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Forrest Gumps mama was right when she compared the human experience to a box of assorted chocolates. Its true: You never know what youre gonna get. And these days, the same could be said of my LinkedIn feed.The social networkonce a bland haven for professional connections and job listingshas morphed in the influencer age. Its the only place on Will Smiths internet where youll find entrepreneurial bros preaching hustle culture alongside weirdly inappropriate overshares, clearly fabricated business allegories, and, yes, some personal news related to a new job or promotion. Its no wonder multiple publications have crowned LinkedIn as social medias king of the cringe. (Theres at least one Instagram account dedicated to it, too.)And yet every day Im right there lurking. My M.O. is the same as on every other platform: Im more consumer than creator. You wont find me all up in the videos on TikTok (Suge Knight would approve) and I stopped tweeting around the time the Tesla guy took over. Yet for all of the eye-rolling that my LinkedIn feed provokes, Ive recently come to a humbling realization: the most relentless brand builders, humblebraggers, and engagement farmers seem to be the ones landing opportunities while Im busy scrolling in silence. In this personal season of unemployment, its made me consider rebelling against my natural low-key demeanor and consistently putting myself out thereespecially with the September surge upon us.For the uninitiated, the September surge is that burst of hiring activity between Labor Day and Thanksgiving, right before everything slows down for the holidays. Hiring managers want seats filled so teams can power through Q4 and hit the ground running post-New Years Day. For job seekers, its the golden window. Miss it, and odds are youll still be writing cover letters come January.Normally, I would just keep my head down and continue cold applying. Ive always believed my work and my rep speak for themselves. The irony, of course, is that I work in marketing. My entire career has been about making noise for other peoples brands. Meanwhile, my own? Silent. If hypocrisy could pay rent, Id be set.Thats not to say I havent done well for myself by overshooting goals and being generally dope at my job. But if giving my victories and expertise the silent treatment has taken me this far, I cant help but wonder if my failure to constantly take to the digital mountaintops and big myself up is keeping me out of sight, out of mind. And ultimately, out of a job.As much as I hate to admit it, I know whats at the root of this reluctance: that nagging fear of judgment. Would folks size up my wins? Think Im too proud, too arrogant, too braggy? Will people look down on me during a chapter of struggle? Judge the open-to-work banner on my photo? I know its B.S. as I type it out, but that doesnt make it any less real in my mind. And it certainly doesnt fit the attention economy, where volume often matters more than value.I must admit, taking up digital space has previously worked in my favor. When I announced that I was back on the job market after being laid off, I quickly got two separate offers to tackle short-term copywriting projects. One LinkedIn connection even hit me up about a gig off nothing more than a birthday notification.The September surge dovetails with the Great Lock In, another trend that kicks off toward the end of summer but instead focuses on personal development and accomplishing goals. This year, Im getting in on the Gen-Z popularized movement and stepping up my self-promo. Because the truth is, being your own publicist isnt optional anymore. Ive watched peers land jobs, speaking gigs, mentorships, and adjunct professor roles because they werent afraid to shout themselves out. Meanwhile, Im imagining the opportunities Ive let pass by because I didnt want to be that guy. No more. So this September, Im rewriting the script. Im gonna reflect and remind folks of my past and present wins, highlight interesting peers and developments related to my field, and simply ask for help landing my next role without overthinking. The goal isnt to go viral; its to stop being invisible. If youre LinkedIn shy, let this be your push to do the same. Just dont be cringe, yo.
Category:
E-Commerce
As you sit in Monday morning traffic or attend yet another boring meeting, youre probably thinking there must be a better, more satisfying, and more profitable way to spend your time. The good news? There absolutely is. The internet has created all sorts of online business opportunities, and now anyone can access them easily and inexpensively. Here are 25 of the best online business opportunities that you can establish anywhere you can find a decent internet connection. Service-based businesses 1. Virtual assistant services Think you’re “just” organized? That skill is gold. Executives and entrepreneurs who are too busy to manage their own schedules and correspondence need reliable help to manage their calendars, emails, and administrative tasks. 2. Social-media management Since you already spend time scrolling through Instagram and TikTok, you can convert that activity into income by offering social-media management services to small businesses, many of which struggle to utilize it effectively and consistently. 3. Freelance writing Businesses require written content for their websites, communications inside and outside the organization, blog pages, and more. Your ability to write with clarity and persuasiveness opens up an endless stream of work opportunities. 4. Online tutoring or coaching Your unique expertise in a particular subject qualifies you to teach others through online tutoring and coaching. People will pay to receive specialized knowledge about calculus, guitar, anxiety management, and more through private video sessions. 5. Graphic design services The introduction of Canva and other AI-driven tools hasn’t eliminated the need for professional designers. Instead, it has increased the standards they must meet. Professional businesses require logos and marketing materials, as well as high-quality visual content. 6. Web development Every company needs a great website, but many businesses also need their sites to offer tailored features. Your development skills will be in demand regardless of whether you develop websites from scratch or utilize platforms like Webflow. 7. Digital-marketing consulting Small businesses well understand their need for help with SEO and online advertising yet face uncertainty about the initial steps to take. Your knowledge can be their breakthrough. 8. Online bookkeeping Numbers aren’t particularly glamorous, but they remain absolutely essential. Owners of small businesses will happily pay a professional to manage their financial records with accuracy. Content and education 9. Online course creation Dont give away your expertise for free through Facebook groups or Reddit. Turn it into a structured course and sell it over and over again. Platforms like Teachable make this surprisingly straightforward. 10. YouTube Building a YouTube audience takes time but your income streams will quickly multiply once you achieve success. Multiple revenue sources include ad earnings and sponsorships, along with affiliate earnings. 11. Podcast production Starting a podcast is a popular idea, but technical aspects scare most people away. Provide editing and production assistance to others or create a podcast in an area that interests you deeply. 12. Blog monetization Pick a topic that keeps you engaged for long discussions and maintain regular writing to monetize your blog. This revenue source includes advertising money followed by affiliate marketing earnings and, eventually, sales from your own products. 13. Stock photography Since you are taking tons of photographs wherever you go, why not make money by licensing them? Stock photo sites pay per download, because businesses always need authentic images. E-commerce and digital products 14. Drop-shipping store Through drop-shipping stores, businesses can sell products while suppliers manage fulfillment without maintaining any inventory. 15. Print-on-demand This involves creating personalized apparel and home goods which are printed and shipped directly to customers following their order placement. 16. Digital product sales Generate and market digital templates and printables, alongside software tools and mobile applications. 17. Amazon FBA Get the most out of your Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) business by using the companys fulfillment services for storing inventory and handling shipmentsallowing you to focus on sourcing products, marketing, and growing your business. 18. Subscription box curation This is a fun and potentially lucrative business where you can curate unique products. You can group anything from chocolate bars from around the world, to unique beauty items, to interesting tech gadgetsall for regular delivery to subscribed members. Technology and innovation 19. SaaS development Develop SaaS (software as a service) products that address particular business needs and generate revenue through ongoing subscription payments. 20. App development Develop mobile applications targeted at businesses or consumers, with revenue models based on sales or in-app purchases. 21. Online marketplace creation Develop niche online marketplaces to connect buyers with sellers and generate revenue from transaction fees. 22. Chatbot development Develop AI-driven chatbots to serve as automated customer support systems for companies. Specialized services 23. Translation services Deliver language translation solutions for written documents and digital content, including websites and multimedia files. 24. SEO audit services Boost business search engine rankings with technical reviews and actionable suggestions. 25. Online event planning Manage virtual conferences along with webinars and digital networking events for a variety of different organizational needs. By Peter Economy This article originally appeared on Fast Company‘s sister publication, Inc. Inc. is the voice of the American entrepreneur. We inspire, inform, and document the most fascinating people in business: the risk-takers, the innovators, and the ultra-driven go-getters that represent the most dynamic force in the American economy.
Category:
E-Commerce
Klarnas time has finally come. After postponing its plans to go public earlier this year, Swedish fintech company Klarna will IPO on Wednesday. The companyknown for its buy now, pay later servicesalong with some of its existing shareholders will offer more than 34 million shares, priced at $40 a piece. That could give it an overall value of around $15 billion. Thats a fall from the lofty $46 billion valuation it fetched four years ago at the height of the pandemic-fueled buy now, pay later rush. But despite the haircut, the company is on less frothy ground, and many investors are waiting with bated breath for the stock to start trading a full 20 years after it was founded. That includes Mattias Ljungman, cofounder and Managing Partner at Moonfire, who was one of the earlier investors in Klarna. In 2012, Ljungman was a cofounder and partner at Atomico, which has grown into one of Europes largest venture funds, and led the companys investment in Klarna during its Series E funding roundwhich pushed its valuation over $1 billion and into unicorn territory for the first time. Ljungman tells Fast Company that now, nearly a decade and a half since he led that investment at Atomico, he remembers that the companys founders were what initially attracted him to Klarna. Founding attraction The main thing was the founders. They had some really exciting people with the capability to drive transformative change in the market. Sebastian [Siemiatkowski, Klarnas cofounder and CEO] had it in spadeshes relentless, tenacious, passionate, and he was fixated on his vision, Ljungman says. Thats what was really remarkable, the ability to have that kind of focus. He adds that the company’s other cofounders, Niklas Adalberth and Victor Jacobsson, shared those traits as well, adding that they were and remain great people and great operators. What was cool was the opportunity that they sawmost people, when they think about payments, they think Visa or Mastercard. These are huge businesses, and they built out the rails for payment processing, he says. What Klarna did was build out a separate set of rails for commerce. Whats next for Klarna Ljungman sees Klarnawhich has become fairly ubiquitous as a payment option in many parts of the worldas a viable third player against the likes of Visa and Mastercard. For merchants, too, using Klarna has some advantages over those two. Specifically, he says, it gives them more insight into the behavior and purchase history of customers, allowing for targeted marketing efforts, and it can also help facilitate more sales by offering consumers a choice other than cash or using a card. Its become a sort of conversion engine for merchants, he says. Its almost like an ROI machine. He also notes that the IPOs timing comes as the markets, and world at large, have largely come to terms with the wild new changes and economic policies being implemented in the United States. The Trump administrations Liberation Day tariffs were a big reason the initial IPO date was pushed back, but now that the dust has settled, and other companieslike Circle and Figmahave also gone public, Klarnas leadership likely feels like this is the time to push ahead. In some ways, its a celebration of tech companies and the global belief in those companies. If anything, it proves the strength of the tech ecosystem, he says. As for Klarnas next big challenge? Its probably going to be breaking through in the U.S., where the company has just recently started to ramp up its efforts. That will take time and considerable resources, Ljungman warns, but having seen what the company has been able to do in other markets, he wouldnt bet against success. Ive seen that in market after market, they become really successful, he says. Every time, theyve nailed it.
Category:
E-Commerce
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