3 Marketing Tips for Small Businesses

Small businesses need to focus their efforts on advertising the products and services that they offer so that they can attract new customers. If you want to succeed and stay profitable, it is vital to use the proper advertising methods to attract prospective clients and turn them into loyal customers. Without enough customers, you are doomed to fail sooner or later. Of course, it is also crucial to have products and services of high quality, but you won’t be successful unless people try your products and find out for themselves that they are great. You can’t expect them to know that you have high-quality products unless you attract them to come to your business. That’s why you should determine what the best methods for advertising your business are, and stick to them.

A very common mistake that many small businesses make is that they try to copy established businesses. Instead of trying to figure out what will work the best for them, they decide to imitate what other companies are doing. Something like this is a critical mistake, and if you make it, it could have a huge negative impact on your success. You need to keep in mind that you don’t have the same amount of experience as established companies have. Your budget is surely very limited compared to theirs. That’s why copying them is a terrible idea, and will probably just be a waste of your money. It is crucial to consider your experience, budget, target clients, and the type of business that you have when choosing the right advertising strategy. It is also necessary to know how to retain these customers and to reward loyal ones with promotional products such as pens, hand fans, custom backpacks and Personalized Stadium Cups. This will earn their everlasting loyalty.

Here are some marketing tips that can help you attract new clients, generate sales, increase profits and improve your overall success:

You Need to Be Creative

If you are a part of a competitive industry, you need to be creative if you want to succeed. Thinking outside of the box will help you stand out from the competition and attract the attention of prospective customers. You can’t expect potential clients to rush to your business if you are not unique and creative. You should come up with innovative and effective solutions when it comes to advertising if you want to be successful. It is crucial to come up with original and creative solutions instead of copying what many other businesses have done many times before. Creativity is the key to standing out and being unique in the eyes of potential clients.

You Need to Use Eye-Catching Signage

Interesting and quality business signs can have a positive impact on your success as they can help you gain new customers. Many people decide to visit a particular business because of the signage that they have noticed in front of it. You shouldn’t underestimate the power of signage to attract potential clients to your business. Placing interior and exterior signage can help you generate sales and increase profits as it will attract the attention of people passing by and contribute to impulse purchases.

You Need to Provide Information about Your Services and Products

Your products and services are surely amazing in your eyes, but it doesn’t mean that everyone else will consider them amazing too. If you want to make people interested in your products, you need to provide information about them, and various tips that potential customers will find useful. You shouldn’t just push people to try them. Instead, you should give them all the info that they need, use visual motivators as well, and let them decide by themselves whether they will purchase your products or not.

4 Ways to Modernize the Interior of Your Home

The easiest way to increase your home’s value is updating it using the latest styles and trends. However, most popular ways of modernizing homes are time-consuming and expensive. Everybody likes a cozy-looking home that doesn’t break the bank to decorate.

You don’t have to renovate your entire home to give it a modern feel and look. But, you must pay attention to the small details in your home’s interior. Here are 4 ways you can modernize the interior of your home:

Top 4 Tips to Giving Your Home a Modern Touch

1. Update with Cable Railings

Outdated wooden railings can make your house look aged. Cable railing is an easy way of changing the interior of your home without demolishing your entire outdoor space and stair system. The metallic accent can give a sophisticated look to the inside of your house.

When cable railings are used in outdoor spaces such as on a balcony or deck, view obstruction with bulky rails becomes limited. The updates are easy and quick, but there’s need to pay attention to safety features. Note that requirements for railings in your city are important.

Therefore, you must research first because this factor can hugely affect costing. You can then hire a company to ensure safe installation of railings.

2. Swap Your Lighting and Update Window Treatments

Lighting is one of the easily overlooked aspects of a home. However, it can make a big impact to your home’s general look. Use new lights to brighten your home and add a modern touch indoors. Various inexpensive options exist to Go Modern such as using floor and table lamps.

Use metallic lamps with geometric designs for a modern look. Installing new ceilings can bring out a huge upgrade to your home. To change your windows’ look, add curtains. Just like lighting, windows can also be easily overlooked.

If you’ve always left your windows bare, it’s time to update them. Frame your windows using the best dressings for an improved appearance. You can also install tailor-made or customized blinds and curtain panels for a modern look.

3. Use Wallpapers

Wallpapers help bring out a significant effect indoors. You must be thinking that your grandmother used wallpapers during her time and thus are outdated. Therefore, they give you no reason to use them in modernizing your home. However, today’s wallpaper is unique and comes in modern patterns and shades.

Modern wallpapers are even removable, enabling you to easily swap out one depending on your style. Try using wallpaper on a single wall while leaving others bare for a modernized touch.

4. Add Color

Most modern homes are painted in white. However, color pops can modernize an outdated home. It is time you freshen your walls with coats of fresh paints. Unlike the other things mentioned, anyone can engage in painting. You can touch up the current color of your walls or add an accent wall if you’re intimidated to start a bigger project.

3 Books For Your List Minute Gift


A book for the young adult on your list, The Engine Woman’s Light by Laurel Anne Hill is critically acclaimed and a fan favorite. Engine Woman’s Light is a hit with young adult readers everywhere. This captivating novel blends modern-day issues with old-timey characters, steampunk with ghosts, and Hispanic culture with Native American lore.

A book for the romantic at heart for the holidays, Next Therapist Please by Laurie Finkelstein is a romantic comedy with witty humor and a serious topic. In this fun, sarcastic novel, main character Janie Weiss lives with depression, anxiety and OCD. After a tragic and devastating loss, she is reacquainted with her favorite therapist.

A book for the spiritualist, You Are Psychic, The Healer’s Handbook by Michael Priv a must have guide to energy healing. Priv shares his knowledge and proven techniques for deeper psychic abilities with the world. For the healer on your gift list, this ultimate guide will shed light on capabilities they may have imagined.

4 Ways to Modernize the Interior of Your Home

The easiest way to increase your home’s value is updating it using the latest styles and trends. However, most popular ways of modernizing homes are time-consuming and expensive. Everybody likes a cozy-looking home that doesn’t break the bank to decorate.

You don’t have to renovate your entire home to give it a modern feel and look. But, you must pay attention to the small details in your home’s interior. Here are 4 ways you can modernize the interior of your home:

Top 4 Tips to Giving Your Home a Modern Touch

1. Update with Cable Railings

Outdated wooden railings can make your house look aged. Cable railing is an easy way of changing the interior of your home without demolishing your entire outdoor space and stair system. The metallic accent can give a sophisticated look to the inside of your house.

When cable railings are used in outdoor spaces such as on a balcony or deck, view obstruction with bulky rails becomes limited. The updates are easy and quick, but there’s need to pay attention to safety features. Note that requirements for railings in your city are important.

Therefore, you must research first because this factor can hugely affect costing. You can then hire a company to ensure safe installation of railings.

2. Swap Your Lighting and Update Window Treatments

Lighting is one of the easily overlooked aspects of a home. However, it can make a big impact to your home’s general look. Use new lights to brighten your home and add a modern touch indoors. Various inexpensive options exist to Go Modern such as using floor and table lamps.

Use metallic lamps with geometric designs for a modern look. Installing new ceilings can bring out a huge upgrade to your home. To change your windows’ look, add curtains. Just like lighting, windows can also be easily overlooked.

If you’ve always left your windows bare, it’s time to update them. Frame your windows using the best dressings for an improved appearance. You can also install tailor-made or customized blinds and curtain panels for a modern look.

3. Use Wallpapers

Wallpapers help bring out a significant effect indoors. You must be thinking that your grandmother used wallpapers during her time and thus are outdated. Therefore, they give you no reason to use them in modernizing your home. However, today’s wallpaper is unique and comes in modern patterns and shades.

Modern wallpapers are even removable, enabling you to easily swap out one depending on your style. Try using wallpaper on a single wall while leaving others bare for a modernized touch.

4. Add Color

Most modern homes are painted in white. However, color pops can modernize an outdated home. It is time you freshen your walls with coats of fresh paints. Unlike the other things mentioned, anyone can engage in painting. You can touch up the current color of your walls or add an accent wall if you’re intimidated to start a bigger project.

Vacationing In Hawaii Made Simple

Gorgeous Hawaii lies in the heart of the Pacific. This American state is a much sought-after destination for all those who are looking for a place filled with beauty and lots of wonderful things to do. Hawaii makes an ideal vacation for everyone from singles to married coupled with children. If you’re going to head to this part of the world, you’ll want to make things as simple as possible. Getting there, finding Waikiki Beach hotels and finding things to do each day is simple and great fun. A well-planned trip makes it easy to get to this chain of islands, get around and enjoy lots of time seeing the state’s many natural wonders.

When to Go

While Hawaii is popular all year long, like many other destinations it has an off season and a popular season. Many families come here during spring break, the winter holidays and summer. Picking another time of the year can help you save money. It’s also when the beaches are likely to be less crowded and attractions are easier to book. Consider a month such as April or October for a deeply satisfying getaway.

Narrow Down Your Itinerary

The Hawaiian Islands consist of roughly eight major islands and dozens of other smaller islands. These islands sprawl over a thousand miles across the Pacific. It’s a good idea for each traveler to consider making one island their home base. For example, the islands of Hawaii, Oahu and Maui are the biggest of the islands. These make a fine place to start any vacation. Keep in mind that travel between islands can take a lot of time. The largest islands have ferry service, but many smaller islands may only be accessible by helicopter or private boat. A traveler can also choose to stay along the more tropical east and north near a beach. Then, head to the west or south for a few days focused on the interior.

Have at Least One Fabulous Adventure

Visiting Hawaii offers a great opportunity to savor new experiences. Now is the time to think about trying something you’ve never done before. If you’ve always wanted to go deep sea diving, there’s a tremendously beautiful world waiting for you right offshore that you can see in person. Hawaii has breathtaking waterfalls filled with rainbows, active volcanoes, and astonishing pods of marine mammals often playing right in front of your eyes. Think about a visit to a regional national park like Napali Coast where you can go kayaking with friends and family along waters rarely seen by outsiders.

Head to the Beach

While there’s so much to see and do here, the beaches and waves remain the true stars of the show. Hawaii is home to hundreds of world class beaches. Grab a picnic basket and take a seat. Learn to surf the waves like the pros with a class devoted to beginners and more advanced students alike. As the sun sets along the Pacific, it’s the right time for a quiet walk along the waters on soft sand with the warmth of the day. Dip your toe in the water and appreciate the view from your perch. This is a place to savor, admire and let nature take center stage.

How You Can Get Yourself and Kids Ready For Your Impending Divorce

The process of going through a divorce is stressful to say the least and this stress becomes much worse when children are involved. This means that you are going to have to see your ex for years to come and possibly for the rest of your life. Custody of the children can make a divorce much more contentious as at times the children can be used to leverage influence on one party or the other. Getting yourself ready for a divorce needs to be done as there are things that need to be done to help smooth the process out. The following are tips for those going through a divorce when you are children.

Don’t Try To “Win” The Divorce

Far too many people want to stick it to their ex rather than take what is rightfully there and part ways. When you have children dominating your ex in the divorce can put a strain on the kids. They do not want to see one parent struggling due to the actions of the other parent. This does not mean that you should not follow the advice of your divorce attorney as some people will try to get sympathy only to stick it to you in court.

Custody Should Be For The Good of the Children

Most parents know which parent will be better off taking the children for a majority of the time. Try to sit down with your lawyers present to work something out. This might seem a bit odd but custody agreements need to be handled in the appropriate fashion. People tend to go back on their word once emotions start running high enough. Take an honest evaluation to see if you and your ex can come up with a co-parenting plan that leaves everyone happy.

Start Putting Money Away In A Separate Bank Account

There are those people that will try to use the family finances to control their ex by emptying accounts. For this reason you need to start putting away money into a separate account so if you need to move out of the home that you have money to get an apartment. Doing this is important as at times family finances can be frozen so one party or the other don’t start siphoning money for themselves.

Have Your Attorney Mail Papers To a PO Box

The last thing that you want is having your soon to be ex finding divorce papers sent to your home by surprise. Being blindsided by a divorce does happen as there are some people that are just oblivious to what is going on in their relationship. Even the calmest of people might have an intense reaction to finding this out and could be violent. Get a PO box to receive mail from your attorney and for your new bank account.

As you can see there is plenty to do when getting ready for a divorce. This is not an easy time but take solace knowing that good relationships do not end up in divorce. This is a step towards happiness!

Why You Need A Cleaning Service For Your Home

You may think that visiting simplymaid and hiring a house cleaning service is a luxury. Naturally, it does carry a certain luxuriousness to it, but it’s far from “hoity-toity.” Granted, a house cleaner will take care of the sometimes gross and often tedious work around your home that you simply don’t want to. The funny thing is, hiring a house cleaning service is not particularly expensive, especially when you remember that your time carries a lot of value.

Some people feel like there’s an elitist element to hiring someone to clean their home. After all, couldn’t you just do all of that yourself? Unless you have a serious disability, you probably could. But then, you could also fix just about anything in your home, and you could prepare all of your own meals. But doesn’t it feel nice to just hire a handyperson to fix things, and to go out to eat every so often?

Not Being Responsible for Supplies

It can be hard for a non-professional to know exactly which cleaning supplies work the best. As well, it can also be difficult to remember to have enough of these supplies. Unless you are OCD or keep a very good record of things like this, it can be tough to be well-stocked.

What’s great about hiring a cleaning company is that they usually bring their own supplies. This way, they can clean with products they are familiar with, and that are proven to do well in your type of environment. A professional company can actually identify what will work best, and then bring only that. Then they haul away anything they don’t use, so you don’t have to store a bunch of cleaning supplies.

So Much Dust

Most of the dust in your home is just small amounts of human skin that you and your family have shed- constantly. Sound gross? We think so too. Naturally, this can pile up quickly, and going through it can be an allergy-laden experience. Keep in mind that just about every surface in your home is going to get dusty at some point, which can be tedious to keep up with.

Hiring someone else to do your dusting, among other chores, can save you both a lot of sniffling and a ton of frustration. Good cleaners know where dust is, and attack it methodically. As a homeowner, you may be inclined to become emotionally invested in the process. This would slow you down, but a pro won’t have this problem.

Bathroom Cleaning

The bathroom is both the cleanest room of your home and the most disgusting, particularly if you’ve been putting off the finer points of getting it clean. Do you enjoy scrubbing the tub, the toilet, and the sinks? Does wiping down the mirror, taking care not to streak it, make you smile? If so, you might actually be a great candidate for cleaning people’s houses. If not, you’re normal and outsourcing this work is a great idea.

Needing a house cleaning service could literally be for everyone. Even if you feel reasonably clean and spend a few hours a week cleaning, you know that there could always be more work done! But who has the time? Check our the cleaning services at your location and find the best for you.

 

Important Design Principles for Bicycle-Friendly Roads

Cyclists and pedestrians accidents make up over 25% of road fatalities. As vehicle roadways multiply due to population increase, investigators calculate that by 2030, on-street accidents will become one of the most prominent causes of death.

Massive action needs to be taken to circumvent the trend, and implementing proven design principles may be the first step in reducing bicycle accidents. “Designing a network of roads for cyclists entails the understanding that different considerations should be made for cyclists that are distinct from the behavior and needs of pedestrians or vehicles,” remarked Jim Parrish, bicycle accident lawyer.

Particularly, designers of highway blueprints should be aware that cyclists have requirements regarding how much space on the road they use, how well they can maneuver the equipment, and the range of speeds for which they can travel. It is also important for designers to keep in mind that bicycles are powered by the rider’s muscles, which is why riders want to reduce the lost energy that can occur from riding around tight corners, steep hills, or having to stop the bike.

Effective street design can reduce the rate of bicycle accidents through the following measures.

Consider user experience. Bicycle routes should be tested at different times of day the to ensure that they are safe both at night and in daylight. Cyclists should be consulted at various points during the process of route design and development. When possible, bicyclists should have an advantage regarding priority and directness.

Lower speed limits. Drivers who are traveling extremely fast have a higher chance of seriously injuring or killing people or animals that may inadvertently be hit. Other methods of calming traffic include elevated pedestrian walkways, sidewalk extensions, and speed bumps to reduce speed.

Locate problem areas and focus design solutions. Known locations that tend to cause danger should be prioritized in repairs or adjustment, and resources should be allocated to focus on the areas that need it the most.

Aim to develop for the target user. Designs should be developed in order to appeal to cyclists who may not be as confident in addition to more seasoned athletes. Adequate space should be allocated in regards to width, making safe right turns, and smooth transitions to cycle tracks. Visibility and condition of the road surface are other areas to keep in mind.

Emphasize standards and continuity. Quality signs must be placed at the beginning and end points of routes to ensure safety and coherence. Complex engineering decisions should be made early to prevent issues from arising late in the design process. Final designs should include specifics regarding expenses and maintenance needs. The design must be able to function successfully in varied weather conditions and in poor visibility.

Roadways should be developed in a way that can aid in the protection of cyclists. As research has shown that well-planned and calculated design can protect cyclists, continued efforts by developers should be made to send the message that cyclists are equally important as engine-powered traffic.

Impacts Water Damage Can Have on Appliances

Appliances can be ruined rapidly when exposed to water damage from a flood or other natural disaster. The severity of the damage mainly extends to whether or not mold or sewage found its way into the appliance. Other impacts include which components of the appliance were forced underwater and how long they were submerged.

 

In the interest of dependability and safety, even if the equipment dries out completely it may still need to be replaced to operate properly again in the future. However, the following precautions should be taken while evaluating the situation.

 

Be Cautious of Leaking Gas Lines

Though a homeowner’s initial thought may be to assess the severity of the damage, this may not be safe as appliances can shift and may cause harm to gas or electrical lines. This can be highly dangerous.

 

A homeowner can recognize that their gas lines may be damaged if they recognize an odor that resembles rotten eggs. If this occurs, the home should be vacated immediately and it is best to call 911.

 

Turn Off the Electricity

If standing water is found in the home and the electricity is still running, the utility company should be notified immediately to have the power shut off. Homeowners should also avoid turning on lights, light open flames by means of a gas range or by lighting candles, and operating electronic devices, as these could cause the leaking gas to start a fire.

 

Have a Professional Examine the Damage

“Many homeowners don’t know how to proceed in the situation and turn on appliances after leaving them to air-dry. This should be avoided at all costs as someone could be shocked if there is any wetness remaining in the unit,” explained John Stahfest, owner of a refrigerator repair service in Tacoma.

 

The best course of action to take if appliances have been flooded in any manner is to wait and see if the water moves out of the area and then unplug the power cords. This should never be performed while one is standing in any amount of water. Appliances should not be plugged back in until a professional has inspected them.

 

Avoid Turning on Heating or Cooling Equipment

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has noted that mold could be spread throughout the home if HVAC systems are turned after re-entering an area that was previously submerged under water. Mold growth can be prevented with a heavy-duty cleaning. Once the HVAC unit has been evaluated and is safe, it can help with moisture removal.

 

Be Wary of a Refrigerator’s Water and Icemaker

The refrigerator’s water and icemaker are attached to the water line, which means that the water filter in the refrigerator will need to be changed. Also, be sure to dispose of any ice that was made in the unit. The dispenser should be rinsed for 3-5 minutes, the icemaker should run for a period of one hour, and the bins within the unit should be sanitized.

Substance Abuse Facility in Glenwood Springs Helps Mothers

A new addiction treatment facility, Momenta, offers both outpatient and inpatient mental health and substance abuse disorder services. Mandy Owensby founded the center with women and mothers specifically in mind after she herself struggled to find programs accommodating of both herself and her children.

Before launching the addiction treatment facility, she worked in human services and noticed that there was a lack of treatment for local patients. This led to patients having to be referred to programs out of state.

Clinician Bailey Allison states economic hardships have been a factor in rising addiction trends in Colorado. She added that a lack of psychiatrists and physicians to provide treatment in rural communities has compounded the problem. The Colorado Department of Health & Environment estimated that nearly 960 total drug poisoning deaths occurred in 2017- a five year high for the state. In response, Gov. John Hickenlooper passed a law to uphold the Substance Abuse Trend and Response Task Force in Colorado.

Momenta staff practice a holistic approach to recovery, and focus on the entire affected family, not only on  mother-child relationships. Using the 12-step model, Momenta offers a range of courses including fitness, family therapy and nutrition. The facility consists of two buildings. The first houses 18 women in the treatment program, and the second provides room for six women who have completed treatment and are transitioning back into society.

Owensby requires that all patients commit to a minimum of 90 days treatment, believing that longer treatment services promote a better chance of successful recovery. Additionally, Owensby also believes longer treatment can help eliminate ‘triggers’ in certain patients.

Bailey Allison has worked with patients with addictions who have also experienced trauma in their lives. Experiencing trauma can put people at a higher risk of developing severe substance abuse issues in the future. In regards to this, she hopes that if people acknowledge the connection between trauma and addiction, it will help the issue be seen as a medical condition rather than a choice. With the success of Momenta growing, Owensby imagines a waiting list may soon be in place.