First Financial November 2016 Blog Posts & Social Content –

https://smallbiztrends.com/2016/10/micro-vc-growth.html

November Week 1 Content: Firearm & Ammo SalesMonday, November 7 through Friday, November 11:

Monday Relevant Photo Quote (leading back to service page)http://www.firstfinancial.com/high-risk-merchant-accounts/

66% of all point-of-sales (POS) transactions occur with credit, debit or gift cards. Let A+ rated First Financial get you a high-risk merchant service account in 3 minutes today!

Tuesday Blog Post Announcement

On social: Gunsmiths and firearms trainers can make over $50,000 per year. If you’d like to turn your hobby into a job, read out new post here:

3 Profitable Firearm and Ammunitions Businesses to Start in 2017

Despite potential legislation limiting gun availability, America’s gun enthusiasts will never let legislators overturn the Second Amendment.

In fact, in 2013 American companies alone produced 11 million guns and sold all but 440,000 right here in the 50 states. Americans and U.S. companies imported an additional 5.5 million.1 Gun ownership’s bright strand in the fabric of American identity promises a stable future for firearms and ammunitions companies.

The following are the three most related businesses you can actually start as being in the firearms and ammunitions industry:

1. Firearm Training Instructor

1 https://www.wired.com/2016/10/americas-got-gun-addiction-numbers-prove/

Start Up Costs: $2,000 – $5,000Typical Salary: $50, 000

Gun lovers with excellent shooting skills, patience and an affinity for social interaction can consider training others on the proper use of guns. The numbers of gun owners are only growing and these new clients need someone to help guide them in their new hobby. With many Americans now taking self-defense with firearms classes, demands for firearm training instructors have tripled in just the last few years. What a good way to start being paid for something you love!

Those interested in becoming firearm instructors need to explore state regulations. Having a Department of Justice certification will go far in credibility for your career. Some states only require a reasonable apprenticeship and passing of the Firearms Safety Test.

Once licensed, market yourself and your services is by networking at shooting ranges and gun clubs and seminars. You should have a full roster of clients in no time.

2. Gunsmithing

Start Up Costs: $1,000Typical Salary: $60,000 (full-time)

Gun hobbyists who like to work with their hands and would enjoy exposure to many styles of firearms can put out a shingle as a gunsmith. Many take gunsmithing up as a “side hustle,” a way to supplement a regular income.

Anyone close to the gun community knows that people treat their weapons gingerly and almost with beloved-pet-level care. In other words, gun owners spend on their guns!

While a hobbyist can begin charging at any time, having some training establishes credibility. Still, getting a credential from the American Gunsmithing Insitute will add to your skills. Similarly, the Modern Gun School in Wilmington, Delaware has trained thousands of gunsmiths already. Still, many schools exist around the country, many of which have courses you can take online.

As you start your business, keep in mind that many gunsmiths fail because they don’t charge enough to cover expenses. Tally up your operating costs before beginning, and create prices that ensure a profit.

Also, just like other business, you need to market your service. Having a table at a gun show, networking at firearms conferences and getting to know your local gun clubs and shooting ranges all help you get your name into the community. Stimulate word-of-mouth marketing by asking your clients for testimonials, preferably posted on Google or Yelp.

3. Gun Shop OwnerStart-Up Costs: $10, 000 - $50, 000Typical Income: $10,000 to $1,000,000

If you have the money and some business experience or savvy, opening a gun shop is the best way on getting paid for working in the firearms and ammunition industry. Starting a gun shop can costly and time consuming, however. Your first year show a loss of income rather than a profit. It doesn’t start with finding your location. There are many arrangements to make before ordering your first case of shells.

Get ready to:

Incorporate your business: Gun shop owners must be incorporated. Get guidance from your local Senior Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) or your City

Get a license and permit: Apply and get a Federal Firearms Licensee license from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) before starting your shop. Brace yourself: this can be a long process.

Locate your shop: After confirming that you’re clear to open and run a gun shop, you can find a location. Bear in mind that federal agents will inspect the location before giving you the federal firearms license.

Americans cling fiercely to their guns. With the surge of terrorism both domestic and international, most want effective ways to protect their families. The firearm and ammunition industry will continue to grow over the coming decade. Your full-time or side gun business can be both enjoyable and profitable! When you go to accept credit cards, don’t forget that First Financial is the national leader in providing merchant accounts for businesses in high-risk industries like firearms and ammunition.

Wednesday Relevant Article Share

A little blip and then return to slow growth. http://www.forbes.com/sites/billconerly/2016/09/16/u-s-economic-forecast-2017-2018-mild-rebound/#5c4fd8823b62

Thursday Blog Post Re-announcement

Friday Smart Tip ShareTraditional banks consider gun shops, firearms trainers and gunsmiths high-risk. Accept credit cards with alternative, A+ Rated First Financial! https://www.firstfinancial.com/high-risk-merchant-accounts/

November Week 2 Content: Web Design & SEO

Monday, November 14 through Friday, November 18:

Monday Relevant Photo Quote (leading back to service page)Monthly services best transacted through credit cards. Website design and SEO firms get their merchant accounts at A+ Rated First Financial. See why here: http://www.firstfinancial.com/merchant-accounts-for-website-design-seo/

Tuesday Blog Post Announcement

On social: Niche your way to a successful freelance web design and development career. Read how here:

Successful Marketing Tactics for the Web Design Company

While the growing demand for web design is something to celebrate, it also brings new designers to the market, making competition fierce. The freelance web designer needs to be an able marketer, skillful coder and creative artist to earn a living.

Conquer the marketing aspect of running your own web design company by reading these tried-and-true tactics.

1. Get a Niche

Today, the business website is critical not only to bring in new customers, but to establish credibility.

Capturing the true size of the market only starts with every business having a mobile-friendly website. Anymore, businesses are putting up separate websites for events they put on, books they write and communities they establish. Further, every entrepreneur starts one business only to spin off two or three others. As we discussed in our post, Web Design Outlook for 2016 and Beyond, demand for the average American job will increase by 7% until the year 2024, but the American economy will call for 27% more web developers and designers.

Long story short: there’s enough business to go around. Designers with niches (restaurants, finance, healthcare, retail, etc.) can begin to build deep expertise. They learn characteristics not only of their clients, but their client’s target audiences and referral partners. Further, they learn the legal limitations and opportunities for everything they can say on the website. When a web designer can convince a prospect they learned from the successes and failures of past attempts, they gain credibility . . . and more money. Most businesses would prefer to pay a little more to get the job done right the first time.

2. Network in the Niche Everybody knows how to network through their Chambers of Commerce where they meet people in all industries. Finding niche networks helps the web designer hear all of the participants’ pain points, complaints, opportunities and successes. This information eventually becomes very valuable, as the informed web designer can explain the prospect’s issues before he or she even has a chance. Networking events also gives you opportunity to meet new talented people, create connections with them and eventually find potential customers. Putting on a presentation or attending a meet-up in your niche also gives you the opportunity to connect on a personal, face-to-face basis. Even volunteering your skills for an organization showcases your talents to your selected niche.

3. Set up a Good Looking PortfolioThis is the best way to show off all your skills and experience on web designing. This lures customers and make them interested in your capabilities. You can attached this to your own website or any owned social media accounts.You can go general in your portfolio. Do not just limit your portfolio to skills and experience related to web designing. You can go general and make people see your other talents. They might serve as an additional asset so keep your portfolio versatile.

4. Make Valuable PartnershipsYou can collaborate with field related businesses like web hosting companies or web developers. In this way, you are actually operationally putting your skills to the test. You can also offer more to your clients with the additional features and services from your partner companies, an advantage in keeping up over other competing web designers.

5. Making it PersonalIf you want to make your customers happy, you need to make them feel that you genuinely care for them and can provide them quality service and output with personal intentions even after you are done making your work and have been already paid. There are customers that need to be wooed and need to be given nice gestures, compliments to win them. Gifts and like chocolates and cupcakes, as well as holiday greetings or anything that reflect you as devoted and friendly can win them over. This also includes your way of advertising your service. Try to be a bit provoking and trendy that can catch someone’s attention.

These are the 5 most helpful tips in marketing planning for web designers like you to be successful in the industry. Remember that you have to be versatile to new strategies and techniques so that you keep up with the new trends and demands. Attract customers, make them happy, and you will be successful. When you go to collect credit card payments, remember to apply at A+ Rated First Financial, where high-risk businesses like web designers get the best merchant accounts.

Wednesday Relevant Article Share

Is your web design or SEO business up on the trends for 2017? Get a jump here: http://www.webdesignerhub.com/web-design-trends-expect-2017/

Thursday Blog Post Re-announcementSure you’ve tried networking at general business gatherings, but what about those where only your niche prospects attend? Google makes it easy to find them. Read more here:

Friday Smart Tip Share

You have lots of ways to make your services accessible to clients. Clear explanations and acceptance of credit cards are two. Get your web design or SEO merchant services account here: http://www.firstfinancial.com/merchant-accounts-for-website-design-seo/

November Week 3 Content: Credit RepairMonday, November 21 through Friday, November 25:

Monday Relevant Photo Quote (leading back to service page)The world is going freelance and entrepreneurial. Get everything you need to accept credit cards for your credit repair business here:

http://www.firstfinancial.com/high-risk-merchant-accounts-for-credit-repair-businesses/

Tuesday Blog Post Announcement

On social: Keep your knowledge of and investment in the subtleties of credit repair always up-to-date for your business’s long-term success. Read this tip and more here:

7 Credit Repair Business Habits for Long-Term Success

Ironically, one-quarter of credit repair agents don’t have good credit themselves. But, clearly, they learn every day how to raise their own scores doling out advice to clients day by day.

Opening a credit repair business is more than just having a great score and being skillful in handling other people’s money. Stabilize and maximize your profit when you have these credit repair business basics in place.

1. Equip YourselfYou’ve probably heard the old quote, “Physician! Heal thyself!” This saying gained popularity because it suggests that professional should look at his or her own issues in the field.

Credit repair business owners should start in their career by studying their credit scores and habits. Study your own credit report and rectify any negative issues. Tackling each one will be easier if you get some guidance. Read helpful information from sources such as The Consumer Protection Bureau, Bankrate.com, and the industry organization, National Foundation for Credit Counseling. The last is an information source for those wanting to become credit counselors.

As you conduct your research, pay attention to necessary skills, techniques and strategies to master the process itself and the negotiations in order to be successful and to keep clients happy.

Starting out with an accounting, business or finance degree jumps you ahead of the learning curve. It also gives you creditability. Even an Associate’s degree adds to your resume. Some even choose to set up a business as a credit counselor while completing their degrees. This said, getting a bachelor’s degree is not a prerequisite to becoming a credit repair specialist.

2. Establish Your CredibilityIn this type of business, knowing the highest standards and ethics is a go signal for a client. Your reputation spreads fast, so make it a good one. Be open to listening to client feedback. By making improvements as your business matures, you gain confidence in what you have to offer. You become attractive when you know what a credit repair agent should and should not do when interacting with clients. There’s a good change your clients have been taken advantage of before. Their suspicions are warranted. Ease their fears by having them do everything within the law and with diligence.

3. Polish Negotiation Skills to a ShineAs a credit counselor, you will handle your client’s creditors. This aspect of the job takes assertiveness, verbal dexterity and awareness of the “game” of negotiation. The good news is that anyone can learn how to handle a conflict with poise and effectiveness. Learning negotiation skills through classes may be the best avenue. This skill just can’t be learned as well through strict reading.

4. Be InformativeOne of the most important thing as an agent is knowing all the federal and state credit repair laws. As you’re both working with legal documents, mistakes can result in jail time. In order to be updated with the newest laws, join the National Association of Credit Services Organizations.

5. Market Yourself and Your Service in Person and on Internet

Display your knowledge and genuine motivation by blogging either via text or video. Familiarize and humanize your business so that potential clients grow to trust you. While Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter seem mostly for people to entertain each other, keep in mind that 1.6 billion people go there, often every day. Catching a glimpse of your business name should help keep you top of mind.

6. Widen Your NetworkOpen yourself to new relationships by attending commerce events, seminars, free or paid trainings. Not only will you build connections and meet potential clients, you’ll keep yourself up to date on new legislation, products and strategies.

7. Stay Up-to-DateYou should know that laws and regulations change over time so it’s a no-no to follow old regulations and marketing methods in running this business. Also, seek opportunities in today’s trends. In this way, you can also educate your clients with the best and newest ways on how to manage their finances such as recommending new apps to them. Helping them to help themselves will make clients happier.

Mastering these habits will help you build a successful career as a credit repair specialist. Investing effort and building skills throughout the lifespan of your business will give you confidence, which in turn attracts clients. Keep in mind, too, that you will need to accept credit cards yourself to ensure you’re paid consistently on time. Because traditional banks see credit repair businesses as high-risk, you’ll have to get your high-risk merchant account. First Financial is the leader in providing these accounts to worthy businesses across the U.S. Apply today!

Wednesday Relevant Article Share

A credit repair business doesn’t take much capital to start. Those good with money should consider:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/felix-tarcomnicu/how-to-start-your-career-_b_3801889.html

Thursday Blog Post Re-announcement

On social: Keeping your credit repair business chugging along just takes some smart habits. Read about them here:

Friday Smart Tip Share

Help fellow Americans escape the poor credit trap as a credit repair specialist. You’ll need a merchant services account to take their payments, however. Get one here: http://www.firstfinancial.com/high-risk-merchant-accounts-for-credit-repair-businesses/

November Week 4 Content: E-CigarettesMonday, November 28 through Friday, December 1:

Monday Relevant Photo Quote (leading back to service page)

Vape and e-cig users are consistent, repeat customers. Give them the convenience of accepting credit and debit cards. Get your e-cig merchant account herehttp://www.firstfinancial.com/e-cigarette-trends-2016-fda-tobacco-ruling/

Tuesday Blog Post Announcement

On Social: If you had a vape shop, would it be a chic salon or a grungy hipster joint? Read the varieties here:

How Will You Make Your Vape Shop Unique? E-cigarettes and vape pens are spreading to every corner of the world.

High demand has spawned the emergence of over 200 electronic cigarette brands in just 10 years since the industry began. Today, 12% of middle school and high school students in every state vape or use e-cigs at least once every month.

Are you planning on opening a vape shop? Consider carefully what kind of clientele you want to draw. Over the past 5 years, the vape and e-cig shops cropping up have been as varied as grungy biker/hipster joints to sophisticated, urban lounges.

Use these ideas to put your own imprint on your new vape shop.

1. The Urban SalonRon and Deana Marshall of Bozeman, Montana decided to open a vape shop in the middle of a college town with a population of approximately 65,000. Young adults usually buy e-cigs online, perhaps afraid to be seen in public areas. However, Ron and Deana wished to leverage the added value of personal service. They had a young designer help them choose colors arrange comfortable couches and chairs into cozy enclaves. Given the social nature of the age group, it wasn’t long before students were taking study breaks in the Marshall’s off-beat abode. While there, the Marshall’s offered to let the students sample various flavors and pens. They hope one day choosing these devices and the liquid smoke that goes in them will be as personal and revealing as choosing a car.

2. The Joy of Eating & Smoking

Any smoker will tell you of the ideal relaxation experienced in smoking after a delicious meal. Texan Kyle Harris decided to go with this already established practice when he opened The Ramble Creek Vape Company and Grill, which offers unique burgers and other comfort food along with the e-liquids they sell.

What began as just offering the e-liquids quickly expanded to actually pairing the dishes with the smoke flavors. Just as a sommelier pairs a vintage cabernet with the right cheese and beef, Harris began suggesting several after-dinner choices that complement the meal. The idea took off and Harris, like the Marshalls, opened up a new store with the same concept in another Texas town.

3. The Niche AppealAndrew Poirier felt he was stagnating in his job pouring concrete, but assumed he could never make the same money anywhere else. Further, since it was his father’s company, he hated to admit he wasn’t happy.

On a trip to Arizona, a friend introduced him to vaping. Inspired, he began selling vape pens and e-cigarettes from his car to construction and concrete workers.

Poirier explains, “I was pouring concrete and climbing girders to get vaping products to the steel workers many stories overhead. It was almost comical.” With years’ experience in the industry, his credibility in his target audience was solid. He knew his way around a site and could talk to the managers easily.

As he built his contacts, he began considering opening an actual shop. He rented a space close to where he knew many construction workers lived, and his grand opening was well attended. He continued to appeal to construction workers by putting on events he knew they would enjoy and creating frequent user programs and even competitions that made interacting with his store familiar and fun.

Today, Poirer enjoys a six-figure MONTHLY income. With his own capital, he is considering creating his own e-liquid flavors.

Clearly, involvement in another field doesn’t preclude anyone from opening a vape shop. In fact, your former career can act as a springboard into your life as an e-cig entrepreneur!

Our blog post “E-Cigarette Trends to Expect After FDA’s Recent Ruling” covers how even with something of a backlash against e-cigarettes, the trend is rising. The Research Foundation predicts vaping could eliminate traditional cigarettes all together over the next 20 years. In India today, 10% of smokers have already switched to vaping. Doctors there predict that the smoke-related illnesses and diseases will decrease significantly over the next 5 years.

Use this article to come up with your own fresh version of a vape and e-cigarette shop. Implementing guerilla marketing strategies always give you an edge among competitors.

Before you start, have a clear idea of a well-defined target audiences, as well as their needs, motivations and pain points. Since vapers tend to buy regularly, accepting credit cards is critical. Not only does using this payment method ensure consistent payment, it makes re-ordering convenient for your customers. First Financial specializes in providing the best merchant services for vape shop owners and others in high-risk industries. Apply today!

Wednesday Relevant Article Share

Your small business depends on your authority. Start taking some of these steps now and in a few years you’ll be the go-to resource in your industry! https://www.allbusiness.com/build-authority-niche-focusing-five-pillars-105376-1.html

Thursday Blog Post Re-announcement

On Social: Your vape shop must be built on your target audience’s identity. Read to get ideas here:

Friday Smart Tip Share

Always learn from the mistakes of others before opening your vape shop. And when you need to accept credit cards, apply at http://www.firstfinancial.com/high-risk-merchant-accounts/