A3 Self Employment

Sure! Here’s an overview of how to create a C Corporation in Delaware:

Choose a unique name for your corporation: Your corporation’s name must be unique and not already taken by another business in Delaware. You can check the availability of a name by searching the Delaware Division of Corporations website.

Appoint a registered agent: A registered agent is a person or company that is authorized to receive legal documents on behalf of your corporation. The registered agent must have a physical address in Delaware. You can either hire a registered agent service or act as your own registered agent.

File a Certificate of Incorporation: A Certificate of Incorporation is the document that formally creates your corporation in Delaware. You can file online through the Delaware Division of Corporations website, or by mail. The Certificate of Incorporation must include:

The name of your corporation
The name and address of your registered agent
The number of shares of stock the corporation is authorized to issue
The name and address of each incorporator
Draft corporate bylaws: Bylaws are rules and regulations that govern the internal operations of your corporation. They cover topics such as how directors are elected, how meetings are conducted, and how decisions are made. The bylaws do not need to be filed with the state, but they must be kept on file with the corporation’s records.

Hold an organizational meeting: At this meeting, you’ll adopt your corporate bylaws, elect officers and directors, and issue stock to shareholders. You’ll need to keep minutes of the meeting and file them with the corporation’s records.

Obtain necessary licenses and permits: Depending on the nature of your business, you may need to obtain certain licenses and permits from federal, state, or local authorities.

Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN): An EIN is a unique identifier assigned by the IRS for tax purposes. You’ll need an EIN to open a bank account and hire employees.

Register for Delaware taxes: You’ll need to register for state taxes such as corporate income tax and gross receipts tax. You can register online through the Delaware Division of Revenue website.

Maintain corporate records: As a corporation, you’ll need to keep accurate records of your business activities, including minutes of meetings, financial statements, and tax returns.

Please note that this is a general overview of the steps involved in creating a C Corporation in Delaware. The specific requirements and procedures may vary depending on the nature of your business and other factors. It’s always a good idea to consult with an attorney or accountant who specializes in corporate law to ensure that you’ve met all the legal requirements for setting up your business.

As an entrepreneur or marketer, how to increase product sales in order to grow revenue is often the topic of discussion. For online marketers, the goal is increasing the number of buying customers. If you increase website visitors by 90% but they are not buying, the effort is useless! This is the reason affiliate marketing programs have become so popular.
Did you know that affiliate programs in the US, affiliate marketing spending increases by 10.1% annually and will hit the $6.8 billion by the year 2020? The numbers show that entrepreneurs rate affiliate marketing as an important approach for boosting sales, and that’s why they are not shying away from increasing their spend.
If you are considering taking on Affiliate marketing is an approach for increasing your product sales, learn the essentials first. This will minimize the risks of investing where you are not likely to earn returns. So, let us discuss important facts about affiliate marketing, and evaluate the pros and cons associated with affiliate marketing.
The foundation of affiliate marketing
Think of affiliate marketing as outsourced marketing where you are consulting affiliates and paying them for driving paying customers to your website. Therefore, with every new customer or purchase, you are paying the affiliate. Note that the payment is done only when they convert the visitors into paying customers.
Affiliate marketing model
When running an affiliate program, each of the affiliates is assigned a tracking URL, that tracks which affiliates are driving sales. These affiliates are expected to market the products or services using different approaches, including a blog post, Google ads, YouTube videos, product reviews, etc. a customer or a lead is registered whenever a visitor makes an online purchase or any other conversion metric used. In the end, the affiliate will be paid a reward as agreed by the program owner.

What are the advantages of running an affiliate program?

1. You only pay for results
The agreement is that your affiliate partner shall be paid after a purchase has been made. Therefore, unlike the other advertisement models where you pay for an advert regardless of whether sales made, affiliate marketing is a sustainable advertising model.

2. If run keenly, affiliate marketing tends to be more cost-effective
As illustrated above, you only spend because you have earned a sale. This makes affiliate marketing a cost-effective advertising approach.

3. Allows you to take advantage of different advertisement methods
Each of the affiliates chooses an advertising program they feel will work best. Thus, at the end of the day, your products will be featured via different advertisement platforms. Remember that affiliates may be better at creating copy and reaching segments, hence helps you to earn profits.

4. It is a measurable advertising approach
Affiliate marketing is better since you are able to account for every acquisition made. Therefore, you can determine if you are making or losing money.

What are the disadvantages of affiliate marketing?

1. You do not have control over the message
The affiliates might end up lying or misrepresenting your product in order to earn money quickly. This is a major drawback and a reason why many entrepreneurs shy from affiliate marketing

2. Lead quality may not be well qualified
Chances are that you will have high web traffic, but the sales are exactly opposite, or not so good.

3. Traffic might come from sources with a bad reputation
You risk losing brand image if associated with customers with a negative perception from other audience.
Therefore, affiliate marketing requires that an entrepreneur is keen before launching the program. Check what affiliates are saying about the product, or choose to guide them on what to mention. Overall, it is a good advertising approach worthy of giving a trial.

Entrepreneurship has evolved from a time when hard work, dedication, and financial management skills helped the businesses achieve hefty profits. In modern economies, entrepreneurs need to embrace the concept of digital marketing to achieve success. This is the case for businesses in all industries regardless of size of the business. While some small entrepreneurs might enjoy success using traditional marketing strategies, this will not be long-lived. Let us look at some reasons why digital marketing is great for modern entrepreneurs.

1. Digital marketing is cheaper than traditional marketing
For new startups, finding funds to finance TV and print advertisements on leading newspapers is not easy. In fact, most people depend on banks to get the seed capital with which to start a small business. Rather than pay heavily for advertising through traditional platforms like TV and newspapers, take on digital marketing. In fact, with a proper strategy, a business can run adverts at zero cost. Consider advertising on social media platforms, or using blogs to target customers. This saves you a huge amount that you would use to publish an advertisement on your local television network.

2. Accomplish a wider reach through digital marketing targeting strategies
Let the truth be told! The traditional marketing platforms do not offer effective targeting options. Consider that not all the target audience could be watching a particular show being aired when your advert is about to run. However, with digital marketing platform for entrepreneurs, it is easy to target the audience interested in your products or services. This is through different targeting strategies like demographics, location, purchase history and various others.

3. Digital marketing presents a level playing field
A few years ago, only the established multinationals could reach global customers. However, today with digital marketing a small business in Los Angeles can easily target customers living in a small village in Asia, thanks to technology. This enables small startups to compete effectively with large corporations that dominated the market in the past.

4. You can run custom adverts with digital marketing strategies
Digital marketing allows businesses to run customized conversations, which is essential for successful acquisition. Consider digital marketing strategies like email and social media channels. An entrepreneur who is targeting a certain customer can deliver a resourceful blog directly through email.

5. Digital marketing presents a chance to boost customer conversion rates
The success of any advertising strategy can be measured using the conversion rates. Therefore, if a particular advertising method is not delivering conversions, it is deemed a failed approach. The rate of conversion using digital media is higher compared to the use of traditional marketing approaches. Consider that for traditional marketing strategies, measuring reach is considered difficult. However, for digital marketing strategies, a business can measure the potential reach even without running a live advert.

6. Enjoy an enhanced return on investment using the digital marketing strategies
The fact that you can target and be able to measure results allows a business to achieve a higher ROI. Consider that using traditional marketing strategies, a business will not be able to target and measure the adverts reach effectively. This makes future strategizing difficult. With digital marketing, you can measure reach and target effectively, making it easier to achieve a high return on investments.

7. Digital marketing allows businesses to meet the ever-changing customer demands
Customers will no longer stick to a particular brand irrespective of the service offered. The modern customer is out trying better alternatives. For those businesses that do not apply aggressive targeting and retargeting approaches, they stand a possibility to lose customers. However, with digital marketing strategies, a business will be able to meet the changing expectations of modern customers.
Digital marketing is no longer an option if you are destined for great entrepreneurial success. Small and medium enterprises should devise their marketing approaches and improve their investment in digital marketing, as their “new frontier” marketing policy.

Regardless of business size or type, entrepreneurs are quickly embracing mobile payment solutions. Moreover, just like any other technologies that enable ease of doing business, mobile payment solutions come with their unique set of pros and cons. Therefore, it is advisable that entrepreneurs familiarize themselves to the upside and downside associated with these payment solutions.
In this article, I look at some of the benefits and the downside associated with mobile payment solutions. Keep reading to find out whether you should embrace cell phone payment solutions for your business.
The advantages of mobile payment solutions

1. Provides great customer convenience
The customers want to be able to subscribe to services and buy household goods from the comfort of the house. Therefore, the biggest advantage of mobile payment solutions is that they can conveniently send payments across the globe so long as the solution is accepted. Therefore, instead of having to go to the bank for a transfer note, they can send the money via Smartphones. Consider that Mobile payment solutions speed up checkout process in the case of online shopping.

2. Mobile payments solutions allow businesses to engage their customers easily
Consider that customers will use their registered mobile devices to make the payment. Therefore, the entrepreneur gets a chance to create a resourceful customers database, through which they can reach the customers in the future. For instance, you can refer to the database to identify customers who previously purchased certain goods, and target them the next time you are having an offer.

3. Reduced expenses when setting up an online payment solution
With the mobile payments solution, you do not need purchasing the point of sale equipment. All that is needed is the store’s details and the customers will send the money directly from their phones. In addition, the provider of the mobile payment solution provides the business good reporting software, easing ability to track payments.
4. Improved cash flow
The mobile payment solutions provide business owners improved cash flow. This is considered to the other online payment solutions where money is likely to be held for some period before it is available to the business owner. The mobile payment processors provide a fast checking out enabling transfer of funds to the beneficiary account. Consider that technologies like Blockchain allow instant transfer of mobile payments.
We mentioned that mobile payment solutions also present a fair set of disadvantages for business. Therefore, let us now look at some of the disadvantages related to mobile payments solutions.

1. Security concerns
We have recently heard of high-profile data breaches, and so it is easier understanding why mobile payments present a security challenge. The security challenge occurs to both the businesses and the customers transacting via the mobile payment platforms. Therefore, some parties choose to use alternative online payment solutions.

2. Cross-platform solutions not widely available
It is not easy finding a one-size-fits-all payment solution. While the mobile payments solutions share some similarities, what is acceptable on android devices might not occur automatically to the iOS users. This makes it difficult using mobile payments to pay for goods or services from different regions.

3. Slow adoption
Although customers prefer the most convenient payment solutions, the mobile payments platforms are faced with slower adoption rate compared to other payment solutions like credit cards. Therefore, a majority of users are choosing to stay in their comfort zone rather than adopt mobile payments solutions. This could also be associated with difficult to understand user terms and conditions, and lack of awareness.
Whether to adopt mobile payments solutions or not, it is entirely dependent on the user’s preferences. Therefore, check out the advantages and disadvantages we have addressed above to find out whether mobile payments solutions work for your business or simply do not.

A statistical finding by 99firms.com shows that LinkedIn network has over 303 million active monthly users. In addition, over 90 million senior-level influencers and 60 million decision-makers are using LinkedIn. The numbers position LinkedIn as a strategic marketing tool for small and big organizations. To achieve success with LinkedIn marketing, you require a strategic approach. In this post, I cover strategic LinkedIn advertising tactics to help entrepreneurs achieve success even without a budget.
1. Take advantage of LinkedIn Company Page
LinkedIn Pages is a strategic approach designed to empower organizations to engage the world’s professional community. Therefore, treat your LinkedIn company page as a strategic marketing tool. This involves updating the page with content that is designed to appeal to the target audience. Easy tips to help you achieve success with LinkedIn company page include:
• Ensuring short headlines and short text
• Using a unique video and graphical presentation to achieve visual interest
• Take advantage of popular social media management tools to drive user engagement through regular posting.
2. Showcase pages let you highlight the personal brands
LinkedIn showcase pages are an extension of your company’s LinkedIn Page. However, the showcase pages on LinkedIn lets a business present their brand, the business unit or drive an initiative. With showcase pages, an organization can share unique content to a niche audience hence creating experiences that target audience remembers for a longer period. Thus, use the showcase pages to promote the targeted content and share company updates with the targeted audience. The objective of showcase pages is merely to promote the growth objectives of your business. To enhance the effectiveness of LinkedIn Showcase pages:
• Cross-promote with your company page
• Add showcase pages link to your website
• Take advantage of keywords in the page names to ensure ease of finding
3. To boost sharing and inform content design strategy, use the analytics feature
The LinkedIn company page and Showcase pages feature a robust capability when it comes to analytics. By using the analytics feature on these pages, it is possible to see demographic information of people who are following you. Further, you can tell the content type that performs better, from that which does not perform. Therefore, use the insights from the LinkedIn page analytics to reach decisions when it comes to boosting sharing and informing the content strategy.
4. Use long-form posts to position your organization as an industry leader
Successful organizations make use of LinkedIn Pulse helping them to establish their organizations thought leadership. Therefore, to drive high engagement, learn the platform in order to strategize the content type. Ensure your posts are addressing a specific problem and create in-depth content. Adding visual content lets you drive page engagement levels.
5. Embed LinkedIn SlideShare directly to your LinkedIn company page
LinkedIn allows users to embed the LinkedIn SlideShare presentations directly into the Company Page updates. The presentations can be in the form of slides, or infographics. Take advantage of SlideShare analytics in order to optimize and improve the feature. By adding clickable links in your SlideShare, you are able to provide readers navigate easily.
6. Use regular updates for engagement management
To maintain user engagement, ensure you are updating the content regularly. The comments section gives the user the ability to keep the discussion ongoing. Therefore, share, like and leave a comment whenever your users mention you on LinkedIn.
LinkedIn Ads is a great approach if you are looking for the best way to target professional clients. While the LinkedIn tactics we have shared here do not require monetary investment, it is a great approach to reaching out to target customers. Therefore, consider spending your time on these tactics to start achieving success with LinkedIn marketing.

To achieve digital marketing success, businesses need to put in place a clear strategy. As an entrepreneur, you definitely know that planning is an important consideration. Therefore, to help you achieve success in your digital marketing campaigns, we have compiled some important digital marketing strategies you need to consider.
1. Have a clear definition of what you want
The overall mission or objective of the digital marketing campaign should be the place where you need to start. Therefore, define the overall objective first, to avoid failure. The digital marketing objective must fit into the grand plan of the organization. Answer the question, what is the overriding objective for your digital marketing campaign? Set and measure the key performance indicators. Not all digital marketing campaigns are designed to meet the same objective. Similarly, each objective might have different key performance indicators.
2. Learn from past mistakes
Entrepreneurs need not giving-up even when their efforts do not result in fruits. Rather than give-up, analyze the cause of failure and focus on how you can improve. Learning from past mistakes is the greatest strategy when it comes to determining what to do in order to avoid failure.
3. Remember it is always about who you are talking to
Your digital marketing strategy should take care of the interests of your audience. Therefore, even before defining the message or the platform you are going to use, take time to figure out who your audience is. You should not make the mistake of coming up with campaigns before you understand whether your target audience will be attracted by the campaign type you are designing. Start by noting down all the important demographic information and dig deeper into identifying the problems you want to solve, or the needs you want to meet.
4. What is the budget?
It is important that you define the budget in order to guide the type of campaigns that you will be coming up with. Therefore, take stock of all the available resources and how much is needed to run the campaign over a certain period. The overall digital marketing budget should be realistic. If you are running digital marketing on different platforms, you may want to define a specific portion of the budget for each digital channel.
5. Understand what forms an effective digital marketing content
Digital marketing content is much more than just a great blog, Facebook advert or tweet. There is a lot you need to consider in order to get creative with the digital marketing campaign. For truly effective outreach and engagement, write content that resonates with what interests your target audience. In addition, consider the SEO strategy. Every content used for digital marketing requires the application of the SEO tactics to help your website rank higher on Search Engine Results Page.
6. A flexible digital marketing plan will do
Whatever the overall objective is, there should be some room for flexibility. Therefore, leave ample room, and an allocation for fluctuations. Unexpected occurrences can affect the digital marketing campaign. Therefore, be flexible on the time you are expecting results. This could mean leaving some blank spots in order to accommodate the unexpected.
A digital marketing strategy should be crafted in line with the overall marketing objectives. Ensure that the channel, type of content and nature of posting resonates well to the interests of the target audience.

In the age of social networking, platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn have become important marketing tools. Unfortunately, for startups, competing with already established businesses can be overwhelming. Instagram is one of the social media marketing platforms to consider. Considering that Instagram has over one billion users, there is a likelihood of finding a large number of your targeted customers using the platform. In this article, I take you through the process of promoting your small business using Instagram marketing platform.
Step1. Create a good Business profile on Instagram
If you do not have an active Instagram business profile yet, you can convert the personal profile into a business profile. The business accounts on Instagram are just like the basic personal accounts and so, simple to use. The business account will allow you access to different Instagram analytics. These give you an insight into how your campaigns perform. Therefore, you shall be able to identify potential room for improvement.
Step2. Post Scheduling –Ensure regular posting to keep the audience engaged
With Instagram marketing, consistency is key. Once you have the profile ready and set up to begin posting, you need to come up with a scheduling plan to make sure you do not miss important postings. Therefore, come up with a post schedule that resonates with your business marketing strategy. Remember that to keep your target audience engaged, regular posting is the most important strategy.
Step3. Take advantage of Instagram hashtags
Utilizing Instagram hashtags allows a business an easy way to attract traffic from users who are following similar hashtags. Ensure that you target users who are using a relevant hashtag. To popularize your hashtag, ask your followers to use it wherever they are posting on your page. You can run contexts in the initial stage, to ensure fast adoption of the hashtags. Hashtags that are currently trending is also a great approach for reaching your target audience.

Step3. Instagram Stories
Started in 2016, Instagram stories is a great approach for reaching a wider audience. Consider that Instagram stories sit at the top of the Instagram news feed. This leaves Instagram stories more noticeable and clickable by Instagram users. You can use Instagram stories to share news about your company, a sneak preview of upcoming products, or even announce upcoming promotions. The idea behind using Instagram stories is attracting the audience to view your page. Therefore, go for attractive content to achieve the objective.
Step4. Video content is important
Instagram is much more of a video and graphics platform. therefore, promote the visibility of your profile by sharing what attracts Instagram users. Come up with fast loading videos to catch the attention of Instagram users. Still on video content, Instagram gives users access to the live stream platform that allows users to broadcast live webinar or illustrative video sessions.
Step5. Respond to user’s comments and actions
Your followers want to feel recognized and so you need to go out of your way to mention them on your comments. Respond to inquiries whether via direct messaging or comments session. This acts to encourage user engagement.
Step6. Post at peak times
Research to find out at what time your postings is getting more reactions. Therefore, purpose to post at such times in order to attract more interactions. Posting at wrong times might be resulting in low interaction rates.
Step7. Look at your competitors
What are they doing right that results in more interaction or higher page traffic? Probably you can borrow some insights and supersede the competitor when it comes to Instagram marketing. Do not just look at what they are doing right. Also, factor what they are doing wrong to ensure you continue beating them, by avoiding failing in the same trap.
Whether you are getting started with Instagram marketing or you are looking for insights on how to improve Instagram campaigns, the above tips come in handy.