A Month by Month Guide to Saving $1,000+ and Ending the Paycheck to Paycheck Lifestyle

It’s an easy cycle to fall into — living paycheck to paycheck.

And it’s a hard cycle to break.

Payday comes along, and it’s time to funnel money toward rent and (overdue) bills. And that doesn’t count groceries or other necessities you’ll need before next payday.

But, trust us: There are ways out — and we want to help.

How to Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck This Year

One of the best ways to tackle the cycle to the cold, hard ground is to take it step by step. No, you won’t get ahead overnight; this is going to take time. But, in the end, it’ll be worth it — and it doesn’t have to be hard.

Follow these steps for the next 12 months to save your first $1,000, get into the habit of saving and break the paycheck to paycheck cycle.

Month 1: Open a New Checking Account

Operating everything out of one checking account can make your finances muddy and contribute undue stress to your money management.

To simplify, open a second account for a dedicated purpose. One of our favorites is Aspiration’s Summit Checking Account — there are no fees, and you’ll earn up to 100 times the interest rate of other banks.  

This online-only checking account comes with a debit card and free ATMs, so you can easily access your money when you need it.

After you open your Summit Checking Account, use it to split your income:

• Automatically deposit a portion of your income into your existing bank account, and use that to cover basic expenses like rent and bills.
• Deposit what’s left into your Summit account to use for fun stuff, like eating out, shopping or going on vacation.

Start with $10 today, and siphon just $10 into the account from each paycheck.

You’ll bank $240 — plus interest! — by the end of a year.

Month 2: Start a Passive Income Stream

Start bringing in money you don’t have to work for — like, at all.

If you’re a regular Amazon shopper, the ShopTracker app will pay you each month for contributing to research to help companies understand what people are buying online. Companies use this information to improve the online shopping experience.

To earn a $3 Visa gift card today, plus $3 for every month you share your purchase info:

1. Sign up and download the ShopTracker app on your Windows computer and Apple or Android phone. It takes about two minutes. You’ll need to answer a few questions about your Amazon use to qualify.
2. Open the app and log in to your Amazon account to automatically share your purchase history.
3. You’ll receive your Visa e-gift card code for $3 via email within 48 hours.
4. Take a couple of minutes to share your purchase history to earn another $3 each month.

Your information is collected securely by The Harris Poll, a trusted market research company for more than 20 years. ShopTracker removes your name, shipping address and any personal payment information before reporting your purchase history.

You’ll earn $3 today and another $3 per month — that’s $36 a year.

Month 3: Get Back the Money You’ve Already Spent

One simple way to save money is to earn an unexpected refund for something you already bought.

One of our secret weapons is called Paribus — a tool that gets you money back for your online purchases. It’s free to sign up, and once you do, it will scan your email archives for any receipts.

You don’t have to do anything!

If it discovers you’ve purchased something from one of its participating retailers, it will track the item’s price and work to get you a refund anytime there’s a price drop.

Plus, if something shows up late, Paribus will help you get money back for what you paid for shipping — up to a full refund.

If you earn back $5 in price drops per month, you’d bank an extra $60 in a year!

Month 4: Fill out Surveys While You Watch TV or on Your Commute

A number of sites will pay you to read advertiser’s emails, sign up for offers and take surveys.

We’ve tried about a million of them (OK… we’ve lost count), but there are only a few we’d recommend.

VIP Voice is one of those companies. The surveys are relatively quick to complete and reward you with points you can redeem for cash or gift cards.

Sign up for VIP Voice and log in a few times each week. You’ll have no trouble earning an extra $30 a month with almost no work.

At that rate, you’ll bank $360 in a year.

Month 5: Join an Online Focus Group

You might recognize the Ipsos Panel name because it’s the same company that does most of the political polling during elections. It also has a survey app called i-Say that pays you for your opinions.

Some of the top-end surveys can pay up to $95, but those are rare and can take awhile to complete. Most surveys pay a buck or two and only take 10 to 15 minutes.

Also, i-Say rewards you with points you can redeem for cash via PayPal or gift cards to Amazon, iTunes and others. (For example, you can redeem 1,000 points for a $10 PayPal deposit).

Log in 20 to 30 minutes a week to answer questions, and you could easily bank $5 to $10 each month.

That could add up to $120 after a year.

Month 6: Pick up a Simple Side Gig

Have a spare room? Might as well use Airbnb to make some money by renting it out.

If you’re a good host with a desirable space, you could add hundreds — even thousands — of dollars to your savings account with Airbnb.

And there’s no reason you can’t be creative. We found a guy who earns $1,380 a month renting out a backyard tent on Airbnb!

A few simple steps can make the difference between a great experience and a less-than-satisfactory one.

Here are some tips:

• Make your space available during high-demand times in your area. Think: concerts, conventions and sporting events.

• Be a good host, and stock your place with the toiletries you’d expect at a hotel — toilet paper, soap and towels.

• Be personable. A lot of travelers turn to Airbnb for the personal touch they won’t find at commercial properties.

Try renting your room just a couple nights each month to earn $100, and you’ll set aside $1,200 this year!

You could even put half your earnings toward monthly expenses and still save $600 in a year.

Here’s the link to sign up as an Airbnb host.

(Hosting laws vary from city to city. Please understand the rules and regulations applicable to your city and listing.)

Month 7: Automate Your Savings

Some simple tricks can help you continue to build a stash of cash.

That’s where micro-savings apps come into the picture — like Stash.

With its Smart-Save feature, Stash users can automatically tuck money into an emergency fund (or a vacation reserve) without thinking.

Let us walk you through how it works:

1. Sign up for Stash in about two minutes, tops. Plus, you’ll get a $5 bonus just for opening your account!
2. Connect your checking account to the app.
3. Smart-Save does the rest, analyzing your available funds, spending and income to calculate exactly how much you can afford to save.
4. Watch the automated savings build.

If you’re tight on money one week, you can easily turn off the automated feature. Or if you need to tap into your savings, you can withdraw at any time.

Plus, it’s nice knowing Stash will never cause you to spin into overdraft. If your balance is low, Smart-Save won’t initiate a transfer.

Sneak a peek at Stash’s Smart-Save feature — then try to say that five times fast…

Please note, the Smart-Save feature is not a savings account offered by a bank. Smart-Save is a feature that may be turned on and connected to the checking account that is linked to your Stash Invest account.

To save $1,000 in one year, you’d only have to stash $19 a week.

Month 8: Download These Apps (Yeah, That’s It)

A number of companies will actually pay you for downloading apps on your smartphone or computer — and you’ll get paid again for every month you keep them installed, so this is a great way to boost your passive income for the rest of the year!

The apps collect data and help companies better understand web and mobile usage — such as what times of day people browse, how long they stay on websites and use apps, and what types of sites and apps are popular (or not).

Here are some apps we’ve checked out:

• Smart Panel: You’ll earn $5 just for downloading this app, plus $5 for every month you keep it installed. And you get periodic “loyalty bonuses,” so you’ll earn up to $110 by the end of a year (and another $120 in your second year)!
• MobileXpressions for iPhones: After you’ve installed this app for one week, you get to play an instant rewards game for a prize (everyone wins something). We’ve seen users win a $25 Amazon gift card, but some of the other prizes include iPads and Samsung TVs.
• MobileXpressions for Android: This one is the same as above, but for Android devices.

Month 9: Finally Part With Your Copy of ‘Jagged Little Pill’

Have a bunch of movies or CDs collecting dust on a shelf? Decluttr will pay you for them!

Decluttr buys your old CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays and video games, plus hardware like cell phones, tablets, game consoles and iPods.

We talked to one user, Gil Flores, who sold about 100 DVDs and 75 CDs and made $275 — an average of $1.57 each.

Just download the app and start scanning the barcodes on your media to get immediate quotes. It’s completely free to use, you won’t pay listing or seller fees, payment is super fast and even shipping is free.

Plus, enter FREE5 at checkout to get an extra $5 for your trade-in order!

Even if your collection isn’t as hefty as Flores’, maybe you could add $50 to your bank account?

Month 10: Rate Local Businesses (Without Looking Like a Jerk on Yelp)

Got an eye for great service? You could make money — and get the occasional free meal — as a mystery shopper.

Companies want to know the employees serving their customers are putting a good face on the brand. Because a CEO of a  huge chain can’t pull an “Undercover Boss” every week, many companies send mystery shoppers into the field to rate the customer experience.

This can be a simple way to make extra money — if you’re efficient. Here’s what to do — and what not to do — if you want to be a successful mystery shopper.

If you make about $30 a month as a mystery shopper, you can bank $360 in a year.

Month 11: Clear Your Closets

Do you still have a prom outfit from, like, 10 years ago?

It’s never going to fit — or come into style — again, but something just keeps holding you back from sending it to Goodwill.

Maybe money could change your mind. Instead of storing clothes indefinitely, try selling them.

One app we especially like is Letgo. You can literally list your clothes in less than a minute.

Think you can find one item a month you’re willing to part with for $10?

That’ll bank you $120 in a year!

Month 12: Collect Bank Bonuses

This hobby is way more fun than stamp collecting.

We’ve put together a list of our favorite bank promotions happening right now. These banks will pay you up to $300 just to open a new account!

It’s up to you to decide how to manage several bank accounts. Some of us find it’s helpful to have multiple places to stick our money for various purposes — we’re less likely to touch it that way.

You could always open an account, collect the bonus, and close it when you’re no longer using it — just make sure you read the details and know the requirements you need to meet to earn the bonus.

So you don’t have to juggle too many at once, try opening a new account every few months — and collect about $800 in bonuses in a year.

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.

source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/2vMa7RS

Why Playing Hard to Get Online Can Save You Some Heartache (And Money)

Just when you thought dating couldn’t be any more annoying.

Online dating scammers have taken nearly $1 billion from unsuspecting lonely hearts in the last three years, and they’re coming for more, according to the Better Business Bureau.

Reports to the FBI about online-dating scams have tripled in the last five years.

You can probably delete that half-true comment about guacamole now.

I know what you’re thinking; online dating is expensive enough, and now we have to worry about being scammed?

Don’t move to a convent just yet. There are ways to spot a romance scam and even get your money back if it happens to you.

How to Spot Online-Dating Scams

You’re first red flag is if they can’t meet you in person.

If someone says they’re abroad and can’t meet, you should tread carefully. If they continually make excuses about why they can’t meet, it’s best to move on.

Scammers will use excuses like memberships that are about to end to get your phone number or email address so they can communicate free from scam monitors. While even the best dating sites can miss scammers, they still have systems in place to block suspicious behavior, so don’t be fooled.

That’s how one woman lost over $50,000 in an online-dating scam. The 2.5-month relationship included over 10,000 text messages, 400 phone calls and zero first dates.

Do a Google image search for their profile pictures to see if they’ve been used anywhere else. Scammers will post well-groomed pictures with nice things in nice places. It makes you think they’re wealthy, so when they ask you for money, you trust they’ll pay you back.

If their speech reads like a bad Google translate, then it probably is a bad Google translate. And a sudden emergency is always a telltale sign of a scammer. Even if they don’t ask for money, scammers have guilted victims into giving to not-so-worthy causes.

What to Do If You’ve Been Scammed

First, don’t be embarrassed.

In 2017, there were 28,000 complaints filed to the Federal Trade Commission regarding online-dating scams.

If you’ve given your banking information to anyone you believe may be a scammer, call your credit card company or bank and file a fraud victim statement with the three credit bureaus.

If you received any attachments from the scammer, update your computer’s anti-malware software and do a virus scan.

Money-transferring services are making every effort to protect victims of fraud. The BBB recommends reporting scams from as far back as 2004 to the FTC.

If you sent money through Western Union, you don’t even need the receipt. Just the date, amount and where it was sent will suffice. You may not get all your money back, but it’s definitely worth the effort.

Jen Smith is a junior writer at The Penny Hoarder and gives money saving and debt-payoff tips on Instagram at @savingwithspunk.

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.

source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/2sBbxNO

This Free Tool Will Pay You $36 for Sharing Your Amazon Purchase History

Do you shop on Amazon?

Silly question. Of you course you do. We all do — a lot.

It’s almost too easy. You’ll be on your computer and randomly think of something, look it up and bam! — ordered. Then it’s at your door in two days. (Thanks, Prime! Sorry, UPS!)

It probably won’t make up for all the purchases you make, but we found a tool that will actually pay you back $36 for some of the Amazon shopping you’ve already done… 

…at least, that’s how our brains like to see it.

How to Get Paid $36 for Sharing Your Amazon Purchase History

This is such an easy, passive way to rake in an extra $36 a year.

ShopTracker is operated by The Harris Poll, a survey company that measures U.S. public opinion.

In this case, it wants to see which products Amazon users purchase. When you sign up for ShopTracker, it keeps your private information, well, private.

All it wants to see is your order information, including the order date, product title, category, ISBN, release date, condition, seller, list price per unit, quantity and other details.

Can You Sign up for ShopTracker?

Before you start the simple download process, let us give you the basic requirements:

• This will be a waste of time if you don’t shop on Amazon.

• You must be 18 and live in the U.S.

• You’ll need at least a Windows 7-compatible PC. If you have Windows XP or a Mac, it won’t work.

All good? Time to download.

How to Download ShopTracker and Start Earning Extra Money

The download process takes 3 minutes — tops.

Navigate over to ShopTracker, and enter your full name, birthday, street address, zip code and gender. This is the most personal the information will get.

Next question: How often do you use Amazon to make purchases? The Harris Poll is just making sure you qualify, so no need to lie to yourself on this one.

Second question: What type of Amazon account do you have? If you don’t have anything special, no worries — just select “None of the above.”

Finally, does your household have more than one Amazon account? If the answer is no, you won’t be disqualified. Go ahead and be honest.

That’s the end of the questions! The next screen will let you know if you’re qualified to sign up.

If you do qualify, it’ll outline the details: You’ll get a $3 Visa e-gift card code in your inbox each month. Once you accept it, the app automatically syncs to your Amazon account — so you don’t have to do anything, really.

Next step is to continue the download process. You’ll install the app and log into your Amazon account. Within 48 hours, you’ll get that Visa code, which you can accept.

If you keep this going for a year, you’ll get an extra $36. It’s not a ton, but it sure beats getting nothing back, right?

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.

source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/2o7tKxG

This Scholarship Contest Hands Out $2,000 Every Month — No Essay Required!

Feeling lucky? Good, hang on to that.

And if you’re not feeling organically lucky today, it’s time to track down a four leaf clover, pick up a lucky penny and rub that rabbit’s foot, because you’re going to need all the luck you can get.

Why?

Because we found a scholarship opportunity worth $2,000 — and it’s all done lottery style. (Psst: That means no essay. Yeah.)

The “No Essay” Scholarship

This scholarship from Niche is an essay-free opportunity — which, if you’re a hardcore scholarship sleuther, you’ll know is a pretty rare find.

Instead of putting together a hefty packet of application materials, all you have to do to enter this scholarship contest is input your information here and wait. The winner will be decided by a random drawing.

Each month, the contest resets, and you can re-enter to win. (You can see a list of past winners here.)

Scholarship amount: $2,000

Number of scholarships awarded: One per monthly online entry period

To qualify for this scholarship, applicants must:

• Be a high school, college or graduate student

• Be a legal U.S. resident (international students with valid visas are also eligible)

• Currently attend or plan to enroll in a high school or college listed on Niche’s site (parents of students who fall into one of those categories are also welcome to enter)

To apply, applicants must:

• Enter the drawing via the online entry form
  

OR

• Enter by mailing a postcard to the address listed in the official rules

Scholarship deadline: February 28, 2018. The contest resets monthly, though, so check back at the beginning of each month to re-enter to win!

Only one entry is allowed per person per month. The prize money will be awarded directly to the entrant, and can be used to cover tuition, books, housing or any other education-related expenses.

You can find the official “No Essay” scholarship contest rules here.

The winner of the February drawing will be announced on March 15.

Grace Schweizer is a junior writer at The Penny Hoarder.

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.

source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/2oa7suA

Love Beauty, Fashion and Entertainment? Bustle is Hiring Writers Right Now

If you’ve got serious love for all things Kardashian, consistently post your #OOTD (Outfit of the Day) on Instagram or visit Sephora at least twice a week, then you should check out these remote writing jobs.

Bustle Digital Group, the parent company behind Bustle, Romper and Elite Daily, is on the search for some part-time writers to contribute to its sites, which are geared toward millennials and women.

Bustle is looking for work-from-home writers interested in fashion and beauty.

Romper focuses on parenting topics, but it is still geared toward younger readers. It’s in need of remote writers who can contribute to the entertainment and news section, so candidates should have an interest in celebrity news, in addition to parenting topics.

But if these remote writing jobs aren’t really in your wheelhouse, no worries. You can check out our Jobs page on Facebook, where we’re always posting new work-from-home opportunities.

Fashion and Beauty Writing Jobs at Bustle

Responsibilities include:

• Covering fashion and/or beauty news

• Writing feature stories
  

• Creating beauty/fashion how-tos and tutorials

Applicants for this position must have:

• Availability to work at least two days a week, in six-hour shift

• At least two years of writing or blogging experience

• A strong writing voice and unique ideas

Apply here for the Fashion and Beauty Writer Position at Bustle.  

Entertainment and News Writing Jobs at Romper

Responsibilities include:

• Writing three to four articles per shift

• Pitching story ideas

• Writing creative, attention-grabbing headlines

• Maintaining Romper’s voice and style throughout articles

Applicants for this position must have:

• Availability to work Monday and Tuesday, from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.

• A degree in journalism or a related field

• At least two years of writing, blogging or reporting experience

• An interest in topics related to parenting

Apply here for the Entertainment and News Writer Position at Romper.

Kaitlyn Blount is a junior staff writer at The Penny Hoarder.

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.

source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/2ExcuIy

It’s Renovation Season — and Home Depot Has 80,000 Seasonal Jobs to Fill

Looks like spring fever is about to hit, because the job boards are exploding with positions in the home improvement world.

Home Depot is filling more than 80,000 seasonal retail positions, which combined with Lowe’s announcement to fill 53,000 jobs on its National Hiring Day comes out to 133,000 seasonal jobs.

That’s a bunch of begonias.

Home Depot is trying to speed up the process by letting applicants immediately schedule in-person follow-up interviews after completing the online application.

Home Depot jobs available include:

• Cashiers

• Customer Service and Sales 

• Store Support and Lot Attendants

• Freight and Receiving 

• Merchandising Assistants
  

If online applications aren’t your thing, you can attend one of the many store hiring events scheduled across the country through the end of this month and into March.

Wondering just how many Home Depot jobs are available in your area this week? Check out the company’s interactive map for job openings by region.

Tiffany Wendeln Connors is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. Her thumbs are anything but green, but that’s probably because of all the chocolate she’s been eating.

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.

source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/2ockGqO

8 Major Money Moves You Need to Make Before Saying “I Do”

11 Ways to Increase Conversions for Your Ecommerce Store

Ecommerce platforms rely on sales to survive. If you operate one of these websites, you know how important sales are for your business.

Whether you sell products exclusively online or have an ecommerce site in addition to your brick and mortar store, you need high conversion rates to be successful.

What do you do when your sales plateau and your conversions drop?

You need to analyze your website. What you’ve been doing in the past may have worked, but it’s imperative for you to constantly optimize and improve your ecommerce store.

After reviewing your site, you might realize certain elements are killing your conversions.

Fortunately, you’re in luck. If you want to improve your conversion rates and generate more sales, all you need to do is make some changes.

Through research and my personal experience consulting businesses, I’ve identified and outlined the top ways to increase ecommerce conversions.

Here’s what you need to do.

1. Simplify your website

Websites with simple designs have higher conversion rates.

Depending on your company, you might have hundreds or even thousands of products for sale on your website. But trying to cram all of those products onto one page is ineffective, and it’s crushing your conversions.

Clutter overwhelms the customers. Instead, focus on your top selling products or items with the highest profit margins.

Let’s look at a globally recognized brand as an example. Here’s Apple’s homepage:

When in doubt, it’s always a great idea to look at successful companies as examples. Apple is an industry leader, and their website is about as simple as it gets.

Think about the number of different products they offer. They have all kinds of different desktop computers, laptops, phones, and other electric accessories, not to mention the digital products like software and music.

If they tried to fit everything they sell on their homepage, it would be an absolute mess.

Instead, they promote one product and have a navigation bar at the top of the screen that lists different categories.

This makes it really easy for shoppers to find exactly what they’re looking for.

In the fourth quarter of 2017, Apple reported $52.6 billion in revenue— a 12% increase compared to the fourth quarter of 2016. It’s safe to say they don’t have a problem with conversion rates.

2. Use high quality images

One of the most difficult parts of online shopping is the lack of direct access to the products shoppers consider buying. They rely on photos to get an accurate idea of their options.

It’s up to you to make sure you have lots of high quality pictures for every product.

You should have a photograph from every angle. Zoom in on features. Have pictures of models using or wearing what you’re selling.

This will make it much easier for shoppers to make a decision.

Here’s a great example of what I’m talking about from the Nike website:

They’ve got six different pictures of just one white hoodie. If you click on the other colors for this product, you’ll see even more photos.

I realize this takes time. It’s not necessarily the easiest process to take half a dozen photos of everything you’re selling.

But in the long run, it’s well worth it. Now shoppers know exactly what this product looks like from every angle. They’re more likely to buy it if it fits their needs.

3. Include a detailed product description

In addition to photos, you’ll want to thoroughly describe what you’re selling. With items like clothing, it’s usually self-explanatory.

However, if you’re selling electronics or something that has a bit of a learning curve, an accurate and detailed product description could help you close the sale.

Think of it like this. If a customer were to walk into a physical store, there would be employees to answer questions and help explain how different products work.

Shoppers don’t have that luxury when they browse online. It’s your job to make sure they aren’t confused about a product.

Even if you’re selling something simple, such as a t-shirt, point out how it differs from others. Does it keep you cool when it’s hot? Does it keep you warm when it’s cold?

These are things that can’t be determined from a photo alone.

Check out how Amazon accomplishes this with one of their TV wall mounts:

Just like companies in our previous two examples, Amazon is another industry leader across the globe. They know how to sell products online.

While the photos are helpful, the description really helps the consumers.

It explains which kinds of TVs this mount is compatible with as far as size and weight are concerned. The description also covers the various mounting patterns based on what kind of TV you have.

Without the description, you wouldn’t know how far off the wall the mount comes or how close to the wall you can push it.

Not everyone is an expert in mounting televisions. The majority of people probably never have to do this. And unless you install home theater equipment for a living, it’s probably not something you’ll do more than a few times in your life.

For a unique and somewhat niche product like this, accurate descriptions can really help drive the sale.

4. Show video demonstrations

This element takes our last point a step further. Instead of telling the consumer what your product does and how it works, show them.

If you haven’t been using video content to increase sales, you need to start right away.

Why?

Well, for starters, 64% of people are more likely to complete an online purchase after watching a video about a product. Furthermore, 90% of consumers say that videos help them make a buying decision.

Consumers want videos, so give them what they want. Thule recognizes this. That’s why they include videos with all their products on their website.

The video is super helpful. It gives the consumer way more information than they could get from just a photo and a description.

In this example, the customers learn how to properly fold and assemble the stroller for transportation and easy storage. The video also shows how to safely secure a child in the seat.

It’s an effective way to give your website visitors a more accurate description of the product. They can see it being used instead of just reading about it and looking at pictures.

5. Offer easily accessible customer service

As I briefly mentioned earlier, there’s nobody there to assist the consumer when they’re shopping online, unlike in a physical store.

Do your best to replicate that customer service experience. You may have photos, videos, and a great description, but customers will still have questions.

Make sure you give them several options to reach a customer service representative:

• phone
• live chat
• email

Offer as many options as possible so each customer can contact your company based on their personal preference.

You also need to have support ready at all hours. As an ecommerce platform, I know you’re aware that customers all over the world have access to your website 24 hours a day.

Let’s play out a scenario. A customer is interested in one of your products but has a few simple questions. They try to contact customer support but don’t get an answer.

They won’t complete the purchase process. But if their questions get answered right away, your conversion rates will improve.

6. Don’t surprise your customers with extra fees

Consumers are sensitive to price. You have to be upfront and totally transparent with the prices on your website.

The customer expects to see the same price for the same product on all pages, including in their shopping cart.

Adding hidden charges, taxes, and shipping fees will crush your conversions.

Look at the top reasons for shopping cart abandonment:

Extra costs are the number one reason why consumers abandon their shopping carts.

Look, I realize you’ve got to pay sales tax and shipping isn’t free. But rather than surprising the customer when they check out, include those costs in the original price.

You’ll still get paid enough to make a profit, and the customer won’t be surprised with extra fees. It’s a win-win scenario for everyone.

Plus, it will reduce cart abandonment and improve your conversion rates.

7. Send shopping cart abandonment emails

Let’s continue with our last point. While you can certainly do things to improve your shopping cart abandonment rates, some customers still won’t always complete their purchases.

You can’t ignore this.

Someone was just a click or two away from buying something on your website. They identified what they wanted and added it to their cart.

It’s going to be much easier to try to get this customer to convert than to find a new customer.

This person is already familiar with your brand and obviously interested in at least one of your products. Sometimes they just need a bit of extra motivation to complete the sale.

Send out a shopping cart abandonment email to remind the consumer of your products. Here’s an example from Oakley:

This product will still be fresh in the customer’s mind—they just left it in their shopping cart. They wanted it, but for one reason or another, it just didn’t happen.

Receiving this email could be enough to trigger an impulse buy.

8. Include all your contact information

On top of providing customer service, you should have as much information as possible about your company available on your website.

Clearly display your:

• address
• phone numbers
• fax
• email

If this information isn’t on your site, it could appear sketchy. Customers may think you’re not a reputable company.

What if they have a problem with their order? If your contact information isn’t available, how will they get their issue resolved?

That uncertainty could prevent people from buying things on your website.

9. Run promotions

As I said earlier when talking about extra fees and costs, consumers are price-sensitive. It’s important to be aware of this.

One way to get people to convert more on your ecommerce site is by running promotions. Offer sales, discounts, or other special offers that sound enticing.

It just needs to be worth it. For example, if you’re offering a 5% discount on orders over $200, it’s not going to make anybody rush to make a purchase.

But on the other hand, if you’re offering 25% off everything on your website, it will boost your conversions.

Just make sure you have all your numbers worked out. You don’t want to slash prices so low that you’re not turning a profit with each sale.

The best way to go about this is by jacking up your prices initially, then constantly running sales.

Check out all of these different promotions on the Macy’s website:

They have some discounts as high as 50% off. This is a great way to drive sales.

Just make sure you’re careful with this strategy. Once you start offering discounts and promotions, customers may be less likely to buy things at full price. They’ll just wait until the next time you run a sale.

If you’re going to incorporate discounts, markdowns, and other promotional offers into your ecommerce marketing campaign, be prepared to do it often.

10. Accept as many payment options as possible

I realize some credit card companies charge you higher fees than others. But that’s no reason to exclude those payment options from your website.

You can’t assume every customer visiting your website has a Visa card. You need to accept all major credit cards, including Mastercard, Discover, and American Express.

Even if they have a card you accept, it doesn’t mean they want to use it. They might have better benefits or a lower balance on a different card.

You should also take alternative forms of payment, such as PayPal, Venmo, or Apple Pay.

Offering more options increases the chances of the customer being able to pay with their preferred card or method.

It’s also important that the checkout process is completely secure. That way your customers feel safe about entering their credit card information.

11. Recommend products to enhance the shopping experience

If your site is using cookies to track browsing behavior, you can recommend products to your customers based on what they like. Use their previous order history as well to personalize recommendations.

This shows the consumer you care. Their browsing experience is different from everyone else’s.

Here’s an example from Bed Bath & Beyond:

You can also try to upsell to your customers when they add something to their shopping carts. For example, if they buy a pair of headphones, you can recommend a carrying case for them.

Again, it reflects their personal experience. This strategy works.

Research shows that 49% of consumers said they bought something they weren’t initially planning on purchasing after seeing a personalized recommendation.

Conclusion

Whether your business is brand new or has been around for a while, there is always room for improvement.

You can make simple modifications to your ecommerce website to get more conversions.

These 11 tips are the best place for you to start. Refer back to the examples and the data I showed you for guidance.

I’m not saying you need to implement all of these strategies overnight. In fact, you may even have a couple of these in place already.

But over time, you need to optimize your ecommerce website if you want to get as many sales as possible.

Follow these tips, and I’m sure you’ll see an improvement.

What elements of your ecommerce website have you changed to increase your conversion rates?

Source Quick Sprout http://ift.tt/2o4vdFh

Ally Invest Review – Affordable Online Stock Trading Platform

The Financial Value of a Quality Information and Media Diet

Over the last few weeks, the stock market has jumped up and down like a yo-yo. Many readers have contacted me asking if I think they should make moves in their retirement account.

My answer is an almost automatic “no.”

Here’s why. Investing for retirement is a long term plan, one that’s based on sound logic and careful consideration. A good retirement investment plan understands and expects short term fluctuations in investments.

If you have a good retirement investing plan, then the stock market noise of the last few weeks is just that – noise. It doesn’t matter. In fact, it should scarcely raise an eyebrow. Why? The reality is that the day to day fluctuations in the stock market are not actionable news for almost all individual investors who aren’t incredibly wealthy.

The news on the day to day fluctuations of the stock market isn’t worth my time. That might seem to be a stunning thing to hear from a personal finance writer, but it’s true. The day to day bubbling of the stock market isn’t worth my time or attention.

I’m going to go a step further. Information that isn’t relevant enough or solid enough to genuinely inform me or cause me to take action isn’t worth my time.

Now, let’s break down what I mean by “genuinely informing me.” Anything that isn’t causing me to increase my understanding of an issue I already care about in the world, or isn’t alerting me to something that I actually need to take action on isn’t genuinely informing me. All of that stuff is just trivia or pure entertainment. I am not a more genuinely informed person from having read the headline news on most websites. All I’ve done is accumulate a bunch of trivia, none of which is actionable, none of which benefits my life, some of which is incorrect, and virtually all of which is incomplete.

None of that information helps me with my financial plans. None of that information brings me to a deeper understanding of any issue I care about. Virtually none of that information is going to lead me to take action. None of that information is well-researched and well-argued enough to ever make me change my mind. So what value does it actually have, aside from entertainment?

Frankly, it doesn’t have any lasting value, and if it’s just entertainment, there are a lot more entertaining things out there than the news headlines or angry talking heads on television.

For a long time, I persisted under the idea I needed to be “well informed on the issues of the day” in order to be able to have meaningful conversations with people. That just isn’t true. If someone starts talking about an issue and I don’t happen to know much about it, I can continue the conversation by just asking questions and authentically listening to the answers. That might nudge me to learn more about a particular issue in a deeper way, and it’ll certainly forge a better bond with that person, but it doesn’t require me to spend time reading information that doesn’t benefit my life or change my way of thinking.

One of my major resolutions for 2018 was to follow up on this concept and largely cut “junk information” and “headline news” out of my information diet aside from very specific niche areas that I know will be actionable for me. I’ve barely kept track of the latest thing the President has done or the latest celebrity comings and goings or the latest product unveilings. I have drastically cut my time spent on social media, mostly just using it as a tool to directly contact close friends and family members to set up face-to-face engagements.

And, honestly, I’m happier for it.

What have I done instead? I’ve read a number of books on philosophy and recent events/history and self-improvement and some fiction, too. I got more understanding out of what our military is doing from a book by Col. Andrew Bacevich than I got in a year of headline news. I’ve read some well-researched journalism and essays, some of which changed my thinking and others that led me to some action in my life. I watched a few movies for family movie night, cuddled up in the family room with my wife and the children around us. I haven’t turned on a cable news network this year and I’ve scarcely visited what one would call a “news” website, either.

I was a little worried about having conversations with people about the latest news, but I found that if I just ask some good questions and listen, the conversations go really well. People are always happy to share what they’ve learned and we find things to talk about.

Another interesting thing I’ve found is that my desire for new things has fallen off of a cliff. I am becoming steadily less and less interested in new products of all kinds, and that has led to a noticeable reduction in non-essential spending in January and an even bigger fall-off in February to this point. I just don’t have much interest in new stuff right now, and I think it’s due to a conscious shift in my media intake.

Perhaps most of all, I’ve found that I’m almost always better off waiting on a news story because the first reports are almost always highly inaccurate and missing a lot of key details. You almost always get a more well rounded view by waiting a month or two until a journalist has really investigated the issue from a bunch of angles and discovers that the truth is, most likely, somewhere between the overhyped news stories a month ago that were also lacking some key details. That kind of reporting influences my thinking in a rational way; the headline news does not.

So, how can this impact you? I’m going to propose a very simple thirty day challenge for you.

First, for thirty days, stop watching cable news and stop visiting news websites and cut back on your social media to the absolute bare minimum. Cut them all out of your media diet. This might seem hard at first, but trust me – there’s almost nothing actionable or deeply accurate to be found on any of those things. Just focus on not turning on the news for a while and not reading all of the opinions and rantings on social media.

Instead, devote just a little of your day to really learning about something you actually care about or building a skill you wish you had. You can do that in whatever form feels most comfortable to you. You can watch a documentary – for example, Netflix has the amazing Planet Earth II and a ton of Ken Burns documentaries. You can read a book on a topic you’ve always wanted to understand a little better, and read it slowly and take the time to really understand it. Or, you can simply experience something more deeply. Take some walks in the woods or around your town and look around carefully at the details. Listen to the birds sing and the changes going on around town. Engage in a personal hobby you care about with some extended focused time and try to go a little deeper than you’ve gone before – maybe that means playing a more challenging board game or taking on a really tough knitting project. You should have that extra “little bit of your day” available if you’re not looking at the news.

After thirty days, step back and ask how you feel about your life. Are you happier? I’m actually quite willing to bet that you will be. Do you actually understand something you didn’t understand before? Probably. Did you learn something that genuinely shapes your understanding of the world, or something you can take action on? Again, most likely.

Another thing I’ve done this year, which might be useful for you, is I stepped back and asked myself why I believed a lot of the things that I did. Why do I really think this way about that issue? I’ve been seeking answers for those questions, and along the way I’ve found, more than anything, is that other people, almost all of the time, are just acting in an honorable way in accordance with their principles, and that everyone has some human flaws but is usually genuinely trying to live up to the things they believe in. Usually, that “flaw” is getting caught up in a wave of emotion or reacting to a piece of shoddy journalism, which causes a sharper reaction than is probably necessary, but it comes from a place of principle and values.

When I was caught up in the hubbub of headline news, I didn’t give myself the chance to step back and appreciate this. It was easy to buy into the idea that a lot of people were either utterly unprincipled or corrupt, but that simply isn’t true. Almost everyone you meet out there has some values and principles that they really do hold dear and they’re trying their best to act on them and follow through on them.

Stepping back a little might just show you that others aren’t being negative or hateful, but that they really care about something that really matters to them and they’re merely clumsy with their words. That kind of appreciation can salvage a friendship or a professional relationship, and that shift can have an incredible positive impact on your personal and professional life.

So, here are the benefits I’ve found from simply cutting back on the headline news and focusing more on more thoughtful media and experiences to replace it.

One, I’m less emotionally fraught about the state of the world. I just don’t feel as worried as I once was about things. There are too many good things going on that you don’t see if you look constantly at the headlines. Stepping back from the news flow enables you to look around and see a lot of good things going on, like a beautiful sunny morning and a successful park cleanup project and the fixing of a strained relationship.

Two, I’m less motivated to buy new things. I’m less aware of them in general, and I’m far less emotionally motivated to buy anything. I just don’t see the need, and I attribute that to less input from social media and headline news.

Three, I feel like I have a better understanding of several things I care about. There are quite a few issues that I’ve struggled to understand in the modern world and the headlines certainly weren’t helping in that regard. Stepping back and actually making a concerted effort to understand those things has actually helped me shape my worldview and understand the world a little better.

Four, I feel like I have a deeper appreciation of other people, even those who have different perspectives than me. Most people are genuinely good people, who sometimes believe very strongly and deeply about worthwhile things and allow that emotion to sometimes guide them to less kind words than they should be using. When you’re also caught up on the emotional wave of the headlines, it can be really hard to see that, especially of people you don’t immediately fully agree with.

Finally, I feel almost no need to make impulsive financial decisions. I don’t feel the need to impulsively buy things. I don’t feel the need to make big changes to my investments. I’m not worried about the ups and downs of the stock market at all. I have no desire at all to make any major spur-of-the-moment decisions that will impact my finances. That can only be a huge benefit for my financial life.

Give a better media diet a shot for a while. It might help more than you think.

The post The Financial Value of a Quality Information and Media Diet appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

Source The Simple Dollar http://ift.tt/2GkZLZN

6 Easy Ways for Desk Jockeys to Stay Fit — and Still Get Their Work Done

Stop Pretending Not to See That Check Engine Light. Ignoring It Is Costly

When I bought my 2007 Toyota Yaris used, it came with a 30-day warranty on the engine. On day 31, the check engine light turned on. Typical luck for me, but I tempted fate and ignored it for days. It turned off on its own, but for months after, it would periodically come on and then go off after a few drives.

I eventually took it to my Toyota dealership, and though the issue ended up being a faulty gas cap, the mechanic said it could have been disastrous. Like a stern father, he told me to never ignore a check engine light: Not only was I putting myself in danger, but I could be looking at costlier repairs down the road.

I feel much more secure in my 2017 Subaru Crosstrek these days, but I know the day will come when my check engine light illuminates again. So, I sought some professional advice from Ryan Kooiman, Director of Training at Standard Motor Products. In that role, Kooiman oversees the training of 65,000 North American technicians every year.

What to Do When the Check Engine Light Comes On

First things first, I wanted to know if the mechanic at my Toyota dealership was just a drama queen, or if it really was crucial that I take my car in right away. I don’t think anyone would be surprised to learn that Kooiman agreed with my mechanic: If your car has a check engine light on, you should take it to a technician pronto.

“The check engine light is an indication that there is an emission-related fault, so it is important that the driver get it diagnosed by a certified technician as soon as possible,” explained Kooiman. “The same could be said for any warning light on the dash. The manufacturer put them there for a reason — primarily the safety of the customer, as well as the protection of the vehicle, along with the government mandates related to air quality.”

Kooiman also emphasized his use of the term “certified technician.” According to him, many customers believe that anyone who plugs in a scan tool and gets the diagnostic trouble code that triggered the check engine light can diagnose the issue. Using a certified technician gives you peace of mind knowing the person working on your vehicle has the training required to correctly read the scan data and perform the battery of tests required to correctly diagnose the issue and determine what caused the failure.

“Many times, I’ve seen people treat the symptom and not address the actual cause of the problem. This results in a repeat failure, frustration and possible unnecessary repairs being performed. Finding a qualified technician to accurately diagnose the problem the first time is the best tip I can give anyone looking to save money on a car repair.”

Signs That Check Engine Light Is a Serious Issue

Okay, so Kooiman made it pretty clear that you should have a certified technician diagnose that check engine light as soon as possible, but are some issues more pressing than others and, if so, are there clear indicators that the issue is urgent?

According to Kooiman, a flashing check engine light indicates there’s a catalyst-damaging misfire, which can damage your catalytic converter in just a few miles. In short, abandon your errands and head straight for your mechanic or risk even costlier repairs.

Unusual sounds and smells or symptoms, like lack of power or jerking, can also heighten the urgency. When your check engine light comes on, look for other signs that something’s amiss.

Most Common Check Engine Light Causes

Kooiman told me that every make and model is different when it comes to the check engine light, so a certified technician needs to inspect the car. However, there are some common issues a check engine light tends to point to. Here are a few codes to look out for:

P0300 Random Misfire Detected

“This trouble code indicates that there are multiple cylinders misfiring or that the engine control module is unable to pinpoint exactly which cylinder is misfiring,” explained Kooiman.

There’s a variety of faults that can cause this issue — mechanical engine malfunction, fuel system fault, ignition system fault, etc. — and a certified technician can perform tests to pinpoint the cause.

If left untreated, this fault can cause catalytic converter damage, and this can be considerably more expensive than repairing the misfire.

P0456 EVAP Large Leak Detected

“This trouble code indicates that there is a problem with the evaporative emissions system — the system that collects fuel vapors and recycles them, rather than allowing them to evaporate into the atmosphere and cause air pollution or smog,” said Kooiman.

In newer cars, the emissions system can test for leaks as small as 0.010 inches in diameter. “That is smaller than the diameter of a human air,” Kooiman noted.

This issue typically won’t result in costly repairs if left untreated, but its environmental impact is large enough to merit a repair when you can afford it.

P0171/P0174 Fuel Trim Lean Bank 1 (P0171) or Bank 2 (P0174)

Kooiman explained that this check engine light issue arises when the oxygen sensors or the air-to-fuel ratio sensors sense an incorrect air-to-fuel ratio. Common causes of this issue include fuel injector contamination, a weak fuel pump, faulty sensors or unmetered air leaking into the engine.

“Any one of these scenarios can cause a lean condition in the engine,” Kooiman told me, resulting in “internal engine damage, damage to the catalytic converter(s), poor engine performance and excessive tailpipe emissions.”

Thus, addressing this issue immediately could save you thousands in the future.

P0420/P0430 Catalyst Efficiency Below Threshold Bank 1 (P0420) or Bank 2 (P0430)

If a scan turns up one of these codes, one or more of your catalytic converters failed its self-test.

Because a fair amount of these codes concern the health of the catalytic converter, Kooiman explained how crucial this component is to a car: “The catalytic converter is a device in the exhaust system that holds and releases gases that come out of the engine, mixing them in the least harmful combination to the atmosphere. If there is a fault such as a misfire or any contamination such as coolant or oil, the life of the catalytic converter is quickly shortened.”

He added, “With the amount of chemicals and precious metals involved in the catalyst, these end up being relatively expensive repairs. In some cases, the catalytic converter will fail so badly that it eventually gets plugged up. Since an engine is essentially an air pump, if the exhaust is plugged up, it can’t run properly. This will quickly lead to a lack of power or start and stall condition.”

Check Engine Light Repair Costs

When my Yaris’ check engine light lit up on my 31st day of ownership, I didn’t choose to skip the mechanic out of laziness. As an employee at a frozen yogurt shop paying his way through college, I simply didn’t have the money — without dipping into my beer fund.

Reflecting on that time in my life, I asked Kooiman about the typical costs for the repairs he mentioned. Because the severity of the issues can vary, and because every model is different, Kooiman couldn’t assign a number.

But he did say, “Delaying a repair doesn’t result in a less expensive repair bill. Ignoring a problem almost always results in additional damage to the vehicle and a higher repair bill.”

Kooiman added, “Follow the regularly scheduled maintenance plan set by the manufacturer. In my days as a technician, the cars that came in on a regular basis for an inspection, fluid change tuneup, etc. were the ones that had the smaller repair bills. Plus, the work was done at the convenience of the owner, rather than following an emergency breakdown or unexpected failure. The people who ignored their vehicle’s maintenance and drove it until it was broken were the ones who ended up paying a tow bill and a larger repair bill.”

So the lesson I learned — luckily not the hard way, though it very well could have been — is if your check engine light comes on, take it to a certified technician. Do whatever you can to make it work financially when it happens, or you very well could find yourself in a deeper financial hole down the road.

Timothy Moore, a Nashville-based editor and writer, has written for the automotive industry for five years. He currently drives a Hyper Blue 2017 Subaru Crosstrek and wouldn’t trade it for the world, but maybe for a Tesla.

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.

source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/2o4JTEp