Personal Finance

Learn How to Kickstart Your Freelance Career in our - BizChats Twitter Chat

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOU6sgSTs2xBI3WdBehwxep75n2kCW6sRtnkA21MiUNodH9rE3305w93_JP4Pl2Ap8hFPfeelvnID8LF8GPv2JhghhQc4U-5bBd3UFEHd4r9deX_j5jjIu8rE-zI39-X63earRrSs5TLEn/s1600/yhgf877t8joi%255Bui90u798.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOU6sgSTs2xBI3WdBehwxep75n2kCW6sRtnkA21MiUNodH9rE3305w93_JP4Pl2Ap8hFPfeelvnID8LF8GPv2JhghhQc4U-5bBd3UFEHd4r9deX_j5jjIu8rE-zI39-X63earRrSs5TLEn/s400/yhgf877t8joi%255Bui90u798.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It's no secret that freelancing is a growing trend that is giving professionals the freedom to not only break their 9-to-5 routines, but also allow an approach to business in a very independent angle.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
More people interested in the freelance track means more questions - from how to begin a career in freelance to its sustainability as a living. We're here to help.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
SEE ALSO: How to Make Freelancing Work for You</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Inspired by our recent story on digital nomads, our first - BizChats Twitter chat will be focused on the basics of freelancing on Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 2 p.m. ET.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
You can follow Mash Business and participate in the chat using the hashtag - Biz Chats. We look forward to hearing your questions!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.</div>

Learn How to Kickstart Your Freelance Career in our - BizChats Twitter Chat

It's no secret that freelancing is a growing trend that is giving professionals the freedom to not only break their 9-to-5 routines,...

10:00 AM

Touring London Art and Tech Scenes

<div style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0.75em; text-align: justify;">
London and Austin share a deep love of music, ingenuity and technology – the perfect traits to host <em>Mashable</em> and British Airways' #CurioCity contest winners.</div>
<div class="fb-quote fb_iframe_widget" fb-iframe-plugin-query="app_id=122071082108&container_width=949&href=http%3A%2F%2Fmashable.com%2F2014%2F11%2F19%2Fcuriocity-winners-tour-london%2F%23C0S0ujorAZqZ&locale=en_US&sdk=joey" fb-xfbml-state="rendered" style="display: inline-block; left: 428px; margin-bottom: 2rem; position: absolute; top: 811px;">
<span style="display: inline-block; height: 47px; position: relative; text-align: justify; vertical-align: bottom; width: 169px;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" class="" frameborder="0" height="1000px" name="f29e0075eb4cdd4" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/quote.php?app_id=122071082108&channel=http%3A%2F%2Fstaticxx.facebook.com%2Fconnect%2Fxd_arbiter%2Fr%2FLJ9CfGDsgQ7.js%3Fversion%3D42%23cb%3Df8e02330f5d9%26domain%3Dmashable.com%26origin%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fmashable.com%252Ff38f0789ea8e8c4%26relation%3Dparent.parent&container_width=949&href=http%3A%2F%2Fmashable.com%2F2014%2F11%2F19%2Fcuriocity-winners-tour-london%2F%23C0S0ujorAZqZ&locale=en_US&sdk=joey" style="border-style: none; border-width: initial; height: 47px; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 169px;" title="fb:quote Facebook Social Plugin" width="1000px"></iframe></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0.75em; text-align: justify;">
To celebrate the airline's new direct route between London and Austin, <em>Mashable</em> and British Airways challenged the Austin community to tweet their most groundbreaking ideas for how to explore a new city. Five lucky winners were invited to join us in London to tour the most up-and-coming sites of one of the most historic cities in the world.</div>

Touring London Art and Tech Scenes

London and Austin share a deep love of music, ingenuity and technology – the perfect traits to host Mashable and British Airways' #Cu...

9:56 AM

10 Holiday Marketing Trends Every Small Business Should Leverage

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMwL4gx5b2YSrMDYW2Weav9w_ujRk769q-IVE6uMRgYPn19GUqdJev3qspq7Ax3EFspBiCEl59PMw_YRVHaDo13y2qTuU0wC_Aa2_BPHVtzFkUtelS3hz1YEykua5fTSLI7V7wtzxLAGs/s1600/uiye8964w-u9y.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMwL4gx5b2YSrMDYW2Weav9w_ujRk769q-IVE6uMRgYPn19GUqdJev3qspq7Ax3EFspBiCEl59PMw_YRVHaDo13y2qTuU0wC_Aa2_BPHVtzFkUtelS3hz1YEykua5fTSLI7V7wtzxLAGs/s400/uiye8964w-u9y.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It's that time of year again: The first hint of frost is in the air, the conversations are turning to turkey and gift-giving, and holiday puns are dancing like sugarplums in the minds of social media managers everywhere.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Small business owners already have a lot on their plates during this time of year, so when it comes to holiday marketing, it can all feel a bit overwhelming. Staples is here to help. Beyond being the one-stop shop for everything small businesses need to make more happen, below are some tips to help small businesses capitalize on this season's top trends.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
1. Don't ignore retail's most infamous Monday...</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
There is a reason that Cyber Monday is so popular: Everyone loves a good deal. And online shopping can be done from home, the office or on the go.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
How SMBs can take advantage: Ensure that your business's website (both desktop and mobile) is optimized for user experience in the weeks leading up to the big day, and be sure your site can handle the extra traffic if you're offering significant discounts. Having a mobile website or app is key for snagging shoppers who will be browsing exclusively from smartphones or tablets. Consider updating your technology for the season to ensure your small business is running smoothly. Staples can help with EasyTech™ services, the latest technology and upgrades to improve productivity.</div>

10 Holiday Marketing Trends Every Small Business Should Leverage

It's that time of year again: The first hint of frost is in the air, the conversations are turning to turkey and gift-giving, and ho...

9:51 AM

Cutting Down the Number-one Stress Factor for Small Business Owners

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje7rvNt_nZhiMk_VO4ZjCkr9md-xl4MwhZn8GPV1XOJjVT9djKHkA3GVtyv5JiDe4wq0mFgwjT4b0yEb3mYOr36wW-_H9TLYzHy4z7nySd3FBL29fIazbrZ4z6lnZTFP1t70nKSgEwi2Ve/s1600/uiy9t7r9p97p9p9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje7rvNt_nZhiMk_VO4ZjCkr9md-xl4MwhZn8GPV1XOJjVT9djKHkA3GVtyv5JiDe4wq0mFgwjT4b0yEb3mYOr36wW-_H9TLYzHy4z7nySd3FBL29fIazbrZ4z6lnZTFP1t70nKSgEwi2Ve/s400/uiy9t7r9p97p9p9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
The thrill of starting a business is a tantalizing prospect, and pursuing a passion often means that a job doesn’t feel like work. The dream of self-made success has the potential for high reward — but the struggle<br />
<br />
can be all too real for those who become their own boss.<br />
<br />
SEE ALSO: Why your small biz should abandon spreadsheets for a more sophisticated financial management system<br />
<br />
Intuit QuickBooks recently surveyed Canadian entrepreneurs and discovered some surprising revelations about their top stress factors, as well as what they love about owning their own businesses. We dig into some of these findings below and explore a few time-tested ways to handle the biggest day-to-day stressors small business owners (SBOs) experience.<br />
<br />
The upside of entrepreneurship<br />
Perhaps surprisingly, most SBOs don't embark on entrepreneurial endeavors for financial incentives.

Cutting Down the Number-one Stress Factor for Small Business Owners

The thrill of starting a business is a tantalizing prospect, and pursuing a passion often means that a job doesn’t feel like work. The dr...

9:46 AM

How Brands Can Take Advantage of Virtual Reality

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6mbgKMPIsW8tKgS4gv527tOo7AuB8AeQ4MbVrr6gM6gLU7bWA1sGvD4BOsuMLZMmKtaEkZJ76gx9dt3pYjvFKKKcA8tqnlTa6fjg-XNlDqLvCxKwUbtX9DM3rbTIyZ0o0DFV408rhp8Dc/s1600/ytr67i67.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6mbgKMPIsW8tKgS4gv527tOo7AuB8AeQ4MbVrr6gM6gLU7bWA1sGvD4BOsuMLZMmKtaEkZJ76gx9dt3pYjvFKKKcA8tqnlTa6fjg-XNlDqLvCxKwUbtX9DM3rbTIyZ0o0DFV408rhp8Dc/s400/ytr67i67.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Virtual reality (VR) is all the rage. Premium publishers like USA Today, the New York Times, and AOL are jumping on the bandwagon to prepare.<br />
<br />
Google is working on a VR version of Chrome. NBC and Samsung are broadcasting the summer Olympics in VR. Hulu, Crackle, Jaunt, and Within (formerly known as VRse) already have dedicated apps, or “theaters,” where viewers can consume massive amounts of VR content.<br />
<br />
Other media powerhouses and film studios including Live Nation, Vice Media, 21st Century Fox, and the Walt Disney Company are placing big bets on VR with large scale investments.<br />
<br />
But when will brand dollars move to VR, and what moves should marketers be thinking about making now?

How Brands Can Take Advantage of Virtual Reality

Virtual reality (VR) is all the rage. Premium publishers like USA Today, the New York Times, and AOL are jumping on the bandwagon to prep...

9:42 AM

Tips For Keeping Your Small Business

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_p_OYXyH0AOYowW_CMvIqeuDA8tjUs8L4UmerCvhSNkJkd67h-gqhl2yEh1ntHyIyqJin6Hxlo9bm4JlxwlGMKJ40r5jnNhuc4N4tXzgi2_QmUZTlf1FrcVASFAxCDOOWl8V8vDiAqEJi/s1600/gfyu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_p_OYXyH0AOYowW_CMvIqeuDA8tjUs8L4UmerCvhSNkJkd67h-gqhl2yEh1ntHyIyqJin6Hxlo9bm4JlxwlGMKJ40r5jnNhuc4N4tXzgi2_QmUZTlf1FrcVASFAxCDOOWl8V8vDiAqEJi/s400/gfyu.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The nature of small business ownership is changing fast.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Whereas a simple storefront and couple friendly smiles would've been enough to get you by a decade ago, success these days can often be boiled down to the strength of your digital presence.<br />
<br />
Customers expect a lot – from easy-to-use websites, to intuitive mobile experiences, to e-commerce and all-important social media integrations – and that's why it's never been more important to bring your company up to speed.<br />
<br />
Check out the videos below to learn how other entrepreneurs approach digitization, and get inspired for your own ventures.

Tips For Keeping Your Small Business

The nature of small business ownership is changing fast. Whereas a simple storefront and couple friendly smiles would've been enou...

9:36 AM