Tag: Best

Landing Page: What is it, Examples, Tips & Best Practices

A well-designed landing page can greatly increase conversions for your PPC or email marketing campaigns.

Rather than directing visitors from those sources to your general website (where they may have a hard time finding what they’re looking for), you can direct them to a specifically designed landing page that steers them in exactly the right direction.

Creating effective landing pages isn’t the same as crafting a successful website or email newsletter. There are certain guidelines you should adhere to in order to maximize your page’s success.

Here is what you need to know to create an effective landing page.

Set a Goal For Your Landing Page

Landing pages, like any other part of your online marketing strategy, need goals. Without concrete, specific goals, there’s no way to create an effective page. Your goal should be clear before you begin designing your page.

For example, your page might be designed to encourage:

  • sales
  • email list sign-ups
  • white paper downloads
  • software trials
  • webinar sign-ups

You also need specific expectations for your landing page, on which to gauge its success. These expectations can be based on previous experience, anecdotal evidence, or simply wishful thinking.

It’s helpful to have a specific number to compare your actual results with. This could be the total number of conversions, or the number of people who make it past your landing page, or some other number, based on your own goals.

A Clear Call to Action is Vital

Once you know what your goal for the page is, you need to come up with a clear call to action. This is possibly the single most important part of any landing page.

Your call to action should be specifically tied to your goal and should be supported by everything else on your page, from headline and body copy to images and overall layout.

37 signals backpack landing page example

The Backpack landing page has a very clear call to action, though they opt to first direct visitors to more information about their plans and pricing, rather than going straight for the signup.

Keep Copy Clear and Concise

Your copy should be clear and concise. It should be persuasive, too. Landing pages are not the place to show off your creativity, unless that creativity is clear, concise, and persuasive. Leave the creative turns-of-phrase for your blog.

It’s pretty safe to assume that most of the people who visit your page are already interested in what you have to say, because they’ve likely clicked through from a PPC ad or email. But just because they’re interested when they arrive doesn’t mean they’ll stay interested if you don’t get to the point.

Every single sentence and word on your landing page should serve a purpose, and that purpose should be to support your call to action. If it doesn’t do that, cut it. Be ruthless in editing your copy. Tell your visitors what they want to know in as few words as possible, and get them to respond to your call to action as quickly as possible.

videowizard landing page example

The VideoWizard example has a simple design with clear copy that has definite goals.

Keep Your Landing Page Form Simple

If your page includes a form, make sure it’s only asking for the most vital information. If you’re trying to get visitors to sign up for an email newsletter, make sure you’re just asking them for their email address. Anything more than that decreases the chances that they’ll finish and submit the form.

If you’re asking them to make a purchase, keep it simple. Just ask for the vitals: billing and shipping information, plus a confirmation screen before placing their order. Wait to ask them for additional information until after their order has been placed.

vitals landing page example

This form only asks for name and email address, neither of which are likely to deter sign-ups.

clickable landing page example

This form, on the other hand, has too many fields. Do they really need a phone number and company name? And wouldn’t it make more sense to just ask for a name in one field, rather than two?

Remove Navigation Elements

The major difference between your normal website and your landing pages is your landing pages shouldn’t include the usual site navigation. Instead, the only clickable links should be your call to action, and possibly a link to more information for those who are undecided.

Linking your logo to your regular home page can also be a good idea.

verisign landing page example

This example shows just the vital links, without a ton of extraneous navigation.

Forget about links to everything else. All they do is clutter up the page and increase the likelihood that your visitors will abandon your landing page (and ultimately, your site) without converting.

Simplify Your Normal Site Design

Your landing page should still echo the design of your regular website, though, to reinforce your branding. This can be done through the graphics, general look and feel, or your color scheme and font choices.

This is important for branding and lets users know they are on the right page.

Choose Long Page or Series of Pages

There are some questions about whether it’s better to use a single page for your landing page that requires scrolling, or if visitors respond better to a series of short pages (sometimes referred to as a “mini-site”).

Mini sites generally have multiple pages with short content that funnel visitors from one step to the next along the conversion process. This has the advantage of getting users in the habit of moving from one page to the next, which can help get them in the right psychological frame of mind to convert.

The downside to mini sites is that they work best for conversion funnels that need a lot of content.

Landing pages, on the other hand, are perfectly suited to shorter content. They also only have to load once, which can be a big consideration for companies targeting people in rural areas or developing nations, where bandwidth and connection speeds could be an issue.

The downside is a lot of content can get overwhelming and can come across as spammy if not well-designed.

cameraplus landing page example

The CameraPlus page is quite long, with all the information you need about the app. (The image above is split, as the entire page would be several thousand pixels long.)

groupon landing page example

Compare this page, which barely fills a single screen, and uses multiple steps to gather information.

Pay Attention to the Fold

While there’s a lot of debate as to the importance of “the fold” in web design, landing pages are one area where the fold is crucial. Make sure that your call to action is located near the top of the page, where someone can click it without having to scroll.

This doesn’t necessarily mean that your visitors won’t scroll down the page to read more information. Hopefully, at least some percentage of your visitors will be ready to buy as soon as they arrive on your landing page, either because the email or link that brought them there already persuaded them, or because it’s not their first time visiting the page.

Putting a call to action right near the top of the page makes things easier on these visitors. (Plus, it can increase your conversion rates.)

hummingbird landing page example

The most important navigation elements are located just above the fold, with the call to action well above the fold.

magnetize landing page example

The signup button is well above the fold here, too.

Below-The-Fold Calls to Action

That doesn’t mean you should neglect those users who scroll. Make sure calls to action appear at regular intervals on your page, tied into the page’s copy.

This becomes more and more important as your pages get longer. Make sure that your users have to do minimal scrolling once they decide to convert.

freshbooks landing page example

FreshBooks includes links to a free trial or tour throughout their landing page.

Use Minimal Images and Larger Fonts

Your landing pages should use only one or, at most, two images. You want to avoid visual clutter on the page, or anything that detracts from the message and call to action.

Larger font sizes are also a good idea to keep visitor’s eyes focuses on what matters and reduce eye strain. Just don’t go overboard and put everything in a headline-size font.

The ideal line length for copy readability is 39 characters, so size your font (and column width) accordingly.

purdue landing page example

The typography becomes a major part of the visuals of this landing page, minimizing the need for graphics.

Start With a Centered, Single-Column Design

Studies show that centered, single-column landing pages convert best. Yet, there are still plenty of marketers out there who are opting for two-column designs.

Make sure that you test single-column versions against any two-column versions prior to committing to a design.

campaignmonitor landing page example

This is a great example of a centered page that makes great use of the available space.

Match the Look and Feel of Your Campaign

If your page is tied to an email campaign or PPC campaign, make sure the landing page echoes the look and feel of the ad or email.

If the designs of the two are wildly different, your visitors may wonder if they’ve ended up in the right place. The easiest way to do this is to carry over fonts, images, and colors from your campaign to your landing page. This is especially important for paid ads, as it can increase your quality score.

Use the Landing Page Tools to Get it Right

If you don’t want to have to use a web designer for your landing pages, there are options for creating great pages without any technical knowledge.

Unbounce is one of the easiest to use and lets you create landing pages without any IT experience. They have best-practices templates available that you can customize (or design your own page entirely from scratch), and flexible pricing (including a free plan for sites with limited traffic). Unbounce also integrates with Google Analytics for tracking your traffic, and Qualaroo for gathering user input.

Don’t Forget To Test Your Landing Page

Creating effective landing pages isn’t a one-size-fits-all project. What works for one site might not work so well for another. Finding the most effective page design is a matter of trial and error.

It’s important to test the different versions of your landing page (called A/B testing)to find the one that works the best for your particular situation. Without doing so, you might be leaving a lot of potential conversions on the table.

A few features to consider testing include:

  • headline
  • CTA
  • button size and placement
  • number of form fields
  • images
  • right, left, or center column design
  • colors

Just remember to test each variant one at a time — if you change five different elements, you won’t know which impacted conversions.

Landing Page Guide

A well-designed landing page can greatly increase conversions for your PPC or email marketing campaigns.  Here’s how to do it.

  1. Set a Goal For Your Landing Page

    Without concrete, specific goals, there’s no way to create an effective page. Your goal should be clear before you begin designing your page.

  2. A Clear Call to Action is Vital

    Your call to action should be specifically tied to your goal, and should be supported by everything else on your landing page, from headline and body copy to images and overall layout.

  3. Keep Copy Clear and Concise

    Landing pages are not the place to show off your creativity, unless that creativity is clear, concise, and persuasive. Leave the creative turns-of-phrase for your blog.

  4. Keep Your Landing Page Form Simple

    If your landing page includes a form, make sure it’s only asking for the most vital information.

  5. Remove Navigation Elements

    Your landing pages shouldn’t have your usual site navigation. Instead, the only clickable links should be your call to action, and possibly a link to more information for those who are undecided. 

  6. Simplify Your Normal Site Design

    Your landing page should still echo the design of your regular website, though, to reinforce your branding. 

  7. Pay Attention To The Fold

    Make sure that your call to action is located near the top of the page, where someone can click it without having to scroll.

  8. Use Minimal Images and Larger Fonts

    Your landing pages should use only one or, at most, two images. You want to avoid visual clutter on the page, or anything that detracts from the message and call to action.

  9. Start With a Centered, Single-Column Design

    Studies show centered, single-column landing pages convert best, so test that version first.

  10. Match the Look and Feel of Your Campaign

    If your landing page is tied to an email campaign, make sure that the landing page echoes the look and feel of the email. 

  11. Use the Landing Page Tools to Get it Right

    You don’t need a masters in computer science to design a landing page. Instead, use tools like Unbounce to create great looking landing pages.

  12. Don’t Forget To Test Your Landing Page

    Creating effective landing pages isn’t a one-size-fits-all project. What works for one site might not work so well for another. Finding the most effective page design is a matter of trial and error.

Conclusion

Landing pages are website pages designed with one goal in mind — conversions. Following the tips above will help you create a powerful page that drives users towards your business.

Just make sure to keep it simple. This is because landing pages have very specific goals and shouldn’t include any extraneous information that might distract your visitors and prevent them from converting.

Are you considering creating a landing page? What is your landing page goal?

What are the Different Types of Business Loans and How Can You Tell What’s Best for You?

What are All the Different Types of Business Loans?

There are several different types of business loans out there.

All Businesses Need Funding

It’s that simple. You would be hard-pressed to find a business owner that doesn’t know that. What many do NOT know is that there are many more types of small business loans out there than the traditional banks loans everyone knows about.

Choosing Among the Many Different Types of Business Loans Means Knowing What’s Right for You

Knowing the different types of small business loans is only half the battle. You have to know how to figure out which one is right for you. The answer to that will vary based on a number of factors, and it may even change over the course of your business.

But the right type of loan for your business now may not be the right type for your business later. The best way to start figuring out which loan is right for your business is to figure out what’s available. Did you know that traditional bank loans are not the only option?

Types of Small Business Loans

There are many more, including:

  • SBA loans
  • 401(k) financing
  • Merchant Cash Advances
  • Equipment Financing
  • The Credit Line Hybrid
  • Traditional Lines of Credit

Let’s dive in to each one and figure out which one is best for your business right now

Different Types of Business Loans: SBA Loans

Guaranteed by the federal government. Issued by participating lenders, usually banks. They offer a lot of the perks of traditional loans, such as lower interest rates and favorable terms. Due to government guarantee, lenders are able to offer them to those with a lower credit score than would typically be required.

Eligibility for SBA Loans

Lenders and loan programs have unique eligibility requirements. In general, eligibility is based on what a business does to receive its income, the character of its ownership, and where the business operates. Hence even those with bad credit may qualify for startup funding.

Normally, businesses must meet size standards, be able to repay, and have a sound business purpose. The lender will provide you with a full list of eligibility requirements for your loan. See www.sba.gov/document/support–table-size-standards.

More About Eligibility for SBA Loans

General eligibility also includes:

  • Being a for-profit business – the business must be officially registered and operating legally
  • Doing business in the US – the business must be physically located and operating in the US or its territories
  • Having vested equity – the owner must have invested their own time or money in the business
  • Exhausting other funding options – the business must not be able to get funds from any other financial lender

Ideal credit scores for an SBA loan are 680 or above. There are a number of SBA loan programs, each one designed to work for different needs and situations. Some of the most common SBA loan programs include:

  • 7(a) loans
  • 504 loans
  • Microloans
  • Disaster loans
  • Express loans

These are just a few the of the options available. Find out more at SBA.gov.

Demolish your funding problems with 27 killer ways to get cash for your business.

Which SBA Loan is Best?

The thing about SBA loans is that they each have a specific purpose. For example, if your business has suffered due to a natural disaster, you need a disaster loan. If you need $50,000 or less, a microloan may be the best option. But the 7(a) loan program is the most versatile.

SBA 7 (a) Loan Program Details

A standard 7(a) loan can be for up to $5 million. The maximum SBA guarantee is 85% for loans up to $150,000 and 75% for loans greater than $150,000. The interest rate varies but cannot exceed the SBA maximum. The turnaround is 5 – 10 business days. These funds can be used for a number of things, and the minimum credit score is 640. But of course the higher the better.

Who Do SBA Loans Work Best For?

These loans work well for those that are not in a hurry to get funding

The approval and funding process can take a while, especially with the government red tape required for the government guarantee. If you can wait, meet all the requirements, and want a more traditional type of loan, SBA loans are an option.

Demolish your funding problems with 27 killer ways to get cash for your business.

Different Types of Business Loans: 401(k) Financing

If you have an eligible 401(k), you can use those funds to get money for your business. You must not be currently contributing. You must not longer be working for the company that the 401(k) is under. And you must have a balance of at least $35,000.

You can even still earn interest on your account, and there are no tax penalties. Personal credit doesn’t really matter much. Interest rates are usually low.

401(k) Financing Details

In fact, they are  often less than 5%. Close and fund in less than 3 weeks. Can usually get up to 100% of what’s “rollable” within your 401(k). This type of loan works well for anyone that has an eligible 401(k) account.

Different Types of Business Loans: Merchant Cash Advances

Businesses that accept credit cards as a form of payment may qualify for a merchant cash advance. This means your business must have a merchant account in order to be able to accept credit card payments. Your business must bring in $100,000 or more per year in credit card sales. Typical approval is equal to one month’s credit processing volume. The minimum credit score is 500.

Qualifying for a Merchant Cash Advance

They do not ask for a lot of documents. This is not like what most conventional lenders will want. You won’t need financials, business plans, or resumes. You don’t even need collateral.

Your business’s credit card receipts and business bank statements tell lenders all they need to know. These loans work well for businesses that qualify and need funds fast, and those with credit that is less than perfect. It’s a great way to get money for  your business fast with few requirements.

Different Types of Business Loans: Equipment Financing

Businesses looking to buy or lease equipment can use equipment financing. Rates vary widely depending on risk factors. Usually can get approval with a 650 or better credit score. This is for major equipment only, not a combination of a lot of small equipment. These loans work well for those that have good credit and just need to financing equipment. The equipment is the collateral, so that helps out some with rates.

Credit Line Hybrid

It can provide some of the highest loan amounts and credit lines for startups. You can get 0% business credit cards with stated income. There are no financials required. These report to business CRAs; you can build business credit at the same time. This will get you access to even more money without a personal guarantee.

Credit Line Hybrid Details

You can usually get a loan of five times the amount of current highest revolving credit limit account. This is up to $150,000. Easily five times what you could get on your own when applying for cards. You can get cash out on this program as well.

Credit Line Hybrid Benefits

There will be no impact on your personal credit with this type of financing. You need a 680 credit score or a guarantor with good credit to get an approval. In addition, this type of financing report to the business credit reporting agencies. This means you can build stronger business credit while funding your business.

Who Does the Credit Line Hybrid Work Best For?

This is a good option for virtually everyone. Because even if you have bad credit, you can get funding by using a credit partner. Works especially well for those who need to build business credit.  See www.creditsuite.com/business-loans.

Demolish your funding problems with 27 killer ways to get cash for your business.

Different Types of Business Loans: A Traditional Line of Credit

This is similar to a traditional term loan in terms of where you get it, and approval requirements. However, it is revolving financing more like a credit card. Typically have better interest rates that credit cards. They work well for those who qualify for traditional term loans but want revolving credit rather than a term loan.

Which Types of Small Business Loans are Best for Your Business?

If you know what types of business loans are available to your business, you can make a more educated decision about which types of business loans will work best for you. Knowing what’s out there is only half the battle. You also have to understand your own eligibility and funding needs.

The Different Types of Business Loans: Takeaways

All businesses need funding. Traditional term loans are not the only option. Other options exist to help you money faster. Or funding despite bad credit. And you can better rates and terms than you would get with a traditional term loan.

The post What are the Different Types of Business Loans and How Can You Tell What’s Best for You? appeared first on Credit Suite.

Best Call Recording Software

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Call recording software is a useful tool for businesses and individual users alike. 

From quality assurance to employee training, compliance, record-keeping, dispute resolution, and more, there are dozens of reasons why organizations can benefit from recording calls. 

But there are so many different call recording solutions on the market today. It can be a challenge to find one that fits into your workday. You don’t want to have to re-do everything just to record calls.

And you also don’t want to pay for a million features you’re never going to use.

Use this guide to learn more about my top picks and methodology for finding the best call recording software for you.

#1 – Talkdesk Review — The Best For Voice and Screen Recording

Talkdesk is a modern cloud contact center solution. One of the main benefits of using this platform for business communication is the built-in call recording capabilities.

With Talkdesk, you’ll gain deeper customer insights with encrypted screen and voice recordings.

By synchronizing the playback of voice and screen recordings, you’ll have more context for evaluating customer interactions with your support team. This also makes it easier to ensure compliance and provide your agents with in-depth feedback on their performance. 

The software has a feature called Talkdesk Speech Analytics. The tool is perfect for analyzing calls based on customer sentiment, keywords, topics, and more.

Some of the other key features and benefits of using Talkdesk for call recordings include:

  • Inbound and outbound call recording
  • Custom storage options
  • Ability to pause and resume live recordings
  • Store recordings for as long as you need
  • Storage available on Talkdesk’s cloud storage or use your own storage system

Talkdesk even has tools for quality assurance. Admins can add time-stamped annotations to recorded calls and fill out scorecards to improve agent performance. All of this can be managed from a simple and intuitive interface. 

Request a demo to get started. Pricing for this contact center solution is based on the number of agents on your team.

#2 – Cube ACR Review — The Best Call Recorder For Android

Cube ACR is a smartphone app designed specifically for Android devices. It has 10+ million installs worldwide.

In addition to cell phone calls, this simple tool makes it easy to automatically record calls from VoIP platforms like Skype, WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, WeChat, LINE, Slack, Hangouts, and more.

For such a basic app, Cube ACR has surprisingly good recording quality, and you can clearly hear both sides of the conversation. Just customize your settings to enable VoIP calls, automatic recordings, and control storage backups via Google Drive, Dropbox, etc. 

Cube ACR is always coming out with new updates to ensure recordings are stable and reliable. 

Other noteworthy features and highlights of Cube ACR include:

  • Cloud backups
  • Silent mode
  • Geotagging to see where calls take place on a map view
  • Data security with a PIN lock
  • Automatically remove old recordings to free up storage

If you want to mark an important part of the conversation, simply shake your phone, and Cube ACR will highlight that part of the call so that it’s easy to find later. 

While the app is popular for individual use, the software has business-specific features as well. It integrates with certain business tools, has custom development, and offers special business licensing options. 

The app is free and has a 4.3/5-star rating with 510,000+ reviews on the Google Play Store. 

#3 – Callcap Review — The Best For Call Monitoring

Callcap is a bit unique compared to some of the other software on my list. It’s not really a standalone call recording tool. This platform is branded as a call tracking and monitoring solution, but it does have call recording capabilities.

Marketers leverage Callcap to gain deeper insights into consumer behavior. Any business seeking an advanced solution beyond basic call recording should consider Callcap.

Callcap will automatically record all of your business calls. These recordings are available at any time. You can use them for agent training, employee recognition, lost opportunity analysis, disputes, and more.

All recordings are stored in the cloud and accessible from anywhere, and it is easy to share recordings with team members.

But Callcap takes these recordings to the next level with third-party monitoring services. Their trained analysts provide unbiased scoring for all inbound and outbound calls. The data from Callcap allows agents to improve, close more deals, and increase customer satisfaction. 

Other benefits of Callcap include:

  • Catalog item tracking reports
  • Track revenue by campaign or employee
  • Secure and PCI compliant recording and monitoring
  • Manual pausing and automated scrubbing
  • Call tracking
  • Call recovery

Callcap is not for everyone. If you just need a basic solution for recording calls, look elsewhere. But if you want one of the most advanced call recording and monitoring services on the market today, Callcap should be at the top of your list. 

#4 – Rev Call Recorder Review — The Best Call Recording App For iPhones

Rev is best known for its online audio transcription and video captioning services. It’s trusted by more than 170,000 customers worldwide, across industries like marketing, legal, media, education, and more.

But they also have an excellent iPhone app for recording calls.

This is a simple and straightforward solution for call recording. It’s a viable option for both personal and business use cases.

Here’s a quick overview of Rev’s key features:

  • Automatically record incoming and outgoing calls
  • Free and unlimited call recording
  • Convert any recording to text with the in-app transcription feature
  • Easy to share recordings and transcriptions via Dropbox, email, and more

Aside from the ability to transcribe and share, Rev is a no-frills solution for call recordings. It’s perfect for anyone who wants a free and simple way to record calls on their iPhone.

#5 – Aircall Review — The Best Call Center Solution

Aircall is more than just call recording software. It’s a complete cloud-based call center solution made for business teams. 

You can set it up in seconds without any hardware, downloads, or headaches associated with traditional phone systems. Best of all, every Aircall plan comes with call recording capability.

If you just need a way to record calls on your existing phone system, Aircall probably won’t be a viable option. This software is designed for businesses that need a completely new phone system. The call recording features are just some of the many perks you’ll get with an Aircall subscription.

Some features of Aircall include:

  • Automatically record inbound and outbound calls
  • Customize recording settings at any time
  • On-demand playbacks
  • CRM integrations
  • Clear recording quality
  • Unlimited calls in the US and Canada

Aircall has additional services for things like call monitoring, call whispering, and call analytics. These advanced features are not available on the entry-level plan.

Pricing starts at $30 per month per user, and you can try it for free for seven days.

#6 – Kixie PowerCall Review — The Best Chrome Extension For Call Recording

Kixie PowerCall is another all-in-one business phone solution. It’s a top choice for remote teams looking for a simple way to manage calls.

This robust Chrome extension can be installed in seconds on Mac, Windows, and Chromebook devices. All Kixie PowerCall plans come with call recording capabilities.

As a Chrome browser extension, it’s easy for agents to make and receive calls from anywhere. Recordings can be managed with a single click, and the software is ready to use out of the box. 

Since Kixie PowerCall is an all-in-one phone system, you’ll also benefit from features like:

  • Single-click voicemail drop
  • Local presence phone numbers
  • Click-to-call dialing
  • Live call coaching
  • Call reporting insights

Like some of the other software on our list, Kixie PowerCall is better for teams that need a complete business phone solution. If you just want basic call recording features on your existing phone service, you’ll find other options more suitable for your needs.

You get 300 free minutes when you try Kixie PowerCall free for seven days. 

#7 – Ooma Office Pro Review — The Best Price for the Total Package

A lot of the best call recording options available come as part of wider business phone solutions. When it comes to getting voice and video with all the features you’d need—including call recording—you can’t beat Ooma Office Pro.

I usually save the pricing information for towards the end of these reviews, but here it’s lede: Ooma Office Pro is just $24.95/user per month.

That sort of pricing for the feature set you get usually requires you to have 20 or more users. Ooma offers just one flat price, which makes it great for teams of any size to update their calling capabilities.

Here’s just a sampling of that feature set:

  • Virtual receptionist
  • Virtual extensions
  • Multi-device ring and ring groups
  • SMS messaging included
  • Desktop calling app
  • Voicemail transcription
  • Call logs
  • Call parking

Plus, call recording is adaptable for automatic and on-demand recording. And they’re all stored in your call logs automatically.

Keep in mind, you’ll need to sign up for Ooma Office Pro, as the standard Ooma Office plan does not come with recording features.

If you need a more customizability and analytical capability in the form of a full UCaaS solution, you can step up to Ooma Enterprise for just a few bucks more—$27.99/user per month.

Ooma also offers device flexibility—their mobile app allows you to call from anywhere, but they also sell equipment like traditional desk phones and base stations.

For customer service, sales, or even the legal and medical fields, Ooma Office Pro is a modern business phone solution that will give you the call recording features you need for compliance and improvement.

Get started with Ooma by getting a quote today.

#8 – Nextiva Review — The Best Call Recording for Massive Organizations

In a large company, a lot of different people need to use call recording for a lot of different reasons. And Nextiva is the business calling solution built to handle the strain.

Think of a huge customer service team—dozens of people need to touch the software, from the reps recording their calls to the customer service and HR managers who will use them to run quality assurance, employee evaluations, and training.

Multiply that by the number departments in your office, then again by the number of offices in your organization…

You can see how call recording frequency and storage needs add up quickly.

With the Enterprise and Ultimate plans of Nextiva One (their voice and video service), you get unlimited recording of both calls and video conferences. Plus, both plans accommodate an unlimited number of users, so everyone can utilize the recording features and access (if you grant it) saved recordings.

Plus, you unlock advanced features of Nextiva’s overall calling service, like advanced voice call analytics, and custom productivity reporting.

When you think about it, it all comes together nicely. Call recording for anything from training to stakeholder meetings can be used in tandem with the analytics, reporting, and Nextiva’s built-in team messaging and collaboration tools to spur improvement everywhere in your organization. And at scale.

What seals the deal for Nextiva is the price point for large teams. The Enterprise plan—which includes everything I’ve described above—is $31.95/user per month for 100 or more users.

That’s a better value and feature set for teams that large than just about anybody else out there.

Want to get started? Reach out to Nextiva and schedule a demo today.  

#9 – RingCentral Review — The Best Archiving and Storage for Recordings

Whether you’re using recordings for training, posterity, note-taking, or anything else, what good are they if you can’t access and store them easily?

If you choose RingCentral Office for your team messaging, video conferencing, and phone system, you get generous call recording limits and an excellent dashboard for managing them.

You get the full suite of communication tools, plus features like:

  • Call whisper and barge
  • Hot desking
  • Real-time call analytics
  • Open API
  • Single sign-on
  • Dozens of integrations

RingCentral allows storage of 100,000 call recordings per account, kept for up to 90 days. That’s a nice allowance without even getting into their tool for organizing and storing recordings.

That would be the RingCentral Archiver, a clean, easy-to-use dashboard for viewing and accessing all call recordings in your organization.

In it, you can see recordings, voicemails, and SMS messages all at once, see the numbers they came from, and when they were made or received.

You can easily connect the Archiver to Dropbox, Smarsh, or Google Drive, allowing you to easily sync and backup recordings on your cloud storage. That way you can save any recordings that may be about to hit the 90-day expiration date.  

Automatic call recording and the Archiver only come on RingCentral’s Premium and Ultimate plans. You can utilize on-demand call recording on the Standard plan, but you won’t have many options for accessing, storing, or downloading them.

RingCentral Premium is the best plan for most businesses wanting voice, video, messaging, recording, and easy archiving. Pricing for that package scales based on the number of users:

  • One user: $44.99/user per month
  • 2-99 users: $34.99/user per month
  • 100+ users: $32.99/user per month

For teams of 50 or fewer, you can even try it out for 15 days with RingCentral’s free trial.

What I Looked at to Find the Best Call Recording Software

There are certain factors that I looked for while narrowing down the top recommendations on my list. You can use this methodology as well when shopping around comparing different tools side-by-side. Consider this as your buying guide for call recording software.

Use Cases

Why are you seeking a call recording solution?

The answer to this question will help narrow down your options. Some tools are better for sales and marketing, while others are better for training, management, monitoring, and quality assurance. 

There are smartphone apps for call recording for personal use and full-scale business phone solutions with built-in call recording features. 

The type of calls you’re recording will impact your decision as well. Some solutions only support traditional calls, while others support WhatsApp call recording, Skype call recording, and other third-party platforms. 

On-Demand vs. Automatic Recording

Do you want every inbound and outbound call to be recorded automatically? Or would you prefer to control if and when a recording starts and stops?

The ability to choose between on-demand and automated recording is definitely something to keep in mind as you’re shopping around. 

For large-scale business use, automatic recording will probably be your best option. It’s one less step your staff has to think about during a call. But for personal use, you probably don’t need to record every single call you make or receive. 

Live Monitoring and Call Evaluation

Live monitoring is a crucial tool for call centers. In addition to recording the call, this feature allows managers or admins to listen in on calls in real-time. 

Overall, this is a proactive way to improve quality assurance. 

Some software takes QA one step further by providing call evaluation metrics. There are tools out there that can use recordings for sentiment analysis, conversion insights, and more to provide advanced scoring grades for each call. 

Security and Compliance

Security needs to be a top priority for conversations that include sensitive information. Examples include credit card information, medical information, personal details, and more.

Certain businesses must follow industry-wide regulations to ensure compliance. Make sure the software you’re considering meets all necessary regulations, even if it’s something as simple as notifying the caller about the recording and giving them the option to opt-out.

Storage

Another factor to consider is to assess the way recorded calls are stored and accessed from platform to platform.

What type of storage restrictions does each plan have? How easy is it to access, organize, and listen to those recordings at a later time?

For example, let’s say you’re dealing with a customer dispute. A customer claims that they never gave your staff permission to charge their credit card over the phone. Can you quickly locate that recorded call to find out what happened?

The best call recording storage systems are searchable and well-organized. 

Conclusion

Call recording software comes in different shapes and sizes. The best option for you will depend on your unique wants and needs.

I’ve made suggestions in my reviews of the top products:

  1. Talkdesk — Best for voice and screen recording
  2. Cube ACR — Best call recorder for android
  3. Callcap — Best for call monitoring
  4. Rev Call Recorder — Best call recording app for iPhones
  5. Aircall — Best call center solution
  6. Kixie PowerCall — Best Chrome extension For call recording
  7. Ooma Office Pro — Best price for the total package
  8. Nextiva — Best for massive organizations
  9. RingCentral — Best archiving and storage for recordings

Consider a smartphone app or standalone call recording tool for simple call recordings. More advanced call recording software will come with features for screen recordings, call monitoring, and customer insights. Choose an all-in-one business phone system to get features that go above and beyond just call recording. 

Regardless of your call recording needs, you can find what you’re looking for using my recommendations listed in this guide. 

Can the Best Hard Money Lenders Make this Form of Business Funding Worthwhile?

What are the Best Hard Money Lenders, and is Hard Money Lending Worth It?

Even the best hard money lenders can be problematic. Read on to find out more.

Hard Money Lenders and Hard Money Funding

If you’re looking to flip houses, you may have heard these terms. But what is hard money funding, and can it work for you?

Hard Money Funding: What Is It?

Hard money loans are asset-based loans that can fund any real estate investment. These loans are based on the property value. There is no need for background checks or credit scores. Some lenders even offer hard money loans based on the after-repair value of a building. Hard money lenders make finance house flipping with their asset-based loans.

Hard Money Funding: Positives

Since it’s based on the real estate value (before or after repair), a borrower with poor credit can get these loans. Hard money loans are fast, sometimes even within 24 hours of application.

Hard Money Funding: Negatives

Interest rates can be very high, as in three times that of banks. Terms can be very short, as in 6 – 18 months, versus a standard 30-year mortgage.

Plus a hard money lender wants you to have some skin in the game, typically at least 10% of your own money. That way the lender knows their interests are protected, because you don’t want to lose your money. Hard money loans also tend to not be subject to consumer lending regulations. So, caveat emptor.

How is Hard Money Funding Used?

If you go ahead with hard money funding, its use is virtually always for real estate projects. These are either house flipping, or real estate investments.

Fix and Flip Loans

House flipping consists of buying a property, repairing it, and selling it for a profit. Fix and Flip loans are one of the most common types of hard money loans. For house flippers, having fast funds for their flips is a necessity. These hard money loans are made for house flippers looking to flip a property by making some upgrades and selling it for a profit.

Fix and flip loans are short term loans (6 – 12 months) covering almost all the house flipping costs. Hard money funding is not only used to cover the property value of the building. It also pays for a portion of the repairs needed to flip. For example, some hard money lenders even offer to base the loan on the after-repair value of the flip. This gives the house flipper more funds to flip with from fix and flip lenders.

Demolish your funding problems with 27 killer ways to get cash for your business.

Long Term Rentals

House flippers don’t always sell the buildings they repair. Many make passive income by renting their properties. For those looking to acquire and upgrade large rentals, hard money funding is essential. This type of flipper financing lends on the underlying asset of the property.

To make the most of long-term rentals, upgrading and repairing the property is necessary. Here, hard money loans are based on the after-repair value of the property. House flipper funding for large one-time repairs to a property helps improve the property for higher rents. It also helps to offset the cost of the repairs.

Vacation Rental Flips

With alternative rental sites like Airbnb becoming more and more popular, house flippers are looking into flipping vacation rentals with hard money loan lenders. Vacation rentals can turn over large profits but many will require large repairs to get more bookings. These repairs and modern upgrades are necessary to ensure solid bookings throughout the year. Using hard money funding to make upgrades is faster than using a traditional lender. Like all flipper financing, the loan is based on property value and not the applicant’s credit history.

Home Rehabs

Paying cash for a property is a great way to lower costs for a property. But it leaves gaps for funding repairs. Home rehabs are ideal for one-time large repairs. This can be for a flip that they bought in cash, a rental, or anything in between.

Often when looking to charge more in rent, house flippers will add amenities and upgrades to their properties. Home rehabs can also be for investors looking to sell off property and maximize their return by adding a few upgrades. With only using flipper financing for the repairs, the house flipper can save money on down payments. This means a larger profit margin via hard money lending. Hard money funding can be a way to make sure projects finish on time.

Hard Money and Bridge Loans

Sometimes house flippers need to refinance properties to prevent foreclosures, get better rates, or get more cash to finish their flip. Bridge loans, a special type of flipper funding, can help flippers complete their projects to save them from foreclosure. Bridge loans work to ‘bridge’ cash gaps for a property. This cash is used to finish the flip, sell the property, or prevent foreclosure.

Hard Money, Bridge Loans, and Foreclosures

Sometimes, house flippers will use hard money loans to buy foreclosed properties. This makes them a great option for someone looking to pounce on a great deal in the fast-moving real estate market. Sometimes bridge loans fund short sale loans, or even the acquisition of off-market properties. They can help you get a hard money loan for auction property.

Hard Money and Refinancing

Reasons for refinancing include to prevent foreclosure, fill in cash flow, or make sure a project is done on time. Hard money funding can help with all of these issues. This type of funding works for house flippers who need a one-time influx of capital.

Hard Money Funding: Beyond the Flip

Hard money funding can be used for more than flips. It can also be used for commercial real estate financing. This is for commercial properties such as retail stores. Note: hard money loan rates will vary.

Demolish your funding problems with 27 killer ways to get cash for your business.

Options Beyond Hard Money Lenders and Funding

Flippers and commercial real estate investors have choices beyond hard money loans. They can try a home equity loan for flipping, or an investment property line of credit for real estate investments. Another option is a business line of credit.

Yet another option is a cash out refinance loan, or a permanent bank loan/online mortgage. Rates and terms will vary. But for great rates, have you checked out what Credit Suite has to offer?

Check Out Commercial Real Estate Financing from Credit Suite and Connect to Hard Money Lenders

Amounts range from $100,000 – $20,000,000. This financing can be used for refinancing a property, even if you are doing a cash-out refinance. Maximum LTV 70%.

Loan-to-values range from 55 – 65%, depending on the purpose of the loan. Plus your clients can also get SBA loans. Renovations get loan to value of up to 60%.

Credit Suite has funding programs available including conventional property financing, money for investment properties and hard money loans, bridge loans and loans for the purchase of commercial real estate.

Commercial Real Estate Financing for All Types of Buildings

Credit Suite offers financing for many different, even unique property types. Get funding for industrial offices (general or medical/dental), light manufacturing buildings, self-storage facilities, and more.

Demolish your funding problems with 27 killer ways to get cash for your business.

Details on Credit Suite’s Commercial Real Estate Financing Program

Approval amounts go up to $20,000,000. Bad credit is accepted. Use the real estate as collateral. You will need to provide bank statements. House reseller financing or a commercial real estate loan can be a big step, let’s take it together.

The Best Hard Money Lenders? The Jury is Still Out on Whether This Form of Funding is the Best Idea

Hard money funding can be a good choice for house flippers and commercial real estate investors who have bad credit or want/need to get money fast. But interest rates can be high, and terms can be short. Plus there is little regulation. Credit Suite can help you get funding for commercial real estate or house flipping, with better rates and terms than you would expect.

The post Can the Best Hard Money Lenders Make this Form of Business Funding Worthwhile? appeared first on Credit Suite.

All-NBA Arguments, Milwaukee’s Best, CP3 Groundhog Day, and a Rodgers Intervention With Ryen Russillo

The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to discuss the Milwaukee Bucks’ statement win against the Brooklyn Nets, how the Lakers’ seeding could shake things up for Round 1, scariest possible first-round playoff exits, All-NBA teams, news of Aaron Rodgers not wanting to return to the Packers for the 2021 NFL season leaking hours before the NFL draft, and more!

Host: Bill Simmons

Guest: Ryen Russillo

Producer: Kyle Crichton

The post All-NBA Arguments, Milwaukee’s Best, CP3 Groundhog Day, and a Rodgers Intervention With Ryen Russillo appeared first on Buy It At A Bargain – Deals And Reviews.

Best Ways to Borrow Money to Start Business Growth and Expansion

When it comes to borrowing money for business growth and expansion, or even to start a business from the beginning, there are many options. So many in fact, that it can become overwhelming. All the ways to borrow money to start business growth, expansion, or from scratch vary.  Factors like terms, rates, and amount available all make a difference. What’s the best option for your business? 

Which Way to Borrow Money to Start a Business is Best for You

If you are considering borrowing money for business expansion, you need to to think about the following: 

  • Where to apply for a small business loan
  • Terms of business loans
  • Business loan rates

What type of business loan is best for you?  It depends on a number of factors. First, you have to know what’s available. 

Borrow Money to Start Business Growth: SBA Loans

SBA loans are loans with a government guarantee through the Small Business Administration.  Participating lenders handle the application process and distribution of the funds. They guarantee up to 85% of loans of $150,000 or less. Loans that are more than $150,000 they will guarantee up to 75%. The maximum loan amount they offer is $5 million. 

Due to the government guarantee, financial institutions are able to offer them at lower interest rates. 

Find out why so many companies use our proven methods to get business loans. 

SBA 504 Loan Program

These loans are also available up to $5 million.  You can buy machinery, facilities, or land, making them perfect for borrowing money to start business expansion. They work especially well for commercial real estate purchases . 

Terms for 504 Loans range from 10 to 20 years. Funding can take from 30 to 90 days. You need a minimum credit score of 680.  Also, collateral is the asset it is financing.  There is also a down payment requirement of 10%, which can increase to 15% for a new business. 

There is also a requirement you be in business at least 2 years, or that management has equivalent experience if the business is a startup. 

7a SBA loan

This program also offers federally funded term loans up to $5 million. You can use the funds for expansion, purchasing equipment, working capital and more. 

The minimum credit score to qualify is 620.  There is also a downpayment requirement of at least 10% for the purchase of a business, commercial real estate, or equipment. The minimum time in business is 2 years. In the case of startups, business experience equivalent to two years will suffice. 

This option is also great for borrowing money to start a business from scratch. 

Borrow Money to Start Business Growth: AR Financing

Borrowing against receivables is a way to borrow money to start business growth or expansion as well. Many businesses wait weeks, or even months, to get paid on outstanding invoices.  These open invoices are accounts receivable. 

It can create major cash flow issues,  because they provide their goods and services and absorb those costs until they eventually get paid. Sometimes it can take 90 days or longer to collect. 

Of course, there is something to be said for offering better terms to your clients.  Allowing them to pay invoices later helps establish with clients.  It’s an incentive for them to choose one business over the other. 

If you have a lot of these open account receivable, AR financing can be a way to borrow money to start business expansion! You can get the funds in as little as 24 hours.

Monthly rates are between 8% and 12%, and you can get financing as high as $10,000,000. All of this is possible, even with severely challenged personal credit.  

Find out why so many companies use our proven methods to get business loans. 

Borrow Money to Start Business Growth: SME Loan

An SME loan (Small and Medium Enterprise Loan) is a good option as well.  They are generally designed to help those small and medium businesses in underserved areas or with owners from underserved populations.  

While interest rates and business loan terms vary, many business owners find luck in obtaining an SME loan to fund expansion or growth. 

Borrow Money to Start Business Growth: Credit Line Hybrid

The Credit Line Hybrid allows you to fund your business without putting up collateral.  It’s revolving credit, like a credit card or line of credit, so you only pay back what you use.  

To qualify, your personal credit score has to be at least 680.  In addition, you can’t have any liens, judgments, bankruptcies or late payments.  Furthermore, in the past 6 months you should have 4 or less credit inquiries, and you should have less than a 45% balance on all business and personal credit cards.  It’s also preferred that you have established business credit as well as personal credit. 

If you don’t qualify on your own, you can take on a credit partner that meets each of these requirements.  Many business owners work with a friend or relative to fund their business.  If a relative or a friend meets all of these requirements, they can partner with you to allow you to tap into their credit to access funding. 

What are the Benefits of a Credit Line Hybrid? 

Not only is this unsecured business funding, meaning you do not have to have any collateral, but it is also no-doc.  That means you do not have to provide any bank statements or financials.  

Also, typical approval is up to 5x that of the highest credit limit on the personal credit report. Furthermore, often you can get interest rates as low as 0% for the first few months, allowing you to put that savings back into your business. 

Find out why so many companies use our proven methods to get business loans. 

The approval for multiple credit cards creates competition.  This makes it easier, and likely even if you handle the credit responsibly, that you can get interest rates lowered and limits raised every few months. 

The icing on the proverbial cake is, the Credit Line Hybrid reports to the business credit reporting agencies. That means it can boost your business credit score. The process is pretty fast, especially with a qualified expert to walk you through it.

Use a Business Credit Expert to Help You Borrow Money for Your Business

Did you even know there was such a thing as a business credit expert? There is, and the Credit Suite business credit experts are the best. A business credit expert can help you: 

  • Find the best loans for your business
  • Analyze your overall business fundability
  • Walk you through the process of improving findability if needed
  • Help you find funding you qualify for now!
  • Help you build your business credit profile

Business credit experts are versed in who to call and who to talk to with lenders to find out what they are looking for. They can guide you through the tangled web that is fundability, make sure your business is set up in a way to make you as fundable as possible, and ensure you have every opportunity to get the business funding you need now and in the future. 

The post Best Ways to Borrow Money to Start Business Growth and Expansion appeared first on Credit Suite.

10 Small Business Examples of the Best Instagram Bios

Instagram is extremely popular. The image-heavy platform is the fifth most-used social media network in the world, with over 1.2 billion users. If you don’t have a presence on Instagram, you’re missing out on building an audience and increasing your sales. To get the most out of Instagram, you should create a solid Instagram bio …

The post 10 Small Business Examples of the Best Instagram Bios first appeared on Online Web Store Site.

10 Small Business Examples of the Best Instagram Bios

Instagram is extremely popular. The image-heavy platform is the fifth most-used social media network in the world, with over 1.2 billion users.

If you don’t have a presence on Instagram, you’re missing out on building an audience and increasing your sales.

To get the most out of Instagram, you should create a solid Instagram bio so users can get a clear, concise idea of who you are, what you’re about, and, most importantly, what you can offer them.

Here are ten of the best Instagram bios for small businesses and explain why they’re excellent. We’ll also include tips for crafting a strong bio and what must-haves to include on your company account.

10 of the Best Instagram Bios for Small Businesses

Here are several small-business Instagram bios that hit the mark and why. We’ve also included takeaways you can use for your own company.

1. Ellevest

best Instagram bios - ellevest instagram page bio

Ellevest is a digital investing platform. CEO Sallie Lee Krawcheck co-founded the company to empower women to take greater control over their financial future.

Why This Instagram Bio Is Great

The Ellevest Instagram bio works because it clearly states who the business is for (by women, for women), the industry it’s in (financial services), and the type of business model it uses (membership-based). This gives the reader a good idea of the target audience and what they’ll achieve through the service.

The company also includes a Linktree link in its bio, a platform allowing you to showcase additional links to content you want to share with your followers. This link points users to multiple brand blog posts and membership webpages.

You can borrow this for your own small business. After all, a Linktree link isn’t just a content-sharing opportunity: You can walk people directly to your landing pages via Instagram, cutting through the noise so they can more easily buy from you.

2. Pura Vida Bracelets

best instagram bios - pure vida

Pura Vida, which translates to “Pure Life,” is more than just a bracelet retailer. The company has a community of over 800 artisans in countries such as Costa Rica, El Salvador, and India who earn money crafting homemade jewelry.

Why This Instagram Bio Is Great

First off, the Pura Vida Bracelets Instagram bio is structured with various emojis, which saves space and gives off a fun vibe. “Fun” works here because the company features tons of colorful images of smiling people modeling the products—it’s on-brand.

Second, the emojis-as-bullet-points help clearly state the bio’s main areas of focus, particularly “FREE SHIPPING.” This is good for small businesses to highlight, especially if your main competitors don’t offer it.

Lastly, the branded hashtag, #PuraVidaBracelets, is a nice touch. Small-business retailers should consider implementing a personalized hashtag as a way to social-listen and reshare UGC across social while getting their brands’ names out there.

3. The Freckled Hen Farmhouse

best instagram bios - the freckled hen farmhouse

Created by lifestyle blogger Natalie Freeman and her husband Luke, The Freckled Hen Farmhouse is both a brick-and-mortar and online shopping destination. This general store has everything from home goods to local products to garden supplies.

Why This Instagram Bio Is Great

The Freckled Hen Farmhouse Instagram bio doesn’t cater to one audience over the other. Instead, it caters to both in-person and online shoppers.

The bio includes its store hours, local delivery options, and phone number. Additionally, the company plugs its rental cottage in the bio, adding more opportunities for loyal customers to spend money on the brand. Finally, it includes a Linktree link leading to its store website, newsletter sign-up page, and seasonal and year-round category pages.

If you’re a small business with an online and offline space, it’s a smart idea to speak to all your customers in your Instagram bio.

4. Lush Cosmetics

best instagram bios - lushcosmetics

Lush is a values-driven brand. Founded in London, the cosmetics company prides itself on fresh products, no unnecessary ingredients, and cruelty-free testing.

Why This Instagram Bio Is Great

Unlike our other examples, the Lush Cosmetics Instagram bio keeps it short and sweet, saying, “We’re creating a cosmetics revolution to save the planet,” followed by two emojis, its branded hashtag, and a Linktree link.

The message is direct, and words and phrases like “revolution” and “save the planet” feel bold and exciting coming from a makeup brand. Similarly, small brands can, and should, experiment with how they describe their company, as long as it feels relevant—otherwise, it will come off as confusing, or worse, inauthentic.

This bio is a good reminder, too, that just because you have more space doesn’t mean you need to use it. That in itself is a departure from jam-packed bios and even a bit surprising. Our brains like novelty, so don’t be afraid to do things a little differently for your business.

5. Later

best Instagram bios - later instagram page bio

Later is a leading Instagram marketing platform. The company boasts millions of users, and social media professionals, brands, and influencers can use the tool to manage content across Instagram, Pinterest, and even TikTok.

Why This Instagram Bio Is Great

There are a lot of things working for the Later Instagram bio. First, the company does a great job expanding the copy beyond its name to better reach users on the platform who may be looking for this type of service (social marketing platform).

By improving its Instagram SEO with relevant keywords, the brand increases its chances of being found. Plus, “Later” is a common word, so it’s good to add more context for searchers.

Next, the company states it’s the “#1 Marketing Platform for Instagram.” Piggy-backing off SEO, this is good to market to potential users.

Small businesses can optimize their bios with applicable keywords and feature brag-worthy accomplishments to get readers’ attention.

6. ALOHA

best Instagram bios - aloha instagram page bio

ALOHA produces USDA organic, vegan, and gluten-free protein powders, drinks, and foods. The brand shares plenty of recipes and UGC on its site and social media platforms.

Why This Instagram Bio Is Great

Taking a page out of Later’s book, the ALOHA Instagram bio asserts the company as its industry’s leader. While the brand keeps the copy to a minimum, it focuses on the keywords its customers care about, like “organic” and “plant-based.”

ALOHA also changed its profile picture to showcase it was named a Certified B Corporation. These companies must meet strict social and environmental standards, among others. If your small business has a prestigious distinction or won a big award, it’s worth highlighting it in this space.

7. Lokal

best Instagram bios - lokal hotel instagram page bio

A husband-and-wife duo created the Lokal Hotel after dreaming up ways they could improve the Airbnbs where they’d stayed and the hospitality experience in general. This home-away-from-home brand offers hyper-local lodging in the Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey regions.

Why This Instagram Bio Is Great

The Lokal Hotel Instagram bio covers a lot of ground. It includes a specific category, “boutique hotels | cabins” instead of just “hotel,” so those seeking this particular experience can find it, and expands on this with “apartment suites & homes.”

On top of the location and branded hashtag, the bio points out the Linktree where guests can book their stay, sign up for its newsletter, and more.

Other small businesses, especially those in this space, can take a few cues from this bio. By keeping all this information centralized, you could keep potential guests engaged and on your page longer.

8. GOODEE

best Instagram bios - goodee instagram page bio

GOODEE is a top online marketplace. Designers and entrepreneurs Byron and Dexter Peart founded the company to curate brands that not only looked good but sparked good too. As such, they only work with artisans who prioritize positive environmental or social impact.

Why This Instagram Bio Is Great

The GOODEE Instagram bio lays out what the business is (a curated marketplace) and its focus (good design meets good purpose). Like ALOHA, pointing to the company’s B Corp designation and 1% for the Planet certification aligns with its mission and signals to consumers what’s important to the business.

This is both sincere and savvy: 72 percent of U.S. consumers believe it’s important “to buy from companies that reflect their values,” according to Retail TouchPoints.

So, if your small business is values-driven, don’t shy away from including that in your marketing and messaging. After all, the customers you seek are also seeking you.

9. Rumpl

best Instagram bios - rumpl instagram page bio

Rumpl operates in the outdoor-industry space and helps keep campers and adventurers warm. After a successful Kickstarter launch, the company continues to grow and expand its inventory.

Why This Instagram Bio Is Great

There’s beauty in the simplicity of the Rumpl Instagram bio. It mentions its best-known item—blankets— and gives a brief, relatable description of the materials in them. The company also mentions its “Shark Tank” appearance and includes a branded hashtag and link to a current giveaway.

Instagram contests are popular and can help accelerate your brand growth. This is especially true if you partner with another company and can leverage each other’s audiences. It’s something your small business should consider (and then promote in your Instagram bio, of course!).

10. Letterfolk

best Instagram bios - letterfolk instagram page bio

This home-decor biz produces letter boards, tile sets, paper goods, and more. A married couple founded Letterfolk, and the company has developed a big following thanks to its thoughtfully designed products and national press hits.

Why This Instagram Bio Is Great

Instead of using the company’s Instagram bio to direct followers to use certain hashtags, Letterfolk invites its followers to check them out, saying, “See LF products in the wild,” followed by relevant hashtags. Using this hashtag, consumers can view how other people use and display their products. By making this tweak, it feels more community-oriented right away.

Another notable distinction: It’s stated in the bio that Joanna and Johnny are not only a husband-and-wife team but also a small business.

Since some shoppers specifically look to buy from smaller companies, this is an excellent way to get in front of potential shoppers. If you don’t call-out your small-biz standing in your bio, consider adding it and see if there’s an increase in engagement.

5 Tips for Creating the Best Instagram Bio for Your Small Business

Now that you’ve seen examples of some of the best Instagram bios for businesses, let’s recap the top ways to make yours stand out.

1. Use Creative Elements

Some brands add emojis to the mix in their Instagram bios. Aside from highlighting your brand’s personality, these icons can help influence readability. This could help your messaging stand out. So, you might want to try cutting back on copy and increasing white space by including emojis.

Brands can also change up font styles in their Instagram bios. This adds variety. However, be careful to make sure the script is readable, and don’t overuse it.

2. Show Your Brand’s Personality

You want to capture your brand’s personality in your Instagram bio. Experiment with copy, emojis, and other creative ways to show it off.

Don’t be afraid to play around a bit and have fun with your followers, either. Drizly’s Instagram bio comes to mind:

best Instagram bios - drizly instagram page bio

Be careful not to mistake “social media” as an excuse to depart from your familiar brand voice, though. For example, a hospital using laughing emojis in its bio wouldn’t be a fit—and might even make patients nervous! Alternatively, seeing emojis on the BarkBox Instagram bio feels completely in-line with the company’s fun reputation.

Bottom line: Know your brand and know your audience.

3. Share User-Generated Content

You don’t need to develop a campaign to create a hashtag—though it doesn’t hurt. Creating a hashtag unique to your small business is a good way to create brand awareness and help build your community.

Craft a hashtag that includes your company name or captures your ethos. For instance, if you think #JustDoIt, chances are, your brain goes to Nike.

From there, you can encourage your customers to include your hashtag in their social posts and reshare that user-generated content (UGC) on your channels.

You can also repurpose UGC for stories and other content. Incentivize users to share posts with your hashtag for discounts, contests, or just the opportunity of possibly featuring them on your platforms.

4. Clearly State Your Brand’s Purpose

You only have so many characters to work with in your Instagram bio. Use this space to clearly state what your small company does and be direct in your ask. For example:

  • Do you want to build a community? Include your branded hashtag and ask followers to use it.
  • Are you looking for newsletter subscribers? Include a link in your bio.
  • Are you looking to increase sales? Add a Linktree pointing to multiple product pages so users can find what they’re looking for.

Whatever your goal, be clear about it.

5. Include Links, Hashtags, and More

You have a hard stop when it comes to characters within the bio itself. However, there are options to expand on more details about your business and even cross-promote your other companies or personal pages. Consider including the following:

  • intentional calls to action (CTAs)
  • Instagram handles for your other related brands
  • your location and hours of operation if you own a physical store
  • your contact information
  • your branded hashtag
  • links to current promotions or contests
  • a Linktree (or similar) link leading readers to other content

Conclusion

The best Instagram bios authentically match your brand and serves your users.

Checking out the bios of the pages we’ve listed can help you get a feel for what’s working across the board. Also, see what your competitors are doing, and don’t be afraid to experiment with different formats.

Social media is an important aspect of digital marketing. Our agency can help if you are having trouble developing a social media strategy. We also offer assistance with content marketing and SEO.

Once you’ve polished your page, Instagram can be a powerful marketing tool for your business. So don’t skimp on putting the work into it.

What do you like about your favorite brands’ Instagram bios?

10 E-Commerce Examples of the Best Instagram Bios

If you run an e-Commerce brand, there’s a good chance you have an Instagram account. How much time do you spend on your Instagram bio, though? You probably spend far more time crafting great-looking posts and engaging stories. 

How long should E-commcerce companies spend writing their best Instagram bios? 

It’s important to have an excellent bio since it’s one of the first things a user sees when they visit your Instagram profile. Often, however, it’s often an afterthought for brands that care more about their posts than their profile as a whole. 

That’s a mistake. Bios aren’t user’s first impressions of your brand and set the tone of the whole account. Your brand’s bio needs to grab the user’s attention and get your core USPs across as quickly as possible. 

Doing so is far from easy, however. That’s why I’ve drawn up a list of 10 of the best Instagram bios so you can see how it’s done. 

10 Best Instagram Bios for E-commerce Businesses

When in doubt, I find it best to look at what’s working for the top brands in the industry. As they say, good artists copy, great artists steal. 

Below, I’ve compiled some of the best ecommerce Instagram bios out there right now and highlighted what makes them so effective.

1. BarkBox

Instagram bios- barkbox example

BarkBox is a monthly subscription box of dog treats and toys serving over one million dogs across the country. You knew that already, though, from their very descriptive Instagram bio. 

That’s one of the reasons this bio is so good. Even if you’ve never heard of BarkBox before, you know exactly what they sell as soon as you read the first line. 

That’s not the only reason I love it. BarkBox also does a great job of pointing consumers to other profiles they might like. Parent company Bark gets a shoutout, as does Super Chewer, the company’s extra tough toys. It’s topped off by a hashtag that shows users how they can get involved by posting their own content. 

2. MVMT

Best Instagram Bios for E- commerce Businesses - MVMT

MVMT sells premium yet affordable, American watches, sunglasses, and other accessories. They have a big Instagram following, and for a good reason. Not only do the brand’s posts look cool, but almost all of them are shoppable with the click of a button. 

MVMT begins its bio with an emotive call to action that sums up what the brand stands for. Like BarkBox, MVMT uses hashtags to encourage audience engagement and point users to a sister brand. Most important of all is the call to action at the end of the bio, which tells users about their brand new watch range. 

3. Pela Case

Best Instagram Bios for Ecommerce Businesses - Supply

Pela Case makes the world’s first compostable phone case, along with several other accessories like sunglasses, watch straps, and AirPod cases. 

Sustainability is key for this brand, and they use the globe and seedling emojis to make that point very clear. They also use emojis to highlight their CTA link as well as bullet points to give the bio a clear layout. 

The succinct way that Pela sum up their USPs also makes this bio stand out. The most important facts about the brand are made clear in the first two lines. If that weren’t enough, they also update the bio regularly. In the screenshot above, for instance, they’ve got an International Women’s Day-related CTA. 

4. Supply

Best Instagram Bios for E-commerce Businesses - Supply

Supply is a razor and grooming company that was featured on Shark Tank. Humor is the order of the day for Supply. Their bio lists a series of real-life reviews by well-known organizations and ends with a self-deprecating one-liner that shows the brand doesn’t take itself too seriously. 

Supply doesn’t stop there, however. Their CTA also uses humor and intrigue to increase the likelihood that users click on their URL significantly. This brand knows their target audience loves this kind of humor, and they execute it perfectly. 

5. Who Gives a Crap

Best Instagram Bios for Ecommerce Businesses - Who Gives a Crap

Who Gives a Crap sells bamboo and recycled toilet paper. It also donates 50 percent of its profits to improve sanitation in the developing world. 

Who Gives a Crap is another brand that uses emojis to grab user’s attention and structure their bio. In doing so, they’re able to get across a huge amount of information in a small space. You know what they do, why they do it, and the product’s USPs. You even know where they ship, too. It’s not even a struggle to read it!

6. Brooklinen

Best Instagram Bios for Ecommerce Businesses - Brooklinen

Brooklinen is a DTC brand selling luxury bedding. They put comfort and quality before everything else and that shines through in their stylish bio and account. 

At first glance, Brooklinen’s bio may not look particularly special. There are no emojis, for instance, but that’s because they aren’t on brand. Instead, there is a very specific call to action, which is to visit their store in person. 

This is what makes Brooklinen’s Instagram bio so good, in my opinion. While other brands focus on driving you to their online store, they show they aren’t just an ecommerce store—you can see their products in person, too. 

7. Haus Laboratories

Best Instagram Bios for E-commerce Businesses - Haus Laboratories

Haus Laboratories is the beauty brand from Lady Gaga and that’s not something they hide in their Instagram bio. That’s a good thing since it’s probably the brand’s biggest selling point. 

Next, the brand sends a powerful and emotive message to readers, showing they aren’t just a faceless make-up brand. Finally, they use emoji to capture Lady Gaga’s tone of voice and point users in the direction of their CTA. A Gaga-reat job all around.

8. MeUndies

Best Instagram Bios for Ecommerce Businesses - MeUndies

MeUndies sells what they claim to be the most comfortable underwear in the world. Their branding is fun, bold, and colorful, and they make a point of getting that across in their Instagram bio. 

A clever pun in the first line gets the bio off to a great start and is quickly followed up by a cheeky peach emoji. The heart emoji is in an on-brand color and highlights the fact that a new design is on sale (a common feature of MeUndies). If that weren’t enough, another emoji points users in the direction of the CTA link where users can shop. Peachy. 

9. The Sill

Best Instagram Bios for Ecommerce Businesses - The Sill

The Sill sends indoor potted plants directly to your door. Their offering is all about making your home look great and their branding reflects the elegance plants can add to your home. 

Their Instagram bio drives that brand promise home in the first line. Selling “the best looking plants on the internet” is a bold claim, but it’s the kind of claim that will make users spend time browsing their posts to find out. That’s a win right there.

The Sill also uses a hashtag to let consumers browse user-generated content for added social proof and uses an emoji to break up the copy. A beautiful job all around. 

10. American Giant

Best Instagram Bios for Ecommerce Businesses - MeUndies

American Giant is an American clothing brand that aims to make better clothes right here in the U.S.A. This belief in making better quality products, with better materials, and better techniques is one of its core USPs.

No wonder their tagline is mentioned in the very first line of the bio. They reinforce that tagline with a crystal clear message about making high-quality clothing in the U.S. and back that up with an American flag emoji, in case there was any doubt. 

The bio is topped off with call-to-action encouraging users to create their own content with the brand’s hashtag and a link to their store. 

How to Create the Best Instagram Bio for Your Ecommerce Business

You’ve seen how the biggest brands in the industry do it; now it’s time to create your own. Here are a few tips to help you get it right. 

1. Include a Call to Action

Is it a piece of marketing material if it doesn’t have a call to action? I don’t think so, and your Instagram bio definitely is one. 

Instagram followers shouldn’t land on your profile and ask “now what?” Instead, give them a clear and obvious action to take. It’s even more important on Instagram because your bio is the only place in your profile where you can place an outbound link. Don’t waste it!

Calls to action for E-ommerce brands could be to visit your store, shop your profile or sign up for your email list. You don’t have to stop at one CTA, either. You could recommend users follow your sister brand’s account (like BarkBox), visit your store (Brooklinen), or get in touch with support (The Sill). 

2. Incorporate a Brand Hashtag

Hashtags are a great way to encourage user-generated content (UGC).  Encouraging UGC should be one of your top goals on Instagram. User posts featuring your products are great at generating buzz and providing much-needed social proof. 

Adding a hashtag also gives consumers a way to quickly search your own and other users’ posts about your brand, which is great for users who aren’t familiar with who you are and what you sell. 

2. Be Creative

Trust me, when you look at dozens of Instagram profiles a day, the creative ones really shine through. The more your bio stands out from the crowd, the more likely users are to stick around, view your posts, and maybe even hit follow. 

It could be how you layout your profile, what you say, how you say it, or the emojis you use. While you should definitely learn lessons from the brands above, please don’t copy them completely. Forge your own path. 3.

3. Show Your Brand’s Personality

One of the best ways to be creative is to let your brand’s personality shine through in your bio. You’ve worked hard to develop your brand’s unique tone of voice, so make sure you use it when crafting your copy. 

It won’t just give new users insight into the kind of brand you are, it will make regular customers feel at home. 

4. Be Concise

You only have 150 characters to work within an Instagram bio, so brevity is essential. Don’t waste time explaining who you are. That’s what your name and profile image are for. The focus should be on the what and the why. 

You need to explain what sets you apart from competitors and what your brand stands for if you want users to hit follow. If it’s not obvious to users, they won’t waste time trying to work you out. 

6. Make It Readable

While you may not have many characters to use in your Instagram bio, you do have plenty of space to play with. Make sure you use it. 

Rather than write two or three sentences in a row (however witty or concise they are), try adding line breaks or emojis into your bio to make it as easy to read as possible.

A bullet point list of short, punchy sentences is much easier to read. Don’t forget to prioritize your layout for mobile devices, either. Very few people, if any, will be looking at your Instagram page on a laptop or desktop computer. 

7. Use Emojis

Emojis are a great hack to make your bio both readable and concise. They may not say one thousand words, but they can save a few dozen characters when used well. 

They are also a great way to break up your copy and help users see what your brand is about. 

Emojis don’t work for every brand, however, especially if you sell serious or business-orientated products. Even brands that don’t rely on humor (like American Giant) can use specific emojis in a subtle way. 

8. Add Keywords

I can feel you raising your eyebrows about using keywords on Instagram, but hear me out. While your profile name and handle help people to find you, Instagram will also use what you write in your bio to determine what your page is about. 

That makes it essential to have your most important keywords in there somewhere. Look at BarkBox, as an example. They have “toys, treats, and chews” in their bio for that reason. Pela Case has “compostable phone case” too.  

The good news is if you create a succinct and concise bio, you’ve probably included keywords already. If not, pick the one or two that are most important and include them in your first line. 

Conclusion

Instagram is probably the most valuable social media platform for E-commerce brands, but bios are regularly left as an afterthought.

Not your brand, though.  

You’ve seen some of the best Instagram bios and understand what features make their bios stand apart from the rest. Now it’s time to craft your own powerful bio that captures users’ attention and directs them to your store. 

Be concise, show your brand’s personality, and don’t forget to include a clear call to action. 

If you need help for developing your social media strategy (and content marketing and SEO), reach out. We can help you!

What steps are you going to take to improve your Instagram bio?