In: Dropshipping|Last Updated:
How to Self-Publish a Book in 5 Steps

Ready to take your writing skills to the next level? Writing a book is one of the ultimate forms of validation—especially if you can make your way to a bestsellers list or two.

But many writers are intimidated and held back by all the hoops they have to jump through to work with a publishing company. From compromising on your work to negotiating terms to balancing the middle man, it can be a lot to handle.

There’s good news. There are plenty of opportunities for you to find success as a self-published author. Of course, this path will still require work. You’ll need to be well-researched, determined, and ready to put in the work.

In this article, we’ll take a high-level look at everything you need to do if you want to self-publish a book.

Step 1: Do market research for your book

As with most things, self-publishing a book requires you to conduct market research. This process involves studying the work of other authors, evaluating their strengths and weaknesses, identifying untapped areas, and establishing their ideal audience. While you may scoff at the idea of doing research, know that understanding your audience early makes it easier to sell …

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In: Retailing Tips|Last Updated:
8 Tips: Exporting Your Products to the United States

Selling internationally is beneficial for the economy and allows small- to medium-sized businesses to grow quickly. However, this could hurt your business if you are unfamiliar with the process. Below are some helpful tips and guidelines to consider before breaking into the world’s largest economy, the United States.

1. Market research

Research is vital to prove your market value, especially if you plan to export your products to the hyper-competitive U.S. market. It is crucial to gather data on your customers including potential competition, demographics, and economic statuses. This information will help you develop a business strategy and validate your business plan in the U.S.

2. Review U.S. importing laws and regulations

Some items may be prohibited or restricted in the U.S., and some agencies may require a license or permit to export or import certain goods. To ensure your products comply with legal requirements, it is recommended to check the CBP and federal agency guidelines so you can ship and sell your goods in the U.S.

If you are shipping goods by land, air, or sea, work with a licensed customs broker. They have expertise in the entry procedures, changing regulations, requirements, taxes, and fees for imported merchandise.

3.

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In: Dropshipping|Last Updated:

What do hiking a trail, driving to a friend’s house, and executing marketing campaigns all have in common? Each requires you to closely follow directions.

Directions are a critical part of our daily life. Used correctly, they can guide decision-making processes, make labor more efficient, and get where you want to go as quickly as possible. 

But failing to keep track of directions could cost you—and not just gas money. When it comes to marketing strategies, not having a clear goal tanks web traffic, dissipates brand interest, and costs companies across the United States a whopping $ 400 billion a year.

Designing a marketing plan is certainly no easy task, but it can be made easier with best practices, strategic tips, and concrete examples from successful businesses all over the world.

What is a marketing plan?

A marketing plan is a strategic document that acts as a guide for marketing campaigns and strategies. These critical road maps detail where you are, where you’re going, and how you plan to get there.

The average marketing plan consists of seven major sections:

Writing an executive summary Discussing the mission statement Listing marketing objectives Performing a SWOT analysis Completing market research…
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In: Retailing Tips|Last Updated:
tiny superhero

Many retail brands were built upon the idea that they are the superhero for their customers. That the reason customers want to come in and buy their brand is to show them off – whether they sell apparel, home furnishings, or electronics.

But the pandemic changed things.

Today the customer who comes in is the superhero and it is now your job to engage them in a dialogue that is personal and unique to them with a focus on helping them be the hero in their own story. Face-to-face communication and all its value are in danger for those brands that have abandoned all that can happen on the sales floor to boost conversion and add-ons.

Target recently reported that just 18% of their sales started online versus 82% in-store.

How are you going to get your share from those customers who have saved over $ 5 trillion dollars and are now ready to spend?


The Retail Doctor Blog…

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In: Dropshipping|Last Updated:
How to Hone Your Elevator Pitch

Even in the business world, first impressions are everything. The average person has just seven seconds to develop their image, communicate their passion, and offer insight about their goals.

If you’re an entrepreneur, you know this “impression pressure’”all too well. If you can’t sum up your work, your business, or your personal angle in two minutes or less, you might not be putting your best foot forward for investors, clients, or key stakeholders.

Enter the humble elevator pitch, designed to spark interest and encourage questions across a wide variety of listeners. Elevator pitches are short, simple, and valuable, and used to create a strong connection with others through purpose-driven sentences.

But developing a coherent pitch about yourself and your business is no easy task. With the average elevator ride taking less than 118 seconds, crafting meaningful sentences with meaty information can seem daunting. Who are you, what do you do, and why should others care?

Let’s walk through the steps of creating a first draft elevator pitch, including some helpful templates that will guide and refine your final work.

Tips for crafting an impactful elevator pitch

how to hone your elevator pitch

Whether you’re pitching your business to a potential investor or introducing yourself to …

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