YouTube is best known for being the largest online video platform, yet it is widely used to learn and understand information. However, key factors like a video’s listing appearance or search term can impact a video’s credibility and usefulness. Individuals can learn to research through YouTube by understanding the site’s features and  more.

What teaches individuals to trust a video as research on YouTube? Continue reading to learn more.

Content & Background

A video’s presentation, such as thumbnail, channel, comments, and past content, can determine its information reliability and educational intent. Tufts University, a private Massachusetts research university, recommends “additional research on the content creator’s background to discover their qualifications and perspective.” The channel profile and reputation is a recommended starting point and can help build confidence in its provided content.

YouTube offers several features to keep an audience engaged, but also notably provides short-form content. For instance, features like “chapters” indicate to the viewers what topic is covered between dedicated timestamps. In addition, anecdotal comments from like-minded users can help reinforce a channel’s goodwill. Likewise, a channel or video may be recommended, but the search bar also pushes a video’s reach to users.

YouTube Search Bar

The YouTube search algorithm prioritizes engagement and search terms but can help filter out faulty or untrustworthy content. VidIQ, a YouTube analytic and channel growth website, reveals that a YouTube search is “based on user behavior, keywords, engagement metrics and relevancy.” Users can tinker with their search terms and search through other platforms, such as Google, to find relevant videos. Popular and consistent channels are typically featured in users’ feeds and search results, so news organizations and independent creators should be considered when researching.

News Channels

Information and how its presented contents indicates how logical and objective it truly is, especially with the host or channel. Recently, news organizations have been known for misinformation, so users should cross reference a channel and their information. Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan American trend think tank, states that “57% of Americans expect social media based news to be largely inaccurate.” 

Additionally, the 2018 study notes that Americans are most concerned with  “inaccuracy, outstripping concerns about political bias and the bad behavior of others.” Users can dictate if a source is reputable depending on the display of information being swayed to promote negativity or understanding current events. YouTube research can be an educational process, but it has several limitations.

Practicing Research

YouTube is the biggest video platform on the internet, and research on the platform can have its advantages and disadvantages. Ultimately, users should cross reference and research a channel’s previous content and background to build their trust in the source. However, users can build their research skills and learn to identify legitimate research sources.

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Maintaining a business can be daunting, especially for new entrepreneurs, but staying motivated can make a positive impact. Business owners are responsible for leading and motivating their company towards success, which could inspire others to follow. In addition, motivation can be crucial during down periods and act as reminders for aspiring goals and success. 

What are the best ways for business owners to stay motivated? Continue reading to learn more.

1. Setting Goals & Objectives

Setting goals and objectives can remind individuals what to aim for and can act as accomplishments in the future. MasterClass, an online discipline subscription, describes goals as “generalized and long-term,” whereas objectives are “specific and short-term.” Goals and objectives can keep a company structured and establish meeting deadlines and standards.

2. Using Success Stories as Motivation

Many business owners struggled before finding success, and seeking those success stories can be relatable and motivational to any entrepreneur. Indeed, an online employment website encourages this habit because one can “relate to the struggles of successful business owners.” They add that the stories can also be “reassuring” since higher levels of success are attainable.

3. Joining Entrepreneur Organizations

Networking, especially business connections, can be necessary, and finding like-minded entrepreneurs can be a resourceful connection. 4cDesignWorks, a marketing and branding service, notes that entrepreneur organizations can “broaden one’s knowledge, find or mentor others, and keep morale high.” It is an opportunity to learn from other current business owners and broaden one’s experience and knowledge of their field.

4. Maintaining Mental Health

Business owners can feel stressed from maintaining a business, so prioritizing mental health can be beneficial. In addition, positive mindsets can create a positive outlook on daily business life. The National Institute of Mental Health, a U.S. health and human service, advises that “sleep and practicing gratitude should be prioritized.” Improving one’s business is essential, but self-care should be a priority to maintain a grateful and healthy mindset.

5. Build a Morning Routine

Mornings can dictate how the rest of the day develops, so an efficient morning routine can increase productivity. A morning routine automatically helps build a healthy sleeping schedule and provides more time to handle personal tasks. Likewise, eliminating distractions, like social media, can help shift one’s energy and time into improving their business.

6. Setting Reminders & To-Do List

Reminders and to-do lists are microscopic changes but can yield increased results in completing daily tasks and sustaining focus. Entrepreneur, an entrepreneurship magazine, recommends setting reminders to establish “important tasks and daily goals,” resulting in more productive days. Additionally, time and tasks are managed to build a successful daily routine.

7. Celebrating Success

Lastly, leadership and accomplishing goals and objectives should be celebrated with other employees and oneself to build morale and motivation. Celebrating milestones and achievements can be moments of reassurance and success, which can later act as motivation.

To Conclude

Motivation can be a source of success, and active practices can help transform the business owner and company. Smaller practices like reminders can seem insignificant, but they build a productive and focused mindset like the more prominent practices. Ultimately, the business owner’s motivation can be a boost to improve and transform one’s company.

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Personal branding is a distinct and unique process that correlates to an individual’s industry and persona. It allows a person to represent ideals and communicate values and goals they represent to a listening audience. This process can also open new opportunities to build a credible reputation and increase their influence.

What is the importance of developing personal branding? Continue reading to learn more.

Defining Personal Branding

Personal branding revolves around a perceived public and influential persona that provides credible insight into an industry while representing select values. The Harvard Business Review, a general management magazine, defines personal branding as “visibility and the values that individuals outwardly represent.” An intentional identity process helps control one’s perceived identity instead of others, creating a contradicting identity.

For instance, notable individuals like Bill Nye, famous scientist, build organizations, programs, and communities to convey their achievements and influence. Webflow, a website software service, lists Bill Nye’s personal branding as “increasing awareness and appreciation of science, reason, and objective thinking. “ His actions, such as programs and public appearances, reflect what he publicly represents. Bill Nye informs the world about science and constantly practices personal branding, but how is it practiced?

Practicing Personal Branding Online

An online search can inform clients and customers about a notable individual, so that a positive online presence can be beneficial. Top search results can prioritize online business or social profiles, which should be optimized into a professional overview of one’s personal branding. Forbes, a business magazine, advises that social profiles should “show professionalism, services provided, and sell why people should do business with that individual.” A reputable social presence can be the first step to building personal branding that informs others about professionalism and informative individuals. Besides the benefit of cultivating a welcoming presence, personal branding can attract opportunities to spread one’s business and story.

Attracting Opportunities

Personal branding can propel individuals to be the face of an industry and be a sought-after business network connection. For example, TED Talks, a media organization devoted to speaking conferences, invites speakers who will inform, inspire, surprise, and delight.” Some notable individuals are sought for advice and ideas relating to their personal experiences and careers. In addition, one’s name and company are given recognition, which can build trust and legitimacy for interested customers and clients. Lastly, attracting similar opportunities defines the brand an individual builds and can determine how influential one can be.

Conclusion

Personal branding can be an opportunity to push a personal and professional narrative that attracts others to an individual. An online presence can be a worthwhile investment to define one’s perceived persona and present oneself as a legitimate network connection. Ultimately, personal branding can be a beneficial and crucial investment in one’s public image.

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Digital portfolios are often used for employment opportunities and credibility sources, yet can be difficult to create. Additionally, the content and purpose can also seem confusing as portfolios do not always include everything one has created. A digital portfolio represents one’s best qualities and accomplishments but can be an interactive and easy-to-navigate website.

Continue reading to learn more about the basics of a digital portfolio.

Creating a Digital Portfolio

MasterClass, an online discipline subscription, defines digital portfolios as “work experience, education, skills, and work samples for potential employers to examine.” A digital portfolio should highlight an individual’s best professional characteristics and work through an easy-to-navigate self-made website.

Digital portfolios are often completed by website builders which can significantly impact the quality of the portfolio. Sites like Squarespace or WordPress can be convenient for those who do not know how to create websites from scratch. Additionally, website builders can offer exceptional layouts and templates dedicated to online portfolios such as Journo Portfolio. 

However, individuals should consider that many website builders require a subscription plan or do not have a free plan. For an in-depth comparison of website builders, WebsiteBuilderExpert offers a detailed report. While each website offers something different, one should think about the presentation of their portfolio.

Adding Unique Flair

Digital portfolios display one’s previous work, but it should also introduce the individual and reflect their services, personality, and profession. Webflow, a website software service, published a blog post about unique portfolio examples and praised examples that left a remarkable first-impression. Features such as scroll animations, testimonials, color, category layouts, animation, contact information, etc. can be stylized and easy to navigate. In addition, the available features of a website builder should emphasize the importance of one’s previous work.

Highlight The Best Work

A digital portfolio should highlight the best work and accomplishments of an individual since it represents their best qualities and experience. For instance, an award-winning news article or a personal project can give insight to one’s professional traits and creative drives. Indeed, an online employment website, suggests “pieces that have garnered praise from others, positive client feedback, or awards with a small caption.” Work samples are the core of digital portfolios which can provide further insight to an individual’s history, work ethic, and accomplishments. Before publicizing a digital portfolio, one should test run their portfolio for any performance or unseen issues.

Test Run and Sharing

Lastly, a test run on desktop and mobile browsers can indicate any problems like load speed or misplaced information. Robert Half states that test runs can help spot issues like “image load times and quality, poor navigation, mobile optimization, and poorly written captions.” The quality of the portfolio will also reflect one’s readiness which can make or break a job opportunity. After a test run, one can share their digital portfolio with confidence.

Conclusion

Digital portfolios can show the best of an individual’s growing career and create new opportunities for career growth. While website building may seem daunting, it can help establish one’s best qualities and experience. Overall a digital portfolio presents one’s best qualities in a personalized website that reflects one’s personality and work quality. 

For more about the business world, visit FerryGodmother.Biz.

In America, over 170 million people use the app TikTok to make videos and share them with the world. But America has taken a step that might get TikTok banned nationwide.

What is TikTok?

TikTok is used to create and share short-form videos with other users. The app was launched by the Chinese technology company ByteDance in 2016 and has grown since. TikTok has offices in Beijing, Los Angeles, Moscow, India, Seoul, South Korea, and Tokoyo.

As of February 2024, TikTok has been downloaded a total of 4.7 billion times. TikTok’s popularity stems from how the app’s algorithm remembers what content a user likes in the form of the “For You” page. On top of that, videos recorded on TikTok are 15 seconds to 3 minutes long, which keeps the flow of content fast-paced.

The Ban on TikTok

On 3/13/2024 The House Of Representatives passed a bill that could ban TikTok for all of America. If Byte Dance, the parent company of TikTok, does not sell its assets to another company within six months of the bill’s passing, TikTok will be banned nationwide. The vote was 352 to 65 and the bill now has to be voted on in the Senate. There is currently no date set for when the Senate will vote on the bill. TikTok argues that the bill violates First Amendment rights.

Others who are against the bill like Ashley Gorski from the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) state “The Government can’t impose this type of ban unless it’s the only way to prevent extremely serious harm to national security.” TikTok creators are against the ban as well. They argue that millions of creators would lose their source of income if the ban were to happen.

Why Is TikTok A Threat?

Byte Dance is a company that operates in China. Politicians fear that TikTok will give all the data that it’s collected from users to the Chinese Government. ByteDance has denied having ties with the Chinese Government in the past, but evidence has shown that ByteDance may have links to the Chinese Military Surveillance Complex. TikTok has already been banned on government phones in all three government institutions in the EU on March 20th, 2023.

There are also concerns beyond national security. TikTok is seen as a danger to children because of how addictive the app is and the lack of safeguards in place for them.

As of 3/14/2024, TikTok is still downloadable in America, but they may or may not change in the coming months.

Starting a business can be difficult. The owner has to decide between products, services, logos, marketing strategies, employees, a website, and more. The most important part of starting a business is deciding which type of business to start. This helps set up structure, purpose, and goals in a business. 

Continue reading to learn about the four different types of businesses.

Sole Proprietorship

The most known business type is the sole proprietorship. This type is an unincorporated company with only one owner or married couple. This is an ideal business model for those who enjoy working alone and want to be responsible for decision-making. 

Consequently, it does mean that while all the profits go to one person, so do all the liabilities. The sole owner’s personal income tax record includes the income and tax expenses of the business.

Partnership Business

Counter to a sole proprietorship is a partnership business. American Express defines this business type as “two or more people who combine their resources to form a business.” They add that co-business owners “agree to share risks, profits and losses.” This model further divides roles and responsibilities into two separate partnership structures. 

First, general partners own and operate the business and assume liabilities. This model is traditional and encourages owners to engage with day-by-day decisions. Second, limited partnerships include general and “silent” partnerships. This model includes investor-like partners because they have no control over the company and have limited liabilities. This can be a helpful business type for remote jobs and location convenience. Another business type to consider is limited liability companies.

Limited Liabilities Companies (LLCs)

Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) allow owners, partners, and shareholders to limit personal liability while protecting personal assets. Although LLCs are not corporations, they have the same limited liability as corporations. LLCs follow the same tax system as sole proprietorships, partnerships, or corporations. This is one of the most flexible business types.

4 Types of Corporations

Finally, one can consider the four types of corporations to follow: S corps, Nonprofits, B corps, and C corps. S corps have the liability protection of corporations and several tax benefits but can only issue common stock. Additionally, this category can have up to 75 shareholders who must be allowed to vote on major decisions.

C corporations have the strongest personal liability protection but pay income tax on their profits. They’re completely independent of shareholders but require more extensive reporting, record-keeping, and operational processes. Double taxation occurs in certain situations for C corporations.B corporation is a for-profit corporation with a mission and profit motive.

B corporations are taxed like C corporations but focus more on purpose, accountability, and transparency. Business Insider, a business and media website, describes this type as a corporation that “works toward a more inclusive and sustainable economy.” These companies set out to give back to communities, promote a healthier environment, and reduce inequality. This is one of the most ethical business models to follow, which can positively impact smaller communities and even the world.

Conclusion

Business owners have several business types to follow, which can determine what kind of company they represent in the future. In addition, business models, shareholders, and liabilities will become the business’s foundations and can affect decisions. Sole or partnerships may be all one needs, or multiple owners and partners can fulfill the ambitions of the business. Ultimately, it is an important step to take to achieve the goals of a business.

For more insight into business development, check out Ferrygodmother.biz.

Applying for jobs sometimes means having to write a cover letter. Cover letters can be useful in allowing a person to stand out in a pool of applicants. They can allow applicants to advocate themselves and their interest in a position. 

Keep reading to find out what makes a good cover letter.

Tip #1: Tailor it to the job

Applying for the same types of jobs can make writing cover letters feel repetitive. However, it’s crucial to ensure each is tailored specifically for the job and company it’s being sent to.  In fact, according to Yahoo, 77% of employers stated that they prefer applicants with cover letters. Companies appreciate an understanding of the position and company values, and a cover letter is the perfect opportunity to convey that. 

Tip #2: Don’t overdo it

Employers typically don’t want to read more than one page. That said, it’s important not to write a letter that’s too short. However, one that is too long can hurt an application more than help it. Cover letters are meant to describe relevant experiences and interests. Anything outside of that should be left out. 

Tip #3: Tone is important

It can be challenging to find the perfect tone for a letter. Some people figure enthusiasm is the way to show excitement for the position. However, keeping it professional should be a priority. Showing a company a passion for the position is excellent, but being genuine is crucial. 

Tip #4: Be clear and concise

When writing about skills and achievements, it can be easy to get carried away. Resume Genius reported that about 36% of hiring managers spend less than 30 seconds reading cover letters. Being too wordy or including too much irrelevant info can deter some employers. 

Tip #5: Remember the point

Cover letters are meant to market potential employees, not companies. Companies want to hear that candidates know what they do and want to participate. Ultimately, the point is to convince companies to hire an employee. Flattery is nice, but too much can be detaching. 

Conclusion

The consensus is that cover letters can make or break an application. Even when one isn’t required, it’s still a good idea to submit one to show a desire for the job. Writing a good cover letter can be difficult, but it can make all the difference in standing out against other candidates. 

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From large to small and everything in between, a micro business is at the lower end of the small business spectrum. Mirroring a small business, micro businesses or micro-enterprises specialize in selling products and services to the local community.

Here is some further insight into what coins this classification and some examples.

Micro Business vs. Small Business

The former (micro-businesses) is defined by having an employee number below ten people, while the latter caps at 500. Though it’s possible as a small business nears closer to the minimum, it takes more to classify them. The small differences lie in revenue, assets, market shares, brand equity, customer base, etc. Everything is significantly less for a micro business.

Impact on Revenue

Despite the maximum guideline of ten employees, a micro company has an owner who can seek to be the sole proprietor of this business or co-habituate with a partnership or corporation. The small team or sole proprietor often handles multiple roles, which impacts the time and energy to focus on revenue-generating activities.

Lower business costs affect the revenue of a micro-business because there are fewer employees to pay and fewer operating expenses, and potentially working from home can relieve workspace costs.

What Are Some Examples?

While some options are more feasible than others, a wide range of fields can be a micro business. Any form of freelance or independent contractor work can classify under this identification. Various micro-businesses operate in different industries, including home base services, retail, professional services, pet services, and more. These offerings represent only a fraction of the possibilities.

Conclusion

Micro-businesses allow individuals to thrive without investing large sums of money. Their agility, personalized customer service, and connection with the local community give them an edge. However, given their small size, they have specific hurdles to overcome, including competing with more prominent companies, securing financing, and reaching out to customers.

For more about business, check out Ferrygodmother.com.

With the school semester quickly approaching, retailers have a chance to connect with parents, students, and educators through back-to-school marketing tactics. Back-to-school shopping is a significant event for families, with an estimated $80 billion spent on supplies, clothing, and electronics each year. This article delves into current trends and strategies businesses can employ to take advantage of this season.

Discover how businesses execute marketing plans for the back-to-school period.

Early Bird Back-To-School Marketing

Customers love early bird (cheaper school supplies) promotions, so when gathering the marketing team, discuss the importance of creating a sense of urgency and excitement before the semester begins. By highlighting exclusive offers and limited-time deals, it encourages early shopping.

A component to boost sales for early bird promotions is exploring the power of content marketing through social media, blogs, videos, and webinars. The content should be engaging and informative such as study tips, organization hacks, and back-to-school checklists.

 Offering discount coupons and digital coupons build an email contact list for the future and increases sales during the vital back-to-school rush.

Virtual Events, Contests, and Give Aways

Another back-to-school marketing tactic explicitly caters to educators. An example is Target and its “Teacher Prep Event,” where educators receive discounts on supplies. 

When hosting contests, use high-value prizes to engage the customers, such as laptops, iPads, or gift cards to a large retail supply store. This way, the clients notice the worth of joining the event. 

Businesses can also collaborate with retailers, such as letting customers know if they take their back-to-school receipts to certain restaurants, they can get discounts on their meals.

Collaboration

Collaborating with educational institutes or local charities reinforces back-to-school marketing strategies. Through collaboration, businesses can tailor product bundles specific to academic disciplines or extracurricular activities. For instance, Verizon Wireless’s “Wireless Zone Locations” annually cater to K-12 students with a backpack full of school supplies. The event allows the business to acquire positive brand exposure and develop a long-term customer partnership.

Helping others through charity increases employee morale and is a positive marketing strategy. This unique selling point gives socially conscious customers a place to shop at businesses that give back to the community.

Conclusion

In summary, back-to-school marketing campaigns set the tone for the season, inducing customer engagement, loyalty, and sales. By utilizing early-bird promotions, informative content, engaging contests,  personalized offerings, and educational collaborations, businesses can be a valuable resource to students and educators for the upcoming semester.

For more on business and to learn more about our internship program, visit Ferry Godmother.Biz.