How can businesses advertise to their customers without being intrusive?

If you're a business owner, you know how important it is to advertise your brand. You've probably tried all kinds of advertising methods, including radio, television and print ads.

But are these traditional marketing methods still effective? The answer is "yes." But there's more to it than just throwing an ad in front of people's faces and hoping for the best.

Here are some tips for advertising effectively:

Show your customers that you care about them

A lot of businesses just don't seem to care about their customers anymore — but this can be detrimental to your success. If someone feels like they're just another number or dollar sign, they're likely to go elsewhere for their needs and services. If you show them that you care about them as individuals by offering personalized service, they'll feel like they matter more than just another customer at your business.

Create content that speaks directly to your ideal customer base. Know who your ideal customer is — what age group do they fall into? What gender? What interests do they have? Create content that speaks directly to them on social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter so they feel like their questions are being answered right away by someone who knows what they're talking about.

Promote the right product to the right people

You need to promote your products to people who are interested in them. You can do this by targeting your ads based on people's interests, location and other factors.

The best way to do this is using Facebook's Custom Audiences tool. This lets you upload a list of email addresses or phone numbers and then target your ads so that they show up only on Facebook pages that contain those email addresses or phone numbers.

This is particularly useful for e-commerce merchants as it allows them to show their products only to customers who have already bought something from them.

If you don't have a customer list yet (or if your business is still too small), then try running Facebook ads based on interests instead: choose an interest category that matches with your product (for example, if you're selling hiking gear then choose "Outdoor Recreation") and start running ads there. Then look at which ad gets the highest conversion rate and start showing it more often than other ads in that same category.

Engage your leads and prospects on social media

The best way to advertise to your customers without bothering them is by engaging them in conversation, whether it's through a Facebook post or a Twitter reply. You can also use social media ads to target those who have already shown interest in your brand.

There are many different types of social media ads you can use for this purpose:

Facebook ads: You can target people based on their interests, demographics and location. When you create an ad, you'll be asked about the audience you want to reach and what kind of post they'll see when they click on that ad. For example, if you're promoting a new product line, you might choose an image of one of the products with a caption that asks "What's your favorite item?".

Twitter ads: You can target users based on keywords they've tweeted at least once in the past 30 days. This allows you to reach users who may not follow your business account but are talking about similar topics as those who do follow it.

Track your customer behavior, and optimize accordingly

When you know what customers do on your landing page, you can optimize the content and design to better suit their needs. For example, if most people are clicking on the “buy now” button instead of scrolling down to read more about your product or service, then maybe you should make it bigger.

Use A/B testing to test different versions of your landing page against each other. You could test as simple as changing the button color or text size. It’s a good idea to use tools like Kissmetrics or Optimizely for this kind of testing because they allow you to see how effective each variation is before rolling out a new version live (meaning no user will ever see both variations).
Takeaway: The saying "The customer is always right" does not apply to advertising. Advertising is an art form, and the consumer is merely an audience to be captivated. You can only engage your consumer once you have them hooked or fixated on purchasing your product. And let's face it, no one likes being sold to unless they were already willing to buy whatever it is being sold. Remember that advertising involves tricking the brain into thinking that you're making a consumer happy with what you are offering them; it's all about imitation of feelings.

Cryptocurrencies are digital currencies that people can use to buy things and exchange money. The most popular form of cryptocurrency is Bitcoin, which was created in 2009.

Cryptocurrency is similar to regular currency in that it has no physical form, but it differs from regular currency in its lack of government backing. When you buy cryptocurrency, you are purchasing a complicated algorithm rather than a physical good or service.

How does cryptocurrency work?

Cryptocurrency works by using blockchain technology. Blockchain is a digital ledger that stores all transactions in an immutable way. This means that any transaction made cannot be altered or deleted by anyone else involved in the transaction.

In order to make a transaction with cryptocurrency, you need to have access to a private key that corresponds with your public address. The private key is like a password for your account and allows you access to it at any time; however, if someone else gets hold of this key then they will be able to access your funds too!

Can you claim a loss on your taxes?

If you're a cryptocurrency trader, you may be wondering if you can claim losses on your taxes. The answer is, it depends.

The Internal Revenue Service has issued guidance on how cryptocurrencies are taxed. It's pretty clear that the IRS does not want to see people simply making money in their spare time, and then claiming losses when they sell off their holdings. The IRS wants to see gains and losses reported as income or deductions.

But the IRS doesn't have access to the blockchain, so they can't tell how much you've bought and sold. So even though it's clear that you made money from trading, there's no way for them to know whether your losses were really due to trading or just spending (on things like vacations).

That means that for now, there is no way for cryptocurrency traders to claim losses on their taxes without getting audited by the IRS — which is why most people don't bother doing so.

How do you report a loss from cryptocurrency?

If you have lost money on the cryptocurrency market, the first thing to do is to take a deep breath and not panic. You may not be able to get your money back, but you can limit your losses and make sure that you don't end up paying too much in taxes.

The good news is that there are ways to reduce or even eliminate your tax liability for losses on cryptocurrencies. Below is the most common mistake people make when reporting their cryptocurrency losses:

Reporting Losses as Gambling Winnings

The IRS does not consider cryptocurrencies as gambling winnings, so if you trade them with the expectation of making money back, then it is possible that your losses could be viewed as gambling winnings. This can lead to an audit where they will want proof that the activity was not gambling activity. However, if you trade cryptocurrencies with no expectation of making money back (such as flipping), then this is not considered gambling activity and should be reported correctly.

What is the basis of cryptocurrency?

The basis of the cryptocurrency is its blockchain technology. Blockchain is a decentralized system that enables users to store and verify information. The information stored in this network is not controlled by any single entity but rather by all participants in the network. This makes it impossible for anyone to change the data stored on the blockchain without consensus from all participants in the network.

The fact that no single entity controls the data means that no one can alter or destroy it without the consent of everyone else on the network. This ensures that records are tamper-proof and auditable at all times.

The idea behind cryptocurrency trading is that you can buy and sell digital coins as if they were stocks or other commodities. The main difference between cryptocurrencies and stocks/commodities is that cryptocurrencies have no intrinsic value like gold or silver do (although some people do believe that these digital coins will become valuable over time).

Takeaway: If you lose money on your investment in Cryptocurrency, there may be steps you can take to reduce your taxes.

​​So, what do you do with those losses? If you're an investor in cryptocurrency, there are some steps you can take to reduce your taxes. The easiest would be to simply wait until next year, and then claim the loss on your return as capital loss. There's no penalty for claiming a capital loss instead of a regular loss. If you had sold the cryptocurrency for cash to buy something else, like a car or vacation, then you would have a capital gain or loss that could be claimed in its place. If you choose to report the loss now and not wait for next year, consider selling enough cryptocurrency to offset your tax liability from this year before the end of the tax year on December 31st.

To sum it up, the potential for future losses exists for cryptocurrencies. These are very volatile, high risk investments—certainly not for the faint of heart. However, the potential for gains remains high as well. If you are interested in the crypto space, be prepared for the ups and downs and go in with your eyes open.

We're currently seeing a rally in the markets. Rising volatility and uncertainty is normal in this environment, but there's a simple trend that can hold true through any market environment - it has worked since 2016 and will work well into 2022 and beyond.

Don't Check Your Portfolio Multiple Times A Day

 The stock market has been volatile, but it's not like the days of the dot-com bubble or the Great Recession.

While some investors may be worried about another recession, many are simply checking their portfolios multiple times a day.

"It's not healthy to check your portfolio all the time," says Jeff Tomlinson, president of Chicago-based financial planning firm Tomlinson Financial Planning. "You want to stay focused on your goals, rather than constantly worrying about where the market is going."

If you're checking your portfolio every day, there's a good chance you're doing it out of fear. And that's not healthy for your mental health or wealth building efforts.

Maintain Perspective

 Volatility is the new normal, but it’s not a reason to panic.

The current volatility in the stock market is not unusual. In fact, it’s quite normal. In fact, the S&P 500 Index has been volatile on average every single year since 1927 — with only two exceptions: 1954 and 1959.

As a result of this volatility, many investors are concerned about their portfolios. They have questions about how best to navigate through this time period, and what they should do with their money if things continue to get worse. Here are some suggestions for managing your portfolio in this uncertain environment:

Keep Perspective – The stock market is a reflection of the economy and its performance. It’s important to remember that while there may be short-term volatility, long-term gains are still possible over time (and at least some asset classes will see them). For example, over the past 20 years the S&P 500 has averaged approximately 12% per year (inclusive of dividends).

Rebalance Your Portfolio

 This is a great time to rebalance your portfolio.

Rebalancing is a simple technique for managing your investments. It involves selling some of your holdings that have performed well (and therefore have appreciated in value) and using the proceeds to buy other holdings that have dropped in price. This helps you keep your overall portfolio at its intended allocation, which means you won't be overexposed to any particular sector or security.

Rebalancing also has several other benefits:

It helps reduce risk by allowing investors to sell high and buy low, which lowers their exposure to market downturns.

It can help minimize volatility in your portfolio, because it's easier to take losses when they occur than it is to make up for past mistakes by buying low and selling high once the market has recovered.

If you have an asset allocation strategy that calls for a certain percentage of your portfolio to be invested in stocks or bonds — for example, 60% stocks, 40% bonds — then rebalancing ensures that those percentages remain constant over time.

Recognize That Volatility Is Normal

 The stock market is volatile, and it's normal.

The current volatility in the stock market has led many investors to panic and sell their shares. While this seems like a logical move, selling at the bottom of a market cycle can lead to losses that are much worse than what you would have experienced if you had held on.

Here are some tips for navigating the current volatility:

Recognize That Volatility Is Normal - The stock market is inherently volatile, so it should come as no surprise that we're seeing some turbulence now. Volatility does not necessarily mean that the market will crash or that prices will fall indefinitely. In fact, the S&P 500 has historically had an average annualized return of around 9% over long periods of time, even during periods when stocks were down significantly over short periods of time.

Have A Plan - It's important to have a plan when investing in stocks so you know how much money you can afford to lose before becoming stressed out about it or panicking and selling your shares. If you don't have a plan, then you'll likely make poor investment decisions while trying to figure out what the right thing to do is in any given situation.

Stay focused on the long term and don't let short term volatility derail your investment plans.

Investing has many advantages to those willing to take the time to learn the process, but it is not easy. There is a certain amount of skill required, and there are no guarantees that your initial efforts will always be successful. Given this reality, you may be feeling a bit of hesitation about investing at the moment. Don't let one bad year deter you from long term success. By adhering to proper investment strategy, you can mitigate risk, capitalize on opportunities, and have peace of mind that your money is off doing what it should be doing - multiplying!

While investing does not necessarily fit the mold of a typical video game, many investors still love to level up over time. In this post we will explore some actionable tips and popular strategies for you to elevate your investing skills.

Get to know the fees.

 Many people think that investing is complicated and reserved for the rich. But it doesn't have to be that way.

The first step is to understand what fees are charged on your investments. This will help you know how much money you're paying in fees, which can eat away at your returns over time.

Here are some key points to consider:

Fees vary widely across investment options. In general, index funds charge lower fees than actively managed mutual funds, but there are plenty of exceptions. And some mutual funds offer "no-load" funds with no upfront charge, whereas others charge an upfront commission known as a load.

A fee is typically expressed as an annual percentage of the amount of money under management in your account. If you have $100,000 invested in a fund that charges 1% annually, that translates into $1,000 per year in fees — regardless of whether the market is up or down during the year.

Fees may be waived if you meet certain criteria (such as having a minimum amount invested). However, even when fees are waived they still count toward the total cost of investing because they reduce your potential return on investment over time.

Understand your risk tolerance.

 If you’re a first-time investor, you probably worry about making the wrong move. You may be afraid that you won’t pick the right stocks or funds. Or maybe you’re worried that you might lose all of your money if the market crashes.

The truth is that investing can be intimidating, but there are strategies available to help make it easier.

Here are three tips you can use to level up your investing strategies:

Understand your risk tolerance. It’s important to know what your risk tolerance is before putting money into anything. If your investments lose value, will it affect your overall happiness? Will it stop you from being able to pay off debts or save for retirement? Would it cause stress? If so, then those investments may not be right for you.

Review your goals and objectives. Before investing in anything, take some time to ensure that you know why you need the money and what purpose it will serve once it’s in place. That way, when things go wrong — as they inevitably do at some point — you won’t panic and sell everything at a loss or cash out early because of fear rather than reason.

Diversify, diversify, diversify.

 Investing is a lot like cooking.

You need to have a plan for what you're going to do, but you also have to be flexible enough to change course when the time comes.

If you've never invested before or if you're just getting started, it's important to understand that there are no guarantees in investing. You can't expect every investment to go up in value and there will be times when an investment drops in value.

Diversification means having more than one type of investment so that if one loses value, another may still be profitable or at least not lose as much money as the first one did. For example, if you owned only stocks in your portfolio during the financial crisis of 2008-09, chances are they lost significant value — but bonds held their own or even increased in value during that period because they were less risky than stocks (and thus less volatile). When looking for diversification, look for investments with different risk profiles so that if one does poorly, another may perform well enough to offset the loss and keep you on the up and UP!

Explore all your options.

This is one of the easiest ways to get started, and it's also one of the most effective ways to increase your long-term returns.

If you have any money left over from your savings or other investments, consider using it to buy stocks. This will give you a small amount of exposure to the stock market, which helps in case you decide to go all-in on stocks later on down the road.

You can also use this money to start investing in bonds or mutual funds. These are two great options because they are both low-risk investments that offer decent returns over time. With bonds, you're more likely to get back some of your initial investment than with stocks, but with mutual funds, there's less risk involved since they're pooled together with other investors' money into one single entity called "the fund."

Pay attention to trends.

 Investing is a game of trends. The best way to play that game is to understand what makes money move and how the market works.

In the financial world, trends are often driven by emotion. If people are scared or excited about something, they'll buy it. When people want something, they'll do whatever it takes to get it — even if that means paying more for it. That's why investing in companies with strong brands and loyal customers is so important.

Trends can also be driven by human behavior: For example, when someone sees an opportunity for profit, they'll jump on board without thinking about whether the trend will last or if there's another better option. It's only when things start to go south that people start asking questions like "What happened?" and "Why did this happen?" These questions reveal where the industry may be heading next and what you should do next time around.

Think long-term.

 There are a number of ways to think about investing. At the most basic level, money is just a way to keep score. You can make it by working hard and playing by the rules, or you can do that and also take an educated guess as to what will happen in the future.

The best way to earn money is not necessarily the way that makes you feel good. The best way to earn money is the way that will make you rich.

Think long-term. This may sound obvious, but it's often easy to get so caught up in day-to-day life that we forget what matters most: building wealth over time rather than in a flash of inspiration or a rush of panic. It's easy to get bogged down trying to figure out how much money you need for retirement — but if you're not saving for one year at a time, then how will you ever see your life goals realized?

Investing doesn’t have to be as complicated as it seems.

Just like any other profession, investing takes skill, experience and talent. The more knowledge you gain from books or from professionals, the better investor you will become. Most importantly, it’s not about having the best strategy or being the most knowledgeable person in the room. It’s about using your intuition to recognize great opportunities. Level up and get started in investing today!

In the past, choosing the right financial advisor wasn't on the mind of many professionals. After all, if you're young and just getting started in your career as an up-and-coming professional, you most likely don't have much in your retirement accounts or bank accounts to care about. However, as you get older and more things enter your life — whether that be marriage, children, buying a home, taking a vacation — it's important to start thinking about how to plan for the future and what will happen to your finances.

Ask for a referral.

 "The number one thing is to ask for a referral," says Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz, president of Charles Schwab Foundation. "Ask your friends and family who they use."

If you don't know anyone who has used a financial advisor, call the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA). This group represents fee-only financial advisors who are held to a fiduciary standard, meaning they have a legal obligation to put their client's interests first.

Determine whether the advisor is in your state. “It's important to check that they're licensed in your state before signing on with them,” says Schwab-Pomerantz.

Get references from friends and family members if possible, but also check out their credentials and background on the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) BrokerCheck website or the Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website to make sure they're not on any hot lists or have been disciplined by regulators for dangerous behavior such as fraud or taking advantage of elderly clients.

Listen for buzzwords.

One of the best ways to learn about an advisor's background is by listening to their language. Financial professionals use specific terms that only make sense to those in the industry. For example, if your advisor says they're "fee-based," they're likely an independent fee-only planner who charges a flat-fee or hourly rate rather than commissions or sales charges. If they say they're "registered investment advisors," that means they've taken additional steps to become registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Ask for references. If you haven't already spoken with several people who are happy with their advisor, ask for some names and numbers before starting your search. That way, when you call them up, you'll have a good idea if this person is worth your time or not. You can also ask what services they provide — whether it's retirement planning, estate planning or investment management — so that you can determine if their services align with yours needs.

Review the advisor's education and experience.

 You're busy, and you need financial advice. So how do you find the best financial advisor for you?

One way to start: Review the advisor's education and experience.

"The most important thing to consider is whether or not [the advisor] has a CFP (certified financial planner) designation," said Julie R. Ross, a certified public accountant and author of "A Woman's Guide to Successful Financial Planning." "It means they have passed an exam, have met certain educational requirements and have been trained in various areas of personal finance."

The CFP is not a license or a certification — it's more like an advanced degree in finance that requires passing two exams and meeting other requirements set by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc., which administers the test and oversees the credential.

Find out about the advisor's services and fees.

 You don't need to be a financial expert to find a great financial advisor. You just need to know what questions to ask. 

Financial advisors provide many different types of services, from portfolio management and investment advice to retirement planning and estate planning. Some advisors charge an hourly rate or a flat fee for their time, while others charge a percentage of your assets under management (AUM). Ask about any additional fees that might be charged for services such as estate planning.

Ask about their qualifications. Financial advisors must have at least $100,000 in assets under management as well as experience working with clients' assets. The Securities & Exchange Commission requires all registered investment advisors (RIAs) to disclose their qualifications clearly on their websites or in other documents they give you when you meet them in person. Make sure that the advisor has the credentials you need — especially if you're looking for someone who can help manage your portfolio after retirement or plan for long-term care expenses later in life.

Ask about how they make money and whether they're paid by commission or fee-only compensation.  RIAs usually earn their revenue through a management fee consisting of a percentage of assets held for a client.

Determine if the advisor has a fiduciary responsibility to you.

 The best financial advisors are the ones who have your best interests at heart. But how can you tell if they're truly committed to your goals?

It's important to ask whether an advisor has a fiduciary responsibility to you. Advisors who are fiduciaries put their clients' needs first and legally must act in their clients' best interests, rather than in their own interest or on behalf of any third party.

A fiduciary is required by law to provide advice that serves your specific needs and objectives — not just what's beneficial for them. If a broker recommends investments based on his or her own personal preferences and profits instead of yours, there could be serious consequences down the line. For example, a broker might sell you high-commission products instead of cheaper ones with comparable returns because he or she stands to make more money from commissions and fees associated with those products.

Check to see if the advisor has a history of disciplinary action or bankruptcy.

 The best financial advisors are not just good at investing. They're also good at knowing who their clients are, providing them with a detailed financial plan and building relationships that last. However, finding the right advisor for your needs can be difficult.

Check to see if the advisor has a history of disciplinary action or bankruptcy. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) maintains a database of past disciplinary actions against investment professionals at finra.org/enforcement/discipline/index.htm. You can also check the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority's BrokerCheck database at brokercheck.finra.org. This database includes information about any customer complaints or lawsuits against an individual and any regulatory actions taken against him or her by FINRA or other regulators such as the SEC or state securities authorities.

Ask about credentials, designations or specialties.

Financial advisors have different training and licenses depending on what they do (e.g., sell insurance products versus manage investment accounts). Ask which areas interest you most and what kind of training the advisor has had in those areas.

Find out how many years the advisor has been in business. A new advisor may be eager to build his or her client base, but having experience is important too — especially if this person will be managing your money for many years to come.

Check references from former clients (and other professionals) before meeting with a prospective advisor in person. You want someone who has experience working with clients like you — someone who is dedicated to your financial needs.

Takeaway: It is important to do your research before choosing a financial advisor.

Like any other service you hire, look into the background of your financial advisor and let that inform your final decision. This can determine who you choose to trust with your money, and that is an important choice to make. In today's world, there are many options in terms of where to invest. Many advisors have realized this, and they are currently doing their best to gain your business by offering a wide variety of services based on what you need. It is up to you to analyze those differences, but keep in mind that the overarching goal for any professional has to be providing their customers with a great value.

Want to get the most out of life? It's all about financial goals. I guess this is a pretty obvious statement, but is something that many people don't really appreciate until they become successful. And while there's no such thing as financial success overnight, or without hard work and dedication, the first step in becoming financially free is setting personal financial goals for 2022 and 2023. If you're looking for some direction with this and aren't sure where to start, here are some of the best financial goals for 2022 to get you going:

Pay off all accrued debt.

If you're not already on top of your debt situation, it's more important to knock out your credit card balances than it is to start saving money. The sooner you can get rid of high-interest debt, the easier it will be to get back on track with your budgeting and savings goals.

If you have any student loans, pay those off first — they often come with higher interest rates than other types of debt and sometimes have special forgiveness programs or options for income-based repayment that can make them more affordable. Then tackle other types of credit card debt (and maybe even some car loans if they're killing you). Paying off your cards will give you more flexibility in how much money you can put toward savings each month, since you won't have to worry about making minimum payments every month.

Save up enough money to buy a house.

If you're single, buy a house. If you're married with kids, buy a house. If you have no kids, buy a house. It's all about the tax breaks and the fact that homes are usually appreciating assets (although not always). If you have any debt, paying it off is the first priority, but once that's done, consider how much home you can afford based on your income and expenses. And don't forget the other perks of homeownership including building equity and having a place to call your own!

Build an emergency fund of $10,000.

By the end of 2022, you’re going to need an emergency fund.

That might come as a surprise, because most people don’t have $10,000 in savings. But it’s true: If you want to make sure that your finances are in order and that you have a safety net for when things go south, you need an emergency fund.

An emergency fund is a stash of money that you keep in a bank account or in cash form for when something goes wrong. It should be enough to cover at least six months of expenses — not just rent or mortgage payments, but all your bills, including groceries and utilities. And if possible, keep even more than six months’ worth of savings on hand — it will help cover unexpected car repairs and other costs that may crop up unexpectedly over time.

The key is to put away money every month so that you have something saved up by the time disaster strikes — whether it’s a job loss or an unexpected car repair bill caused by an accident with no insurance coverage (yep).

Create a monthly budget and stick to it.

 Creating a budget is a great first step towards financial freedom. The process of creating a monthly budget can be overwhelming for many people, but it's one of the best ways to understand where your money goes and what you can do to increase your savings.

Budgeting is all about prioritizing your spending so you have enough money left over for savings and any other goals you may have. It's important to remember that budgeting doesn't mean limiting yourself or depriving yourself of things you want — it just means making sure that what you want aligns with what's important to you.

Here are some tips for creating a successful budget:

Identify your top priorities. These will vary depending on your situation and goals, but they should be things like paying off debt or saving for retirement. Once you know what those are, figure out how much they cost each month and then adjust your budget accordingly.

Set realistic goals. Don't expect too much too soon; take it slow and make small changes over time instead of trying to achieve everything at once. For example, if your goal is to save $500 per month by 2022, don't try to save $1,000 per month right away because it's unlikely that you'll be able to stick with such a stringent budget. Be fair to yourself, and to your wallet. 

Start investing in real estate.

 Investing in real estate can be a great way to earn money. It's one of the most popular ways for millennials to invest their money, according to Bankrate.com.

In fact, it's the No. 1 financial goal for women in 2022/2023 as stated in a recent survey by NerdWallet.com.

In addition to the benefits of investing in real estate — like the potential to build wealth and long-term returns — there are several advantages over other types of investments like stocks or bonds:

You can buy properties that have been pre-screened and analyzed by experts, which reduces your risk of making a bad investment decision.

Real estate is tangible and has physical value, unlike many other types of investments that can be difficult to understand and evaluate.

You can use your home as collateral to obtain business loans or home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) without needing any additional collateral or credit history at all!

What are your financial goals in 2022?

Ultimately, there really is no right or wrong answer to this question. Your financial goals should be created with careful consideration to your current situation and future aspirations. Don't beat yourself up if your goals are not exactly what they 'should' be. Happy saving!