5 Actionable Tips to Boost Your Customer Engagement

When was the last time you met a customer or client of your business? This might sound like an obvious question but be honest. In today’s digital world of huge corporations, most people who own companies don’t meet their clients or respond to their needs individually.

But engaging with clients or customers on an individual level is vitally important to growing your brand and ultimately your product or service. Without customer engagement, you become another company lost in the wilderness of the internet.

Here’s what you should include in your customer engagement strategy.

1. Make Yourself Approachable

The first rule of business is to ensure that customers know who you are and how they can reach out to you. Be sure to advertise the different methods that customers or clients can reach out to you. Provide a phone number and its operating hours if you don’t have one.

But also provide the names of the people at the company and their roles along with their email addresses. This allows customers and clients to put a name and even a face to the company.

Don’t send out automated messages, try to reply to everybody with personalized messages if you can. This is how you can demonstrate great customer engagement.

2. Improve Your Social Media Game

Social media is the biggest way you can reach out to new and existing customers and often the first channel they will seek to reach out to you.

Be sure to put out regular posts and keep them personal. Nobody wants to see boring corporate tweets or Facebook posts. Give them a personal slant and ensure they are signed by a member of the team.

Social media is also the place that people come to vent their frustrations that something has gone wrong. Be sure to remain sympathetic and calm during interactions where the company is criticized.

Ask the compliant for an email address or a phone number so you can reach out to them individually. This might make them feel more respected and calm.

3. Know What Your Audience Wants

If you want to have a brand or business that stands the test of time, you need to provide real value to your audience. A perfect example of this can be seen with Amazon.com. Not only have they drastically expanded the reach and products from their business, they also continue to gain more customers daily as well.

This is something Print on Demand Academy preaches within their courses and content, which is to focus all of your efforts what the end user wants and how to give it to them.

No matter the size or focus of your business, it’s ultimately going to come down to the engagement and appreciation you get from your customers. Without it, you are just another failing company without a purpose and need.

4. Create a Regular Blog

As well as short-form content in terms of tweets and social media posts, it is important to also put long-form content out there. This is usually in the form of blogs.

Regular blogs help customers see what you are up to and get insider insight into how the company works. They create that personal connection between the company and the customer or client.

But they also do more than that. Blog content should also be search engine optimized. This ensures that it used the right keywords and links. The site is then ranked highly on Google searches, one of the most important customer engagement marketing strategies.

Remember though it’s important to consider what it’s worth investing in social media or SEO.

5. Use Popups and Unique Call to Actions

Thanks to the power of the internet, it’s never been easier to connect with audiences around the world and also capture their email — which leads to an instant way to stay in contact and message them.

With this in mind, the more call to actions you have on your site, the more likely you are find success with your brand or business.

Start with social media and site content, then add in some call to actions for a simple email grab. As you continue to optimize your site, also think about adding popup windows, push notifications and other unique call to actions to get the end user to engage with your content.

Creating A Good Customer Engagement Strategy Is Key to Business in the Modern World

In the modern world, competition is rife. Because of the growth of internet customers, and consumers increasingly have much more power than they once did.

And they use this power to demand better customer engagement through social media, blogs, and personal interaction.

If you are interested in reading more about customer engagement or have to make money online then be sure to check out the rest of my blog.

The post 5 Actionable Tips to Boost Your Customer Engagement appeared first on Zac Johnson.

8 Things High Ranking Websites All Have in Common

Did you know that, on average, the first organic search result from Google gets 32.5 percent of the total traffic share? Did you also know that sites on the first Google search results page receive a whopping 91.5 percent of the total traffic share?

Basically, if you want people to click on your website and see what you have to offer, you need to be on that first page and as close to the top as possible.

Getting there isn’t exactly an easy feat, though, especially when you’re part of a competitive market. It is possible to improve your ranking, though.

Read on to learn about eight of the characteristics all high-rank websites have in common. If you can make these improvements to your site, you’ll be amazed at how your position improves.

1. Security and Accessibility

Website security and accessibility play a significant role in how well a particular site ranks on Google (as well as other search engines, for that matter).

One way to indicate a secure and accessible website is the type of URL your site has. If your URL is one that search engine bots can reach and crawl, with ease, your website will be rewarded with a higher ranking.

Some ways you can make this happen are by installing a robots.txt file. This tells Google where it is and isn’t able to look for information about your site. A sitemap that lists all the pages on your website is imperative as well.

Having an “HTTPS” at the front of your URL is better than an “HTTP,” too. It doesn’t hold as much weight as these other factors, but it still can help.

2. Fast Load Times

The best Google sites tend to have very fast load times, too. The faster your pages load, the more likely it is that people will stick around to see what’s on them.

There are plenty of ways to speed up your load times, from getting rid of clutter to compressing images. Talk to your web developer to figure out how you can start to make your site more efficient.

3. Mobile Friendliness

These days, the majority of online searches come from a mobile device. If your website doesn’t look good on a smartphone or tablet, people are going to be less inclined to spend a lot of time on it.

If you want to enjoy a high ranking, make sure your website is optimized for mobile devices. The easiest way to do this is to work with a developer who specializes in this aspect of website building and design.

4. Higher Domain Age

The longer your website has been around, the easier it’ll be to get on top Google sites lists. In most cases, sites that have existed for less than a year are less likely to rank near the top of any search engine results page.

If your website is less than a year old, don’t give up hope. You can still implement these other practices to boost its ranking and help it reach a top spot faster.

5. Technical Optimization

Technical optimization is an often-overlooked component of search engine optimization. It plays a key role in improving search engine rankings, though. Some important technical aspects to consider include the following:

• The use of keyword phrases in your website’s page titles
• Using header tags to organize content and create a hierarchy
• Writing a clear and concise meta description
• Using keyword phrases in your images’ alt tags

Many people overlook these factors when trying to optimize their sites, but they can make a significant difference in your website’s overall performance.

6. Optimized Content

As stated in the article, Buy Guest Posts On Real Blogs With 1000+ Organic Monthly Traffic, one of the only trustworthy metrics to how much Google favors a website is how much organic traffic that website receives monthly from Google.

Of course, bringing in organic traffic is difficult. One way to increase the number of people visiting your site is to make sure your content is well-optimized.

There are lots of ways to do this, including the following:

• Including the right keywords in your content (in an organic, non-forced way)
• Answering common questions
• Using videos and infographics to appeal to a wider range of visitors

Writing long-form content is also helpful. Posts that are in the 2,000-word range tend to outperform those with lower word counts.

7. Positive Social Signals

Google wants to see how your website is performing on social media. Positive social signals can lead to higher search engine rankings. For example, if lots of people are tweeting links to pages from your website or sharing them on Facebook, that will reflect well and lead to rewards from Google.

8. High Click-Through Rate and Low Bounce Rate

When determining where to rank a website in search engine results, Google’s algorithm will pay attention to your website’s click-through rate as well. This refers to the number of clicks your website receives from people who have typed in a particular search term. The higher your click-through rate is, the better off your site will be when it comes to rankings.

It’s not good enough just to have a high click-through rate, though. You’ll also need a low bounce rate.

Bounce rate refers to the number of people who click the “back” button and leave your website, as well as how quickly they do this after visiting your site. If the majority of people who visit your site click away within a few seconds, that’s a red flag to Google and your site will be penalized.

Join the List of High-Rank Websites Today

As you can see, there are quite a few characteristics that all (or nearly all) high-rank websites share. If you want your website to be counted among this group, you need to know what not to search on Google and, instead, make sure you’re doing what you can to implement these changes and improve your site.

Do you want to learn more about improving your web presence and raising your Google site’s ranking? If so, check out some of our other helpful blog posts and digital marketing resources today.

The post 8 Things High Ranking Websites All Have in Common appeared first on Zac Johnson.

How to become a football referee

Reading Time: 5 mins

Did you know you can become a referee for your local football league and make a bit of extra cash on Sundays? Plus, you might even earn a pint or two from the winning team!

If you have a passion for football and often spend evenings shouting at the Football Association (FA) referees on your TV screen, you might be a natural fit.

• What’s involved?
• How much can you earn?
• Qualifications and training
• Case study
• Useful contacts

 

What’s involved?

Oi, ref! If you’ve ever watched a game of football, you’ll know what a referee does. In basic terms, their job is to make sure players stick to the rules and when they don’t, refs hand out the much feared yellow and red cards.

Sunday leagues all over the country need people to referee their games. Those amateur leagues can really vary – there’re teams for eight-year-olds and eighty-year-olds alike. If you’re familiar with your local team, then ask them directly if they’re looking for a ref. You can find all the teams in your area by entering your postcode into the “find a club” search tool on the right-hand side of the FA’s homepage. Failing that, the best place to look is often Gumtree.

If you live near a Powerleague centre, check if they have any ref jobs available. Powerleague is a national, organised 5-a-side football league. It’s like the major league but local and created for people of any ability and age. They’ll want to know that you’re a registered FA referee and they tend to look for people over the age of 30. They regularly post information on their website about ref jobs available. What’s more, you can also use the site to find your local centre. Alternatively, give them a call or send out an email to ask about it.

 

How much can I earn as a referee?

Depending on your level of experience, you’re looking at making between £20 and £40 a match. Not bad for a couple of hours’ work. Especially if you enjoy the game.

If you really stick at it and get the right training (more about that later), you can work your way up the referee pay-scale and eventually earn good money while still only working in your spare time. There’re approximately 10 levels to refereeing profession – with 10 being a trainee and one being an official overseeing Premier League and international matches. Perhaps aim for somewhere in the middle.

 

Qualifications and training

You don’t actually need any formal qualifications for Sunday leagues. But you do need to know the rules inside out and back to front – and that includes the famously cryptic offside rule! While you don’t have to be qualified, most clubs prefer people with at least some basic training as a ref. You can contact your local County Football Association (CFA) to find out what courses are available in your area – identify your CFA on the FA website. If you’re planning to work with children, you’ll need to get a CRB check, although most courses include it in the fee. You’ll also have to have good eye sight and be physically fit as the job involves at least an hour and a half of running around.

Will it cost?

Depending on how old you are, it can cost roughly between £40 and £100, including the DBS check. However, up to £30 of this can be refunded to you once you’ve passed your exam and refereed 10 matches.

And this type of work comes with a lot of benefits. Working as a ref is a good opportunity to meet new people and get paid for it. Not only that but if football’s your thing, then it’s a great way to keep on top of your local league scores. You’ll also get a decent dose of exercise running up and down the pitch to keep track of what’s going on. Check out the Referee Association’s website for a good guide to referee-level fitness.

So what about the challenges? Referees often have to put up with a lot of grief from either angry fans or players who feel they’ve been treated unfairly. You’ll have to stick by your initial judgement which could be difficult.

 

Useful contacts

• Gumtree
• The FA
• Powerleague
• Football Referee Organisation

Sign Up – Newsletter

 

Case Study

Trevor Wing has been a referee for over 25 years with the FA. He’s a licensed referee instructor and referees for the Northern League and local leagues, including the women’s youth teams and the ladies teams.

“By the time I decided I wanted to be a professional referee, I was a little too old,” said Trevor. “If someone wants to get into refereeing then it’s ideal if you’re young. Top refs get to travel all over the world and see all different things.

“A referee has to be fit, and we give our referees fitness training at least once a week. We also have continued training and seminars for refs; new ones and old ones. They don’t just go out there and we leave them to it – we look after them and guide them; it’s part of the referee’s career.

“There’ll always be someone who doesn’t agree with your decisions but you just have to take it on the chin. I remember reffing a semi-final game in a local park about ten years ago; we’d just had half time and I was about to blow the whistle for the second half to start when a streaker ran on to the pitch with nothing but a pair of wellies. I had to send him off for wearing the wrong footwear!”

 

Other Sports

Football isn’t the only sport where you can make money as a ref. For instance, you could also pursue refereeing in:

Rugby Union
Rugby League
Lacrosse
Hockey
Netball
Tennis
Basketball

 

At University

If you’re a student, you could become a football referee at university (in fact, you can start even sooner than that; the requirement is that you’r over 14 years old). Think about it. This could be a great chance to pick up a qualification – and possibly at a discount. Speak to the organisers of your society or your student union’s sports activities officer for more information. As a qualified referee, you’ll be helping your teams and players, and you’ll gain useful experience that’ll help you after university.

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Make money fruit picking this Summer

Reading Time: 5 mins

The summer’s almost here and what better way to enjoy the great British weather than by earning some cash picking fruit? Fruit picking in the UK takes place in the summer months, usually from June to September when strawberries, apples and hops are harvested. Depending on the summer month, you will be picking a certain fruit. For example, strawberries and gooseberries are often picked from early June to mid July, plums and apples are picked in late August and pears are picked in September.

• What’s involved?
• Do I need to relocate?
• How will I be paid?
• Should I do it?
• Getting started
• Fruit picking abroad

 

What’s involved?

This is one of the few jobs in the world where it’s as simple as it sounds. Fruit picking is an outdoor job, so wear old casual clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. You may be standing in fields for hours on end so comfortable shoes are a must. You’ll also need a hat and some sun cream so you don’t get burnt. There are no skills required and you won’t need previous experience. All you need is to be able to speak English and have a strong willingness to work hard.  There’s a trick to picking fruit and choosing the best ones. You’ll be shown how to pick the fruit and don’t worry if you find you’re a bit slow to begin with – you’ll get the hang of it quickly.

If hard labour isn’t your cup of tea, there are plenty of other jobs associated with fruit picking. These include checking and weighing the fruit, making jam, packing/labelling and selling the fruit in the farm shop.

 

Do I need to relocate?

If you don’t live near the farm you want to work for, then you may be able to stay in the farmhouse or camp on site in a caravan. Some farmers will provide this accommodation for free to their pickers while others may charge a small fee. It would be best to check before you sign up, otherwise you could end up losing cash by forking out for digs.

 

How will I be paid?

You’re usually paid cash in hand so you’ll need to sort out your own tax/National Insurance.

You may get an hourly or daily rate, but sometimes you’re paid according to how much you pick (e.g. you get a certain amount per kilo or pound). This system is called ‘piecework’ and can be fruitful for hard workers.

Because this is typically seen as casual work, most farmers  won’t offer a contract of employment or any perks like holiday or sick pay.

 

Should I do it?

Fruit picking is essentially manual labour and might not be suitable for everyone. So if you aren’t keen on physical work this won’t be for you. If a bit of hard graft doesn’t scare you it’s a great way to stay fit whilst earning money, being outdoors and soaking up the sunshine. You will also meet new people many of whom come over to Britain for the summer months from different parts of Europe.

Getting started

Fruit picking in the UK

There are fruit farms all over the UK producing a wide range of fruit, so it shouldn’t be difficult to find work somewhere. For example Kelsey Farms in Kent employs over 250 people each summer to pick their fruit.

Here’s our step-by-step guide to finding fruit-picking work:

Step one: search your area

Check local farms for work first and keep an eye out for vacancies in the local papers. Find a farmers’ market near you and ask about any jobs that are currently being advertised.

Step two: look online

Go to Picking Jobs where you can put in a search for fruit picking in Europe and see what’s available. Another useful website is Anywork Anywhere, which has a similar set up and can be used to search for all kinds of other seasonal jobs both here and abroad.

Another good website is Employment4Students, which has loads of summer vacancies such as fruit-picking jobs. When you see a job that interests you, email the employer directly giving a few basic details about yourself and the dates you can do.

Step three: find out what it’s like to be a picker

Read about other people’s experiences of fruit picking here and take a look at this information about two big fruit growers in the UK to give you an idea of how it all works:

Do you want to pick fruit outside of the summer months?PJ Stirling Fruit Farms have a soft fruit farm in Scotland where the picking season runs all year round, but is particularly busy from April to November. At this farm a shift is normally no more than eight hours for six days a week. The day starts early, at around 6.30am and finishes by 3pm. Wages are in line with EU employment laws. There are mobile homes and dormitories for workers to share at reasonable prices and coach trips on Sundays to take workers to local places of interest.

Edward Vinson Ltd own three sites in Kent. There are 70 hectares of strawberry fields and 20 hectares of raspberry fields. Employees are paid either by the hour or by piecework. The working week is from Saturday to Friday, with overtime shifts available in peak seasons. The basic hourly rate is £6.21, which isn’t much, but the overtime rate is 150%. ‘Piece work’, where pay relates to how much is picked, is also available at £0.621 per unit. Again, accommodation is available (campsites with mobile homes) for a small charge of £28–30 per week. There are also football pitches and volleyball areas to enjoy plus trips to nearby cities.

 

Fruit picking abroad

Fruit picking is an ideal way to earn some money during your gap year while you’re travelling. You’ll probably meet lots of people who are also on their gap year. So, you’ll be able to find much cheaper accommodation as a picker than you would as a tourist.

So, to recap: good websites to use are Picking Jobs and Anywork Anywhere where you can search for vacancies in Europe, North America and Australasia. You can also search vacancies for particular months at Picking Jobs so if you’re going backpacking you can organise work. You can access working holiday/temporary work visa information at Anywork Anywhere. In addition, a list of embassies and consulates in the countries you plan to visit before you leave will also list work too.

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Make money copywriting

Reading Time: 6 mins

How would you like to make money copywriting? Ever wondered who writes the ‘blurbs’ in brochures, websites and direct mail shots that come through the door? Well someone does and they get paid well for it. It could be you. Welcome to the world of copywriting…

• What’s involved?
• How can I start copywriting?
• How can I get paid as a copywriter?
• How much can I make?
• Training and qualifications
• Pros and cons
• Sign me up!

 

What’s involved?

Copywriting is a great way to make money from your writing if you have a commercial sense.  It is a writing discipline that is needed for anything that needs to be sold. From food to fashion, every marketing campaign needs someone to make it sound appealing.

It’s a skilled form of writing and will require you to turn around lots copy – sometimes in a short space of time. This could include writing a dozen articles in a matter of days.

Most companies will pay per article on a set rate. However, rates are negotiable – depending on the agency.

Nowadays people who are very good at copywriting can command very high payments for their work. However, this will only occur when that writing turns into clicks.

Copywriting organisations all work in different ways, and in most cases the writers are at the bottom of the chain.

Some companies are a collection of freelancers working remotely under one name. Other companies will have a combination of in-house staff and freelancers.

If you work as a freelance copywriter, you’ll get a brief from the company. It will usually include the word length, and any keywords or phrases needed to promote the product. Likewise you’ll also receive details about the style and tone of the article as well as any direction on different sections. However, each company does work differently, so guidance may not always be forthcoming.

Other people get work directly from companies online. They have taught themselves how to write enticing copy and have set up their own websites to sell themselves and then people come to them.

If you put ‘learn copywriting’ into Google, you will find loads of courses on how to do it. Start with the free ones, join some forums and ask which paid-for courses are the best.

 

How can I start copywriting?

There are loads of advertising agencies, content agencies and marketing agencies which take on copywriters all the time, not just in-house but as freelancers too. One of the most obvious routes is to gain work experience with an organisation.

The major UK ones are: Stratton Craig, Mediacom, Fountain Partnership, Sticky Content and ContentAmp. Once you’ve gained some experience you’ll be able to pitch yourself to copywriting organisations.

However, you could always take it upon yourself to learn a bit about the industry before jumping into it. You could do this by reading about copywriting, doing courses and talking to other copywriters.

Freelance Copywriting by Diana Wimbs is a great handbook for learning the ropes. The book provides lots of examples from various campaigns.

Join the online copywriting forums and once you have enough experience put yourself on sites such as Freelancer.com and Peopleperhour.com.

 

How can I get paid as a copywriter?

Whilst there are often lots of copywriting jobs about, getting hold of one is not as simple as it seems. Consequently, the competition is fierce and freelancers will often take all the work they can.

These companies will often have a large pool of freelancers to pick and choose from. Each writer will also have their own expertise and writing style. If you’re not the right person for the job, you could be shelved.

Just like with any job, you’ll need to have some knowledge or transferable skills in that field. If you don’t, you might not meet the requirements for the role, you may need to get trained.

The Institute of Copywriting runs a distance-learning course. They give loads of tips and hints on what you can expect from the course and copywriting as a career.

Consider building your own website to advertise yourself to prospective clients. The internet is great for researching potential clients and networking with companies, such as PR and marketing agencies.

To start off with, contact digital and direct marketing agencies as they are more likely to have work for people who are new to the game.

Make sure your profile is on Linkedin and that you’re promoting yourself through Facebook and Twitter as well.

 

How much can I make?

It really does vary. Some copywriters charge by the word. Where as others charge by the hour, day or job. There will be freelancers who estimate, while others give flat prices.

Day rates should start at around £250 a day but well-established writers can charge from £500 a day. Whilst this sounds fantastic, you have to remember it’s down to the speed and ability of your writing. If you’re paid per article (which in some cases can be around £5 for 600–700 words) and it takes you over an hour to write each one, it might not be financially viable for you.

But if you feel you can bash out copy that you’re happy with and don’t have spend too much time researching, you could make some good cash.

You’ll need to consider how much copy – which your client will be happy with – you can produce in a certain time frame for it to be worthwhile and benefit you financially. There’s no point you slaving away on a beautifully-crafted article worthy of a literary award for a measly £5, but at the same time you’re only as good as your last article so you’ll need to maintain a high standard in order to keep the work coming in.

Also remember that you have the benefit of working from home, reducing your travel costs and giving you more flexibility and freedom so rates can be lower.

 

Training and qualifications

No specific training or qualification is needed to become a copywriter. However, it would really help you to have a qualification to get some work. However, the biggest plus for you is to have experience. A specific qualification in copywriting isn’t necessary to secure a job, all you need is to be able to write coherently and with flair. For example, if you have an English or creative writing degree, that could work to your advantage.

Companies need copywriters who can write in a range of languages, so use any language skills you have too.

If you do decide to take up some training or a course, it will cost you but you can also learn a lot by having someone else reading and reacting to your copy.

 

Pros and cons

This can be a straightforward way of making good money from writing – if you have a way with words and you know what can tempt people.

You can write on a whole range of topics and different media. You could become a copywriting cupid by writing for dating websites such as e-Cyrano.com. Or you could write for holiday brochures.

You can earn some serious cash if this is a full-time job for you and you work efficiently. However, in the beginning you might not be up to scratch and it could be a hard slog to see any real returns.

You should have another source of income, while keeping this is a part-time role.If you do a good job, companies will keep coming back so you could turn this into a full-time career. In the beginning it will take an enormous effort to start up and establish a client base. Furthermore, you should also beware of fake or US-based ‘freelance networks’. They will either bombard you with spam or request subscription fees for useless, oversubscribed jobs.

Like most industries, this will have quiet periods and you might find there’s not a lot floating around at one time whilst some months you could take on too much. It’s important to find the right balance.

 

Sign me up!

If you’re still reading this and you think copywriting is the career for you, why not take a look at some of these contacts for more information. First and foremost, the Institute of Copywriting is the most well-known. The Advertising Association runs copywriting courses. While Freelance UK provides lots of information on becoming a copywriter and getting work. Finally, creativepool lists various jobs and has a range of temporary and permanent roles (they list their rates too).

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Partners House Network – How to Monetize Push Notifications

Push notifications are all of the buzz lately. If you aren’t taking advantage of what this latest trend in advertising and monetization has to offer, then you are simply missing out big time.

Today we are going to cover some of the most important stats and the basics of push notifications, and how you can start growing your brand and business through these powerful methods as well.

We will also be taking a look at both Push.House, which is one of the largest and fastest growing push notifcation networks on the internet today — and we will also be taking a look at Partners.House, which is the affiliate and partner side of the business.

Let’s get started!

What are Push Notifications?

How many times have you been to a website and a little popup appears on the top left corner of your browser and asks if you’d like to receive updates and notifications? I’m sure it happens all the time. Well, it turns out that a lot of people like these notifications, and they work extremely well.

From a mobile perspective it’s the same thing, but more in reference to alerts, notifications and promotional deals. For example, think about when you use Uber and your car is just a few minutes away and you get a text notification — that is also considered a push notification.

As you can see through the chart and stats laid out above, push notifications perform at a much higher open and click rate than that of email marketing — which is already one of the most effective forms of online advertising. This should lead nearly all advertisers who are already focusing their efforts on paid ads and email marketing online to immediately see what push notifications can do for them.

Now that you have a good understanding on what push notifications are and how they work, let’s take a look at how you can start using them to grow your business and brand.

What is Push House and What Do They Do?

Just like all forms of advertising, there needs to be a platform or system in place in order for site owners to make money from their traffic, and for advertisers to control and manage their ad campaigns. In short, this is exactly what Push.House does — it gives site owners the ability to monetize their push traffic, whie giving affiliates and advertisers a way to promote their offers.

When it comes to making money online and using platforms to generate new traffic and leads, there are usually two sides to each platform — the affiliate/publisher side, and the advertiser side. The publisher side is often for the site owners and those who can provide traffic, while the advertiser side is for those who are looking to buy more traffic to send to their own offers, websites or brands.

In this example, it works out like this:

• Partners House — For site partners and affiliates
• Push House — For adverisers that want push traffic

First we will take a look at the Push House business site and how they provide traffic to their advertisers. We will then take a look at Partners House in the next section.

As highlighted on the main Push House page, their network of sites and traffic sources are currently serving to more than 94 million active subscribers and serving over 1.612 biion impressions with over 4 million clicks out. The coverage of Push.House is also quite impressive, as they have access to traffic in more than 180 different countries around the world.

Advertisers on the platform will appreciate the benefit of having their own personal support team that is accessible 24/7, while aso having live stats displayed in real-time, along with real-time traffic bidding as well. With these features in place, advertisers can quick increase or decrease the activity of their accounts within just seconds.

When it comes to making a payment or deposit with Push.House, they have pretty much every payment option available — which includes ADVCash, MasterCard, Payeer, PayPal, Visa, Bitcoin and more.

With all of the basics covered, now let’s take a look at the Partners House side of the business.

How to Make Money with Partners House?

With most site owners focused on ways to make money with their sites, we will now look at some of the opportunities that Partners House offers.

According to Partners House, they currently have site partners in more then 180 different countries around the world, while also serving more than 85 milion clicks per month. All of this equates to more than $320,000 in payments being made to their site partners.

After signing up with Partners House as an affiliate or partner site, you will be able to log into your account and pull the necessary ad codes to start deliver ads and push notifications through your site. Once the code is placed on your site, you will then have the ability to log into your account and check on the status of your campaign and earnings.

Partners House was also set up to make the process of working with their platform not only profitable, but also quite easy. You can see a list of their conditions, benefits and features below.

Some of the most popular benefits and features include:

• Montization of push notifications across more than 180 different countries
• 100% of all ad serving is monetized and payable
• Ability to add new landing pages and ad copy for better conversions and earnings
• Split testing across different sites, landing pages and languages
• Referral program that pays out 3% earnings on all paid referrals
• Program manager for each partner that is working with Partners House

As you can see, Partners House has everything in place to keep their site partners happy, while aso giving them the tools and resource to help them make the most money possible.

While there are other push notification platforms out there, Partners House likes to make themselves stand out from the crowd by offering 2X profit opportunities, which include “instant sale of push subscriptions” and “long-term income at revshare”. This way partners can be paid for either method, no matter which their referring advertisers and sign ups go with.

You can learn more about each of these opportunities by visiting their site.

Payments sent out from Partners House can be made through WebMoney, QIWI, Paypal, ePayments, Bitcoin, Visa, Mastercard and a few other options as well.

BONUS: If you would like to learn more about how to make money with Partners House and Push House, be sure to check out this case study.

Please note however, it is in Russian, so you will need to use a translation tool, or your Chrome browser to automatic translate the written text content.

With most site owners and brands having a business model of their own, it’s likely that they would be interested in learning how to use the advertiser side of Push House as well — which is exactly what we will be focusing on next.

How to Begin as an Advertiser at Push House?

As with most advertising platforms, everything is done online. To get started with Push House as a partner or advertiser, simply follow this five step process:

1. Sign Up with Push.House
   First, you will need to create an advertiser account on the Push.House network platform.
2. Create You Advertisement
   Next, create your ad with a variation of text and images from within your account.
3. Setup GEO Targeting
   Play around with the ad settings to make sure you are targeting the right geographic locations.
4. Review and Manage Your Campaign
   Once your campaign is reviewed and live, it’s then time to wait for your first set of stats to come in.
5. Analyze Results and Optimize
   With new traffic and leads coming in, you should be analyzing your campaign and improving it over time.

After going through each of the steps above to get started with your ad campaign, it’s then time to make sure you are paying attention to what traffic sources and offers are converting best. In order to accomplish this, Push House has the following settings and targeting options in place for all advertisers.

• Brand safety and 24/7 support team
• High CR/CTR compared to other push platforms
• High volume in comparison to other push traffic sources
• Ability to split test landing pages by traffic, offer and language
• Easy to learn platform with no skills required
• Worldwide geographic targeting options

All of these setting and targeting options can be accessed from within your advertiser account.

Final Notes on Partners House and Push House

With so much attention on push notifications right now, there are a lot of traffic sources and ad platforms to choose from. Push House has been establishing themselves as one of the leaders in this space not only with their massive reach, but also with their business practices and features for advertisers as well.

At the same time, they’ve also been growing out their massive list of partner sites through Partners House as well. It’s great to see both sides of the business when it comes to push notifications, while also allowing sites to work with both sides.

To learn more about Partners House and how to start making money with your own site traffic, be sure to join their platform today.

The post Partners House Network – How to Monetize Push Notifications appeared first on Zac Johnson.

Make money as a security guard

Reading Time: 5 mins

Have you ever thought of working as a security guard? Part-time, casual jobs are widely available, especially at retail outlets such as supermarkets and clothes shops.

It’s a challenging job but very rewarding, as you’ll work to protect people and assets from theft and other criminal activity.

Security guards have to be quick thinkers and calm under pressure. Start out on a casual basis and it could even lead to a fulfilling long-term career.

Keep reading for the lowdown on entry requirements, working conditions, and the all-important question: how much you could make.

 

What are the entry requirements for security guards?

Have a browse online and you’ll see many openings with no specific requirements. You won’t need qualifications to work as a security guard at a supermarket for example. This is a good role to get a feel for the work and see how it suits you.

It’s a popular job for those who’ve worked in the police and armed forces, but great security guards come from all walks of life.

According to security and fire news site IFSEC Global, candidates will need a “reasonable level of physical strength and fitness”. This is judged on an individual basis, so if you’re interested and think you have what it takes, it’s always worth applying.

Customer service skills are also useful when dealing with the public. Men and women of working age who are confident in their fitness abilities are welcome to apply.

 

What about security guard careers?

Many people work in security as a part-time filler, perhaps in the evenings or to top up income alongside other jobs.

But working as a security guard can also be a fulfilling career. You could start out in retail and then take it a step further and branch into other areas: High-profile security posts include guarding corporate and government offices, airports, or assets like secure vehicles.

Many of these roles require an SIA (Security Industry Authority) license. This shows that you have a right to work in the UK and have passed the criminal background checks.

Having a criminal record isn’t always a barrier to entry; the Home Office website has a checker to indicate if you’ll be accepted.

See this Home Office page for plenty more info on applying for the SIA.

 

What’s it like to work as a security guard?

Roles vary greatly depending on the job. You could be standing at storefront entrances, patrolling, and doing checks if you suspect someone of theft.

Many security roles involve CCTV monitoring, especially at large commercial and industrial companies. This is sometimes done in teams at larger organisations.

At an airport, you could be checking passengers and aircraft for suspicious items, or conducting pre-flight screening.

Security guards often work outdoors, so you could be out in all weather conditions. But many guard jobs are indoor-only.

Jobs may be done in shifts, so you might work mornings or evenings, weekdays or weekends. That said, many guards have regular work slots (for example, only early mornings or evenings).

Look around for jobs that fit your specific needs. Not all security guards work nights or weekends, so don’t be put off if that doesn’t sound like your thing.

 

Common workplaces for security guards

• Supermarkets
• High street shops
• Airports
• Office buildings
• Factories
• Industrial estates
• Power stations
• Universities
• Galleries and museums
• Sports stadiums
• Banks (including secure vehicles)
• Hotels
• Parks

 

What are the perceptions of security guards?

Being a security guard is a rewarding and important job, but a lot of people look at the industry negatively.

EastEnders star Katie Jarvis was recently featured in a Daily Star article, criticised for working as a shop security guard. She spoke in defense of people who are shamed despite doing honest work, and how the life of an actor often involves stop-gap jobs to maintain income.

The truth is the world relies on security guards. Without protection at factories, offices, airports and more, many industries would crumble.

It’s a tough job, and would-be thieves and other criminals can get defensive and even violent when they’re challenged. But a good security guard keeps the general public safe from harm, and it’s a role you can be proud of.

 

How much do security guards make?

The National Careers Service puts the salary range between £16,000 and £24,000 a year for full-time security guards. Have a look at part-time jobs and you’ll see posts offering around £8 to £13 per hour.

Given the relatively low entry requirements, this makes security work an attractive option. Part-timers could find it ideal for paying the bills and supplementing another job, or decide to turn it into full-time work.

Experience as a security guard is an excellent springboard for many other careers, too. While many police officers and soldiers move into security work, the opposite is also true. You could also look at working as a club bouncer or even a bodyguard down the line.

 

Where are the best places to find security guard jobs?

Check out online job boards and you’ll get a sense of how many posts are available in your area. Indeed, Reed, CV-Library, Adzuna, Monster and Totaljobs are all good places to look.

You could also contact your local Jobcentre Plus; they’re great for advice and helping you search through listings.

If you’re finding it hard to get jobs, consider doing an apprenticeship. The Gov.UK website has plenty of info on these. Apprentice pay is low (£3.90 per hour as of 2019). But if you can manage it for a while, completing an apprenticeship could help you stand out from the crowd.

 

Which are the most popular types of security work?

The Security Industry Authority has handy statistics on active license holders, giving a good picture of the type of work security guards are doing.

Door supervisors are by far the most popular, making up over half of active licenses. This is followed by security guarding and then CCTV, with vehicle immobilisers being the rarest:

Sector	Number of Licences
Cash & Valuables in Transit	7,470
Close Protection	14,541
Door Supervisors	262,162
Key Holding	956
Public Space Surveillance (CCTV)	50,633
Security Guarding	64,621
Vehicle Immobilisers	20
Total	400,403

Source: Security Industry Authority

 

It’s a popular industry, and there are many sectors hiring lots of security guards.

Security is a challenging job that takes a certain mindset. You’ll need to be assertive and alert, yet calm and decisive under pressure. If you pass the fitness and criminal background requirements, it could be an excellent way to get extra income or even launch a whole new career.

 

Start browsing job boards and you could soon be in your ideal security role.

The post Make money as a security guard appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

How can fleet tracking improve your business performance

Reading Time: 4 mins

There are several ways to enhance your business processes and if you are looking for ways to improve your business performance, make optimizations and improvements in the logistics and delivery area a priority. For instance, consider a plan for a fleet management system and employ fleet tracking because this can definitely improve your business performance in terms of:

 

Cost Reduction

There are several business costs that can be reduced by an effective tracking system and one of these is the fuel costs. A tracking system is able to lay out initial and alternative routes. Hence, drivers are given the opportunity to choose the best route possible in cases of congested streets or roads under construction and save on fuel, time and money. Another way to save money on fuel is to use a fuel card. You can use https://www.icompario.com/en-gb/ to find the perfect fuel card for you.

There are also driver behaviors that are considered uneconomical such as speeding, idling, or sudden breaks. Uneconomical use of fuel is brought about by rapid acceleration or erratic speeds, but these patterns can be identified through an efficient tracking system, allowing the business to generate measures on how it can be avoided, thus, saving on fuel costs in the long run.

Another cost reduction is on resources, particularly on paper usage. With the data and information to generate reports available online, paper reduction is guaranteed. Hence, the carbon footprint is minimized as well and the environment will definitely thank you for it.

 

Customer Satisfaction

Customers are the blood of the business. Hence, it is important to keep a customer-centric mindset in managing a business. GPS trackers provide businesses with an ability to provide their customers with a real-time update on the status of the deliveries such as where the goods are and the expected time that it will be delivered. Hence, invoices can also be done correctly and notifications can be sent accurately. An efficient delivery system will produce happy customers because goods are delivered at the right place at the right time, providing exceptional customer service. This level can definitely set a company apart from other competitors in their industry.

 

Efficient Planning and Process

The manual way of generating reports will be transformed and streamlined because reports can be generated automatically. With data available online, information about engine maintenance, as well as the driver’s traffic behavior is conveniently available, cutting the time needed to produce the reports. Hence, fleets are more manageable from any location.

Most GPS tracking systems also provide live traffic updates, which is generally an advantage in planning the best routes for the deliveries, especially during rush hours or bad weather. Live traffic updates often include the traffic situations which prompt administrators to re-route vehicles.

Tracking systems also improve the dispatch process by making it effortless for administrators to pinpoint the most suitable vehicle that can be used for dispatch, considering its location and availability. Hence, with GPS tracking for fleets, response time are reduced and more informed decisions can be soundly made. Moreover, changes in delivery schedules can be made in an instant to keep the dispatch time on track. Different delivery status can also be incorporated in live updates to notify the administrator of pending deliveries, goods in transit, or completed orders. This ensures that the administrators are up-to-date with the fleet status.

 

Employee Accountability

If it is apparent to the employees that the results of their actions are monitored, chances are they will tend to work smarter to deliver. Idle time reports provide data regarding the period when the vehicle is in a stationary position, usually with the engine still running. This report can greatly aid in identifying the proficiency of the drivers. Alerts can also be set up to have real-time updates on idling time to be at par with state policies, which can include habitual idling. Prolonged stops and unapproved side trips will be avoided, resulting in an increased productivity and overtime reduction.

The exact time spent on a job can also be generated on the reports, as well as the time a vehicle enters and leaves a specific area. Hence, work hours are accurately monitored and employees are paid accordingly based on the time spent on the job. Additionally, the scheduling and dispatch will be optimized through accurate employee reporting and timekeeping.

All the data regarding the logistics and delivery, including the goods and its movement are available with a tracking system. Hence, there is a reliable data that can support different claims should there be hiccups in the process.

 

Security and Safety

With a GPS tracking system, the safety and security of the drivers, including the vehicles are not compromised. Their location and delivery progress are monitored, allowing a quick response in cases of emergencies. Apart from the vehicle location, unsafe driving behaviors can trigger real-time alerts. With these actions monitored, risks of accidents that lead to injuries can be avoided. A better driving behavior leads to less vehicle wear and tear.

Additionally, you will be able to keep track of the vehicle’s usage and note down when preventive maintenance and repair scheduling services are necessary. Because of the real-time location tracking feature, a tracking system is also an effective measure against vehicle theft.

Tracking systems generally come with cameras that capture a video footage that displays the vehicle speed, time, and location. This can serve as a confirmation to back up insurance claims in cases of unfortunate accidents, especially when the drivers are not at fault. Hence, GPS trackers can cut fleet insurance costs by an accurate calculation of vehicle mileage, improved driver safety and enhanced fleet security.

Overall, a fleet tracking system can definitely improve your business performance in several areas because of the different features that you can utilize to optimize and improve your processes. With a monitoring system, processes in delivering goods and services can be carried out efficiently. Cost reduction and customer satisfaction alone were already significant factors that will have a positive impact on your business. Add to this an effective planning process with employee accountability, as well as a secured logistic implementation and for sure, your business is on the winning side.

 

The post How can fleet tracking improve your business performance appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Make money selling your creations on Etsy

Reading Time: 3 mins

The internet has made it easier than ever to make the most of our talents, but many people are still not taking advantage of that, particularly when it comes to crafts.

Turning a hobby into a business can often be quite a scary prospect, but it’s incredibly simple to start small and build big, with a number of sites offering people that kick start to do so.

Etsy is one brand that has really thrived at doing this and more and more people are starting to open Etsy stores and sell their wares. So, why don’t you?

If you’re looking to turn your hobbies into a business, then simply follow these simple tips and get started in absolutely no time…

 

Consider What You Want To Sell

Of course, first things first you need to decide what you want to sell.

For some that might be easier than others. If you’ve one craft you can market, then it can be full steam ahead. However, if you have many talents then you may need to start with one and then build your catalogue and reputation as you go.

Etsy hosts all manner of businesses from clothing to toys, artwork and home furnishings, so there’s always an option to open a store and create a customer base.

 

Think About Branding

Once you know what you’re going to sell you should really consider your branding. Who is your target market? What is your USP? While having an Etsy market may only be a side business, it’s always a good idea to treat it professionally.

By building a brand you’ll become more recognisable. Think about your business name and design a logo for your store. This will help identify you and stand out among the rest. You could even add your logo to your items.

There are tons of programmes and services out there that can help with this, such as Tailor Brands, which will help you easily design a logo for very little cost.

 

Set Up Your Store

From there you can set up your Etsy store, adding your brand logo and unique feel to your market.

It’s also useful to have taken photographs of your products so the consumer knows exactly what they will receive.

Setting up a shop is simple and takes just a few steps. Firstly, visit the Etsy website and click ‘Sell’ in the top right hand corner.

Click ‘Open Your Etsy Shop’ and register an account, entering all the necessary information required.

Here you can choose your shop name and insert logos etc. This needs to be completed via a desktop device. However, once you’re up and running you can even manage your store through the Etsy mobile app.

You’ll need to enter information in the About section, add banners and images and things such as shipping policies, so do make sure you’re clear in what is viable and what isn’t when it comes to selling and delivering.

Once this is complete you can begin to add products, and from there you are away!

 

Start Marketing Your Store

If you really want to boost your sales you can then start to market your store. This can be done in a number of ways, from optimising your store for Etsy searches to finding local craft fairs to be a part of.

Adding a location of your store is always worthwhile to appear in local searches, while you can also push paid advertising to reach a wider audience.

It’s important to start small though, so get to grips with your store first, figure out what’s manageable in terms of working capacity and take it from there…

 

The post Make money selling your creations on Etsy appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Get paid £40 an hour to stand in a crowd

Reading Time: 2 mins

 

Ever dreamed about getting paid to just stand somewhere? Or even better, getting paid to stand at an event?!

An online one-stop shop platform for events and exhibitions is looking to recruit people to be part of the ‘crowd’ at some of the UK’s leading events.

The Job

Crowd actors will fill spaces in crowds, laugh on cue, act interested and ultimately populate an event or exhibition stand to make it look busier.

An online exhibition platform is recruiting members of the public to attend some of the UK’s leading exhibitions and events as crowd actors, who will be paid to populate an event or exhibition stand, to make it look busier than it is.
This service has been launched by ExpoCart, in the hopes it will be an effective solution for quiet stands and events, and a good way for members of the public to make some extra money ahead of Christmas.

Pay and Perks

Crowd actors will be paid £40 an hour as well as travel expenses, with the potential to earn up to £300 a day ahead of Christmas.

What’s more you get free entry to some possibly cool events. That sounds pretty great to us. Also standing feels so much better when you know your feet are earning you sweet, sweet monies.

Skills

The ideal candidate will be confident talking to strangers, and comfortable in busy environments. Applicants must be over the age of 18 and have the flexibility to work around the country with a full driving license.

Some acting jobs will include dressing in formal attire, as well as evening work. Events and exhibitions which will require crowd actors include trade shows, comedy gigs, wedding shows, and tech and consumer exhibitions.

Jasmine Eilfield, co-founder and CPO of ExpoCart, said,
“No one wants to give a talk to an empty audience, or visit an empty stand. So, we thought why not create a service that solves both these problems – customers are more inclined to engage with a business or person if somebody else already is, and on the flip side professionals can be confident knowing they are keeping up appearances!

“We’ve already got some actors signed up to the service, but after speaking to our event partners, we anticipate demand to be high, so need a lot more actors onboard. If you’re a confident person who wants to work in a flexible, varied job role, I encourage you to get in touch with us!”

Crowd actors will be paid £40 an hour, those interested in applying for the role can do so here:

Apply

The post Get paid £40 an hour to stand in a crowd appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

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Why you need a logo for your business

Reading Time: 3 mins

Starting your own business is a challenging prospect. With all the other things you have to maintain, you probably haven’t given much thought to your branding or, more importantly, your logo. But your logo is immensely important to the success of your business. It represents the face of your company and, more importantly, your brand.

But what exactly is your brand? Branding is the process and practice of creating a visual association with your company. Customers already understand your brand. When they interact with you and form opinions about the service they get, the quality of your products, and what they think about your company, your brand is formed. It exists in the minds of your customers. Branding is taking this idea and putting a face to it so that customers will associate the thoughts and feelings they have about your company with this imagery. A logo is the focal point of branding; it’s what everything about your brand stands around.

There are plenty of ways to get a logo created for your business. You can hire a professional designer to make one or you can make one yourself. In fact, here’s an easy to use logo maker that you can use to do just that. However you do it, it’s a necessary step to establish your brand. Read on to find out why.

 

A Logo Communicates Your Identity

In the business world, you want your customers and leads to recognize and remember you. Having a good logo helps with this, and what helps, even more, is using it to its full potential. You can put your logo on letterheads, advertisements, vehicles, flyers, business cards, your website, and anything else you want to associate with your brand. Using your logo liberally tells the world that you’re a thriving company with relevant goods and services to offer.

 

A Logo Entices New Customers

People are interested in flashy colors and unique visuals. Having the name of your business plastered across your website or shop in a plain font isn’t going to garner much attention. On the other hand, a well-designed logo that’s unique and draws attention to itself will have potential new customers wonder what exactly you’re offering and what makes it so great that it’s represented by this amazing logo.

 

A Logo Differentiates You From Competition

A good logo should differentiate you from your competition. It sets you apart from the cliched ideas used in your industry. Think, for example, how many independent pizza shops have a little chef with a tall, white hat, holding an oversized pizza as their logo. Now think about how many of those pizza joints you can differentiate from each other. Your logo should push the boundaries. Strive to be different.

 

A Logo Creates Brand Loyalty

A good logo creates a certain expectation in the mind of your customers. They associate the logo with your business and, when they see it in other areas or products, they automatically associate the quality they get from your other products and services with whatever it is they’ve encountered. This is brand loyalty. Having a strong message and brand associated with your logo is a powerful thing. And it’s something that every business should encourage

.

A Logo Can Be Anywhere

Having a logo means you can build an association for your customers across everything you make or do. You can have it on all of your stationery, on your website, social media, and your packaging. It’s the perfect way to advertise your brand as these logos can end up in all sorts of places, whether it’s online, in the store, or in your customer’s homes. If your brand’s message is clear, and it’s been tied to your logo, everything that has your logo on it reflects this message and your business.

Having a good logo that communicates your brand’s message is an invaluable business tool. Even if you don’t spend a lot of resources on having one made, just having a logo is going to create an awareness in your customers that gives them a positive association and will keep them familiar with you.

The post Why you need a logo for your business appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Get paid £25k to travel to 40 countries

Reading Time: 2 mins

Calling all travelholics. Time to make your dreams come true. You can get your travels financed!

The Job

Wowcher has today advertised a dream job as a ‘Travel Ambassador’ for which a lucky applicant will be paid £25,000. Also, as part of this they will get to travel to 40 countries across the world. It’s a 12-month contract and you can even take a travel companion on each trip.

Wowcher has launched a national search to find a paid ambassador to experience the 40 global destinations featured in its £99 Mystery Holiday deal. The Mystery Holiday deal recently went viral thanks to lots of excited news. Also, two singletons had booked the deal as their first date to a surprise destination.

Tasks

• Travelling – 40 destinations contained in our famous Mystery Holiday – Including Las Vegas, New York, Bali, Thailand, Disneyland, Dubai, Venice, Iceland and many more. Visit the historical points of interest in each location. Sounds pretty tasty if you ask us!
• Photography – capture your experience and places of interest on camera. Get snapping, we like this a lot.
• Vlog/Blog – create regular unique content based on your travels. Something most of us can do!
• Social Media – managing social accounts to keep people updated on you experiences and travel. Sign us up!

Terms

• The successful applicant will be paid a salary of £25,000
• The successful applicant will be able to take 1 travel companion (can be changed per trip).
• Some trips will incorporate multiple destinations in the single trip. Therefore travel arrangements are flexible and will be coordinated with you.
• Excursions are provided.
• 12 month contract.

Requirements

• Aged over 18
• A valid passport
• A love for travel and content creation

How to enter

To enter, applicants are asked to submit a 30 second video on why they feel they are the best candidate for the role.  Videos can be submitted on either Instagram or Twitter and must tag @Wowcher, include the #WowcherDreamJob & #WowcherMysteryHoliday. As well as tag three more friends. Also, applicants and must be following all @Wowcher social accounts. The deadline for submissions is the 30th of December 2019, and further terms and conditions can be found here.

 

The post Get paid £25k to travel to 40 countries appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

How to write a killer CV

Reading Time: 12 mins

Whether you’re looking for your first gig or have a good few years’ worth of experience under your belt, you need a great CV. The job market is tough; you’re often up against dozens or even hundreds of other candidates when applying for a job.

According to the BBC, on average 60 people compete for a low skilled job and 20 for a skilled one.

To stand out in the crowd, you need an outstanding CV. And we’re here to help with our foolproof guide to perfecting your resume.

• CV essentials: what you must include
• What style of CV you should go for
• Common CV mistakes
• Covering letters

 

The purpose of a CV

The key purpose of your CV is simple and it’s to get you a job interview.

It also acts as your business card since it has your details on it, and employers use it as a reminder of what you’re about when your interview is over.

In short, your CV is a marketing tool – and you’re the product.

This means your CV should help you sell your skills. So remember: you’re writing your CV for a potential employer and not for yourself.

A good way to think about is, to misquote John F. Kennedy: ask not what your employer can do for you; ask what you can do for your employer. Don’t waste time telling your potential employers how great the job would be for you; instead, show them how you can contribute to the organisation.

According to research quoted in The Guardian, employers spend less than 30 seconds – and potentially only as little as 6.25 seconds – looking at your CV before deciding whether or not to invite you for an interview. So you really need to make it easy for them to make it a yes.

With that in mind, make sure your CV is:

• Concise (don’t go over two pages)
• Persuasive (demonstrate why you’re the perfect fit for this job)
• Professional (include all the essential information in a readable format)

 

Basic essentials to include in your CV

There’s no single correct way to write a CV. Depending on your industry, you may want to focus on a different section. Sometimes you’ll need to highlight your employment history and qualifications, while other times it’s all about your transferable skills. You can judge this by analysing the job ad and doing a little research into the organisation you’re applying to work for.

Look at what other people write

• Go online and compare your resume to sample CVs in your chosen occupation.
• Type, for instance, ‘Marketing CVs’, ‘Law CVs’ or ‘Secretarial CVs’ into Google to get examples. Mind you, not all of them will be good. Many will be rubbish. But after reading this article, you’ll be able to sort the wheat from the chaff.
• While there’s no single ‘right’ way to write a CV, there’re a few golden rules to follow.

Presentation

• Yes, you want to make your CV look perfect. No, now isn’t the time for fancy fonts, pretty borders or jazzy paper. Keep it simple. Employers want to be able to scan over your CV quickly, not wade through pages of calligraphy.
• Stick to common fonts like Arial or Times New Roman (no smaller than point size 11).
• Bold type can be effective if used sparingly on sub-headings, but avoid italics and leave plenty of white space between sections as it’s easier on the eye.
• Don’t be tempted to reduce the page margins in a desperate bid to fit everything in. It’ll only look crowded and unorganised. Worse still, if you make the margins too wide, your CV may not print out properly if your employer wants a hard copy for their records.

Keep your CV brief

• The simpler, the better. Use short, sharp sentences to get your point across clearly. Avoid jargon and try bullet points to guide the flow of the document.
• Unless you’re specifically told otherwise, your CV should be no more than two pages long. Think carefully about what information you need to include.
• If you have a long work history, don’t include everything you have ever done. Employers will largely focus on the last three to seven years. Add your most current work experience and anything which directly relates to the position you’re applying for.
• Make sure you don’t have any large unexplained gaps in your CV. If you’ve spent a couple of years in an unrelated industry, fine. List it and then expand on the experience you have that’s more relevant. But don’t leave an unexplained gap.

Contact details

• Start your CV with your full name, contact number and email address. In the past, it was standard practice to also add your home address, but these days you can skip it or just include your city and country. Stick your details at the top of the first page so employers can easily refer back to it.
• Avoid including work numbers or email addresses. Use your personal email. Just make sure it looks professional first – you don’t want your potential employer to think of you as a ‘hotchick@address.com’ or ‘crazydude@address.com’. Firstname.lastname@address.com will do.

Career objective/profile

• These are becoming increasingly popular but that’s not to say you have to have one. Think of the job you’re applying for and use a judgement call.
• If you do decide to write a profile, avoid cliches. Would you be inclined to hire a ‘Dynamic self-starter with a great work ethic and a determination to give 150%’? That could be anyone. Instead, focus on solid facts that can be proved, such as your key qualifications and experience level. That’s another good CV writing rule: show not tell. Descriptions are great for books, but your CV is all about what you’ve done.
• So what do you include? Mention the position or qualification you have and perhaps the direction or ambitions you have in mind. For example: ‘A retail assistant with four years’ experience looking for opportunities that will lead to a management role’. This will let employers know where you’re in your career and what you’re aiming for. It can help.

Work history

• Don’t get caught up in detail rattling off a list of jobs and duties you’ve had. Try to add a little more substance and focus on concrete achievements in each particular job.
• Were you promoted?
• Did you lead a major project?
• Come up with ideas to dramatically cut costs?
• Don’t miss the opportunity to showcase your best work.
• It’s not enough to just say that you’re ‘highly skilled’ or ‘well organised’. Prove it. For example, instead of saying you’re ‘sales driven’, show evidence of this. Did you beat your sales targets last year? That’s exactly the type of thing that goes on your CV.
• Use ‘power words’. That means a compelling, direct language that will persuade employers that you’re someone they won’t want to miss out on. See how to use so-called ‘power words’ below.
• To organise your employment history, include start and end dates, companies and job titles, starting with the most recent.
• If you have lots of work experience but only some of it is directly relevant to the position you’re applying for, don’t worry. I discuss that below, and also in the CV style section.

Education/qualifications

• Include this after your work history, listed in reverse chronological order.
• Mention the subjects you studied and the grades you got if it’s relevant to the job.
• If you’re a graduate entering the work force for the first time – or in a field where certain minimum qualifications are expected (such as accounting or health) – put the education section before your work history.

Other skills/hobbies and interests

• You can add a brief section highlighting other practical skills you have that could be useful, such as computer knowledge, typing speeds or languages.
• If you’d like a separate hobbies section to share a bit of your personality outside the workplace, be careful in your choice. Coaching the local under 15s football team shows leadership and community mindedness, but mentioning your love of hanging out at the local pub probably won’t enrich your CV.

References

• Whether you choose to list your referees or simply state ‘available upon request’ is up to you. Just make sure they’re relevant to the potential new job or skills mentioned in your CV, and avoid using family members.
• Graduates entering the workforce can generally use an academic referee.

 

 

Choose a CV style

There really is no right or wrong way to write a CV – only good or bad.

We all have differing levels of work experience and skills, so you should select a style to highlight your achievements.

Consider which aspects of your work history or qualifications will be most relevant to any potential employers, then choose a layout to suit.

Many job, university and college websites have free CV templates for various industries in their careers advice sections. For instance, the National Careers Service offers lots of tips and examples.

And to make it easier for you, we’ve put together some of the basic CV styles you may come across:

Chronological

• By far the most common format, you can use it to list your job positions in reverse order, starting with the most recent.
• Put your education/qualifications section after your work history.
• It’s best-suited to people looking to take the next step up the career ladder in their industry or those looking for new opportunities in closely-related sectors.
• Showcase your work history by including company names, job titles and the dates you worked at each place (e.g: April 2000 – September 2004).
• Don’t just list your duties or responsibilities – a potential employer will know, for example, what an office manager does. Instead, elaborate on your achievements, specific projects, promotions and skills you picked up along the way.

Hybrid or combination

• This is ideal for people making a career change or who have been out of work for some time. Instead of employment dates, focus on the skills you have and how they can be transferred to the new job.
• Replace company names and titles with skill sub-headings, such as ‘management’, ‘organisation’, ‘research’ or ‘sales’. Then elaborate with examples that demonstrate how you used or developed these skills in the course of your career.
• You should still include a list of employers, dates, job titles and duties, but keep it brief.

 

Qualifications-based

• This CV suits people who have recently updated their skills by doing a course, those who need specific qualifications for their job, graduates or postgraduates. It’s the type often used by IT people, for example.
• As the name suggests, you should put your qualifications, subjects and grades before your work history.
• You can download a free CV template for each of these CV styles from TotalJobs.

 

Top CV mistakes to avoid

Forgetting to spellcheck

And by that I don’t just mean using your computer spellchecker.

• Give your CV a thorough re-read yourself.
• If your resume is littered with basic spelling or grammatical errors, employers will chuck it in the bin.
• Get someone else to read it. A fresh pair of eyes can pick up the things you’ve missed.
• Oh, and be sure to leave any abbreviations or ‘text speak’ where it belongs: in your mobile phone.

Not tailoring your CV

• If you’re looking for jobs in a variety of sectors, you’ll need various CVs, each tailored to suit individual job application. Time consuming, yes. But your chances of scoring an interview will improve if you make your application relevant to the employer. Take advice from the director of the National Careers Service Joe Billington who said that as an applicant you should “see how you can make the evidence of what you’ve done match up” with the role’s person specification.
• Save a couple of different versions of your CV. When you’re applying for a new job, select the most suitable one and simply make some adjustments.

Making it too cluttered

• Don’t shrink the font to squeeze in more information. If you need to, the chances are you’ve included far too much to begin with.
• Try to look at your CV from the employer’s point of view (or, again, get someone to read it for you) and cut out all the irrelevant points.
• Don’t clutter your CV. Keep the layout simple and let your well-chosen words speak for themselves.

Leaving it incomplete or out of date

• If you’ve been working for some time in a particular sector, it’s unlikely a new employer will be interested in reading about the weekend job you had in university to earn extra cash. Include jobs from the past 10 years but focus on the most relevant ones.
• If you’ve changed jobs quite a bit, worked in different fields or been out of work for some time, don’t leave things out in the hope an employer won’t notice. They will and any gaps will raise questions. Instead, rethink your choice of CV style. List the irrelevant jobs, but don’t spend much time expanding on them.
• Should you have lots of experience but only some of it directly relevant to the position you’re applying for, consider splitting your work history and experience sections. Break them down into two parts: first include ‘relevant experience’, then ‘other work experience’.

Not using ‘power words’

• e positive and decisive in your CV language. Instead of saying: “I feel I have good organisational skills…” put: “I have good organisational skills…” and back it up with an example.
• And yes, use first person. While saying ‘I’ and ‘my’ throughout your resume may feel informal, it gives you a more dynamic flow than writing in third person. More on the tone of voice for your CV in our article here.
• If you’re stuck for inspiration, there’re 100 power words here, and a useful list of power phrases here.

Being too modest

• Modesty is an attractive trait, but your CV and job interview aren’t the place for it. It’s up to you to showcase your best work – no-one else will do it for you.
• Equally, you don’t want to come across as a braggart. Put forward a confident case of why you’d be perfect for the job. CVs and job interviews are those rare occasions when it’s not only acceptable but actually expected to toot your own horn.
• It sounds corny but if you think of yourself as a brand or a product, it’s easier to be objective and promote your ‘product’ to its best advantage.

Not telling the truth

• It seems obvious, but the temptation to fudge their CV is too much to resist for many people.
• Unfortunately, the chance of being caught out in an interview is pretty high. And the chance of being caught out should you get the job is even higher. You could even get sacked with no reference and that’ll leave a pretty awkward gap on your CV to explain to future employers.
• Highlight your good qualities and use positive words to reinforce them. But never tell a barefaced lie.

 

Covering letters: the first impression

Now you’ve got your CV in tip-top shape, you’ll need an equally perfect cover letter. Your chances of getting an interview will be much higher if both documents are as good as each other.

Show you’ve done your research. This is your chance to prove you know what the job involves and what the company needs.

• Never send out a bog-standard cover letter for every job application. Instead, examine the key criteria for each position. Most employers will describe this in the advert, i.e. ‘we are looking for a person with…’, or share a job description. Address their needs in your letter.
• Keep your cover letter short – around six paragraphs – and make every word count. Highlight how and why you’d be best for the job and how you’d fit into the company. Don’t repeat what you’ve covered in your CV, though.
• If you’re changing careers, explain how the skills you already have can be transferred to the new job.
• Try to find out who will be reading your letter and address it to them. Some adverts will specify a name or you can be bold and call to find out. Be sure you’re certain of their gender and spelling of their name. You don’t want to write to Ms Kim White to later discover it was actually meant to go to Mr Kim Whyte – especially if you’ve made note of your excellent ‘attention to detail’. If in doubt, stick to the safe ‘Dear Sir/Madam’.
• Again, remember you’re writing to show the potential employer what you can do for them; not the other way around. Don’t mention how helpful to your career the job would be. You’re a product, remember, and you’re selling it to someone else to show how it can help them. Always keep that in mind.

 

Sending your CV and following it up

You’ve got a first-rate CV and a brilliant cover letter to match. You’ve checked and re-checked your spelling and contact details. All that’s left to do is send it off.

These days, you’ll most likely email your application.

• Save your CV as the second most-recent version of Word or, better still, convert it to a PDF document. This ensures that employers will see your CV exactly as you sent it. You can convert Word documents easily here – it only takes one click.
• Cover letter in the body of your email or as an attachment? The jury is still out as people have different preferences. Many argue that pasting it into the email helps you make a strong impression straight away and it saves the employer another click to download the document. It won’t make or break your chance of getting an interview, though.
• If you’re posting your application, use good-quality plain paper and make sure there’re no print smudges or anything to detract from a professional presentation.
• Sometimes it helps to use cream-coloured paper so that it stands out a little (though not in a bad way like acid lime green might, for example).

It won’t hurt to follow up with the employer a week or so after applying. Call the company to confirm they’ve received your application; it’s yet another opportunity to express your interest in the position.

Don’t be put off by people not ringing back – but don’t be pushy either. Stay friendly, bright, professional and positive. This will come across in the phone conversation and could help you get the job.

 

Get that job!

Follow the steps above and you’ll get frequent job interviews. With our CV templates, examples and advice, you have all you need to write a good resume.

Happy hunting!

 

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