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8 Best Email Marketing Services & Platforms

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Forever Mogul Team
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Email marketing is one of the most effective ways to acquire and retain audiences and convert them into paying customers. It’s also one of the easiest ways to build brand awareness and category expertise. The question then becomes which email marketing platform should you choose for your email marketing.

You don’t need any expertise to start an email newsletter or email campaign. You can start with a small audience and slowly build your base. The trick is to choose the platform that suits your business needs from all the email marketing services out there. To help you do that, here are the eight best email marketing services and platforms.

8 best email marketing services & platforms

1. Mailchimp

Email Marketing Services

Mention email marketing and the first name that would come to most people’s minds is Mailchimp. Quite rightly so, considering the platform comes packed with all the features most businesses would need.

An easy-to-use interface, professional templates, and a drag and drop email builder are just some of the things that make it a top choice. Mailchimp also offers advanced features like A/B testing and custom list segmentation.

Price: Free for up to 2000 subscribers. Paid plans start at $9.99.

2. Hubspot

If you’re looking for an automated email marketing services platform, Hubspot should top your list. Their Marketing Hub gives you all the tools to grow your traffic and leads. These include emails, landing pages, live chat, social media ads, video, content, and SEO.

With Sales Hub, you would be able to schedule and track emails and meetings. It also gives you sales automation and predictive lead scoring. With Service Hub, you can use the platform’s ticket and support features.

Price: Free if you send up to 2000 emails a month. The paid plans start at $50 a month.

3. ConvertKit

For YouTubers and bloggers, ConvertKit is a top-notch email marketing services platform. It comes with list segmentation, A/B testing for subject lines, and the ability to personalize campaigns. If you’re holding a webinar or launching a product, you can use its specialized automation templates for greater optimization.

To improve conversions, you can use signup forms and landing pages that you can customize. If you want to see how your email sequence would look, the workflow editor will come in handy.

Price: The service is free if you only have up to 1000 subscribers. You’ll have to pay $29 per month for the premium plans.

4. MailerLite

Are you a beginner in email marketing? If so, MailerLite is what you should be looking at. Its drag-and-drop editor makes it easy for beginners to create email campaigns. The email marketing service also comes with a website builder, dedicated landing pages, and signup forms to help grow your subscriber base.

With segmentation and contact management, the platform makes it easy for anyone to get started. Along with reports and analytics, the service also comes with personalization and email automation based on user behavior.

Price: For up to 1000 subscribers, you’ll have to pay $10 per month.

5. Constant Contact

If you’re a small or medium-sized business that wants advanced features from your email marketing platform, Constant Contact should be your choice. Along with free email templates, it lets you automatically create branded templates based on your Facebook page or website.

With the Email Plus package, you’ll get tools for online donations, surveys, and multi-step automated email sequences. You can also create landing pages, a website, or even an online store. Importantly, you can also manage your social media activity, from scheduling posts to replying to comments.

Price: For up to 500 subscribers, the platform will charge you $20 a month.

6. ActiveCampaign

For those looking to take their email automation to the next level, ActiveCampaign has a host of advanced features. It offers up to five different versions for you to see which email will work better. You can also use contact data to personalize your emails with this email marketing services platform.

To ensure that your emails don’t go to the junk folder, the service has a spam tester. You can even collect data on your subscribers’ page visits and other actions online. With pre-made workflows, it’s easy to get started with the platform’s email automation services.

Price: Starts at $15 per month if you only have up to 500 subscribers.

7. AWeber

With a large collection of email templates and an intuitive drag-and-drop editor, AWeber has everything a beginner needs to start an email marketing campaign. But what makes the platform special is its AI-powered assistant for design. It will help you build on-brand and customized templates for your emails based on your social media accounts and website.

AWeber can also automate drip campaigns to welcome subscribers or launch a new product. There are also pre-made workflows that come with email templates for each stage of your campaign.

Price: Free for up to 500 subscribers. The pro version starts at $19 per month.

8. GetResponse

This is the platform for you if you’re a small business looking for a fully-equipped email marketing service. It has a vast collection of professionally made templates that comes with a drag-and-drop editor. This will make it easy to create emails in sync with your brand personality and design language.

You can collect customer data based on their interests and behaviors and use segmentation tools to personalize your campaigns. With GetResponse, your business will also be able to effortlessly send marketing campaigns along with transactional emails.

Price: $15 per month if you only have up to 1000 subscribers.

In short

Email marketing services are becoming popular because of their ease of use and exceptional scalability. From freelancers to small businesses to medium-sized enterprises, email marketing can serve everyone. Choosing any of these email marketing service platforms will add immense power to your digital marketing efforts, irrespective of the size of your business.

Christie’s to Offer The Famed ‘Red Cross Diamond’

By
Forever Mogul Team
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One of the largest diamonds in the world will soon be on auction at Christie’s next month.

A gorgeous 205.07-carat canary yellow diamond, dubbed “The Red Cross Diamond,” made its debut at Christie’s acution during World War I will be sold for the third time by the auction house in Geneva, Switzerland at Christie’s “Magnificent Jewels” sale on May 11. Prestimate between US$7.5 million and US$10.7 million.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale will go toward the International Committee of the Red Cross. “Part of the proceeds of the sale will benefit the International Committee of the Red Cross, for a cause that is even more poignant in the midst of current events,” François Curiel, chairman of Christie’s Europe and head of the luxury department, said in a statement.

“This is the third time in over 100 years for Christie’s to present this extraordinary canary yellow diamond of 205.07 carats,” said François Curiel, chairman of Christie’s Europe and head of its luxury department, in a statement. “This is a very special bond and tremendous honor.”

The Red Cross Diamond
“The Red Cross Diamond” 
Courtesy of Christie’s

Curiel called the Red Cross a “cause that is even more poignant in the midst of current events.”

The cushion-shaped diamond, cut from a 375-carat rough stone found in 1901 in a De Beers South African mine, is one of the largest diamonds in the world, according to Christie’s. After cutting and polishing, the yellow diamond features a distinctive shape of a Maltese cross, consisting of four “V”s on the top facet.

It first appeared at Christie’s London in April 1918, in an auction benefiting the Red Cross. The stone sold for $782,000 today (or £10,000) to London jewelry firm S.J. Phillips, while the entire sale netted approximately $3.9 million today (£50,000).

The jewel was offered for the second time by Christie’s in Geneva in 1973, going for roughly $4.7 million today (CHF 1.8 million) and returning it to private ownership, the auction house said.

“The Red Cross Diamond”  Christie's
“The Red Cross Diamond” 
Courtesy of Christie’s

Christie’s has staged sales in support of the Red Cross on numerous occasions over the last 100 years, many tied to major world crises. Benefit events were held at the auction house during World War I in 1918, World War II in 1940, the Sudanese Civil War in 1986, and the outbreak of wildfires in California in 2018.

Gagosian gallery also announced a sale benefiting a humanitarian aid organization. The gallery is producing a limited run of 500 silk scarves designed by artist Ed Ruscha, each of which bears the phrase “Science Is Truth Found Out,” and is priced at $1,200 a pop. All proceeds will go toward (RED), the organization established by Bono and Bobby Shriver in 2006, to support its effort in bringing pandemic relief to vulnerable communities around the world. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will match every dollar raised.

The largest white diamond to appear at auction
Courtesy of Christie’s

“The Red Cross Diamond” will highlight Christie’s sale of magnificent jewels on May 11 in Geneva. The sale’s top item is “The Rock,” a 228.31-carat white diamond with a presale estimate between US$20 million and US$30 million, the auction house announced previously.

Both gems will be on public exhibition at Christie’s New York galleries from April 29 to May 1.

Important Points to Understand When Starting an Etsy Business

By
Forever Mogul Team
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Setting up any kind of business can be a long and intensive process. However, you want to be sure that you are doing it correctly. The legal implication of society. You want to be sure that your business is set up properly so that you can make the most out of it. So this article aims to explain how you can make the most out of starting an Etsy business.

Capturing an Audience

The very first thing you need to do is to capture an audience. An attentive audience is essential to the success of any business, particularly a digital company such as this. Without customers, your company won’t be bringing any money in, and without bringing money in, your business will fail. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to help yourself effectively capture an audience.

Understanding Etsy Users. Understanding is the key to success in almost any situation in life, so make sure that you understand the average Etsy user. After all, Etsy is a website set up for a specific kind of business, and by meeting that kind of business, you can be sure that you will capture your audience more effectively.

Creating a Strong Brand. On top of this, build a strong brand. People like to believe that they belong to something, and through the creation of a strong brand, you can make your audience believe that they are part of a bigger whole.

Services to Consider

There are plenty of services that can also help you to run your business more effectively. As a new business owner, it is your job to make sure that you understand which services are going to be most useful to you and engage with them as necessary.

Shipping Services. Just because your business is digital doesn’t mean your products are going to be. So if you’re looking to make a good impact on your customers, you might want to invest in a shipping company that is more effective than the average delivery service. After all, there are companies out there that deal with horse transport, so, you should be able to find a high-quality international shipping service without too much difficulty.

Creating a Strong Storefront

Finally, the most important thing you can do to make sure that your Etsy company is effective and lucrative is to make sure that you have a strong, compelling storefront.

Consider Your Products. Think about your products. These are the main thing that your business sells and your main selling point. You want to be sure that they are meeting the needs of your Etsy customers. A good way to make sure you’re doing this is to do market research.

Presentation is Important. Beyond the products you are selling. However, the way that you present them and the prices that you set them at is an important aspect of your Etsy store. You need your stool page to look at inviting. After all, you want people to make a purchase. So you might want to consider working with a skilled designer to make your Etsy page look brilliant.

21 Passive Income Ideas to Help Build Wealth

By
Forever Mogul Team
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Any income is a good income. But moguls will tell you that nothing beats passive income. With the right passive income ideas, you can open an additional source to complement your primary income. The best part? You can do it without trading your time for money.

Passive income ideas help build your savings for times when the going might get tough. They also help meet your retirement goals while improving the overall quality of life. Since you’re not working long hours, you will be able to spend more time with your loved ones.

But it does take some work

Passive income doesn’t mean that there’s no work needed. It’s not money from nothing. You will have to build something initially, maintain it, update it, and constantly add value to it. But it’s not a second job where you’re doubling your work hours.

If you’re wondering where to start, here are 21 passive income ideas you can use to start earning extra money in 2022. With a bit of preparation and commitment in the initial stages, any of these passive income ideas can significantly add to your revenue over time.

Active Income vs. Passive Income

The two main types of income are passive and active:

Passive income, also sometimes called residual income, is income from a source other than an employer or contract. Passive income sources includes, money earned from interest, dividends, rental property, investment portfolios, and online income. 

Active income, also known as earned income, is income from a part-time or full-time job or from performing a task or service. Active income sources includes, hourly wages, salaries, consultating and freelancing services, and commissions.

Passive Income and Active Income

21 Passive Income Ideas for 2022

1. Rent out a property

If you don’t have a property to rent, you can explore investing in rental properties. But do it with caution after understanding the total investment needed and the returns you will get after making room for the mortgage, taxes, and other expenses. Remember that while it’s a stable passive income idea, the larger economic trends can affect it.

2. Rent out a spare room

You don’t need a whole property to rent out. If you have an extra room, you can rent it out through a rental firm like Airbnb. This doesn’t require any large initial investment but you would be expected to maintain it and ensure that the guests have a pleasant experience. Among passive income ideas, this is an easily doable one for those starting out.

3. Rent out your car

Don’t use your car that much or have an extra vehicle? How about renting it out? You can do it through platforms like Turo or directly offer it for weekend drives. With services like Wrapify, you can let advertisers use your car and get paid. Another way to make money from your car is by letting someone use it for Uber or Lyft.

4. Rent out unused space

Got a garage or an empty room? Both individuals and businesses are looking for space to store everything from business inventory to RVs. All you have to do is sign up on platforms like Neighbor or StoreAtMyHouse. These services will take care of liability issues and manage payments for you.

5. Start an online course

The pandemic has accelerated the growth of online courses. There are several platforms where you can offer your course. It could be carpentry or cryptocurrencies but if you can add value, you will find an audience. The good thing about building a community through your course is that you can sell other things to them.

6. Offer digital products

Can you write a digital book on a specific topic that customers would be interested in? You can sell them as PDFs, digital books, or templates. You only have to write them once and if people find value, there will be a market for it. From wireframes to flowcharts, there’s a lot you can offer online.

7. Sell digital guides

Do you have expertise in a particular field? Maybe it’s related to your career or something that you picked up along the way. Start by researching available options and then write a how-to digital guide targeting a specific group. There are several seller platforms like Gumroad that you can use to sell them.

8. Start a blog

Yes, blogging is overcrowded but if you have something unique to share with your audience, you can be successful. Find your niche, start writing regularly, and be active on social media to drive visitors to your blog. You can monetize your blog by placing ads, selling digital products, or through affiliate marketing.

9. Start affiliate marketing

Affiliate marketing is another popular passive income idea used by those with online audiences. Once you have a sizable group of followers on your blog, you can mention products or services and direct users to those sellers. Once they make a purchase, you stand to get a commission from the sales.

10. Sell photos online

Why post your photos to social media platforms when you can earn money from them? Websites like Shutterstock or Pexels will pay you for your photos if they look professional and if there’s interest in them.

11. Sell designs online

If you’re good at designing, you can sell them online to create a source of passive income. It could be a logo, website, template, font, or even illustration. Upload them on websites like ThemeForest and 99designs and you can put your designs in front of digital agencies and businesses.

12. Earn from online shopping

E-commerce platforms like MyPoints, Swagbucks, and Rakuten give you cash back for your online shopping. With every purchase, you get cashback points that will help you earn money.

13. Become a social media influencer

This may not happen overnight but if you work at it, you will be able to make money from your social media channels. The key is to regularly deliver exciting content and engage with your followers. Once you have thousands of followers, you can tie up with brands to recommend their products in your posts and earn money from them.

14. Buy and sell websites

Many people are unaware of this highly lucrative passive income idea. There are several marketplaces where you can buy underperforming websites. If you can work on them and resell them for a higher margin, you will earn high profits. Maybe you won’t have to resell a website if you find ways to generate revenue from it.

15. Start a YouTube channel

The trick here is to find an area that doesn’t have too many competitors and then churn out videos on it. Remember that you don’t have to be an expert but only provide interesting views or easy-to-understand tutorials on a topic. And forget high-quality edits or professional shoots. You can start as an amateur and that’s what people mostly expect. Once you build your audience, you can make money from ads, affiliate marketing, and products.

16. Start a podcast

Contrary to popular belief, podcasting still has a lot to offer for those starting out. The key, like with everything else in content creation, is to differentiate yourself through domain, tone, and manner. Building a sizable audience will take time but it will prove to be beneficial since you can sell several things to this community. From sponsorships to online products, the potential market is huge for successful podcasters.

17. Sell audiobooks

There’s a growing segment of consumers who prefer audiobooks to other forms. Why not start catering to this set of users? Start small with a tutorial on a subject with lots of searches. Once you find those keywords, record audiobooks answering those questions.

18. Invest in businesses

Investing isn’t just for millionaire venture capitalists or financial institutions. Several platforms like Mainvest offer investment opportunities where you can search for startups and small businesses to invest in. You can start small with as little as $100 and become an investor in a business. If it takes off, you will earn profits without having to manage the business. It will also allow you to diversify your portfolio.

19. Lend to your peers

Funding Circle, LendingClub, and Prosper are some of the platforms through which you can lend to both individuals and small businesses. You get interest on your loan but the process does come with a certain risk. To minimize that, make sure that you check the data on prospective borrowers and spread your investments across multiple small loans. Track your payments and once you’re sure about the credibility of the borrower, you can increase the loan amount.

20. Build an app

No, you don’t need any extensive coding background since there are no-code platforms that will make it easy for you to develop an app. You can also partner with developers to roll out apps. But it’s highly competitive and you will have to spend a lot of time and effort in the initial days.

21. Invest in stocks

There will be a learning curve when you understand how the stock market works. But if you can devote some time to understanding it and discover undervalued companies with great potential, you stand to earn passive income for years. You can either make money through dividends or sell the stocks when they rise in value.

In short

If you have the right strategy, understand your market, and offer something different from your competitors, you can easily build a passive income stream that will serve you for years

Bentley Bentayga Space Edition

By
Forever Mogul Team
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Bentley Motors, the most sought-after luxury car brand globally, has revealed a one-off model of its 2022 Bentley Bentayga for one special customer.

Additionally, it features Bentley’s Blackline Specification option, which adds gloss black exterior trims. The car’s carbon fiber has been accentuated by an Orange Flame color, which, according to Bentley, “takes inspiration from comet dust trails across the night sky.”

The Space Edition is said to be inspired by the Space Coast in Florida, which is home to the Kennedy Space Centre and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Bentley

The exterior is painted in a shade called Cypress, a metallic grey, with green undertones that date back to the first-generation Bentley Continental GT launched in 2003. The car also features orange accents inspired by dust trails led by comets. The exterior evokes the shade of the moon’s surface with the metallic grey and green undertones, while the body includes the blackline specification that replaces the usual chrome trim.

Bentley Motors

The interior received the same kind of treatment, as it too got a fully custom color scheme. That orange from the outside carries over to the inside, and it’s found all over the dash. Similarly, there’s also a Galaxy Stone trim throughout the interior.

The car’s interior also gets a Beluga and Porpoise styling option, bespoke treadplates depicting the planets of the solar system, and orange stitching on the bezels and upholstery. The gear lever and steering wheel also feature bright orange trimmings.

A continual space theme is evident throughout the car’s design, including a detailed solar system that can be seen illuminated on the doorsills. Utilizing black satin speaker grilles and illuminated branding, the car’s interior is meant to resemble a sky lit up by stars.

While the design is completely custom for the aesthetic, the vehicle remains the same, hitting 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 306 km/h. T

This one-of-one model is a special commission for a Bentley Orlando dealer in Florida. The “Space Edition” is among the 100 customization projects Mulliner has worked on so far in 2022.

The Bentayga Speed comes with four drive modes: Comfort, Sport, Bentley, and Custom. Putting the car in Sport mode enhances the response from that eight-speed transmission.

More Photos

7 Different Types of Income Streams

By
Forever Mogul Team
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What’s the difference between moguls and the rest? Multiple income streams! While ordinary people and even some entrepreneurs are content with a single income stream, moguls generate revenue from several types of income streams. They know that growth and stability come from diversification.

Most people are content with their income stream primarily because they’re unaware of the multiple ways in which they can earn money. Once you understand the different types of income streams, you’re opening yourself to significant amounts of passive income. The key to that is the diversification of income streams.

Why moguls diversify

Moguls know that working hard and spending late nights and weekends isn’t a permanent solution. This strategy is the default mode of most people. But the truly independent and successful know that revenue shouldn’t be tied to the time spent generating it. What’s important here is that you won’t be trading your time for money for most of these income streams.

The second reason why diversification is important is that it makes you secure. As we have seen from the past two years, anything can happen. Even if you excel in your business or career, relying on only one income stream substantially increases your risk. Diversification increases your overall income and reduces your dependence on any one stream of income.

Thirdly, multiple income streams significantly improve the quality of your life. Since you’re not working hard for additional revenue, you won’t be compromising on your other priorities. By diversifying, you will be able to spend more time with your loved ones or on your hobbies or personal projects. This is how you achieve an abundant life with a work-life balance.

Now that you know the importance of diversification, here are seven different types of income streams that will help you diversify, earn more, and enjoy a superior quality of life.

Income Streams
7 Different Types of Income Streams

7 types of income streams for moguls

1. Earned income

Earned income is the income you earn from a job. For the vast majority of people, this is the only income stream, and their only goal is to hold onto it and increase it over time. What affects your earned income are the sector you operate in, your organization’s stability and growth prospects, your willingness to work hard, and your relationship with your superiors.

Another way to describe earned income is that this is what you earn for trading your time. Moguls know that depending solely on this will create problems. At some point, you will reach an upper limit of what you can potentially earn. This could be due to your seniority or the performance of your company.

While earned income will make your life comfortable in the short run, it will also blind you to available opportunities. Since you’re confident of the next month’s income through an assured salary, you may not have any incentive to start something on your own or think of other types of income streams.

2. Profit income

This is when you move out of the comfort zone of job security and start selling a product or service. Profit is the difference between the manufacturing and marketing costs and the selling price. You can either manufacture the product yourself or be a reseller for products or services that others make as moguls know. 

Profits are for entrepreneurs. Most people believe that they need large investments to start a business. This isn’t true. You can start small and slowly grow. You can also create a business with someone else’s funds if you can convince investors of the potential of your idea.

But starting a business comes with risks. It would take some time for the venture to generate revenue, and you would need to spend a lot of time on your business, especially in the early stages. Moguls are aware of these risks and willing to do the necessary work. Many start their businesses while being employed elsewhere.

3. Interest income

Everyone knows the concept of interest when they are the ones paying it. Whether it’s the interest on credit cards or personal loans, most people understand how it works. But moguls also know that interest can work in your favor.

The most common way to earn interest income is by saving money in your bank. But there are also other sources like government bonds that give you interest for the money you invest. What makes it an excellent source of additional income is that interest is a passive source of income. You don’t have to trade your time or effort to earn it.

If you think that interest rates from banks are too low and that three percent, for example, isn’t much, you should know about the power of compounding. Over years, your initial savings or investment can significantly grow as you’ll be earning interest on interest. Do remember that for compounding to work, you shouldn’t withdraw the interests you earn.

4. Dividend income

How about an income stream that gives you passive income and ownership of a company? Dividend income is what you earn for your investments in a company by becoming a shareholder. If the company generates profits, you will get dividend income based on the number of shares you own.

Companies usually declare dividends at the end of the year. By smartly investing in high-performing companies on ex-dividend dates, you can earn more from this income stream than what you would earn through interest income. While there is a risk in investing in companies, if you do your homework, you can make this a dependable source of passive income

An advantage of dividend income is that you will also be building your assets. If the company performs well, its share price will rise, which would increase the value of your assets. It’s an effective way to generate returns and build assets at the same time. That’s why moguls are interested in the power of dividend income.

5. Rental income

Just like interest income, most people are familiar with the concept of rental income. Simply put, it’s the fee you receive when others rent an asset of yours. It could be a property or even a vehicle. One of the most common passive streams of income, unfortunately, this isn’t for everyone when starting out.

Why is it difficult to generate a rental income? For starters, you need to invest in an asset. This would require a significant amount of money. Unless it’s a family property, it would be difficult, for example, to buy a home and then rent it out. It’s also impossible to start small when purchasing a property. 

Secondly, it’s difficult to turn an asset into liquid cash when needed. If you urgently need cash or need to invest in a promising business, you may have to spend weeks if not months to find a buyer for your asset at the price you demand. The third reason is that while being a passive source of income, you will be required to maintain the property or vehicle. This will cost money, time, and effort.

6. Capital gains income

Dividend income is one form of revenue that you can get by being a shareholder of a company. The other way is through capital gains. This is the difference in the money you receive when your asset goes up in value. While this is usually associated with shares, it can also be applied to other kinds of assets.

Let’s say that you bought the shares of a newly listed startup at $20. A year later, the share price has gone up to $40. The difference of $20 is your capital gains. Similarly, if a property that you bought for $250,000 is sold at $350,000, your capital gains will be $100,000.

Different countries have different rates of taxes for capital gains. In some instances, your tax liability will reduce with the duration of your shareholding. Even if you have to pay taxes on capital gains, there are ways to minimize them.

7. Royalty income

If you can design or create something original that others want to use, you can charge a royalty for the usage. This usually happens in the music industry. Whenever a record company sells an album or a song, the musicians behind it get a percentage of the revenue.

The beauty of this income stream is that it can continue for decades. If people love what you create, your children and grandchildren also may get royalty income from that.

Royalty income isn’t merely from direct sales of the asset. In the case of music, for example, whenever a track is used in a television commercial, the musician behind it would get royalty income from it.

In short

Knowing about different types of income streams will reveal opportunities to make substantial passive income without having to trade your time. It will also help you diversify your investments and build your assets over time.

African Startups Represent the Next & Final Frontier for Venture Capital

By
Forever Mogul Team
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0

Asia’s economy is growing exponentially, anchored by China, Japan, and India, with the rest of the continent moving forward thanks to technological innovations and e-commerce juggernauts fueling growth across all economic sectors.

Africa is the last continent yet to realize the enormous benefits of capital investments in startups. Growth has been traditionally slow on this continent, but that’s been changing over the past ten years as international companies from the United States, Europe, and Asia have all invested in African nations.

And these investments go beyond the typical powerhouse companies based in South Africa.

African Startup Venture Capital by the Numbers

Business Insider notes African startups raised a record $4.65 billion in venture capital in 2021, twice the amount from 2020, and that was despite the global pandemic gripping the world.

Most of these investments are in the fintech realm, says TechCrunch. The report notes that startup capital may have reached $5 billion in 2021, with nearly two-thirds of the funding (62 to 63 percent) going to fintech firms.

And these were just the numbers that were announced. We don’t know how much higher these numbers could actually be. There is some disparity between the numbers of actual investments, depending on which company compiles the figures.

As many as 240 deals were not disclosed in 2021. The number of deals in 2021 rose 25 percent compared to deals in 2020.

Most venture capitals went to firms in four counties: Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, and Egypt. These make sense as they are some of the most stable countries on the continent with vibrant labor forces willing to work.

The top 20 deals of 2021 captured a whopping 65 percent of the year’s funding, many of which earned more than $100 million in a single funding round.

Not only do these numbers showcase how important Africa is on the global stage, but it also shows the trust and willingness of venture capital firms to bring more of their cash flow into African countries.

Zipline’s Logistics & Drone Deliveries

African Startups

Zipline began as a company delivering much-needed medical supplies through drones.

In 2021, the company raised a remarkable $250 million in venture capital to build its instant delivery service.

Zipline started in 2014 by delivering vital medical supplies in Rwanda and Ghana. It manufactures the drones from scratch, using proprietary onboard computers, guidance systems, launch and recovery infrastructure to make sure the drones get where they need to in a hurry.

Its paradigm came out of necessity because Zipline realized off-the-shelf parts weren’t good enough for what they wanted to accomplish. Undeterred, they build their own systems.

Although the technology is there to make incredible drones that deliver goods accurately and very quickly, CEO Keller Rinaudo says it’s the relationships to build a logistics network that is vital to Zipline’s success.

Right now, Zipline is looking to partner with telehealth companies to deliver prescription medications to patients. Eventually, they would like to move beyond healthcare and go into other areas of deliverable goods.

In terms of FAA approval for the United States, Zipline has an advantage in that they have millions of data points that could go a long way to getting operational approval over American skies.

Andela Finds Engineering Talent

African Startups

Andela is a fully remote company that pairs the right engineering talent with companies looking to hire people to take on engineering projects all over the world.

Initially started in Lagos, Nigeria, in 2014, Andela received $250 million from SoftBank to propel its funding to over $1.5 billion in 2021.

The firm started with seven African countries before moving to 37 at the beginning of its global expansion. Then the pandemic hit, and Andela moved to a completely virtual format, which works well with the way the world currently seeks and hires talent.

Now, Andela has \engineers in more than 80 countries worldwide, with a goal of having a base of 500,000 engineers in the foreseeable future.

Some of the 200+ firms that have used Andela include GitHub, CloudFlare, and Paramount.

Andela vets engineers by their experience, skills, expertise, and education and matches them with the firms looking for that type of talent.

Engineers coming from Africa are especially valuable as they have unique skills, insights, and experience on one of the most challenging continents on Earth. SoftBank’s investment shows that Africa is no longer just a continent for tourists and oil exploitation and that there is more to the region than just South Africa’s technical might.

Tala Loans Small Amounts to People and Small Businesses

Tala Loans

Ten years ago, much was made about microlending, where borrowers could get very small loans of $1 to $10 to help them out in emergencies. Studies showed that people paid those loans back on time and with interest with stunning regularity.

Expand this principle just a little bit, and you will understand the business model of Tala, a startup out of Kenya with offices in India, The Phillippines, and Mexico.

Tala, founded by former Googlers, loans anywhere from $10 to $500 to individuals or businesses at no more than a 4% interest rate. It’s ideal for people who have no credit and need assistance in emerging markets.

Founder Shivani Siroya got the idea when she worked in the financial services field and researched the effects of microlending on local economies through the UN Population Fund.

Tala snagged $145 million in funding in 2021 to expand its reach into emerging markets, bringing its total investments to more than $800 million.

The process is very simple. Tala has an app for people to use on their smartphones where they can request funding. The approval process is simple, and terms are easy to understand.

Considering the economic boost, local towns can get from people who are not living in extreme poverty, helping those who need it most strengthens local markets to make them more stable as they look to grow.

TradeDepot Delivers Goods Through E-Commerce

TradeDepot

TradeDepot received $110 million in funding in 2021 to expand its buy now, pay later model for e-commerce.

The B2B marketplace gives small shops, retailers, and kiosks access to global consumer brands associated with food, beverage, and personal care product lines. As part of the expansion, TradeDepot owns its own warehouses and fleet of vehicles with drivers to distribute the goods it receives. The company, based in Nigeria, connects thousands of well-known wholesalers with customers in Africa.

The startup was already in the midst of expanding when the pandemic hit. Then its e-commerce model and logistics were a perfect fit when companies when remote and to an online sales model because people weren’t going to stores as often.

TradeDepot had 40,000 merchants on its platform in 2020, which jumped to more than 100,000 in 2021. The company’s expansion is more than just with physical warehouses. It provides financial services, credit to qualified merchants, and digital wallets for easy payments.

It gives retailers in Africa plenty of choices based on demand for their buyers.

Why Is Africa a Powerhouse for Startups?

Three main reasons are why companies are moving into Africa for investments.

First, there are plenty of people who are looking for work. Nigeria’s population looks to double in the coming decades, and those people will need prosperity and abundance to maintain their growth without subjecting the country to poverty. A stable government in Nigeria, making wise investment choices, is one key to Africa’s growth.

The second is the stability factor. Stalwarts Egypt, South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya form the backbone of Africa’s commerce. They have been relatively stable for at least two decades, and they continue to work with the rest of the global community as these countries seek more investment opportunities. Stable countries are more apt to have companies pay back their investment capital.

Third, companies look to labor costs in terms of investments. Twenty and thirty years ago, international investment firms looked to Asia for low-cost labor when trying to keep overhead low. Controversially, this brought to light horrible sweatshops and child labor practices. The difference with Africa is that international investors will not make that same mistake twice. Socially conscious investors in Europe and the United States have higher standards moving forward. Investors are keen to make sure there is no fallout from shoddy labor conditions brought on by the increase in investment capital in Africa.

There are plenty of emerging markets in Africa beyond the eco-tourism sites in Kenya and the historical significance of Egypt. Fintech is one aspect of the African economy that has plenty of room for growth. The more stable African nations will eventually show their neighbors the right path to economic growth.

Looking for Investments?

Forever Mogul has some ideas for how you can invest your money wisely with news, updates, blogs, and advice on what you can do to diversify your portfolio and live your best life.

Africa is just one reason why you should consider venture capital investing as a way to make passive income while you reap the profits of your investments.

The 5 Most Expensive Houses In The World For Sale, Now

By
Forever Mogul Team
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As of March 2022, these are the 5 most expensive houses in the world currently on the market for sale.

55. Fei Ngo Shan House in Hong Kong – Price: approx. US$127,000,000

Most Expensive Houses
Most Expensive Houses
Most Expensive Houses

Cradled in a tranquil location, this European-style house with enormous outdoor space is a rare find in Hong Kong.

The setting is serene and the outdoor space is beautiful. Take a romantic stroll around the garden, a nap under the sun, and let the children and pets run and play around in the large grass yard and manicured garden, children’s playground, veranda, and swimming pool in front and around the main house.

The extravagant interior decor complements the stunning floor-to-ceiling windows and grand interior staircase inside the house. Spacious quarters include a living room, formal dining room, wine cellar, karaoke room, pet room, five bedrooms, and family room for small and large gatherings.

The mansion, of course, includes a large primary bedroom with a walk-in closet and an elegant en-suite bathroom. Three additional bedrooms, each with en-suite facilities. Fully-equipped kitchen with high-end finishings and appliances.

44. Venetian-style palace in Cannes, France – Price: Approx. $142,500,000

Making it into the top 5 is a stunning residence inspired by the architecture of Byzantium and Venice. The Palais Vénitien overlooks a magnificent panorama of Cannes and the blue waters of the Mediterranean stretching as far as the eye can see. 

Featuring monumental columns and exquisite moldings, this home faithfully reflects elegance. Its 2.4 hectares encompass luxurious amenities, including a lake, a tennis court, secluded woodlands, and an expansive outdoor pool. 

It is also worth noting that there is a nightclub and wine cellar with exceptional wines.

The ultimate expression of contemporary refinement, this magnificent structure seamlessly and invisibly incorporates the latest high-tech controls.

With nine residential suites and numerous reception rooms, the Palais Vénitien gives new meaning to the concept of comfort, subtly melding the luxury of Cannes with the elegance of Venice. 

33. Italian-style villa in Beverly Hills, USA – Price: $165,000,000

Ranking in the top three most expensive houses in the world, this mega-mansion was built with a slightly more contemporary take on Venetian style. The estate is the largest found in Beverly Park.

The mega-mansion is located in the most prestigious enclave for high-end, residential real estate in Los Angeles, on over seven acres, and accessed via its own street, sits this one-of-a-kind property.

Many of the mega-mansion homes that neighbor this property are owned by famous names like Sylvester Stallone, Mark Wahlberg, Denzel Washington, Eddie Murphy, Aged Rock Star Rod Stewart, Jami Gertz, six-time Emmy nominated actor Paul Reiser, and Country superstars Faith Hill and Tim Mcgraw. That is only a partial list of the famous residents of Beverly Park.

Located at 67 Beverly Park Court, Beverly Hills, California, the home features 8 Bedrooms, 11 Bathrooms, approximately 28,660 square feet of living space, and was built in 1998.

Expansive Gates open to a 30 car courtyard surrounded by 40 foot tall Canary Island Palms and a setting worthy of the best Italian Palazzo.

The backyard offers views of a pool with a pool house, a two-story guesthouse, tennis court, and a walking/jogging trail surrounds the estate. This is one of the finest estates ever offered in Beverly Hills.

22. Casa Encantada: The 1930s Bel Air mansion – Price: $225,000,000

Casa Encantada takes the title of the Most Expensive Mansion in America.

This modern Georgian masterpiece is elegantly perched on its own eight-plus acre promontory in Bel-Air. With no neighbors and surrounded by the fairways of the Bel-Air Country Club golf course, the compound is expansive, private and secure and is less than ten minutes to Rodeo Drive.

Once owned by Conrad Hilton, the hotel magnate hosted some of the most significant social, charitable, and political events. Over its storied history, it has been host to several Presidential Dinners.

The sweeping driveway guides through lush, green surroundings to lead visitors into the warm embrace of the main residence. The dramatic entry hall leads with 18-foot ceilings that open into a majestic reception hall, dining room, walnut-paneled library, living room, and family room. The home’s second story features living quarters that perfectly juxtapose the residence’s entertainment-centric first story.

An architectural pool house boasts a professional screening room, formal bar, and vistas to the rose gardens and beyond. A north-south lighted tennis court and separately constructed basketball court, full guest house, greenhouses, house manager’s quarters, koi ponds, and irreplaceable landscaping make this arguably one of the finest estates in the world.

The richest man in the world, Jeff Bezos, is rumored to be considering this property for his new LA compound.

11. Royal Style Mansion in Haifa District, Israel – Price: $250,000,000

Most Expensive Houses
Most Expensive Houses
Most Expensive Houses

Taking the crown for the most expensive home in the world is a stunning royal style residence inspired by Baroque and Rococo architecture is located in the prestigious Caesarea district of Haifa.

Sitting on 2.71 acres and overlooks the Mediterranean Sea. The property features many luxurious amenities, from a private spa to landscape gardens with two fountains and Roman sculptures, an expansive outdoor pool with a built-in stereo system, and a large outdoor TV screen.

The interior design features natural marble and onyx mosaics, 14k gold moldings, unique parquets, silk carpets, and carefully selected custom-made furnishings. The 2,475 sq. ft. grand hall is crowned with crystal chandeliers and marble columns, setting the tone for the rest of the mansion.

Ground floor amenities include a 2,152 sq. ft. living room, a bar desk, a formal dining room, a separate breakfast room, a fully equipped chef kitchen, and a library that grants you and your guests the most remarkable experience.

Making Tough Leadership Decisions

By
Forever Mogul Team
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An essential part of a CEO’s job is constantly making arduous, perplexing, and tough leadership decisions that can make or break their organizations. Although it is a task not everyone is cut out for, decision-making under tough circumstances defines you as a CEO.

Navigating the line between making decisions based on appeasing customers versus making necessary, but often unattractive, financial decisions is an art that most CEOs master with experience. This article focuses on how CEOs make tough decisions for sustaining their businesses.

Nobody’s perfect; every successful CEO has made several mistakes and openly admits to them. This is simply part of the learning process and comes with the territory. The philosophy of leading without making mistakes results in procrastination, something you cannot afford, especially in crises.

Speed is of the essence when it comes to decision-making; any problem left unattended tends to pose a more complicated solution with time. Furthermore, great decisions depend on your ability to look ahead and predict the likely outcome. The best CEOs try to make a series of very good, but never perfect, projections about their businesses. It is essential not to be discouraged by mistakes or failures. Failures are only stepping stones to success.

Netflix Inc’s CEO Reed Hastings recently decided to launch a separate DVD rental service called ‘Qwikster.’ But immense consumer backlash prompted him to apologize and reverse course immediately.

Surround yourself with trusted advisors and seek consensus.

Since you can’t research every aspect of important decisions yourself, you will have to depend on the expertise of others at some point. Ultimately, the strength of your leadership is based on the quality of the advice you receive. Never isolate yourself when making decisions because others will often have critical knowledge and experiences worth considering. You can develop a group understanding of the problem through discussion and collaborative decision-making and create an action plan with potential outcomes and consequences.

As a rule of thumb, surround yourself with a smart, confident, and committed board of directors and staff to advise you on strategic decisions. You will inevitably have to make the call based on the information available. You must act despite uncertainty. Leaders don’t have the luxury of hindsight and must do their best with the information at hand. However, this requires considering the whole picture, not just part of it.

For example, when McDonnell Douglas, the CEO of Boeing, took over the company from his uncle, he sought advice from several people who encouraged him to change the management style from an authoritative rule into a professionally managed company. That was his defining moment because he was able to build participative management.

Take personal responsibility for the outcomes.

Own up to a mistake made, even if your intentions were noble or your advisors were to blame for giving you bad information. If you make a good decision leading to a good outcome, you must credit your advisors. If, on the other hand, a decision you made leads to a negative outcome, you alone must take the blame.

Although very challenging at times, you must be willing to do what you believe is the right thing, even at your own peril. This, however, does not validate taking a dramatic stand (when it’s not called for) to assert your beliefs. The boldest decisions tend to be the safest, but you must always question the validity of your decisions and the methods by which they are arrived, regardless of their nature.

Jamie Dimon, CEO of JP Morgan Chase dismissed concerns about a large position in credit-default swaps in 2012 put on by the London branch of JPM’s Chief Investment Officer. This trade later led to a loss of over $6 billion and was a source of immense embarrassment for the CEO. He publicly apologized and admitted to the fact that this was caused by mere ignorance.

Don’t let public opinion get in the way of principles.

Do not chase popularity; instead, make decisions based on principles and let the chips fall where they may. It is necessary to maintain high ethical standards for fair and transparent decision-making. Others might need to know why you are making a particular decision. Sharing information eliminates potential concerns and questions before they arise.

Customers tend to form impressions about a company when a CEO finds himself/herself in an intense crisis with media attention. Any negative connotation can result in permanent damage to a brand. Companies usually focus too much on the operational issue, but there is always a reputational issue that shapes the company’s long-term vision to customers and shareholders.

Sony’s CEO Akio Morita’s creation of the ‘Walkman’ serves as a timeless example of how defending your gut feeling and vision can translate into success. Defying his advisors, public opinion, and consumer demand, Morita launched the Walkman, which turned out to be Sony’s most revolutionary and profitable product of that era.

25 Video Marketing Ideas for 2022

By
Forever Mogul Team
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0

As a startup founder, entrepreneur, or even freelancer, video marketing should be a top priority for you. It will help you reach more people, convert more customers, and grow your revenue. If you are wondering how to create video content for your business, these 25 video marketing ideas should make it easy for you. 

Video is the undisputed king of content now. Social media videos get 1200 percent more shares than other forms of content. Almost 65 percent of people purchase a product or service after watching social videos. They can also increase conversion by 34 percent. No wonder then, 87 percent of marketers use video marketing.

But if you are starting out, video marketing can feel overwhelming. How do you think of new ideas? How do you create a video content calendar for months or a year? How do you refresh your content? To help you out, here are 25 video marketing ideas for 2022 and beyond.

25 video marketing ideas for entrepreneurs in 2022

1. Announcement

Launching a new product or an online course? Rather than issuing a press release or writing a long post, create a short video to inform your followers. You don’t have to reveal everything. Make it sound like a teaser to keep your audience excited.

2. Product demo

Starting out in video marketing? A product demo is an effective way to engage with your followers. Talk to your team members and customers and you might see your product from a different point of view. Show the advantages from the user’s perspective and add graphics to help them understand it better.

3. Feature demo

Maybe you already have a product demo video. In that case, you can focus on a particular feature that people may not be aware of. This will be more effective if you can have a series of short ten or fifteen-second videos that you can use as pre-roll ads or social media videos.

4. Repurposed blog post

Another effective video marketing idea is to convert a blog post. Look at your social media feeds or your blog and find articles with the highest engagement. Now you can illustrate the article with graphics and add music to it to make it more creative. This can also drive users to your blog.

5. Q&A with customers

Reach out to someone who recently bought your product or someone actively considering buying it. Ask them questions on the product and any hesitation they would have had or still have. These answers will make your video content relatable to both existing and potential customers.

6. Highlight a team member

This is how you take your followers on a behind-the-scenes tour of your business. Interview someone from your team with real questions about what it feels like to work for your company. It could be a senior leader or someone who has been with you from the beginning. Such video content will humanize your business.

7. Customer testimonials

A personal recommendation from someone like them will be more credible for customers. You can request any of your recent or repeat customers to feature in a video. Hearing their reasons for buying your product will make your business seem reliable. This social proof also personalizes your brand for potential customers.

8. Thank you videos

There are several ways to thank your customers through videos. One way is to create a generic video and embed that link in an email or SMS. Once a customer completes a transaction, you can share it with them. You can also send personalized videos to thank customers who have been buying from you for years.

9. How-to videos

If you’re launching a product, it’s a wonderful opportunity to show how to use it. If the product already exists in the market, you can explain one of its advanced features. These videos can attract new customers and be a part of your website and email marketing campaigns.

10. Start-to-finish

Your customers and clients will be interested in how you create your product or service. How about creating a social video that shows the process, from ideation to the finished product? To make it real, you can also showcase the challenges that you usually run into and how you solve them.

11. Live meetings

An interesting video marketing idea is to share one of your meetings live with your audience. This makes the business seem real and also allows you to discuss your product or service and its benefits. Streaming live meetings is also a way to highlight your employees.

12. FAQs

Ordinary FAQ pages can be boring, especially when there’s so much text. How about making a video with answers to the most popular questions? You can ask your team members to read out the questions and provide relevant, short, and easily understandable answers.

13. Expert interviews

Interviewing experts is an effective video marketing idea, especially if you are in the business of education, consultancy, or any other online product or service. These videos can also be featured on the social media pages of those being interviewed, which will widen your audience base.

14. Unique selling proposition

A product or feature demo is a tactical way to talk about what you offer. At a bigger level, you can start with a video explaining your brand’s value proposition and how it’s different from others in the market. This is an excellent way to explain your understanding of the customers and build your brand equity.

15. Before-and-after

Customers would like to know how your product can solve their problems or give them a better experience. A smart way to do this is by showing a before-and-after video. This will bring out your product’s benefits while highlighting the difference it can make in a customer’s life.

16. Timelapse

If you make a product, it would be interesting to see the process as a timelapse video. You can place a stationary camera and capture its creation over weeks or months. When played in fast motion, these will be interesting and show the amount of labor that goes into your products.

17. Office tour

Viewers would also like to see your office. This doesn’t have to be a professionally shot or edited video. It will be more believable if the footage looks raw. Introduce your audience to your meeting rooms, cafeteria, cabins, and even some of your employees.

18. Unboxing

When your product is ready to ship or if it’s just been launched, an unboxing video can create excitement among users. Approach this like a user and explain the best ways to get started with your product. Take time to mention the dos and don’ts to make it more helpful for your customers.

19. Whiteboards

Using a whiteboard may seem like a simple video marketing idea but users like it precisely for its simplicity. Are there any key points that you want your followers to know about your product or the industry? Write them down on a whiteboard and make a short video.

20. Listicles

If you use lists in content marketing, you can easily convert them into videos. This is especially useful if your objective is to build expertise in your domain. Even if you don’t have listicles, you can create videos with information relevant to your industry.

21. Topical videos

Another way to gain social media traction is to comment on a trending topic. This requires some tact as you shouldn’t be seen as someone trivializing an important subject. You can show support to progressive causes or empathize with people.

22. Origin story

If you’re looking for video marketing ideas, sometimes the best place to start is your company’s origin. How did you think of the idea? What were your biggest challenges? Who were your first employees? Who was your first big client or customer?

23. Product comparison

Are you confident that your product or service does a better job than those of your competitors? Then it’s time to compare the products. To make it more impactful, you can feature your customers doing the comparison. But don’t be dismissive of your competitors. Be respectful and highlight their features while talking about your benefits.

24. Offers 

Usually, companies put out images with text to talk about their offers. These look cliched since social media is filled with them. An alternative way is to use video marketing. Even if it’s a time-bound offer, a short 20-second video will have a greater reach.

25. Contests

One of the most popular video marketing ideas to increase customer engagement is to announce contests. You can talk about the prize and the way to enter the contest in a video. It’s also an effective tool to announce the winners and interview them.

In short

With these video marketing ideas, you can build a months-long social media calendar filled with interesting and engaging content. With every additional video you put out, you will widen your reach and increase your engagement.

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