Dating Profiles: What You Should Know About Writing One

What do dating profiles have in common with resumes? You need to put in your best effort for both if you want to get results. This may seem self-evident, yet some people will slap together a dating profile with minimal effort and hope that someone special will come along and pick their profile.

Writing a dating profile takes the same effort as writing a good resume. In this case, you aren’t applying for a job, you’re looking for a person. To catch that ideal person’s eye, try some of these tips on how to write stellar dating profiles.

1. Eye-catching photos aren’t just for movie stars

You’ve probably seen this advice multiple times before: choose pictures that show your face. People who are shy or who struggle with self esteem (because they aren’t usually chosen for a date) like to choose photos of themselves looking down, hiding in shadow, standing far away from the camera (so they are ant-sized) or wearing sunglasses. It’s like standing with one foot in and one foot out the door.

Yes, you’re fulfilling a requirement by posting photos. However, the secrecy isn’t enticing. It screams that you aren’t proud of how you look. It’s the same as a resume in which you’re vague about your job experiences. Why should someone pick you if they can’t see who you are?

Confidence and a smile shows people you are proud of how you look and what you have to offer the right person. Choose a photo of yourself doing an activity that you enjoy to reveal an aspect of your life or your personality. At the same time, show your face. Think of yourself as an up-and-coming movie star waiting to be discovered by your future significant other.

2. Dating profile headlines as effective as news headlines

Your dating profile headline is like a news headline. You want it to grab the other person’s attention and keep it long enough for them to start reading the first line or first question in your profile. A question makes an effective profile headline.

For example, you might ask, “Are you the one?” You want to catch someone’s eye so they read your profile to find out if you’re the person he or she is looking for. If you don’t want to be lost in a blur of cliché headings, do some online research for some catchy sayings, questions, and quotes to find one that suits your personality.

3. Writing bios that bring your personality to life

You might be thinking, “I don’t know how to write a bio” or “I’m terrible at writing.” How do you write a dating profile if you don’t have the skills?

First, calm your fears and simply approach this as a task similar to assembling a simple piece of furniture. Provide the necessary statistics about yourself, such as age, city, height and so on. Begin with the easy stuff.

Then select a question to answer, such as a description of yourself and your interests, something that will reveal fascinating facts about you, or a description of the person you are looking for. Start by writing your ideas down as words or ideas. Then string them together into sentences.

Still stuck? Look for dating profile examples online and copy some sentences that you can use as templates or examples of how you can phrase your answers.

The extra work is worth it. A detailed bio, even with a couple of spelling or grammar mistakes, can reveal your personality and provide that much more information about yourself than a picture.

4. Originality can be as simple as a 1-2-3 formula

After getting matched with someone, take the time to check out that person’s profile. Notice details in their write up and photos. Then, for your first message, ask that person something personal about them, based on a detail you had read.

Too many people take the easy option and start their first message with some version of “How are you?” or “How was your day?” Now image you’re reading your 20th “How are you?” message in two days. How excited would you be to see it?

“Copy and paste” messages are like a resume that looks identical to many others in a sea of resumes. Ask an original question. If the dating profile bio is sparse in detail, Google search ideas for interesting (but not creepy!) questions to pique a person’s interest, make you stand out, and increase your chances of getting a response.

Summary

Putting in the time to write a catchy dating profile is worth the investment. Just like you wouldn’t put together a sloppy resume and expect a job interview to follow, it’s worth the time to craft a profile well to attract the right person.

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Working for a Startup – What You Should Ask

Joining a start up can sound like an exciting adventure. The company is new, so you’ll have the opportunity to determine its goals and direction. You can decide on your role and job description. These are all great possibilities, but before working for a startup, be sure to ask these questions.

Having a clear idea about the history and future of the startup can determine whether you’ll be wasting your time or investing in an exciting step in your career.

Does the startup have a mission, vision and set goals for the year?

It may seem unbelievable, but I’ve dealt with a startup that had a mission and vision, but an unclear business direction. The company didn’t have clear goals for its first year of business. That also meant it didn’t have goals for the three year or five-year mark. The company didn’t even have a clear business plan for its first year of business.

The management team had a business idea, a target market, and they created a product which they tried to sell to anyone who wanted to buy it. As you might have guessed, the company struggled throughout its entire first year to find customers. Before joining the startup, find out more about its mission statement and vision as well as its goals.

Does the startup have a marketing and sales plan?

Before opening for business, the startup should be clear about its target market. It shouldn’t be trying to sell to anyone who would want to buy its products and services. It helps to create a clear avatar or client profile. A company that aims to sell to everyone sells to no one.

Next, when the startup has a target market, check that the company has a marketing plan. How does it plan to generate leads? Once they have a steady supply of leads and prospective customers, does the company have a sales team to close the sales?

The journey for the customer doesn’t end with the sale either. Find out if the startup has a plan for fulfillment. How does it plan to deliver customer service and ensure that its customers are happy with the product or service that it purchased?

If the startup cannot provide clear answers to your questions about marketing and sales, then it is highly possible that making sales will be a challenge for the startup.

Does the startup have an HR department?

A startup with a remote team has its own unique challenges. For example, when a new member joins the team, do they have a system for onboarding them? Are there contracts and other papers to sign? What applications and software does that new person need to download or update so they can get in the loop with communications?

The person or department that is human resources (HR) will need to address all these onboarding questions. HR will also need to help define the new member’s role in the organization.  Having an HR person is also helpful if a new member has an uncomfortable situation with a team member (an argument, lack of professionalism, etc) and needs help resolving the situation.

Do you have clear goals for yourself?

Some people join a startup because of the career opportunity that it presents. You might be interested in a role in the startup but you don’t have any experience in that role. You could volunteer to gain experience in that role.

You might have been attracted to working for a startup because you have experience at a specific role and you want an opportunity to apply your experience with a new company. The culture, policies and direction of the company are still new, so you have a chance to shape the role in the company, which might not be possible with an established company.

Summary

Working for a startup can be an exciting endeavor. It’s like looking at a clean landscape and having the opportunity to decide what will be constructed on it. However, before you join, find the answers to some important questions about the company first. These answers will help you decide if you will be getting the experience you want.

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Working with a Remote Team: What You Need to Know

Remote work definitely has its perks – no commute, flexible work time, and relaxed dress code. Working from home can also be a bit of a downer. You may feel alone compared to working in person at the office. Working with a remote team isn’t the same as working face-to-face, but when done well, you’ll feel a sense of community.

Here’s what you need to know about working with a remote team, from the culture to the technology of communication.

The Tech that Connects Across Borders

Remote work is like taking all the people working in the same office and scattering them apart like jigsaw pieces.

It’s the same team, but each person is in a different place. Your reliance on technology increases thousandfold, while your ability to read people through body language (smiles, frowns, crossed arms, slouches) becomes almost obsolete.

You’re learning a new way to communicate.

Remote teams decide on what types of technology to communicate urgent messages, lengthy messages, schedules, and work tasks. You’ll be learning what type of message goes on which platform and when.

For example, messaging apps like Telegram, Signal, Skype, and Whatsapp might be used for group chats for instant and urgent messages.

Platforms such as Asana, Monday.com, Clickup, and Zoho can be used to track work tasks. Information for each task includes who the task is assigned to, when it’s due, what needs to be done, progress as multiple steps in a task are completed, and extra notes on what a team member needs to know.

Knowing what messaging goes where and how often you need to check and update various chats and apps is crucial. If you’re confused about the system, then communication can break down fast. If communication is clear, then it will be efficient, no matter where everyone works and what time zone they are in.

Remote Teams Socialize at Odd Hours

Over time, you’ll adapt to the time zone differences and learn to work around them. For example, if you live in Canada and your role in a task is completed first, then you’ll leave instructions about what you’ve done in the project management application. When your teammate wakes up in Europe, your teammate will then work on the next step in that task.

Notes to your teammate about when something will be done, or when you can meet for a quick virtual chat will automatically include a date, time and time zone. You may even readjust your sleep schedule so that you can work at the same time and respond to messages more quickly.

I’ve worked with a remote team with members in Europe and Asia, so we discovered our sweet spot for messaging each other in a steady flow of conversation was best in the early hours of the morning.

Just like water cooler conversations at the office, conversations can become social during work hours. The main difference is these conversations take on a more international theme.

For example, you might trade food photos to compare local cuisine, or compare notes on how you celebrate Christmas in your part of the country or the world. During the pandemic, the remote team I worked with shared stories about the pandemic and how people survived in each of our countries.

You start to make friends in other parts of the country and other parts of the world.

Getting on the Same Page with the Team

When working with a remote team, you may find that one of the biggest challenges is getting everyone on the same page. Whether your team members are located in the same city or in different countries, it’s important to have regular meetings to go over big picture goals.

The team should have a regular meeting at least once a week to review the major goals and priorities of the company. If new projects are starting, the team should discuss the purpose of the project and go over any questions people may have.

Summary

Working with a remote team is different from working in-person with your teammates. You’ll need to be familiar with technology and the system that your company has set up for people to communicate with each other. With a global team, you may even need to change when you work or, at least, when you expect your teammate to reply. However, working remotely may also have its perks, such as making connections with people from other parts of the world.

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Why Is Marketing Important?

What’s the difference between sales and marketing? That’s a question someone once asked me. Sales is when a customer buys from you and happens after a customer knows what it is that you sell. The marketing comes first. But how do you persuade people to reach that stage when money changes hands?

You need to tell people about how your business helps them. That’s why marketing is important – without it, a business may not get any sales. Here are some of the vital roles that marketing plays in the birth and survival of a business.

Tell the world what it is that you do.

Hundreds of businesses are born everyday, and most of us don’t know about them. Through social media posts, newsletters, videos, advertisements, and other multi-media, these businesses build their brand by telling us their story.

They tell us what it is that they do, what market they serve, and how they can solve our problems and make our lives better. Without this content marketing, we wouldn’t know how a certain business can help us with our needs.

Competition is fierce.

In an ideal world, your business would be the only one of its kind, but it most likely isn’t. How do you stand out from the crowd? Why should a prospect pick you? Your marketing message needs to clearly say what makes you different.

Is your product the most advanced in your niche? Does your service offer perks that your competitor does not? If the answer to both questions is No, you can still get the edge with something as simple as personalized service that makes your customer feel special. When you have customer loyalty, you can be competitive.

Marketing to a global economy.

Technology has made it possible to market businesses to a global economy. You are no longer restricted to your own city or country. Many prospects use a business’s website to decide how legitimate a business is and whether they want to do business with them. Your website can also make your business seem larger (with more staff) than it is just by how you present your business online.

Social media and your online presence have the important role of reaching out to your prospects and building a relationship with them. A prospect in Europe may subscribe to newsletters and YouTube videos for your business based in the USA. They’ll read your customer reviews and how you respond to those reviews. Over time, they develop an interest in your products and buy from you. Developing that trust is important when there are so many possibilities for scams or problems when you’re working with a business far from your home.

Marketing for consultative sales.

A transactional sale is simple and common. You’re thirsty so you buy a bottle of water from the nearest grocery store. When you buy something you need from a business that one time and possibly never buy from them again, you’ve made a transactional purchase.

Most businesses want more than a one-time purchase from a customer, however. Imagine hundreds of people buying from your business once and never seeing them again. Not a great return on investment after all the money you put into your marketing.

Instead, it’s important to focus your marketing on building relationships and establishing customer loyalty. You want your customers to buy from you time and time again. With consultative sales, your goal is to establish a long-term relationship with your customer. For example, offering discounts for repeat customers and providing customer loyalty programs.

Summary

Marketing has an important role in the survival of your business. It builds customer loyalty, raises awareness of what you do to a wider audience, and helps you stand out from your competition. Successful marketing helps you close more sales. Marketing is a vital component that helps a business gain and maintain customers.

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Is Buying Real Estate a Good Idea?

You’ve probably heard this question asked multiple times, but this is probably the first time you’ve heard this answer. Is buying real estate a good idea or should you rent? Here’s an answer from the perspective of what jobs skills and education you have.

Why You Should Rent for Now and Buy Real Estate Later

First, before we talk about buying real estate, let’s begin with renting. You’re likely living at home or renting while you consider the big move into investing in a property. Many factors go into a decision like this, including your income, cash flow, and future plans. Renting makes more sense if your situation is the following:

  • You won’t be living in the same location for a long time or you aren’t certain how long you will be at that location.
  • Your income is unstable. For example, you have been hired on a short-term contract, you work hours fluctuate from month to month, or you are still on probation with a new job in a new career that you may/may not like.
  • Market conditions are not ideal. Factors to consider are inflated market prices, mortgage rates, and available inventory on the market. (If you don’t like what’s available to buy, it’s best to wait.)

But let’s say all the ideal conditions line up. You’ve found the city that you want to live in for the next few years, you’ve been working for a while for the same company, and there are a few listings on the market that look like a possible dream home. Buying real estate now may be a good idea.

Why Buying Real Estate Now is a Good Idea

Buying property is a great investment if you’ve got the cash flow, income, job skills, and a stable future.

First, you’ve found a city that you want to settle down and call home for a while. You’ve had your eye on a few neighbourhoods that you would feel comfortable living in. The market and economy are in your favour, with interest rates and a price you can afford.

Second, you have job skills that are in high demand. It’s easy for you to find work because companies are hiring for your job description or you have specialized skills that companies want. You will be able to find a steady income no matter what condition the economy is in. If you can’t find a job, you will have enough experience to be able to freelance and find work on your own.

Now, say you want to take real estate investing a step further. You can find ways to pay down your mortgage faster and turn it into a business investment.

At the end of the workday (or whenever you have free time), read books and learn about investments. Increase your cash flow by investing in stocks or something else you have strong knowledge in to help with mortgage payments. A financial education isn’t just about what you learn in a course. You can increase your knowledge by taking initiative.

Another option you have is to turn your home into an investment by renting out a room or suite in your house. If you have a side business, such as freelancing, or you own a business, you can write off the areas of your home that you use for business. For example, a room that you use as an office or a meeting room to meet with clients.

Some people will buy a new house without considering their own personal preferences when choosing furnishings. For example, when deciding on types of appliances, type of finish for kitchen cabinets, and interior paint colour, they will choose what most people want to buy. A few years after they buy and live on the property, they plan to sell it for a profit.

Summary

Buying real estate is not a simple decision because of all the factors involved. Two factors that will impact when and if you buy are your job skills and financial knowledge. The more skills and knowledge you have, the more options you have for paying down the mortgage or turning your home into an investment.

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