Reginald Chan

Category: Business

  • Here is How to Lower or Avoid Customs Duties as a Commercial Buyer

    Here is How to Lower or Avoid Customs Duties as a Commercial Buyer

    It is not easy to avoid the duties. However, an invoice can help you pay less. So, the seller should make a copy of the invoice containing information about your shipment items. It should also contain the units in the items and their total value. For example, instead of “phone accessories’, the invoice should contain more details like a specification of the accessories, quantity, and the country the items have been manufactured. Marking the source of the items is vital since items from specific countries are normally duty-free. You can go for electronic documentation, where the importer of record is forwarded to the customs duty officials. This way, you don’t have to worry about your papers getting destroyed.

    Call the Seller If You Get a Custom Duty Notice

    When the package reaches the port, more duties may be added than you owe. It is important to call the seller if they have paid the duties and explain the situation. The seller will then handle things from their side so that you will not pay more. Remember, customs cannot release the package until you pay the duties. It is one rule of importing items. So, work with the seller to ensure you don’t pay more than you should.

    Get a Detailed Invoice for the Shipment

    It is not easy to avoid the duties. However, an invoice can help you pay less. So, the seller should make a copy of the invoice containing information about your shipment items. It should also contain the units in the items and their total value. For example, instead of “phone accessories’, the invoice should contain more details like a specification of the accessories, quantity, and the country the items have been manufactured. Marking the source of the items is vital since items from specific countries are normally duty-free. You can go for electronic documentation, where the invoice is forwarded to the customs duty officials. This way, you don’t have to worry about your papers getting destroyed.

    Use the Help of a Customs Broker

    If the seller does not have a broker, find one for yourself. A broker will significantly figure out the classification of your goods and ensure they are well-prepared. The broker will then place the items with the freight carrier. All these processes ensure you don’t pay more duties than you owe. However, you require a customs broker that delivers to meet this need. The broker is familiar with codes that classify items. Therefore, they will look at the items you want to be shipped and classify them using the code. This way, you will not pay more than you should.

    Ask the Freight Firm to Forward the Shipment

    If you have not indicated your address and asked the freight company to forward the shipment to your location, you will have to go and pick it up yourself at the port. Driving to pick them up can be inconvenient and will cost you more. If your business is located near the port, picking up your items can be economical. However, if you live far away, consider picking them up within 15 days. The items should also be forwarded within 15 days, after which they will be hauled to the warehouse. Once it gets to the warehouse, you will need to pay more for storage. Therefore, avoid these additional costs by instructing the freight company to forward the items to your location.

    Follow Your Shipment

    It is advisable to track your items during transit to know where they are and when they arrive. You can contact the seller if the tracking number is not working. So, set an alert that will notify you about the shipment’s location. This way, you don’t need to keep looking up the tracking. If you bought valuable items, you should go for courier services if the shipment insurance does not provide enough coverage. You will pay more for the service, but you will be assured that your package arrives safely and on time.

    Furthermore, you will not pay excess duties. Most businesses that buy valuable items hire couriers to deliver them to their doorstep. So, find a reliable one and compare their services to ensure you get an affordable one. Remember, prices differ with couriers, so comparing them is crucial.

    Summary

    International shipping is a serious business that you must be cautious with. Customs can confiscate or delay shipment if the value of your items is more than you have listed or if you cannot pay the duties. The best thing to do is to follow the rules and avoid importing banned items. Most importantly, use the help of a reliable customs broker to make things easier.

  • Top Ways To Make Money in Real Estate

    Top Ways To Make Money in Real Estate

    Making money in real estate isn’t as hard as you might think. The real estate market is booming, and the numbers show it. Real estate investing is a wise investment. It can be a great way to grow your wealth over time, but it’s also a lot of work.

    And anyone who wants to succeed in this game has to know how to make money in real estate. Creating multiple revenue streams is key for anyone looking to build their financial future.

    Here are the BEST ways you can make money in real estate:

    #1 Long-Term Renting

    Long-term renting is one of the most popular ways to make money in real estate. If you can find a property that is already rented and get your hands on it, you can start making money immediately. You will have all the necessary equipment and cash flow to buy additional properties.

    You must track what is happening with your rental properties to know how much money is coming in and going out on each property. You should also check on your tenants once a month or every few weeks to ensure they are doing well and paying their rent on time.

    Considering managing your tenant is a hassle, consider easy property management software. It is an all-in-one, easy-to-use App for landlords to manage all their properties. The App will let you know all your tenants’ details, who they are, how long they have been living on the property, and what they pay monthly. You can also track their progress regarding paying rent on time or even if they are behind on payments.

    #2 Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

    Real estate investment trusts (REITs) invest in real estate, including apartments and commercial properties. REITs can be bought on the stock market and traded like any other stock. When you buy shares of a REIT, you’re buying shares in that company’s property portfolio.

    As an investor, you can expect to receive regular dividends from the earnings your REIT earns from its properties. The returns from these dividends are usually higher than those from bonds or other investments because they’re based on rental income rather than interest payments.

    You may also have the option to participate in special distributions by voting for which properties will receive funds from the profits of the REIT’s portfolio.

    #4 Invest in Commercial Real Estate

    Commercial real estate (also known as industrial real estate) is a broad term for buildings and other real estate used for commercial purposes. These properties include shopping centers, office buildings, warehouses, and hotels. Commercial real estate is usually leased or sold to companies or individuals who want to use the space for their own needs.

    There are many types of commercial properties available for investment. Some examples include:

    Shopping Centers: Shopping centers are often found near major highways and other major roads, so people can easily access them for shopping purposes. They may also have large parking lots with space for cars and trucks. Some shopping centers have restaurants or other food service businesses on site so that customers can eat while they shop.

    Office Buildings: Office buildings are designed to meet several different needs, such as business offices, manufacturing facilities, and distribution warehouses. Many office buildings offer high ceilings so that lights can be installed above them, which helps create a professional atmosphere in the building’s interior spaces. They may also include conference rooms or other meetings where businesses can meet with their staff.

    #5 Real Estate Investment Groups

    Real estate investment groups are another way to start investing in real estate. These groups include investors who share the same goals and motivation as you. They provide a place where you can learn more about real estate, make new friends, and build your network with other like-minded individuals.

    There are many different types of real estate investment groups:

    Buyers Groups: These groups are people who want to buy or build homes. You can join these groups if you have experience buying homes or want to learn more about them. Most groups require that members already have wealth or income to qualify for membership.

    Sellers Groups: These groups are composed of people who own houses but aren’t sure how much money they’ll be able to get for their home when it comes time to sell it. You can join these groups if you’re looking for a buyer for an existing home or if you want to learn how much your house is worth so that you can price it properly when it comes time to sell it.

    Investors Groups: These groups are made up of investors who want to be able to invest in different kinds of properties. You may be able to find one that works with properties in your area, or maybe there’s one that connects with other cities where you would like to invest as well! If this interests you, consider joining one of these investment groups today!

    Final Thoughts

    We hope you’ll be able to take advantage of these simple strategies for building wealth via real estate investing. And if you have any strategies of your own, please share them in the comments section below.

  • Ensure Your Customer’s Loyalty With Unified Communications

    Ensure Your Customer’s Loyalty With Unified Communications

    When you want to foster improved loyalty in your customers, you shouldn’t underestimate your customer service’s influence.

    One statistic shared by Business News Daily reveals that 93% of customers are likelier to make repeat purchases from businesses that excel in customer service.  

    This helps to explain why, as numbers cited by CustomerThink indicate, companies offering the best customer service outperform others by up to 80%. However, why could unified communications prove the secret weapon in your loyalty-boosting arsenal?

    Unified communications ties together various communication channels 

    Unified communications (UC) enables users to access and use a range of communication channels via one management system. The channels in question can include text messaging, voice calling and emailing.

    Therefore, once you have a UC system, you will be able to flick through these options quickly and seamlessly without ever having to abandon one device for another. All of this adds up to a smoother experience for customers who get in touch with you.

    You can improve your First Call Resolution (FCR) rates 

    Naturally, when a customer calls you to obtain your help with an issue, it would be convenient for you to resolve it on that one call. This type of resolution is known as First Call Resolution (FCR) — and UC can make it much easier to achieve. 

    That’s because, if you can’t rectify the caller’s problem by yourself, UC would let you speedily connect a work colleague who is capable of helping you.

    The customer can choose how to contact you 

    The customer probably has their own preference of how to make the initial enquiry with you. Fortunately, once your business has a UC system unifying all of the communication methods listed on your corporate website, you will need to check only one place to see the enquiry.

    UC can also enable you to efficiently switch the customer between channels. For example, if the customer calls but gets cut off, they could easily recommence the conversation via email. 

    UC delivers better audio quality 

    This is compared to the audio available with traditional telephony, and can give the caller the impression that the customer service agent is speaking to them privately rather than in a crowded, bustling office. 

    According to research mentioned by CustomerThink, 82% of consumers appreciate feeling as though they are having a private call with customer service agents. The improved sound quality offered by UC can thus increase customer satisfaction and, as a result, assist in spurring sales.

    UC is also cost-effective  

    For example, not only would a UC system from the telecoms giant Gamma be fantastic for enhancing your communications, this solution would also be easily scalable. 

    In other words, you could, as when and necessary, extend or rein in the amount of UC infrastructure available to your business — meaning that you can avoid paying for more of that infrastructure than what you genuinely need.

    The financial savings consequently made can allow you to increase your spending on other aspects of the business, a tactic that can help with customer loyalty.

  • The 5 Best Easy to Use Email Outreach Tools of 2022

    The 5 Best Easy to Use Email Outreach Tools of 2022

    Getting more sales is a goal that every business has…

    And email outreach tools make it more attainable than ever. 

    If you’re running an online business and want to bump up your revenue figures, these solutions can help you meet your targets. Instead of getting more sales on your own, email outreach tools will handle the bulk of your workload so that you can just focus on growing your business. 

    By adding these solutions to your marketing strategy, you’ll get to automate a part of your sales cycle for exponentially better results. 

    In this article, I’ll cover everything you need to know about email outreach tools (and which options you should consider): 

    What Is An Email Outreach Tool?

    These digital solutions, simply put, aim to carry out the email outreach process as conveniently as possible. 

    By using automation, email outreach tools perform vital tasks in the sales cycle that marketers usually do manually. This means that these solutions will handle processes like sending initial and follow-up emails, building email funnels, and generating analytical data for you.

    When you add tools like Instantly (more on this later!) into your process, you’ll equip it to become more self-sufficient. The only part where you’ll have to step in and do work is feeding the tool with content—like email text, newsletter designs, and the like. 

    Advantages Of Using Email Outreach Tools 

    One aspect of email outreach tools that appeals to marketers and keeps them hooked is the range of benefits they bear. Whether you’re a small business testing the waters or a growing company with a strong user base, these solutions will always work in your favor. 

    To get a clear idea of how they’ll help you boost your sales, here are a few key advantages of using these tools that are well worth looking into: 

    • They Free Up Room for Growth: When it comes to growing your sales, email outreach tools allow you to test parts of your emails better and provide pivotal data that will help you optimize your brainstorming process.
    • They’re Scalable: Whether you have to make more room in your database or add more templates for different parts of your sales funnel, an email outreach tool can scale and accommodate your needs in a few clicks. 
    • They Streamline Your Workflows: These solutions come with features like email marking and dedicated campaign groups so that you and your team can divide your workload into easy-to-manage chunks.
    • They Make It Easy to Report: Instead of manually checking email exchanges to gather information, email outreach tools simplify things by collecting and monitoring data for you. This means that you’ll have a tool that will provide analytics, generate reports, and point out opportunities for you—all in just a few clicks. 
    • They Provide Valuable Insight: Another advantage of email outreach tools is that they let you see your campaigns in-depth. Working with solutions like these takes out much of the legwork from checking which parts of your strategies work and which ones don’t so you can tweak them for better results! 

    5 Easy To Use Email Outreach Tools in 2022

    Now that email marketing stands as a formidable strategy, developers are trying their hands at developing solutions to make it easier. As a marketer, this means that you’re in the right place at the right time since there are dozens of email outreach tools to choose from…

    But, in my humble opinion, these are the five top options that stand out: 

    Instantly 

    Out of the options on this list, Instantly stands out as the email outreach tool of choice for B2B firms, freelancers, and individual contractors. 

    It makes connecting email accounts, improving delivery rates, and increasing response rates easy with AI integration. And, when it comes to user experiences, Instantly makes generating optimal results more convenient with a wide range of features—like: 

    • Unique deliverability options (This Instantly feature ensures that emails end up in your leads’ inboxes whenever you like, however you like!);
    • AI optimization (which makes Instantly one of the few—if not only—email outreach tools to use this kind of technology);
    • Campaign uploads, and;
    • Comprehensive analytics;

    Sales Blink 

    With SalesBlink, users have access to a full-stack automated sales tool that comes chock-full of features that make it easier to engage leads. 

    Like Instantly, this option comes in handy for professionals and businesses that want to cut down a huge chunk of their email marketing tasks. And while Sales Blink doesn’t use AI, it compensates and helps users ease their loads with effective features like: 

    • Email verification;
    • Subject line and email signature generators, and;
    • Meeting scheduling

    SalesHandy 

    If you’re new to email marketing (or even familiar with it) and want to optimize your process, SalesHandy is here to help.

    With a user-friendly interface and simple—yet effective—features, this email sales outreach tool works best for marketers, bloggers, recruiters, and sales professionals. Here’s a quick rundown of the different features SalesHandy’s users can optimize their email marketing with: 

    • Email personalization;
    • Integration with other applications (like Gmail and Outlook), and;
    • Email scheduling

    Pitchbox

    Among the five options in my list of highly-recommended email outreach tools, Pitchbox is the top option for SEO professionals. 

    Primarily geared to work with all things search-related, this digital solution has features that integrate SEO metrics (like its inbox system). Service providers and marketers can expect Pitchbox to make their processes more efficient with the help of these features: 

    • Email sequencing;
    • Email scheduling, and;
    • Smart Templates (which use functions like conditional logic and scales personalization)

    Smart Reach 

    Built for small and large businesses, Smart Reach is an email outreach tool that simplifies the email marketing process. 

    This option sets itself apart from other options on the market with its intensive use of conditional statements—which cuts the need for planning by a significant margin. Despite its higher price compared to other tools, Smart Reach is still preferred by many because it has: 

    • Email sequence automation;
    • Integration with other sales funnel tools (like Zapier, Mailgun, and SalesForce), and;
    • Follow-up email automation

    Key Takeaways

    Carrying out an effective email marketing strategy and getting more sales no longer needs to be a time-consuming, brain-draining process. By using email outreach tools (like the five options above) you can spend less time managing your campaigns and get more results! 

    Fortunately, most of the options in my top picks come with free trials…

    So feel free to test them out and see how they fit into your email marketing strategy!

    • Email outreach tools are digital marketing solutions that anyone can use to optimize their email marketing strategy
    • Every available email outreach tool reduces the number of tasks marketers need to carry out when running successful campaigns
    • Some email outreach tools can help future-proof any email marketing strategy with features like AI optimization for delivery and email warmup
    • Investing in an email outreach tool can help you cut costs, streamline process, and get more leads and sales
  • What Makes A Luxury Brand Successful

    What Makes A Luxury Brand Successful

    When luxury brands are mentioned, certain words come to mind. Craftsmanship, exclusivity, and the price tag of course. Names such as Ferrari, Hermes, and Cartier may also occur. The most successful luxury brand in the world in 2021 was Louis Vitton Moet Hennessey. The revenue for the LVMH Group that year was around $75.7 billion.

    The most successful brands can sell simply because of their logo or branding. Iconic and timeless are two other words that might be attached to some of the biggest luxury brands, but sometimes the exclusivity that a brand may want to express can go awry.

    The luxury brand, Burberry, suffered unwanted attention in the UK as it was adopted by C-list celebrities and individuals who were not the demographic that the brand sought. It took Burberry many years to shake off the ‘chav’ tag that their famous check pattern had become attached to.

    Incidentally, Burberry had a revenue of nearly $4 billion in 2021 and was in the top ten most successful luxury brands. So, how do luxury brands become successful, and if their star slips as Burberry’s did for a while, can they re-establish their exclusive status?

    How do luxury brands become successful?

    There are a number of steps and strategies that luxury brands follow to achieve success in key areas. Below are some of the factors and strategies for improving the reputation and success of a luxury brand.

    Use a brand consultant

    Utilizing a brand consultancy, or bringing in an expert in this field can help build a long-term strategy for success. Hiring a manager for brand consulting will help with analyzing the business and improving its performance against competitors in the same field.

    These consultants will implement brand strategies, and marketing, introduce solutions and provide analysis. They will help to establish the true value of the brand.

    Find a niche

    Luxury brands have to appear exclusive. The most successful brands have what is known as a high symbolic value. While the craftsmanship will be expected to be high and the materials of the best quality, there is a value associated with luxury brands that go beyond the literal cost.

    Luxury brands can become desirable when they have a high symbolic value. This represents status, culture, and any number of other factors including being on trend, or being limited in numbers.

    Establish an emotional connection

    Establishing your brand’s symbolic value is vital. The success of a brand is often due to perception. How consumers perceive your brand can add to its growth and value. When Burberry was adopted by an unwanted demographic, it lost that air of exclusivity, and the perception was that anyone could wear the brand.

    An emotional connection is also critical for a luxury brand. Marketers and brand consultants will try to establish a link with consumers’ emotions and desires. A strong brand story can help to introduce ways to make customers engage with your brand. A marketer will look to make the brand aspirational, and even appeal to an individual’s ego.

    Strong IP protection

    The brand needs to be protected from imitators and plagiarism. Luxury brands have all had their clothing copied and their logos reproduced for inferior fake products. Gucci, Armani, and Rolex fakes are sold all over the world, and this has a huge impact on revenues.

    It is expected that the global counterfeiting industry will be worth $4.2 trillion by the end of this year. Clothes and shoes are some of the most pirated items as they are easy to replicate. Shoddy counterfeit clothes not only hurt revenues, but they can damage the perception and symbolic value of a brand.

    Use influencers

    Luxury brands are using influencers more as they adjust their marketing strategies to modern consumer trends. Now with the growth of ecommerce, more luxury products are being sold online, and not just in traditional outlets.

    Major global firms grow brand awareness with an influencer through social media. A luxury brand can link up with the right creators to produce aspirational lifestyle posts. It is estimated that for every $1 spent on influencer marketing, a return of $5.20 will be gained.

    Establish a differentiation strategy

    This is an important and necessary strategy for luxury brands. Not only does the brand need to appear exclusive, but it also needs to be unique. Take Louboutins’ red sole feature for instance. A differentiation strategy means that a brand has a unique selling point, and is clearly recognizable.

    Summary

    Some other factors will help establish a luxury brand’s success or failure, but these are some of the more vital steps to take.

    The quality of luxury branded products is expected to be superior, and the craftsmanship will help to establish trust. An emotional connection is vital, and when this happens, luxury brands will see it purely because of the name and logo behind it.

  • Exciting Game Websites That Pay Cash: What You Need to Know

    Exciting Game Websites That Pay Cash: What You Need to Know

    Playing games online that pay cash such as a casino or betting websites are great ways to pass the time and make a little money while you are enjoying yourself. Although you are having a good time, it is important to take some time and be cautious about what sites you play on. Here are a few tips and things that you need to know about choosing different sites and what to play on.

    Legitimacy And Legality

    When reviewing different game websites, you need to think about the legitimacy of a website and if you are able to play on their site legally. This is because there are still cities, states, or even countries where gambling is determined to be illegal. You can work around this problem with the use of a VPN or a program that hides the location of your computer, allowing you to access websites from different countries. This is beneficial for being able to play certain games that may not be available where you live. Ultimately, you want to find a site that is also trustworthy, as you are putting money into it in hopes of winning more back. A suspicious website that takes your money is no longer gambling or gaming, but scamming its players out of their money. Consider taking some time to look into sites to check if they are legit before registering and giving your information and financial details away.

    Payment Details

    One important aspect you need to consider when playing on various gaming websites that pay cash is to learn all the details regarding their payments. This includes several aspects, from the time it takes to make any withdrawals of winnings, what sites provide great payout percentages,

    to the currency that you can withdraw money in. Some casinos and games may not offer you the percentages you want and should play a factor in what games you play. You may want to play in casinos that are in different cities or countries that you are from, which would translate to different forms of currency. If you end up winning, you need to know how you will get that money in the currency that you want. This also translates to the potential of playing and withdrawing in the form of cryptocurrency if that is something that is important to you, which is common in the current state of the financial world.

    Games Offered

    A quick and simple tip to remember when you are choosing different game websites is to review what games are offered. This is important because playing on a site means you are spending a great amount of time with specific games, and these games ideally are ones that you are familiar with, as this gives you the greatest chance of winning money back. Doing a quick overview of the games provided can make your decision easy to either register and stay on a site, or find a new one that is to your liking.

    Bonuses, Events, And Member Benefits

    Every gaming website provides some sort of signup bonus, and it would be wise to use that as a means of comparison as well. Bonuses can give you a head start in your gambling sessions, leading to you playing longer or even winning more. There are also other benefits such as various events that are held, or even member bonuses that are given from time to time to existing players. These bonuses and benefits may be time limited as well, so it is a great idea to check in regularly to find out what you are eligible for when it comes to extra gaming chips.

    Sign Up Requirements

    Websites will ask for your information. This is common, and you should not be alarmed just because you are required to register. This is to ensure that its players are of legal age and eligibility to be able to gamble. When you do sign up, it is good practice to always check if it is secure as well. This should give you confidence in the website, especially since money is involved. 

    Always ensure that you prioritize the safety and security of the information that you provide to different websites. This includes both personal and financial details. You want to keep this in mind when reviewing different gaming places, as this will help you trust that your money is safe at all times, allowing you to focus and concentrate on having fun and playing the game. Other aspects will also help you to maximize your enjoyment, which all contribute to which sites you ultimately choose and spend your time and money on.