Could Your Bad Habits Help You Save $3,500 a Year?

Do you know where your paycheck goes every month?

If you’re not keeping a budget, losing track of where you spend money is easier than you probably think.

You have the big stuff under control, with decent enough income to cover rent, bills, food, gas and other necessities.

But you’re still living paycheck-to-paycheck and wondering why you can’t seem to save any extra.

You’re thrifty. You don’t overspend when you go shopping. You don’t waste money on unnecessary big-ticket items.

But what about all the little things?

Are you spending $2 a day on coffee? Maybe $20 each week at happy hour? Or $5-$10 every day on lunch?

How Much Do You Spend on Small Stuff?

The little expenses add up.

Coffee is only two bucks each work day, but that comes to around $500 per year.

Those happy hours can quickly add up to $1,000 a year.

Buying lunch at that rate would put you out almost $2,000 a year.

That’s $3,500 each year you could be saving, investing or using to pay down debt.

How to ACTUALLY Break Bad Spending Habits

But maybe this isn’t the first time you’ve heard this.

You know you spend too much on the small stuff, but bad habits are hard to break. How do you convince yourself to actually make any changes this time?

We’ve got a simple trick that will help you cut your spending, increase your savings and maybe even offer some incentive to break those habits hurt you in more places than your wallet.

Instead of just vowing to cut your spending and relying on willpower, build in a reward.

Each time you skip morning coffee, put that $2 into a savings account.

Each time you pack a lunch, add $10.

Skip happy hour? Add $10 to savings.

Building better habits is much easier when you can see immediate results.

How Much Can You Save?

As you skip your small expenses and save the money instead, you’ll immediately see your savings account balance grow.

See a balance of more than $65 at the end of the first week.

See a balance of more than $250 at the end of the first month.

Watch that number grow every time you forgo the small stuff. Pretty cool, right?

Plus, money just might be the best incentive to break those unhealthy habits, too. Save money while you cut back on smoking, lose weight, eat healthier or exercise more.

Over time, these little things will add up, too!

This simple trick can help you slowly change your habits and develop healthier finances and a healthier, happier lifestyle.

Your Turn: What tricks have you used to break bad money habits?

Dana Sitar (@danasitar) is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She’s written for Huffington Post, Entrepreneur.com, Writer’s Digest and more, attempting humor wherever it’s allowed (and sometimes where it’s not).

The post Could Your Bad Habits Help You Save $3,500 a Year? appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

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An extra room could boost your property's value by 20%

Hannah Nemeth

extra-room.jpg

Converting your loft or building an extension could add more than a fifth to the value of your home, according to a new study.

Converting your loft or building an extension could add more than a fifth to the value of your home, according to a new study.

Even adding a bedroom can add as much as 10%, while a new bathroom could boost your property price by 5%, according to a report by building society Nationwide.

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Seven Skills That Will Help Anyone Achieve Their Financial Goals

Financial goals are never a short-term thing. People don’t simply wake up one day and decide that, yes, today they’re going to be financially independent or today they’re going to be debt free.

The truth: people who achieve financial goals are people who consistently apply a number of skills over time. They get up in the morning and go through a normal day just like anyone else. The only real difference is that they apply a few skills throughout their day to shape the choices they make.

This is completely true in my life. I’m far away from achieving my biggest goals, but I know that in order to get there, I have to apply some real skills today. I say no to a lot of temptations. I remind myself to not give up on things that don’t have immediate results. I focus on the task at hand. I add and subtract a lot of figures quickly. I think about the long-term future and I make plans to get from where I’m at now to where I want to be. I do things myself, recognizing that my success in life is virtually entirely up to me.

If I don’t do those things today, I’m not going to achieve my goals tomorrow.

So, how do those skills actually break down? Here are seven specific skills that I apply every day on my financial journey. I believe these skills are vital to anyone who is working on their own financial journey, wherever it may lead.

Skill 1 – Willpower

The ability to simply say “no” to a temptation when it doesn’t have a long term net benefit

I’m tempted to buy things all the time. I’ll see tasty things at the grocery store. I’ll see fun things at the hobby store. I’ll see countless things online. On a very surface level, I’ll want those things and, if I’m not being thoughtful about it, I’ll add those things to my cart and spend money that I shouldn’t.

I’m also tempted to spend time in less than useful ways all the time. I’ll think about an interesting website or an interesting computer game and then find myself dropping half an hour on those things.

I can talk about all kinds of little tips and tricks that I use to keep those temptations at bay, but they really all boil down to one thing: willpower.

Willpower simply means that I’m able to make the internal choice to spend my money and my time in a way that’s not the most pleasurable in the short term. Willpower means that I don’t eat the tasty but less healthy food. Willpower means I don’t buy that thing that I want right now but will forget in a few days. Willpower means I turn off that fun game and get back to work.

What comes from willpower? Less money spent on silly things means more money in the bank. Less time spent on unnecessary things means better produced work and more genuine free time. Less unhealthy food eaten means a healthier body.

The best way to build willpower is through practice and mindfulness. Try to focus on one particular thing that you’re trying to resist in the coming days and weeks. Keep that sense of resistance in your mind as much as possible and then when choices present themselves, resist the bad options.

Along with that, try to avoid constantly putting yourself in situations where you might be tempted. Stop visiting websites that trigger your urges to spend. Avoid stores that cause similar responses. Cut back on your media intake, particularly from publications and websites that do little but inform you of the latest and greatest things.

Skill 2 – Patience

The ability to not give up when the desired outcome doesn’t appear immediately

I’ve been working on improving my financial state for almost a decade. That seems like a very long time, particularly when you consider I haven’t reached my big goal yet. Without a healthy dose of patience, I simply wouldn’t have made it this far.

I have a big impatient voice in my head that’s constantly telling me to stop bothering with financial progress, that I’ll never make it, that I should just “enjoy life right now” – as though “enjoying life” comes from throwing money at things that have no lasting positive impact on my life.

That voice shouts at me that I’ve been patient and I still haven’t reached my goals. I’ve worked and worked and worked at it, but what do I really have to show for it? Why not enjoy life now?

When I listen to that voice, I virtually always end up regretting it. It almost always amounts to a step or two back from my goals rather than steady progress toward my goal.

The problem is that the voice is completely wrong. If I compare my life now to my life in 2006, the difference is like night and day. I was in debt up to my ears back then. Today I’m debt free. Back then, I had basically nothing in the bank. Today, I have a lot in the bank – maybe not enough to walk away from work, but more than enough to support me and my family through a lot of trials.

For me, a big part of patience is to simply be mindful of the great progress you’ve already made, even if it doesn’t mean you’ve achieved your final goal. I find that when I reflect on the progress I’ve already made toward the goals I have in life, I recognize how much progress I’ve actually made and this redoubles my patience toward the unachieved goals I still have.

Another big part of developing and maintaining patience comes from stopping before I make any financial move and thinking about it for a moment or two. Is this purchase really bringing anything of value into my life? Does it take away from the big things that I desire? Isn’t my life already pretty good without this purchase? Most of the time, that thought process convinces me to put that item right back on the shelf

Skill 3 – Focus

The ability to finish a task with quality results without being easily distracted

It’s impossible to make financial progress without a healthy income. If you’re not earning good money, it’s pretty hard to spend significantly less than you earn.

The question, then, is what strategies a person can use to earn a good income. I’ve found, more than anything else, that being able to focus and bear down on a particular task to completion is perhaps the most valuable skill anyone can have when it comes to earning money.

That skill isn’t as easy or as obvious as it seems. Many people can push through minimal completion of their job tasks, even through lots of distractions, so they don’t see focus on important tasks as a big deal.

However, being able to bear down on important tasks and finish them in a quality way brings several benefits to the table.

First, it condenses the time spent on a task. If you bear down and focus singlemindedly on the task at hand, you’re going to get it done much faster than if you constantly interrupt yourself for other things.

Second, it increases the quality of the result. When you really focus on something, you’re much more likely to see ways to improve what you’re doing, bringing about better results which reflect well on you.

Third, it leaves larger blocks of free time for other tasks. If you finish a project more quickly, you now have a larger block of uninterrupted time to actually do something worthwhile. If you have a five hour project in front of you, for example, you might spread it out across eight hours with distractions, or you might bear down and complete it in five hours, giving you a three hour block of freedom.

Finally, it allows you to take on bigger tasks than before. If you’re able to effectively focus, tasks that seemed out of reach in the past suddenly become possible. This obviously translates into being more effective and more valuable at work.

If you want one magical ingredient for being successful in your career, try building focus. I find that the Pomodoro technique is a really powerful way to build focus in the modern age, as it revolves around alternating periods of focus (25 minutes long) with periods where you’re free to be distracted.

Skill 4 – Basic Mathematics

The ability to calculate and understand percentages and dollar figures

Eventually, if you’re serious about your finances, you’re going to need to be able to do some number crunching. The ability to add numbers, subtract numbers, multiply numbers, divide numbers, and use percentages with confidence and precision is almost a requirement when it comes to really understanding your financial state.

Are you comfortable adding up a column of numbers? Are you comfortable calculating a percentage, or the dollar amount that is a certain percentage of another dollar amount? Can you handle figuring up simple examples of compound interest? If you’re not fully comfortable, do you know how to use tools to handle all of these things?

If you can’t answer “yes” to a lot of those questions, understanding your financial state is simply going to elude you. You’re going to find yourself simply trusting others when it comes to your financial situation and, to put it lightly, there are a lot of sharks in the water when it comes to your money.

In order to be able to assess whether, say, an insurance package is a good deal for you or a car loan is a good deal, you need to be able to run the numbers on your own, whether on scratch paper or with an electronic tool of some kind.

Yes, this is a skill that many people pick up and master in school, but not everyone does. Natural aptitude is part of it, but so is quality instruction, something that not everyone receives.

How do you master this skill if you don’t already have it? After reviewing a lot of different online tools, I found that the math section at LearnFree.org does a great job of teaching the basics, while the tutorials at BetterMoneyHabits.com offer a very gentle introduction to the math behind personal finance.

Skill 5 – Planning

The ability to come up with an ordered series of steps taking you from where you are now to where you want to be

You know where you’re at. You know where you want to go. But how do you go from here to there?

Most people can generate some kind of a plan to move their life to where they want to be, but it takes a lot of time and thinking to come up with a good plan, one that’s realistic and actionable and yet actually moves you toward that goal at a healthy pace. It means coming up with things to do each day. It means coming up with milestones to achieve so that the destination doesn’t feel too far away. It means knowing how to handle it if things don’t go according to plan.

That’s a lot harder. It’s something that I struggle with myself. Yet, I’ve seen over and over again that having a good plan is key, following that plan is also vital, and knowing how to revise that plan to keep it all realistic is also really important.

Like many skills, your planning skills grow stronger the more you use them. The more you plan, the more natural planning becomes and the easier it becomes to execute the plans you create, too.

I recommend starting by making plans for some of your larger tasks in your day-to-day life. What’s your plan for that big project you have in your head that might take a day or two but you’ve been putting off? Can you break it down into small pieces that are easy to do one at a time? Can you perhaps do the first step tonight?

Once you start addressing goals in this fashion, it becomes easier and more natural to address other life goals in this way. You’ll soon start seeing your entire life through this kind of lens.

Skill 6 – Future-thinking

The ability to consistently choose actions that are beneficial over the long term over those that have only short term benefits

A lot of the choices we make on a daily basis wind up essentially being a choice between the short term and the long term. Buying a bottle of soda is a short-term (that’d be tasty) versus a long-term (it’s unhealthy and kind of a waste of money) decision. Focusing hard on a task at work is a short-term (it’d be more fun right now to look at a website) versus a long-term (focusing now makes a better end product and impresses my boss) choice. Almost everything is a short-term versus a long-term choice.

Every short term choice you make will bump the quality of your life at this moment, but is neutral or negative down the road. Every long term choice you make improves the status of your life down the road, but is neutral or negative right now. Make enough long term choices and your life will simply become better over the long term.

One of the most powerful skills you can learn is the simple ability to think about the long term benefits of each choice in the moment. Often, the short-term benefits are obvious enough and tempting enough to simply shout out the long-term benefits of other choices. Don’t let that happen. Intentionally think about the long term.

For a long time, I found it useful to ask myself, in the heat of the moment when making a decision, which option will put me in a better place a year from now, or five years from now. When you ask yourself that question sincerely, many choices quickly fade away because it’s obvious that they have no positive impact – and often a negative impact – at that time scale. Almost all buying decisions become clearly in favor of spending less, for example.

That’s not to say that you always need to make the long term choice, but when you’re mindful of the differences and benefits of both the short term and the long term and then nudge yourself even a little toward the long term side, you’ll start really seeing the benefits over time.

Skill 7 – Independence

The ability to do things for yourself as often as you can without relying on others

As independent as we all like to think that we are, we do often rely on others for the basis for our decisions. We rely on our life partners. We rely on our parents. We rely on insurance salespeople or car salespeople. We rely on television programs, on websites, on magazines. Rather than making a decision on our own, we hand control over to those things and allow them to make choices for us.

Often, that’s the easy way to go. It absolves us from having to actually think about, come up with a choice, and then stand by that choice. It gives us an excuse if something goes wrong, too.

The problem is that much of the time, the things to which we hand over control aren’t necessarily making choices that are in your best interest. Instead, those things often make choices that are in their best interest, which may or may not overlap with your own.

Independence simply means standing up for what is in your best interests, especially when that doesn’t necessarily align with what a parent or an insurance salesperson or a car salesperson is telling you. It means more work, yes, but it also means that when a decision is made that impacts your life, your life is a primary consideration in that decision.

You can practice this skill by simply stepping away from those other influences and making a decision based on what is best for your life and then standing up for that choice. It can be hard to do this, but it’s one of those things that, once you do it once, it becomes easier and easier to become an advocate for yourself.

Final Thoughts

Taken as a whole, these skills provide a powerful underlying basis for financial success in anyone’s life. They help to ensure that you’re in control of your own destiny, that you’re making choices that benefit your future, and that you understand why you’re making those choices. Those elements are key elements for financial success – and, frankly, any kind of success in life.

None of these skills are particularly challenging on their own. Mostly, they just require that a person be mindful of what they’re doing in the moment and willing to consider the outcomes of the choices that are on the table in front of them. The more mindful you are of those choices and the real impact they’ll have on your life, both now and later, the better off you’re going to be.

Be mindful of these skills. Strengthen these skills. Understand these skills, and know when to use them. Your whole life will benefit.

Good luck.

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Six Ways Parenting Preps You for Entrepreneurship

Becoming a parent changes your life in ways that you can’t even begin to imagine.

There are the negatives, like never having a quiet moment to yourself again, and stepping on Legos in the middle of the night. But there are so many positives — and not just the obvious ones.

In fact, one of the surprising side effects is how parenting prepares you for being an incredible entrepreneur. Here are six examples of what I mean.

1. You Become an Incredible Multitasker

As a parent, it seems like you’re constantly doing two things at once. You can scramble eggs with one hand while cuing up a “Baby Einsteins” episode on your iPhone with the other. You can change a diaper in the middle of a conversation without skipping a beat. You can save a toddler from his death-defying leap off the couch as you’re checking his older sister for a fever — all while on hold with the doctor’s office.

These skills can actually help you become a successful entrepreneur. Running a business means wearing many hats: You’re the manager, the employee, and the customer service department all at once. You’re bound to find yourself tending to multiple crises, clients, and customers at the same time.

2. You Learn How to Work at All Hours of the Night

It’s no secret that children keep parents up at night. They can go to bed like peaceful angels and wake up screaming bloody murder at two in the morning for no apparent reason at all. You get surprisingly accustomed to functioning on little or no sleep.

That’s helpful as an entrepreneur, since you’ll often have to burn the midnight oil when running a business. If you’re trying to start a side hustle on top of your 9-to-5 job, late evenings and the wee hours of the morning may be the only time you have to devote to your new venture. Plus, any small business owner must be prepared to work at all hours, whether it’s handling late-night emergencies, calling clients who live in other countries, or simply putting in extra hours to ensure you meet a deadline or make ends meet this month.

3. You Know How to Prioritize

As a parent, you have to ruthlessly prioritize your time and focus. Do you want to look like a presentable human being for the day, or would you like an extra 15 minutes of sleep? Do you want your coffee right now, or should you put that diaper back on the kid who just ripped hers off? Parenting forces you to make quick decisions in ways you never knew existed, and entrepreneurship is much the same.

As an entrepreneur, you’ll often have many different people and tasks vying for your attention at all times. If you try to do everything at once, you’ll undoubtedly fail or leave something out. So it helps to be able to quickly assess what’s most important in a given moment and focus on that first.

4. You Know How to Manage Resources

Parents have to know how to budget and manage their precious money. This can be as simple as skipping your favorite soft drink at the store so you can afford another pack of baby wipes (because your child pulled out every single wipe from the last pack and threw them all down the stairs), or scaling back on birthday parties so you can afford to pay for piano lessons.

But as a parent you may have to make major changes as well, like identifying places to cut back on monthly expenses so you can afford the staggering cost of childcare, or finding ways to free up more time (or even work from home) so you can take on those duties yourself.

As a business owner, you also have to manage finite resources. You have to constantly stay on top of your cash flow, make sure you pay your employees or vendors on time, and carefully consider each business investment you make. Accounting expertise is always helpful, but some experience balancing a family budget is a pretty good substitute.

5. You Learn How to Delegate

Many of us have difficulty delegating because we don’t want to give up control. After all, if you want something done right, they say, you have to do it yourself. But children have a way of breaking down even the most serious control freaks. There’s only so much you can accomplish when a tiny army runs your life.

Delegating is critical to enjoying your life as a parent. You can delegate chores to your spouse — or even, in a few years, to your children. You can call a babysitter to watch your kids for a few hours so you can get out of the house — or even just sit by yourself in silence and remember what it’s like to think actual thoughts. Delegating: It’s a skill worth learning.

You can use those delegation techniques you learned as a parent in your life as an entrepreneur. When you first start your business, it’s common to do nearly everything yourself. But as your business grows, it’s smart to delegate some of those tasks — particularly the ones that aren’t critical, don’t fall within your expertise, or that you simply don’t enjoy — so you can focus on doing the important stuff really well.

6. You Have Something to Fight For

The last, most important way parenting prepares you for entrepreneurship is the fiery resolve it stirs deep within you. What wouldn’t you do for your kids? You find a way to keep going when you’re exhausted, to keep loving them when they infuriate you, to protect them even when you’re scared. You keep fighting.

Starting a business is incredibly challenging. The unpredictable income, long hours, difficult clients, and projects that don’t work out the way you want them to can all cause an immense amount of stress.

However, you’ve probably heard someone say that your business is like your baby. And much like parenting, you’ll do whatever it takes to help it succeed, despite the endless challenges. There are just so many good times and moments of brilliance that somehow inspire you to keep going — even when it seems like you have nothing left.

Related Articles: 

• Is Working Worth It When You Have Kids?
• 17 Strategies to Survive Working From Home With Children
• Why Freelancing Can Be Safer Than a 9-to-5 Job

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Californians: We Found 8 Ways for You to Get Paid to Use Less Energy

Every homeowner I know is constantly searching for the best ways to cut utility bills.

Thankfully, the government understands the plight, and has created programs to make energy-saving home renovations affordable. California has some of the best in the U.S.

Here are eight ways you can get paid to reduce your energy consumption and long-term costs:

1. Get Paid Up to $300 to Turn Off the Lights

California residents can earn up to $300/year by syncing their utility accounts to a program called OhmConnect and agreeing to help reduce energy usage by one hour per week.

Here’s how it works:

1. Sign up for a free OhmConnect account and sync it with your online utility account.

2. You must have an online account with one of these three utility companies to participate: Pacific Gas & Electric Company, San Diego Gas & Electric or Southern California Edison.

3. OhmConnect will send you weekly payments for reducing your electricity for one hour per week. They do this because you’re helping to not contribute to the high demand that prompts unclean power sources to turn on. They’ll send you up to $300/year, plus you’re helping save the planet!

2. Get Paid to Install Solar Panels

If you’re curious about solar, you may be holding back because you’re wary of high upfront costs.

But you could qualify for a solar loan or lease to finance installation and avoid the upfront cost.

You’ll likely also qualify for tax credits and other incentives to get back some of the money you invest into buying solar panels.

In addition to the amount you’ll save long-term with an energy-efficient system, you could be eligible for a solar rebate. California has a variety of programs to support solar energy — rebate amounts vary by location.

Enter your address on this website to find out how much you could earn in rebates.

3. Install a Programmable Thermostat to Save $173/Year

You can save up to 10% on heating and cooling your home by properly adjusting your thermostat.

Optimal summer temperatures are 85 while you’re away and 78 when you’re at home. In the winter, aim for around 68 degrees when you’re home and 58 or less while you’re away or sleeping.

A Nest thermostat will learn your habits, so it can automatically turn itself down while you’re away and adjust to your preferred temperatures.

These settings can save you up to 10% on your heating and cooling — an average of $173 per year.

4. Apply for a Federal Energy Tax Credit

California taxpayers are eligible for the federal tax credit of up to 30% of total expenses for installing sustainable energy systems.

For example, if you pay the average $23,000 to install solar panels this year, you could reduce the amount you owe the IRS next April by $6,900.

Eligible solar projects include installation of residential solar electric and heating systems, as well as wind energy installations and geothermal pumps.

5. Install a New Toilet and Receive $100

To cut water use, California’s Department of Water Resources has a rebate program that will pay you for replacing a toilet in your home.

Receive up to $100 for buying and installing a toilet that uses 1.28 gallons or less per flush and replaces a less-efficient toilet that uses at least 1.6 gallons per flush.

Like any energy-efficiency measures, this saves you more money in the long run, too! Less water per flush means your water bill will be lower every month.

6. Improve Insulation in Your Attic and Earn Up to $500

Pop into your attic. Do you see the support beams? If so, have an HVAC company come in and blow in some more insulation or install some yourself.

Use higher R-value insulation, such as spray foam, on exterior walls and in cathedral ceilings to get more insulation with less thickness.

California offers a Residential Energy Efficiency tax credit up to $500 just for improving your home’s insulation!

7. Upgrade Your Curb Appeal for Up to $2,000

In most yards, grass consumes the greatest amount of water.

So California is trying to reduce the state’s water use by helping home- and business-owners reduce grass in landscapes.

You can receive a rebate up to $2 per square foot (up to 1,000) of grass yard you replace with “drought tolerant landscape.” Skip the grass — fill your lawn with plants requiring little water, fertilizer or maintenance.

8. Use an Energy Star Washer for $150 Cash Back

You’ve probably heard of Energy Star certified appliances. They’ll use less energy and save you money on your water and electric bills.

But did you know you could also get money just for installing one?

To encourage you to save water, California offers a rebate up to $150 cash back for buying and installing an energy-efficient clothes washer.

To qualify for a rebate, purchase a model on the Energy Star Most Efficient 2015 or 2016 list, take a picture of your receipt and fill out the online application before December 31, 2016.

Your Turn: Have you received a tax credit or rebate for making your home more energy efficient?

Disclosure: A toast to savings! Thanks for allowing us to place affiliate links in this post.

Dana Sitar (@danasitar) is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She’s written for Huffington Post, Entrepreneur.com, Writer’s Digest and more, attempting humor wherever it’s allowed (and sometimes where it’s not).

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Most people won't get the full state pension, warn MPs

Rachel Lacey

poor-old-person.jpg

The majority of people retiring under the new state pension, which starts from 6 April, will not be eligible for the full rate of £155.65 a week, a group of MPs has warned.

The majority of people retiring under the new state pension, which starts from 6 April, will not be eligible for the full rate of £155.65 a week, a group of MPs has warned.

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10 Awful, Obvious Signs You’re an Airport Amateur

If you’re planning to partake in the miracle of flight in the near future, this is for you.

For frequent flyers, this list is a reminder of your pet peeves — and that we share them.

There are others of us out here baffled by these Disney families, bachelor parties and other annoying airport amateurs, bumbling through the terminal like they just woke up on a new planet.

For families, bachelors, et. al… This is a public service announcement.

Don’t be that guy.

These nine faux pas are hard to watch, annoy every traveler and can cost you money every time you fly.

Avoid them, and you can skate through the airport with the grace of a pro like George Clooney in Up in the Air.

Plus no one will show you their death stare.

1. That Guy Who Comes to Security Completely Unprepared to Get Through Security

A frequent flyer can always spot this annoying amateur in the security line.

They’re wearing boots with 18 snaps or shoes that lace up the ankle a la 1887.

Their laptop’s buried at the bottom of their bag, so it’s impossible to remove without displacing piles of underwear.

They’re decked out in as many metal accessories the human body can hold.

They’re wearing a cardigan under a sweater under a coat and don’t realize all have to come off — until they’re in the perfect position to stall the entire line.

Unless you’re a ‘90s sitcom character, flying isn’t something that comes up last minute. You know it’s going to happen.

via GIPHY

Prepare accordingly: Wear comfortable slip-on shoes, stash the accessories for later, stick with a couple light layers and keep your laptop away from your unmentionables.

2. That Guy Who Has No Idea What’s Allowed Through Security

Complicated as FOX News or whoever might make it seem, airport security basically has two main rules:

• Three ounces (or less) of liquid.

• No weapons.

“These are just a few of the many throwing stars our officers found in carry-on bags around the nation in 2015.” – TSA (via Instagram)

Still, you’ll see this scene any time you fly:

A dumbfounded family in matching Hawaiian-print shirts stands by as TSA agents confiscate giant bottles of sunscreen, salon-grade shampoo, liquor, pocket knives and ninja throwing stars from their carry-on bags.

First of all, you’re not a ninja.

Second, even if you are, you’re on vacation.

Read the guidelines, leave the weapons at home and use hotel shampoo.

3. That Guy Who Never Stops Complaining About the Cost of Flying

via GIPHY

“I’m going to write a letter,” is a sentence I heard on an airplane in the 21st century.

The guy in front of me was upset about the bag-check fee he’d paid upon arriving at the airport. Letter-writing upset.

Hidden fees are a serious pain… when they’re actually hidden.

Airline fees rarely are, though.

They’re listed on your confirmation page, in your confirmation email, in your follow-up reminder emails, in that text the airline sends you at 3 a.m. when it can’t sleep…

“U up? btw Checked bags cost extra.”

Frequent flyers not only know about fees in advance, but also how to avoid paying them.

Savvy travelers rarely pay full price to fly.

Instead they cover flights and those pesky fees with miles and points.

You can accrue points from a lot more than just flying, too. Shopping portals, online surveys, dining programs and credit cards can also offer travel rewards.

For example, with the TD Aeroplan Visa Credit Card, you’ll earn one mile for every $1 you spend, two miles per $1 on Air Canada, plus a 25,000-mile sign-up bonus (worth $250, or one round-trip flight!).

Use your Aeroplan miles on any Star Alliance member airline — including United, Air Canada and other international airlines.

Free flights. No letter necessary.

4. That Guy Who Completely Misunderstands the Point of Carry-Ons

carryon shame via Instagram

Carry-on bags and personal items are allowed on a plane — with explicit guidelines.

If for some reason you should fail to check them before arriving at your gate, most airlines have a simple compliance test: Your bag must fit inside a box.

It’s like those block puzzles we give toddlers. The triangle block goes in the triangle hole.

If your baby tries to put a triangle in a circle, she’s going to have to gate check it and probably pay the extra fee.

Save yourself the hassle and some money: Read your airline’s guidelines and measure your bags at home.

And while you’re fitting things into places, remember: One carry-on bag goes in the overhead bin, and one personal item goes under the seat in front of you.

Don’t bogart the overhead bin with your extra bulk.

5. That Guy Who Cuts Ahead of Their Boarding Zone

There’s a number on your ticket, usually labeled with “Zone” or “Boarding Zone.”

That’s your boarding zone number.

If you don’t know what it means, I’ll explain. But just in case you forget, your gate agent will also explain it — several times — before they start the boarding process.

You share that number with a group of passengers, and it indicates the order in which you board the plane.

Your gate agent will call a number, and passengers who hold a ticket with said number can line up and begin boarding the plane.

Passengers with other numbers on their tickets should not line up at this time.

It’s sort of like the DMV. Or Applebee’s. Or kindergarten.

Just wait for someone to call on you.

6. That Guy Who Doesn’t Understand the Seating System

Speaking of kindergarten, let’s review numbers and letters.

To keep it easy, we won’t count any higher than 40 (in most cases), and we’ll keep the alphabet to just A-F.

Do you need me to slow down? I know you think you know the alphabet; you’re an adult.

But you must not. Because you’re sitting in my seat.

No, I’m definitely right. That’s my seat. Yours is across the aisle. Yes, I’m very sure, because that’s an A and this is a F.

And while we’re working on cracking the code of the row number/seat letter combination…

You don’t have to stop at every row to check whether it’s your row. The numbers are in the same order on every plane. The same order they’ve been in since the beginning of time.

If you’re in row 22, don’t check the seats behind row four.

Keep the line moving, and slow down a little when you see double digits.

7. That Guy Who Loads Up at the Duty-Free Store

One of the best kept travel secrets is you’re allowed to take food through airport security.

Somehow the message isn’t getting out.

TSA has not banned food.

Pack your own snacks, and stop complaining about the airline’s exorbitant prices. That complaint hasn’t been interesting since the ‘80s.

Similarly, water bottles also are allowed — sans water.

As long as you down your water before passing through security, take the bottle with you. Fill it up at a fountain before you board, and avoid the airport shop’s pricy water.

Finally, bring your own inflatable neck pillow, if you must. You look like a dork with that brand-new one clamped around your neck, sporting the logo of the local sports team you don’t care about.

8. That Guy Who Stands as Soon as the Plane Lands

Ok, personally, I hope the amateurs never stop doing this because it’s so much fun to watch.

But here’s a warning for your sake.

Once a plane lands and even after it taxis to the gate, you’ve got at least 15-20 minutes before you’re getting off the plane.

If you’re in the back half of the plane, probably longer.

Don’t stand; you have nowhere to go. Sit down.

You probably can’t even stand all the way up.

You’re going to smack your head on the overhead bin, then stand crooked and grouchy until it’s time for your row to move forward.

Chill out, check your Twitter notifications and let your mom know you’ve landed safely.

9. That Guy Who Packs More Than He Needs

Avid travellers won’t check a bag if they don’t have to.

It often costs more, takes extra time and comes with the risk of the bag not arriving in the same city as you.

They also know heavy bags and bulky stuff like neck pillows are difficult to haul through an airport.

A pro never packs more than what’s needed.

You don’t need 27 outfit options with coordinating shoes for the weekend. You can probably skip some of the beauty products for a couple of days, too.

Pare it down to basics. Save yourself time, money and miserable glares from your fellow passengers.

10. That Guy Who Touches Your Seat

Confession. This whole post is really just my way of sharing this message with the world: Don’t touch my seat.

Watch the flight attendants walk down the aisle.

Where are their hands? They’re not grabbing my seatback for balance — that would be rude.

They reach up — to the overhead bins — to steady themselves. You can do that, too.

Also, don’t grab my seat to pull yourself into a standing position. That’s what your abdominal muscles are for.

And your kids’ feet? They should definitely never touch my seat.

Your Turn: Are you an avid traveler? What amateur pet peeves plague your flights?

Disclosure: Here’s a toast to the affiliate links in this post. May we all be just a little richer today.

Dana Sitar (@danasitar) is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She’s written for Huffington Post, Entrepreneur.com, Writer’s Digest and more, attempting humor wherever it’s allowed (and sometimes where it’s not).

The post 10 Awful, Obvious Signs You’re an Airport Amateur appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

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The Free Trade Paradox

No issue is more entwined in paradox than free trade versus protectionism. Here's the first. Polling suggests that voters recognize the benefits of free trade more now than at anytime in many years, even as the presidential candidates advocate more protectionism.

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Wawa to add 5,000 workers in spring hiring spree

MEDIA, Pa. (AP) — Wawa is looking to hire over 5,000 workers during the next three months as the convenience store chain expands its reach across six states.The company says in a release it is hiring customer-service level positions in its more than 700 stores in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, and Virginia.As part of the hiring campaign, every location will have openings and more than 100 locations will host open houses where applicants can have a [...]

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Winery starts online store

You can now have locally produced, sustainably made wine and spirits delivered to your door. Mountain View Vineyard, Winery & Distillery in Jackson Township has opened an online store according to a press release. Often business owners Randy and Linda Rice hear customers ask if they can order wine and spirits online. Many say they love the idea of shopping locally, but it's not always convenient for them to drive to the winery tucked away in the hills of Jackson Township. [...]

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This Guy Just Gave His Grandparents $15K to Pay Off Their Mortgage

Most of us love our grandparents.

But few of us have the dedication required to pay off their entire mortgage.

One notable exception? Stefun Darts, a 24-year-old San Jacinto College student in Pasadena, Texas.

On March 20, he posted a photo of himself handing his grandparents a check for $15,000 — enough to pay off their entire mortgage.

Oh, and he also gave them a pair of plane tickets to the Bahamas.

Pure aww.

Here’s how he did it — and why.

This Guy Puts All Other Grandkids to Shame

So what inspired Darts to do it? A promise he made nearly two decades ago.

“I promised God in the second grade I would pay off you guys [sic] house and help you retire,” he wrote on Facebook. “A promise I would never break.”

“Even with this, I could never repay you for what you’ve done for me…  Take this check and pay your house off, and retire from work.”

“My grandparents basically raised me,” Darts told me in a phone interview.

He also lives with them now — one of the ways he was able to save $15,000 in six years.

“It’s the least I can do,” he said. “Many people don’t have their grandparents. I’d rather cherish them while they’re here than live with regret.”

In addition to being a full-time student, Darts works 40 hours per week as a material handler for Exxon Mobile, and part-time as a mortgage loan originator. He also runs a nonprofit called Caring Heart Youth.

Yes, he does all that. No, I’m not sure he’s human.

When I asked him if he slept, he replied, “not really.” He said he functions fine with three or four hours of sleep each night.

“I don’t know if it’s abnormal,” he said. “I just don’t sleep that long; I think the last time I slept eight hours I was like in seventh grade.”

But his insane work ethic wouldn’t have been enough on its own. To fulfill his promise, he also dedicated himself to frugality.

“I’ve been eating pizza, microwave pizza for all my life,” he told KHOU. “My friends will tell you I never did go out. They didn’t know, but this was the reason why.”

Some readers might assume Darts was motivated by a desire to eventually inherit the house, or get publicity for his nonprofit — but honestly, who cares?

It was a beautiful gesture that could inspire others to pay it forward.

Darts told me he hasn’t faced any local negative reactions.

“My character speaks for me,” he said. “I don’t have to deal with those problems.”

As for Internet trolls, he’s not worried about them either.

“People are gonna say stuff over the Internet, but that’s just life,” he said.

And, if you’re not moved by what he wrote on Facebook, you can just go take your skeptic soul somewhere else…

As the saying goes, “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched… they must be felt with the heart.”

Your Turn: Are you moved by this story?

Susan Shain, senior writer for The Penny Hoarder, is always seeking adventure on a budget. Visit her blog at susanshain.com, or say hi on Twitter @susan_shain.

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Love Dogs, But Can’t Afford One? This App Lets You Borrow a Dog for Free

The latest invention of the sharing economy is probably the cutest so far. Especially if you love dogs.

A new app lets you “borrow” a dog — which is great for those animal lovers who can’t quite make the commitment to pet ownership.

You might work odd hours, travel too often, live in a small space or not be able to afford the financial responsibility of caring for a pet.

Bark’N’Borrow offers the solution.

How Bark’N’Borrow Works

The new app connects “dog owners with dog-loving borrowers” for free.

“This is the next best thing between not owning a dog and committing to one,” Bark’N’Borrow CEO and Founder Liam Berkeley told Fox 5 New York.

Dog owners create profiles for their pets and meet with potential borrowers to see if you all get along.

If all goes well, you make arrangements with owners to hang out with their pooches for a few hours. Many pet parents and borrowers stay in touch and make regular puppy dates.

So you get to enjoy the best of having a dog — without the responsibility of actual pet ownership!

In a video interview, Berkeley assures users that everyone is individually vetted. The company collects residential info, billing info, address and more to ensure the pups’ safety and give owners and borrowers peace of mind.

Free Pet Sitting

For pet owners, Bark’N’Borrow could be a smart, free alternative to a professional dog walker or pet sitter if you don’t have friends or family available nearby to walk your dog when you’re at work.

Or maybe you’re new to a city and want to connect with other pet owners or dog lovers.

While the app does offer a way to find professional services, the free “social” connections set it apart. Find people who want to hang out with your dog simply because they love dogs!

And, if you’re a dog lover in search of some extra income, this could help you kickstart a canine-centric side hustle.

“I originally downloaded this app to ‘borrow’ dogs to get my puppy fix,” said one reviewer, “as I can’t adopt one of my own at the moment, and it ended up helping me launch a little dog-walking side business!”

The app is free to download and free to use… for now.

Starting next month, it will introduce a paid subscription service, starting at $4.99 a month to borrow dogs, according to Fox 5 New York.

Is Bark’N’Borrow Available in Your Area?

The downside to a lot of sharing economy apps is a lack of availability outside of major cities, but this one is growing fast everywhere.

While the largest contingent — 20% — of users is in the New York Area, Bark’N’Borrow is available nationwide, with 50,000 users and growing. So you should be able to find fellow dog lovers near you!

Your Turn: Would you use an app to borrow a dog for the day?

Dana Sitar (@danasitar) is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She’s written for Huffington Post, Entrepreneur.com, Writer’s Digest and more, attempting humor wherever it’s allowed (and sometimes where it’s not).

The post Love Dogs, But Can’t Afford One? This App Lets You Borrow a Dog for Free appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

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3 Weeds You Can Eat That’d Cost You Way More at the Grocery Store

I have tried — and failed — to garden. Multiple times.

The restorative power of getting dirt under my nails and the allure of fresh veggies were hard to resist.

But I just don’t have a green thumb, I guess: Even “easy” plants wither under my touch.

Well, except weeds. I grew lots and lots of those. And pulling them was probably the least enjoyable part of my gardening experiments.

But I’ve just learned I might’ve been missing out on a free meal… or five!

3 Edible Weeds That Help You Save Money

As it turns out, some of those “pest” plants are actually palatable. Even tasty.

And since they’re weeds, you don’t even have to have your own garden to find them — they grow wild in American backyards all over the place!

Heck, if you’re really adventurous, you could even go foraging for them.

And while some are weeds you probably think of as weeds (who knew you could eat kudzu?), you’ll find many of them in grocery stores — where you might pay as much as a dollar per ounce to get them.

As long as you make sure you’re properly identifying these plants to stay safe, you can avoid that cost altogether — and maybe even get some exercise and sunshine while you’re at it!

Here are a few edible wild weeds you might find near you… and what you could expect to pay in-store.

Watercress: $1 per ounce

Named the number one “powerhouse food” by the CDC in 2014, you have every reason to throw it into your mixed greens this evening.

You also have every reason to avoid buying it in-store — if you can even find it. Although it’s increasing in popularity, it’s still not on every grocer’s shelf.

And when you do find some at your local health food store, you could pay a lot for it: This blogger bought her 4-ounce package for $3.79. That’s almost a buck an ounce!

Luckily, watercress grows near streams throughout the U.S. You can even grow it in a shady spot in your backyard — just water it as often as its name implies it likes!

Dandelion Greens: $1.49 per pound

Dandelions aren’t just ethereal, wish-making flowers.

Their greens are packed with vitamins A and C, and they can be used in tons of delicious recipes.

You could buy them in-store — again, if your grocer carries them. Or you could order the less-tasty-and-nutritious, cut-and-dried bulk bag.

Or, next time you blow dandelion seeds into the wind, make your wish for a healthier life come true by grabbing some greens while you’re at it!

Bamboo: $1.20 per can

Sliced bamboo shoots are a popular and healthy addition to stir fries, and they’re common enough that you can buy them canned at your local Walmart.

But if you find some young bamboo near your home, you might consider harvesting it — it’s the only way you’re going to get fresh bamboo shoots short of a trip to Tokyo! Or, OK, maybe a vacuum-packed version at your local Asian market.

Try to find young bamboo (under a foot tall), but keep in mind you need to prepare and cook it before eating it.

Foraging for Edible Weeds

If the idea of pulling random weeds from the roadside to toss in your salad freaks you out a little bit, it might just be a cultural bias.

Susan Shain, our resident budget traveller extraordinaire, mentioned a friend of hers in Korea regularly asked if she wanted to go and pick “wild vegetables.”

The weeds they found by the highway or near the schoolyard made delicious additions to their dinners!

Foraging can be a fun and effective way to save some cash. Plus, it might help you lose weight, get more active, be more green, and — let’s be honest — look really hardcore.

See the full list of eight edible weeds — and some killer recipes to try with your haul — over at Rodale’s Organic Life.

And get ready to eat some fresh, (really) local greens!

Your Turn: Would you harvest weeds to snack on? Let us know in the comments.

Jamie Cattanach (@jamiecattanach) is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She also writes other stuff, like wine reviews and poems.

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The Blueprint: The Exact Links Your Blog Needs to Have to Rank Like Quick Sprout

Serious question:

Would you be happy if your blog ranked in search engines as well as Quick Sprout does?

I am sure 99% of bloggers would be ecstatic.

But you’d have to travel down a long road if you want to achieve that.

However, I can show you what you need to do if you’re willing to put in the work.

Obviously, I aim to produce top notch content, but the biggest ranking factor, as you might know, is the number and quality of backlinks a blog has. 

And Quick Sprout has a ton of links:

By taking a closer look at the links, you can develop a strategy so that one day, your blog can have similar types, quantities, and quality of links.

We’re going to look at actual links here: I want to get as specific as possible so that you leave this post with a specific link building strategy in mind.

In order to make it as actionable as possible, I picked one of my posts to break down in great detail. We’ll examine The Advanced Guide to SEO.

It has 842 referring domains and 2,690 links overall.

Not surprisingly, it ranks #1 for searches like “advanced guide to SEO”:

And it ranks highly for even vaguely related searches like “SEO guide”:

That post alone gets more traffic than most blogs get in total, so it’s a good one to conduct our analysis on.

Here’s what I did for the analysis:

1. downloaded all the backlink data that Ahrefs had on each of the URLs
2. removed the bottom 80% of links (according to the Pareto principle, the top 20% of links will produce 80% of the results)
3. removed any leftover spam or nonsensical links (about 10% of the remaining links)
4. categorized each link by type

After doing all that, which took a while, I ended up with the following results:

This by itself is very useful.

The vast majority of quality links to the page are from blog posts, resource pages, and, to a lesser extent, forum posts.

Clearly, those types of links are most abundant, so basing your link strategy on them would be a great idea.

What I want to do for the rest of this post is to break down each type of link, explain what they are (if it’s not obvious), and show you how you can get them yourself.

Some are easy, some are hard.

You don’t necessarily have to get all the types of links in the same proportions to rank well, but the more you get, the better.

Type #1 – Links in blog posts

Again, 61.4% of the links to my guide were from blog posts.

Now, I kept the definition of a blog post pretty broad, including both short—500-word—articles and massive guides.

Here’s an example of a guide on Smart Passive Income that links to my guide.

And here’s a link in a short Search Engine Watch article.

Both were counted equally here.

These links are as good as you can get:

• they have diverse and natural anchor text
• they are typically on fairly authoritative domains/pages
• they are contextual (appear naturally within the content)
• they are highly relevant

It makes sense that a post of mine with hundreds of great blog post links would rank so well.

How to get blog links for your posts: Sometimes, getting links from blog posts is a chicken and egg problem.

If you dive into the links to my SEO guide, it’s quite clear that some writers just Googled something like “advanced SEO guide” and linked to the top result.

This is why I’ll continue to get more links to that page even though I’ve stopped promoting it long ago.

However, there are ways to get the rest of those links (which make up the majority).

The most straightforward is cold outreach.

Compile a list of bloggers in your niche (Google variations of “(niche) bloggers”, and use tools such as Buzzsumo:

Then, send them an email telling them about your content and why it’s special.

From here, it’s just a numbers game.

You can typically get about a 5% email-to-link ratio.

If you want 140 links, you’d need to send out emails to 2,800 bloggers.

That’s a lot but possible.

However, like I said, many of those 140 links came after my page was already ranking—let’s say half (or 70).

Considering that you won’t need as many to rank for most terms, you can aim to get about 35 blog links with an initial push.

That brings the number of emails you need to send to 700.

That’s still a lot and will require some digging, but if you want to achieve great rankings, you have to be willing to put in more work than others.

The good news is that this changes over time.

As you build relationships with bloggers in your niche, they will start linking to you naturally in their posts. Or you can just shoot them a quick, friendly email, asking them to include a specific link whenever they can.

Type #2 – Resource collections

The results of the analysis of this SEO guide will differ a bit from an analysis of any other post on Quick Sprout.

That’s because the SEO guide is truly an educational resource.

Even though my other posts are also educational, they wouldn’t be considered “resources,” which is a special distinction given to the most thorough pieces of content.

But because it is, about 20.6% of the links to my guide came from resource pages.

These pages have large collections of the best resources on different topics (usually marketing and business in this case).

Here’s an example:

They’re not as good as blog post links, but they still have a few things going for them:

• the pages often have a lot of authority
• the pages are highly relevant because the links are grouped with similar resources

The downside is that you’re sharing that link authority with often 50+ other pages.

Getting resource page links: Some you will get naturally if you start to rank well or get discussed a lot on social media.

However, you can almost always email the person who created the list and ask to be included.

A short email like this will get a good conversion rate:

Subject: Your resource page for (topic)

Hi (name),

I came across your resource page on (site) and learned about many new great tools. In particular, I’ve already started using (resource #1) and (resource #2) from your list.

So, thank you for that.

On top of that, I wanted to let you know about one more resource. Full disclosure: I created it.

It’s called (name and link to the resource).

The reason it’s so special, and deserves to be alongside those other great resources, is because (give 1-2 sentence description of the best feature).

I just wanted you to be aware of it.

Thanks for your time!

(your name)

I encourage you to spend 10-15 minutes actually going through some resources on their list instead of faking interest. Authenticity will get you a much higher success rate at getting links.

Type #3 – Forum posts

Third on the list were forum posts, which made up about 8% of the links.

These links were mainly found on forums like the Warrior Forum and Reddit, like this one:

These types of links are:

• contextual
• highly relevant
• have good anchor diversity

But typically, they aren’t on high authority pages.

It doesn’t mean they’re not useful, but I wouldn’t spend too much time trying to get them.

How to get forum links: If you create something great and promote it well, it will get talked about in forums without you having to ever target them specifically.

However, if you want to ensure that you get links from forums, or you just want more, you can post on them yourself.

The key part of doing this is actually becoming a part of the forum. You should regularly post and become a part of the community; otherwise, members will think you’re just a spammer.

When the time comes and you release a post, you can make a few postings in different but appropriate sections of the forum, saying something along the lines of:

“I noticed that a lot of people struggle with (topic). I spent about 20 hours putting together a step-by-step guide to (doing something).”

Then, you post most of the body text in your opening and include a link back to your actual post before or after it.

That’s the safe way to do it.

Type #4 – Social media

It’s clear that while Ahrefs is one of the best backlink collectors, they have some work to do with social media.

My analysis showed about 2% of links came from social media, or just 5 links.

Considering it’s been shared hundreds of times on various social media platforms, it’s clear that Ahrefs missed some.

Regardless, these are fairly low quality links (in terms of SEO, not traffic) and likely didn’t affect rankings much.

I still think it’s a great idea to promote content on social media (which can lead to other types of links as well). I’ve written about this topic many times in the past. Here are a few of my best resources to follow if you want more social media links:

• Stop Guessing: Here’s a Social Media Strategy That Works
• Social Media Marketing Made Simple: A Step-by-Step Guide
• Launch Your Social Strategy

Type #5 – Guest posts

There are a select few sites that I regularly guest-post on.

When I do, I look for opportunities to link to my best content (when it’s appropriate and of course no-follow these links).

For example, I linked to the post in question in a post I wrote for Entrepreneur.com.

While I didn’t purposely try to link to my SEO guide beforehand, I’ve linked to it 5 times by chance over time.

If you need help getting guest-post opportunities, start with these posts I’ve written:

• Guest-Posting on Steroids: A 4-Step Blueprint That the Top Guest Posters Use
• 7 Lessons Learned from Publishing 300 Guest Posts
• Advanced Guest Posting

When you link out from guest posts (and no-follow the links) other people see them and naturally find your pages, share your content on the social web and even link to it from their site.

Type #6 – Podcast/Interview

Another solid type of link is a link from a podcast notes page or an interview (which may not always be on a podcast).

I’ve spoken on a few different podcasts and often mention my SEO guide.

When you mention something, the host will put a link on the podcast notes page:

It’s easy to get the links you want once you’re on a podcast. The tough part is getting people to want to talk to you.

Below are a couple of resources that can help you get interviewed.

First, “How to Become the Person Everyone Wants to Interview”, which I wrote a few years ago.

Secondly, refer to tactic #4 of this post, which just about anyone can put into action right away.

Type #7 – Roundup

I also got a few links from expert roundups for this post.

In a typical expert roundup, someone will put the same question to a bunch of “experts” and post all the answers.

I don’t think anyone has ever had a problem with an answer that includes a few links.

Even mid-level bloggers get contacted to do these often, but if you’re not there yet, or want more, you can easily get included.

All you need to do is search for “(niche) expert roundup,” and make a list of all the ones you find.

Then, contact the creators with a message along the lines of:

Subject: Expert roundup on (site)

Hi (name),

I saw your expert roundup on (topic) today, and I think it turned out really well (shared on Twitter!).

If you’re planning to do any in the future, I’d love to be included.

I’m a (quick explanation why you’re an expert – include impressive metrics if possible).

Also, let me know if you need a bit of help promoting anything. I’m happy to share a great piece of content.

Cheers,

(your name)

No hard pitch required. The main thing most roundup creators are looking for are social shares and traffic, and you’re offering to help with that.

Type #8 – Image site

This is an extremely simple link to get, and you don’t even have to create it yourself.

When you create “epic” content, I hope you’re considering design.

And if you are, you’re probably not hiring a cheap designer off Fiverr.

When you hire a talented designer who wants to do great work, they also tend to want to show it off.

Most graphic designers have accounts on sites such as Behance and Dribbble, which are both authoritative sites.

For example, many images from my advanced guides have been shown off on these sites. Here’s a page with a link to my advanced guide to SEO.

If you specifically want these kinds of links, you could always encourage your designer to post them around even though they will likely do it on their own.

Conclusion

The great thing about this analysis is that you don’t have to take my word for it. If you have an Ahrefs or Majestic account, you can do this analysis on your own.

And not just for Quick Sprout, but for competitors in your specific niche.

From this analysis, you know the types of links you need to have to rank well, really well, for even competitive searches.

You also know how to get them.

The only thing left to do is go get them and reap the rewards.

Do you have any questions about the analysis or ways of getting each type of link? Leave them below in the comments section.

Source Quick Sprout http://ift.tt/1MvTxbr