Business Articles

5 Business Tips for Young Adults with Disabilities

Living with disabilities doesn’t mean you can’t have an incredible business career. FE News reports that self-employment levels are higher among those with disabilities than those without. The Delta Area Chamber of Commerce invites you to read on for some steps you can take to start a business as a young adult with disabilities.

1. Get Your First Entry-Level Job 

An excellent way to learn business skills is through your first job. LinkedIn is an excellent way to gain personal connections and job opportunities. Did you know 49 million people use LinkedIn to hunt for jobs weekly (as cited by Omnicore)? To boost your chances of finding employment, you should:

• Use a professional photo. A professional picture is excellent for impressing companies or clients. and save it as a PDF to share with companies and even post online. This is made simple when you complete three easy photo-to-PDF conversion steps. You can then download the PDF and send it to prospective employers via email or the cloud.

• Complete your profile. Many LinkedIn users don’t complete their profiles. However, completing your profile is essential for looking professional on LinkedIn.

• Write content. Compose content based on your industry to boost your profile on the algorithm.

• Use hashtags. Incorporating hashtags related to your industry is a superb way to boost yourself on the LinkedIn algorithm.

LinkedIn is also an excellent place to build a freelance career. If you want to start a freelance business, use the LinkedIn Sales Navigator to find high-paying clients. 

2. Update Your Resume 

Your resume might be out of date if you haven't applied for jobs recently. Your resume must reflect your current experience, skills, and previous employment. You can hire a resume writer to craft the perfect resume. However, you can always update your resume yourself by using a free tool to create a resume online for free. With these resume generators, you just add the necessary information and then let the tool handle the rest.

3. Find Business Mentors 

Finding business mentors is one of the best ways to ensure success. There are various excellent business networking events in London, United Kingdom. You should approach people at these business events. Not only can you find excellent mentors, but you may also find your future business partner and investors. 

4. Watch Business Shows 

There are various business TV shows in the United Kingdom which give you an insight into succeeding in business. These include "Dragons' Den" and the U.K. version of "The Apprentice." There are also some excellent business shows in the United States — such as "Shark Tank." Watch these shows and learn how to pitch and create a solid business plan. If you ever need to pitch for investment, you’ll know what angel investors expect. 

5. Land a Top-Notch Internship 

An internship is an excellent way to learn business skills. Although many internships won’t pay you, you’ll boost your resume and experience levels. Here’s how to find the best internships: 

• Network. Attend as many networking events as possible.

• Go to job fairs. Your school, college, or university will likely have many job fairs.

• Use internship finders. You can find internships via internship websites or regular job sites.

• Connect with people on LinkedIn. Find people on LinkedIn who can offer you an internship.

You can then use the internship itself to connect individually with people who can provide access to more permanent work in the field of your choice.

Don’t Let Disabilities Prevent Your Success

You can achieve incredible financial success in business regardless of your background or disability. Remember to update your resume, find mentors, watch as many business-oriented shows as possible, and land an internship. You’ll be on your way to a new level of success!

The Delta Area Chamber of Commerce strives to bridge the connections between businesses and the community. Learn more about us by visiting the site.

Non-College Grad Entrepreneurs:

Essential Advice for Success

Starting a business without a college degree may be challenging, but it is not impossible. After all, there is still hope for those who want to be their own boss and become an entrepreneur. Here are a few suggestions for non-college graduates on what advice, techniques, and resources can help them be great entrepreneurs.

Do Your Research

If you want to start your own business, it is essential to research and understand the industry you want to enter. If you’ve been stumped on ideas for ideal business types, look at different markets to know where you have a competitive edge. If you have skills, experience, or interest in a specific industry, that’s a great place to start. For example, suppose you’re passionate about interior design. In that case, you could create a business offering interior design services, as the industry has plenty of room for growth and advancement.

While the career can offer lots of flexibility, you will also need to do site visits, client meetings, and handle vendor communication. Click for options to learn more about this field. Other ideal business options include social media management, consulting, or writing.

Create a Business Plan

A business plan is a critical component of starting a successful business. This document will outline your business goals, strategies, and how you plan on achieving them. In addition, having a well-thought-out business plan will make it easier to secure funding and attract potential customers and partners. NerdWallet suggests that when writing out your business plan, be sure to include details on financial projections, business structure, and marketing strategies.

Network

For non-college graduate entrepreneurs, networking is essential for making connections and building relationships. It can help you find mentors, customers, and partners and can give you access to resources and knowledge. Networking can also help you raise capital, find employees, and gain media exposure. There are many ways for non-college graduate entrepreneurs to network successfully. One way is to get involved with local business groups and chambers of commerce, like the Delta Area Chamber of Commerce. This will give you access to other business owners and professionals who can help you grow your business.

Another way to network is to attend trade shows and conventions related to your industry. This will allow you to meet potential customers and suppliers and learn about new trends in your industry. Finally, you can also use social media to connect with other business owners and professionals. LinkedIn is an excellent networking platform; there are also many Facebook groups and forums where you can connect with like-minded individuals.

Time Management

Time management will be vital in taking on all your responsibilities successfully. How can you manage your time effectively? First, it will be essential to have a clear and concise plan for what needs to be accomplished each day. This can be done by creating a to-do list and then breaking down each task into smaller, more manageable steps.

Additionally, setting aside time each day for reflection and planning is essential. This reflection time can be used to analyze what worked well and what could be improved for the next day. Finally, it is necessary to be flexible and willing to adjust the plan as needed. Things will inevitably come up that were not anticipated, so it is essential to adapt on the fly, Harvard Business Review writes.

With hard work and dedication, anyone can be a successful entrepreneur, regardless of educational background. By following the advice and utilizing the resources mentioned above, non-college graduates can give themselves a great chance at becoming successful entrepreneurs.

The Delta Area Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to helping you find the resources you need to succeed. Click here to join the Chamber today.

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New Pet Owners Should Consider These Factors When Starting a Business

Starting a business while adopting a new pet can be a chaotic, happy time. In order to keep stress at bay so you can enjoy both processes, it’s important to find helpful resources in both areas. Acquire notes that getting help with the daily operations of your business through online tools is a great way to take some of the burden off your shoulders so you can spend more time with your animal; you can also look for support from professional pet trainers and invest in a few gadgets to ensure that your new furry friend is safe and happy at home while you get things done.

Making some changes to your environment and routine is absolutely necessary, so follow these tips from the Delta Area Chamber of Commerce to get started.

Make things easier on yourself

Becoming an entrepreneur comes with a lot to keep up with, from important tax paperwork to meetings and deadlines. If you’re trying to run everything yourself, chances are you’ll burn out pretty quickly. Fortunately, there are lots of resources available online that can help make life easier for business owners, from project management tools to formation services that can take over filing LLC paperwork when you’re ready to create a business structure. Every state has its own regulations in regards to filing, so make sure you do some research before registering.

Plan ahead

Another great way to make things easier on yourself is to plan ahead a bit. When it comes to marketing your business, how much time will you be able to devote to creating social media content or sharing ads? As a new pet owner, your time may be a bit more limited, but you can simplify the process by making sure you have spot-on branding. The perfect logo and slogan can go a long way toward bringing in customers, and you don’t have to bust your budget on a professional designer. Use an online logo creator to design a logo that separates you from your competitors.

Pet-proof your home

Whether you run your business from home or from an office space, it’s important to make some changes to ensure that your pet is safe and happy there. Not only will this give you peace of mind that he’ll love his new home, it will allow you to focus on work and other tasks to know that he’s in the best possible environment. Start by removing any hazards, such as poisonous plants, exposed wires, and foods that might be harmful to him.

Also look into some products you'll need to purchase to accommodate your new pet. Before making a purchase, be sure to read trustworthy and detailed reviews and buying recommendations. Utilize pet gates to close off rooms or stairs, and give him a comfy area to rest in. Take this opportunity to refresh your space with a good deep-clean and decluttering, as Green Drop points out that this can help relieve stress while you’re getting your business off the ground.

Get some help

Even if your business is home-based, there will inevitably be times when you can’t be there with your pet. Get some help by hiring a pet sitter, or asking a close friend or family member to come over and stay with him for a while during the first few weeks. Utilize pet tech such as an automatic feeder, treat dispenser, or a camera that will allow you to keep an eye on him from afar. These are great ways to help your pet settle in while you take care of your business.

Making two major life changes so close to one another can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Look for tips on training your pet, prepare your home to ensure his safety, and take steps to make sure your business will be well taken care of no matter what you have going on at home.

Strategies for Expanding Your Small Business

You've put in the long hours and sacrificed so much to get your small business off the ground in Delta, CO. Congratulations! But now that you're up and running, it's time to start thinking about how to take your business to the next level. Growing a small business is definitely no easy feat, but it's achievable with the right strategies in place. Here are a few tips.

Revamp Your Marketing Strategy

One area you may need to focus on is your marketing strategy. Your ideal customer may change as your business grows, and you'll need to adjust your message accordingly. You may also need to allocate more of your budget to marketing efforts to reach a larger audience.

Another way to do this is with video marketing. Create a promotional video showcasing your services, products, or staff to entice your target audience to consider your business for their needs. Many great apps help you edit these videos, including merge tools that allow you to quickly combine videos and still images of the precise moments you're interested in using to create compelling content.

Every marketing strategy can benefit from data analytics, which provide insights into both your target audience and the most effective ways to connect with them.

Form Strategic Partnerships

Another way to grow your small business is by forming strategic partnerships. This could involve partnering with another business in your industry to offer complementary products or services or teaming up with a company with a similar target market.

For example, your real estate business in Delta might consider a partnership with a local mortgage broker. The two of you could then team up for marketing events, referrals, and co-branded content. This is a great way to reach a larger audience and form a more comprehensive offering for your clients.

Hire Additional Staff

As your business grows, you may need to hire additional employees to help with the increased workload. This could include customer service representatives, salespeople, and marketing professionals. Consider discussing any open positions you may have with your personal and professional network. You may be surprised at how many qualified people you know.

Invest in Accounting Software

One area that's often overlooked but essential for small businesses is accounting. As your business grows, you'll need to keep a closer eye on your finances and ensure your financial data is accurate.

Investing in accounting software can help you avoid invoicing and payroll errors, track your finances more efficiently and receive prompt payment. Many excellent accounting software programs are out there, so choose one that fits the needs of your business. If cost is a concern, choose a free option that includes basic features, such as invoicing and expense and tax deduction tracking.

Step Toward Business Growth

Revamping your marketing strategy, forming strategic partnerships, hiring additional staff, and investing in invoicing software are great ways to take your business to the next level. Contact the Delta Area Chamber of Commerce for more information on networking events and other business strategies.

How To Optimize Your Home for a Business

When you are running a business out of your home, you need your house to be optimized for the good of your company. In some cases, you may need to upsize to a bigger house to continue growing your business successfully. Here are three tips from The Delta Area Chamber of Commerce for optimizing your home for your business.

Do Your Research

Before you make the decision to upsize your home, you need to make sure the market is favorable for buyers. If the housing market is more favorable for sellers, it may not make financial sense to purchase a new home at the moment. You may need to update your existing house to meet your needs rather than buying a new one. However, if the housing market is favorable for buyers, you can find a new home for an affordable price.

Make sure you look for a new home within your budget. It can help to sell your existing house so that you can afford a large down payment on your new one. One survey suggests that 83% of people enjoy visiting a staged home because it helps them visualize living there. Therefore, if you want to sell your home quickly, it can be beneficial to stage your home before allowing people to view it.

Protect Your New House With a Home Warranty

Even though you have a homeowner’s insurance policy to safeguard your new home, you may not realize that many sudden repairs and replacements aren’t covered. To protect your budget and your home, explore your home warranty options. When finding the best home warranty company, be sure to evaluate not only the coverage and benefits, but also its customer reviews and service quality. Your home is a major investment, and it’s worthwhile to protect it as best you can.

Create an Office

Once you settle into your new home, you need to decide where your new workspace will be. It should be big enough to accommodate all of your necessary equipment and supplies. You want to keep everything you use for work in one convenient location so that you can find the items you need immediately when you want to use them.

You may need to rearrange several times before you find your perfect arrangement. Adding storage solutions is a good way to keep everything organized so that your office looks neat and tidy.

Know What Your Business Needs

Giving your business what it needs for success involves more than just gathering necessary supplies. You must also make sure you have the education necessary to become an expert in your industry and that you set your company up for success financially.

One way to build your reputation in any business is to go back to school for a graduate degree. Although advanced degrees often come with significant price tags, there are many institutions that offer affordable tuition rates and flexible class hours so that you can attend class after working during the day. Earning an advanced degree is a great way to further your skills and prepare yourself to build a successful business.

Choosing the right tax structure can further set your company up for financial success. Take, for example, forming a limited liability corporation. It takes a lot of legwork and some fees to form an LLC, but you will gain access to numerous tax advantages and be protected legally. You can often save money on legal fees by hiring a formation service instead of filing the paperwork yourself. However, each state has its own regulations regarding LLC formation, so make sure you comply with all of the restrictions set forth by your state.

If you want to run a successful company out of your home, your house needs to be a suitable workplace. You may need to upsize to accommodate a growing business. Once you find the right home, protect it with a warranty, design a home office, and set up your business for success.

The Delta Area Chamber of Commerce offers resources and networking opportunities to ensure that your business thrives. Join the chamber!

How to Get Started in Commercial Real Estate Development

Delta is an excellent place to start growing your commercial real estate development career. All you need is the proper education and licenses, as well an eye for location and design. Read on for steps to take that will help you get started in commercial real estate development.

Career Requirements

The first step is to get the right education. You'll need a bachelor's degree in real estate development or a related field. You must also be familiar with Delta's zoning laws and building codes. It's also helpful to have a finance, construction management, and marketing background.

The next step is to obtain the appropriate licenses. Delta requires developers to have a license from the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA). You can apply online.

Get Started

A good location is the first step for any development. Delta has many great commercial real estate development opportunities. Look for sites zoned for commercial development and with the necessary infrastructure in place.

Once you've found a suitable site, it's time to assemble a team of professionals. You'll need an architect, engineer, surveyor, and lawyer. You may also need to hire a construction manager and marketing consultant. In order to secure funding, you'll need to create a business plan and find investors. Delta offers many incentives for developers, including tax breaks and low-interest loans.

The next step is to oversee construction. This includes obtaining the necessary permits, hiring contractors, and ensuring the project is completed on time and within budget.

Finally, consider safety regulations. Make sure your property is up to code and that you have the necessary insurance in place.

Lighting Safety Considerations

When choosing and developing your area, it's important to think through safety and security. Adequate lighting is essential to ensure safe navigation of the property. This feature, along with security cameras, also deters crime. When selecting options for outdoor lighting, be sure to choose something that is both functional and in keeping with the overall design of the property, like these poles made to hang parking lot lights. Common materials include decorative aluminum and steel.

Market Your Business

Another aspect of becoming a commercial real estate developer is proper business marketing. A professional and modern website is a great way to start. You should also create brochures, business cards, and other marketing materials. If you are short on cash, you can design these yourself. Start by building your company's logo with a free online logo maker, which allows you to easily design an appealing and creative logo. Simply choose a style, icon, and text. The tool will generate a variety of logos for you to choose from to create the perfect look for your business.

While each development is under construction, you'll also need to market the individual property. This includes creating a website, brochures, and other marketing materials. You'll need to hold open houses and meet with potential tenants. You'll want to build a sales team who can help you lease the property and manage the day-to-day operations.

Here to Help

With the right education, good lighting, and a knowledgeable team in place, your properties will shine. Delta offers many resources and incentives for developers, including tax breaks and low-interest loans. The Delta Chamber of Commerce is always here to answer your questions.

Innovative Ways to Look After Your Employees

The importance of taking care of employees at work cannot be overstated. Companies are pulling out all the stops to show their appreciation for their employees and it's for the right reasons. When employees feel valued, their companies enjoy better financial results and have a higher retention rate. When you can offer what employees want, you’ll stay staffed with competent, motivated, and all-around good people.

Today, Delta Area Chamber of Commerce has some tips on how to attract the best employees out there – as well as how to keep them.

Offering Employee Benefits?

In addition to providing basic insurance coverage, you can make a significant impact in making employees feel valued by expanding what you offer with creative benefits ideas. Creating an employee benefits package that offers competitive salaries and a range of benefits will save you time and money by having to hire and train new employees less frequently.

It's important to get employee feedback to help create perks and benefits that your teams will enjoy. A balance of what’s really worth it to them versus the potential benefits that aren’t as important.

Prioritize Work-Life Balance

Overworked employees become withdrawn and tired, and are more vulnerable to burnout compared to employees who enjoy a good work-life balance. A resentful worker can drag down a whole team.

It may also be possible to introduce flexible working hours with work-from-home days built into the schedule. Many offices switched to work-from-home during the pandemic never went back, and those that did may have only bought back the teams that needed to be onsite.

Having the option to work from home is incredibly convenient for employees. Some companies permit employees to work from home whenever they want. Other companies even encourage employees to work from wherever they want for one month per year. The point is that sometimes working with employers for the schedules they want is worth whatever wrinkles need ironed out.

Obviously, keeping stress at a minimum is essential. It’s also good to let employees know that any home can become a stress-free work zone with just a little optimization. That’s even easier if you offer a home office stipend to make necessary upgrades. Encourage them to add some houseplants and increase the amount of natural light available. It’s also helpful to promote nutritious snacking and drinking plenty of water.

Create a Comfortable Work Environment

It’ll probably come as no surprise that people prefer to work in an environment where they’re comfortable. While this obviously makes working from home an attractive option, sometimes that’s not feasible. Luckily, from ergonomic chairs and natural lighting to offering a variety of snacks and setting up a nice break room, there are plenty of things you can do to make the work environment more friendly.

And if the furniture in your break room could use a little attention, you can find the best upholstery cleaning service near you by checking online and browsing what’s available in your area. Don’t just look at prices, though; also check ratings and reviews, and request a quote in advance.

Benefits That Go Beyond the Basics

With either gym memberships or a nutritional coaching program, your employees will feel like you go the extra mile to care for them, without having to increase their salaries. The results in happy employees that are healthier, have better relationships and have a greater sense of fulfillment in life. Offering reduced hours on a Friday or even just cutting every other Friday in half, or calling it a day at 4 p.m. every now and then can help lift employees' spirits.

Continuing Education

Investing in employee education benefits both employers and employees. The ability to help employees learn, whether through tuition reimbursement or a development fund that employees can use to attend conferences, classes, or even just buy books, is an awesome benefit.

By encouraging an employee to further their studies, the employer will benefit from the new skills. For example, one of your employees may wish to complete their MBA degree. This will add value to the company as the employee will develop skills in communication, decision making, and leadership. 

Happy Employees, Happy Employer

Whether you’re offering your employees benefits, work-from-home days, or opportunities to earn a degree, the most important aspect of the package is to keep your employees happy and stress-free, so be sure to get their feedback on the types of benefits they would find most beneficial.

Delta Area Chamber of Commerce has been in business since 1910 celebrating its 110th Birthday in 2020. Call 970.874.8616.

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How to Overcome Your Fears and Start a New Business

Starting a business can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. There are many resources available to help you succeed in your new endeavor. If you need help getting started, the Delta Area Chamber of Commerce shares a few tips.

Understanding Your Fears

The fear of starting a new business can be overwhelming. It’s hard to imagine all the things you will need to do, how much time it will take, and how much money it will cost. It’s also hard to know where to start, who to talk to, and what information is most important for your business plan.

This fear of starting a new business is completely normal and something that many people go through when they first begin their own company. However, there are some ways that you can get over this fear.

When preparing for your new venture and trying to understand the fear that comes with starting a new business, there are a few things you should do.

Connecting With a Mentor

One of the best ways to prepare for success is to connect with a mentor who will help you navigate the many challenges that come with starting your own business.

Mentors are usually successful entrepreneurs who have been in your shoes, and they understand what you’re going through. They can offer valuable advice on topics like marketing, finding funding, choosing a business structure, hiring employees, and more.

Starting Your Business as a Side Hustle

One of the best ways to overcome your fear of starting a new business is to start it as a side hustle. That way, you can get some experience with the process and build up money for when you’re ready to take the leap.

You might not want to quit your day job at first but instead, work on getting this new side hustle going. Plus, you can also use this time to research how much it will cost to start up your new business, how much money you’ll need in order to live, what industry would be a good fit for you, etc.

As an added bonus, if you already have a “real” job, then there’s less pressure on you because you don’t need to worry about paying the bills every month.

Tips on Marketing Your New Business

Marketing is an essential part of starting a new business. Moreover, digital marketing is a key way to promote your services and make sure people know about them.

It can be easy to neglect other methods of marketing that are more traditional, but they’re not less important or effective.

For example, a personalized business card leaves a lasting impression on potential customers and clients and is something you can use to stand out from the crowd.

With this in mind, here are some tips for designing complimentary business cards:

• Use pre-made templates on a business card maker tool. You can customize these by adding images, text, color schemes, and the font of your choice.

• Make sure you have your contact information (e.g., email address) on the card, so it’s easy for potential customers and clients to get in touch with you.

• Include pictures that represent what you do (e.g., a picture of someone using your product). And don’t forget any brand logos.

With the help of pre-made templates, you will be one step ahead of the curve in your marketing efforts. So be sure to try out several to get the look and feel you want in your business cards.

6 Ways to Attract More Customers with Personal Branding

The foremost move that any business, big or small, needs to make is personal branding. No marketing campaign can take off better than building brand awareness for your business. It creates a way to bridge the gap, from a faceless corporation to a household name for every customer.

With that said, building a personal brand is easier said than done. It’s not impossible, but you need to know what you’re doing. Here are 6 ways to attract more customers with personal branding and how you can use it to skyrocket to success.

1. Build A Persona People Can Trust

Branding is about creating a persona people find likable. As people trust other people more, it’s best to steer away from branding that props you up as a company and move towards building a brand persona. 

A brand that people trust is consistent. When customers trust your brand, they show loyalty and love for what you are. Your personality, how you present yourself, and branding tell people who you are and what you’re about. Your customers should be able to see that you’re relatable, and they want to do business with you. 

However, having a persona that people trust and like doesn’t happen overnight. You need to build up trust over time through consistent actions. You can achieve this by giving them value. Always conduct your activities with professionalism and sincerity. Build value in every part of your digital marketing process.

2.Spend Time To Tell Your Story 

Your story defines you and what makes you unique. This is also what sets you apart from the competition in any business. People like stories because they can relate to them better than any other marketing. This is also why you need to tell your audience your story and how you’re solving problems for them.

When people hear your story, it gives them a sense of who you are. They can relate it to your business, telling them what your business is all about. It makes you more credible and a little more human than others.

Your story is your identity, and it goes a long way in making your personal brand. When you take the time to flesh it out, it becomes easier to explain why you do what you do. You don’t have to write a novel, but you have to tell a compelling story. 

3. Always Deliver Quality Content

If you’re creating content, you’re already making waves in the industry. Naturally, your customers and followers will trust you more. By creating content that helps them grow their business, you become the go-to person in your industry. 

Also, consistently deliver the best content you can, releasing good quality content and ensuring that it resonates with your readers. It doesn’t make sense to create low-quality content to drive traffic deliberately. Always remember that quality is better than quantity.

You can deliver your content in multiple formats. You can go with visual platforms like YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest, etc. You can also go with content marketing, which is writing. It doesn’t matter how many posts you put out in a day. What matters is the consistency and the quality of your work.  

4. Stay Consistent 

Personal brands become successful because they have their target audience’s attention, and they know it. They know how to keep their audience engaged. 

If you want to build a solid personal brand, you need to stay relevant. Stay active, don’t disappear for months, and reply to your followers. Let them know that you care about them as people rather than buyers. 

Consistency is the key to long-term success. You need to post on social media, blog, and podcast consistently, which should give you better chances to build a following. Your audience loves being associated with a brand that they can rely on.

5. Engage With Your Audience

Engaging with your potential customers makes them feel valued. You have the chance to answer questions, solve problems, and address their concerns. That allows you to build trust with your customer and develop a successful customer success partnership.

Engage with your audience responsibly, ensuring that the process is for their benefit. Don’t just respond to their comments; ask them questions, and see what issues they’re experiencing.

There are many ways in which you can engage with your target audience. You can open a dialogue with customers and ask what they need. Whichever you choose, make sure that you answer every comment and question.

You won’t be able to influence anybody if you’re only interested in making money. Instead, invest in causes you believe in. Create marketing plans that promote equality, diversity, and fairness. When you lead by example, you inspire the people around you to do the same. 

6. Align With Your Audience’s Values

Knowing where your target market is from, what they’re passionate about, and what’s important to them will guide you in aligning your values with theirs. The foremost move that any business, big or small, needs to make is personal branding.

Aligning your brand values and positions with those that reflect your audience can show how sincere you are. Your beliefs define who you are, and since it affects everyone, including those who are close to you, it can be hard for others to relate to you. 

When you know and align your morals with a customer, it’s easier to connect with them. If you are passionate about something, it makes sense to share it with them.  

People who care about what you do are naturally drawn to you. When they see that you care, they want to know more about you. When they know that you share the same interests, they want to know how you can support them.

The Bottom Line

Personal branding isn’t easy. It takes a lot of time, effort, and consistency. You have to ensure that you never stop improving and continually evolve with the ever-changing social media and digital landscape.  

It takes time but building a brand name starts with getting to know your market and what drives them. When you know what they want and need, you can design a plan to meet them.

There’s more to creating a successful business than having a great product. You also need to build awareness, which you can do by using social media. Try these tips today and see how personal branding can help you start your own business empire.

6 Customer Service Tools to Increase Loyalty

If you want to get your business noticed and build customer loyalty, you must prioritize the customer experience. In today’s highly competitive marketplace, buyers have an increasing number of options, making it more difficult than ever to attract and retain customers. Each year, the average business can lose a large portion of its overall client base simply because it failed to establish solid customer relationships. 

When it comes to improving the customer experience to increase customer loyalty, there are several factors you must consider. The first step is to examine the infrastructure that you use to analyze consumer behavior, sentiment, and feedback. After establishing such an infrastructure, you can begin focusing on improving customer loyalty.

Today’s retailers need to be equipped with the latest technology to empower their salespeople and engage their customers. To help you out, here is a brief overview of six of the most effective tools for increasing customer loyalty and securing repeat business.

Talon.One for Marketing and Sales Promotions

Talon.One is a powerful promotions engine that helps you to create targeted, customizable, and effective marketing and sales promotions using your customer and session data. With Talon.One, you can track loyalty programs, referrals, coupon codes, discounts, and product bundles in one place.

The platform has over 10,000 loyalty features that allow you to create virtually any type of customer loyalty program for your business and customers. You can personalize promotions using the Campaign Manager UI and have real-time access to any data related to your business using a powerful Application Programming Interface (API).

You can boost customer interaction, grow your brand, and minimize promotional expenses by implementing highly targeted and personalized promotional programs with Talon.One.

Spectoos for Testimonials Curation

Spectoos is ideal for small- to medium-sized businesses with physical locations. It is a robust platform with a suite of widgets that empowers website owners by streamlining the entire process of testimonials curation, maintenance, and display.

When you sign up for Spectoos, you'll be prompted to submit a request form for verified client testimonials. The software will then generate a customized and SEO-optimized testimonials page for you. Best of all, you can keep track of your customer testimonials using the platform's automated dashboard. 

Rankur for Reputation Management

You'll need to be prepared in the event that one of your customers has a negative experience with your business. Rankur's suite of reputation management and social media listening tools offers the best way to discover, resolve, and handle customer escalations.

Rankur is an online reputation management program for monitoring, measuring, and managing your brand's reputation. It tracks mentions of your brand in the news, blog posts, and online reviews to determine how consumers are discussing your business online and on social media.

The tool tracks any mentions of your business or brand and sends you reputation alerts. This way, if your company receives negative feedback, you can immediately address and resolve the issue, retain the customer, and create customer loyalty.

Motivforce for B2B Customer Loyalty

Motivforce is a leading platform for developing business-to-business loyalty and incentive programs. It is the ideal solution for B2B companies looking to launch a customer loyalty program but are uncertain where to begin.

Motivforce's team does not limit itself to developing and managing B2B loyalty and performance reward programs with a simple software. They employ best practices by regularly researching and evaluating behavioral patterns and their impact on motivation, performance, and, ultimately, customer loyalty. They will plan and design every aspect of your new loyalty program, working closely with you to bring your vision to life.

Once your program is ready to roll out, Motivforce will regularly monitor customer behavior and the success of the sales process. This way, you can continue improving your approach and increase your ROI over time.

Woopra for Customer Journey Analytics

Woopra's end-to-end customer analytics platform helps businesses increase customer loyalty. The insights you gain through Woopra can help you make educated, data-driven decisions for your business to retain more customers.

Woopra analyzes three primary touchpoints: the customer journey, business trends, and customer retention. This data can help you uncover hidden bottlenecks affecting customer satisfaction and determine where you lose consumers during onboarding.

The program can also help you identify trends that are affecting business performance. With Woopra, you can measure how engaged your customers are and discover opportunities to improve customer retention.

GetFeedback for Customer Experience (CX)

One of the most effective strategies to demonstrate that you truly value your customers is to solicit their feedback on your products or services. Customers serve as your advocates and are often keen to give information that may help you improve your services.

GetFeedback allows you to collect real-time, contextual feedback across all channels, including email, website, SMS, and mobile apps. You can also scale your CX program by automating feedback collection at critical touchpoints throughout the customer journey.

With GetFeedback, you can easily design and send your customers personalized surveys. Not only can you customize surveys with your own branding, but you can also optimize them for desktop and mobile viewing and easy email integration.

Using advanced analytics, you can gain instant insights on how to enhance your customer experience. By carefully listening to your consumers and personalizing each interaction, you can win and build customer loyalty.

Conclusion

Without satisfied customers who continue to purchase from you, your business will not survive. It costs more to acquire new customers who typically don’t spend as much money as loyal, repeat customers. Keep customers coming back with effective customer service tools designed to boost customer loyalty.

Here at the Delta Area Chamber of Commerce, we’re all about the success of businesses. Join the Chamber and have access to unmatched networking and professional development opportunities in Colorado.

9 Ways to Prevent Work From Home Burnout

The COVID-19 pandemic has created monumental shifts in how the world moves and operates. One of these changes happens to be the shift from showing up to an office for work to now adopting work-from-home setups. And just like how in-office employees experience burnout, remote employees can suffer from burnout too. 

Symptoms of Work-From-Home Burnout

Employees working remotely have reported being more productive working from home than they do in an office setting, multiple studies have shown. And while a work-from-home setup has provided positive outcomes for employees and employers alike, it isn’t perfect.

However, just because you’re at home, that doesn’t mean you can’t experience burnout. While there are pros to the work-from-home setup, if those in leadership aren’t paying attention, they can really harm the health and performance of their employees.

Burnout usually stems from being overwhelmed with work, oftentimes because they are delegated too many tasks. This leads to them forgoing other tasks that can help them take care of themselves because they can’t seem to get away from work. 

When an employee experiences burnout, they would feel exhausted and unmotivated which can lead to a decrease in productivity and efficiency when it comes to their work. Their sleep routines may change, and they could show signs of irritability and short-temper as well. Physical manifestations of burnout could be headaches, heart palpitations, and indigestion. They may develop negative feelings about work and can experience constant anxiety and even depression.

Ways to Prevent Burnout When Working From Home

1. Taking a Break is Perfectly Okay 

While working nonstop on the clock may seem like the pinnacle of productivity, step back and think to yourself:  how much do you actually get done? Studies show that taking breaks can boost productivity as you’re more rested and energized to tackle the next task.

Stand up and go outside for a bit of sunlight and fresh air. Drink a glass or two of water. Make yourself some coffee and drink it mindfully. Take some time for yourself to just relax and rest to re-energize for the rest of the day ahead. 

2. Boundaries Are Healthy 

Create boundaries to ensure you still leave time for yourself and your family and friends. Communicate with your team and your clients when you’re available and not available for calls, meetings, and other work-related tasks. 

Always remind yourself that just because you may seem to have the extra time to be available, that doesn’t mean you should make yourself available all the time. Don’t let work consume you to the point that you’re resenting it. 

3. Keep the Heart Pumping 

Whether you choose yoga, cycling, going to the gym, or even a nice walk, making time for exercise is extremely beneficial to your overall well-being. Exercise releases endorphins that help you work with a clearer mind, promote blood flow, and keep you more mobile, helping your body stay limber.

4. Establish Doable Routines 

These pockets of “me time” will help clear your headspace and can even encourage a productive day. 

Having a morning routine means you have a set of steps that help you get ready and start your day. Your nighttime routine can help you unwind and relax from the day you had. That evening routine can even include preparations for your morning routine to help your morning start smoothly. 

The keyword is to make it doable. There are a lot of fancy and elaborate morning and nighttime routines on the internet, but the best one for you is a routine that is achievable and sustainable for your lifestyle. 

5. Check-In on Your Mental Health 

Your mental health is incredibly vital. Make sure you take the time to de-stress at the end of the day. Practicing meditation or yoga for restoring balance. Have someone to talk to, whether they be your partner, family, friends, or even a therapist. A healthy headspace can give you a healthier quality of life overall.

6. Look After Your Physical Health 

Fuel yourself with healthy food, exercise, and a good night’s rest. Staying physically healthy can even help your mental health. Maintaining good health can improve your performance at work and because you’re in a healthier space, you can also prevent the symptoms of burnout. 

7. Make Time For Family and Friends

Make time to connect with your family and friends. Check up on them, enjoy being in their company. Be present with your relationships. Your work shouldn’t take over your life. 

8. Don’t Underestimate the Power of Work Friends 

Having friends at work can ease and alleviate work-related pressure, stress, and anxiety. They can also be accountability buddies to help you stay on track with your responsibilities.

9. Days Off and Vacation Time are Necessary 

Just like taking breaks in the day helps you energize for the next task ahead, taking days off and vacations can help you remove yourself from the stressors of work. By allowing yourself to completely unwind and relax, you come back to work rejuvenated and maybe even a happier deposition moving forward. 

Encouraging employees to create healthy routines and boundaries should be part of the learning development in remote teams. Employers need to remember that just because everyone’s at home, that doesn’t mean they have more time to spend working. Employees need to make sure they are not dismissing their needs and health. A proper work-life balance can make them happier and healthier contributors to the business. 

For more insights on being successful employers and businesses, read more of our business articles. 

How to Plan and Execute an Office Expansion

The need to undertake an office expansion signals an exciting time for your business.

Expansions are often needed when your current space becomes insufficient to handle the growth of your business. However, as with any important project, this needs to be handled with care and precision to reap its full benefits. Let’s explore how to go about planning and executing your expansion plan.

Buying New Office Space

If you currently run your business from a commercial office space, you could either purchase additional area/floors in the same building or look to relocate elsewhere. This decision will be based on the following factors:

● Cost: If you are receiving a good deal on expanding your current office space, it will be a cost-benefit for the business. However, through research, you will be able to find competing properties offering better prices.

● Location: Having an office located close to public transportation, restaurants, and retail stores makes it ideal. Not only does it make commuting to the office super easy, but it can also play a key role in hiring new staff and meeting clients.

● Amenities: As reported by Eden Health, your workspace should include all the necessary amenities required to set your business up for success. This includes a low risk of power outages and high-speed internet. Additionally, features such as ample parking, elevators, cafeterias, fitness centers, and housekeeping help to secure a good resale value in the future.

Depending on your current business finances you can choose to either purchase or lease office space. Leasing provides the flexibility of change in case something goes wrong, conversely, buying allows you full freedom to design the space as per your needs and also serves as a good investment for your business. However, when buying, ensure the location you choose is expected to have good growth in prices for the coming years.

Upgrading Your Home Office

For home-based small business owners, a popular option for increasing workspace is to convert their garage into a home office. Here is how one can go about it:

● Declutter: The first step is to rid your garage of all its belongings. Next segregate the goods based on what you can keep, recycle and discard.

● Deep Clean: Before making any additions it’s important to thoroughly clean your garage to remove all dust, debris, and pests, resulting in a fresh beginning for the space.

● Make Required Additions: Converting a primary storage space into a functioning office will require you to install additional electrical sockets, expand your HVAC system, and add insulation. If needed, you can remodel the space to include large windows allowing for ample natural light and a separate entrance to ensure privacy.

● Add Furnishings: Depending on how many people will be using the new office, buy furniture accordingly. This can include desks, ergonomic chairs, coffee tables, vertical shelving, and more.

● Add Decor: If you plan on hosting clients, spruce up your office space with some wall art, houseplants, or a rare iridescent gemstone like ammolite.

Additionally, you can design your office to serve as a multi-functional space, allowing you to use it for events related to socializing, networking, office gatherings, and much more. This will involve adding state-of-the-art audio systems, television, and lighting to the space. Moreover, to ensure the safety of your office and home, we can also install reliable security systems.

If you have chosen to relocate your business to a new location, remember to include your new address in your annual report. Failure to do so can lead to heavy penalties or fines. This also holds true if you have released new shares or registered a new business name.

Expanding your office space will start a new chapter for your business. Before finalizing a decision, take stock of the financial responsibility it will entail and how it will help to meet the growing demands of your business.

The Delta Area Chamber of Commerce can help support your growing business and connect you to the community. Complete this form to discuss your membership inquiry.

Looking to start an online store?

Check out this link to read about how you can do so.

Difference Between a Startup and an LLC

If you are considering starting a business, you may have seen lots of information and terms like LLC and startup. It can all become confusing! The answer to the question – what is the difference between a startup and an LLC – is a simple one.  A limited liability company (LLC) is a business structure that any business can choose. A startup is any new company, regardless of its business structure. Any startup can choose to be structured as an LLC.  Here we will discuss the two most common business structures for startups.

To learn more about LLCs you can read this guide on how to form an LLC. 

Sole Proprietorship

A sole proprietorship is the simplest type of business entity to have and operate. It is a business with one owner and has not formed as an LLC or corporation. 

It’s also the default business form for a single-person business.  If you operate a business by yourself and don’t form any business entity with your state, your business is automatically considered a sole proprietorship. There is no paperwork to file. You and the business are the same in a sole proprietorship, which means you are personally liable for the debts and obligations of the business. This means that your home and other personal assets could be at risk. 

In a sole proprietorship, the business name is your name, unless you register a DBA. “DBA” stands for “doing business as.” It’s simply a name that is registered for a company to do business under that is not its legal business name. For instance, a sole proprietorship run by Jim Baker might file a DBA to operate as “Baker’s Shoes”. Without the DBA, the company must be run as “Jim Baker”.

With a sole proprietorship, you don’t have to file a business tax return. All the income of the business is reported on your personal tax return on a Schedule C and taxed at your personal tax rate.

LLC

An LLC is an extremely popular business structure for startups. It offers liability protection for ownership and greater flexibility than some other business entities, particularly in terms of taxes. The LLC itself does not pay taxes. The LLC is a “pass-through” entity, meaning that income passes through the business to the owner or owners, who report it on their personal tax returns. An LLC is created by filing articles of organization with your state. Fees to form an LLC vary by state and range from $70 to $500. 

An LLC offers its owner or owners, who are called members, flexibility in terms of management. You can choose your management and operational structure and decide how you want to be taxed.

Your LLC can have a single member or multiple members, all of whom have personal liability protection, meaning your personal assets are not at risk if you cannot pay business debts or are involved in a lawsuit. This is the main difference between an LLC and a sole proprietorship. In a sole proprietorship, you have personal liability. In an LLC, you do not. 

Benefits of an LLC

Simplicity of Formation and Reporting

An LLC is simple to form.  You only need to file articles of organization with your state and have an operating agreement to define ownership percentages and owner roles and responsibilities. There are no annual meeting or reporting requirements, as with a corporation, and you don’t need a board of directors. In some states, however, you do have to file an annual report with the state for an LLC. It’s also less expensive to form an LLC. Corporations and partnerships are best formed with the assistance of an attorney, which is expensive. 

Credibility of the Company

LLC has the advantage of having more credibility to customers and vendors than a sole proprietorship. As a matter of perception, people tend to see an LLC more as a more established company. 

Management Control

In an LLC, you can be the only owner just like a sole proprietorship so that you have full control of the business. If you have more than one owner, you can structure the management any way you choose within your operating agreement. You don’t have to answer to a board of directors. 

Limited Personal Liability

Unlike a sole proprietorship, an LLC is considered a legal entity that is separate from you. Your personal assets are protected because you are not personally liable for the company’s debts or legal liabilities. In a sole proprietorship or general partnership, your personal assets such as your home are at risk if there are unpaid debts or legal liabilities. There are some instances in which an LLC owner, however, could have personal risk. For example, if you are asked to personally guarantee a business loan, you are personally liable for the debt.

Tax Benefits

An LLC is considered a “pass-through” entity, meaning income passes through the business to the owners for tax purposes. The LLC is not a taxable entity, so all income is reported on the tax return of the owner or owners and taxed at their personal income tax rate. In the case of corporations, the corporation is taxed as well as the dividends shareholders receive, which is sometimes referred to as double taxation. 

Profit-Sharing Options

Most businesses split profits based on the financial contributions of owners. In a partnership, profits are generally divided equally. Corporations pay dividends based on the ownership percentage of the shareholders. In an LLC, in the operating agreement, the owners can specify any profit-sharing plan that they choose. One owner can take a percentage share of profits greater than their ownership interest, while other owners take less, which may occur when one owner is more involved in the operations of the business than others. 

In Closing

So, now you know that a startup can be formed as any type of business entity. An LLC is simply one of the options.  A large number of startups choose an LLC for its many benefits, and mainly for the personal liability protection that it offers. Starting an LLC is a simple process and can keep your home and other personal assets safe. If you’re not sure what entity type is right for you, check with your tax advisor or attorney for advice.

How to Create a Career as a “Coderpreneur”

Working as a coder can be a lucrative career path. All sorts of businesses need programmers for tasks such as developing products, creating websites, and coding tools for business processes. Establishing your own business working as a programmer can be a lucrative way to make a living. The following tips will help you get there.

The Delta Area Chamber of Commerce is committed to creating a thriving and prosperous business hub in Delta County. Join us today!

1. Learn Popular Languages and Frameworks

Even if you already know how to program, it is a good idea to brush up on popular languages and frameworks. According to PYPL, an index based on Google searches for programming tutorials, Python is the most popular language, followed by Java and JavaScript.

A lot of businesses are seeking web developers who know popular frameworks. Some of the top options are Ruby on Rails, Laravel, and Django.

2. Set Up Your Operations and Administration

Once you are confident in your programming skills, put your efforts into organizing your business backend. Consider establishing a business entity such as a limited liability company for its tax and liability benefits. Additionally, you want a system for keeping your books. It is also helpful to have a template or tool for preparing proposals for your customers, along with a standard contract ready to fill out and sign.

If you want to get paid promptly for your services, it’s wise to create an invoicing process that works for you and your clients. With software like Plaid’s bank account balance API, you’ll get real-time verification on whether clients have the funds to pay for your services, and your clients will also benefit because they’ll avoid being forced to pay overdraft fees if there aren’t enough funds in their account.

3. Start Marketing Your Business

It’s time to open your doors and start marketing your business. First, you need to think about who your target market will be. There are a lot of potential clients for coders, so to keep things under control, start with a specific niche. Try to identify what pain points those customers have that would require them to hire a coder and establish the characteristics that describe your likely customers.

You need a website and should register social media accounts for your business. Another key initial marketing step is to contact potential clients and ask them about using your services. To support your pitch, create collateral that clearly explains what you offer.

4. Negotiate With Your First Client

After someone expresses interest in what you have to offer, you need to negotiate terms. Sit down with the proposal and estimate how much time you will need to complete the job. It’s a good idea to give yourself a bit of a buffer, as many projects take longer than initially planned. Base your pricing strategy on your competitors or what your time is worth. Avoid the temptation to offer to work for free or dirt cheap; clients will value your work more if you do, to begin with.

5. Keep Organized

As you delve into the project, keep your work organized. Carefully documenting your code can help your client understand it (plus, this is a best practice anyway). Make sure to regularly update your client and present your efforts. The more you communicate, the more likely your customers are to be happy with you and your work.

Take Your First Step Toward Your New Business Discover more about becoming a “coderpreneur” today. This can be a great career path as long as you put in the effort and lay the groundwork for a solid business.

What a great resource for Women Owned Businesses.

Make sure to read this great article to help build, grow and finance your business.

Click the link below to find out more.

https://digital.com/women-in-business/

Scale Your Business With a Team of Freelancers

Hiring in-house employees can be expensive. You may not have the budget for it, or maybe you are simply looking to scale your business quickly. If that’s where you find yourself, outsourcing your work to freelancers is a great way to reach your growth milestones without breaking the bank. The Delta Area Chamber of Commerce offers tips on how to make it work.

Consider Forming an LLC Before Hiring Freelancers

Before moving from solopreneur to a business with a team of freelancers, there are five things you should do. If you haven’t registered your business yet, it’s a good idea to form an LLC before outsourcing to freelancers. This helps protect you from legal issues that may arise down the road. 

Forming your business as an LLC can provide many benefits:

• Limited liability 

• Pass-through taxation

• Perpetual existence 

• Professional image

Each state also has different regulations around forming an LLC, so be sure to do your research before making any final decisions. You can also use a formation service like LegalZoom to expedite the process.

Hire Remote Freelancers From Around the World

One of the best benefits of hiring remote freelancers is that you’re able to hire talent from around the globe. This gives you access to a larger talent pool, which can lead to higher quality work and faster turnaround times.

When vetting potential freelancers, be sure to ask them where they’re located. Being aware of the time difference can help you plan your work schedule accordingly. So, for instance, if you hire freelancers from India, they may be asleep when you are working. Setting up a schedule that takes this into account can help streamline your work process. Some great marketplaces where you can find freelancers from India include Upwork, Guru, and Freelancer.

What to Look For in a Remote Work Freelancer

When looking for your next remote work freelancer, it’s essential to look beyond the price tag. Remember that you’re forming a relationship with this person, and you need someone who’s a good fit for your business.

Some things to look for include:

• Location

• Availability

• Previous experience and expertise

• Communication skills

• Budget

Create Workflows and Systems

With the right tools in place, you’ll be able to scale your business with a team of freelancers. Great options include Asana, Trello, and Slack.

Also, the benefits of an online calendar for planning can’t be overstated. Have a planner ensures you and your team of freelancers are on the same page. With an online template, you can customize your planner to outline objectives, tasks and deadlines.

By using the above-mentioned tools, you’ll be able to create a system that works for you and your team. 

Another important consideration is a payment system, process, and frequency. Using freelance job markets, like Upwork, can help you manage the payment processes seamlessly. However, when hiring independently, you’ll need a payment platform to streamline the process. Consider sites like PayPal, TransferWise or see about signing up your freelancers for ACH transfers.

Build a Global Team

When it comes to managing a remote freelance team, the sky’s the limit! With the right tools in place, you can scale your business to new heights.

Want to Help Seniors in Your Community?

Here’s How to Do It

Are you looking for some ways to help aging adults at your church, in your neighborhood, or in your community? The following resources can help! The Delta Area Chamber of Commerce has assembled a list of family-friendly volunteer opportunities and ideas that can help you to give local seniors the things they need to live happily, healthily, and safely in their golden years.

Common Issues Affecting Seniors

It helps to get an understanding of the most common issues seniors encounter. Having a better understanding of what they face can help you determine how best to offer your assistance.

● Common Emotional Challenges for Seniors Living Alone

● Age-related Mental Health Issues Affecting Seniors

● Top 5 Health Concerns for Seniors

What You Can Do to Help Seniors Near You

There are plenty of opportunities for helping seniors in your community, you simply need to know where to look.

● Your Go-To Guide for Volunteering with Seniors

● Everyday Ways to Help Your Elderly Neighbors

● 10 Simple Ways You Can Help Seniors Overcome Loneliness

Additional Resources for Seniors

Help seniors you know connect with resources that can help improve their quality of life.

● 8 Resources For Living Independently as a Senior

● What Seniors Should Know About Selling Their Homes

● 6 Tips for Helping a Senior Downsize Before a Move

From the mental and emotional challenges of growing older to the physical limitations that sometimes prevent seniors from completing their household chores and responsibilities, aging is rarely simple. However, it’s even more of a challenge for those who reside alone or don’t have relatives living nearby. By volunteering your time to help aging adults near you, you’ll be improving the lives of seniors throughout your community.

7 Reasons to Move to Delta, Colorado

Home to around 9,000 residents, the city of Delta is the most populous municipality in Delta County, Colorado and one of the larger towns in the entire region. It is known as the Gateway to the Canyons, sitting at an elevation of 4,953 feet. Delta is surrounded by deep canyons, sparkling rivers, and majestic mountains, making it a true gem in the high desert. The city is situated just to the west of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, which features a breathtaking 2,900-foot gorge carved by the winding Gunnison River.

Aside from being incredibly scenic and an outdoor recreation enthusiast’s paradise, Delta has much to offer potential residents. Those who reside in Delta enjoy a low cost of living, a small- town feel, wonderful neighbors, sense community, friendly vibe, lively art scene, and plenty to do and see. So, if you’re considering making the big move to “The City of Murals,” whether it be for a change of pace, change in scenery, or a new job opportunity, here are seven reasons to move to Delta, Colorado:

1. A small town with rich history.

Delta was originally built almost two centuries ago as a fur trading post called Fort Uncompahgre for the Ute people. Back in the 1800s, the Ute people came to the area and transformed it into a place of water development, mining, and agriculture. Although it was originally used as a trading post, Delta grew and was officially incorporated in 1882. The town got its name due to its positioning on the delta where the Uncompahgre River runs into the Gunnison River.

The culture of Delta has been preserved by the people, and many preserved artifacts can be viewed at the Delta County Historical Museum. Fort Uncompahgre has also been recreated to replicate the original site, complete with authentic dirt floors, working tools, tables and chairs, and even piles of fur and animal hides. You can visit the site to take a step back in time to the early days of Delta and learn about this small town’s unique history.

2. Convenient access to Colorado’s natural wonders.

Living in Delta, you will get to enjoy quick and convenient access to some of Colorado’s most iconic natural wonders. All of Delta County is full of mountains, rivers, and canyons, with the most prominent feature being Grand Mesa, the largest flat-top mountain in the world. On the eastern horizon, the rugged West Elk Mountains lie in a protected wilderness area.

The Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, home to some of the steepest cliffs, narrowest canyons, oldest rock, and craggiest peaks in North America, is just over 30 miles from Delta. Situated about 15 miles northwest of Delta, Escalante Canyon is one of the most untouched climbing spots in all of the canyonlands.

3. The state’s best road for cycling.

With its spectacular collection of quiet rural roads that pass by wineries, ranches, and farms with views of Grand Mesa, the Uncompahgre Plateau, and the West Elk Mountains, the entire Delta County is one of the best places in Colorado for road cycling.

Begin the venture in Delta’s downtown area and travel for 17 miles on Colorado Highway 348 to the town of Olathe. This route takes you across stunning pastures and fields and past Pea Green Corner, a tiny town with huge character named for the color of its buildings.

4. An outdoor recreation paradise.

The diversity of outdoor recreational opportunities is excellent in and around Delta. There are more than 300 lakes on neighboring Grand Mesa alone, offering numerous opportunities for hiking, biking, fishing, and even skiing, and snowmobiling in the winter. Mountain bikers have access to an abundance of single- and dual-track trails that wind through canyons and atop mesas – including the popular Escalante Rim Loop and the Sidewinder Trail.

For hikers in the area, there are tons of trails to enjoy scenic vistas and breathtaking mountaintop views, including the Mount Lamborn Trail that leads to the highest peak in Delta County. Head to the Black Canyon or Escalante Canyon for some vertical thrills, where rock climbers will find some of the greatest crack climbing in western Colorado.

Delta County is also well-known for its whitewater runs on the Gunnison River, where beginner boaters can hop on the river in Delta and cascade on peaceful waters to the mouth of Escalante Canyon. Or, if you’re into some more hard-core rafting or kayaking, the wet rapids in Gunnison Gorge would be more your style. Some additional outdoor adventure opportunities in Delta, Colorado include:

 Confluence Park: This urban park and riverside oasis spans a whopping 265 acres, with a wide array of outdoor recreational facilities. In Confluence Park, there are several miles of hiking, biking, and walking trails, as well as picnic spots, river access, fishing opportunities, a swim area, fitness course, and more. The park surrounds the confluence of Cherry Creek and the South Platte River, the latter of which is a popular spot for kayaking.

 Ultimate Skydiving Adventures: Nestled between Grand Junction and Montrose in Delta, Ultimate Skydiving Adventures offers the opportunity to skydive in some of the most remarkable surroundings.

 Sweitzer Lake State Park: This 210-acre park is situated about a mile south of Delta and is a peaceful place for bird watching and boating. The reservoir was established back in 1960, on which visitors can enjoy swimming and all sorts of water sports.

 Island Lake Campground: Despite the name, this campground is not located on a lake. Instead, it is tucked in the Grand Mesa National Forest, among a thick grove of mature spruce trees. However, the 44-acre Island Lake can be found near, with a boat ramp, fishing pier, and fish cleaning station. Recreational opportunities in and around the lake include fishing, swimming, boating, and much more. At the campground itself, there are 41 camping sites and tons of hiking and biking trails nearby.

5. The low cost of living.

With a cost of living that is about 11% less than the national average and a whopping 26% lower than the Colorado average, life in Delta can be very affordable. If you’re planning a relocation to Delta, it’s likely one of your top priorities for you and your family to able to live comfortably. The median income in Delta for those that own their homes is approximately $44,629 and considering the already low cost of living, this is a perfectly livable salary. Not to mention, Delta homes are almost half the price of homes in the rest of the state.

Additionally, the state of Colorado has a flat income tax rate of 4.63% and the state’s sales tax is the lowest in the nation of states that have a sales tax. The sales tax rate in Delta is just 4.90%, which is lower than both the country and state average. Property taxes in Delta are low as well, with an average county tax rate of just 0.35%.

With all of these distinct factors in mind, you can expect to save money living in Delta, regardless of where you move from. And, considering the fact that the property taxes are quite a bit lower than the national average of 0.96%, there aren’t many locations in the U.S. that are better than Delta for owning property.

6. Its’ wonderful people & sense of community.

While the history, scenery, and low cost of living is wonderful, there is much more to Delta, Colorado. In fact, Delta residents describe their neighbors as being friendly, kind, and just generally wonderful people. They also enjoy giving back to their community, including volunteering at many of the local events and festivals throughout the year.

Deltarado Days is four-day festival that takes place every July and is, arguably, the longest running festival in the entire State. The festival features a parade, classic rodeo, movie in the park, dancing, and tons of local vendors to celebrate the farmers and ranchers of Delta.

However, the annual Cedaredge Applefest, in neighboring Cedaredge, is probably the biggest festival in the area. It draws more than 10,000 people from all over for a two-day period to celebrate the fall season and agricultural heritage of the area.

7. An art-loving town.

Nicknamed the ‘City of Murals,’ the city of Delta is certainly an art-loving place. There are more than 20 distinct murals throughout town, both large and small. The artwork is representative of Delta’s history, keeping residents connected to the city’s beginnings. There are also a number of sculptures throughout the city, with various themes.

The most famous sculpture in Delta is Antoine Rubidoux and the Ute Indians, located off of Highway 50 near City Market. Delta is also home to the Delta Center for Performing Arts, a concert hall that hosts a wide array of performances all year long and is a wonderful place to enjoy the art scene in this fine city.

Safety Tips and Tricks Budding Entrepreneurs Can Use to Set Up Home Offices for Meetings

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, feeling nervous about gathering in person with others is expected. The thing is, if you’re a budding entrepreneur that needs to meet with clients, it might be unavoidable. Luckily, there are things you can do to be COVID-safe while hosting visitors in your home office.

Here, Delta Area Chamber of Commerce shares some safety tips and tricks for budding entrepreneurs who want to set up their new home office for meetings.

Starting Safety Tips

When it comes to safety, starting with the fundamentals is wise. If you want to remain COVID-safe during client meetings, make sure to:

● Wear masks

● Open windows

● Get an air purifier

● Add UV to your HVAC

Each of those options can reduce your risk, so they’re good places to begin. Plus, if you couple them with technologies that help you minimize contact, you can ensure your health with relative ease. For example, instead of hiring an accountant, you can use accounting software. If you need to go over paperwork with a client or a fellow investor, rather than meeting in person, you can send them a digital file and set up a Zoom meeting.

Best Home Office Location

While it might not seem like the location of your home office matters, finding ways to limit how much of your home clients have to travel through is wise. Ideally, you want a room with its own exterior entrance. However, if that isn’t possible, choosing one with an entry in or near your foyer isn’t a reasonable alternative.

If your house doesn’t currently have an existing room that would make a good office, it could be time to make it a home improvement project. Adding a new home office is also an excellent idea if you may sell soon, as it boosts your house’s appraisal value. If you want to make quantifying the value of the work easier, take before-and-after photographs and keep your receipts, increasing the odds that you can request a higher price.

COVID-Safe In-Person Meeting Design

Along with the starting safety tips above, ensuring everyone follows social distancing protocols is crucial for COVID safety. One easy way to do it is strategically using your furniture. Choose chairs that aren’t easily moved. That way, you can sit them at least six feet apart, and clients won’t shift them. By also adding a coffee table in the middle, you add an extra barrier, too.

Getting Ready for Virtual Meetings

When it comes to COVID safety, virtual meetings are your best bet. Along with getting the right technologies, and making sure you have a fast and reliable connection, you’ll want to make sure that your office design is video-friendly.

Select a neutral color for your background wall that looks good on camera. For example, a soft blue or green can be a nice choice. After that, focus on your lighting. Welcome natural light by opening window curtains and blinds and brighten dark areas with floor and table lamps. If it’s still a bit dark, then get a ring light to illuminate your face specifically.

Extra Tip to Improve Financial Safety

When it comes to your financial health, taking steps to protect personal assets is wise. One option is to reexamine your business structure and update it to make your company an LLC, reducing your liability. Do keep in mind that formation laws vary by state, so you’ll want to review the regulations in advance. After that, you can use a formation service or do your own filing, allowing you to avoid hefty attorney fees.

Delta Area Chamber of Commerce is all about the success of employers and their businesses. Our Chamber represents 300 businesses. Your investment in the Chamber helps you run your business more effectively, improves the business atmosphere in Colorado, and gives you unparalleled networking and professional development opportunities. Join today!

Need a Safe Home Office Space for Meetings? 

Many budding entrepreneurs want to take extra precautions when meeting with clients in their home offices due to COVID-19. Luckily, being COVID-safe is pretty straightforward. If you aren’t sure how to begin, here’s what you need to know. 

Join the Delta Area Chamber of Commerce for educational training, community engagement, and opportunities to network in Delta County.

Safety Quick-Start Guide

If you either want to start simply or don’t have much time before your first in-person client meeting, it’s wise to focus on the fundamentals. Air quality and purity matter, so make sure you:

• Open windows

• Get an air purifier

• Wear masks

• Add UV to your HVAC

Additionally, seize opportunities to minimize contact, including technologies like payment and invoicing software. That way, you won’t have to touch items that the client handles, reducing everyone’s risk.

Choosing a Safe Home Office Location

If you have a family at home, COVID-safety isn’t just about you; it’s about them, too. Ideally, you want to limit the amount of time clients have to spend crossing through your house. If you have an office with its own exterior entrance, that’s ideal. Otherwise, try to choose a room with a door as close to your main entrance as possible.

Updating your home to have a separate office is also intelligent if you don’t have a usable space, especially if you might sell soon. With a new office, you typically get a higher appraisal value. If you want to ensure that you can quantify the value of the work with ease, track your receipts and take before-and-after photos to support the higher price.

Designing for Safe In-Person Meetings

Since social distancing is a core part of COVID safety when meeting in person, you want to make sure your home office layout makes that easy. Often, the easiest way to pull that off is positioning your seating in advance to keep them six feet apart. If you want to make sure that visitors don’t try to reposition them, go with heavier chairs or sofas and set a coffee table between them.

If you own an excellent couch or chair, but it’s a little worse for wear, furniture upholstery services may be able to fix the damage. The price can vary depending on material selection, size, and more. However, a large couch can fall in the $1,200 and $3,500 range, so keep that in mind. Googling “reupholstery near me” and reading reviews before you request quotes is wise. Then, you’ll be able to concentrate on finding reputable businesses from the beginning.

Smart Choices for Virtual Meetings

Designing a home office for virtual meetings means looking at the space a bit differently. Usually, you need to focus on what the client will see and hear. Along with getting a reliable internet connection, camera, and microphone, take a look at your lighting. You want your space to be bright and evenly illuminated. If it isn’t, open your curtains and blinds, bring in lamps, and invest in a ringlight for your face.

Otherwise, look at what appears in the background when you’re on camera. Examine the frame and remove distracting clutter from that section of the room. In some cases, you may want to repaint that wall in a camera-friendly color – like soft green or blue – or get a pulldown screen that creates a nice backdrop. That way, the space that clients will see looks its best.

Financial Safety Business Design

Finding ways to protect personal assets might not be critical for your physical health, but it does matter for your mental wellness. By updating your business structure and turning your company into an LLC, you can significantly lower your liability. It’s important to note that formation regulations vary between states, so review the rules in your area first. Then, look for a formation service or file on your own to avoid the hefty lawyer fees.

Many entrepreneurs are concerned about meeting clients in their home office during the pandemic. With the tips above, you’ll be able to run your businesses safely and profitably.  

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How to Launch and Grow a Business When You’re Broke

How much money do you need to start a business? The answer: It depends! You can spend millions of dollars or zero dollars, depending entirely on your business model. Do you need to lease a commercial space, purchase inventory and raw materials, invest in equipment, or hire employees? If not, your initial expenses could be very low. But even if you’re launching a home-based business and operating entirely online, you should still be prepared for a few startup costs. Here’s how to start a business when you have little to no money in the bank!

Calculate Your Startup Costs

To determine whether or not your business idea is financially viable on your budget, spend some time estimating your initial startup costs. 

• If you want to form an LLC in Delaware, you can expect to pay about $415.

• Building a website on a DIY website builder like Squarespace or Wix will cost you between $30 to $50 per month.

• Take advantage of free software until your business grows big enough for paid versions.

• If you need to purchase inventory, get quotes from multiple suppliers to find the best deal.

Generate Cash Quickly

You will need some money to cover your initial startup costs, so look for ways to generate cash fast. This might mean launching with a bare minimum product or freelancing on the side. Here are some examples:

• Consider crowdfunding your idea.

• Create a pre-launch campaign to generate interest in your business while you prepare to take your product to market.

• Keep your full-time job while you work to build your business.

• Launch with your minimum viable product and improve it over time.

Do Everything Yourself

While it takes longer to launch a one-person business, you’ll save a lot of money with the DIY approach instead of hiring people to help you out.

• Focus on the one thing you do best, whether it’s making hand-crafted candles or writing website copy. You don’t have to give your customers several different options.

• Use automation tools to save time without compromising the quality of your work.

• Encourage your customers to help themselves to reduce time spent on customer service issues.

• If you need some help, hire professionals on a freelance basis so you only pay for what you need.

Believe it or not, you can build a business without any savings. Build your business slowly, using the income from your full-time job to cover your initial startup costs as you get off the ground. You can always add new products, invest in better services, and hire professionals when your business starts to generate money!

Planning or thinking of planning a new build soon? Make sure you take a look at this article and get great ideas to make those building materials the right materials for your project!

3 Tips for a Simple and Successful Software Rollout

Software runs your business’s must-have technologies, and it plays a substantially important role in your staff’s ability to produce, innovate, and reach business goals. Unfortunately, software rollouts tend to be a problematic process for many businesses, especially for small businesses. The entire process of selecting the best software and implementing that software swiftly and effectively can be a real mess. It can be just as messy for customer software rollouts as well.

Are you nervous about your current project and inevitable software rollout? Try applying these three tried-and-true tips for a successful software rollout for your business.

Employ Accounting Software

Your bookkeeping and accounting practices are valuable aspects of a successful software rollout. As your business continues to scale, Clever Girl Finance notes that it’s vital to make sure that your business finances are properly managed and organized. For businesses that are scaling toward the middle-sized market, it may be a good idea to use accounting and business management software that has the necessary functions needed to properly manage your business’s accounting needs and track and manage inventory.

ERP software is a great business software for the enterprise company that is growing and needs a hardy system. Look for a package that has the features your business needs for top- notch business financial management, all without the complications and roadblocks of a large ERP. This software can integrate across multiple workflows and help your staff and key leaders manage your business’s inventory.

If you feel the need to beef up your knowledge of accounting in general you can always take courses online toward attaining a bachelor’s. Getting an accounting degree will give you a much deeper understanding of what it takes to keep your business running and running legally, including tax payment and filing requirements, performing audits, and much more. Going the online route is a convenient and affordable option that many working professionals choose, as you can study at the time and place of your choosing.

Involve Your Key Stakeholders

From planning to implementation, you should always include your business’s stakeholders in the process of a software rollout. Take the time to ask about their needs as well as their goals in the context of the new software. Don’t be afraid to field questions about potential problems as well. By addressing this immediately, you’ll be able to align your software rollout from the beginning and make the rest of the process much simpler.

You’ll also want to involve your business’s stakeholders in creating a data recovery plan should your business be victimized by cyberattacks during your rollout. An effective plan will identify which stakeholders will be involved in recovering data and which systems and data will need to be recovered first. You’ll also need to precisely define recovery objectives.

Avoid Incorrect Budgeting

As we mentioned earlier, using the right accounting and bookkeeping software can help reduce the risk of financial problems during the software rollout. However, as Healthcare Innovation points out, it is vital to ensure that you budget correctly as early as the initial pitch stage. There are many investments that go into deploying new software in a company. Your budget should reflect how important the project is for your company.

Luckily, there are usually inexpensive or high-end solutions for everything when it comes to software deployment. Find your “cheap” and “luxury” options before you finally lock in your budgeting decisions. This way, you’ll be able to have more flexibility and make it possible to scale back if you find a better solution that is under your budget.

When you’re ready to roll out a software solution, use effective accounting software, include stakeholders, and make sure you create an accurate budget. With the right software, you’ll be able to take your business to the next level.

Delta Area Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to supporting Delta County businesses and connecting them with the community. Join the chamber today!

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Ways to Make Your Community a Better Place

Do you ever think about the problems in your community and feel like you’re helpless to solve any pressing issues? It’s easy to get discouraged, but by taking small steps, anyone can help make a difference. The Delta Area Chamber of Commerce shares a few resources that will inspire you to lend a helping hand.

Helping Animals

From signing up for shifts at a shelter to preserving wildlife habitats in your area, there is plenty you can do for pets and local fauna.

● If you’ve always been interested in working with animals in need, consider volunteering at an animal shelter for hands-on experience.

● What if there’s no room in your schedule for volunteering at a shelter? There are plenty of other things you can do to improve the quality of life for animals.

● You don’t need to be a scientist to save local wildlife habitats — this guide outlines actions that anyone can take to protect the environment for animals.

Supporting Young People

Children need educators and mentors throughout every stage of life. Here’s how you can help kids and teenagers in your area.

● Joining a close-knit religious congregation can give you the opportunity to serve as a mentor for younger members.

● If you’re concerned about child hunger in your area, donate nonperishable items to a Colorado food bank.

● Are you interested in changing careers? You could look into earning your social work degree online to educate the next generation.

Smart Donations

If you have no time to volunteer, you can donate to local charities. These resources will help you ensure that your money goes far.

● These tips will teach you how to identify reputable charities.

● Do you want to fundraise for a good cause? Try a few of these strategies to raise money.

● If you run a local business, you can collaborate with a nonprofit or charity to support a cause you care about.

You don’t have to be a superhero to change the world for the better. You would be amazed at how much good you can do for your own community simply by taking action. With the suggestions in these resources, you’ll have no shortage of ideas for getting involved.

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Job Interview: Prep, Plan, and Prevail

Finding a new job isn’t always easy. There are, however, ways you can make the process go smoothly and make yourself stand out. Keep reading for tips on how to shine through in a never-ending pile of applicants, brought to you by the Delta Area Chamber of Commerce.

Make a confident first impression

Whether you’re writing a resume or filling out a standard job application, one of the first things employers look for is whether or not you followed directions, according to Sara McCord of The Muse. Failure to do so may leave you coming across as smug or simply unwilling to adhere to simple requests. Both of these make you much less desirable to have around, especially since you’ll be working closely with your employer and their family. For example, if the job posting asks for a list of your accomplishments, a link to your LinkedIn account is not an acceptable substitution. This article explains the difference between a resume and a LinkedIn profile. Another major factor when it comes to positive – or negative – first impressions is your online reputation. This is shaped by the information an employer can find about you by checking your social media accounts or simply plugging your name into any major search engine. An online reputation management (ORM) company has a team of writers and search engine specialists on hand to create content that helps you look your best. Even if you don’t have a ton of negative info lingering on the web, knowing how you are viewed online is important. You can think of your online reputation management strategy as similar to wearing makeup or a fresh-pressed suit to the interview. You’re not trying to hide anything – you just want to look your best.

Last but not least, you need to be confident. If there’s something about yourself that makes you feel less confident, take steps to correct that problem; after all, confidence can sometimes make or break an interview. For example, if your teeth are misaligned and it makes you self-conscious, there are easy solutions you can explore. Invisalign is one such example, though if you’re trying to stick to a particular budget, it’s important to first understand the factors that go into the treatment cost and even better, how to keep the bill manageable. Armed with the right information, you won’t go broke trying to be smile-ready and 100% confident come interview day.

Know your stuff

One of the worst things you can do when showing up for a job interview is not knowing what you’re talking about when it comes to the information listed on your resume or CV. Megan Elliott of The Cheat Sheet recently wrote about the phenomenon of applicants lying on resumes and says the practice has increased by 25 percent since 2011. Employers have very simple ways of determining whether or not you’re being truthful, including contacting your alma mater, conducting a formal background check, and following up with your personal and professional references. If you’re applying with a high-profile family, being dishonest is one of the quickest ways to get effectively blacklisted from working as a nanny or maid down the road. Fabricated information isn’t the only folly to be cautious of. If you make it past the applicant- screening process, take the extra time to research your future employer. Be careful how you use this information. While you want them to know that you are familiar with them, it’s best not to question their business decisions or personal preferences.

Be prepared for different interview types

Thanks to the internet, it is no longer necessary to show up on-location for an interview. Video meeting services mean you can converse with agency reps or the house manager from the comfort of home. This is particularly helpful if the job is in another state and requires relocation.

When you’re interviewing online, clear your home. Make sure your internet connection can handle the load, and clean the room where the interview will take place. If you’re interviewing at an off-site location, such as a restaurant, arrive a few minutes early and dress appropriately for the venue. These types of meetings can lead to a formal in-office interview, so bring your A-game no matter where your initial contact occurs.

Avoid common mistakes

A few red flags to employers during the interview process include talking badly about your former bosses and not asking thoughtful questions about the position. Even if you’ve done your research, your employers will appreciate your desire to learn more, even before you get your foot in the door. Andy Boyle of the National Association of Sales Professionals highlights these and other interview mistakes here.

Even in a booming job market, it is your responsibility to prepare for your interview and be ready to wow your future employers. Be honest about your qualifications and experiences and, more importantly, know how your reputation might taint your chances of getting your dream job.

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by Courtney Rosenfeld, Creator of GigSpark

One thing you learn as a small business owner is that you have to figure out ways to leverage the limited resources you have. That is, you must make the most of what you have as you try to make your operations as effective as possible.

Looking to start a business? Follow the link below for a step by step guide to starting your own business.

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Affordable Ways For Seniors To Work At Home

If you haven’t heard, there is a work-from-home revolution unfolding right now. Many Americans, both new to the workforce and with years of experience, have turned to the information highway as their commute of choice. However, if you’re not super comfortable with technology, this might be a direction you’re not quite ready to take. It doesn’t have to be that way. You do not have to fear change, and you can hop on the proverbial bus for a lot less time, energy, and money than you might think.

The Delta Area Chamber of Commerce is committed to supporting Delta County’s businesses and facilitating community engagement. Join the chamber today!

Setting up for success

Your first goal is to set up a home office that will allow you to work remotely. Depending on what you do, this could be anything from a laptop and a quiet dining room to a full-scale home office, complete with a printer, copier, and other equipment. Small Business Trends asserts that some of the best ways to do this on a budget include adding LED lighting, finding the right space and staying organized. You can save on home office equipment when you shop at large retailers like Staples and Office Depot. Discover more discounts by searching online for Staples coupons and promo codes. 

Another crucial factor in enjoying work-at-home success is being more familiar with computers, networks, and the online world in general. If you need to learn or simply brush up your skills, there are plenty of entry-level computer classes available online. Many are free, and they serve as an excellent way to boost your technology savvy. You can also reach out to your alma mater to find out if you are eligible to audit classes at no cost, which many seniors are.

Running the show

When you are not just working remotely but operating a business from your home, it’s a good idea to invest in talent that is familiar and comfortable with the online world. You can use online job boards to connect with capable, reliable people looking for freelance work.

Once you have a team assembled, you’ll need to put into place tools and technology to help you stay connected. Collaboration in the workplace is a challenge when those workplaces are spread out. By utilizing communication services like Slack and creating an open-ended newsfeed about company-specific information, your team will always be connected. And as you grow, you can develop different ways for your teams to communicate without being disruptive to everyone else.

Now, networking

Even once you are set up and operating at full capacity, networking when you work remotely does pose challenges. But, Time smartly suggests that there are ways to overcome the hurdle of distance. Joining LinkedIn groups and participating in networking events throughout your community can help. You may also consider occasionally leasing a co-working space so that your team can have some valuable time in person. This will help to forge and refine bonds that will keep your business strong as you learn to navigate what might still feel like an unfamiliar digital landscape.

You don’t have to spend your entire savings to create a home/work environment that lends well to your success. Think about all of the things you need in an office – things you actually need – and make sure you have access to these. This might be a new computer, knowledge, or a crew full of tech-savvy helpers that can get you through uncharted territory.

Are you looking for the right college to go to after high school? Give this school a look as they offer many online and in person opportunities!

Looking for ways to keep your team on track. Check out the button below for 36 ways to keep your team on track.

Once you’ve launched your new Delta, Colorado, business, be sure to join the Delta Area Chamber of Commerce to enjoy networking and professional development opportunities. 

3 Hacks to Help You Avoid Stress for Your Move and

New Business

Everyone knows just how stressed folks can get when they are planning the move to their new home. If you’re also starting a new business at the same time, trying to manage the two processes could leave you feeling tense and overwhelmed — that is, unless you have these handy hacks from the Delta Area Chamber of Commerce to keep things running smoothly. 

Budget for Unexpected Expenses

Whether it’s a move or a new business, Murphy’s Law tends to take over at some point. This simply means that anything will and does happen, and sometimes surprises can also lead to surprise expenses. If you plan your budget carefully, however, you can keep these unexpected costs from throwing your startup or moving plans off track. 

Start with budgeting for your new home. You can look into local home prices first to get a ballpark of what you need to spend. Then work with an experienced local realtor to find homes with the features needed to sustain your lifestyle and business but won’t push you over your budget. 

Also, budget for your move and include a little wiggle room for potential surprises. You never know whether you may need to pay a cancellation fee for your gym membership or take care of the costs associated with a flat tire. 

Finally, create a plan and budget for your new business, if you haven’t done so already. It’s wise to include any costs that could be associated with forming an LLC, which can help shield your assets from certain forms of liability. To keep the costs of forming your Colorado LLC low, check in with state requirements and see if you can file paperwork online instead of working with a lawyer. 

Buy a Crockpot or an Instant Pot Now 

If you’re managing a move and a new business, you’re not going to have time to cook. Trying to sustain yourself on fast food and processed options will only leave you feeling tired and unfocused. So what can you do? Well, you can pick up either a crockpot or an electric pressure cooker to make preparing healthy meals during your move less of a headache. 

Want some help deciding which one to get? If you’re cool with prepping meals in the morning and having them simmer all day, a crockpot is an economical choice. But if you tend to forget to prep your ingredients and end up ordering takeout because of it, buy an electric pressure cooker. With a pressure cooker, you can have a home-cooked meal in less time than it takes to order delivery. 

Find Help With Moving and With Business 

Even with a budget and handy tools, this is a lot for one person to manage solo! This is why if you can afford to do so, you should really consider hiring some folks to help you with both your move and your new business — time is such a precious commodity, after all. 

As far as your move is concerned, hiring professional movers can take a lot of the hard work off of your plate. Depending on which service you select, a moving company can pack and relocate all of your belongings. They can even help you set things back up once you’re in the new place. 

For your business, if you need help, consider hiring a freelancer. For instance, you could look for a freelance virtual assistant to manage your schedule and help out with other administrative tasks. That way your time will be freed up for meetings with clients, investors, and other businesses. Plus, you won’t have to stress as much if you need to attend to your move. 

Anyone would feel overwhelmed if they were managing two major life transitions at once. But you won’t have to feel the crunch if you take the time to plan, prepare, and get the right sort of help. Even having a way to cook healthy meals can reduce tension. Put these tips to use so you can avoid feeling burned out before you even make it to your new home! 

Tips for Starting a Successful Immigrant-Owned Business

The Delta Area Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to helping area businesses and residents find the resources and assistance they need. Connect to learn more about how they can assist you in your entrepreneurial endeavors. 

Immigrants play a large and important role in small businesses in the United States. In fact, a report cited by Inc. concludes that approximately 30% of small business growth in the United States is due to immigrant business owners. If you are an aspiring entrepreneur, maximize your chances of success with the following tips.

Choose an Appropriate Visa

As an immigrant, there are various types of visas you can receive. There are generally four recommended visas for immigrants who want to open businesses in the U.S. They include the EB-1 or O-1 visas (extraordinary ability visas), and the EB-5 or E-2 visas (immigrant investor visas). 

Identify Your Concept 

You might already have a great business idea, or you might be undecided on what you want to do. If the latter is true, explore trends that might inspire your direction. An online store, virtual call center or online bookkeeping service are just a few suggestions. Make sure whatever you choose makes sense for your budget.

Select the Correct Company Structure

Once you have a good idea for a business, you need to figure out what company structure is right for your needs. There are four primary business structure types from which you can choose: limited liability, sole proprietorship, corporation and partnership. Bear in mind that if you are not a U.S. citizen, Just Business points out that you are limited to forming either a C-corporation or LLC. 

A limited liability company is preferred by many small business owners because it provides owners with more protection from liability than other available business structures. LLCs can be formed as partnerships or as corporations. They also offer tax advantages over other business structures.

A corporation is the most complex sort of structure available for businesses in the United States. Corporations need to abide by a variety of regulations in their state of operation. This structure is generally for larger companies. Determine your structure then register your business with the state in which you live now.

Stay in Touch With Family

Being separated from your family while you earn a living in the United States can be immensely difficult. To help you stay close with your family back home, get in touch regularly. Set up consistent times to connect via phone, emails, video calls, etc. — all for free.

There are other ways to stay in touch, too, and they can be cost-conscious. For instance, if your family is back home in New Delhi and you’d like to send a care package, you can explore costs through an online comparison tool. Similarly, many people elect to send money to family back home to help support their financial needs. If you decide to do this, research exchange rates so you can make the most of every penny you send. When it’s time to visit in-person, websites like SkyScanner allow you to price flights. A little research can make a big difference in costs and help you stick to your budget!

Overcome Challenges

There are a variety of challenges that come with running an immigrant-owned business, like language and cultural barriers and difficulty understanding the business system in a foreign land. To help with language and cultural barriers, consider learning some basic phrases in English before settling into the United States. There are also helpful apps like Tarjimly you can download to your phone.

For help with setting up your business, check with your state to see if there are any programs set up for immigrant entrepreneurs. For example, Delta County offers legal assistance and pro bono services which are available to immigrants.

Find the Right Source of Funding

Most startups require working capital to get going. As Fora Financial explains, there are a variety of financing options available for immigrants, including SBA loans, crowdfunding, short-term business loans and government grants. Funding is available from banks as well as private lenders.

Starting a business in a new country can be challenging. Fortunately, these tips can help make things simpler for you. 

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Practical Money Tips for Growing a Startup

Are you dreaming of getting your entrepreneurial idea off the ground but are also worried that this might not be the best time to do it? Sure, this is a strange and difficult time for the economy, and sure, no one knows when things will begin to look better. However, many successful companies have been founded during such times.

There are several reasons why this is an opportune time to start a business. For example, more people are looking for steady work and turning to the web, which means the talent pool is full of qualified workers from around the world. Interest loans and other types of financing are being offered at historically low interest rates. There are now more cost-effective marketing tools than ever before. And if you grow a business from the ground up in hard economic times, it can bode well for your success in the future. 

All this is to say that if you want to follow your dreams of opening a business, why not do it now? Of course, for you to experience short-term and long-term success, you will need to ensure that you make the most of your startup capital. From using resources like the Delta Area Chamber of Commerce to hiring the right employees to building an emergency fund, here are a few ways you can do just that:

Get funded. 

Funding can make all the difference for your startup. Just make sure you choose a path that will work out for you in the long term. Start by asking friends and family to contribute, and consider launching a crowdfunding campaign. Check with your local chamber for any financial resources available. If necessary, apply for a business loan and research angel investors, incubators, and other types of funding. The most important thing is that you're able to pay all of your payments on time.

Be sensible with your money. 

Once you have the funding you need, be sure to manage your money well. Strategize every financial aspect of your startup, and come up with a budget that you can stick to. Also, don’t make any purchases that don’t benefit the growth of your business. 

One way to keep a healthy financial perspective is to use a balance sheet that can capture the big picture of where your company stands. A balance sheet details your assets, how much you owe, and the value of your business, and it will allow you to identify strengths and weaknesses. This will help you make sound decisions that push your business forward, as well as reduce human error from manual number-crunching.

Hire well.

Every person you hire will play a critical role in your company’s success, especially in the early days. Along with ensuring each candidate is well-qualified for the position, be thorough during the interview and vetting process. You must have a team of workers who want to buy into the culture you are trying to create. This will help to maximize morale and productivity, which will help the bottom line. 

Save for emergencies. 

Finally, remember that you never know what will happen. A pipe could burst in the office. Your servers could go down and cost you a day or more of work. It’s always important to have a safety net for the unexpected. Put a portion of your money into an emergency fund, and build that fund each month (or week). 

Don’t let the uncertainties of the times keep you from pursuing your dream of entrepreneurship. Remember to research all of your funding options to choose the best one(s) for your startup. Manage your money well, and hire the right employees. Moreover, contribute regularly to an emergency fund to stay prepared for the unexpected. While there’s much more to launching a successful business, following these tips will help you start in a solid financial position. 

If you would like additional resources to help with the development of your business, it’s high time that you join the Delta Area Chamber of Commerce.

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Working Or Learning From Home During COVID-19? Make Sure To Avoid Blue Light Before Bed

Have you had a hard time getting a good night’s sleep lately? The reason may lie in your electronics: the blue light emitted by screens and monitors has been shown to disrupt sleep patterns. With children and adults spending more time on their devices due to COVID-19, that may be costing you some restful downtime. That’s why we’re here to give you some guidance on how you can get a better night’s sleep without sacrificing productivity.

COVID-19 has brought about big changes to our everyday lives. Even before the pandemic, Americans spent more than 10 hours a day looking at screens. Now, with children attending school online and adults both working and looking for entertainment from their electronics, there’s been a significant increase in the use of technology on a daily basis. 

That increase in screen time can have an impact on our ability to rest. Our sleep cycles were already disrupted by pandemic-related anxiety and stress. In fact, neurologists have discovered an increased level of sleep disorders, called “COVID-somnia,” brought about by stress over the virus. Now, the electronics we rely on during our day-to-day may also be poorly affecting your rest. 

The blue light that emanates from your devices, TV, and computers can disrupt our circadian rhythm — the body’s biological alarm clock — which tells us when to sleep and when to wake up. As a result, you may have trouble falling asleep at night, causing you even more struggle when you have to wake up in the morning.

That lack of sleep can even lead to physical and mental health problems later down the line. If you don’t get enough rest at night, you become more likely to experience heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, depression and more. Sleep also boosts your immune system, which is important in avoiding viral illnesses such as COVID-19. 

In short, there’s no medicine as powerful as a good night’s sleep. And in a COVID-inflicted world, doesn’t it make sense to take advantage of anything that makes you less likely to get sick? All the more reason to take a closer look at your use of blue lights in the evening before you go to sleep.

Why Does Our Sleep Matter So Much? 

If you’ve ever tried to function at work after a sleepless night, you know how important it is to get rest so that you’re able to study, work, and carry on the tasks of an average day. But getting inadequate sleep does more than leave you feeling loopy — it can also make you sick.

A Mayo Clinic report says that sleep allows your immune system to release proteins, called cytokines, which fight infectious diseases such as the common cold, along with viruses such as COVID-19. But there’s more: continued lack of sleep leads to a host of ailments, from obesity to cardiovascular disease, that can require extensive medical intervention.

How much sleep is good? For children, ten hours is about right; teens need almost as much. Adults can manage, in general, on eight hours a night. But everyone’s biological clock — their circadian rhythm — is unique, so while six hours may work for one person, it might leave another feeling exhausted the next day.

There are multiple ways to ensure that you’ll get a good night’s sleep after you shut out the lights. One big factor is your mattress, pillow, and bedding. Investing in a quality mattress is a wise use of your money that will be with you for years. Avoiding food and drink (especially caffeinated drinks) late in the day is also helpful.

And yes, turning off your electronics well before you go to bed can make a big difference in the quality of your sleep.

What is Blue Light and Why Does It Hurt Your Sleep Habits? 

So what is blue light? All the light we see arrives at our eyes via wavelengths, and every color of light has a different wavelength. Blue light has a short wavelength, and it’s the predominant color of the light from electronic screens.

Light affects your circadian rhythm, which is why you tend to be more alert and active during daylight hours than at night. The light you experience from the sun and other sources tells your body to prepare for activity and be alert. But blue light is particularly influential, because it blocks a hormone that your body makes called melatonin. 

Melatonin tells the body when it’s time to go to sleep and triggers your bodily functions to slow down to facilitate a good night’s sleep. When you are exposed to blue light waves, melatonin is not produced, so your body isn’t getting that vital message about slowing down and getting ready for sleep.

The screens on your electronics — computers, cell phones, gaming tablets, and more — may not appear to be blue, but the light they produce is predominantly made up of shorter blue wavelengths. If you’re still surfing the ‘net on your smartphone long after you’ve gotten into bed, you’re telling your body to rise and shine, rather than slow down and rest.

Blue light does have its good side. SInce it makes you feel more alert, blue light therapy is used for those suffering from unexplained fatigue or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a type of depression. It may help those with memory loss and is believed to improve cognitive function. 

Common Blue Light Sources

In general, you’ll feel more alert and functional during the day if you receive enough blue light from sunlight and other sources. But that same effect works against you at night. And you may be experiencing more blue light waves than you realize:

• Sunlight is the biggest provider of blue light. In fact, those who work at night and sleep during sunlight hours may suffer from a condition called shift work sleep disorder, which can cause either excessive sleepiness or sleeplessness.

• Computers: with an increased population working or studying at home, exposure to blue light from the monitors at all hours has increased tremendously. In fact, Microsoft officials estimate a 75% increase in time spent on Windows 10 over last year at this time. That’s a lot of blue light.

• Smartphones are mostly likely to be the source of blue light that we take into the bedroom with us. Exposing yourself to the screen’s blue light so close to bedtime confuses your body’s sleep-wake cycle and leaves you feeling alert when you should instead be relaxing into sleep.

• Gaming systems: numerous studies have indicated that gaming too close to bedtime will result in disrupted or poor sleep patterns. For young people who are now spending significant school time online in addition to playing computer games after school, the effect is even more pronounced.

• Fluorescent and LED light bulbs: Although light bulbs don’t have as large an impact on sleep as some of our other potential causes, they do include blue light waves. It can be useful to avoid harsh overhead lights in the evening and rely instead on shaded or indirect lighting to minimize them.

What Are The Best Ways To Manage Blue Light Exposure Before Bed? 

How can you minimize blue light exposure to allow yourself to benefit from sleep? It’s easy to say “eliminate all electronics,” but that’s not always practical. A better solution is to think of yourself driving down an exit ramp on the highway. Just as you would slowly de-accelerate your car as you leave the highway, so should you wind down your use of electronics as you get closer to bedtime.

To see this graphic zoomed in, click here

What Are The Experts Saying?

Katherine Hall, a sleep coach at Somnus Sleep Therapy, suggests some cost-effective accommodations you can make to limit the amount of blue light waves that reach you. “If you must regularly interact with screens, amber-tinted glasses or screen filters are a great way to avoid blue light exposure. Many laptops, smartphones, and tablets offer a shield option that filters out the blue light from the device. The result is a screen that relies more heavily on red wavelengths that are less energizing to the retina. This feature is known as ‘night mode’ on Apple devices.”

If you can’t sleep, says Dan Ford, founder and sleep psychologist at The Better Sleep Clinic, don’t fight it: instead, use the time constructively. “Don’t get into a struggle with sleep at night. If you can’t sleep you won’t be able to force yourself to sleep.Don’t lie there, go do something else: read a book, do gentle yoga, meditate — all those things you never found time to do during the day.”

The ability to get a good night’s sleep is impacted by what you do for the rest of the day, says W. Christopher Winter, M.D., President of Charlottesville Neurology and Sleep Medicine. “Take time out to practice mindfulness, yoga, meditation, gratitude, prayer every day. Establish a solid routine, even if you are socially isolating. (Eat breakfast at 8, walk the dog at 9, Zoom meetings from 10-3, exercise at 4, etc.) If your mood is poor, seek help. Virtual doctors visits are more available than ever.”

The Bottom Line

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle during a pandemic can be a challenge, but with a few simple rules and some understanding of how your circadian rhythms work, you can ensure that you’ll get a good night’s sleep. That, in turn, will keep you healthy and able to function, no matter how much of your daily time is spent looking at your electronics. Even small things, like following our bedtime schedule suggestions, are steps in the right direction that cost you little, but pay big dividends.

How to Manage Inventory While Growing

Your Fast-Paced Business

Running your own business? Check. Rapidly scaling and growing? Check. Finding ways to network with other people in your industry? Check. You’ve got all your company’s ducks in a row and you’re moving forward at agile speed. Now, you just need an inventory management system that can support your continued growth. The way you track, manage, and categorize your inventory can make (or break) your success.
Instead of waiting until there’s a problem, it’s wise to be proactive and develop a solid inventory management plan in advance. Here are some expert tips.

Do Your Homework

Thanks to the internet, it’s easier than ever to launch a business and reach a customer base around the world. It’s no wonder why there are an estimated 5.6 million online retailers globally, and one in five of those is in the United States alone. If you sell your products and services over the internet, it's essential that you learn more about eCommerce in the digital age.

Start by researching a free eCommerce resource that provides a basic introduction to inventory, supply and distribution. As you learn more, you can dig deeper into other topics related to inventory management, such as best practices.

Invest in a Point-of-Sale (POS) System

If you have a retail store, such as a brick-and-mortar shop, you’ll need a point-of-sale (POS) system. Whether you run a restaurant or a bespoke clothing boutique, your computerized POS system will streamline bookkeeping, sales, and inventory management in one place. Additionally, a solid POS system will help you track cash flow, especially if you move large amounts of inventory and accept various payment methods.

Because there are so many POS providers to choose from, picking the right one for your company may feel a little overwhelming. To help you narrow down your decision, look for a POS system that manages inventory and sales from one place. For instance, Square retail technologies are quick and intuitive to set up. You’ll also be able to order new inventory directly from the point-of-sale system, helping you sell and track your goods with ease.

Predicting Customer Demands and Fulfilling Orders

Regardless of your company’s age, you’ll need a process for determining what your customers need and want, as well as making sure their orders reach them in a timely fashion. You might start by looking at their previous buying habits and feedback on your products. Additionally, you could conduct a survey to collect qualitative and quantitative data about what your customers want. Armed with data, begin forecasting the buying patterns your customers might have in the future. Forecasting isn’t always easy, but it’s always important to have an excellent inventory processing system in place, which should include ways to expedite order fulfillment.

Each warehouse is different, and depending on size, your processes will be specific to how much inventory you keep. If your company is growing, you may want to revisit certain operations to ensure a seamless flow. For example, you may need to address inventory processes, determine best picking practices to meet demand or even boost your shipping methods.

As far as predicting your customers’ demands, Handshake recommends basing your forecasting upon previous inventory records and past sales. It’s also crucial to consider upcoming events, seasonal items, and holiday purchasing patterns when forecasting future demand. Depending upon the age of your business, you may not have all of this data at your fingertips. In that case, market research, customer surveys, and buyer personas will help you determine what to expect from your target customers. 

Eventually, your goal as an entrepreneur is to get to a point where you have the ideal amount of inventory in stock at any given time. That way, you’ll be able to meet customer demands without having to pay the costs associated with carrying too much inventory.

This year, experts predict that online sales will exceed $4 million. By harnessing the power of the internet and digital tools such as eCommerce wikis and point-of-sale systems, you can take your business to the next level. With the right inventory management system and sales processes, you’ll take a lot of the guesswork out of growing your goods-based business.

Small Changes You Can Make to Find the Right Work-Life Balance

Starting to feel burned out at work? You are in good company. According to CNBC, the number of people feeling burned out is on the rise. At the heart of things, the culprit seems to be the lack of work-life balance. People are devoting more of their lives to their careers, sacrificing the hours they'd normally devote to leisure and self-care. 

The Delta Area Chamber of Commerce wants you to thrive, so to ensure you steer clear of burnout, here are three small changes you can make in your daily routine to improve your work-life balance.

Commit to More Physical Exercise

Exercise is crucial for your health, especially if you have a sedentary desk job. Plus, exercise can reduce your stress and anxiety levels so you function better at work and at home. You might not have time for the gym or attending a group workout class, but you can make small changes in your life that can increase the amount of physical exercise you get on a daily basis. 

Plan to make little changes throughout the day, like taking the stairs instead of the elevator or parking farther away from the door. There are also plenty of fitness apps you can add to your smartphone to help track your steps so you know how much (or how little) exercise you are actually getting during the day. They can also provide videos, interaction with other users, and motivational tools. 

For a well-rounded program, consider the LadyBoss Pocket Personal Trainer. Designed to be customizable to your diet and fitness goals, it’ll help motivate you to adjust your lifestyle in ways that are productive, healthy and satisfying. 

Get More Quality Sleep

It's tempting to cut back on your sleep time so you can cram in more social engagements or leisure activities. But if you do, you'll end up doing yourself more harm than good. That's because sleep is crucial to your health and well-being. As Prescouter explains, skimping on those hours of shut-eye could end up negatively impacting your work performance. 

Sometimes it's about getting better sleep rather than more sleep. Making small changes to your bedtime routine can help increase the quality of your sleep. Turn off your electronics at least an hour before bed and don't take them into the bedroom with you, since the blue light can lead to feeling more alert. 

Also, ensure your bedroom is comfortable and encourages sleep. Consider adding a white noise machine to drown out ambient noises, and make sure your room is dark, either by purchasing blackout curtains or using a sleep mask. These simple changes should help you get a deeper, more restful sleep.

Schedule a Weekly Friend Date

When you are working long hours, it can feel like you are losing touch with your social circle. So on the weekends, instead of relaxing, you end up overscheduling yourself with social events. That leaves little time for yourself, your hobbies, and simply unwinding. 

Very well Mind explains that keeping up with friends is important, so instead of overcommitting your weekends, schedule one weekly friend date. Choose one friend (or small group of friends) to meet up with each week to catch up. You can rotate through your friend list or simply commit to meet the same friend each week. You are less likely to cancel on a weekly engagement and can devote the rest of your weekend time to self-care.

Finding a better work-life balance doesn't have to involve a major career or lifestyle change. Instead, make small, mindful changes that help you make the most out of your time outside of work without adding more stress to your schedule. Whether it's taking care of your physical, mental, emotional, or social needs, make sure you find time for yourself, even during the busiest weeks. Not only will it make you a happier person, but you'll find it improves your performance at work, too!

Look to Delta Area Chamber of Commerce for events, opportunities and information that will help you grow. 

3 Steps You Should Take When Starting a Home-Based Business

The idea of working for yourself out of the comfort of your home has never been more appealing. In an era where remote work is the name of the game anyway, why not strike out and create your own opportunity? A home-based business is a great fit for anyone with a strong balance of creativity and drive, and an interest in defining their own destiny. 

The Delta Area Chamber of Commerce strives to be a powerful resource for local business owners of every variety. That’s why we’ve outlined these three crucial steps you should take when starting your home-based business. Let’s get started: 

1. Figure Out Your Legal Status 

Your first step on the path toward home-based business ownership should be determining what kind of business you want to run, and taking the appropriate legal action. Do you want it to be a solopreneurship, or do you plan to hire people down the line? Does the nature of your work mean you take on legal risk? Do you need a way to separate your personal and business funds?

The answers to these questions will guide whether or not you should consider designating your business as an LLC. Except in the case of extremely low-risk solo freelance or contract businesses, this is usually a good move. This designation separates your personal funds from your business funds - meaning, basically, if you get sued you might lose your laptop, but you shouldn’t lose your house. It also makes it easier to hire employees, may simplify your tax process, and it’s often just a good business strategy. 

2. Figure Out Your Space

You should always have a dedicated workspace when you’re working remotely, but it’s especially important for business owners. As The Balance explains, people who run a company have enough trouble with work-life balance as it is. After all, you naturally take on a huge workload as a business owner, and can expect to work well over 40 hours a week, especially at the start. It’s vital to have a space where you can unwind and not think about work. 

Ideally, you’d set your workspace up in a room with a door that you only use for work. That way, once you’re done, you can close the door and leave that part of the day behind it. Basements and garages are a great solution if you don’t have a spare room, and may even be necessary if you need space for a workshop.

If you’re living in a very small space, you can still strategically find ways to tuck work away once you’re done for the day. For example, you can invest in a fold away desk, which gives you the power to functionally remove your workspace from sight at the end of the day. Building your office in a large closet is another neat idea, although you are sacrificing some storage in the process. Whatever route you go, avoid putting your workspace in your bedroom if possible, to ensure you have a stress-free sleep space. 

3. Build a Strong Marketing Plan 

If there’s one advantage the traditional business model has over the home-based model, it’s visibility. When you work out of your house, you can’t rely on a sign or banner to catch potential customers’ attention. Instead, you have to focus on marketing other ways. Fortunately, you can come up with a strong marketing plan to fit any budget. 

One option is to reach out to a marketing company and let them take the lead. This is effective, but can be pricey. 18Brandz notes you can also DIY your marketing plan. Focus on digital marketing via content creation, targeted ads, and personal outreach. Great marketing, especially early on, can set you up for long-term success. 

These tips will apply to nearly any home-based business, but they’re only the beginning. Use this as a jumping off point to create your individualized business plan. Soon, you might just be running the home-based business of your dreams. 

Partner with Delta Area Chamber of Commerce for events, support, information and networking opportunities that will help your business grow!

Photo Credit: Pexels

Helpful Resources for Starting a Business from Home

Starting a business can feel a little overwhelming, especially if you’re new to the world of entrepreneurship. But with the right resources to guide you, you’ll have all the skills and knowledge you need to improve your chances of success. After all, business owners are more likely to succeed when they dedicate plenty of time to research and planning. The right resources will help you navigate potential challenges, mitigate risks, and keep your stress levels under control as you pursue your new home-based venture!

How to Obtain Financial Resources 

Every business needs funding. You won’t be able to do much without the capital to cover your startup costs, so start tracking down some financial resources now!

• Your startup may not be eligible for a bank loan until you can prove that you have cash flow, so you may have to seek personal loans from friends and family.

• Join Delta Area Chamber of Commerce for networking opportunities so you can get in contact with potential investors. This is also a great low-cost way to promote your business.

• Many new business owners use crowdfunding sites to raise money for their startups, and you can do the same!

Where to Access Business Training

Before you jump into your new venture, learn the basics of running a successful business. Make sure you know all of the challenges and responsibilities involved in being an entrepreneur. 

• Consider attending a business training program to advance your skills. You could even pursue a Master of Business Administration (MBA) online. 

• If you’re on a tight budget, look around online for free business courses. Just be careful to avoid get-rich-quick schemes masquerading as educational guides.

• Look to your personal and professional networks to find people who can mentor you. Finding a mentor is the best way to get personalized advice and guidance!

Tips for Veteran Business Owners

If you’re a veteran, you may be eligible for a variety of incentives, benefits, training, and funding options to help get your business off the ground. 

• Looking for funding? Veterans have several options. You may be able to get some startup capital from a private firm that offers loans exclusively to veterans.

• Veterans also have access to business training through programs like Boots to Business and the Patriot Boot Camp. The best part? Many of these programs are free!

If your dream is to become a business owner, don’t let anything stop you. Anyone can launch a successful business as long as they have the grit and determination to stick with it through whatever obstacles pop up along the way. Keep these resources close at hand so you know where to turn when you need guidance.

It’s About People

by Roger Campbell

Connecting the Value and Power of Your People to Your Business Strategy

As our country is beginning to think about opening up and testing the back to work environment –businesses are struggling with what to do and how to do the things which will allow their business begin to function at 1⁄4, 1⁄2, and 3⁄4 full capacity. We have been shut down for 6 weeks and holed up in our homes with lots of time to do many things. Hopefully business owners and leaders have been doing a lot of thinking about the business and what the future might hold. We know just standing around and waiting till everything comes back or things are normal is not the answer At the same time the shut-down has been going on there have been many post and articles about leadership which have been very good and inspiring. However, there have not been many post, if any on Management. Running a business, a unit or a work team requires both management skills and leadership skills. Let’s look at a few things.

Manage- dictionary says –to be in charge of - run · be head of - direct · control · preside over. 

Let’s go back to basics and look at the 5 functions of management which are the heart and soul of the very difficult job of being a manager. 

Planning – Determining where you want to go and how are you going to get there. The plan is a road map, a way to measure success Planning, whether strategic or tactical is extremely important. It is the foundation of what a company will look like, who it will serve, what a business supply chain will look like, and what are the chances for success/profitability. Planning takes time and should allow for input from others that have a stake in the business. Don’t be afraid to brain storm by yourself and with others and be sure to be creative and open minded. Write ideas and thoughts down so nothing gets lost and can be brought up for evaluation. Planning is not easy and you should develop a process to follow. There are several planning templets that can be used if you don’t have one. Remember that a plan is only a plan –words/ideas/thoughts – it must be put into action.

Organizing – What will it look like – how many people will be needed? How will they be managed-self- directed /Supervisors? Span of control? Reporting levels? Levels of management? It is about relationships and being organized so that the work gets done efficiently, safely and allows for employee engagement. How will work units function? How many shifts? Can people work from home? How will you get product or service to others? B2B, B2C? Sales/marketing structure? Technology needed to facilitate.

These are very important questions that must be thought thru. I am a strong proponent for a flat as possible organization that allows as many employees as possible be in direct line of sight with the customer.

Staffing – “You are what you hire” How many people, Make sure you get the right person for the job. (Jim Collins – “Get the right people on the bus”) It is about knowing what a job requires so you hire the properly qualified person. “Job fit” is a must. Make sure supervisors and managers are involved in the interviewing process and not just turned over to a recruiter. Establish a good interviewing process and follow the process. Thoughts to consider- Hire for attitude – train for skills. – Attitude is an individual’s behaviors. People – the right people is vital to the success of every organization. Nothing gets accomplished unless people are involved.

Directing – This function brings all the other functions to life. Direction is communicating, appraising, disciplining termination, setting standards, keeping employees in the know, analyzing results, audits such as SWOT, change management, recognition of employees/suppliers/customers, community involvement, relationships. Make sure everyone in the organization is aware of what is going on in the business- new customers, new equipment, changes or things that are happening. Directing brings organizations to life because it keeps everyone in the know and will help promote trust.

Controlling – Very important function to help identify and control deviations from normal expectations. This is comparing what is actually happening to what is supposed to be happening. Some call it managing the gap. Whatever you call it, this is the process of setting expectations and then seeing if those expectations are being met. This can be setting production standards per shift or unit. Are they happening - if not why not. This is where you begin to ask question such as the 5 W’s- where, what, who, when, why.

Ask question and listen-listen-listen. This is all about setting standards for behaviors, performance levels, process, productivity, attendance, quality or profit in the organization. Remember – Plan – do – check – act. Controlling is a very important part of continuous improvement in any organization.

The five functions of management have been around forever. They are the core or the basics of being a great manager. They are not easy, but yet they must be done.

Leadership is the ability to do the five functions in a manner that engages employees to be involved in the business. Good leaders are effective at doing the 5 functions. Success takes both Management and Leadership.

“It’s About People” – buy it @ Amazon.com

(Click the amazon link and it will take you right to the book)

It’s Time to Uncover Your Leadership Potential

by Courtney Rosenfeld, Creator of GigSpark

If you haven’t noticed, getting a job these days isn’t impossible, but moving up the corporate ladder sure seems to be. And it isn’t a lack of opportunity that keeps many young workers stuck looking up but never quite reaching the next rung. So what is it then? According to employers, it might very well be due to a lack of soft skills.

What are soft skills?

Soft skills are your interpersonal skills. Things like showing up on time, how you communicate with others, and how you portray your attitude toward work. And, as Home Advisor points out, integrity – a soft skill that you absolutely must possess in order to grow your career – is something potential employers often consider before education and hands-on experience.

Dress for success, not a cliché

You’ve no doubt heard your entire life to dress for where you want to be and not for where you are. This is never a truer sentiment than when discussing your career. While there is something to be said about maintaining your individual style, it is important to do so while still falling within the spoken – or unspoken – dress code at work. Even if you’re in a casual workplace, always keep your hair, clothing, and surroundings neat and tidy. Avoid revealing clothing, remove facial piercings, and cover visible tattoos.

Punctuality pays

Being late is unacceptable. When you are scheduled to arrive at a specific time, be there five minutes early. This will give you time to prepare yourself and will show your employer that you are organized and ready to tackle the day. Plus, being late is disrespectful and inconsiderate of other people’s time.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

In the workplace, showing respect entails listening to your coworkers as well as your superiors, responding positively, even if you disagree, and simply being aware of how your actions affect those around you. When speaking to your managers, a “ma’am” or “sir” goes a long way toward showing respect for their position. 

Filters aren’t just for Instagram

The digital nature of today’s world is sort of a double-edged sword. On one side, you can say what you please anonymously and without regard to other people’s reactions. On the other, you can control how your life looks to people on the other side of the screen. This has made it difficult for young adults growing up in the 21st Century to effectively communicate one-on-one. Many young workers, specifically in the 18 to 24-year-old range, simply don’t filter their words in the workplace and say whatever they are thinking. If you want to be taken seriously, think about your words and responses before you say something that diminishes your credibility.

Ready for contact 

As they say, communication is key. In the workplace, it’s the key to your success. Always return emails and phone calls in a timely manner. Fast Company explains that this is between two hours and two days, depending on the query.

Work the puzzle without the pieces 

Perhaps one of the most important soft skills that you must have in order to succeed is the ability to solve problems, even with missing information or under less-than-ideal circumstances. While it’s not always easy, refining your problem-solving skills will impress upon your employers that you are not there to simply follow but that you have the potential to lead.

 Change and rearrange

Adaptability means conforming to workplace standards and altering your behavior to best align with the mission and purpose of your company. Unfortunately, many aspiring professionals get so caught up with the idea that they must maintain their individuality they are unable, or unwilling, to adjust and adapt. If you want to be successful, you must first learn to do the things that are expected of you before anyone will take you seriously when you have an idea on how to improve.

As a young or entry-level employee, your goal is to eventually become the next generation of business leaders. However, unless you are willing to show respect in all aspects, your dream job will become someone else’s reality. Work on your soft skills and implement changes at work and you will soon notice that you are being noticed in all the right ways. 

Here's How to Make People Like You in as Little as 5 Minutes

Who doesn't want to be more liked? Even people who say they don't care about being liked care about being liked. And it's especially important for entrepreneurs and anyone in business--you stack the deck against you for accomplishing your goals if you're an unlikable curmudgeon.

What makes this difficult is that people make snap judgments, which means a lot of pressure to make a good first impression, that leads to being liked.

But not to worry. Over a three-decade career of evaluating and being evaluated in countless first exchanges, I've learned a lot about what it takes to quickly generate likability.

1. Be interested, not interesting.

If you start a conversation by trying to command attention and direct things to you, you'll directly tank your likeability. Dale Carnegie once said, "You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you." I'd strike "two months" and substitute "two minutes."

If you assume the other person has value to add and something interesting to say or reveal, it's easy to be interested.

2. Listen first, talk second.

This goes hand in hand with the first one and again plays into human nature. We like it when people listen. Ever notice how compelling it is when you encounter someone who is actually listening? It's hard not to like that person because being listened to is a subtle sign that you're liked.

And when it is your turn to talk, asking questions is a great place to start rather than launching into a series of statements. Listening to engender likability also means your device never comes out in mid-communication. Focus.  

3. Synchronize yourself.

By this I mean get quickly tuned into who you're with. Be a bit of a social chameleon and adapt your personality, behavior, and mood to theirs. This is about tailoring yourself to the situation, not altering the core essence of who you are. That would be disingenuous and will be discovered, thus vaporizing likability. It's about being authentic and adaptable to dial up and down aspects of your personality portfolio.

4. Smile like you're actually happy.

Have a friendly, open demeanor and mean it. Flash a genuine smile. Project warmth and a sense of well-being. It's hard not to smile right back at people smiling at you--good feelings abound.

And while you're at it, combine a confident, upright posture with that smile. You're self-confidence gives them confidence in you--a likable trait.

5. Give them 10 percent more.

Energy, that is. People are drawn to those who emit positivity and energy (without being over the top). The idea is to reach down and give your counterpart 10 percent more energy than they'll see from anyone else that day. Be more positive-minded and give more (genuine) compliments than they'll get all day. The 10 percent more will help contribute to you being 10 times more likable than most people they meet.

                                                             - Scott Mautz- Professional Speaker and Author

Important ways to use Tech for Small Business by Courtney Rosenfeld, Creator of GigSpark

One thing you learn as a small business owner is that you have to figure out ways to leverage the limited resources you have. That is, you must make the most of what you have as you try to make your operations as effective as possible. 

Enter technology. There are many types of tech on the market today that can increase your company’s efficiency and productivity so much that you can’t really afford to ignore them. Some tech can be seamlessly woven into your operations, while others may take some getting used to. Even so, the money you save and the quality of services you can provide make any investment of time and money well worth it. 

If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, here are some practical ways you can start incorporating tech:

Take advantage of a high-performing smartphone

When you’re out of the office, you still need to run your business, and the last thing you need is an outdated smartphone slowing you down. A newer model will allow you to run any business-related apps, keep up with email, and hold video calls with your clients and employees if necessary. If you’re looking for speed, the iPhone 11 Pro Max has an A13 Bionic chip, which is the fastest chip on a smartphone. This phone also has up to 18 hours of battery life. If you’d rather own an Android, the OnePlus 7 Pro performs well and has a quick-charging battery.

Boost your website with PHP. 

Having a website that serves your customers’ needs is one of the things you can’t afford to ignore in this day and age. Not only is it imperative to have a website, you need one that functions quickly and reliably. 

PHP is a coding language used on most websites, including the website platform giant WordPress. That said, you should hire a PHP developer who can boost the power of your site from behind the scenes and build a user-friendly interface that you can update yourself. You can review job boards to find all kinds of freelancers, whether it’s in the field of web development, sales and marketing, or administrative support. Just make sure they understand exactly what you need done and that they have the necessary expertise to complete each task. 

Track your time. 

It’s easy to lose track of where time is spent by you and your employees. Incorporating time tracking tools can mitigate this problem, and as a result, it can help to make your operations more efficient and productive. Plus, time tracking can help to keep team members accountable and focused on the tasks at hand. 

Keep up with your finances.

Finances can also be difficult to track. If you can’t or don’t want to hire an accountant at the moment, consider getting accounting software. There are many different types of accounting software to choose from today. The one that works best for you will depend on how much you can invest and what exactly you need from the software. 

Secure your business.

Small businesses are a huge target for cybercriminals these days, and it’s mostly because a lot of small business owners don’t prioritize network security. Nonetheless, 58% of cyber attacks happen to small businesses. Make sure you have all the necessary security software (e.g., firewalls, encryption, anti-malware, etc.) in place, and keep the software regularly updated. Also, learn how to implement security measures in the workplace and educate your employees to help keep company data secure. 

Make videos.

Video ads are arguably the most effective way for a company to imprint on a potential customer. These days, companies of all shapes and sizes are using video not only to directly promote their product or services, but also to educate and entertain people. Filming a video for your small business can help you to broaden your customer reach, rank higher in SEO and make your brand relatable, among many other benefits. 

There are many ways to take advantage of tech for your small business. Remember to hire PHP developers for your website, and explore your options with time tracking and accounting tools. Also, get any necessary security software, and take proper precautions to keep your company data safe. Lastly, learn how to make effective videos (or hire professionals) to build your brand. Keep researching all the tech tools out there that can help your business reach new heights.