3 Ways To Become A Better Songwriter

Web admin on January 28, 2022

If you love music, whether this love started out as an appreciation for the lyrics themselves or for the complete sound of your favorite songs, you may have considered making music of your own at some point.

For some, making music can come easily. But for others, writing music can be a real challenge. If this is what you’re presently experiencing, here are three things you can do to help you become a better songwriter.

Create A Habit Of Consistent Writing

Songwriting, just like almost everything else, needs to be made a habit in order for it to be done effectively. If you only write a song when you feel the muse strike, you could have only a few pieces to show for yourself. But if you’re committed to creating your own music, you have to consistently put yourself in a position to write music.

Ideally, you should try to carve out time to write something everyday. And while this can seem like a big commitment, once you’ve gotten into the habit of sitting down and writing a song or working on a song each and everyday, you might soon find that you’re better able to turn your creativity on when you need it and put it to work for you.

Imitate When You Feel Stuck

As with all kinds of writing, it’s very common for people to get stuck during songwriting. While this can be discouraging, there are things you can do to help you get your creative juices flowing and get back on track.

One thing you might want to try is thinking back about songs or lyrics that you like from other artists. Then, you can try to create your own new song based on what you liked about those other songs.

By going outside of your own style and imitating something that someone else has done, you may be able to think differently about what you were trying to create and break something free in your own mind.

Build Your Song Around A Beloved Riff Or Hook

If you’ve been writing music for a while, you might have riffs or hooks that you love the sound of but haven’t found a way to include in any of your songs up to this point. When you have something like this, you may want to try building a new song completely around the riff or hook that you’ve been wanting to use.

As you use this piece of genius that you love to create a new song, you may find that songwriting comes a little easier for you since you’re already excited about the catchiest part of the song.

If you’re wanting to improve your songwriting ability, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you with this.

3 Tips For Running A Business In 2022

Web admin on January 3, 2022

Now that 2021 is coming to an end and 2022 is upon us, many people are starting to reflect on the past and think about the choices they have made both in their personal and professional lives. During this type of reflection is a good time to think about what types of changes or adjustments can be made to make things better for you moving forward. If you own or run your own business, you might have noticed that the past few years have been a bit of a struggle. Here’s to better days in the near future, and here are 3 tips for running a business in 2022. 

Reduce Costs

One smart business tip that always applies is reducing costs wherever you can. This coming year, make a promise to yourself to be careful about where you are purchasing business materials from and take some time to really budget out your monthly costs. You may be spending excessive amounts of money in places you didn’t even realize. Check with your vendors to be sure you are getting the best deals possible, and request a price quote before committing to purchasing anything related to your business. Taking these extra steps will help ensure that you are spending as little as you can so that your profit margins can grow. 

Collaborate

Running a business on your own can often be stressful. There is so much that needs to be taken on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis and it becomes overwhelming sometimes. It is important to remember that you don’t have to do everything alone. Collaborating with another person or another small business can not only help to ease your workload, but it can also produce some amazing stuff and bring many more customers your way. 

Get Social Media Savvy

If you haven’t jumped on the social media train already, you have to in the new year. Everyone is on social media these days and whether you like it or not, it is a big part of business ownership these days. Social media is one of the best ways to get new customers and to promote brands. If you don’t feel confident in running your accounts yourself, you can hire a social media manager to do that for you and you might be surprised how much it can help boost your sales and increase traffic on your business website or foot traffic in stores. 

Running a business of any kind is not for the faint of heart, so if you’re already doing it you should be proud of yourself. Even if your business is already doing well, there’s no shame in tweaking a few things so that it can do better! Hopefully these tips will help with that so that you can see great success in 2022. 

3 Tips For Creating Videos That Go Viral

Web admin on December 23, 2021

It seems like anyone can create a video that goes viral on social media, even people that don’t really have any experience with creating content. But for many businesses, it can seem like getting one of your videos to go viral is nearly impossible. Luckily, there are things you can do to help increase the chances of your videos being successful online.

To help you see how this can be possible, here are three tips for creating videos that go viral. 

Know What’s Going Viral In This Moment

Before you can hope to create a video that’s going to get a lot of views and shares online, you first need to know what’s currently going viral at the moment. 

To do this, spend some time searching on reels, TikTok, Youtube, and more to see which videos are getting the greatest amount of views or being created by influencers or others with large followings. If there is a common thread between some of the most viewed videos, you might want to create a video that has this same type of theme in it. However, you’ll have to move fast if you’re going to try to jump on a viral trend, as these trends can come and go quickly. So if you’re able to pinpoint a trend as it’s on the way up rather than as it’s coming down, you might be able to ride that wave toward viral success. 

Target Your Content To Someone Specific

This is one of the most backward-seeming things in all marketing, but the more general you make your content, the fewer people you’re likely to reach. On the other hand, if you’re able to create content that’s meant for a specific person or small group of people, there’s a much better chance that you’ll get some traction with these people and see your content perform better. The same is true with creating viral videos.

Knowing this, you should try to create your videos with a specific person in mind that you’re targeting. Get to know this person, what they like, and what they’re likely to share with those in their own networks. 

Title Your Video Correctly

Once you have your video created, you’ve got to post it with the right title in order for it to get the maximum amount of views. With the sheer number of videos that get posted online each day, you’ve got to use your title to help set your video apart and entice people to watch it.

While you might be tempted to create a title that resembles clickbait, writing a title that’s compelling and gets people to want to click without being deceiving or shady is ideal. 

If you want to create videos that will go viral online, consider using the tips mentioned above to help increase your chances of this happening.

4 Reasons Your Home Isn’t Selling

Web admin on November 23, 2021

Ideally, everyone selling their home would sell it quickly, and it would be an easy stress-free, and frictionless process. However, more often than not, this is hardly the case. If this is your first time selling your home, then there are all sorts of things to learn. There are plenty of mistakes to make along the way, many of which can ultimately lead to your home not budging on the market. It’s this sounds like you, and you’re wondering why your home isn’t selling, then here are some of the reasons you might want to consider.

You Set Too High of a Price

Chances are you’re emotionally attached to your home, and you don’t want to sell it for less than what you feel its worth. However, what you feel your home is worth may not always be its actual worth. Make sure that you compare the price of your home with similar ones in your area, and priced accordingly. If your home is significantly priced higher than other homes in your area, then it better be for a good reason. People want a good deal— usually, they are only willing to pay above and beyond if there’s something unique about home. Ask yourself honestly whether your home is worthy of the price it’s set at.

You Didn’t Use a Realtor

DIY is the latest rage these days. And while it may be possible to do plenty of things DIY, selling your home is something better left to the professionals. First of all, it’s an enormous amount of work, so if you have a full-time job, it’s better to outsource the job to a realtor. They can do all of the hard work for you to increase your chances of your home selling much faster. Not to mention, they know all the important steps to take and can most likely negotiate with interested buyers much better than you can.

You Didn’t Post High-Quality Photos

Statistics show that homes with high-quality, crisp, and professional photos are much more likely to sell quickly than those that have amateur photos which are out of focus or badly centered. If you haphazardly took pictures of your home on your phone, then it may be the reason why your home isn’t budging. Consider investing in professional photographs that will showcase all the best parts of your home. It may be a small investment paying a professional photographer, however, it’s well worth it when you know your home will sell much faster.

Lack of Marketing

Posting your home for sale on one website isn’t always enough. Market yourself in all kinds of different places to make sure that you get the maximum visibility. The more places you post your home for sale, the more chances you have of finding the perfect buyer—it’s all a numbers game.

How to Maximize Profits At Your Demolition-Based Business

Web admin on September 28, 2021

Running a business of any kind can be immensely rewarding both personally, professionally, and financially. The demolition of buildings is something that is going to continue to stay in demand. There are so many buildings that are starting to age beyond repair all around the country. The number of ways to make money in demolition are far great than many might think. The following are tips to maximize your profits at your demolition business. 

Sell Scrap Metal

Selling scrap metal can be immensely profitable for a demolition company that handles huge commercial products. Looking up scrap metal recycling in Fayetteville, NC can allow you to find companies that will take this metal. Having a person on the crew or a few scour the project for valuable scrap metal can be important. You want to be able to maximize profits and this can even be a way to give the guys a bonus during the year. 

Search For Valuable Items

Demolition projects come with pretty lengthy contracts that cover items or the entirety of the project. There could be a number of valuable items that are left behind in some facilities. ATMs are a great example as some are just abandoned rather than picked up by companies that owned them. Finding a few of these in a mall to be demolished is not uncommon. You can find quite a bit of money over the years in cash that just comes as the bonus of the job. There could also be certain items that were forgotten when moving out in a basement or attic. 

Work With Certain Contractors Consistently 

There are going to be plenty of contractors that might need demolition specialists during some portion of their project. Commercial contractors are a far better partner as they will need larger areas demolished. Real estate companies might need homes demolished regularly or a house flipper could need the same. Finding those clients that bring projects quarterly or monthly will allow a demolition company to grow in a consistent fashion. 

Branch Out Into Dumpster Rental If Possible 

Dumpster rental can be immensely profitable and can save money on each project. When the dumpsters are not being used they can be rented out for quite immense profits. The dumpsters will end up paying for themselves through rental and savings. Being able to drop off a dumpster then pick it up can be profitable due to scrap metal that could be thrown away. Some people don’t understand the value of the copper wiring that they are putting into a dumpster. People that are doing home renovation projects rent these quite often as they do not have large enough vehicles to take some of the materials away from the home. 

Maximizing profits at any business will require all parts of the business to work efficiently. Do not sacrifice quality at any point and make sure you get the most out of the property that the company owns when demolishing a building.

6 Things You Should Avoid When You Have a Cold

Web admin on September 17, 2021

Let’s be real— no one likes to come down with the common cold.  Although it’s considered relatively harmless, it can be downright frustrating to feel under the weather with a stuffy nose, pounding head, and raspy cough. In order to heal as quickly as possible, you should make sure to avoid the following things. 

Running Your Air Conditioner Too High 

It’s a common misconception that you can only catch a cold in the winter.  Plenty of people catch colds in the summer too. Even though you might be tempted to run your air conditioner on max to keep temperatures down, you should avoid turning it up too high. Extremely cold air can aggravate your stuffy nose and cough, and prolong your coughing and sniffling.   

Alcohol  

You’ve probably heard that you should drink liquids when you’re sick to feel better sooner. Before you reach for that icy cocktail, remember, not all liquids are created the same. Drinking alcohol can be problematic for your immune system and lower your defenses. Even though it may seem like a harmless glass of wine, the truth is that it isn’t so harmless, particularly if you’re taking cold medication. You’re better off drinking hot tea, water, or juice until you start to feel better.  

Physical Exertion 

We get it, you don’t want to fall behind on your exercise program, even if you’re feeling under the weather. However, exerting yourself physically can lead to lengthening your illness even more. Rather than extreme workouts, settle for a brisk walk, or another form of moderate physical activity as long as it’s not too intense. 

Sugar 

Everybody loves a little comfort food when they’re feeling sick. However, sugar, like alcohol, can lower your immune system’s ability to defend itself. Try to avoid sugar for a few days until you start to feel better. Your body will be much more effective at fighting off whatever you’ve come down with. 

Travel 

One of the worst things you can do when you’re sick is travel by plane.  For one, you’re putting other travelers at risk for catching whatever you have through a recycled air system. Not to mention, traveling itself is extremely exhausting. From standing in long lines to sitting in the same spot for hours on end, travel is something that’s much better suited for occasions when you’re feeling healthy. 

Work 

The same rules apply to work— don’t put your fellow employees at risk by going to work while ill!  If you’re truly sick, then treat yourself a sick day or two by getting the rest you deserve and take a break. If you must, try working from home remotely, however, if your job doesn’t have the possibility for remote work, then give yourself an old-fashioned sick day in bed!

3 Tips For Remaining Mentally And Emotionally Strong During Divorce Proceedings

Web admin on September 3, 2021

One of the most traumatic events that can take place in your life is the dissolution of a marriage. From being in a vulnerable state with another person to ending the relationship, especially if that relationship has been broken or betrayed in one way or another, can cause a lot of mental and emotional pain. 

But when you’re trying to untangle yourself from this situation, you need to try to be in as right of a state of mind as possible. So to help ensure that you’re ready for this, here are three tips for remaining mentally and emotionally strong during divorce proceedings. 

Tap Into Your Support System

Having support from people that love and care for you is going to be invaluable during this time. Even more so if you have kids that you’re dealing with custody battles with, you’ll need to have someone that you can talk to about what you’re going through and will be able to support you through this challenge.

If you know someone who’s been through a divorce themselves, you might want to reach out to them to see how they dealt with their divorce and what advice or guidance they may be able to offer you. Or, if you don’t personally know anyone that you feel comfortable talking with about your divorce, you could also look to join a support group for people currently going through the same situation as you are. 

Create A Habit Around Feeling Gratitude

When you’re dealing with a big life change such as a divorce, it can be hard to pull yourself out of the sad or depressed feelings that you’re forced to deal with on a daily basis. But to try to give yourself a break from this, you may want to try creating some habits around feelings of gratitude that you may have in the small moments. 

To do this, try to wake up each morning thinking about the things you’re grateful for. This might be your job, your family, your friends, your pets, and more. Then, as you go throughout your day, try to focus on those things that you love and are grateful for when you start to feel overwhelmed about the things that are currently going wrong in your life. 

Lower Your Expectations For Yourself

For people going through a traumatic experience like a divorce, you really can’t expect to just carry on like business as usual. There are going to be things that you just can’t get yourself to do ro care about during this time. And that’s totally fine. But what you might need to mentally do is give yourself permission to lower your expectations a bit. While this doesn’t mean to stop trying with everything, allowing yourself to give up on ideas of perfection for now can be extremely helpful. 

If you’re really struggling mentally and emotionally while going through a divorce, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you regain some of this balance. 

5 Ways To Make Your Business Stand Out

Web admin on July 18, 2021

With so much competition out there, it can be difficult to stand out from all of the other businesses you’re going against. Let’s face it, the pressure is on to be seen more than ever, so trying to figure out a way to be seen can be a challenge. Whether trying to grab people’s attention in the street or making an impression online, here are some of the best tips for making your business stand out to potential clients. 

A Memorable Sign 

If your business is located in an area where there are a lot of other businesses alongside it, it can be challenging to do anything but blend it. With so many different buildings blending together, it helps to pop visually. Consider advertising your business with a custom sign that stands out and catches people’s eyes. Getting noticed often starts with putting yourself into view, and a sign can be the most practical way to do that.  

Business Cards 

People are naturally drawn towards things that they see repeatedly. One of the best ways to stand out amongst the crowd is to make yourself repeatedly visible. Leaving your business cards anywhere that you can is a great way to stay top of mind.  Consistently showing up visually is a fantastic way to establish yourself as the best choice for whatever products or services you offer. Whether it’s at the local coffee shop or book store, don’t be afraid to sprinkle your business cards all over town. 

Get in The News 

The local news is a great way to establish yourself and create a positive reputation for your brand. If not the news, perhaps there’s a local magazine that you can start to build a relationship with.  Whether you’re having a sale, or you’re developing a new product in your business, consider asking for it to be written about in a local publication. 

Create Shareable Content 

Nowadays, having followers online isn’t enough to get a social media buzz going. Beyond just having followers, you should also have shareable, relatable, and buzzworthy content. If you can manage to create something original that leads people back to your page, then you’ll stand out from the competition and establish yourself as a big fish online. 

Ask For Reviews 

One of the first things that people do when they’re looking for a business is Google it. You want to make sure that whatever comes up about your business is favorable. One of the best ways to do that is to ask all of your customers to leave reviews if they are happy with your products or services. Getting great reviews will make Google love you and establish yourself as one of the best choices in your area for whatever it is that you’re selling.

Why Colors Are Vital For Effective Graphic Design Solutions

Web admin on June 30, 2021

It is not uncommon for companies and brands to use color on their websites, especially when advertising or their products. Choosing the best color is vital if you aim to create a lasting effect on your clients and resonate whenever your brand comes to mind. It is imperative to contract an expert in graphic design to help you select the best color for your brand and one that sparks life to your campaigns and evokes positive emotions and behaviors. Many factors influence the selection of color about your organization and brand, such as culture, feelings, and upbringing. The perfect shade plays a vital role in determining how clients react to your product, from calmness, hunger, or excitement, depending on your products or services.

What different colors say about your brand?

Consulting a professional graphic designer is vital towards selecting an appropriate color that speaks volumes about what you specialize in and helps you avoid stains that send mixed messages. Every color has a connotative meaning and emotion attached to it, which can be used correctly and a disadvantage if done improperly. For example, red is the color for businesses that deal with products and services that provide clients with passionate emotions, comfort, excitement, and confidence. However, if incorrectly used, red could send the message of danger or anger, which is bad for business.

Businesses that offer services and products such as chocolates, love-themed cards, clothing, or beauty-enhancing products like perfumes should opt for the pink color or other shades of the paint. The pink color is often associated with romance and love, according to most cultures. Though people consider pink to be feminine, it can be a perfect choice for a feminine product, from clothing to ointments.

The blue color is often associated with law enforcement because of its ability to portray stability, safety, calmness, and serenity. If your brand is focused on promoting tranquility and peace, blue or blue shades are a perfect solution for you. However, blue could also indicate icy feelings of sadness and loneliness, which could be a downside to businesses not intending to relay such messages in their products and services.

Graphic design is not just the selection of random colors that look pleasant and putting them together. It is vital to understand what message a color relays to avoid sending mixed messages to your clients or prospective customers. Strategic use of color can be the difference between the success and failure of a campaign since most people relate differently to different colors.

It is essential to consult a graphic design expert so that your color selection does not coincide with your products or service intentions. A graphic designer can also assess competitor brands to effectively customize a solution that does not conflict with rival brands in an already competitive industry.

3 Tech Upgrades That Will Raise Your Property Value

Web admin on June 4, 2021

If you’re looking to make some good money off of the sale of your home now that the housing market is exploding, you might as well take advantage of this as much as possible by doing what you can to improve your property value above what it already is. One great way to do this is to install some desired tech into the home. But not all tech will bring a great return on your investment.

To help you in figuring this out and getting the most out of your investment, here are three tech upgrades that will raise your property value. 

Build In A Smart Assistant

The team at SafeWise.com shares that one of the most wanted tech upgrades that buyers desire in a house is to have a voice activated assistant.

Because so many people use smart assistants through their phone on a daily basis, having this as part of their home just makes sense. A smart assistant can help you with things like making lists, researching, calling people from your contact list, reminding you of things, and so much more. So if there’s one tech upgrade that will be a huge perk to many people who are currently looking to buy a home, a voice activated smart assistant is it.  

Update Your HVAC With A Smart Thermostat

Tech is arguably put to best use when it makes your life easier and saves you money. And this is just what you can come to expect by installing a smart thermostat to control your HVAC system.

Not only can you tout the savings that any potential buyer might be able to gain from purchasing a home with a smart thermostat, but you can also share how much more energy efficient their home will be by using this system. If you so choose, Valerie Kalfrin, a contributor to HomeLight.com, shares that your smart thermostat can adjust your energy usage based on how prices for energy are changing. With this feature, you can save a lot of energy that would likely cost you more than you may be used to. 

Secure The Property With A Video Doorbell

While buyers can do a lot of research about a neighborhood before they move in, they can’t really be certain about how safe they’ll feel in this new home until they’re living there. 

To help put their minds at ease and sell them on a more convenient lifestyle, RealtyTimes.com suggests installing a video doorbell on your home before putting it on the market. This can serve to make potential buyers feel safer in the home immediately upon buying it and can be a selling point for security whether they’re in the home or away for whatever reason. 

If you’re wanting to update and upgrade your home with some sought-after tech before putting it up for sale, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you choose which tech to include.