Thanks to advancing technology, the marketing arena has been revolutionized. It started from billboard posters, advertisements, and ended on social media. But as they say, even digital socialization is dynamic and ever-changing. MSN, Yahoo, Orkut, Facebook, and Instagram have all joined the queue.
However, talking about contemporary times, Instagram has been leading the game. But as I said before, the digital marketing environment has never been constant. Now from what I anticipate, there’s huge potential for another contender in the league, Clubhouse App.
Thanks to COVID-19, the app has been on the rise ever since. Precisely because the app enables users to interact in what they call, invitation-only audio rooms. And from what I know, offline meet-ups have been transformed into digital meetups especially in the COVID era.
Nonetheless, companies across the globe have been using the app as a marketing tool. It helps them connect with their customer base, and eventually enables them to speculate and create customer demand.
But besides, for those users who are not looking forward to using it as a marketing tool, but as a mere medium to interact with colleagues or their social circle, it is the right fit even for them. Plus, also for those users who are uncomfortable with the video interface of video conferencing apps like Google Meet and zoom.
Since the Clubhouse app is invite-only, and available just on IOS, it can get tricky and ambiguous for individuals who are trying out their hands on the app. So, if you’re one of them, here are some tips that can help you know and use the app better
Tips for new clubhouse users
1. How to join without an invite
Primarily, to join and use the Clubhouse app, you need an invite, and on top of it, the number of invites per user is limited. But it’s not absolutely necessary, there’s a hack that allows you to join the app without an invite.
For that, you have to take the help of a friend who is already on the clubhouse app. Since you would be on each other’s contact list, they can let you in.
To go into details, once you register yourself and enter your contact information, your contact that’s already on the App would be promoted a notification that allows them to let you in. This way, neither their invites would be wasted nor would you need an invite to join in.
2. Setting up a profile
Mark this; the registration process is incomplete without an invite if you are going the traditional way without using the hack. However, you can still set basic profile information that includes your name, contact information, photo, etc before being let in.
You can also link your Twitter and other social media accounts to build your network, and draw your audience and friends to your rooms.
To link your social media accounts, open the Clubhouse app > Click on your profile > Find the buttons to link your Twitter and Instagram accounts.
Once you have been invited, you can set up other aspects of your profile, like adding a bio and writing about your interests, hobbies, and passions. The process is similar to any other social media app, like Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest where you offer users a detailed account about yourself.
Besides that, a part of the registration process requires you to pick topics you would be interested in, much like Pinterest. Select these topics, and the algorithm would show you topics and chat rooms similar to your choices. The reason many algorithms ask your topic of interest is that they want to show you content that is relevant to you, and which you can enjoy. The Clubhouse App is no different.
3. Use clubhouse app for marketing or private purposes
It’s not necessary to have a purpose for joining the Clubhouse app. Of course, you can simply use it to interact with your social circle. However, if you have marketing objectives, you can make good use of the app.
You can use the explore page to form connections. The explore section allows you to follow other users, and join new rooms. You can also join topic rooms to engage more with the users who are offering topics you might be interested in.
In case you cannot find a room you are interested in, you can search it out in the search bar. In addition to that, when you are in a room full of listeners, you can even search for specific people in the room. Just tap the three dots found at the top right corner. Then click search and type the name of the person you are looking for.
4. Start your own club
Once you are familiar with the functioning of the app and have participated or hosted three rooms, you can get on board with creating your own club. For instance, if you are an avid reader and would love to engage in a discussion about the books or writers you read, you can start your own club and invite people in.
But just before you get started, here’s what you should know. You require approval before your club starts operating. It’s a simple formality. And you don’t need to worry about it. However, you do need to note that up until now, the app allows a user to create just one room. So, before starting a club, make sure you stay on board with it for as long as you need.
5. Manage clubhouse notifications
Notifications are important if you want to stay updated with the clubs or rooms you might be interested in. But too frequent, and too many notifications can simply piss anyone off. Not to worry, you can make them manageable by controlling what you would like to see in your notifications.
To do that, open the app, open your profile. Tap the little play button at the top right and open settings. Once you are there, you can choose the frequency of notifications and pause it as well when you don’t want to be notified. For the latter, you can also opt for another alternative – just go to your iPhone settings, click notifications, select the clubhouse app, and turn off its notifications.
6. How to engage and build a base
If you are a business professional or an influencer, then you might want to increase your base or followers. You can do so by hosting rooms, and participating as a speaker. That being said, as a speaker, you have to be clear with what you are saying. In other words, you have to make sure that you communicate your thoughts effectively and efficiently. What you say has to be interesting and inspiring because you want the listeners to come back to you in the future.
If you are a listener, you can build connections by bringing out valid points into the discussion by using the ‘raising your hand’ feature. Cookie points for you if you impress the speakers, and they follow you. If that happens, then you’ll move to the “Followed by Speakers list.”, and gather more reach and profile visits.
That’s all from my side, and I think this is just enough to get you started. Are you finding this new App worthwhile? What do you think about its future? Drop your answers in the comments below. I’d love to read and discuss them.
Life is a struggle. Who would know it better than the person who is burning the midnight oil in a full-time job, knowing that their heart is at a different place? We are talking about individuals who are passionate, hard-working, and dreamers who wish to start a business but are stuck in jobs because the business requires funds.
If you are reading this article, you must be one of them. No problem. But wait…who says you cannot do them together, that is working a full-time job while building a business on the side?
These thoughts of trying to start our own business often come up around times of change, like a new year. They also happen when we are tiring of our current full time job wishing for something else.
If you thought otherwise, then allow us to tell you that it is more than possible. Wondering how? Just sit back and read along.
How to build your dream business while working another job
1. Ensure you are legally liberated
Some companies don’t like when their employees focus on work obligations unrelated to theirs’ or when their employees start another business in the same industry. That’s why they clearly enter non-competes and other contracts before you start on your job.
Therefore, before getting ahead to action, ensure that you are free of such conditions imposed by your company. Recall, did you sign a non-compete that mentions conflict of interest? You can also go through the company’s policy, or any other contract you signed with them ever.
If you did, talk to a lawyer, see if there is any way you can waive it off.
2. Time-management
Your business demands your efforts. But it also demands your time both before and after setting up your business. But if you work a full-time job, you are not in a luxury to devote all the time to your endeavor. In this case, you have no other option than to practice time management.
If you think you have some time to kill, or even a few minutes when you can look away from your professional obligations, then spend some time on your business. A little scheduling can help here. Plan out your day, and schedule tasks to free some time to devote to your business.
But don’t rely on weekends because you would need more than that. You cannot keep a weeks’ gap, and so you have to work for your business even when you are in the office (clandestinely if you have a strict boss watching over you), and when you are out. This means you have to give up your leisure time after work. (Yes, even when you are dead tired). I know it sounds harsh, but just remember, no pain no gain.
3. Planning and research
Trust me, working a full-time job is the best time to do your research and build a business plan before you can get to the action. You have a laptop in front of you, spare a few minutes, and do your market research (but don’t let your professional work suffer while doing so). Analyze the market trends, research your competitors, and go through the legal procedures of setting up a business, and things like that.
Just make sure that before taking action, you know everything there is to know. This includes costs and everything about your product.
Do a little thinking. Think about how your product is different? If it’s the same as your competitors’, what different are you offering to your customers? What is your USP? One of the common mistakes entrepreneurs make is that they get overconfident about their products. They think their products provide value to customers, but they don’t.
Therefore, before landing, just be certain that you are doing everything uniquely and correctly. Ask for feedback from your mentors, and your colleagues as well. Show them your business plan. Whatever they have to say, consider it as constructive criticism and work to make your product even better before you get to business.
Lastly,
Do not give up. It will get difficult, and you might lose hope and motivation when things get tough to handle. In that case, you can outsource, consider it an investment. But no matter what, do not give up on your dreams. Just remember, achievers don’t submit, they win.
Have some stories to share? Great, we are all ears. Drop them in the comments below.
Do you work your bum off all month only to see that it is not enough? That, you are failing to meet your monthly expenses, and eventually, it is putting you in a financial crisis? All we can say is, it is quite understandable especially at a time when inflation is rising and so our cost of living.
There are a million bills to pay, necessary purchases to make, and premiums to pay. It is clear cut that your salary would not be enough to cover all these expenses.
But what to do other than cutting expenses? You cannot just rely on cost-cutting when there is plenty of necessary expenditure to incur.
Well, ever thought of finding a side-hustle? In simple words, some extra money that you can earn on top of your full-time jobs. I am certain you did, but you did not know how to.
No issues. Allow us to help.
How to find your side hustle so you don’t waste your time
1. Identify the skills you can offer
Do you think you have some expertise that laymen do not have? Perhaps some skill you occasionally utilize in your workplace. If you do, then you can go ahead and create your side hustle.
Many people look for short-term professional opinions rather than hiring an expert employee. So, if you think you have ideas and strategies to share, then perhaps you can provide consultancy services on a freelance basis. You can even go for content writing jobs in your niche.
Secondly, if you ever used to be an artsy person who is now caught up in the 9 to 5 world, you can perhaps create a small business. Yes, time constraints would be one problem, but you can use your weekends or even free time during weekdays for that matter.
Thirdly, in case you have a passion for music, and are excellent at it, then maybe you can consider performing at restaurants on weekends for some extra money.
2. Find a platform
If you are okay to go steadily, you can start by creating your Instagram page and offer your consultation for a charge. Instagram is the ultimate tool with the most potential to help you generate leads. However, the only downside is, it delivers slow and unguaranteed growth. Moreover, almost every small business is there on the platform, that you are most likely to get lost in the crowd.
Though, there are other freelancing websites you can go for. Some of them are Upwork, Fiverr, etc. You can also use Linkedin and find various individuals looking for freelancing services. Just search the term of the profession and hit the button. Supposedly, if you are looking for content writing jobs, then search #contentwriting, and Linkedin will provide you the listings.
In case you are an artist, who is operating a side business, then you can consider selling your items on Etsy. You can also use Pinterest to generate more leads for your brand.
3. Look for other easy jobs
It is not necessary to stick to the profession of your full-time job. You can also look for other jobs that demand just basic skills. For instance, typing jobs, babysitting, pet sitting, etc.
In case you are keener on doing work that you can do from home, then being a virtual assistant is a great option. If you have a good grasp of Social media, blogging, content writing, and website management, you can find lots of work online.
Here are all the job ideas for your side hustle –
Copywriting
Become an Uber driver
Become a DoorDash/UberEats/Instacart driver
Social media consultant
Graphic designing (If you have the skills)
Become a part-time real estate seller
Rent your car
Become a Handy Person on Thumbtack or TaskRabbit
If you have an unoccupied property, consider renting it out.
Conduct online courses
Final thoughts
Whatever you pick, just make sure you stay consistent with it and do not give up. (Especially if you plan to generate leads for your side hustle on social media platforms)
Yes, you might find it hard at first to manage everything, and you might be exhausted. But keep going, just envision the extra income you would receive and it will help you push through.
Do you have some other ideas to share? Feel free to drop them in the comments below.
Christmas break may or may not be extended beyond the original date in the first part of January like planned, so some WFH Parenting Hacks with MathGames.com is high on my priority list, and maybe yours too!
As we navigate the New Year, and a hope of returning to something somewhat normal, we may see a few things from 2020 still lingering, especially if you have kiddos and school aged children. Daycare and school may be still forced to close, and I know for one, the board games and screen time probably aren’t going to help anyone. And those toys from Christmas will most likely wear out faster than years past.
Listen, we can only expect the kids to entertain themselves for so long, and hope it’s long enough to get our work done ourselves. Especially if we are working from home and trying to take conference calls in a makeshift home office.
Here are a few tips to help mix things up, and help with ensuring your kids don’t drive you straight crazy even with all the magical energy that is the holiday season!
WFH Parenting Hacks
Make Screen Time Educational: As children attempt distance learning, one subject they might be struggling with is math. MathGames.com has a collection of games and apps that connects math and fun and makes it easy for kids to learn! Created for ages pre-k to 9th grade, Math Games has over 1,200 tutorials created by 20+ teachers, to help kids with their at-home learning.
Find a new online game: Instead of watching TV, introduce your kids to online games that will challenge them mentally and keep them entertained. Puzzle games like Candy Connect or Hex Puzzle from Addicting Games will keep your children busy for hours, for FREE.
Limit Screen Time with Worksheets: Give your kids a break from screens and print out FREE, educational worksheets from Math Games. This is the perfect way to give your kids the extra opportunity to practice skills taught in the classroom.
Play Games together!: As we continue to social-distance, multiplayer games are a great way to stay connected with friends virtually. Little Big Snake is the ultimate slither style game. In this game, you start off as a small, wormy looking serpent that has to eat, smash, and slither its way up the food chain. The jungle is an arena and you’ll be pitted against other players who are hungry for the same evolution as you. If you want to win you’ll have to be sneaky!
Plan Breaks with your Kids: It’s always important to get some fresh air and at least twenty minutes of sunshine! Take your lunch outside and have a fun picnic or go on a brisk walk around the neighborhood. This will provide a reset mentally and the physical activity will give you and your kids energy to power through the rest of the day!
Even with all the changes and having one home parent of both working parents, it’s really important to have quiet time especially when we are overstimulated. When everyone has a bit of quiet time, we are able to come back refreshed and recharged able to take on the rest of the day. Sometimes it’s due to not having enough sleep while others it’s due to being cooped up and restless. Don’t forget, we are all experiencing things differently, all navigating these times at different ages with different understandings. Take it easy and remember we all process things differently and some of us might need one parent more than the working parent at different times of the day/week. Take everything in stride and one day at a time to help get through these times.
I know for us, these few tips have been super helpful, even with school in session and especially now that school is out, and they are home while my hubby and I both are trying to do work. And trying to keep the mom guilt at bay while still getting things done, is always an up hill battle. May your new year be one filled with ease and joy no matter what is thrown your way!
Christmas is just around the corner and seems to come faster each year. It’s time to gather the lights, décor and spread joy and happiness all around you. But something even more important is to prepare your wallets for the Christmas expenses that might create a deep hole within your pockets. Even if you are someone who likes to spend time with those you love over gift giving, you still need to plan to save gas money.
So, if you are someone who finds themselves disappointed and stressed after looking at the credit card statement at the end of the holiday season, don’t just sit and do nothing. Work on saving money this Christmas.
Not sure how to do that? Read on!
50 creative ways to save money this Christmas
1. Don’t buy anything during Christmas time.
Prices go exceedingly up, and you end up spending more than you should have. Shop beforehand.
2. Take advantage of Buy 1 Get 1 offers.
This is not limited to Christmas days, if you find such deals on arandom day – even when you are not in the mind frame to shop Christmas gifts, buy them. This will help you save money later.
3. Create a gift basket
If you have someone special to gift something expensive, consider investing in a thoughtful gift basket. Instead of buying one big expensive present, find little inexpensive ones to create a basket.
4. If you happen to have brand new and unused gift items, gift them away.
They don’t do anything other than creating space, they might as well be of use to somebody else.
5. Monitor your expenses.
Calculate how much you have spent, and how much of it is still left.
6. Look for alternatives if a gift seems expensive.
Perhaps you can get the same thing from a different store, or anything else that would be a makeshift for it.
7. Buy second-hand things.
Trust me, you can still get good-quality items at reasonable rates if you do your research well.
8. Shop at the Dollar Store.
If you happen to have one in your city, what are you waiting for? You can get good things at dirt-cheap rates.
9. Compare prices online.
If you find items cheaper there, buy them.
10. Shop from outlets.
You can get things relatively cheaper there.
11. Go for handmade gifts if you can.
They communicate importance.
12. Shop from thrift/flees stores.
Ditch expensive shopping malls.
13. Buy books and DVDs for people who love them, they are inexpensive and can be thoughtful Christmas gifts.
14. Make your greeting cards.
15. Do something different, send e-cards this time.
16. Print your own greeting cards.
They will cost you less.
17. Make use of coupons, vouchers, and cashback points.
18. Bake cookies and cakes, and gift them away as Christmas gifts in cute packaging.
19. Avoid dining at high-end restaurants during Christmas.
Go for a fun-filled home-cooked dinner. If not that, bring in a takeaway.
20. Don’t buy anything extra – even when it might be of use for you after Christmas.
Now is not the time to shop for such items.
21. Limit credit card usage.
22. Save on fuel and electricity in the months before to make up for the heavy bills in the holiday season.
23. Play Secret Santa so you wouldn’t have to gift everybody.
24. Go for an artificial tree.
They are cheaper.
25. Use last year’s Christmas décor – however, change the style.
26. Go for frugal get-togethers.
You can go see Christmas lights as a family. Or if you have gatherings, ask people to pitch in and bring a dish or two.
27. Shop in charity shops.
28. Use last year’s wrapping papers if you still have some.
If not, go for brown rolls and decorate the packaging yourself.
29. Shop in Black Friday sales.
But make sure the deals they say they are are actual deals!
30. Try to gift experiences rather than expensive gifts to special people.
31. Try a side-hustle if your schedule allows.
32. Cut down Santa’s stocking.
33. Book tickets months before if you know you have to travel during holidays.
34. Go for free local outings – free outings or meeting Santa in public spaces.
35. Save on Christmas lights
Don’t decorate the whole house, but just the central parts. Don’t go for fancy decorations
36. Do a yard sale for things you might not need.
37. Go for cheaper alternatives, instead of going for branded stuff.
38. Don’t send out cards to everybody – Call them instead.
Or if you want to send them a card, do so via email or with the online card services like JibJab.
39. Don’t try to please anybody by gifting them beyond your means.
40. Don’t forget to use your loyalty points or credit card points.
41. Try to make and eat at home during the holiday season as much as you can.
You can go out for ice cream instead of dinner. It would be relatively cheaper.
42. Make a shopping list, and ensure you adhere to it.
43. Plan your Christmas meals in advance.
44. Do a casual bonfire over exquisite family dinners.
45. Use Ibotta and Ebate.
46. Create a reserve for Christmas to soften the budget blows or pay for expenses altogether.
47. Do DIYs.
If you have kids, this is the best way to give gifts that are actually from the heart and made with love!
48. Don’t invest in high-end cleaning supplies
Make use of home ingredients such as lemon and baking soda.
49. Fill out surveys and get money in return.
You can use Swagbucks and Mypoints. Use the apps Fetch or Shopkick to get points for scanning receipts and redeem them for gift cards to a lot of places.
50. Always check for coupon codes.
I hope now you’d spare yourself the financial and mental stress of spending so much during Christmas. So come on, be happy, and spread happiness. Have a Merry Christmas!
I’m guilty of obsessing about how to manage my time better. There’s just so much to do, and the 24-hour daily window is just not cutting it. Since time is a finite resource, it’s essential to handle it well, not crash and burn.
It’s all about making choices. When you want to boost your productivity and have better work quality, good time management is always on top of the strategies. When I want to create better opportunities for myself or advance my career, I struggle to determine how to go about it since I always feel like my time is constrained. But lo and behold, once I try different ways of managing my time, I see that I can do more even when there’s less time. It also results in minimizing work stress, making me more focused and effective.
On the other hand, time management is just as crucial for your personal life. How managing your time wisely can help you create a healthy balance between your personal and professional life. It can make you take control of your day and can positively affect your entire well-being. Much has been written about why it’s essential to work on time management to improve your professional life, but I’d like to dedicate this post to give more insight into its effect on your personal life.
Importance of Time Management in Personal Life
When you control your time, you also take back control of your life. As you grow old and take on more roles, a lot is expected of you and being able to manage your time well possibly reflects on the quality of your personal life. Throw kids, pets, and a spouse into the mix, and you’ve suddenly got yourself some more time restraints. This can cause your personal life to derail if not addressed and fixed. Some of these indications are:
Less stress
One of the best and effective time management tactics is making your important tasks and thoughts. Through this, you can review your tasks and go about your day knowing that you are handling everything alright. It automatically means stress-free. When you control your time, you’ll also gain more extra time for yoga, golfing, reading, or dancing to get your energy moving. It also results in having a better sleeping pattern.
Less distraction
Importance of Time Management in Personal Life
Why is it so difficult to avoid distractions? And if you’re like me, then you know how ideas can be fleeting, even good ones, and you tend to forget about these golden nuggets of insights. The good news is that I found out that time management is the answer to this. List the most important tasks you need to complete within the day. Knowing the enormity of what you’re supposed to accomplish and giving yourself break times keeps you more motivated and focused on getting them done.
More energy
Having a better work-life balance means having sufficient energy. No burnout, no feeling exhausted all the time, both are benefits of time management. By understanding the value of time, you also have the clarity of your goals, including having enough time to spend with friends and family.
More time to think and do things that you love
Don’t we all want time freedom to think and do things that we love? I always hear someone say that working smarter is way better than working hard. Time management is all about setting your priorities straight, which gives you the chance to pursue new interests. Putting a value on time creates more opportunities to take action and, of course, the possibility of fulfillment in all aspects of your life.
Improves self-discipline
A great time management strategy means having the ability to control your actions, feelings, and thoughts. In other words, it’s about self-discipline, which focuses on one’s self. Some people struggle with this, and it’s just too easy sometimes to give in to procrastinating. But if you have efficient time management, your self-discipline improves your life by developing good communication skills, and you get to spend your time with things and people that truly matter to you.
Make better decisions
Since time management skills help you get enough sleep, you also have a better decision-making process. When you’re not stressed about something, you also tend to see the whole picture or the situation because you have free time. It makes for sound decisions, whether it’s on your relationships or career, what difference exhaustion makes when trying to achieve your goals. Since time management skills help you get enough sleep, you also have a better decision-making process.
Improves quality of relationships
In maintaining relationships, having time for each other is essential. Although it’s also filled with pressures and decisions, the time has the most impact on keeping your relationships survive when balancing work and personal life. Making each other a priority is supposed to be a given, and once it gets disrupted, intimacy and trust might suffer. So time management helps you improve your relationships by being aware of each other, accountable for your responsibilities, and of course, spending time together.
When it comes to time management, it’s important to remember that quality is better than quantity. Sure, you may be able to get more things done if you rush through them, but the work won’t be as good as if you take your time. Instead of trying to do everything at once, try to break down your tasks into smaller goals that you can achieve more quickly. This will help you to not only meet your deadlines, but also to improve your time management skills overall.
Another thing to keep in mind when it comes to time management is the importance of priorities. Not everything is equally important, so you need to be able to distinguish between the things that need to be done right away and the things that can wait. This will help you to focus on the most important tasks and get them done faster.
Finally, don’t forget about the role of technology in time management. With so many distractions available online, it can be easy to waste a lot of time without even realizing it. To avoid this, try to set some rules for yourself about how much time you’re allowed to spend on social media or other online activities each day. This will help you to stay focused and get more done in less time.
who are trying out their hands on the app. So, if you’re one of them, here are some tips that can help you know and use the app better 
and friends to your rooms.
when you are in a room full of listeners, you can even search for specific people in the room. Just tap the three dots found at the top right corner. Then click search and type the name of the person you are looking for.
are there, you can choose the frequency of notifications and pause it as well when you don’t want to be notified. For the latter, you can also opt for another alternative – just go to your iPhone settings, click notifications, select the clubhouse app, and turn off its notifications.
employees start another business in the same industry. That’s why they clearly enter non-competes and other contracts before you start on your job.
if you work a full-time job, you are not in a luxury to devote all the time to your endeavor. In this case, you have no other option than to practice time management.
the action. You have a laptop in front of you, spare a few minutes, and do your market research (but don’t let your professional work suffer while doing so). Analyze the market trends, research your competitors, and go through the legal procedures of setting up a business, and things like that.
workplace. If you do, then you can go ahead and create your side hustle.
Instagram is the ultimate tool with the most potential to help you generate leads. However, the only downside is, it delivers slow and unguaranteed growth. Moreover, almost every small business is there on the platform, that you are most likely to get lost in the crowd.
basic skills. For instance, typing jobs, babysitting, pet sitting, etc.
gifts.
decorations
roles, a lot is expected of you and being able to manage your time well possibly reflects on the quality of your personal life. Throw kids, pets, and a spouse into the mix, and you’ve suddenly got yourself some more time restraints. This can cause your personal life to derail if not addressed and fixed. Some of these indications are:
working smarter is way better than working hard. Time management is all about setting your priorities straight, which gives you the chance to pursue new interests. Putting a value on time creates more opportunities to take action and, of course, the possibility of fulfillment in all aspects of your life.
process. When you’re not stressed about something, you also tend to see the whole picture or the situation because you have free time. It makes for sound decisions, whether it’s on your relationships or career, what difference exhaustion makes when trying to achieve your goals. Since time management skills help you get enough sleep, you also have a better decision-making process.
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