Rent a Car Bilbao

 

Tips For Renting A Car in Bilbao

A rent a car Bilbao, hire a car or any other car service is an organization that hires cars for a short period of time, usually ranging from some days to a week. These companies also provide other services such as car rentals, car services and also limousines.

A rent a car service will not only provide a limo for you, but they also can provide a hired car service. When looking for a car you can also try renting a car for a weekend or for the day or a night out. It all depends on what you need.

The biggest problem with these types of agencies is that many of them do not have a reputation for reliability. It is important to find a service that has experience and knows how to provide quality customer service. You also need to know that you are not renting a car that will be late because of bad weather or other things. If the vehicle has been in an accident or if there are any mechanical problems then this could cause the vehicle to be late or to be at a much higher price than if it was not a problem.

When looking into hiring a car service, it is also important to find a company that has a good reputation. Find out how long the company has been around. If they have been around for awhile then they probably have a decent reputation. Also check to see if they accept your credit card. Most people prefer to pay through a credit card when it comes to buying anything from gas to car rentals.

It is important to check the vehicle thoroughly before leaving for your rental. Make sure it is clean and if you have any scratches or dents it should have been taken care of in a timely manner. Make sure there is no damage to the interior of the vehicle.

Once you have checked everything, make sure to go to the parking lot and park your vehicle. Don’t forget to lock the doors and make sure there is nothing inside or behind the vehicle. It is also a good idea to leave a copy of the insurance policy along with your rent a car service.

When getting your vehicle checked out make sure to make sure everything is in proper working order before you leave. Some places will even give you the vehicle back to try it again if something is wrong.

While these rental agencies in Bilbao may sound like a great way to get a vehicle, there are a number of things you should keep in mind. If the vehicle is late or if the driver does not show up for the rental, it is important to call the agency and check with them about it.

Make sure you ask about the rules about renters driving the car and if they have insurance on the vehicle. You may want to make sure your vehicle is insured. Sometimes rental agencies can only cover their own vehicle.

When you check the tires of your vehicle to make sure they are inflated correctly. Sometimes you are going to need them at the same time your rental car is due. This is a very important rule to follow because the tires on the vehicles are what is used when you drive and if they are not inflated properly it can cause a lot of trouble on the road.

Make sure to check the tires after driving the vehicle a few times to make sure they are right and to make sure they are flat. In addition, you can adjust the tires by pushing down on them and making sure they are level.

You should make sure your car is locked when you leave the rental and not let anyone else have access to it until you get to your place. There are a number of other rules that you will need to follow when it comes to renting a car. Make sure you are well prepared so you do not end up paying more for an auto than necessary.

Rent a Car Bilbao

See more car rental opportunities at https://rentacar24.club/

The post Rent a Car Bilbao appeared first on GQ Central.

In 2020, brands are leveraging virtual events more than ever.

And, although some marketers once believed that “webinars were dead,” many are now rethinking that statement as they find themselves scheduling and promoting this exact type of event.

Webinars, or online events often modeled like a class or seminar, often include a lesson, slide deck, interactive elements such as polls, and, occasionally, time for audience members to virtually ask questions.

Because of their educational format, webinars can offer a number of great perks to brands.

First, you can build a sense of credibility by hosting a webinar on a topic your company has expertise in. Second, webinars can enable your fans to interact with you digitally.

Lastly, and most importantly, webinar signups can lead to a bigger contact list, more prospects, or purchasing conversions.

But webinars aren’t always easy to plan and execute.

Because webinars require viewers to sign up and remember to tune in, it takes clever marketing to ensure that a large audience actually attends. Additionally, with most brands going virtual in 2020, a number of competitors in your space might very well be planning a similar webinar that your audiences might be more drawn to.

Luckily, by researching your target audience, and learning more about what drives attendees to sign up for webinars, you can create and promote an event that effectively pulls in and delights your audiences.

So, where do you start?

To help you research the best webinar tactics for your brand, I surveyed 400 consumers about their webinar preferences and what motivates them to attend these virtual events. In this blog post, I’ll highlight a few key findings that you can keep in mind as you develop and promote your webinar content.

What Consumers Say About Webinars in 2020

People want webinars that help them explore their passions.

When choosing which webinars to sign up for, are people drawn mostly to events that help them elevate their career, or are they attending them for more recreational purposes?

To learn more about consumers’ motivations for attending a webinar, I asked 400 consumers, “Which webinars are you most likely to attend in 2020?”, 27% chose, “Webinars that teach me more about a passion or hobby;” while 24% chose, “Webinars that entertain me.”

Data Source

If you have a webinar strategy or series that aims to help people boost their careers or work tactics, don’t panic. Nearly one-fifth of the group (18%) said they wanted to attend webinars that helped them learn more about their career or industry, while 22% said “All of the above.” These results indicate that consumers will definitely still sign up for a webinar that tackles career, work, or industry-related topics.

Additionally, you should also keep in mind that this survey was delivered to a small general consumer pool of all ages and career levels. Had this been given primarily to executives or B2B business reps, the results might have leaned towards industry-related content.

Regardless of what industry you’re in, or the size of this survey pool, marketers should keep the data above in mind when creating and promoting a webinar. Because people are naturally curious and want to learn, your webinar promotions should intrigue them by clearly stating what they’ll learn, noting any experts that might be featured, and highlighting how attendees will be able to use the knowledge they’ll gain from the event.

Webinar viewers sign up to learn something — but prefer certain teaching styles over others.

Just like any in-person class, each professor — or webinar host — might have a slightly different teaching style.

While some hosts might come in with a great slide deck presentation, others might bring in an expert and have the audience ask them questions. Or, they might bring in a few experts and host a panel discussion where the audience just listens rather than asking questions.

There are many ways to format an informative webinar, but which teaching style actually intrigues people enough to get them to sign up?

When I asked, “Which webinar format sounds most engaging to you?”, 30% of participants said, “A presentation that teaches me how to do something specific.” Meanwhile, 20% said “All of the above.”

Data Source

The results above hint that a simple how-to webinar with fewer frills could still engage audiences if you’re feeling low on bandwidth and creativity. However, if you have the time to coordinate a webinar that feels more like a live Q&A, this could also be a great formatting option. 39% of people said they were drawn to one of the webinar formats that included a Q&A.

Although a more basic presentation or lecture styled webinar will still catch the attention of potential viewers, content marketers should still make sure their presentations educate audiences on something specific — like a strategy — rather than discussing an incredibly broad or very vague topic — like an entire industry. Only 12% of respondents say they’re driven to webinars that will feature a presenter discussing a broad topic.

Odds are, a person attending a webinar already knows the basics of their hobby, industry, or passion. But, they want to learn more or become an expert at something related to it. For example, as a content marketer, I might not attend a webinar with a broad topic of “Marketing,” but I might attend webinars like, “Advanced Blogging Tips from Managing Editors,” or “The Basics of SEO in Marketing.”

As a marketer or webinar creator, you’ll need to build a buyer persona for your target audience to determine the best expertise level to create valuable content around. If your audience is filled with beginners in a topic, you might want to create more granular webinars that discuss basic tasks or tactics. If your audience is made up of topic experts, your webinars might need to be more advanced.

Interactive Content: The Key to an Engaging Webinar?

In the modern classroom, teachers will often zest up a number of different class outlines by adding opportunities for students to interact or test their knowledge. These could include polling the class by asking them to raise their hands, pop quizzes, or allowing them to ask questions.

When it comes to online events, a number of tools and video software enable marketers to make their webinars more interactive and engaging. And, based on our research, it seems like consumers enjoy interactive webinars.

When asked, “Which element would you most like to see in a webinar?”, “A host or presenter that takes questions from the audience,” received 22% of the votes, followed by “No preference as long as the webinar feels interactive,” with 19% of the votes. Another 20% say they’d like to see polls or quizzes.

Data Source

If you’re a marketer who regularly creates webinars, it might be worth it to consider where you can make your programming more interactive.

For example, if you’re hosting an expert, consider leaving time for the audience to ask questions in the webinar tool’s chat area. Or, if you’re discussing a strategy that’s common in your field, poll your audience to see if they’ve used the tactic.

Although polls or Q&A might seem like a super basic webinar element, they might make your audiences listen more actively and enjoy the content they’re consuming more. This ultimately could lead to them engaging more with your brand, signing up for future webinars, or converting to a customer.

If you’re marketing a webinar that has interactive content in it, be sure to promote that aspect. For example, in your messaging, emails, and follow-up emails, directly tell your audiences they’ll be able to actively participate in quizzes, polls, or a Q&A during your event.

In a competitive webinar pool, anything you can do to make your webinar seem more active and engaging than others that are more basic could help boost signups and attendance during the actual event.

Creating and Promoting a Successful Webinar

While creating a unique and engaging webinar will be one crucial step in your virtual event strategy, the proper promotional tactics will also be vital.

Once you’ve created a webinar plan that will inform audiences, allow them to interact with you, and fuel your contact list, be sure to promote all of the great things your online event will cover.

As you promote your webinar, don’t forget to note aspects that will make your event stand out — such as polls or Q&As. This transparency will show audiences exactly what they can expect and differentiate you from competitors with vague webinar promotions.

To learn more about creating a truly compelling webinar, check out this ultimate guide. Want to learn how to promote your next online event? Here are a few great tips from HubSpot marketers.

By now, you’ve probably heard video marketing is a powerful tool for generating leads and capturing new customers.

So why aren’t you using it yet?

For many small to medium businesses, the reluctance to adopt video comes from a fear of the unknown. Video marketing feels expensive, cumbersome, and difficult to track. And these would be valid reasons … if any of them were still true in 2020.

Video technology has come a long way in the past few years. We’ve gone from “put it on YouTube and hope the millennials find it” to video enablement platforms which empower small businesses to create, share, and analyze videos without the agencies, actors, or expense.

In fact, 88%of video marketers reported that video gives them a positive ROI — a 5%increase on last years figure, and a world away from the lowly 33% who felt that way in 2015.

If you haven’t seen what video can do for your company, it’s time to stop putting it off.

In this post, let’s review the top video marketing myths.

5 Video Marketing Myths, Debunked

1. Video is too expensive.

Sure, HBO’s Westworld may have beaten The Game of Thrones’ record with a price tag of $10 million per episode, but you don’t have to play their game. In fact, stay as far away from it as possible.

Video doesn’t have to be expensive. Today’s buyers and consumers actually appreciate authenticity over production value.

According to Fast Company, consumers prefer lower quality but “authentic” goods and services over those of a higher quality but which seem “inauthentic.”

This craving for authenticity is why we’re seeing such an explosion in micro-influencer marketing and user-generated content. With both of these marketing strategies, brands rely on their own buyers to create content, usually with little more than an iPhone.

With your own video content, don’t stress over having a low production budget if you have something valuable to say. For example, Vidyard produces Chalk Talks where they ask experts within their company to chat about topics like outbound sales, analytics, and video strategy in front of a chalkboard. The videos have been shared thousands of times, and the cost? A few minutes of someone’s time and a lot of colored chalk.

2. Video is cumbersome.

What many small business owners typically mean by this is “I don’t know where to begin.” When they think of video, they imagine a time-consuming process of coming up with scripts and storyboards, procuring actors and equipment, and hiring someone in jockey pants to operate the clapperboard and shout, “Action!” Yet modern video marketing is worlds apart from Hollywood and requires a lot less effort.

When it comes to camera equipment, the age-old aphorism still holds true: the best camera is the one that’s with you.

Today, most iPhone cameras rival all but the top-of-the-line DSLRs and video equipment and are a great substitute. You can easily capture videos of yourself, your office, events, and customers giving off-the-cuff testimonials when your sales and account teams pay them a visit.

And when it comes to actors, don’t worry that you can’t afford Gal Gadot: you don’t need her. Your employees will do a far better job because they actually know your products, your customers, and the details of your industry. After the initial awkwardness of seeing themselves on camera fades, you’ll have all the actors you need.

And finally, not everything needs to be scripted. Writers are great and preparation has its place, but a lot of great content can be created with little or no forethought. Take entrepreneur and internet personality Gary Vaynerchuk, for example. He built a media empire from selfie videos recorded on his mobile phone. The below video of him giving advice to young entrepreneurs might be what the internet would call “potato quality” but it still gets the powerful point across.

If you feel like you don’t know where to start, HubSpot’s Video Marketing course can serve as a great guide to helping on your way.

3. Our industry doesn’t really use video.

What most brands hopefully mean by this one is “our industry doesn’t use video yet.” Video is industry agnostic and the demand is being driven not by businesses, but the people who work within them. Remember, both B2B and B2C are really just B2H (business-to-human), and humans love video. One need only look at the numbers for a reminder:

• 54% of people want to see more video content from marketers.
• Overall, 83% of consumers worldwide prefer YouTube to watch video content.
• Overall, 73% of consumers worldwide prefer seeing videos on social media that are “entertaining.”
• In 2019, video was the #1 form of media used in content strategy, overtaking blogs and infographics.

In fact, the industries with the greatest opportunities are those where video has classically been underused. Just look at the recent proliferation of online video in places like

real estate

, where agencies are suddenly embracing everything from drone flyovers to virtual reality walk-throughs. To see similarly outsized gains ask yourself,

“What would the people who make up our customer base, business or otherwise, like to see?”

4. Video is hard to track.

Videos can indeed be difficult to track, but only if you’re using a bare bones video hosting platform like YouTube or your website’s video feature. These platforms only show you total video views which is like measuring your website’s success based solely from visits.

What if 95 percent of your video’s viewers dropped off in the first three seconds? You’d never know. A true video enablement platform, on the other hand, can give you insights into how people watch your videos, who they are, what they liked and didn’t like, and what they did afterward.

You see, video has some unique characteristics that make it highly trackable. Because it’s linear and people watch it from end-to-end, video enablement platforms, like TwentyThree and Wistia, can tell you what parts viewers watched, where they skipped, and where they revisited. From this, you can automatically infer an individual’s interest in particular products or value propositions that appeared in the video.

And, with CRM and marketing system integrations, you don’t have to spend all your time on these analytics. You can trigger actions based on how your viewers watched the video. Did they only complete 25 percent of it? Better send them a different video. Did another viewer rewatch the part where the product is shown over and over? Better ping your sales team because you might have a qualified lead on your hands.

5. Video doesn’t have enough uses.

Of all the excuses, this one invariably makes our editor cough and spit out her coffee in surprise. Video is perhaps the most dynamic and repurpose-able type of content that you have: It increases open rates for email, boosts click through rates for landing pages, encourages shares on social media, increases time on page for websites, and drives more leads than text alone. And, with a great video editing platform, you can optimize one video for all channels.

A good video editing platform provides small to medium businesses with the tools they need to easily cut up, edit, and optimize one video into many formats for many channels. This scales easily because users can easily A/B test videos just as they would an email and can render dynamic content to personalize videos to viewers, such as inserting logos, names, or even swapping out different products. With the right tools, video has more uses than you’ll know what to do with.

Video is easier than you think.

Once you have the epiphany that unscripted and low production value videos are both desirable and trackable, you’ll also realize that it’s useful for more than just marketing and sales.

You can use video in your customer support to demonstrate how to use your product, in your internal communications to update your remote teams, and as a way for people within your company to communicate on a day-to-day basis.

So, knowing that video isn’t nearly as expensive, difficult, or untraceable as you previously thought, are you ready to stop putting it off?

Editor’s note: This post was originally published in August 2017 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

 

At HubSpot, we love brainstorms

Getting your team together in one room to come up with ideas not only allows you to identify creative content or strategies that you might not have thought of, but it also can improve feelings of psychological safety as people who might not be high-level managers are invited and encouraged to offer their input.

Brainstorming is one of the most productive team-building activities we use at HubSpot. But, recently, when we had to leave our physical offices and embrace remote work, many managers wondered how they’d recreate the same in-person communication, productivity, and sense of psychological safety virtually.

Luckily, many of our managers were able to adapt quickly, leading a number of successful virtual brainstorms in 2020.

To help managers build solid idea-generation techniques — even from home — here are a few steps HubSpot employees on the blog, acquisition team, and DI&B team take when coordinating remote brainstorms.

How to Run a Virtual Brainstorm

1. Give your team a headstart.

If your teammates already know the goal of the brainstorm, the prompts they’ll be given, and their idea generation instructions, they’ll come ready and eager to immediately make suggestions.

Before the brainstorm, consider sending a detailed email or a creative brief about what you’d like to achieve during the session.

“I’ve found that giving members of your brainstorm a chance to prepare in advance results in higher quality ideas presented in the brainstorm,” says Emmy Jonassen, Sr. Director of Marketing at HubSpot. “A creative brief will also help you make the best use of your time, so you’ll focus on the act of brainstorming rather than discussing the assignment.”

2. Designate a facilitator before the brainstorm.

When you’re attending a brainstorm in person, it’s easier to determine who’s talking, who’s being asked questions, and who’s running the meeting simply by body language and other social cues.

When you’re on a video call, some cues can be harder to notice. You might not know who should be answering a question, who you should ask questions to, and who is trying to keep the meeting on schedule. That’s why it’s helpful to clearly designate a host or facilitator.

“The trick to having a great brainstorm is getting everyone involved,” Jonassen explains. “A facilitator can help create an environment where everyone feels comfortable chiming in. They can also help keep the conversation going through awkward silences, keep the group on track, and bring people into the conversation who tend to be more reserved.”

Once you’ve planned your brainstorm and designated yourself or someone else as a facilitator, be sure to note this information in the brainstorm’s creative brief, calendar invite, or at the beginning of the session. If you choose to use breakout rooms — which we’ll discuss in step four — consider having a facilitator for each of them.

3. Take virtual notes.

During in-person brainstorms, it’s easy to look down and type on your computer while still talking and engaging with others. But, on a video call, you might want to stare less at your notes and more at your camera so it doesn’t look like you’re losing interest. And, if you must take notes, you might worry about missing something as you toggle between screens. Because of these issues, notes can get pretty muffled.

That’s why Alexandra Garnier, a French automation marketing manager, says brainstorm coordinators should, “Either use a virtual whiteboard, a shared online notes document, or (if needed) a designated note-taker.”

By creating joint notes or designating a note-taker, everyone can have a shared source of information to look back on and can focus on the discussions at hand, When selecting a note-taker, it’s best to pick a fast typer or an attendee who isn’t tasked with coming up with ideas, such as a co-coordinator. This will allow them to focus on the notes without heavily missing out on a great team activity.

4. Embrace virual breakout rooms.

During a large in-person brainstorm, you might be asked to break into small groups, go to another room, and come back with a few ideas to offer from your group. Luckily, many video call tools have been able to mimic this experience with breakout room features.

“It’s harder to get everyone to participate if you have more than five or six people involved,” Jonassen says. “If I have a big group, I’ll typically use this feature to break people into smaller groups and brainstorm for a set period of time. After that time has ended, I’ll have everyone rejoin the larger group to share their ideas.”

Garnier similarly added, “If you do a brainstorm with a larger group, it’s better to then do breakout rooms. Some people tend to shy away when there are many participants.” This can be especially true in a virtual setting, where people might feel uncomfortable speaking up.

If you’re using Zoom for your meetings and interested in breakout rooms, here’s a great tutorial for how to activate them on your next call.

5. Use digital noises and other signals to transition between activities.

Some brainstorms might involve a combination of individual and group activities. However, when the ideas are flowing in one task, it can be naturally hard to stop and jump into a new portion of the session. According to Margot Lieblich, a Sr. UX Researcher who coordinates monthly brainstorms and ideation sessions, it’s even harder to manage time in a virtual meeting.

“Oftentimes in brainstorms, you are on a tight schedule and need to make quick transitions to the next activity. This can be especially hard in a remote setting, when you can’t always visually signal to get everyone’s attention at once,” Lieblich says.

“Use an audible timer to clearly mark the end of an activity. You can even get creative with the sound,” Lieblich advises. “I’ve used the Oscars’ theme music, and one of my coworkers uses the sound of a duck quacking.”

“After hearing the timer once, the group will quickly learn to wrap up and start transitioning to the next activity when they hear the sound again,” Lieblich explains.

6. Include both group and individual brainstorm activities.

Some people work better by themselves while others work much better in groups. In a virtual brainstorm, this can become more apparent when those who don’t respond to group activities zone out, and those who don’t like to give individual pitches will wait until the end hoping they run out of time. By doing two activities, you ensure that everyone can ideate in their own confort zone.

“I like to start out with an individual activity so people have a few minutes to explore their own approaches to the problem space without influencing each other,” Lieblich says. “After running an individual activity, I incorporate a group activity so people can inspire each other and come up with even richer, more interesting ideas.”

7. Remember, you don’t always need to schedule a video call.

While you might think all remote brainstorms must happen on video calls, this isn’t always true. Yes, many of them certainly will. But, if you’re asking teammates to come to a brainstorm prepared with something quick — like a blog post pitch or a one-off email idea, you might be able to cut a time-consuming video call out of your brainstorming process entirely.

Recently, when the blog team was drawing out our quarterly content strategy, we wanted to ask our writers to come up with ideas for blog posts. But, because each writer has an incredibly busy schedule, asking them to come to a very long brainstorm meeting where each person would offer five to 10 post suggestions didn’t make logistical sense.

So instead, I coordinated a virtual brainstorm that took place completely over Google Sheets. To kick off the brainstorm, I sent my team an email and an Idea Generation Spreadsheet with instructions on what content needs we’d have for the next quarter, how many post ideas to insert on the spreadsheet, and a deadline for submitting post suggestions.

From there, writers had two weeks to offer ideas for at least five blog posts. Here’s a quick look at the spreadsheet with an example post I gave writers to guide them through the elements of giving a post suggestion:

After the deadline, our editors went in and used the spreadsheet’s comment features to give feedback that writers could keep in mind for the next virtual brainstorm. Since this brainstorm, most of the blog posts suggested were added to our content calendar.

Planning Your Virtual Brainstorm

Many of the tips above relate to boosting one critical aspect of brainstorms: participation.

As you plan your next content or campaign brainstorm, ask yourself how you can make the brainstorm engaging for everyone.

By making it easier for your team to engage with others, give their thoughts, or suggest ideas in a brainstorm, you’ll get more participation and — ultimately — more winning ideas from teammates that might not offer them otherwise.

To learn about more brainstorming tactics, read this blog post. If you’re interested in how you can encourage psychological safety in other areas of your business, check out these expert tips.

Disclosure: This content is reader-supported, which means if you click on some of our links that we may earn a commission.

Unless you’re independently wealthy, most small business owners need a loan at one point or another. From paying for startup costs to expansion projects, equipment, or unexpected incidents, quick access to funding will make it easier for your company to grow. 

Whether you’re launching a brand new venture or own an established business, there are so many different small business lending options out there to consider. 

Which small business loan is best for you? This guide contains everything you need to know on the subject.

The Top 6 Options For Small Business Loans

1. Fundbox
2. Funding Circle
3. Accion
4. Lendio
5. OnDeck
6. Kiva

How to Choose the Best Small Business Loans For You

Small business loans come in all different shapes and sizes. So as you’re evaluating different options, there are specific considerations that must be examined. I’ll explain each one in greater detail below. 

Lender

When most people think about getting a loan, they automatically assume that a bank is their only option. But in addition to small local banks and national bank chains, there are lots of other lenders that can provide your small business with capital.

You can explore credit unions, crowdfunding sites, P2P lenders, loan marketplaces, nonprofit lenders, and even alternative lending solutions. 

The qualification requirements and loan terms will vary from lender to lender. 

Loan Type

Most lenders offer multiple types of loans for small business owners. Some common small business loan types include SBA loans, lines of credit, installment loans, short term loans, equipment loans, commercial real estate loans, and merchant cash advances. 

In some cases, you’ll need to provide the lender with more information about what you’ll be doing with the funds. For example, an equipment loan couldn’t be used to purchase inventory, and a commercial real estate loan couldn’t be used to buy a new vehicle. 

Lines of credit are great options to have since they can be used for lots of different purposes. We’ll talk more about these different loan types in greater detail shortly. 

Capital Required

The loan amount you’re seeking also needs to be taken into consideration. There’s a big difference between $5,000, $50,000, and $5 million. 

Certain lenders are better for microloans and small amounts, while others are known for lending large sums of cash. 

Take a look at the minimum and maximum amounts available before you apply for a loan. Generally speaking, you shouldn’t apply for more than you need (unless it’s a line of credit). Otherwise, you’ll have higher interest payments. 

Minimum Qualifications

In most cases, you won’t qualify for every type of loan. So pay close attention to these terms before you apply, or you’ll just be wasting your time (and potentially hurt your credit).

Some lenders will only loan money to companies that have been in business for a certain number of years. There are also some cash flow requirements, annual revenue requirements, and business owner credit score requirements for certain loans.

Loan Terms

The loan terms are crucial when you’re evaluating different options. How soon will you need to pay the money back? What interest rates will you be paying?

Make sure you look beyond the dollar amount and take a deeper look at the terms.

Businesses with bad credit won’t have access to the lowest interest rates and loan terms. So you’ll definitely want to shop around until you’re comfortable with the options presented to you. 

The Different Types of Small Business Loans

There are tons of different small business loans out there. But I want to quickly highlight the most popular options to give you a better understanding of how they work.

SBA Loan

SBA loans are backed by the Small Business Administration. This federal agency helps businesses gain access to better funding resources. 

These loan amounts typically range from $50,000 to $5 million with terms from 10-25 years. 

SBA loans usually have great rates (since the SBA reduces the lender’s risk), but they can be tough to qualify for. The process to apply and get approved for an SBA loan can be slow. 

Business Line of Credit

Lines of credit are great for those of you who need flexibility. Instead of receiving a lump sum of cash, you can borrow up to your credit amount as needed. 

Business lines of credit can range anywhere from $1,000 up to $500,000. 

It’s usually easy to qualify for a line of credit if you’ve been in business for more than a year and have $50,000+ in annual revenue. Interest rates vary based on the lender, your credit score, and other qualification terms. But you’ll only pay interest on the amount you borrow on the revolving line. 

Term Loan

Term loans are funded quickly. In some instances, you can receive cash within 24 hours of getting approved. It’s common for term loans to be used for working capital, equipment, operations, and more. 

Some of these loans are short term and must be paid back as early as 12-24 weeks. Others have repayment terms in the 1-5 year range.

Term loans typically have fixed interest rates or flat fees, so your payments won’t increase throughout the lifetime of the loan. 

Merchant Cash Advance

With a merchant cash advance program, small businesses can borrow against future earrings to secure capital. These loans are repaid with a daily percentage of your credit card sales, as previously agreed upon with the lender. 

Most merchant cash advances can be used for a wide range of needs. Similar to a term loan, you can usually get access to funds quickly as well.

It’s easy to get approved for a merchant cash advance, but the interest rates are usually high. 

Equipment Financing

The name is pretty self-explanatory here—the money from equipment financing must be used to purchase equipment. But it’s worth noting that the term “equipment” is pretty broad.

In addition to things like conveyor belts, forklifts, and machinery, other types of equipment like accounting software, or payment processing systems would also fall into this category. 

Equipment financing is usually secured by the equipment you’re purchasing. If you fail to repay the loan, the lender can seize the equipment.

Business Credit Card

Credit cards and loans are obviously not the same. But a business credit card can potentially be a great option to finance certain purchases. 

Some cards offer businesses introductory promotions like 0% APR financing within the first year of opening an account. So you can potentially buy something at 0% interest by putting it on your new credit card (assuming it’s less than your credit amount). But beyond the introductory offer, credit cards will have significantly higher interest rates than other types of loans. 

You can read my reviews of the best business credit cards here. 

Secured Loans

A secured loan requires some type of collateral in order for you to qualify. This is common for high-risk businesses. If the business defaults on the loan, the lender will seize the collateral. 

Since secured loans don’t pose as much of a risk to lenders, the interest rates are usually low. 

Unsecured Loans

An unsecured loan is the exact opposite of a secured loan. Businesses can borrow money without having to put up any collateral. 

In order to qualify for an unsecured loan, your business usually needs to have a long track record of profitability and success without any liens or outstanding debts. If the lender thinks you’re a high risk to default on the loan, they might require you to secure the loan with collateral. 

Crowdfunding Loans and P2P Loans

These types of loans are sourced from a pool of investors. You can get these loans from crowdfunding websites with small amounts collected from the general public or get them from alternative lending platforms where individuals offer P2P loans as a source of income. 

If you can’t qualify for a traditional loan, you might consider a crowdfunding or P2P borrowing option. 

#1 – Fundbox Review — Best For Short-Term Loans

Fundbox is used by 100,000+ businesses across a wide range of industries. 

Technically, they offer business lines of credit. But the repayment period on the amount you borrow gets paid back over a 12 or 24-week plan, which falls into the short-term loan category. 

Using Fundbox is simple, and you’ll get fast access to cash whenever you need it. To apply, you just need to connect your bank account and accounting software, so Fundbox can view your financials. 

You’ll only pay for funds that you draw from your line of credit, so you can use Fundbox multiple times for various short-term loans. There’s no penalty for early repayments.

Before you withdraw funds, Fundbox gives you a transparent calculation of the principal, interest amount, and weekly payments due. So you can plan accordingly and know exactly how much you owe each week for the duration of the loan. 

Fundbox is perfect for short-term situations when you need a little extra cash. It’s commonly used for late invoices payments, unplanned expenses, and to float small businesses during periods of slow sales. 

Apply online, and get a decision within minutes. Funds can be transferred to your account as soon as the next business day. 

#2 – Funding Circle Review — Most Versatile Loan Options 

Funding Circle is an industry leader in the small business lending category. It’s a popular choice for businesses that want fast and affordable loan options. 

With a single application, Funding Circle will provide you with multiple loan types and options to choose from.

Loan types and funding solutions provided by this lender include:

• SBA loans
• Business term loans
• Merchant cash advances
• Business lines of credit
• Invoice factoring
• Working capital loans

You can get a decision in less than 24 hours and gain access to funds within three days of getting approved. Funding Circle has term loans from $25,000 to $500,000 and SBA loans from $20,000 to $5 million. 

I also like Funding Circle because the platform makes it easy for you to manage your loan online. Apply on their website by filling out an application—it takes just six minutes to complete. 

#3 – Accion Review — Best For Startups

Accion is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping small business owners and entrepreneurs fund their startups. 

In fact, Accion is the largest nonprofit lending network in the US. 

Accion offers term loans of up to $250,000 at an affordable rate. You can apply online or over the phone to get a tailored solution that fits your unique needs. 

Here are some of the business types that Accion commonly lends money to:

• Women owned businesses
• Minority owned businesses
• Food and beverage businesses
• Small businesses
• Startups
• Veteran owned businesses
• Business owners with disabilities
• Green businesses

Accion also has a wide range of small business resources available to help you achieve success in your industry. With 25+ years of experience in the small business lending space, I strongly recommend Accion to startups and other businesses in the categories listed above. 

#4 – Lendio Review — Best Small Business Loan Marketplace

Lendio isn’t a small business lender. But it’s one of the most popular online marketplaces for business loans. 

If you want to compare loan options from 75+ lenders with a single platform, look no further than Lendio.

This marketplace has facilitated $10+ billion in funding to 216,000+ small businesses. There is a wide range of loan types available through Lendio’s network of lenders, including:

• Startup loans
• Term loans
• Commercial mortgages
• Short term loans
• SBA loans
• Merchant cash advances
• Business lines of credit
• Business credit cards
• Equipment financing
• Accounts receivable financing
• Business acquisition loans

I also like Lendio because they provide additional resources for small business owners, like financing calculators and bookkeeping guidance. 

Just fill out some quick information about your business online to get loan offers from lenders in the Lendio network. 

#5 – OnDeck Review — The Best For Revolving Credit

OnDeck has delivered $13+ billion to businesses across the globe. They offer term loans of up to $250,000 and business lines of credit up to $100,000.

I like OnDeck because it’s so simple. After you complete an application online or over the phone, a dedicated loan advisor will go over your options with you. OnDeck offers funding as early as the same business day.

Your line of credit from OnDeck is a great option for working capital. Only withdraw what you need, when you need it, and just pay interest for the amount borrowed.

Repay your line of credit over a 12-month term agreement with automatic weekly payments and no prepayment penalties.

To qualify, you must be in business for at least a year with a minimum personal FICO score of 600 and an annual revenue of $100,000+.

OnDeck periodically reviews your credit profile. So you can automatically qualify for higher credit line limits without having to apply for an increase. You’ll also benefit from a consolidated weekly payment on all withdrawals, so you won’t have to worry about making multiple payments. 

#6 – Kiva Review — Best 0% Interest Small Business Loans

If you need a microloan and you’re not in a rush to get it, Kiva will let you borrow up to $15,000 at 0% interest—no strings attached.

As a global nonprofit, Kiva has helped 2.5+ million entrepreneurs raise $1+ billion.

The only downside of Kiva is that it takes quite a bit of time to actually get the loan. So it’s not ideal for businesses that need cash fast.

First, you need to fill out an online application that can take up to 30 minutes to complete. Then you need to prove your creditworthiness by convincing your friends and family to loan you money, which is about a 15-day process. Finally, you can go public on Kiva and make your loan visible to 1.6+ million lenders across the world (an additional 30 days). 

On the positive side, you’ll have up to 36 months to repay your loan at 0% interest. It’s tough to beat that deal. 

But if you’re looking for large sums of cash as fast as possible, this won’t be the best choice for your business. 

Summary

If your small business needs money, there are lots of different small business loan options for you to consider. 

Which one is the best? 

The answer depends on a wide range of factors, like the amount you need, the loan type, lender, and more. Regardless of your situation, you can find the best loan options for your business based on my recommendations in this guide. 

The post Best Small Business Loans appeared first on Neil Patel.

Hiring a social media marketing consultant could be a game-changer for your business. You could use the help of an expert if:

• You’re struggling to acquire or retain customers
• You aren’t getting the ROI you’d like from social media 
• Your social media strategy is all over the place
• You or your team don’t have much social media experience

Social media consultants have the knowledge and skills to turn your lagging social media campaigns around. You’ll be able to access advice and strategic planning at the highest level.

If you’re considering working with a social media consultant, here’s everything you need to know:

4 Ways a Social Media Marketing Consultant Can Help Grow Your Business

Consider a social media marketing consultant your business’s Yoda. They’re the wise teacher and guide that can help you 10x your business through social media. Here’s what they’ll do:

1. Develop a High-Performing Social Media Strategy

A social media marketing consultant will take a deep dive into your current strategy and performance. They’ll help you figure out what’s working and what’s not to see where there’s room for improvement.

The consultant will work off of your business objectives or help you to set smarter goals if that’s what’s needed. From there, they’ll develop a custom social media strategy to help you smash your goals.

Your social media expert will help you with tactics tailored to your business and establish a high-performing social media sales funnel, which is key because on average it takes seven and a half visits to your website before somebody makes a purchase.

2. Achieve Big Results

Working with a social media consultant can be very rewarding. They will help you get the most ROI from your social media campaigns.

First of all, they can help you build a larger social media following. They’ll teach you how to grow a community around your brand and engage followers.

They can also come up with content and advertising strategies that: 

• bring new potential customers to your business 
• re-engage leads
• drive conversions and more…

3. Provide Expert Advice

The best social media consultants are experts that have tons of experience helping clients grow their businesses. They’re able to share that wealth of knowledge and experience with you.

If you’ve hit a roadblock on social media, a consultant can bring a fresh perspective and use their know-how to come up with solutions to your issues. They’re well-versed in established best practices as well as new trends, so they can for sure point you in the right direction.

Some social media consultants offer training so that you can continue to manage your campaigns effectively.

4. Help You with Analytics

It’s essential that you track your social media performance using the right metrics. 95% of the most successful B2B marketers use metrics to measure content performance.

When you monitor your analytics, you can see if you’re meeting your goals and where you might need to up your efforts or tweak your strategy.

But for some, all of the data and reports can get a bit much. A social media consultant can guide you towards the best tools or software for social media analytics and monitoring.

They can help you decipher reports and pick out the key information and metrics for your business or campaign objectives.

All in all, a social media marketing consultant will develop a strategy and implement tactics that will help you meet your goals and grow your business.

How to Get Started with Social Media Marketing Consulting

If you make the right preparations, you and your social media marketing consultant can hit the ground running. Your collaboration will run smoothly and you’ll get much more from it. So, here’s what you need to do to get started:

1. Figure Out What Kind of Consultant You Need

The first step is establishing what areas you need help in. You must decide what kind of role you want the social media marketing consultant to take. This may fall into one or more of the following categories:

Strategy

The consultant takes an advisory role. They do their due diligence regarding your company and target audience, for example, by interviewing the right executives within your team or creating buyer personas.

With all of the information gathered, they’ll create a detailed social marketing strategy, provide the necessary training and/or continue to advise you over a set period of time. 

Project Management

It’s also possible to hire a social media consultant that not only comes up with the right strategy but also turns that strategy into an actionable plan. They’ll figure out timelines, budgets, resource allocation and so on.

Execution

In this case, the social media marketing consultant will do all of the above and then jump in the trenches with you. They’ll oversee and participate in the implementation of your strategy.

So, the question is do you need an advisor or somebody who is going to roll their sleeves up and see the project through, too?

2. Set Your Goals

Your social media goals are the jump-off point for a marketing consultant. They determine the overarching strategy to be implemented, as well as the key performance indicators to measure.

If you have an idea of what you hope to achieve through social media, then try to document your objectives as clearly as possible. For example, you may wish to increase your Instagram ad clickthrough rate by X%.

But, as mentioned above, if you’re lost, a social media marketing consultant can help you set goals and create a sales funnel from scratch.

3. Get Your Ducks in a Row

The final thing you need to do before working with a social media marketing consultant is to prepare any documentation or reports that you wish to share.

For instance, you might put together a package of analytics reports from the past year. Or perhaps you want your social media strategy to align with your wider digital marketing strategy. In this case, you’d need to share your documented strategy with the consultant.

The more useful information you’re able to share, the better.

Essentially, there’s a bit of groundwork you need to do before working with a social media marketing consultant. But, ultimately, it’ll make your work together that much more successful.

Measuring the ROI of Social Media Marketing Consulting Services

When done well, social media marketing produces a high return on investment. In fact, I used social media to generate $632,481 in sales in one year.

But, one thing you have to bear in mind is that the way you measure ROI depends on your goals. Sometimes, social media marketing activities have an influence on sales, but you don’t necessarily see the dollars that come directly from those activities.

For example, you might share blog content on social media to generate traffic and increase brand awareness. The way you would measure the ROI of such activities would be according to the number of views or levels of engagement.

Naturally, it’s easier to calculate monetary returns when working with lead gen campaigns or paid ads. In this case, you’d measure the number of leads generated or, simply, conversions.

It’s vital that you discuss ROI with a social media marketing consultant in terms of your goals. You need to understand what you can expect to achieve for the rate that you’re paying.

6 Point Checklist for Finding the Right Social Media Marketing Consultant

There are tons of social media marketing consultants out there. Not all are made equal. Hence, you need to know what to look out for and what kind of questions to ask in order to make the right choice for you:

1. Relevance

As mentioned above, there are different kinds of social media marketing consultants. Therefore, you need to see if the consultant offers the services you require.

Furthermore, do they have experience of working in your industry? Relevant experience with similar clients to you means they know which tactics are likely to be most effective for your target audience.

Check their website to see former clients and what they’ve achieved for them. Some review sites, such as Clutch, also indicate the size and category of clients.

2. Experience

In the world of consulting, experience is everything. A consultant might make big claims but can they actually follow through?

Anyone can take a quick online course or read blog posts about social media marketing. It’s an entirely different thing to have implemented successful campaigns IRL.

The first step is to check the consultant’s own social media channels. If their following, engagement rates or content seems a bit crap then they’re likely inexperienced and will do a crappy job for you.

Next, check their credentials. How many years of experience do they have in the industry? Do they have hands-on experience?

3. Connections

If you can find a consultant with industry connections or links to social media influencers, then it’s a huge bonus. 

This is the kind of thing that the average business would find very difficult to achieve on their own unless they wanted to pay through the roof on influencer marketplaces and the like. Find out from your consultant what kind of collaborations are on the table.

At Neil Patel Digital, for example, we’ve fostered connections with thought leaders and influencers in a number of spaces over the years, including B2B, marketing, tech and more. We know what benefits such relationships can bring.

4. Examples

Firstly, it’s a good idea to source examples of a consultant’s previous work as proof of their experience. This might come in the form of case studies or blog content in which they talk about their professional experience.

You should also seek examples of what the consultant can do for you specifically. Obviously, they’re not going to map out an entire strategy for you before you agree to work together.

However, they should be able to give you examples or ideas of the kind of work they can do for you and what kind of results they would expect to achieve.

5. Pricing

Social media marketing consultants’ rates vary. Usually, you can expect to pay a higher rate for more experienced and more skilled consultants. But, be sure to do your research on all of the other points to check a consultant is worth the rate they’re charging.

You also need to consider how their pricing works logistically. Does the consultant offer tiered packages or an hourly rate? Is there a minimum length of contract? Are there additional costs involved?

Always choose a consultant that’s transparent about their terms and pricing.

6. Balance

The consultant you’re vetting should have a positive attitude. You should seek out somebody that is enthusiastic and confident about helping you grow your business via social media.

However, be wary of those that over-do it. A good social media consultant will also be realistic about what they can help you achieve and the time-frame you can expect to achieve it in.

Overall, don’t be afraid to ask a bunch of questions. A good social media marketing consultant will be willing to answer them clearly and openly.

Conclusion

It’s worth hiring a social media marketing consultant if you hope to revamp a failing social media strategy or to take your existing strategy to the next level. Using the right tools and tactics, they’ll gain an in-depth understanding of your business and target audience to help you achieve your goals.

When it comes to choosing the right social media marketing consultant for you, make sure they not only have hands-on experience with social media marketing but also experience relevant to your industry or the services you need.

Now it’s over to you to find a consultant that will help you grow your business. The first step: Set your goals and work out exactly where your business needs help.

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Texas Man and Van Removal Services

The service is exactly what the name suggests – one man, one van, no lorries, no teams of people at your disposal. This service is ideal for small moves – for example, if you’re moving from a one-bedroom Texas flat or studio to another property of the same or similar size, go ahead and book a man and van with Local Independent Man and Van removal Companies.

When it comes to finding a reliable man with van removal service, you may have trouble differentiating among them all. We can guarantee you that just one phone call to the Texas Man and Van Network will be all that you need to do make the decision. Our staff based in Austin Texas are friendly and able to help you with any questions that you may have on a range of subjects within the removals industry. Our team are perfect for all sorts of jobs in Texas that may require a moving company or a flexible Man and Van operator, so get in touch with us today on 737 202 9538

Whether you’re relocating to a new home or office, are collecting large items you have purchased, or merely require a Texas man and van to ferry loads to a storage depot, we are certain that we have an Operator diverse enough to cater to your needs. Our operators have a wide vehicles range from small vans for personal loads, right through to large removal trucks. No job is too big or too small for our man and van network operators so call us today and book us on 737 202 9538

Removals companies in Texas are a plenty but aren’t always as professional as they should be. Contrary to most of them, we have the knowledge, expertise, people, and equipment to provide a fully tailored large or small removal service to suit your needs.  Our Texas Man and Van Network Movers are great value for money.

 

For house removals and our other services, Texas man and van provide ‘ public liability ’ and ‘ goods in transit ’ insurance. This way, customers have additional security. For house removals, customers mostly prefer to travel with their goods. Man and van companies can be one-man services, a family run delivery firm or part of a larger removals company. The secret to this service is that you’re hiring the van in addition to the man who’ll drive it, load it and deliver it, taking all the stress out of your move.

Reliable Removals Man and Van Services

Our Associate removals operators are a reliable removal service serving all Texas areas. We know that it can be difficult to get reliable service at a good price. This is why we have established our man and van Network services to suit your needs. Our efficient and friendly staff will help make your move a smooth one. ​ read more.

Van and man provides a reliable van and man service. Van and man is a skilled professional that can transport both large and small items around Texas and Interstate.  The texas Van and man removals services comprises of furniture removal, apartment removals, and house removals. Bags, boxes, suitcases, chairs, beds, desks, drawers, lockers, shelf units, furniture, tvs, bikes, etc –  whatever item you need moved.

A ‘man with a van’ for Texas offer an outstanding man and van with a difference; fast, reliable, neat, tidy and professional, a premium quality man and van service for all of your small removal, collection and delivery needs. We offer a commendable man with a van to help with your small removal, office removal or that over sized single item by collecting and delivering it for you. We are experts in providing removals for students, professionals, doctors, nurses and businesses. Our other services include exhibition transport, on set film transport and prop running.

Sometimes you only want the use of a smaller removals service to shift various loads from A to B in Austin or Dallas. Man with a van hire is the first choice when you want a lighter and smaller load shifted. One of the main advantages to our services in Texas is that our drivers comes with the appropriate straps and blankets to secure your load safely. They will skilfully deliver your load safely to its new location in anywhere in Texas.

Need help with moving room – bedsits – flats – house – office we provide the highly flexible, reliable, and affordable moving services that can be precisely customised to the client’s requirements, our man and van hire service always accomplished the customer wishes, for a personal, friendly but professional, skilled removal experience and assistance call us 24/7. We are one of a top quality national moving company, our offices are located in Austin Texas but we have Local independent Man and van Operators throughout the state.

Quality Removal Man with a Van Services at Your Door

Our man and van removals are here to help you with all of the difficulties of moving into a new home. With so many different things to think about and so many different things to possibly cause stress, our services provide an expert solution that you can depend upon to make the move to the district far easier than you’d ever imagined. We have spent years delivering high quality domestic removals services in and around Texas which are perfect for those who need expert help when moving house. With all this in mind, why would you hire any other contractor to handle your relocation?.

 

Since packing your household items properly is very crucial to their safe transport, our packing services ensure that you receive the best removal boxes in sw3 and other packing materials such as tape, bubble wrap, fillers, papers, peanuts, etc. Our supplies are specially designed for carrying bulky and fragile items and for long-term storage and moving to the State. Apart from our top quality materials, we also provide you with our best packing professionals who ensure that your items are properly secured. So hire our Texas man and van removals and rest assured that you will get a safe move!.

Even when you’ve got a million other things to do when moving home, never underestimate the importance of proper packing. A secure packing job using proper packing materials keeps your goods safe on the move. To help you, our packing and boxes offers a wide range of packing services throughout the area. We can provide you with everything you need from professional packers, to high quality moving boxes and other removal supplies. A good removal service is the first step to a successful move, but proper packing is still an important part of the process. Give our ilford man and van a call, and we will supply you with all of the assistance you’ll need!.

Man And Van Services in Texas

Our affordable Texas man and van service provides you with a fast and flexible solution to your move. Perfect for small and medium-sized moves like apartments in Texas where you need a hand moving across the city. Our man and van service offers the best value and quickest option for your move and we can even pack and unpack your items for you. Often our man with a van hire is for typically for home moves, but many people also use us for moving to university, events and exhibitions.

Ever had to move house in Texas before?

if yes, then you’ll know what a trial that can be, especially when you do it on your own, without the help of a Texas man and van service. If not, you’re in for an unpleasant surprise, especially if you intend to tough it out solo. While it may seem pretty macho to move your belongings on your own from one point to another – packing the boxes, lifting them up, placing them in your car and doing the opposite at your new place, unless you’re a super human who also happens to live alone, this will be next to impossible. Even if you somehow miraculously manage to perform this feat without the assistance of a professional man and van service, you’re bound to damage some of your goods in the process, and if you’re really unlucky, you may even injure yourself.

Man and Van Texas Services include:

We offer man & van hire throughout Texas (we’ll deliver to the whole of the State), including Austin, Dallas , San Antonio or Fort Worth. We have the right vans with tail lift as well as  low-loader vans, and our work is fully insured. – our services include –.

Whatever you need transporting, we strive to make the task of moving as easy and cost-efficient as possible. With our man and van services , you can receive instant man and van prices together with free basic compensation cover and an industry professional to manage the job from start to finish.

No matter what you require to move, our transport partners will have specifically what they require to get the job done. This includes materials to pack, secure and protect your items, in addition to tools that may be needed to take apart and reassemble specific items to help them fit through narrow areas.

Do you need an efficient man and van service? if so, man with van east Texas are the team for you. Our main objective is efficiency because there are several man and van services out there and you need to make the right choice for your move. We specialise in small and large-scale moves. Call us at any time as we are a 24 hour 7 day a week company. We are happy to discuss and talk about all your move requirements. East Texas man and van cover all east Texas man and van services:

Regardless of what you require from The Texas Man and Van Network of Independent Movers and Light haulage providers, you can be certain you’re obtaining the best solution at an affordable cost; we are always mindfully trying to find new and innovative ways of saving money for our customers.

To find out more details, get in contact with our team on 737 202 9538

Or Visit our Texas Man And van Website by Clicking HERE

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