William Ballard & Associates, LLC

Feeling overwhelmed by finances? This article shares practical and empowering steps to help you take control and restore your financial peace of mind. https://bit.ly/3UvNriY

Welcome back! Today, we have a real treat for you. In this week's edition of the Business & Entrepreneurship Digest newsletter, I wrote a three-part series on management styles from the past, present, and future. We think you will really enjoy it. In the comments, let us know which management style you are most familiar with and which one resonates with you the most. We look forward to reading your thoughts and appreciate your contribution to this topic.

Dear Small Business Owner & Entrepreneurs, First, I believe the best person to write marketing copy for a small business is the business owner himself/herself. You see, if you provide a quality product or service and can stand toe-to-toe with a prospect, clearly laying out—with passion—WHY they need your help, then I am persuaded you can write a compelling sales letter. However, I understand how busy life and business can get. Sometimes, it makes the most sense to outsource writing marketing copy for your business so you can focus on other important matters. With that said, I wrote this letter to show you how you can get the MOST value from any freelance copywriter you use (even if it is not with us). You see, if you hire a copywriter to handle a marketing project for your business too quickly, you could easily get far worse results than desired—and we certainly don't want that for you. In fact, as a small business owner myself, I hate to see other business owners and entrepreneurs waste time, energy, and dollars on marketing campaigns that fail to deliver the results they expect and deserve. Therefore, following the guidelines in this letter will help ensure you have all your ducks in a row before delegating one of the most important tasks you will ever outsource in your business. And that's a good thing. The sad fact is that proceeding without first addressing these key principles will only waste time and money, which could be better invested in EFFECTIVE DIRECT-RESPONSE marketing that fills your wallet rather than emptying it. So, I suggest you take the time to read this letter in its entirety as carefully as possible. It lays out not only what to look for in a freelance copywriter but also addresses some key questions you need to ask yourself before even considering hiring one. Read More: https://bit.ly/3Z6HY2v #DirectResponseCopywriting #DirectResponseMarketing #Copywriting #Copywriter #DirectResponseCopywriter #Marketing #Advertising

Have you ever worked for a bad leader? Have you ever left a job because of a bad leader? I don’t know about you, but I certainly have — at least once or twice in my lifetime, maybe even more. You see, the door swings both ways. All organizations — especially the larger ones — always have a huge influx of new employees and an outflow of former employees. Some people come through the organization's door because they resonate with the company's vision and values; they believe it’s a great place to grow, appreciate its benefits, or simply need some income. There are almost as many reasons for joining a company as there are people who apply. However, when people exit through that same door, chances are that most of them have one thing in common. Read More: https://bit.ly/3UZupRd

Who Can Help Me Out?! As some may know, I recently started a new position as an Independent Sales Rep for Cutco. I'm not sure if anyone is familiar with Cutco, but they provide the highest quality, American-made kitchen cutlery. And for my military folks out there, Cutco actually owns the KA-BAR brand or trademark (I’ll be sharing a little bit more about that later 😊) My primary responsibility in this position is booking appointments to demonstrate our products. The great thing about this is that no one is obligated to purchase anything; I get paid to show it, so there’s no pressure involved (and the truth is, it’s quite fun!). And these demonstrations can be done in person or virtually. I actually did a demonstration yesterday evening with my sister all through her cell phone (although that’s not recommended; the best experience is done through a laptop or tablet). If anyone is willing or able to let me show you Cutco, I would really appreciate it. Either let me know in the comments below or shoot me a DM, and I will provide you with all the details. Remember, no one is obligated to buy anything, and I get paid a base pay just to show it to you. #CutCo #Knives #KitchenCutlery #AmericanMade #KABAR 

Attention: Veterans and Military Personnel As I mentioned, CutCo owns KA-BAR, which supplies the Marines, Army, and Law Enforcement with this particular resource. However, CutCos Independent Reps can sell only two types of KA-BAR knives to civilians (both are shown here). I've already bought mine, and I love 'em! That said, they actually cost less than you might think. In fact, they're much less than what it would be to purchase one from an Army-Navy store or some tactical outlet. Moreover, these knives stay sharp longer than any other outdoorsman brand and come with CutCos' Forever Guarantee. What does that mean for you? Well, that means you'll never have to replace your outdoor knife ever again! Cutco even provides a free sharpening service, so your new knives will always retain their effectiveness. Want to get yours? If so, please comment or send me a direct message, and I'll provide you with all the details. #Knives #CutCo #KABAR #Military #Marines #Army #Navy

Attention: Content Writers and Marketers Did you know that whatever industry you want to work in, whatever dream client you’re hoping to land, there’s a good chance — 15 to 1 — that they use content to grow their business and communicate with their target market? That means if you enjoy writing content, the possibilities are endless. There’s a never-ending need for the service you offer. However, becoming a Content Marketing Strategist is a way to make your work stand out from other content writers while delivering more value to your clients and helping them achieve better results. John Maxwell said, “A person who knows HOW may always have a job, but the person who knows WHY will always be his boss.” That means that someone with the technical skills to complete a task (“how to do a job”) will likely always find employment. However, the person who understands the bigger picture, the reasoning behind the work, and the strategic goals (“why”) will be the one in a leadership position, essentially the “boss.” As I’ve mentioned in other places, the highest-paid activity in business is thinking (strategizing), and according to SEMrush, which surveyed a group of marketers, 94% invested in content. In short, content is the beating heart of many companies' marketing efforts. Here are a few ways to offer the service of a content strategist in addition to your content writing services. Read More: https://bit.ly/4fxw09f #Medium #Writing #Writer #ContentWriter #ContentCreator #ContentMarketer #ContentMarketing #ContentStrategy #ContentStrategist #Strategy #Thinking #TheHighestPaidActivityinBusiness

Want to level up your writing quickly? This article shares seven powerful tips to transform your writing skills in just one day! Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, these strategies can make a real difference. https://bit.ly/3UVo35H #Medium #Freelance #FreelanceWriting #Writing #Writer #FreelanceWriter

Credit cards can be powerful tools—or costly traps. This article explores practical strategies for gaining control over credit card companies and achieving financial freedom. You can turn credit cards into assets rather than liabilities by staying proactive. https://bit.ly/3O6Mx8b #Medium #PersonalFinance #FinancialPlanning #FinancialLiteracy #Money #CreditCards #CreditRepair #GoodDebt #BadDebt

Ever wonder what makes certain copy irresistible? This article breaks down four powerful secrets that top copywriters use to persuade and influence their audiences effectively. https://bit.ly/3CsSvO5 #Medium #Copywriting #Copywriter #Marketing #Advertising