Successful Blog

How E-Signatures Can Help You Go Paperless

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By Jared Jaureguy

In a world that is constantly putting more and more trust in the hands of smartphones, tablets and desktops, one would expect paper to become obsolete. After all, it’s easy to read the news, check your bank account, send emails to clients, and even shop all in the cyber world. However, many companies are reluctant to let go of their reliance on paper. This could be due to the necessity of physical documents in some cases or just lack of willingness to break with a habit.

There are important incentives for going paperless. Among them are faster speeds, better organization, and benefit to the environment. Recent changes in technology, one of them being the growth of the e-signature, have made it much easier for companies and organizations to make the change.

Why go paperless?

One of the biggest reasons is efficiency. Earlier this year, attention was drawn to the Department of Veterans Affairs, when it became obvious how inefficient their system was. Veterans filing claims for disability compensation and other benefits were waiting months and sometimes years for their files to be processed. Investigations into the problem revealed that part of the problem was that almost all of the veteran’s claims were made on paper (97%). Piles and piles of paperwork had built up over the years, making the department incredibly inefficient.

Another reason is organization. Some feel that the old fashioned model of folders and file cabinets is the best way to stay organized. However, papers can easily be misplaced. Stacks of paperwork can build up, making it difficult to find anything. On the contrary, online files can be retrieved immediately.

Companies should also be concerned with the environmental impact their paper hoarding can have. Going digital helps in several ways. It saves trees that provide oxygen to the environment, lessens harmful substances released in paper industry, and reduces fuel consumption in transporting paper products. The U.S. pulp and paper industry is the second largest consumer of energy in the nation. Currently the average American office worker prints close to 10,000 pages per year. Simply deciding to use digital documents when possible can save significant amounts of oil, space, trees and energy.

How e-signatures can help

All companies and organizations use signed documents in their dealings with clients and colleagues. Printing long contracts inevitably generates a lot of paper.

Over ten years ago, the federal government passed a law giving credibility to electronic signatures, protecting them in courts of law. Over the years, the use of e-signatures has grown, as companies have adopted quick and efficient ways of transferring documents. Documents can be sent via email, read by customers (and explained over the phone if necessary), and signed by clicking boxes that show your acceptance of conditions. This method is just as safe, if not safer, than the traditional method. Most companies password protect the documents and store them in secure servers. Some even go as far as to encrypt documents when they receive them, making them virtually impossible to hack. To eliminate the possibility of tampering and fraud, the documents are made available to both parties, so no one can change them after they are signed.

The use of e-signatures is on the rise, with companies continuing to make it an easier process, and integrating them into user friendly formats on social media and personalized websites.

There are many ways that a company can go paperless, from basic email to digital record keeping. However, e-signatures are leading the way and will certainly help companies in the future become more efficient, organized and ecologically friendly.

Author’s Bio: Jared Jaureguy is an entrepreneur and freelance writer who loves all things tech. He writes for many of the top industry websites and loves to stay up-to-date on technology news. You can follow him @jaredjaureguy.

Do You Really Have to Write What You Know?

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By Miranda Marquit

Pretty much every aspiring writer has heard this advice: “Write what you know.”

The logic behind this approach makes sense. A certain expertise and confidence accompanies knowledge, and the words come easier when you write on a familiar topic. But you don’t need to write what you know in order to build a successful blogging business.

It’s especially important to learn how to learn about various topics if you plan to provide content to other blogs. Today, I provide content to dozens of blogs and web sites each month. When I began as a freelance writer and professional blogger, I found that the topics I knew about weren’t in high demand. In order to land more clients, I began writing about things I didn’t know. That flexibility is one of the reasons I have so many clients today.

Approach Blogging Like Journalism

While many journalists eventually settle into specific beats, the reality is that many of those beats aren’t the result of chasing after what the writer “knows.” My journalism background provided me with tools I could apply to blogging, but you don’t need formal training to develop the following skills:

  • Research: It’s possible to find information about almost any topic, thanks to the Internet. If you want to learn to write about something you don’t know, start with a little research. Just make sure that you understand how to separate the wheat from the chaff.
  • Identify reputable sources for your information. When I first started writing about finances, I knew nothing about money management — beyond the fact that I had more debt than I was comfortable with. Research into the world of finances has not only allowed me to write about money, but it has increased my own financial savvy. Now finances fall into the category of “what I know” and I even have my own ideas about money management.
  • Interviews: So, you aren’t an expert on a subject that you’re writing about. Find someone who is! Find an expert to interview, and write a blog post based around his or her viewpoint. One of the easiest ways to find knowledgeable experts is to turn to Help a Reporter Out (HARO). You can offer a query, and you’ll likely get plenty of eligible responses.

With the ability to research, experts to interview, and a willingness to learn, there is no reason to limit yourself, as a writer and a blogger, to what you know. In fact, getting outside your writing box is probably good for you (and your writing business) in the long run.

Expand Your Horizons

Even if you decide to focus mainly on writing what you already know, don’t limit yourself to those topics. Take the time on occasion to write about something you don’t know. It’s a good challenge that will force you to improve your writing skills. Plus, you’ll learn something new, and maybe interview someone interesting that you wouldn’t normally have met.

Too often, we think we can’t do something because it’s different from what we’re used to. Forcing myself to become knowledgeable about a topic I didn’t know turned me into a better writer, a more successful person, and helped me build a successful blogging business. Plus, I like learning new things, so it’s been fun, too.

Author’s Bio: Miranda Marquit is a freelance journalist and professional blogger. She writes about freelancing at MirandaMarquit.com and money at PlantingMoneySeeds.com. She is also the author of Confessions of a Professional Blogger: How I Make Money as an Online Writer. Follow Miranda on Twitter: @MMarquit.

Tax tips for freelancers: is it a business or a hobby?

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By Sharita Hutton

For Chicago based Aubre Andrus, writing is her life. The author of seven children’s books, a blogger, and website copywriter, Andrus calls herself a triple threat when it comes to her work. “I mix marketing savviness with journalistic integrity and creative writing thanks to various positions I’ve held in the past,” Andrus said.

But instead of waking up every morning, and heading into the office, Andrus is finding her roles in media through freelance work and it turns out she is not alone.

It is estimated that there are 42 million people in work operations based on “freelance” principles and the number continues to grow. That is, these workers have a great deal of freedom in how much and when they work, who they work for and what they get paid. The freedom comes to a halt when it comes to taxes because even if just a little extra income is being earned, that money is reportable income. Plus, special reporting rules apply to some freelancers.

“My least favorite part about being a freelancer is dealing with tax-related issues. I dread tax season and I had no idea what to do at first,” Andrus said.

Freelancers need to track what they earn because even if they don’t get a 1099 or W-2, reporting this income is required by law – even when the payment is made in cash. When freelance work becomes the main source of income or a full-time job, income and expenses need to be reported on Schedule C. Also, when freelancing becomes a business, self-employment tax may be owed, along with quarterly, estimated tax payments. An advantage of operating a business is that expenses can directly offset income, which means a freelancer can show a loss.

“I pay quarterly taxes,” Andrus said. “There a lot of decisions freelancers need to make when it comes to finances, and these are decisions that shouldn’t be made on your own.”

H&R Block Tax Professional Riley Holmes has advice for freelancers. “As a small business owner, you are most likely to report your business income in the year you receive it and deduct your expenses in the year in which you pay them. Sometimes it may be advantageous for you to defer some of your billing until the next year, but once you have access to the income you must report it.”

When freelance activities are at the “hobby” level, all related expenses can be deducted as miscellaneous itemized deductions. But, the deduction is limited to the total revenue from that hobby and it is only for the expenses in excess of 2 percent of adjusted income.

The more you operate your business in a professional manner, the more likely the IRS will treat it as a profession rather than a hobby, making it important to

  • Track all income (it is reportable and taxable)
  • Save receipts (you could be able to deduct some expenses)
  • Secure digital and paper records (be sure to back them up, too)
  • Separate bank accounts (makes it easier to keep good records and file accurate tax returns)
  • Know tax rules for business model (it makes a difference if you have a business or a hobby)
Author’s Bio: Sharita Hutton helps bloggers and other entrepreneurs navigate tax issues. For more information about the difference between having a freelance business and a hobby and other tax topics, contact an H&R Block tax professional. To find the nearest H&R Block office, visit www.hrblock.com or call 800-HRBLOCK.

How Bloggers Can Capitalize on the Second Screen Wars

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By Sam Melton

The Internet has changed the way we live.

Many people gravitate to the Internet to do everyday things and to keep entertained. A decade ago, consuming media primarily involved watching TV, but in today’s technologically advanced world, there are dozens of ways to consume media without sitting in front of a television screen. 

Based on studies conducted by eMarketer, 2013 marks the first year in which the amount of time spent online surpassed the amount of time spent watching television.

According to the study, the average person spends five hours and 16 minutes on digital platforms, compared to 4 hours and 31 minutes with television. Not only has the time spent online increased by more than 15% within three years, the time spent watching television has also declined.

The television screen is taking a backseat to the new first screen – the Internet.

The modern individual and multitasking

Life is all about multitasking. Individuals do a myriad of tasks at once, and the Internet helps. Whether it’s to check email on a smartphone, access apps on a tablet, shop from an online store or pay bills, the modern consumer is capable of getting a lot done in a little time. ??The Internet offers a host of media from all around the world, and TV can be limiting. Although consumers still watch plenty of television, statistics show viewership has dropped by 500,000 households since 2012. This number is expected to decline as more people opt for high-speed services from providers such as Verizon FiOS Internet or Google Fiber.

With connections as much as 100 times faster than broadband, streaming has become a more affordable and convenient media option. Internet service replaces the need for television broadcasts because services such as Netflix, Hulu, and Vudu encourage binge-watching and replace the need for TV. 

Two of the most popular activities on the Internet

Just because the average person spends less time watching traditional television programs does not mean TV content is on the decline. With so many streaming services available, content being consumed online is on the rise, while traditional television viewership has fallen.

Although streaming television shows contributes to time spent behind the new first screen, perhaps the most popular activity to date is surfing social media. According to a research study conducted by Ipsos Open Thinking Exchange, the average user between age 18 and 64 spends 3.2 hours on social media sites daily. 

This emerging trend contributes to Internet surpassing television. 

Social media and streaming usage are on the rise, and this contributes to more time spent online. When more time is spent online, it takes away from what the average media consumer can spend watching TV. Although digital television services aren’t putting TV networks out of business, as a whole, the Internet is now the first screen.

How to capitalize as a blogger

Bloggers are well-positioned to take advantage of this shift.

No doubt the allure of the written word draws readership, but we can easily take it a step further.

  • Podcasts
    You don’t need expensive audio equipment. Such an addition to your blog gives your readers a chance to hear the voice behind the words. If you make it a regular feature, you’ll likely see a spike in readership.
  • Slideshows
    Flickr.com has an incredible tool that will allow you to easily construct a slide show of your photos on the side for your blog. It will even generate HTML code to place in on your page.
  • Vlog
    Give readers a visual and auditory version of you. It’s an interesting way to express an opinion. Be sure to make the content as engaging as your written word! It’s a good idea to find other vloggers’ styles you like.

Are you working to get own your slice of the screen time pie?

Author’s Bio: Sam Melton is a business professional turned freelance writer specializing in business technology. He blogs at: sammeltontalks.blogspot.com.

Innovation. Ownership. Collaboration.

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By Sherrie Rohde

It seems that lately the words innovation, ownership and collaboration are cycling through my daily thought process and conversations at a rate that I can barely keep up with.

Innovation

Innovation is our starting place. With social media we’ve created an outlet for emphasizing every disaster, whether it’s a true world catastrophe or lapse in judgment. Instead of looking at the world with this emphasis of pain and failure, let’s look at it through the lens of “How can we make this a better place?” I’m not saying those problems aren’t real, but it’s time we step up and take ownership to be part of the solution.

Ownership

It’s a bit difficult to separate innovation and ownership, but taking innovation to action requires owning the problem and the idea with a commitment to work towards a solution.

The world would look drastically different if we spent more time identifying a problem to own, rather than fighting for more space, more time, or more money in our own little part of the world.
—Lara Galinsky, Harvard Business Review

When we have a sense of ownership, we take pride in that thing we have owned, whether it be an idea or a project or a community. I recently made the decision to identify what I’m passionate about and to learn to say no to projects that didn’t fall under that umbrella. Not only did it make life far less stressful, but it also made it easy to focus on those problems I did choose to own.

Collaboration

There comes a point where we realize that despite our aspiration for innovation and ownership of the problem, we can’t do it by ourselves. And why should we? When we connect with the right people, those whose goals are aligned with ours, our force is stronger and our reach is further.

Let’s work together to make a difference.

Identify a problem to innovate. Take ownership. Collaborate for impact.

Solve big problems.

Author’s Bio: Sherrie Rohde writes about community management at mycmgr.com. She is passionate about community innovation in the tech space with an emphasis on user experience and e-commerce. Sherrie loves learning and is energized by helping others succeed. Recently she’s collaborated with Jennifer Shaw to solve the big problem of tech education for rural women in America through bellaminds.com. You can connect with her on Twitter as @sherrierohde or Google+.

How to Avoid Taking Out Large Loans to Fund Your Business

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By Bill Fay

Family, friends and even his college professors told Aidan Augustin he had a business idea worth pursuing, even if meant dropping out of college.

Augustin and his roommate, Neal Ormsbe, designed a smartphone application that would allow anyone attending a business conference to get connected to and stay connected with the speakers and other attendees at the conference.

The two were juniors majoring in engineering at the University of Florida, but everyone said the idea couldn’t wait, so they dropped out of school, gave the business a name, Feathr, and opened shop.

There was just one little obstacle left to overcome.

“Money,” Augustin said, citing the one little obstacle nearly every small business owner must overcome.

Augustin and Ormsbe figured they needed $50,000 to get started. That’s not big money, unless you happen to be 20-year-old college dropouts with meager savings and no assets.

“We knew banks wouldn’t want anything to do with us,” Augustin said.

Getting Started

Fortunately, family, friends and their college professors got them started. Their parents agreed to send the same money they would have sent if the two had stayed in school. Friends agreed to work for what amounted to minimum-wage salaries. Professors put some of their own money in the pot, and a small business was born.

It didn’t take Augustin long to learn why more than half of start-up businesses fail the first year.

“We needed a lot more money than we thought we would,” Augustin said. “We didn’t understand the realities of what it takes to run a business. We underestimated costs on everything.”

That includes the relationship costs when you take loans from people you know, with no guarantee you can pay them back.

“The conversations with our parents and friends got a little awkward because we couldn’t really show clear signs of progress,” Augustin said. “Professional investors know the risks involved so it’s a little easier to deal with them when you’re starting out.”

Making Gains

Augustin let Ormsbe and a couple of part-time employees do the development work the next year and devoted more of his time to fundraising. He started with the crowdfunding site Indiegogo, where he found $21,000 worth of backing.

Then he won a lottery that provided free tickets to a conference in Silicon Valley for software startups called the “Largest Hack-A-Thon In History.” It was sponsored by Barracuda Networks, which offered winners $25,000 and a seemingly endless supply of business contacts.

Augustin’s group beat 130 teams from all over the country and claimed the top prize. That led to a front-page article in his hometown paper, the Orlando Sentinel, and suddenly Feathr had some status.

“That article created a buzz about our company,” Augustin said.

Feathr picked up a $150,000 award from TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs) and contacts from the Barracuda Networks conference resulted in the first product sales. The 2014 budget is up to $450,000, most of which will go to pay salaries for the 12 full-time employees now working at Feathr’s offices in Gainesville, Fla.

“We don’t having the living expenses they have in Silicon Valley or New York City or places like that, which is a huge advantage for us,” Augustin said. “We can use our money more efficiently to hire more people and pay them actual salaries they can live on.”

The best news is that Feathr, now in its third year of operation, still hasn’t needed a bank loan to stay in business.

“We sort of hopped and skipped from one funding source to another, but we’ve made it so far,” Augustin said. “We’re working to keep it going that way.”

In addition to the crowdfunding, and loans from friends and families that helped jumpstart Augustin’s small business, another option to consider is tapping an annuity. Entrepreneurs who have annuities could use those investments to finance their budding enterprises instead of taking out loans.

The great thing about an annuity is that it’s your money. It’s already there, and you are not borrowing from a lender; however, since the annuity operates as retirement income, there are penalties to taking cash out before retirement.

When you take funds out of your annuity early you can expect the following:

  • A 10 percent penalty on the taxable portion of the annuity is forfeited if you are under the age of 59 ½.
  • The tax deferral benefits are in place to encourage long-term retirement savings, so the fee is similar to what you would pay on an early withdrawal from an IRA.
  • In most cases, if you cash out early, you will have to pay surrender charges. If your annuity carries a surrender fee, you should try to wait until the fee no longer applies. Surrender charges generally start at 7 percent and decrease incrementally, usually by 1 or 2 percentage points each year, until they reach zero.
  • Earnings on annuities are considered ordinary income, so you must pay taxes on any earnings when you cash out your annuity. This is in addition to the 10 percent early withdrawal penalty.
Author’s Bio: Bill Fay is a writer for Annuity.org, focused mainly on news stories about the spending habits of families and government. He spent 21 years in the newspaper business and eight more in television and radio, dealing with college and professional sports, then seven forgettable years writing speeches and marketing materials for a government agency.