buying and selling. You notice this right away when you scroll through the eye-catching front page; most listings will be in your area. However, you can buy and sell outside your city as well.

Listing items to sell takes 30 seconds, according to OfferUp. In half a minute, your listing will be viewable by everyone in your city.

OfferUp encourages more interaction and transparency between buyers and seller through a few interesting features. One of these is their rating system. Both buyers and sellers can rate each other, helping to police the site and keep scammers out.

And true to their name, OfferUp lets you negotiate a new price with the seller.

8. Varage Sale

Varage Sale brings the traditional garage sale to the digital sphere and does a fine job of it. The concept for this Craigslist alternative is simple: local garage sales, but using the web to connect more buyers to sellers within each local community. They have a mobile app as well for those moments when you’re on the road and curious what cool items are for sale near you.

The site is very clean and organized. The front page has a grab bag of local items for sale, each with a picture and a price tag attached. You can search for any item with the search bar, or you can scroll to the bottom to find your Varage Sale community by state.

To maintain safety, Varage Sale requires you to link your Facebook account. This means every seller is verified, so you can trust each person you buy from or sell to.

Varage Sale has users in the US, Canada, UK, Australia, Germany, Italy, and Japan.

9. LetGo

LetGo is new to the game, having launched its site and mobile app in 2015. Despite its young age, LetGo is a solid alternative to Craigslist if you’re looking to buy or sell items.

LetGo uses your location to display items for sale near you. If you don’t see anything you like, you can scroll up to search by category or use the search bar for a more exact item.

In 2018, LetGo added video listing and image recognition for sellers. Video listings allow for extra opportunities to show a product in action. The image recognition feature will help you price your item with price suggestions based on what it thinks your item is.

10. USA Today

USA Today is one of the most widely-circulate newspapers out there. Believe it or not, USA Today’s Classifieds section is an excellent Craigslist alternative.

The type of items for sale are numerous, from cars to houses to sports/recreation; you can even list educational services on USA Today Classifieds.

USA Today knows their popularity and it charges you to post an ad that will give you exposure to its massive reader base. Larger ticket items work best with this structure.

11. AdsGlobe

AdsGlobe is a good choice for the budget-conscious. You can post as many ads as you want for nearly any category on their site. Aside from all the items you can buy or sell, you can list your business services and events too.

AdsGlobe is quite simple compared to other sites like Craigslist, but that’s what makes it so great. There’re no frills here.

12. Adland Pro

Adland Pro is another excellent free Craigslist alternative. The front page has plenty of categories to choose from, and it tells you exactly how many listings are in each category so you don’t have to waste your time looking if you don’t want to.

They let you run ads completely free, but you can also pay if you want your ads to reach a wider audience.

13. Bookoo

Bookoo isn’t just a book site, despite what the name implies. It’s meant to be a more family-friendly version of Craigslist. To achieve this end, Bookoo collects your zip code and finds buyers and sellers within your local area.

Bookoo goes further and lets you personalize your seller bio. This builds trust among the Bookoo community, helping to retain its family-friendly image.

14. Gigantic List

As the name implies, Gigantic List is a very large online classifieds site centered around local buying and selling. Their front page is colorful and organized, making it easy to find the items you want to buy.

To find items locally, just type in what you’re looking for plus your area name (such as your city) and Gigantic List will give you local results.

The front page also contains an advanced search function that lets you filter by item, category, and various locational options. Sellers can post ads for free, making this another great Craigslist alternative for the budget-conscious seller.

15. Finder Master

Finder Master is one of the most international sites like Craigslist with users in over 100 countries worldwide.

Finding items to buy is easy. You can search either locally or worldwide, depending on what you want; just specify the area you want to look in when you use the search bar.

Listing items for sale isn’t hard either. Finder Master asks for some basic product info, as well as account info if you haven’t yet created your account. You then upload some photos and select a package to finish up your posting.

Selling is 100% free, and they even give you tips when you’re creating your listing.

16. FreeAdsTime

FreeAdsTime is a site like Craigslist, except with a more local focus. They have you choose your metro area before you start buying or selling.

Like it says in the name, FreeAdsTime lets you post an ad with a photo for free. You don’t need an account to list something for sale, but creating an account lets you track your ad’s views as well; you can also modify your ad within your account.

FreeAdsTime claims that you can create your ad in under a minute, but they recommend spending some more time to craft a high-quality ad.

17. AdPost

AdPost is a classifieds site that serves many countries around the world. They boast over 30,000,000 views per month as well as thousands of replies to postings each day.

AdPost lets you choose your country when you visit the front page. From there, you have many options for browsing items. The site lets you set notifications for certain items if you don’t see what you want right away.

AdPost also has a messaging function so buyers and sellers can communicate with each other.

18. ePage

ePage isn’t just a Craigslist alternative. It’s the world’s largest free classified network. The site itself looks dated similar to Craigslist, but there are tons of item categories to choose from if you’re buying.

ePage lets you run official auction ads, potentially earning you more money on the sale of your items. Auction ads last a week.

There are two memberships: the free Standard membership and the $25/year Gold membership. Standard users get 10 ads, but each one can only have 1 picture.

Upgrade to Gold and you can run 5,000 ads at once, and each ad can have 4 picture. Gold members can access other features like ad statistic and bulk ad uploading.

Listing items for sale is easy. You can buy ads that last 1 week, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, or 12 weeks. The 8-week ads land you a 10% discount, while 12 week ads bump that up to 20%.

Additionally, they have a Classifieds Pro app that only costs $2.99. This app lets you browse and post ads on ePage straight from your phone.

19. Recycler

Founded in 1973, Recycler grew from a small, Southern California classifieds newspaper to a national marketplace with millions of users. It’s primarily used for cars, pets, jobs, and real estate, but there are a lot of other categories.

One big advantage Recycler has over Craigslist is the look of the site. It’s a lot cleaner and more organized, making it quite easy to navigate. If you’re looking to buy, all Recycler’s categories are neatly arranged on the left of the site for easy navigation. They also list their categories at the bottom, next to their list of cities.

Selling requires a Recycler account, but creating an account takes about 30 seconds. You can then list and sell items for free.

Recycler allows you to share your listing on Facebook and Twitter so you can reach more people. They even let you run paid ads to your listing. If you’re willing to fork over the cash, you can use these to target specific buyers who might be interested in your listing.

20. Hoobly

Hoobly is one of the simplest sites like classifieds sites out there, evidenced by their front page which consists of nothing but a search bar and links to item categories.

Speaking of categories, Hoobly has a ton of them. In fact, they have a category for just about anything you might be looking for.

Both buying and selling are free and simple. To register and start buying or selling, all you need to do is create a username, password, and give them your email.

The largest amount of Hoobly listings are for pets, so if you’re looking for a furry friend, check this Craigslist alternative out.

21. Trovit

Trovit isn’t just a classifieds site like Craigslist; it’s actually a classifieds search engine that’s great for buying houses, cars, and finding jobs. They also have a mobile app for iOS and Android devices. Trovit doesn’t cover every area around the world, but it’s very close.

When you perform a search for an item, Trovit browses relevant listings from thousands of classifieds sites and pulls them onto its site. There are numerous ways to sort and filter your search results for easier browsing.

Since Trovit isn’t a classifieds site itself, you can’t list items for sale on it. However, when you list an item for sale on any site that Trovit crawls, your listing will appear on Trovit for others to look at.

There Are Plenty of Sites Like Craigslist

Craigslist may be one of the planet’s most popular classifieds sites, but – if you don’t like it for any reason – you have a huge selection of sites like Craigslist to choose from.

Each site has unique features, so take some time to check out some of these Craigslist alternatives and find one that works best for you.

The post 21 Sites Like Craigslist: Alternative Classifieds To Buy & Sell appeared first on Wall Street Insanity.

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The web is filled with more than 1.5 billion sites. At some point, many of them start looking awfully similar. Small business owners, therefore, might find it difficult to discover new and innovative ways to attract customers. Fortunately, there are plenty of innovative ways to increase sales at your online store.

Knowing these options is — like much in life — half the battle. Once you realize the steps you can take, you can start testing what works best for your business. For a head start, check out the following 14 ideas for increasing online store sales:

1. Facebook and Instagram Targeted Ads

Targeted social media ads are the way of the future for small business owners to direct traffic to their online stores, and targeted ads for Facebook and Instagram are fairly easy to establish. Because Facebook owns Instagram, you can run your ads on both social media platforms without creating the ads twice.

First, you need to set up a Facebook business page, then connect it to your Instagram business profile. Once that’s done, access the Facebook Ad Manager and select the guided ad creation. This tool will walk you through the ad creation process.

Additionally, Facebook and Instagram ads can be targeted directly toward an audience of potential customers based on factors such as location, language, hobbies, relationship status and more. This targeting will help you get the most clicks for your ad budget.

2. Run a Deal with Voiced Market

Reaching new customers is hard; Voiced Market makes it easy. One of the most effective ways to get a new customer is by offering a first-purchase discount, but you still face the costs to advertise and educate the market about your product or service. Voiced Market does the work for you. It leverages discounted offers across its network to attract new customers and garner exposure for its merchants.

Customers love Voiced Market because they get to buy from brands they love and try new brands they haven’t heard of yet – all at a discount. After all, 81 percent of consumers say discounts are on their minds when they shop. Customers also love the fact that Voiced Market donates a percentage of its profits to educating and feeding those in need.

Merchants love Voiced Market because they can increase exposure, revenue and their customer bases on a performance basis. Merchants only pay a percentage of the sales that are made through the site. Voiced Market takes care of the whole process, from content creation to promotion, at no additional cost. If you’re product or service doesn’t sell on the platform, you pay no fees. Why not try it out and apply to become a Voiced Market merchant today?

Interested in applying to be a merchant with Voiced Market? Click here to get started!

3. Spice Up Your Sales Copy

When a potential customer looks at your website, you want to make sure that whatever copy they read is interesting and engaging – and reflects your brand. If your target audience is millennial women, for example, then your website sales copy should sound different than an online store whose target audience is male business professionals older than 50.

Your sales copy needs to be a reflection of your business and your brand. Weak sales copy can actually cause you to lose out on potential customers as well as any sales or referrals you could have gotten from them.

4. Create A Mailing List

Sending out monthly newsletters to let your customers or potential customers know about the sales and latest deals for your business will drive more eyes to your website, which will result in increased revenue.

One of the best ways to reach customers is by encouraging them to sign up for a mailing list. Collecting the emails of your customers with their consent can help you grow your mailing list. It’s crucial, however, to get permission from everyone on your mailing list – or your emails may become a nuisance and actually hurt your sales.

Thankfully, the task can be made simpler if Constant Contact creates a mailing list for you. Constant contact is one of the largest and most powerful email marketing tools and offers easy-to-use templates that help you create beautiful customized content to send to those on your mailing list.

One of Constant Contact’s most popular features is the collection of email addresses from people on your website and Facebook business page, which ensures that your mailing list is constantly growing. It’s the perfect software to organize your mailing lists and keep track of the results.

With more than 600,000 users, it’s clear that Constant Contact is a trusted source for small business owners who want to create quick and easy mailing lists.

Sign up for Constant Contact here to get started with a 60-day free trial and start creating the perfect mailing list as soon as possible.

5. Hold a Giveaway Competition

A great way to attract new customers and gain more sales is to hold a giveaway competition. If you give away one of your more valuable items, you will see a lot more traffic to your online stores. Running a giveaway competition is easy, and there are numerous free websites available for business owners that help them hold the competition.

You can require people to sign up with their email to enter the giveaway or require them to follow your online store on social media to score extra entries. Little tactics like this can help pay back the cost of the giveaway by boosting your brand awareness – and eventually increasing sales.

6. Display your Customer’s Glowing Testimonials

People tend to trust fellow consumers’ word over a brand’s word. A business owner can write about their online store’s superiority and trustworthiness, but it won’t mean much to the consumer. However, if a potential customer sees rave reviews for your online business, they will be more likely to trust your business and make a purchase.

Incorporating glowing testimonials into your online store’s landing page is an effective way to feature them. Making these reviews one of the first things your potential customers see when they visit your website can make a positive impact on their buying behavior and cause them to seriously consider making a purchase because trust has been established.

7. Holiday Sales

While offering small sales and deals on your merchandise all year long is a great idea, holding bigger sales around the holidays will be sure to capture the attention of your target audience. People tend to expect deals around the holiday season when they are spending more money, which is why it is smart to meet your audience’s expectation and offer them deals when they need them the most.

The better the deal, the more customers you will gain, and you will see a spike in your online store’s sales each holiday season.

8. Create A Landing Page

There are numerous benefits to creating a landing page for your online small business. Essentially, a landing page is the webpage that’s the first point of contact a visitor on your site will see – and it’s designed to drive them to take action (contact you or buy your stuff). Landing pages are valuable because they can generate leads for your business by enticing potential customers to fill out an interest form or contact your business.

Leadpages is an affordable and effective tool that helps create great-looking and effective landing pages for online businesses. With Leadpages, you easily can build a landing page for your website that will generate a high conversion rate – more potential customers who visit your site will purchase your products or services. The best part is that Leadpages can help you get started in just minutes.

You don’t have to be an expert at creating websites to use it, either. Anyone can use the simple drag-and-drop buttons to customize a landing page.

Learn more about Leadpages here, and sign up for a free trial today!

9. Reduce Abandoned Carts

In 2018 alone, approximately $4 trillion worth of online goods were abandoned in online shopping carts. Business Insider estimates that almost 63 percent of those online shopping carts could have been recoverable.

You can install applications and programs onto your website that will send people an email after they have abandoned their shopping carts on your website. This reminder should significantly increase the number of people who come back and complete their purchases.

10. Increase Your Payment Options

Of course your online store takes credit cards, but did you know there are many different payment methods you could add to make it even easier for customers to purchase your goods?

Adding payment methods like Stripe, WePay, PayPal, Google Wallet, and Apple Pay – and even cryptocurrency – will thrill your customers because you’re giving them more choices. These days, not everyone prefers to use their credit cards when shopping online. Aside from security concerns, prompting potential buyers to type their card numbers into your site gives them ample time to reconsider their purchase.

By offering a variety of payment options to your customers, you will also increase sales on mobile devices. Mobile sales are higher than they have ever been thanks to these alternative payment methods that make it quick and easy to checkout from smartphones without ever leaving your site.

11. Upgrade Your Website

Providing a user-friendly website experience is crucial to making sales for your online store. Buyers want a smooth, simple online shopping experience, and even small changes to your website can have a positive impact on your sales numbers.

If you haven’t upgraded your website in 5 years or longer, your website may look a little bit dated.

If you want a sales-boosting makeover for your site, Siteground could be the solution. It offers reliable web hosting so you can have a fast and secure website. In fact, Siteground is trusted by the owners of over 2 million domains. It offers easy and quick website building so you can customize your site, and there are premium features plus all the tech support that you will need to launch a new website for your small business.

Get started on making the website of your dreams for your small business by signing up for Siteground now! You can also click here to see 5 other companies that can get your website launched tonight.

12. Improve Your Website’s SEO

Search engine optimization may sound complicated, but it actually is something that any small business owner can do to make their online stores rank higher in Google search results. When people search for keywords related to your online store, you want to make sure that you appear high on the first page.

An easy way to improve the search engine optimization (SEO) for your small business’ website is to use SEMrush. SEMrush offers software that can improve your website’s visibility and search ranking, while also improving your marketing efforts.

Just one of its features is the “On Page SEO Checker” that will analyze Google ranking factors that could be affecting your website’s performance. Additionally, SEMrush will provide you with actionable recommendations based on its data.

With more than 3 million users and 130 million domains serviced, it’s clear that SEMrush is a trusted software for many small online business owners across the world. For example, SEMrush is trusted by sites like eBay, Quora, Booking.com, HP and more.

Sign up for SEMrush today to make sure that your website never slips in the Google rankings again.

13. Avoid Clickbait

There’s nothing more frustrating than seeing an online advertisement for a great deal, only to end up at a website that has almost nothing to do with the ad you just saw. Clickbait like this can not only frustrate potential customers who were interested in your business, it also can negatively impact your small business’ online reputation.

If you deceive too many people with clickbait and false advertisements, you likely will begin to receive negative reviews – which can scare away other potential customers. That’s why being straightforward with your ads is crucial. Consistent messaging and avoiding clickbait ultimately will help you increase sales for your small online business.

14. Native Content is King

Native content is that which you create and post directly to your social media pages. For example, if you upload a video to your Facebook business page, it will perform better (get more likes and shares) than if you shared a video from another page to your Facebook business page. By posting your own unique “native” content, Facebook and other social networks will show your posts to more people.

When it comes to social media, you must do more than just share posts that are related to your business. Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram really prefer native content, and it tends to perform better than shared content.

The more native social media content you feature on Facebook and Instagram, the more followers will see your content. The more that your social media followers see your content, the higher the number of sales for your online store.

The post 14 Ways To Increase Sales To Your Online Store appeared first on Wall Street Insanity.

ProveSource

Everyone knows what marketing is – in short, it’s the fancy way that companies try to win over your business. But there’s more to marketing than clever slogans and fancy logos. There’s actually a science behind it, and being aware of that science is a great way for business owners to expand their client base and boost revenue. But don’t worry – you don’t have to pull out any textbooks, because a company called ProveSource has done the research for you.

Once you learn about the company and what it offers, you can get three months for the price of one (67% off) by taking advantage of an exclusive offer on VoicedMarket.com.

What is ProveSource?

Before we dive into that, you need to understand a psychological concept called “social proof.” While you might not have heard the term before, you have most definitely observed – and even taken part – in it.

Social proof means that people are more likely to do something when someone else has already done it. For example, if you’re considering booking a hotel online, you probably want to see that other people have stayed there and left good reviews. This minimizes your risk and provides you with a feeling of security.

That concept is true in almost every aspect of life, from fashion choices to automobile purchases. No matter the subject, humans tend to act more like flocks of sheep than independent decision makers.

What does ProveSource actually do?

ProveSource has found a way to use social proof to help businesses like yours grow their network of customers and ultimately boost their bottom line.

This is done by providing relevant alerts to your website’s visitors. Those alerts show them that others are already enjoying what your business has to offer. For example, if you run an online store, you can let visitors know how many other people have bought an item they’re interested in. If you’re looking for people to subscribe to your site, you can let visitors see when someone else signs up.

The idea is that when people see those alerts, they’ll be more likely to act because they’ll see that others have already taken the plunge. Think of it as visitor activities being automatically turned into visitor testimonials.

While those are common examples of how ProveSource’s clients often use the service, the possibilities span much wider because you can customize ProveSource to fit the exact needs of your business.

ProveSource

Why should you use it?

First of all, ProveSource is based on solid psychological fact. The concept of social proof has been studied extensively by academics, so there’s enough evidence out there to show that ProveSource is built on a solid foundation.

Then there are the benefits you can expect to receive by using ProveSource, such as boosting conversions, making more sales, and increasing revenue. Your business will also earn credibility and trust from customers, and gain an edge over the competition. The best part is that once ProveSource is set up, it does all the work for you, allowing you to focus on other aspects of your business.

How do you get started?

Getting started couldn’t be easier, because ProveSource can be set up in minutes. Once you’ve installed it in six easy steps, you’ll be able to take advantage of its easy-to-use dashboard and the ability to customize ProveSource to fit your needs. You can decide when, where, and how your customers see notifications.

There are three package choices to choose from:

Starter: 10k Monthly Unique Visitors, Standard Support

Growth: 50k Monthly Unique Visitors, Priority Support

Monster: 200k Monthly Unique Visitors, Monster Support

If you’re looking to grow your business while taking advantage of ProveSource’s extensive knowledge in the field of social proof, take advantage of a limited-time exclusive deal on VoicedMarket.com and get 67% off ProveSource.

The post This Company Uses ‘Social Proof’ To Help Grow Your Business appeared first on Wall Street Insanity.

Tran Mau Tri Tam on Unsplash

Starting your own website is a daunting task – you have to think of a domain name, find the perfect host, and design the actual layout and content. Hiring a custom graphic designer can be costly, and it means pinning your hopes on one person who is responsible for creating the online look of your business – with no promise that you’ll get something good. Here are two affordable ways to design your website, both of which come with money-back guarantees.

1. Use 99designs to turn your website design into a contest.

When you post your business name and identity on 99designs, you open a contest that grabs the attention of dozens of designers who will custom-build your website. Write up a short description of your business and include any colors and design elements you want to be included on your site. Designers post samples of what your site will look like, and you crown a winner after seven days. You then work personally with that designer to create your perfect website.

Starting a contest for your website design is $599 and gives you full copyright. You can also choose to pay more, knowing that the best designers will compete for better-paying contracts. Another plus is that you don’t have to know what you want your site to look like. For example, just tell the designers you want something retro in neon colors, and let their creativity flow. There’s no need to be specific, or to hold the designer’s hand as they work. You can also pay a little more to partner up with Xfive for web development.

2. Crowdsource your site design with DesignCrowd.

DesignCrowd works on a platform similar to 99designs by having you turn your search for a great web design into a contest. The scope is larger, with anywhere between 25 and 100 designs submitted for each project. You set your own price and designers can submit multiple looks for your one project. This means that if you love one designer’s style but not the first look, that designer can keep submitting until you find one you love. You can submit feedback on each design, and share them with your friends and co-workers if you’re seeking additional opinions.

Using DesignCrowd instead of one graphic designer is a great way to develop your site – you set your own budget, you get more creativity from a vast range of designers, and you don’t have to pay a retainer to keep them on board. Once the design is completed, you’ll get all of the files and own the copyright for your site.

The post 2 Affordable Ways To Design Your Website appeared first on Wall Street Insanity.

rawpixel on Unsplash

Having a website for yourself or your small business means there will be a central place on the web where people can find you. Social media profiles are fine, but they can’t present your purpose as well as a complete website. Creating your own professional website isn’t hard these days, with many hosts including a website builder when you buy a domain name and hosting package. Check out these five hosts that offer it all, you really can’t go wrong with any of them. A good tip to follow, try a couple of these companies and go with the one you like the best.

Our two favorites on this list are Blue Host and iPage. iPage currently has a $1.99 special going on which includes hundreds of dollars in free extras (making it worthwhile to signup just to get that).

If you’re looking to launch an e-commerce site, go with Shopify. Scroll down to the e-commerce section of this article for more information, or read this guide to learn how to start your online store in 35 minutes with Shopify.

1. Blue Host

This popular web host, which powers more than two million sites around the globe, is a great choice if you plan on using WordPress for your site. You can set up WordPress with just a few clicks, and manage all of your installations in a single place. The process is so easy that you can start building your website immediately. There’s an in-house team of WordPress experts who are on call to offer support if you need it, as well as engineers and development staff who know exactly how the platform works. As the company itself says, no one powers WordPress better or understands it quite as well as Blue Host. The company aims to help everyone thrive on the web, from beginners to experts, which is why they offer 24/7 assistance to all of their customers.

What you Pay:

Regular web hosting typically begins at $7.99 a month, although there is currently an offer which brings that number down to $3.95 a month. For WordPress users, the WP Standard plan is just $19.99 a month, and offers 30GB of storage and 100 million visits per month. You can also choose from the WP Enhanced, WP Premium, and WP Ultimate plans. No matter which package you choose, you’ll benefit from great performance, quick speed, and secure SiteLock security features.

Try Blue Host for free, using its 30-day money back guarantee.

2. iPage

Get a domain name, email, ad credits, and a page builder for free from iPage when you sign up for a hosting plan. Pick from their assortment of templates, then customize it to look exactly how you want. They offer apps that include a free online store to get your business off the ground. You can create a blog through the site, or link up your existing blog. Once your site is designed, iPage makes sure it is compatible with all mobile devices.

What You Pay:

iPage is currently offering a special price of $1.99 a month for the first term of your service. After that, you’ll only pay $7.99 a month. They offer a 30-day money back guarantee if you’re not pleased with the site, but with 24/7 customer support and the ability to change your entire page, it’s doubtful you’ll need it.

3. Yahoo! Small Business

Yahoo! Small Business is making it easy for you to get everything you need in one place – a domain name, hosting, emails, and a website builder. There are pre-designed templates you can use to make your page beautiful before you even customize it. Adding text and photos is a breeze with their page builder, and they include a guide to walk you through the design process, as well as a checklist to go over once you’re done.

What You Pay:

Basic plans for personal sites are $2.49 a month. You’ll pay just a little more, $3.99 a month, for a business site. If your website gets a lot of traffic, you can get an unlimited Premier plan for just $5.99 a month. All options include a free domain name and $100 worth of ad credits, which is a great way to kickstart your business online.

4. Weebly

Weebly offers it all – domain names, web hosting, online stores, and a website builder. If you already have a domain name, you can link it up with Weebly’s hosting package and use their drag-and-drop builder to make your entire website quickly. Weebly has templates to pick as a starting point, and they make it easy to add pages, including a blog and a store. You drag and drop elements onto your page, click “publish,” and it’s online. It couldn’t be any easier.

What You Pay:

Basic plans are free, so you can get a great placeholder site up and running at no cost to you. It will have Weebly ads on it, but it’s a good way to get a site that looks professional, without paying a dime. Starter plans, which eliminate Weebly ads, are $8 a month. Other plans for small business sites and stores go up to $25 a month.

5. HostGator

If you want to build your website with the support of an outstanding company that has a proven track record, look no further than HostGator’s website builder. Everything you need to build a website is included for a tiny fee, from a wide selection of themes to pre-built website sections. The drag-and-drop functionality makes building your site a breeze, and the 100+ mobile-friendly templates make the already simple process even better. Employees are on call every single day of the year, 24 hours a day, to answer questions and provide assistance.

What you Pay:

Technically, the website builder is free. That’s if you buy a hosting plan with HostGator. The package deal includes a domain name, in addition to all of Hostgator’s website builder goodies. Get an introductory offer for one year, starting at just $3 a month. If you don’t like the service, there’s a money back guarantee. But for prices that low, you’ll probably be sticking around.

* E-commerce Bonus:

Maybe you’ve already been selling products online and need a more dynamic approach to sales. Or you’re looking at dropshipping products and you’re in the final planning stages. Better yet, you may have a great idea for a digital product and you just need a platform to reach your target audience.

Whatever the case, Shopify is a great platform for setting up a successful online store. It is an e-commerce tool built for beginners – for anyone who can’t or doesn’t want to spend much time developing a standalone website.

Shopify powers 600,000 stores around the world. The platform has supported the sale of $55 billion in products. Users without any coding skills can set up a personalized online store in minutes.

Get a free 14-day trial with Shopify.

The post 5 Companies That Can Get Your Website Launched Tonight appeared first on Wall Street Insanity.

Bing

For a while now, Microsoft has been trying to make “Bing it” a thing people say. And so far, they’ve been relatively effective – in that highly paid television actors occasionally say it when their lines require them to.

But for the rest of us, “Bing it” likely sits at a far distant place in our vocabulary when in comparison to the much more relevant “Google it”. In fact, a lot of people have made fun of Bing for being the underserved, underused little brother of Google, essentially copycatting its features without the simple looks or effective search mechanics.

But Bing has a lot going for it. Here’s why your business should consider advertising on Bing (and how you can get a $100 coupon by doing so).

Why search engine marketing makes a difference:

Before we get into Bing, let’s talk about why search engine marketing on any platform is a good idea. When a customer is walking down a busy street and sees a billboard, they may not have any interest in the product being shown. And even if they’re a potential customer, it might not be the right time for them to buy.

But when somebody searches for something, you know two things: firstly that they’re looking for that specific item, and secondly that they’re likely ready to buy.

Furthermore, you can actually target the customer’s location in your sales funnel – that is, how close they are to buying – based on the specific words in their search. So “car” might mean they’re still shopping around, whereas “Ford car” might mean they’re investigating specific options, and “Ford car dealership in Monmouth County New Jersey” means they’re probably ready to pull the trigger.

In addition, the results of a search ad campaign are instant, which means it’s trackable and measurable for your business.

So why Bing ads specifically?

It’s no surprise that, for many business owners, advertising on Bing is a distant thought in their minds. But in actuality, advertising on Bing can be a surprisingly powerful option for your business, and the reason why is exactly what we just said: fewer marketers are advertising on Bing.

How Bing beats Google:

You may not realize it, but Bing actually commands an enormous volume of searches each month. Roughly 23% of all online searches happen on Bing (compared to 63% on Google). That represents about 15 billion searches. And use of Bing is growing. From 2017 to 2018, Bing captured 19.7% of US search market share and paid clicks are up – while Google’s paid clicks are down 11% over the same time.

On top of that, Bing is often cheaper than Google Adwords. How much cheaper depends on your keywords and niche, but studies have shown that the number is somewhere between 30% and 40%.

Once you get into the nitty-gritty of the features, Bing has some serious upsides over Google in addition to price. It also allows for more granular campaign selection. You can choose time zones for different campaigns, or can target your ads to exclude desktop and tablet traffic. You can even target specific mobile devices by operating system – helpful if you’re selling iPhone cases or Android charging cables, for example.

Try Bing now with a $100 coupon.

Whatever your business, there are plenty of reasons to advertise on Google. They’re the biggest search engine in the world. But don’t leave Bing out. There are a number of very convincing reasons why it’s worth running ads on their network as well.

If you’re looking to get started, Bing wants to make it easier for you. Sign up now through our link, and they’ll give you a $100 coupon when you spend your first $25.

The post Why You Should Try Bing Ads If You Have A Business appeared first on Wall Street Insanity.

AJ Garcia on Unsplash

Your logo is the first thing people see when it comes to your business, and just like a book’s cover — you’re judged for it. Graphic design is a difficult skill to pick up in your free time, especially on top of freelancing or starting your own business. But it’s also pretty pricey to hire your own designer. Thankfully, there are several affordable ways to design a custom, professional logo.

1. Logojoy

Logojoy

What You Do:

Enter your business name on the front page of Logojoy and they’ll pick logos to inspire you. Next, pick a color palette, but you’re not picking on color alone — all of the colors are described in terms to help you decide what you want your logo to say. Pick icons that convey the idea behind your brand, then see what logos were created just for you. Once you find a logo you love, you can click to edit the font, icon, brand name, tagline, and more. When it’s perfect, you’ll have the option to buy the exact file you need.

What You Pay:

The most popular option is $65, which gives you a variety of file types, full ownership of the logo, and lifetime phone support with Logojoy. You can add on a social media kit that has your logo perfectly cropped and sized for icons and wallpapers on social media outlets like Twitter and Facebook. You can also order business cards — talk about a one stop shop!

2.LogoGarden

LogoGarden

What You Do:

LogoGarden offers different ways to design your logo. If you like to get your hands dirty, so to speak, you can design it yourself with the Logo Maker.

If you want a custom logo designed for you, you can sign up for their DreamTeam Design service. Fill out an interest form and within three days, three designers will send you sample logos. Pick which logo you like best, then work with that designer to customize it to be exactly what you want. If you don’t like any of those logos, don’t feel like you’ve thrown your money away — you can request more! Whether you pick one of the first three, or ask for more, you get unlimited revisions on your logo. Take 10% off your order with coupon code WALLSTINS10 (you’re welcome!).

What You Pay:

The logo you made yourself is only $12.50. Designs made by your DreamTeam Design are only $199.99. For added convenience, you can order business cards, stationery, and more merchandise for your business directly from the site.

3. 99designs

99designs

What You Do:

99designs a fun approach to logo design: a contest! Fill out a quick survey describing what your brand is like and how you want your logo to look. This information is posted online as a contest —designers create a logo they think you’ll love, and throw it into the ring. After seven days, you pick your favorite. You will work personally with that designer to customize your logo, and then ownership and files are all yours.

What You Pay:

The bronze level contest is $299 and will get you around 30 custom logos to choose from. The price you pay is what the designer “wins” if you pick them, so more expensive packages will get you more designs of a higher quality. 99designs offers a 100% money back guarantee. 99designs also offers other design services for reasonable prices, and you can continue to work one-on-one with your winning designer, or find another artist to use.

4. DesignCrowd

DesignCrowd

What You Do:

DesignCrowd also uses a contest to create your logo. Fill out a short brief to explain what you want, pick a 3, 5, or 10-day deadline, and post your project. You’ll start getting sample logos within 24 hours. Logo contests get anywhere from 25 to 100 designs submitted, and you get to pick the winner, then work with the artist on revisions until it’s perfect.

What You Pay:

DesignCrowd recommends a budget of at least $150, and takes fees from your posting, but since designers are competing with each other, you’ll get high-quality designs submitted. If you can’t get it exactly right, or don’t get any submissions, you get your money back. DesignCrowd also offers other design services for reasonable prices.

The post 4 Affordable Ways To Design A Logo appeared first on Wall Street Insanity.