Cryptocurrencies – The Future of Money?

In 2009, when the Bitcoin whitepaper came out, the idea was clear: there was a need to create a decentralized currency system that would free the ‘masses’ from the firm grip of central banks and other financial institutions.

Bitcoin was born, becoming the currency of the people, effectively making fiat the currency of governments. Almost a decade later, Bitcoin has surged in global popularity and has given birth to over 1,500 other alternative blockchain-based coins.

The digitization of money is inevitable, and ironically, governments (who have been the biggest threat to Bitcoin and other cryptos) are now looking into issuing their own cryptocurrencies

National Cryptocurrencies

If the first decade of cryptocurrency has been about adoption and regulation, then the trend of the coming decade promises to be about national cryptocurrencies.

Like other cryptos, national cryptocurrencies are based on the distributable ledger technology (blockchain), but they are issued and backed by national governments.

The only issue with national currencies is decentralisation because naturally, governments are reluctant to lose control of the monetary system.

But while national cryptocurrencies defeat one of the major appeals of blockchain technology, they also pave the way for a more efficient monetary environment.

Venezuela and Cryptocurrencies

In appreciation of the great advantages and potential of the blockchain technology, some central banks are on the verge of releasing their national cryptocurrencies, while many others have set definitive deadlines for their projects.

Venezuela though was the first to take action, releasing the Petro Crypto in February 2018. The Petro cryptocurrency was introduced to minimise the impact of US sanctions on the country as well as to enhance access to international funding and supplement the free-falling Venezuelan bolivar currency.

The Petro was designed to be backed by Venezuela’s abundant reserves of natural resources, such as oil, gas, diamonds, and gold.

The Petro received a national backing in May 2018 when the country’s President announced that a youth bank would be established which will be exclusively funded using the national cryptocurrency.

Iran and Cryptocurrencies

Another country that has been inspired by Venezuela is Iran, which coincidentally, also faces sanctions from the US that threaten to cripple its resource-dependent economy.

The Central Bank of Iran announced two months ago that it was finalising plans to launch its own cryptocurrency backed by Iranian rials.

The US sanctions will mean that Iran is cut from international payment systems, but the cryptocurrency, which utilises the blockchain technology, will help the country facilitate the transfer of funds throughout the world.

Other countries that are in advanced stages of launching their own cryptocurrencies include Japan, Sweden, Russia, Israel, Tunisia, Senegal and Estonia.

The Future of Cryptocurrencies

Clearly, national cryptocurrencies will be a predominant trend in the near future. But this comes with some pros and cons. In terms of currency distribution, cryptocurrency is safe and easier to distribute than traditional cash.

National cryptocurrencies will also allow for the faster settlement of payments and potentially, even much cheaper transactional costs. Still, a blockchain based digital currency carries with it some disadvantages.

To launch a national cryptocurrency would require significant investment, which may not be a justifiable use of taxpayer money. Another disadvantage would be slow payment authorisation, something that is continually being innovated upon in the crypto world; but there would not be such time freedom with a national cryptocurrency that will be used widely. The inefficient use of electricity for small payments is also another factor to consider.

Final Word

Ultimately, central banks are mandated to ensure financial stability by the efficient use of their monetary policy. National cryptocurrencies only make it easier for central banks to achieve this because monetary policy will directly be transmitted to firms and households.

As blockchain technology continues to improve, it only means that national cryptocurrencies will continue to solve the current constraints of the conventional monetary system. Also, check out our post on how cryptocurrency works in general.

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What Top 5 Cryptocurrencies To Invest In 2021?

Best Cryptocurrency Investments in 2021

Planning to invest in cryptocurrencies in 2021? Want to stay ahead of the crypto trends? We’ve made it easy with our complete guide to the top 5 cryptocurrencies to invest for 2021. 

Beginners have difficulties finding the best cryptocurrency to invest in 2021. We’ve all been in this situation, so don’t worry! we understand how confusing it is when looking for new cryptocurrency investments.

By the end of this guide, you’ll know how to find cryptocurrencies to invest in 2021.

Now that we’ve almost ended Q4 2020, many cryptocurrency investors are starting to look forward to 2021. Being able to predict new cryptocurrency trends is a key skill for any trader. But with more than 6,000 different altcoins on the market, how can you tell which ones will be the best cryptocurrency investments in 2021? 

The future of crypto is never certain, so making cryptocurrency predictions can be tricky — especially since the periods of volatility in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. However, the good news is that some crypto experts have said 2021 could be the year of crypto, thanks to market recovery and developments such as the long-awaited Ethereum upgrades. 

In this article, we’ll be explaining which cryptos you should consider adding to your portfolio in 2021. Whether you’re new to cryptocurrency investing or an experienced investor, read on to find out the top 5 cryptocurrencies to invest in 2021. 

Are you ready to find out about the next cryptocurrencies to invest in 2021? Let’s get started!

What Are The Top Cryptocurrencies to Invest in 2021?

Below you will find the best 5 cryptocurrencies to invest in 2021 and beyond.

1. Bitcoin (BTC)

Are you asking yourself, “should I invest in Bitcoin? is the value of Bitcoin already at its peak? or is Bitcoin the best cryptocurrency to invest in 2021?. the following info should help you to decide if investing in Bitcoin Cryptocurrency is a good idea for you.

It should come as no surprise that Bitcoin is at the top of our list of cryptocurrencies to invest in 2021. This so-called ‘king of cryptocurrencies’ has dominated the market since its launch in 2009 — and there’s no sign that its status will change soon. In fact, cryptocurrency predictions suggest that Bitcoin could be set for its strongest year yet. 

According to Ryan Selkis, the CEO of the cryptocurrency tracking site Messari, Bitcoin and Ethereum will retain their top positions when it comes to market capitalization. This is in contrast to a variety of other assets, which he predicted will lose their ranking in the top 10 cryptocurrencies in 2021.  

After its market value took a tumble in March 2020, Bitcoin made a rapid recovery and both its price and market cap have skyrocketed ever since. From lows of $4,721 in late March, when coronavirus restrictions started coming in around the world, the cryptocurrency had reached prices of approximately $9,000 by June and July. At the time of writing in late September 2020, its price is now $16,299. 

This is a healthy recovery rate, with its price more than doubling in just over six months. While this rate of change isn’t unusual for a cryptocurrency that’s famous for its volatility, it should be encouraging for any Bitcoin investors who were worried by the sudden crash in March. 

So what’s next? Some experts believe this recovery is only the beginning. In July, a chart associated with Citibank predicted that the price of Bitcoin could skyrocket to an incredible $120,000 in 2021! This is 6 times its previous highest price, $20,000, which it reached in 2017. 

So, is Bitcoin your next cryptocurrency to invest in 2021?

Many experts think Bitcoin could be one of the best cryptocurrency to invest in 2021.

2. Ethereum (ETH)

If Bitcoin is the king of cryptocurrency, then Ethereum could well be the heir! This blockchain platform is the world’s major cryptocurrency other than Bitcoin and has maintained a strong market cap ever since its release in 2015. At the time of writing, its market cap is $51,507,291,691.

Despite the uncertainties surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, which shook the performance of almost every crypto in late March, Ethereum has been strong throughout 2020. If you’re looking for top cryptocurrencies to invest in 2021, it should therefore be a serious contender.

In early September, the price of Ethereum hit $480 — its highest price of 2020. There are two key factors behind this surge in value. One is the growth of decentralized finance (otherwise known as DeFi). The Ethereum platform supports many of the cryptos which are driving the DeFi sector, such as Chainlink (LINK), Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC), and Maker (MKR). In fact, Ethereum has processed $13.5 billion worth of decentralized exchanges in 2020 alone — up from under $3 billion in 2019! 

The second factor which secures Ethereum’s place on our list of top cryptocurrencies to invest in 2021 is the launch of Ethereum 2.0. This eagerly awaited upgrade is due to be complete by the end of 2020 and will make Ethereum far more efficient. Once it’s able to process more transactions more quickly, we could see its price explode. 

3. Litecoin (LTC)

With a price of just $67.56, Litecoin might not be the most bullish crypto on this list. But with a market capitalization of $4,451,393,965 and strong growth on the radar, it’s worth considering if you’re planning to start cryptocurrency investing in 2021. 

Our list of what is the top cryptocurrency to invest in 2021 cannot be complete without Litecoin. It showed strong performance in 2017 with a growth of more than 8000%.

Although some investors see Litecoin as the skinny cap to Bitcoin’s full-fat cappuccino (it was launched in 2011 and is generally seen as a Bitcoin spinoff), it’s a mistake to dismiss this crypto outright. Not only is it a lot faster than Bitcoin, taking just 2 and a half minutes to process a block as opposed to 10 minutes — it’s also unveiled some exciting developments throughout 2020. 

The launch of the role-playing game (RPG) LiteBringer, which runs on the Litecoin blockchain, has caused a surge in transactions. According to the Litecoin Foundation, LiteBringer caused the number of transactions to triple in a week, with more than 75% of them now caused by the game. This performance is so encouraging that the platform CoinSwitch has predicted the price of Litecoin could reach $600 in 2021. 

The last word, Because of Litecoin close connection to Bitcoin, Investors are very interested in Litcoin, and that is why Litecoin is listed in our top 10 cryptocurrencies to invest in 2021 and for the next cryptocurrency to watch.

4. Bitcoin Cash (BCH)

First launched in 2017, Bitcoin Cash quickly hit the radar of anyone who’s interested in cryptocurrency investing. This peer-to-peer electronic cash system was launched as a scalable branch of the original Bitcoin, after traders raised concerns over Bitcoin’s scalability. It’s now the world’s sixth largest cryptocurrency by market cap, at $4,630,146,203. 

Although predictions for the price of Bitcoin Cash vary, the cryptocurrency trading platform StormGain has predicted that it will rise to $500 within the next 5 years. If this is the case, then 2021 could be an excellent time to add Bitcoin Cash to your portfolio as far as the best cryptocurrency to invest goes!

5. TRON (TRX) 

TRON was founded in 2017, originally on the Ethereum network. It’s now switched to an independent blockchain platform and uses a proof-of-stake algorithm to process transactions. With a current market cap of $1,825,286,288 and a price of $0.026, why could TRON be one of the top cryptocurrencies to invest in 2021? 

 As more organizations start to adopt the TRON blockchain platform, the value of TRX will increase. It currently hosts more decentralized apps (dApps) than Ethereum, leading many investors to speculate that TRON has a bright future in 2021. The general consensus is that the price will fluctuate throughout next year, but according to Coinpedia, it could hit highs of $0.4 — making it a strong potential cryptocurrency investment opportunity in 2021.

Tron did have some notable price swings over the past years but has recently been stabilizing. If you’re looking into this coin as the best cryptocurrency to invest in 2021, make sure to do some research, and follow the news.

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Different coins of crypto currency on a dark background

How to Invest in Cryptocurrency With 5 Simple Steps

A new form of investment has been stirring up the web zone these days. We hear the terminologies (which often sound very complicated with all its jargon) like cryptocurrency, online investment, or digital wallet. We cannot help but wonder if this is an excellent money-making venture for us. Others are even curious about how to invest in cryptocurrency since some people claim that they are earning from it.

This article will delve into the basics of investing in Bitcoin as it is the most popular cryptocurrency to this time being. Investing in cryptocurrencies – or investing per se – requires extensive researches and continual practice. We zero in on what Bitcoin is and if it is worth investing in this year.

What is Bitcoin?

Bitcoin is a digital currency – meaning there are no physical coins. You purchase this on a universal system that controls and tracks it. There is no regulating body like a government, for instance, that controls it. Just imagine that it is a system with humongous accounting books that record who owns what and how much owns what. Coins can be bought in a matter of minutes. Presto! You are a viable investor.

To reiterate, Bitcoin is not a physical tender. So the question is: how do we buy them? A primary method is to buy from a Bitcoin exchange or invest in a fund. If you are interested, try to learn more about “Satoshi” and get a free wallet app (this will help in understanding the necessary procedure). Remember that you should never invest significant amounts in something you do not fully understand.

Often, we are skeptical when making simple purchases online. This is even the case when there is a physical exchange (product or service). What more for investing online digitally! Bitcoin and investing in Bitcoin is legal unless you partake in scamming or coin mining. Any form of investment is healthy and encouraged.

How to Invest in Cryptocurrency

Assuming that you have learned and researched what Bitcoin is really about. You may now start buying Bitcoins. Keep tabs on these requirements that you need to prepare and take note before purchasing.

1. Get a digital wallet. Now you know that Bitcoins are not coins; so digital wallets are not leather wallets. They are online services that allow electronic transactions. It is used for purchases using a computer or a smartphone. Your bank account will also be linked to this digital wallet.

2. You will need to verify your identities through the wallet. You should secure personal documents like passport, driving license, or social security number during verification.

3. As this is the digital world, hackers may pose a critical problem. Transact only insecure networks.

4. You will also need a Bank Account, debit card, or credit card to link. These will fund your transactions.

5. Visit Bitcoin exchanges from online market places where you can exchange conventional currency to Bitcoins.

Is investing in cryptocurrency worth it?

Well, for one, the market is still young, so there is an expectation that prices will go higher. Cryptocurrency is also the new pink. This trend-setting investing is seen to be the medium of exchange in the future – Forbes said.

Although you will stumble upon many pros and cons in this kind of investment, when you start digging for knowledge about cryptocurrencies, its ten years of existence and operation cannot be denied. It is still in the trend this year. When proper timing on buying and selling is mastered, you can often buy low and sell high.

Now that you know how to invest in cryptocurrency, this will no doubt make you think that it is an interesting way to make money.

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Nicaragua: Reckless COVID-19 Response

Calls for Mass Gatherings; No Quarantine or Travel Restrictions

A woman holds a sign that reads “Love in Times of Covid-19” during a government-sponsored march in Managua, Nicaragua, on March 14, 2020. © 2020 REUTERS/Oswaldo Rivas

(Washington, DC) – Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega’s administration has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic with tactics that blatantly contradict global health experts’ advice and put people’s health and lives at risk, Human Rights Watch said today.

Ortega is the only Latin American leader who has not made a single public announcement on how his government would address the pandemic. Vice President Rosario Murillo, Ortega’s wife, told Nicaraguans to remain calm and continue working. The authorities have encouraged attendance at massive rallies and school and adopted only voluntary quarantine measures for people arriving from abroad.

“While the world faces the most serious pandemic in a century, President Ortega is nowhere to be seen and his government is recklessly failing to put in place the basic preventive measures recommended by public health experts,” said José Miguel Vivanco, Americas director at Human Rights Watch. “Ortega’s failure to take this crisis seriously puts the lives and health of Nicaraguans at risk.”

According to the government’s official tally, Nicaragua has 7 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and has had 1 death. But local health professionals said the total number is unknown and may be higher due to a lack of comprehensive testing. Doctors in hospitals across the country reported sending multiple “suspicious cases” for testing at a Health Ministry facility, Conchita Palacios, but said that it was maintaining tight control over information and had not provided any public statement about the number of tests conducted or the results. One doctor reported an abnormal rise in pneumonia cases, which might also point to broader spread of the virus.

On April 6, the Health Ministry rejected Bishop Rolando Álvarez’s proposal to implement a COVID-19 prevention plan that included telephone consultations with doctors and eventual treatment at six locations throughout Nicaragua.

During its 2018 crackdown on dissent, the Ortega administration fired at least 400 doctors, nurses, and other health workers from several public hospitals in apparent retaliation for providing care to victims of protest violence. During the crackdown, security forces and armed pro-government groups killed hundreds of people and injured thousands. The security forces have arbitrarily arrested and tortured protesters, threatened and harassed journalists and human rights defenders, and forced the closure of independent news outlets and non-governmental organizations.

In a document obtained by local media in mid-March, the Health Ministry predicted that the number of COVID-19 cases could rise to over 32,500 and the number of deaths to 813 in a 6-month period. Such numbers could cause the collapse of the already frail health care system.

Nonetheless, the Ortega government has not taken any emergency measures in response to the pandemic and has kept schools open and allowed church services and events for tourists. Vice President Murillo has encouraged families to attend Easter festivities, although the Nicaraguan Episcopal Church and bishops advised vulnerable people to stay home.

Local sources have also reported that the government is discouraging Nicaraguans, including health workers, airport staff, and policemen, from wearing masks, and one activist said that pro-government groups have harassed those seen wearing them.

On March 14, Vice President Murillo organized a national march to show solidarity with those affected by the virus, calling it “Love in the Time of COVID-19.” Neither Murillo nor Ortega was present, but the march drew thousands of political supporters and public workers to the streets, despite World Health Organization warnings against mass gatherings.

The march followed Murillo’s announcement that the government would not institute a quarantine or block its borders to travelers. On March 23, the Health Ministry recommended a voluntary quarantine for any traveler arriving from a country with COVID-19 cases, indicating a slight change in the government’s position. But the government has not required any other social distancing measures. Nicaragua is the only country in Latin America to maintain open borders, after Cuba closed its borders on March 31. Every country in the region has reported cases, with Mexico and Panama each reporting over 2,000 and Honduras and Costa Rica reporting hundreds.

After learning of the first case of the virus on March 18, the Nicaraguan government deployed government workers and volunteers to people’s homes to “raise awareness” of COVID-19. The Education Ministry has also told teachers to go house-to-house to convince parents to continue sending their children to school.

On April 7, the Pan American Health Organization expressed concern about Nicaragua’s response to the pandemic, calling its prevention and control measures “inadequate” and urging authorities to follow the health organization’s recommendations to save lives.

In a statement, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights said that Nicaragua should recognize the “extreme gravity” of the COVID-19 situation and carry out measures to protect public health. In particular, the commission urged Nicaragua to ensure people’s access to public information and explore options to release prisoners to house arrest or other alternative measures, prioritizing those with serious health conditions who may be at increased risk if there were an outbreak in prisons. The Commission also pressed for the release of the remaining 60 people detained in the context of the 2018 crackdown. On April 8, the government released 1,700 inmates under the pretext of responding to COVID-19, but did not include any of those detained in the context of the crackdown, local sources said.

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Managing Your Business Finances

To anyone not directly involved in finance, even the most basic financial management concepts can evoke a feeling of panic!

However, when you decide to start a business, you will need to keep a close eye, and a hand, on your business’s finances, if you expect any measure of long-term success.

Simply put, It’s your responsibility, as a business owner, to have a handle on your finances!

Here are a few concepts, simplified, that should help you to understand and manage your business’s finances:

Income

Income sometimes also referred to as gross income, turnover, or revenue, is the total amount of sales made, before any deductions are factored in.

Keeping track of this is a simple matter of keeping records of your sales. Simple. Moreover, by preparing and keeping records of invoices, it is a simple matter to calculate your sales. Some companies, particularly those engaged in long term contracts, issue a proforma invoice at the start of a project, in order to get the income “on the books.” A final invoice is then submitted at the end of the project.

Expenses

Expenses are almost as simple as income. Basically, your business has two kinds of expenses – direct expenses (salaries or payments to contractors) and indirect expenses – your overheads or running costs.

Profit

This is what we are all in business for – profits. Breaking even is a milestone, but for a business to grow, it needs to make a profit.

The simplest form of calculation would be sales less direct expenses. This figure is known as gross profit. To calculate your business’s net profit, you need to deduct your indirect expenses from the resulting figure.

Finally, to calculate the actual profit your business is making, you need to deduct income tax from this last figure.

If you have an amount left, you have made a profit. Also fairly straightforward when you think about it!

Assets and liabilities

Assets of a business are divided into two categories: so-called liquid, or short-term assets, and long-term assets. Generally, short-term assets are your bank balance (the cash you have on hand) and account receivable, or the money your clients still owe you.

Long-term assets are purchases, such as buildings, vehicles, or equipment, that are the property of the business, and that are retained for a long time. Note that assets are subject to what is known as “depreciation” meaning that they decrease in value over time. This decrease should be factored into your running costs or indirect expenses.

Liabilities, on the other hand, are any amounts of money that your business owes, either short or long term. Vehicle and asset finance falls under this category, as do loans, credit agreements with supplier’s etcetera.

Capital

Capital is the money that you put into, or need to put into, your business in order to start and run in.

Cash Flow

The last concept, and probably the most critical, is cash flow. This is the in and out flow of money in your business, and keeping a tight grip on this is probably the most important thing you will do for your business!

Consider this: your business is set to make a $ 5 000 profit, on paper. However, your suppliers require 30-day payment, and your client only pays you after 60 days. Essentially, if you owe your suppliers $ 2 000, you will need to carry this expense for a full 30 days after it becomes due, before you recoup it – something few new businesses can afford to do!

So keep a firm grip on cash flow, as well as making sure you understand and monitor your firm’s financial status, and you should be fine. Ignore it, and you could be in trouble!

Our expert consulting teams can help by providing custom guidance to help alleviate the components of your business that are holding you back from doing what you do best. Our teams can also help you build your business and plan for future goals.

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    Search Engine Optimization Consulting – Choosing Keywords

    As a professional practicing search engine optimization consulting, one of the keys to your success is to have a thorough understanding of how to go about finding, and then selecting the proper keywords that you want to target and then eventually get ranked for in the search engines.

    When it comes to keywords, it’s actually possible to make it to page one of the search engine results for any keyword you choose. But before you jump for joy, call your wife, and crack the champagne you need to remember something -Some keywords are going to be a LOT harder to rank for then others.

    If you have time, money, knowledge, and lots of patience you can get to page one of Google’s results for terms like “business”, “credit cards”, or even “shopping”, but in reality most of our consulting clients don’t. So how do we get a new website to start ranking well in the search engines then? This is where you, the keyword knowledgeable SEO consultant steps in.

    You see for every main keyword like “marketing” there will be thousands more related phrases that include that main keyword. In the SEO consulting world these related phrases are known as long-tail keywords. If we stick with our example keyword “marketing” some related long-tail keywords might be “Marketing in China”, “Internet Marketing Firms”, “Marketing Consultants”, etc, etc. Can you think of any others?

    By now I’m hoping that you’re starting to understand that there are literally thousands of keyword variations for each main keyword. The good thing about this for you and your search engine consulting clients is that it’s much easier to get listed on page one of search engines if you build your SEO campaign around these long tails.

    Ok this is all swell and dandy but how do you generate a list of long tail keywords? Well lucky for all you internet consultants out there our good friend Google offers a free browser based keyword tool that does it all for you.

    All you have to do is go to the Google keyword tool, enter your main keyword like “marketing”, select the region you want statistics for, and then press submit. Presto! Google will return a nice long list of long-tail keywords related to whatever you typed in.

    If you want to take it a step further and generate even more long tails for your keyword master list then take one of the more popular phrases that it returned, for example “marketing firms” and then put that back into the keyword tool. Can you see the power in this?

    So there you have it. If you want to do well in search engine optimization consulting you’re going to need to understand keyword research. Being able to generate a solid list of keywords is key – you now should understand how to.

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      Strategy VS Tactics: Answer These Questions To Grow Your Consulting Business

      Do you ever feel like you’re running around in circles in your consulting business?

      Like everything you’re doing doesn’t really connect — and you aren’t making the progress you want towards your goal?

      Believe it or not, many consultants run their business this way.

      They’re chasing the next shiny object, latest marketing tool without wondering how it fits into their long-term goals.

      And that’s if they have a specific long-term goal in the first place.

      Your long term goals and strategy come first.

      Your tactics — which include tools, channels, technology, etc — come second.

      By the end of this post, you’ll understand the critical difference between strategy and tactics — and determine your own strategy (and tactics) so you can get clear on your next steps to grow your consulting business.

      Strategy VS Tactics: How To Determine Your Strategy

      First, let’s define strategy.

      Strategy: a plan of action or policy designed to achieve a major or overall aim.

      Your business strategy is your overall plan to achieve your goals.

      Example: Leslie is a management consultant who specializes in serving manufacturing companies. The overall aim of her pricing strategy is to implement ROI-based fees which will help her raise her prices.

      In consulting, you’ll need a few different strategies for different goals that you have.

      For example…

      • Do you have a strategy for your marketing?
      • Do you have a strategy for building your consulting practice?
      • Do you have a strategy for raising your prices?

      These strategies cover different areas of your consulting business.

      The way to determine your strategy is to ask yourself the right questions.

      By answering questions like…

      • Where do you actually want to go with your business?
      • How are you going to differentiate your business?
      • Who are your ideal clients?
      • What’s the best way to reach them?
      • What is the message that you’re going to use to get their attention and their interest?
      • How are you going to package and position your services in a way that will resonate with your ideal clients?

      …by answering these questions, you’ll learn if you have a strategy — and how clear and intentional that strategy is.

      If you don’t have answers to these questions, you can’t choose the right actions to take — your tactics.

      How To Choose The Right Tactics

      Now, let’s define tactic.

      Tactic: an action carefully planned to achieve a specific end. – Oxford Dictionary

      Tactics are the concrete, detailed steps you take to reach that end.

      In our example, remember that Leslie is a management consultant who serves manufacturing companies.

      Her pricing strategy is to double her income without working more hours — and ROI and value-pricing is how she plans to do that.

      Now that she knows her overall goal, she can think of tactics to implement and achieve this goal.

      • What specific questions should she ask her clients? The question becomes: which questions help identify the ROI she can create for her clients?
      • How should she structure her proposals? The question becomes: what is the tangible value her clients care about, and how can she make that prominent in her proposals to justify an ROI-based fee?
      • What should she put on her website? The question becomes: what elements position her as the industry authority who’s able to command ROI-based fees?

      Do you notice a pattern here?

      Your strategy serves as a “filter” for your tactics.

      Whenever you’re intrigued with a new channel, technology, script, template, etc — ask yourself:

      “How does this help me fulfill my strategy?”

      If it does, then it makes sense to implement that tactic.

      But if it doesn’t, you can safely ignore it because it’s not helping you reach your goals.

      Do You Help Your Clients With Strategy?

      Strategy consulting is when you provide strategic advice to your clients on specific topics.

      It’s one of the highest forms of value you can provide for your clients because it will help clients both define and reach their goals.

      Example: Leslie has successfully positioned her consulting business as an industry authority by using a thought-leadership marketing strategy.

      Now, clients are reaching out to her for help with their HR strategy. Her clients, new tech-startups, need her help with talent retention. They want to hire her for advice and an overall plan on how they can keep their employees happy.

      Notice how they’re hiring her for advice and a plan on their strategy. They’re not asking her to implement specific tactics like conducting employee interviews.

      Instead, they’re engaging her at a higher level. Leslie will be the one advising her client’s HR teams on what they should be doing and why.

      And the higher the level of value you provide, the more value you can capture with your consulting fees.

      It’s often the strategy that actually determines the tactics. The strategy you help create with your clients will determine which tactics they use.

      As a consultant, you position yourself as their trusted adviser by advising on strategy, not by implementing tactics.

      Imperfect Action: What’s Your Strategy?

      It’s time to think about the strategy you’re using in your consulting business, and the tactics you’re using to carry out your strategy.

      First, describe your strategy in 3-4 sentences. What are you trying to achieve? What is your long-term goal? What does your desired future state look like in your business?

      Second, write a list of your tactics. What are you doing on a daily or weekly basis to fulfill your strategy? What different tools are you using? Is what you’re doing actually connected to your strategy?

      Doing this exercise will help you get clear on your destination — and the steps you’ll take to reach that destination.

      Focusing on tactics is easy. It’s fun. It’s immediate.

      But if you get clear on your strategy first — and then focus on your tactics — you’ll make far more progress on your business goals.

      And if you’re advising your clients on strategy instead of tactics, ensure you are capturing your fair share of the value you’re creating. Pricing models like value-based pricing will net you greater fees than charging hourly.

      Are you looking for help with your strategy to grow your consulting business?

      In our services, not only will we help you define and develop your strategy — but we’ll coach you through every step with a customized plan.

      Learn more about our services here — or, schedule your Consulting Success Growth Session where we’ll talk about you, your business, and your next steps to skyrocket your revenues.

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        THE IMPORTANCE OF REPUTATION MANAGEMENT

        In today’s world of mass digital media, giving a referral is as simple as posting a social media link. At Investment Solutions, we know that 90% of your prospective customers make buying decisions based on reviews and online mentions of your business. Digital reputation management is the process of monitoring, identifying, and influencing your digital reputation and credibility online.

        Every day, people are reviewing businesses with star ratings, comments, social media posts, blogs, and much more. Knowing what people are saying about your business is invaluable. Reputation management provides you with a chance to counter negative feedback. It also creates an opportunity to promote the experience of your positive mentions. An effective online reputation management strategy can provide you with new opportunities and insight on increasing brand awareness.

        The importance of having an online reputation management process in place is undeniable. Here are a couple of reasons to consider starting one:

        TRUST & CREDIBILITY

        The reputation of a business is essential to its survival. Having the trust of your clients is a major component of success. Your clients discuss your business with friends and family. When they have a problem, they will spread the word about their experience. Data shows that if an organization has a good reputation, consumers will find that company more credible than its competitors. Even when competing businesses offer the same products or services for different prices!

        RECRUITMENT

        Having professional staff is the foundation for a successful workforce. In today’s world, 92% of companies are using social media for recruiting. A company’s reputation matters for employers more than ever before. It can have serious impacts on the quality of recruitment. Top applicants will research your company before they accept a position. Statistics show that 83% of respondents in a survey reported that they’re influenced by reviews when making application decisions. 46% of respondents report that company reputation influences their job offer decisions. 75% of people said they wouldn’t be willing to work for a company with a bad reputation — even if those without jobs.

        IMAGE

        Having a successful corporate image is a necessary marketing tool for your company. If you warm the hearts of your customers, then you can expect them to always remember you. You won’t need to spend time trying to convince your potential customers to use your products or services. With a strong digital image, customers will continue to support your company.

        Google your business name and scroll through your results. Scan the first few pages of results. Did you find information that doesn’t accurately represent your business? If you did, we’re glad we were able to bring this to your attention. In a recent Moz study, research suggests that businesses risk losing 22% of business when potential customers find a negative article on their first page of search results. That number increases to 59% lost business with three negative articles. At four or more negative articles, it goes up to 70%.

        Don’t panic! You could spend every day searching your own company to see if something new came up. This could take you hours every day and you would continue to stumble over old things that were already known about. Investment Solutions provides a tool that runs 24/7 to scour public web space to find mentions, reviews, and websites that talk about your business.

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