Here, we look at ways that you can earn extra cash on a part-time basis.

 Consider freelancing

Advances in the use of the internet have resulted in growing opportunities for freelancers. As you’ll essentially be your own boss, you can pick and choose when and how often you want to work. Many people have forged successful freelancing careers in copywriting, web development, graphic design, and everything in between. It can be difficult to get it off the ground, but it can bring massive amounts of personal satisfaction, alongside the flexibility that you’ve been looking for.

Sign up to an agency

It’s the job of an agency to match candidates with positions, and there’s every possibility that you could find flexible work. They could have everything from Glasgow staff nurse jobs on a part-time basis, to full-time roles in IT. Seek out agencies online and in your local area.

Become an Ebay seller

You might be surprised to know that some people make very healthy incomes from selling on Ebay. Though you might want to start by just selling a few items after a spring clean, there’s massive potential for turning it into something more sustainable. You could source products offline and sell them on for a profit, or even develop your own items yourself. It takes just minutes to create your listings.

Become a mystery shopper

Mystery shopping is big business, and the nature of the work means that you can usually do it at times to suit you. It usually involves making a purchase in a store, then reporting back about your experience. You can find these jobs online, and you’ll be amazed by just how many are available.

Seek out businesses that offer job sharing

More and more businesses are coming up with ways to attract top talent, and job sharing is one of these. If there is a full-time position that you think you’d be a great match for, contact the company and ask if they’d consider offering it on a job share basis. This basically means that you’ll work part-time alongside another part-time employee, sharing the same tasks and dividing your workload.

Are you looking for part-time ways to earn extra money? Which of these sound most appealing to you?

By research, this means researching a number of areas. You need to know all about the market you’re entering, your competitors and where you can fit into it.

Market research is a catch-all phrase that can be broken down into subsections. First of all, it means making sure there is a market for your product or service. Are people searching the web for what you offer or intend to offer? If you’re investing in bricks and mortar, is the footfall high enough to justify your position? When investigating the former, get yourself a free Google AdWords account and look into the search terms that people are using in your area to get an indication of demand. If setting up premises, simply count the number of people who pass in an hour or a day to get an idea of you potential customer base. These are both really simple exercises but invaluable in judging whether there is enough demand for your offering.

Secondly, market research is finding out who else is already trading in your market and how they are doing. There are free services out there that allow you to search Companies House direct, meaning that there is no excuse for not knowing the ins and outs of your competitors and their business. Sometimes called competitive intelligence, doing an assessment of your potential competitors through their freely available financial records and also through analysis of their website, products and services is essential to any start up.

The third part of your research is an extension of the first two. You know your potential customers and you know your potential competitors – now you need to work out exactly where you fit within the market. Doing some gap analysis of where competitors are failing to solve customers’ problems will allow you to find your initial niche. Always remember that although you may be in love with your original idea, you have to allow research to point you in the correct direction, even if it is not where you initially thought you would go. Research is no good if you do not act on what you learn from it.

Make research your mantra not only when setting up your business but also as you grow and develop – information is power and you need to make sure you have the most up-to-date and relevant research to hand at all times.

I have been making money blogging for over two years now and can honestly say that it is one of the best things I have done. Making money online gives me the flexibility to spend my time doing other stuff and still being able to make a regular income. A lot of people give up on making money online after the first month when they do not see any profit coming in; making money online is not going to happen over night and for me it took nearly 3 months before I started to make money.

Start a blog

Blogging is not the easiest way to make money online but is definitely one of the most exciting and eventually profitable and some blogs make thousands every month. Starting a blog will involve you dedicating your time to write regular posts that people want to read. The best thing to do when starting a blog is to pick a topic that you are interested in and not just blog to make money as you will soon lose interest and give up without making a penny.

There are a number of ways to make  money blogging including : Sponsored posts, freelance blogging, sidebar advertisements and affiliate marking. You will find though that different methods work best for different blogs such as affiliate marketing often works best when reviewing products.

Sponsored Tweeting

With the rise of social networking over the last few years, sponsored tweeting is fairly new and can prove rather profitable. Sponsored tweeting involves building a large following on Twitter of thousand of followers and then Tweeting sponsored posts for people. A lot of people create entertaining profiles such as parody accounts as they usually build a large following easiest. There are a number of websites for sponsored Tweeting that will pay you for the amount of clicks that you get on the link of each Tweet.

Online gambling

Online gambling in internet casinos is a popular and entertaining way to make money without leaving the house. You will need some money to get started but gambling can often prove profitable so it is well worth signing up to an internet casino today to see how lucky you are. There is a range of different games that you can play in internet casinos including Poker and Horse Betting.

Freelance your skills

If you have skills in a particular area then you can use these to easily boost your online income. There is always people looking for freelancers online who can complete their work quickly and get the job done without any fuss. Writing and design is often very popular when freelancing but can also be competitive so you need to make yourself standout.There is a load of freelance job boards on the internet and I personally like People Per Hour.

Sell your photos

People are always looking for good quality photographs to use in their design work,especially web designers as they often need specific photos for their projects. With the high quality of smartphones such as the iPhone 5 these days you can easily take pictures on the move and sell them on stock photography websites. With the millions of photos available on stock photography websites you need to have a good eye for great photos if you want them to sell.

SocialLink currently works with major social networks such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter which I was impressed with as I often see a lot of social media applications that tend to miss out Instagram and LinkedIn. At first you need to set up your social media accounts with the SocialLink application. Once you have done this you can search using Bluetooth for nearby devices to connect to and then select the social networks that you which to connect on.

The interface of the SocialLink is minimalistic and professional. All of the steps are easy to follow and you do not need to be an expert to use SocialLink. What I liked is the small number of steps that it took for me to get set-up with SocialLink and start connecting with friends. The interface has a Link button on that you use to connect with other devices once you are set-up on the app. When you press this your device starts to search for nearby devices to connect to so that you can begin connecting. There is also an Email option which allows you to instantly send an email to someone not using the app; the email will also include a link for the recipient to download SocialLink to their device.

For me I can imagine this app being most useful when I am out in places such as restaurants or conferences and want to connect with friends on social networks. The main advantage for me will be how time-saving the app is as I will not need to waste time searching through social networks to connect with my friends which can often be difficult when using a mobile.

The SocialLink application is FREE to download from the app store now and the current version is 1.3. SocialLink is compatible iOS 5.1 onwards and is also iPhone 5 optimised so iPhone 5 users can get the benefit of using the full length of the screen.

Get SocialLink

Pack Up the Paper and Go Green

Image via Flickr by susanaudrey

Paper products are expensive, but printer paper and business cards aren’t the biggest money-suckers. While it’s a good idea to stem that flow by going green and taking everything online, your biggest losses will come from stamps, envelopes, and shipping costs. The cost of shipping is up by as much as 4.9 percent, meaning that every item you ship out costs big. Adding to that, stamps are now $0.44 and a standard envelope is about $1.69.

You can’t stop shipping if that’s part of your business but you can start trying to recycle packing paper. You can also invest in a postage machine for the office, so you’ll never spend more on stamps than you actually need. Wherever you can go green, do so; business cards, newsletters, and coupons should go paperless.

Downgrade When You Upgrade

You need phones and computers to successfully run your business; it doesn’t matter what you do. If, however, you’re spending all your money on the latest, greatest computers, software programs, and smartphones, you’re wasting valuable resources. When it’s time to get new computers or get a new contract, stop and think. Instead of buying all new desktops or expensive laptops, turn to netbooks. They’re small, efficient, and ideal for businesses that won’t keep a lot of superfluous programs on them. Rather than renewing a contract and upgrading to the newest phone, get a pay-as-you-go. They’re just as high-tech but cost less.

Waste Not, Want Not with Power

Would you ever leave the lights burning in your home? Would you go to bed at night without checking to make sure the computers were off, the lights were out, and the heat was at a steady, energy-efficient temperature? Lots of business owners skip those habits in their offices. If that’s one of your bad habits as well, your money is probably flying out right along with that wasted electricity. It’s both financially and environmentally inefficient.

While making a conscious effort to shut down everything when you leave, make some changes as well. Switch to energy-saving light bulbs and think about making a one-time purchase for environmentally friendly appliances.

Track Your Spending Habits

In addition to keeping a close eye on where your money’s going, you need to comparison shop for everything. A going-over of your finances might just find that you’re routinely late on credit or loan payments, for instance, which lead to growing interest costs. Think about getting caught up all at once by checking out Liquid Loans how-to, where you might find that a one-time cash advance gets you caught up completely.

As you’re going over the details, make sure your vendors give you the best prices. If they don’t, ask about how you can save or simply start shopping for new vendors. You may also discover that there are costs you can ditch entirely.

You’re trying to make money for yourself and your employees, and small changes can radically increase your profits. Where do you think you waste the most money?

Motor on with Mazda6

Image Via Flickr by Karlis Dambrans

The Mazda6 has been a favourite car for UK companies for many years, and with good reason. It’s always performed reliably and looked smart on the road. However the latest model should be especially attractive to employers looking to take advantage of the British government’s new tax breaks for green vehicles. Clever SKYACTIV technology boosts engine efficiency and lowers your carbon footprint. The 148bhp diesel model is the most eco-friendly, with emissions as tiny as 108g/km.

Vauxhall Adam Has Its Own Sense of Style

With a name as playful as the Adam, it’s unsurprising that this new Vauxhall has plenty of personality. With your choice of trim, steering wheel style, decals, and much more, you can create an Adam to really reflect your company’s corporate image. There are no diesel options, but the 1.2 litre petrol engine still has small emissions of around 118g/km.

BMW 320d Sees You Traveling in Style

Image Via Flickr by M93

If it’s luxury you’re after, it’s difficult to go past the BMW 320d. This car earned the prestigious title of 2012 Business Car of the Year at the Best Business Car Awards for its affordable running costs, reliability, style, and sustainability.

This is the kind of car that will impress your clients when you arrive at a business luncheon. It drives like a dream and can comfortably sit four well-sized adults. ECO PRO and enhanced EfficientDynamics modes help this Series 3 BMW keep its carbon footprint down to a low 119g/km. Visit the Big Motoring World Forums to learn how this trusted car dealership can get you behind the wheel of this luxury ride.

Range Rover Evoque Oozes Functionality and Reliability

Image via Wikipedia Commons

The Range Rover Evoque is another prestige vehicle worthy of its accolades. It was named 2012′s Best Company Car for SME Business Owners at last year’s Business Car Manager SME Company Car of the Year Awards for its blend of luxury and affordability.

The Evoque has a slightly smaller body than most Range Rover models, but it’s got the balance right. You won’t feel cramped inside, but you won’t wear high running costs either. With carbon emissions at 149g/km you won’t enjoy the clean car tax breaks of the other models on the list, but the fuel consumption of just 49.6mpg should be some consolation.

Isuzu D-Max Gets the Job Done

If you’re in the construction or agriculture industries, you’ll need a vehicle that can transport more than colleagues and clients. The Isuzu D-Max is one of the most impressive pick-up trucks on the market with robust performance on- and off-road and low running costs. It can easily carry 1,000 kilos and it has a braked towing capacity of 3,000 kg.

If you’re still not convinced, perhaps the five-year / 120,000-mile transferable warranty will allay any concerns. Warranties like this are unheard of in the British pick-up sector, and proof positive of Isuzu’s confidence in the vehicle.

No matter what your business, you should find one of the cars above is the perfect addition to your fleet.

Company logos are often placed on anything that belongs to the business which are presented to the public as part of a promotional strategy e.g. a delivery van – the theory being the more exposure your branding has, the more likely it is going to be remembered.

They also have a place on any promotional material that the company produces like a poster, a leaflet, or in this case business cards that have a similar or identical appearance to the primary logo unless if a particular product/ service being promoted intends to have a separate identity, for example BMW produces Mini Coopers but they never acknowledge this fact on any of the Mini’s promotional materials.

Creating a Logo for Your Business Cards

The DIY Business Owner

In an effort to save money and time many new startups and small business owners attempt to create their company logos themselves. This can often lead to poor results, such as the company name in an uninspiring stock font like below:

The problem with this approach is that it completely fails to identify what the company is all about i.e. what it sells, whether its a b2b or b2c business, and what the personality of the company is e.g. family-oriented, formal. Additionally, it shows that the company has a lack of imagination suggesting that doing business with them could be a plain and dull experience.

If you are adamant on creating your own logo then we recommend checking out this very informative video on logo design first:

On the other hand if you’re looking to focus on the operations of your business and want to outsource the design of your business card’s logo to specialists, there are 3 main channels that we recommend which can be a far lower in cost in some cases.

Fiverr

Fiverr is a great website where creatively-skilled individuals offer their services in exchange for just $5 which is around £3.50. You can buy any service on this website from customer testimonials to website design and more.

Navigating through the website you can find Logo Design services under the Graphics & Design section of the site and browse through the profiles of each graphic designer to find one that meets your expectations.

Many designers are able to provide you with a custom logo, ready for print, web or other applications within hours of receiving your design brief so you can benefit from having a logo that is ready for the printers very quickly.

Like any new service you haven’t tried before, you might be curious as to whether or not you’ll be wasting your money by investing in this site, however, Simon Hawtin’s experience of hiring a logo designer on Fiverr might help quash your fears of trying it out: http://econsultancy.com/uk/blog/62355-how-to-get-a-professional-logo-for-3-46.

At the cost of a coffee Fiverr is well worth trying out!

Behance.net

Behance is a creative community where designers showcase their work, which allows you to categorise it into different creative fields e.g. photography, illustration, graphic design, etc. For business owners looking for a business card logo you will want to browse the graphic design section or carry out a search for “logo”.

To find a designer that is close to home you can further categorise the search results by Country and City if you are concerned on the location of the logo designer you outsource to.

Once you’ve found a graphic designer whose previous work appeals to you, you can contact them by clicking on the message button underneath their name. Alternatively you can visit the website on their portfolio if they have one and message them via email if they have the option to do so.

The benefit of finding a logo designer through Behance is that you can see whether or not their previous work fits your requirements before contacting them which saves time compared to navigating through separate websites.

Business Card Printing Companies

Many professional printing companies that offer business cards also have in-house graphic design teams that are able to provide their customers with a high quality logo that is transferrable from print to online so you can use it for more than just your business card design e.g. social media, websites, etc.

By approaching a printing company for your business card logo you will benefit from ensuring that your logo will be produced at the best quality possible because that company produces print 24/7. Some also produce the logo at no extra cost to the print, which is ideal considering you’d be ordering business cards from a professional printing company anyway.

To increase the speed at which you have your logo created you should try using a printer that has a quick turnaround time e.g. there are some printers in the UK that can turn print jobs around in just 24 hours with great results.

Summary

In conclusion, there are 3 main avenues that small business owners can approach for quick, low cost business card logo creation – all of which would also be useful for other marketing materials that are both online and offline.

Try one of our suggestions and let us know if it works for you in the comments below.

12. Double-Shipping Items

When a customer buys a large amount of a certain item, it’s usually more cost-effective to have the package shipped directly from the manufacturer and not from the retailer. Evaluate the types of orders that you’re filling and avoid double-shipping as often as possible, so you don’t have to pay both to receive the item in your warehouse, and to send it off again.

11. Relying on a Single Carrier

You may use a single carrier out of a misplaced belief that this makes the shipping process easier. This type of shipping quickly becomes habit, but it isn’t the best way to do business. Carefully look at the path that each item is taking and find the least expensive way to get from points A to B to C. In many cases, you’ll find it’s cheaper to use hybrid-shipping options, such as using a private carrier for the first half of the journey and the U.S. Postal Service for the last leg.

10. Offering Free Shipping at any Price Point

Free shipping becomes costly in a hurry if you’re offering it for each purchase. A more effective strategy is to offer free shipping only when a certain price point has been reached. Determine what the average customer spends in your online store and increase this by 10 to 15 percent. This encourages customers to buy more to get the free shipping, thus increasing your average per-customer sales. Most online shoppers are happy to add a few extra items to their order if it means they can avoid shipping fees, even when the cost of the items exceeds that of the shipping.

9. Using Paper Instead of Electronic Options

Some shipping companies offer discounts for customers who forego certain parts of the paper process for electronic confirmations, receipts, and more. When possible, look for discounts like these when to lower your shipping expenses. Going paperless is also an eco-friendly move that allows you to promote your company as a green business. There are few disadvantages to using electronic alternatives and tons of benefits associated with this kind of move.

8. Failing to Make Up for the Costs of Shipping

It’s important to recognize that offering free shipping can significantly increase operational costs. Look for ways to recoup these costs as much as possible. One creative option might be to sell advertising space on your shipping labels or receipts, as long as you’re comfortable exposing your customers to the extra ads. Be creative and look for the best option for your business.

7. Offering International Shipping Without Adequate Research

International shipping is a completely different game from shipping within the country. Before you extend free or discounted shipping to international orders, look carefully into all the associated costs with shipping across borders. Offering discounted shipping for international orders is often a more manageable option than offering shipping that’s completely free.

6. Misunderstanding Flat-Rate Shipping Options

Flat-rate shipping is a great choice for dense, heavy items. However, it ‘s essential for small businesses to compare the price of standard shipping rates with flat-rate shipping. Never assume that the flat rate is the best option. Often, it’s much more expensive.

5. Assuming Shipping Rates are Non-Negotiable

When you’re running a business that ships to customers on a regular basis, you have a lot of negotiating power with shipping companies. Discounts are often available for quantities as small as 100 shipments within a predetermined time frame. Always negotiate for the lowest price so you can make the biggest profit possible, even with free customer shipping offers.

4. Failure to Examine Possible Shipping Supplies

Shipping supplies are another area where companies can easily fall into a routine without much thought to cost effectiveness. Evaluate your shipping supplies often to make sure you’re using the most efficient and cost-effective options. Consider a recyclable air cushion for environmental respect to keep delicate items safe without adding a lot of weight. Eco-friendly shipping materials also promote your company’s reputation as a green business.

3. Using Free Shipping as the Only Promotional Offer

Free shipping is undoubtedly effective, but it isn’t the only option. Consider offering your customers a choice between free shipping and receiving a smaller discount from their order. In the long run, your customers will probably still choose the shipping, but they’ll appreciate having the option.

2. Forgetting to Tell the Customers What They’re Saving

When you offer free shipping, it’s essential to show your customers the actual “dollar value” of what you’re giving them. If you don’t demonstrate this as a special discount in an obvious way, shoppers will begin to take this offer for granted. Make it very clear what your free shipping promotion is saving them so they will fully appreciate this offer.

1. Offering Year-Round Free Shipping

Free shipping isn’t something you necessarily need to offer all year long. If you roll out your free shipping promotion for certain seasons or special campaigns, you’ll have a better chance of increasing customer sales during these promotional periods. If you’re always offering free shipping, it will become something buyers simply take for granted without thinking about it. Use this promotion more sparingly to pad your bottom line and keep customers engaged.

A study of online shoppers who abandoned their shopping carts before completing the purchase revealed that 44% did so because high shipping costs were revealed at the last minute. Using free shipping prudently is an excellent way to increase your sales and encourage buyers to complete the purchasing process for every order.

Fortunately, this is a standard feature of all contract phones on offer these days, so any brand that you go with will provide this service. Aside from all of the amazing features that help your day go a bit easier such as integrating calendars, scheduling your day, using the voice recorded for note taking, and also being able to sync to your desktop, you can also use your mobile phone to actually grow your business.

Internet marketing is very important in this day and age, and connectivity is at the top of the list of a customer’s needs. Facebook pages, twitter accounts and blogs not only provide great advertising and awareness for your business, but they also provide an instant forum for your customers to contact you and be replied to in real time. The most successful businesses are the ones that don’t sleep, and so it is important to keep your customers updated at all times so that they don’t go elsewhere. You can also develop customer loyalty in this way.

For example, you can use your smartphone to ensure that your customers who are part of your mailing list receive information first, and that customers feel that there is someone sitting on the other end of the internet connection, ready to assist. Surveys show that more people browse the internet on their smartphones than they do on a desktop. This information alone provides you with everything you need to know about how important it is to be online at all times.

It is hoped that policy holders will only require the support provided income protection policies for a short period of time before they are able to return to work. If this does happen your benefit will no longer be paid but your cover will continue, if you return to work at a lower rate of pay then you can claim a proportional benefit to make up for any of the money you will lose. It is worth noting that you can claim as many times as is needed upon your policy and that you can claim upon the insurance more than once for the same complaint.

Hospitalisation benefit tends to be covered as part of income protection, this means that if you are admitted to a hospital for a set period which is specified in the policy then you will receive a benefit for each day that you have to stay. Often this can be claimed much earlier than your deferment period however not all policies offer this benefit so it is worth checking.

With many companies changing your occupation will not affect your policy and you are not required to inform them, however it may be worth increasing or decreasing your level of cover if your salary changes.

As with all types of insurance it is worth checking the fine print before purchasing any policy. Many companies, including Endsleigh.co.uk, will send out a key fact sheet with each policy quote to allow you to quickly compare the key features of each policy to allow you to choose the right level of cover for you and your circumstances.