DEV Community: Francis Isberto

Attract with Unstack

Francis Isberto — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 11:47:42 +0000

How to earn from your followers
Believe it or not, but each one of us has a following.
Maybe it is not as huge compared to most influential people in the Web Dev realm...
But we have some people who trust what we do, and in the process, they follow us.
It may be hard to believe but it is true. You can make something out of your small following.

Let me give you one example...
Let's say you are a Python Developer who knows a little bit of cloud computing using Microsoft Azure.
Even if you are just a beginner (but determined), there are some newbies out there who want to learn your skills.
They could only be 5 people, but you can charge them $50 for 6 months until they hone their craft. That is $250 extra every month for you. Amazing, isn't it?

Here's another example...
What if you are a co-founder of a BaaS (Backend As A Service) startup.
Aside from scaling your startup, you can create a membership site where your focus is just on interested paying members who are in a group that you can call the "Startup Hatch".
Your members will have exclusive access to one-on-one training about GraphQL API, REST API, different types of SDK including iOS, Android, Flutter, and .NET.
So if you charge a fee of let's say $10 and you were able to get 50 members... then you will be earning $500 per month. That doesn't even include your BaaS startup.
Very intriguing... yeah?

The beauty of this is that you don't have to resign from your work. Or it will still give you ample time to participate with your startup company.
You can do all of these things and it won't hurt you a bit.
In fact, it will be of help because you will be earning an extra $200, $500, or even $1,000 a month based on your small following.

And once, this small following of yours suddenly blossomed into something big... then you have the option to resign from work and just focus on your membership site where you can scale your net profit to $1million/year.
Just from your paid subscription, you can create a stable publishing business collecting recurring revenue from your audience every month or even every year.
It's your call whether you prefer a large audience at a low price point or a small dedicated following at a premium fee... the choice is all yours.
It will totally depend on your preference. In other words, you control the economics of it.

NICHE BIZ IS NO LONGER SMALL
You may think that a small niche has no way of entering the battlefield full of giant companies who have been in the arena for a long time.
You may find this ironic, but creating a small niche is the best way for you to compete amongst those giant companies.

Imagine a cake.
Do you think these giant companies would mind that you are scraping some icing from their precious cake? I'm sure they won't.
That small icing from that particular cake will be more than enough for you. You got my point?

In this day and age, the niche business is no longer small.
Niche markets are way larger than the entire internet. Your niche membership site can become a surprisingly big business because only a few of you are concentrating on that niche of yours.

Through your membership site, you now have a sustainable, predictable revenue aligned with your followers. And this goes on and on because you build and maintain relationships (as long as you are able to provide good content of course).

THE PURPOSE OF CMS
And since you are overloaded with work, it is highly recommended that you use a CMS (Content Management System) service that will save you lots of time.
Why use a paid CMS?
It is obvious... you should be concentrating on things that bring food on your table like Web Dev work from the company that you are working or scaling up your Startup company to greater heights.
Therefore, you don't have time to build your very own CMS site from scratch. Better if you use a dependable CMS service and go from there.
If it doesn't work.. you can easily cancel the service. Count your losses and move on to other things. No big deal.

So what CMS service will you use? Will you use WordPress?
Hell no! You are way much better than that.

Unstack
I suggest that you use Unstack.com
It is a CMS built for marketers. Unstack's content marketing platform is designed to help you rapidly build, measure, and scale digital presence without code and headaches.

So what does Unstack offers to a busy person like you?

1.) Reliable A/B Testing
=> You can test your membership site and see what works. You can run A/B tests directly in their visual editor and may view marketing metrics and conversion paths.
So can easily check where does your members go to regularly whether is your landing page, blog page, or your community sponsor page.

2.) Acquire Leads
=> Unstack will help you generate new leads through their engaging contact forms.
Their turn-key forms and a contact database will help your site convert more traffic into qualified leads.
You can even sync your data with a 3rd party system in real-time thus recording custom events and actions.

3.) Rapid Page Loading
=> Unstack has its own Managed Hosting that is run through AWS servers.
That means there are no configs or shared hosting accounts. Everything is hosted and managed by the company.
So you can be assured that your subscribers won't be frustrated by an outage or a case of slow loading.

4.) One-Click Marketing Integrations
=> You can easily grow your business faster by building the best possible tools for creating, publishing, and measuring the work you do online.
They have a growing list of integrations that work beautifully with your site.
You can use Rewardful for your site's affiliate marketing program.
Or maybe Privy which will help you grow your email list and drive more MRR (Monthly Recurring Revenue) with email.
Here is the complete list of integrations for Unstack...
Unstack Integrations

Those are just a few of the features that Unstack has for you.
If you are not contented with that, they also have a Podcast entitled "Zero to a Million" where the company founders Grant Deken and Zach Rego get to talk with founders, marketers, and advisors about strategies to scale a business from zero to a million.
These founders believe that building momentum from a cold start is one of the hardest things founders have to overcome.
But once you get the wheel spinning, it's gonna be glorious.
"Keep going" is what their initial advice for those who want to create a membership site.

IS EARNING FROM YOUR FOLLOWING NECESSARY
Again, this is optional. You are free to do whatever you want.
Continue with your job and scale your startup. It's entirely up to you.
You hold the steering wheel and take control of your life.

But since you are at it... while not make use of your small following.
It won't hurt to try, won't it?
Building a membership site is the best gauge for you.

Just remember that every membership site needs a content management system with:

=> Built-in SEO tools
=> A lot of 3rd-party integration
=> Analytics generation
=> User management
=> Multiplatform Publishing

Managing a membership site is not as hard and labor-intensive as it used to be.
What used to take us days to pull together each month... Unstack is now doing in real-time, all the time.
They are running content, sponsorships, Adwords, Facebook, and email marketing as we speak. Pulling that together into one snapshot to understand what actually works and then optimizing it on the fly has completely changed how we run our membership site marketing.

Unstack is the #NoCode marketing platform to launch and scale Digital Businesses.
They will do all the "grind work" for you so that you can concentrate on growing your membership site.

This is the best time to turn your following into a real business.
It's ideal for you to use memberships and subscriptions to develop a direct relationship with your audience and generate predictable, recurring revenue that not only will augment your income but will also create a personal brand that you will carry for the rest of your life.

Francis Isberto
Friendillion.dev

P.S. Btw, if you need some help in Content Creation and Marketing...
Or you need assistance in making "Stories that Sell"...

Click Here

*Image from Unstack.com

Subscription-based platforms are the Future

Francis Isberto — Thu, 03 Sep 2020 23:29:02 +0000

Even if we live in an advanced age, there is one thing that we always look for... "CONTENT".
Regardless of our location, profession, race, gender, and area of interest... every day we crave stories that interest us.
Some listen to the news in order to be updated on what's happening in their area. Some go through blogs and read articles that amuse them.
But whatever that is, all of us thirst for new information that is either educational or entertaining and is both beneficial in our lives.

The thing is, we also receive bad and false news out there every single day.
We normally see subpar to poor quality content on all free platforms may it be on social media, podcasts, videos, blogs, forums, etc.
Either we get little information or worse... false news on the subject.

But in every problem, there is a solution.
And so that is where Subscription-based platforms were born. We've seen the rise of paid platforms that provided "Value" to its subscribers.
Netflix gave quality HD movies and TV shows for a minimal fee.
Spotify bombarded their customers with access to millions of songs.
Amazon has Kindle Unlimited for all bookworms out there.
Patreon educates people from different artists and creators of different talent skills.
EA Play will enlighten games with live broadcast and community content.

The list goes on and on from podcasters, video creators, musicians, gaming creators, local businesses, and more.
There are also writers and journalists for those people who prefer to absorb content through written form.

In the Web Dev world, we too badly need quality content.
We need to be educated, we need to be informed, and we need to fortify our very own skills. Therefore we reach out to these "Subscription-based platforms" to fill our needs.
We pay a subscription to Web Dev educators and media creators to get that skill that we deeply seek.
Whether it's front end or back end development. Database for modern apps or global cloud DB.
Or any other new frameworks that interest us.
The bottom line is that we pay.

Some of us prefer Premium Publications through their blogs and websites. While some rely on Paid Emails through a premium newsletter.
Customarily, it's a fountain of knowledge for most of us.
Early-stage Startup Founders subscribe to software-based investor list programs.
Web Developer wannabes go enrolling on online Web Dev school and get hired normally within 6 months.
But whatever that is, no matter who we are, we always dig for substantial information for us and for our business.

Heck, even Twitter is on it too.
According to TheVerge.com, Twitter is working on a new subscription platform that hints at the possible job listing. The mysterious new Twitter subscription team name it "Gryphon".
Twitter is popularly known to generate the vast majority of its revenue through ad sales and data licensing currently... And a subscription service could potentially provide exclusive content in return for a monthly fee.
Intriguing isn't it?

Twitter may also be considering a Twitch or Patreon style type of subscription, where you could subscribe to individual accounts in some way.

But mind you... we don't need to be always on the receiving end.
What I am saying is we don't have to pay and be the end user all the time.
We can also be the earners. Yes, you heard me right... we too can be content creators.

Whether you prefer a large audience at a low price or a small dedicated following at a premium fee, you have full control of the economics.
You can make a sustainable revenue with recurring subscriptions.
It will be a good supplementary income, especially now that we are still living in the Pandemic era where jobs are hard to come by.

Let's just say that you are an expert at building and deploying React PWA (Progressive Web Apps).
You then can use that skill of yours and have that published to a platform of your choosing.
It could be in written or video format. You can even do both.
What matters is that you will capture a "Niche" audience that is desperately looking for that particular piece of content.
If you're making something interesting that people can't find elsewhere, then you're at a natural advantage in providing value.

And when you provide value, it is close to automatic that you will attract an audience (believe me, I've been there).
You don't really need to be the "Jack of all Trades" trying to reach as many potential subscribers as possible.
You can just focus on a specific group of people who appreciate what you do distinctively.
That is more than enough. Enough to start a fire.

And when you get a bunch of loyal audiences, you may play around and see what fits their needs.
Will you create an exclusive post just for members?
In that way, it won't only inform your subscribers of their privileged that they are receiving from you, but it will also transform anonymous views into paying members.
Did you see what I am trying to point at?

And to make it more viable and worthwhile, you also have to build and strengthen relationships with your followers.
You will discover what is essential to them. You will also foster engagement.
This will make your business run consistently and smoothly year after year.

Again it's Memberships and Subscriptions. It's a sustainable and predictable revenue just for you.

In these crazy COVID times.. you can make a sustainable living as an independent content creator for the year 2020 (or even beyond).

Just look at some successful cases...
Through Paid Emails, Andrew Sullivan at The Dish pulled in over $1million/year from his premium newsletter.
While Ben Thompson’s Stratechery was making over $200,000. That was 5 years ago.

In the Premium Publications Arena, Modern news publishers like The The Information and The Correspondent both earn $millions in revenue each year directly from their members, who pay for real news that they can’t get elsewhere.

It's really big money especially if you put your heart into it.

So to wrap up, Subscription-based platforms are not only the thing of the future.
It is today! It is now!
In fact, it has begun long long time before you read this article.

People are now benefiting from it.
Some pay subscriptions to absorb exclusive content for their own specific needs.
While some earn a living providing value to their followers and subscribers.

Subscription-based platforms are out there for the taking.
It's readily available anytime you need it.
I guess the only question is... Will you be the one receiving or giving?

Francis Isberto
Friendillion.dev
P.S. Btw, if you need some help in Sales and Marketing...
Or you need assistance in making "Stories that Sell"...

https://friendillion.dev/hire.html

*Image from The Verge

Staying Solo vs Going Big

Francis Isberto — Wed, 26 Aug 2020 12:00:48 +0000

In this day and age, a lot of people have their own vision of making their Startup scale-up beyond their expectations. Making their company reach the billion-dollar valuation so to speak.
My bet is not everyone wants to transform their Startup into a Unicorn (believe or not).
Some of these founders are merely contented on making just a million (millions not billions).

So now the situation comes to this... Will you rather "Stay Solo or Go Big"?
To be more precise, will you prefer to have a Big team and have a smaller profit margin (make more money generally)?
Or just go Solo with bigger profit margin (but end up having less revenue than the former)?

What is it juicier to you... Forming a Big Team or Automating Everything?

Pieter Levels is close to full automation mode.
He makes tons of money but the kicker here is that he doesn't employ anyone, doesn't spend money on advertising, and runs his entire Web Dev projects in a PHP digital ocean server (last time I checked).

For those who don't know him, Pieter is a serial maker and creator of projects like...
nomadlist.com
remoteok.io
hoodmaps.com
makebook.io
airlinelist.com
Most of his projects are run through "Cron Jobs".
It is a command used for scheduling tasks to be executed sometime in the future (or executed periodically to be more precise).
Cron is a Linux utility that schedules a command or script on your server to run automatically at a specified time and date.
The beauty of this tool is that you don't have to stay up too late running tasks when you'd rather be sleeping.
I mean you can go out on a date with the love of your life and still able to run commands and scripts that have to operate during off-hours (or dating hours in your case).
I'm gonna spare you the details about "Cron Jobs" and leave you a link on this topic for further reference...
kubernetes.io

As far as I know, Pieter still makes more than 50k a month even when some of his projects are drastically affected because of the disturbing Covid-19 pandemic.
I believe that he still has a profit margin of 90% before taxes, which is unquestionably good.
If you do the math, 50k a month is 600k in a year.
With a 90% profit margin and 30% taxes, he nets 378k per year in the bank.
Almost 1k/day.
Not b*llshit money, but that’s a pretty solid number.
I remember getting paid 1k/month on my first deal and I was like "Happy as a Clam".

Pieter's Automation helps in some respects as he can program the robots to do what he doesn't want to repeatedly do for himself, and they can run for years, maybe decades, without reprogramming them.
He also believes that if he hires people, it would stop him from improving his skills every day.
He will not only cultivate his unprecedented skills but also acquire new ones.
He works on his products all by himself. He codes the backend, front end, design the layout, the logos, and does all the marketing.
In his previous blog, Pieter even mentioned that instead of hiring people, he would rather do things himself to stay "Relevant"!
He has a point, you know.

So are you convinced to Go Solo?
Or do you still want to Go Big and Hire people?

Let's talk about going Big this time.
First and foremost, you need to set up lots of things.
Important stuff like...
=> Proforma Financials (revenue and cashflow projections, operational expenses)
=> Legal (corporate setup, permits, registrations)
=> Accounting (bookeeping system)
=> Banking Relationship (merchant accounts and payments)
=> Teambuilding (initial executive, board and officers)
=> HR (recruiting, payroll)
=> IT (computers, telecommunications, office automation, security, and storage)
=> Growth (sales team and customer service)

Aside from hiring talented Software Engineers, Web Developers, and even Web Designers...
Your company might be needing to hire (externally or internally) a CFO, CTO, COO, CEO, even a Co-Founder.

And of course, and most important of all, you need a lot of "Seed Round" money to back up all of these investments and recurring expenses.

But once your company is able to acquire most of these commitment then you can grow your Startup exponentially.
It's off to the races then. The sky's limit.
You can achieve almost anything because you got a team of experts at your disposal.

Your Startup can and could be a Billion dollar enterprise especially when all your hired hands convert your company into a definitive "Well-Oiled Machine".

Ok now that you got the 2 perspectives... what will you choose then?
"Stay Solo or Go Big"?

I guess it all boils down to personal preference.
It will totally depend on your liking, what suits your Startup needs, and what do you think will be effective not only in the short term but more firmly in the long term.

So is it a question about big team vs automating everything?
Is it a battle of humans vs robots?
We all know that we have to spend on server costs, security, etc... regardless of what route we take. But it's the staffing costs is what really matters...
Will you hire multiple hands or just rely on your own?
Humans are not trustworthy, but robots are not 100% reliable too.
So which will you choose?

I browsed around the net and was amazed to find out that most people would rather have the Pieter Levels scenario (the robots) rather than going Big at all.
They say that they don't mind having little profit. They want the steering wheel to be always in their hands and not to strangers.

If you ask me for my advice, here's what I am going to suggest to you...

From a scale of 1-10...
Pieter Levels scenario is the 10...
and Going Big scenario is the 1...

I would say you go around the range of 6-7. That is my safest bet.
To be more accurate, you follow what Pieter has been doing with his current projects... automating almost everything.
But not too much. You need people too... real ones.
Get somebody to take care of Sales and Marketing. Have somebody to help you with the backend development... fixing bugs and new updates.

Nobody is an island you know. You may like it or not but we humans are social animals.
Especially in the Web Dev world where there is too much pressure building things and competing with the new and upcoming Startups.
We will always need people. We will always need friends that we can rely on.

So what's gonna be... humans or robots?

I say both!

Francis Isberto
Friendillion.dev
P.S. Btw, if you need some help in Sales and Marketing...
Or you need assistance in making "Stories that Sell"...

Click Here

*Image from Taz Network

How to make "Stories that Sell"

Francis Isberto — Wed, 12 Aug 2020 02:05:07 +0000

Okay, so you finally finished your Startup product.
You are certain that what you built is exceptional...
You know that it will totally blow everybody's mind...
Now what?

How would businesses and consumers know that you have this amazing product/service?
You could blog and engage in social media... sure, that will help.
But do you think that will be enough?
Will you believe by doing that, will it empower your business to thrive?

The best way to "Win" in this Startup heavily competitive world is to provide engaging content.
It is imperative that you need to create "Stories that Sell".

Making stories is good, but telling stories that sell is bliss.
If you make stories that will lead to sales, then you and your Startup will be in a heavenly state.
You will be in paradise knowing that you finally reach your goal... making customers happy and surrounding yourself with your targeted money.

So how can you differentiate the difference between Stories and "Stories that Sell"?
Allow me to explain further...

Most businesses, when they create a blog or article... they assume that their readers will automatically "Like" what they've written.
But the fact of the matter is... it's not. In reality, they hate it. They find it boring.
They are disgusted with it because it's all gibberish nonsense like some pesky agent telling them that they should buy this and buy that because it is the best product in the world.
I mean.. come on! Even grade schools aren't that dumb enough.

These businesses simply don't get it. They don't know how to resonate with other people's feelings. What do they need? What are their problems and concerns? What are they looking for?

The general rule is this...
"We need to hear them first before we act".

Let's say that you are a SaaS company who are selling Email Verifier to businesses.
So before you shove your product right down their throat, you need to probe them these questions...

=> Are they using an existing Email Verifier service?
=> If they do, are they content with it?
=> Do you think your product or service is better than what they are using right now?
=> If your product is not that good, what can you do to improve it?

=> For those who don't have an Email Verifier, what will be your leverage on knowing if a certain business needs your product?
=> Is your product limited to targeting early-stage startups? Or can your company also aim higher and make a sales call to medium and high-end enterprises?

=> How about pricing? Do you have a free tier? Or at least a Free Trial? Is your price reasonable?
=> How about customer support? Are you always there to answer all their concerns and inquiries?

Had enough? That is just the tip of the iceberg?
There is so much to discuss and exchange views on?

So in order to keep the ball rolling, we need to make stories that people can relate to their everyday lives.
One good way is showing an example of a particular subject that you helped in the past.
Testimonials are good, yeah, but people don't buy that anymore. They believe that these testimonials are paid dummies and not worth the reading.
It is best to provide a "Real" case that your startup has helped.
Better if you can show a blow-by-blow story where you indicate how you specifically helped your subject in complete details.

Like, show them the "Before and After".
What was the status of your subject before and demonstrate how does your subject is fairing now in the present.
Tell your readers how did your subject improved in their business by using your SaaS product and assisting them in verifying emails that will make their sales lead more accurate and precise.

Snov.io did that exactly. Here is the link... Snov Case Study

It is a case study on how Snov.io was able to help a Startup named Quokka in reaching an 86% open rate using their email verifier and finder.
In just one week, Quokka was able to send 500 emails that led to 177 scheduled interviews. Wow!

This was according to Ross Nazarenko, founder of Quokka.
He quoted...
"As a startup, talking to people and being able to detect their problem means the world for us.
So the main problem we’ve always faced was how exactly can we keep our sales funnel full and contact a huge amount of potential leads for interviews?
That’s when we stumbled upon Snov.io, which promised an easy solution to this problem.
To streamline the process, we combined Snov.io’s Email Finder and Email Verifier with (LinkedIn) Sales Navigator and found the perfect recipe for scaling the lead generation process".

That's it! Real people, real cases, and real proof of a certain company like Snov.io who was able to lift a Startup like Quokka.

My only grumbling on this particular article of Snov.io is it was too short.
I prefer it if they did this in "Long Format" (like at least 1,500 words minimum).
In the link that I provided above, you will feel that there is so much content that is left out there. People, especially the early-stage startups, always thirst for success stories like Quokka.
So if there is more content and details provided that will even lead to a sure and committed sale.

Nevertheless, Snov.io did a good job of creating "Stories that Sell".
They could be an example template in building your own "Stories that Sell".

So are you getting the hang of it or do you want more?
You now know that long testimonial stories like Quokka are one way to do it, but there is quite a lot more... much much more.

However, for this piece of content, I won't be able to disclose everything.
Perhaps on my succeeding blog. But I think you get the main point here.
The bottom line is.. it is not about you, it's more about them.
Instead of writing "I" in your content, convert it to "We", "Us", "Them", and even "You".
Try doing those, and you will notice you will get some positive results over time.

Make it more interactive. Let them participate.
Don't assume you know everything, better yet... allow them to shed some inputs in your blog's comments section.

Telling Stories is great!
But it is much better if you make that story that will make people engage in buying.
Because that is we are all here for... aren't we?

Francis Isberto
Friendillion.dev
P.S. Just in case, you ever need assistance in making "Stories that Sell"...

Click Here

*Image from Woods Agency

I Finally Found my Email Finder

Francis Isberto — Tue, 28 Jul 2020 07:05:56 +0000

Most early-stage Startups need a great medium to help them generate leads faster.
And since they are still unknown, they have to find new leads consistently.
Whether their Startup targets B2C or B2B, their company has to reach and send their message to these people to let them know that they exist.

Email marketing, time and time again, has been a solid proof of success for gaining traction.
It's direct, consistent, and it never fails.

Because regardless of what happens, people will always be reading their emails.
That's the plain truth of it. Whether it's for business or personal reasons, they go to their inbox and read through to it every day.

And since now that we know that email marketing is still a viable cause for our startup to thrive, we need a tool (or Software As A Service) that can help us advance.

For starters, we need an Email Finder. Just go ahead and pick one then get through with it.
With an email finder, it will save an abundant amount of time (not to mention money) for you and your precious company.
You don't have to go through Google search to look for a specific email address. All you have to do is type the domain name in the search tool and... voila, you got yourself the entire company's email list.
It is certainly a time saver and a staple to each and every startup.

Trust me, I need that too.
Whenever I want to email somebody from a specific company, I first need to search for their email address. And most of the time, I can't get any from my basic search.
I need to dig deeper just to get one email which really is time-consuming. I want a Saas company that will do that specific job for me, thus giving me more time to concentrate on other more important things.

So I went to the lake and gone fishing. And when I go fishing, I am very meticulous and picky on the fish that I caught.
If I see a fish that is big but I feel that doesn't fit my needs, I throw it back to the lake and go back on looking for a new one.

After an obscene amount of time of waiting for the right fish, I finally caught one.
I finally found the right fish for me. Excuse me guys for being metaphorical on this but I need to do it so you can feel it better.

The fish that I am referring to is... of course the email finder company.
And that company that caught my eye is no other than... Snov.io

Why Snov.io?

Honestly, you will be surprised by my answer.
My answer is this... I don't know.

I don't know yet actually, but it's worth a try.

In truth, most email finder companies are all the same.
They are all selling the same shit and features. So it all boils down to one thing... their impeccable service.

Here's what I want for my Email Finder company.

1.) First, I need an email finder that gets that job done.
When I need to get a list of emails from that company that I am searching at... I need to get it fast and complete.
I mean like BAM... when I click it, I get the list. That's it.

2.) Secondly is their service. Now hear me out on this... this is the most important thing from a Saas company.
Their customer support must be exemplary, answering to each and every inquiry.
If possible, they should reply in minutes and not in days.

If I get all of these from an Email Finder, then they finally have me as a paying customer.

So now I am trying out Snov.io. I just signed up (their Free service first).

Right now, I am playing through with their platform and testing it if it will fill my business needs.
So far everything works fine.
I tried using their Domain Search tool and type in the domain name Moosend.com by clicking it, I was able to get 15 "Personal Contacts" which include the CEO, Head of Growth, CFO, Senior Software Developer, etc.

They also gave me a brief summary of the company's profile and background which I think is cool and advantageous.

Having this CRM (Customer Relationship Management) makes me spend less time finding leads which bring me more on converting on them.
Just to be clear, all I need from Snov.io is to help me find emails while I browse a lead's website.
So I get an automated lead generation tool at my disposal. This will save me on cost too, taking away the burden of hiring an expensive and inconsistent virtual assistant.

But mind you people, Snov.io has many things to offer.
I just mentioned what I need from them but they have more to give you.

Snov.io not only helps you with sales and lead generation. They too can help you with your PR goals by finding the right person to contact media outlets.
They can help you with your Funding Search. You can find and contact investors and VCs directly, automate sending of investor pitches and follow-ups to stay top-of-mind, and schedule meetings with a personalized drip campaign.

Snov.io also has Research Competitors where you can see the technologies behind your competitors and leads.
You can monitor your brand mentions to collect data essential to your growth and help your sales team present your product better.

In a nutshell, Snov.io can...

=> Get business Prospects and Email addresses
=> Verify emails individually and in Bulk
=> Send emails for Free
=> Design Drip campaigns visually
=> Identify Technologies on websites

So there you go. I signed up with Snov.io and will use this CRM tool for my business.
Feel free to try it at your expense. It might be of help.

If everything goes well, not only I'll be upgrading my plan with Snov.io but I'll be promoting them... for life!

Francis Isberto
Friendillion.dev
P.S. Oh by the way, if you are a Startup company that needs help creating long-format content to gain traction...

This could be a quick fix for you...
Here's the link:

Click here

How to Intrigue Jason Calacanis and his Syndicates

Francis Isberto — Mon, 25 May 2020 12:21:26 +0000

Just think about this... Jason Calacanis, probably the most successful investor in today's world, has approved your pitch and has committed to invest in your Startup company.
Will it be difficult? You bet.
Will it be impossible? Hell no!

This coming June 10 & June 24, there will be an online session called "Remote Demo Day".
Where 7 lucky startups will be selected to pitch to Mr. Calacanis and his associates. (Different batch each week). If chosen, you only have 3 minutes to sell your business.
In what they call "Trailer of your Startup", you get to choose what you want to put into it.

Why only 7 Startups will be chosen?
I have no idea, but there's no harm in trying is it? What have you got to lose?
So better buy your chips and start rolling the dice.

Don't worry, I'll help you spring up your chances.

To win, you need to develop an effective elevator pitch. You need to bring out your "A-Game". Allow me to present to you this very useful tactic:

"GRAB ATTENTION WITH A PROBLEM QUESTION, FOCUS ON THE NEED, AND BE CONVERSATIONAL"!

Here's an example...

Let's say you created an App that is much better than Airbnb (since Airbnb is having problems now with their existing hosts & landlords and are much in trouble).

Then you start with a problem question and ask them this...

"Hosts & Landlords are leaving Airbnb and are now looking for other platforms, Is there any good out there"?

Then follow it up with a short proposition which explains how your company will solve their problem.

"We were able to fix up a platform that gives "INCREASED" priority to the needs of hosts and landlords by giving them more freedom with their cancellation and bookings".

Finish it up by saying this...
"We are focusing on the need, not the technology".

That's it! Short and simple.

Remember, the goal of Remote Demo Day is to get investors to take a 2nd meeting where you can go over the granular data.

Trust me, the battle is half won once you got a 2nd meeting with Jason and his team. Once you're there, better get your term sheet ready.

Here are some other pieces of advice that might be helpful...

1.) Personal Relationship
=> Raising money is a relationship play, not a lottery play. Put into mind that there always people involved.
Investors are people, they’re smart, and they’re not jerking around.
As founders, we need to find out who they really are (inside & out) and start building a solid relationship.
Don't hesitate to ask for advice. They are more than willing to give their unsolicited expertise.

2.) Show Results
=> Investors want proof that your Startup has real, paying customers. They want to see early signs of Traction.
Investors are looking for a business opportunity with growth potential. You need to have a market with significant reach.
Believe it or not, most CEOs dedicate at least six months or sometimes more when pitching to investors.
Show them all of this, and you can even approach the "Bigger Fishes" in the pond (a.k.a. Jason & Company).
We don't live in a world where small startups should only be looking for smaller, lesser-known investors.
Show them your worth. In the end, it's the results are what truly matters.

3.) User Engagement and Metrics (KPI)
=> Demonstrating that people like and are using your product is going to be one of your biggest assets when it comes to attracting investors.
Not only does keeping track of and sharing this information prove that people are interested in your product or service, but it also demonstrates your commitment to the growth of your startup. Exhibiting that "Spreadsheet" of yours is good evidence that you care about the outcome.

4.) Make sure your Product Solves a Real Problem
=> Too many entrepreneurs simply try to reinvent the wheel, so avoid being one of them.
I’ve found more investors than I expected who were tired of funding "Me-Too" apps and incremental advances.

5.) Return on Investment
=> The best way to stand out and get interest is to clearly illustrate how and when you will get them a return.
The decision comes down to simple math: The lower the risk, the higher the expected return, the greater the chance they’ll invest.

6.) Get Real, Be Honest, Be Yourself
=> Tell them where you are currently, where you will be before closing the next round and what the new capital will enable you to do.
Get them to agree that the metrics make sense and then hit them. Everyone likes someone with a track record of doing what they say they will do.
Don't make false statements. They will find it anyway.
Better be a straight-up honest founder, than a liar or a phony.

Last but not the least...
You could be asking me this... So why Jason and his group, when you can raise funds through alternative Online Fundraising Platforms like AngelList, SeedInvest, Wefunder, etc?

Well, because we all know it is not about just the money.
Jason and his fellas have been in the game since the dark ages. They have deep knowledge and years & years of experience in Startups and Businesses.
They are also far more well connected not only amongst their peers, but through their outside network.

In other words, you will be like Luke Skywalker training under Yoda in Dagobah.
You will be in a different world when you are with them.

Just think about it. Jason Calacanis invests in 2-3 companies a month.
Jason is pretty good (maybe the greatest of all time) at bagging "Startup Unicorns".
If he chooses you and your company, that means that there is that possibility that you can be a Unicorn too.

Teach and you shall Receive

Francis Isberto — Mon, 04 May 2020 12:00:03 +0000

We now live in desperate times. We have consummated most of our resources. And it is crunch time. We're close to a matter of life and death.
Ever since the COVID-19 hit our streets, we were deprived of our freedom.
Our government said that they have it under control. They told us to just wait for the tide to come down and everything will go back to normal.
Well, it's been months since we have gone out and be normal beings. It feels likes decades since we receive our last paycheck.
If our government won't help us, we might as well help ourselves. Besides, we need to put food on our table. We do need to eat after all.

Almost everyone is shifting to the "New Norm".
What was unpopular before became the most beloved and in demand in our society today... the WFH or "Work From Home" occupation.
People from different fields like lawyers, mechanical engineers, Business CEO, accountants, chef & restaurant owners, and even sports athlete are now finding new ways of making a living.
They rather do something than being stagnant.

So the "New Norm" of today is either people are Learning something or Teaching something. Rather than being idle at home, these bored professionals are now going online finding ways either to gain knowledge to find a new career or to show their expertise and being paid at it.

And for those who are having trouble finding the right source for learning or earning... I have great news for you. There is a platform for you that has both (learning & earning).
That platform is Plutwo.

Plutwo works both ways.
For those who want to learn, members can pick their teachers and their specific niche & topics. There are a variety of teachers and experts to choose from...
there is Women in Tech, VC at 47 Ventures, Data Engineer at Microsoft, Yoga 7 days mind & body challenge, Freelancing through Fiverr, a fully-funded exchange semester at US University, Fundraising for Startups, and so on and so forth.

And for those who want to earn, Plutwo allows experts and/or teachers to run/sell live streaming sessions, build an audience, and make money.
For example, if you charge a fee for a few dollars and get an audience of 50, you can easily earn $180 for just in an hour.
Not bad for a side-hustle gig isn't it?

Every human being with skills & know-how is incentivized to do bite-sized online learning sessions at a global scale, build their following and directly monetize it.
The globe is yours so to speak. You can have students from every corner of the world inside your 16" Macbook Pro monitor screen.

Plutwo views individuality as a feature and allows everyone to become an entrepreneur.
Heck, even an auto mechanic or a gardener can become an influence on this new platform.
This company never rest on their heels. In just 45 days since their launch, they have garnered 7000 learner signups. Over 500 experts are on the waiting list. Plus they have conducted sessions with participation from 18 different countries.
And they haven't spread their wings yet.

The good thing about this site is it is a live online-streaming platform where local experts can give sessions and have "Meaningful Interactions" with their students.
By way of conducting hassle-free online classes, there is a possibility for event organizers to grab this opportunity and turn this into a goldmine.

Event Organizers, Event Managers, & Teachers can easily share content and deliver lectures live to the students using the presentation feature of Plutwo.
Several features like live chat, handout, polling, and reaction make the whole experience just like a real-life classroom. The only difference is students will be logging in wearing their pajamas.
With this, teachers can take real-time questions in the chat or through the microphone and make the session interactive by starting a poll to analyze the concepts of the class.

The platform also has built-in tools for organizers e.g a live panel discussion, an AMA session, a presentation setting, a fireside chat, etc.
A panel of teachers can answer the queries of students from the comfort of their homes so the knowledge is transferred effectively.
Instructors can also schedule a discussion for students to interact and share their opinions about a certain aspect of the class or course.
So you see, everything is in "Real-Time" where you get immediate results in a heartbeat.

Plutwo is a "Passion Economy Product".
They understand that most people are in crisis so they make their courses affordable (price is normally less than $10).
They don't just help people gain new skills and making a career out of it, they also help experts in different fields to share their knowledge and effectively monetize it through their platform.
So in the foreseeable future, we could see experts taking advantage of this new tool as a means of fully sustaining themselves.

As the world moves towards work from home and remote learning, Plutwo can become a "Savior" for individuals who want to share knowledge and make money from the comfort of their home.
It will be also a safe haven from learners who want to get access to high-quality content which is easily accessible and affordable.

The "New Norm" may not be as bad after all... especially when you have the dependable Plutwo around.

Why this Web Dev can help the dying Restaurant industry

Francis Isberto — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 06:17:38 +0000

The Restaurant Industry is Dying!

Rapid shutdowns from different cities to stem the "Coronavirus" have thrown restaurants across every country into sudden and complete disarray.
Revenue dried up abruptly, workers faced mass layoffs, and restaurant executives tried to manage the resulting chaos.

Today, the new norm is we see empty seats in every restaurant because people are afraid that they might get infected. Either that or they are simply not allowed to go out.
Nevertheless, the results are still the same. It's Devastating!
Restaurant owners are clinging to their last breath finding ways to grasp oxygen to their doomed business.

This "Virus Crisis" has happened so rapidly that we never got the chance to brace for this new sad reality.
It’s not just independent restaurants; big chains like McDonald’s and Starbucks have also dragged their heels on closing completely.

But we humans are used to adapting even during the time of uncertainties. It is in our DNA to survive.

The Coronavirus crisis is an evolving situation, and restaurant owners have no choice but to alter their response to this dreaded disease accordingly. It's simply a choice of life and death.
So for now, Resto Owners have to keep their heads above water. At the time being, Resto Managers have to settle with Takeout and Delivery only.

These what we call "Contactless" delivery options are the "New form of Oxygen" for the restaurant owners. It's their only way to reach out to their customers.
They may lose some money, maybe cut some labor force, or even just hardly make break-even.
The important part is that they are still alive and certainly won't allow themselves to fold out in the cold.

So if you’re a restaurant struggling to get your head around setting up delivery menus - Don't worry! But instead, be Happy! Help is on the way!
If you don't have a horde of laborers to do the deliveries to your precious customers.
You can get the services of Online Food Delivery Services such as Deliveroo, UberEATS, Grubhub, Just Eat, Foodpanda, etc.
You can easily handle the full move across these delivery platforms including optimized menu descriptions and imagery.

Sounds good right? But wait, does your Resto have an "App" or Mobile Application to cater to these needs?
If you don't then you are Dead no matter how you look at it.

You may hire the services of Web Developers and Software Engineers to build you an App for your struggling business.
I myself is an aspiring Full Stack Developer. I can easily whip up your requested Mobile App in React-Native (using Web Dev terms).
Just give me a few weeks to build a Backend, Auth, find a component library, a router, and to figure out how to connect everything to Redux-Saga and we're good to go.
That is if you are willing to wait.

But I don't advise you to go to hired Web Developers... you know why? Because it takes Time.
Time that you don't have at this moment.
What you need is something urgent. Something that will stop the bleeding. Something that can save you ass right now!

Ben Tossell of Makerpad.co can help you set up an App in a matter of hours.
They focus on tools that help you build things, without the need for code. These programs will be real-life projects that can be "Live" straight away.
Your Real-Time App in a jiffy.

The introduction of the "No-Code" system will be beneficial for entrepreneurs and restaurant owners like you, who are in dire need of revenue and profit to cope up with the losses.

For proof and to illustrate, feel free to go to Ben's sample site:

restauranteurs.glideapp.io

The sample app has:
=> Menu & Online ordering
=> Gift Card System
=> Completely Customizable for your exact business needs

Because of this, all your loyal customers have to do is click on the menu that they want to order, verify their shopping cart list before paying,
and Voilà... Food right there on their doorstep.

Not only it has helped your customers appease their hunger and mitigate their solitary anxiety, but more importantly... it has saved you and your beloved restaurant business.

P.S. = For further info about this No Code App, you may reach Ben through his email... ben@makerpad.co

Francis Isberto
Friendillion.dev

COVID-19 is here, Time for your Startup to Shine

Francis Isberto — Mon, 09 Mar 2020 13:15:13 +0000

THE PAST:

Most Startups Die right before they even Succeed. In fact, 90% of them never get to the promised land. Startups fail simply because of these...
=> No Market Need
=> Ran Out of Cash
=> Get Outcompeted
=> Poor Marketing

It's a normal routine. It happens all the time. People are used to it.
Investors get skeptical. And so on and so on...

It's all downhill from here... waiting for it to Crash!

THE PRESENT:

Now comes more bad news. The highly contagious COVID-19 has slowly crept in our soil. American Health Authorities said they ultimately expect the novel coronavirus to spread in the United States.
In reality, it already started. The hardest hit is Washington State and California.
This annoying virus has spread its wings and scattered this dreaded disease to more places. States like New York, Florida, Illinois, Georgia, Arizona, etc (many more to come I'm afraid).
It will totally disrupt our lives...

Local government is about to close down schools. We are witnessing hundreds of cancelation of flights and mass gathering events.
Hoarding of food in groceries and supermarket is already happening. It's just a matter of time before chaos checks in.

Lockdown could be a possibility. We could be living in a prison-like territory where before was once a beautiful, peaceful, and progressive place.

THE FUTURE:

Do you believe in the saying "In the midst of every Crisis, lies Great Opportunity"?>

As the Coronavirus worsens, Tech Companies are now focusing on Collaboration and Remote Work.

Did you hear what I just said? This is the best time for your Startup to Shine.
It's the moment to play catch up and get ahead amongst the big tech companies of today.

In this time of crisis, Startups are now leveling the playing field. They are winning the "Remote Game" as we speak.

Startups will have an edge especially those who are on the rise right now.
Startups like Artificial Intelligence (A.I.), Voice Recognition Technology, Big Data, Hyper-Personalization, and The Internet of Things (loT tech).

Still in doubt? Allow me to elaborate more...

"THIS DAVID IS BEATING GOLIATH"

Compared to Big Tech Companies, Startups are smaller and less structured. They are also innovative and keep improving their business models.
These allow them to adapt to any kind of disruptions (like the COVID-19). They fit perfectly to any kind of change in any type of market conditions.

Established companies have high administrative overheads. Startups operate in a more efficient, cost-effective and competitive manner.
Doing Remote Work or Telecommuting lowers office costs. And as a Startup, every penny counts. Startup owners need to make smart decisions and keep a close look at the impact of their investments.
While saving money shouldn’t be the primary advantage of supporting a remote work culture, it certainly can be a perk.

In the Bible, David defeated Goliath in just one swift stroke. The same story can also apply to your diminutive and teensy-weensy Startup.

"GOING THE EXTRA MILE WITH REMOTE COLLABORATION"

The general rule of thumb, any Startup can count on the usage of business applications remotely to be about the same as when the worker was in the office.
This is in stark contrast with the other side of the equation: Communication and collaboration tools.

Due to its inherently isolating nature, remote work relies much more on digital communications and especially modern workforce collaboration tools such as team chat (Slack, Microsoft Teams, Workplace by Facebook, etc), enterprise social networks (Igloo, LumApps, SAPJam, etc.), unified communications/instant messaging solutions, as well as business mainstays like e-mail, phone, and web conferencing/meeting tools like GoToMeeting and Zoom.

"WHAT NOW, WHEN CRISIS ENDS?"

So what will happen after the COVID-19 subsides?
Big Tech Companies will be back flexing its muscles and snatching their arena which was really theirs.
What will happen to the small Startups? Is it back to the drawing board? Will they go back to scavenge off the scraps and leftovers of the Big Tech Companies?

Don't worry much about it. Your Startup should have gained many customers by then.
You have gotten a fair share of the market, establishing your business in the Tech industry.

But what if not?
If you have not achieved anything during the time of crisis, that's alright too since you have attained momentum and confidence to continue your climb towards success.

Your Startup has escaped the rest of 90% of Startups who have failed in their journey.
You are now in a place that we call a "Safe Zone". The COVID-19 crisis has somewhat helped your business springboard to a higher, better, and more established ground.

And because of that, your Startup has become an entity. People now know you and your business. You have grabbed a piece of the pie of the ever congested and competitive market.

Just don't forget to take care of your customers.. will ya.
The important thing is to guarantee your clients that you have a committed reliable technology, expanded access, and agile customer service.

Napoleon Hill once said... "Opportunity often comes in disguised in the form of misfortune"!

Your Startup has already sparkled. You just don't know it yet!

Francis Isberto
Friendillion.dev

Are Apps all Dead?

Francis Isberto — Fri, 24 May 2019 11:16:28 +0000

"IS MOBILE APPS REALLY DYING"

Mobile Apps are dying. The most sought software application is becoming extinct.
The vast majority of Apps submitted to App Stores are turning into dead weight.
In the past, the average smartphone owner downloads between 2 and 4 Apps per month. But today, you will be lucky if you see somebody download even one. And if these Apps got downloaded, they will only be used once or twice and then will be completely forgotten.
According to study, 80% of most users do not use the Apps they have downloaded after 3 months. Apps are like Dragonflies. They are all pretty and gorgeous at first, and will only entertain us for a few months. Then they will filter out and die.

So why are they dying? The reason is the difficulty of creating.
They are like the Mona Lisa and the Sistine Chapel Ceiling in painting terminology. It takes a lifetime to build.
Even before users interact with an App, App creators need to do a lot of work upfront. They need to build it and then promote it so users will know that it exists.
Building a mobile App is also expensive. It will cost you around $100k (usually, a lot more) and a few months of intensive work from you and your team.
Acquiring users is even more challenging. It will cost you an arm and a leg to convince users to install your App, and even more expensive to engage them to use it so that they will become active users.
That is how difficult it is.

Another problem is competition.
When it comes to choosing an App for download, many users feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of options available.
For example, Google Play has thousands of Apps in the category productivity, and new Apps are popping up almost every week, so if you need the App that satisfies your needs, you’ll have a hard time finding the one you really need.
Normally users don't have time to dig deeper and search for a particular App. They just choose what is on top then click Install.

So are these Apps really dying as we speak? Are they really close to extinction?
Periodically yes... but not Totally. You might believe that all Apps are now dying but in fact statistics and behavior analysis tell us that the market is changing.
The truth is Apps are continually evolving, and in the future, we will have a completely different perspective on what an App is truly is.

We’re living in fast-moving times. We need to adapt or we will die.
And in order to stay alive, every App needs a customer. Customers are always the "Bread and Butter" of any business. So in order to survive, Apps need to have paying customers... lots and lots of them.
For an App to continue to exist, it needs to have a consistent number of active users. It's imperative that an App owner must work out exactly when and how users want their content and services.

App discovery is so damn hard. It's like finding a needle in a haystack.
But what if there is a helping hand that can support you (and the rest of the independent App developers), promote your content & services and to become a growth avenue for your business?

AppLovin can be that helping hand. AppLovin is an 8-year-old startup that helps App developers find new customers.
They have built an amazing team of engineers, product managers, designers, sales professionals, marketers, account managers, support specialists, and many more to make this fantasy into a reality.
As of today, the company is on track to reach a $1 billion run rate within the next year.

According to Applovin, they process over 30 billion advertisement requests a day and use real-time feedback to make effective marketing decisions across 1 billion mobile consumers worldwide - delivering results for publishers like Disney, Uber, Groupon, CBS, Hotels.com, Yelp, Zynga, and King.com and others.

Because the AppLovin platform optimizes advertiser campaigns for ROI, advertisers see a higher return on their ad spend and are willing to pay for the quality placements they receive.
By providing top quality ad placements, with the hundreds of top brands they work with, they can then serve ads at a massive scale, thereby maximizing developers’ earnings.
AppLovin offers all ad formats (native, video/graphics interstitial, and rewarded video) to allow developers to optimize the ad format type for the best user experience and increased monetization.

AppLovin can also help you get your Apps in front of the right people and “Re-Engage” users who have already downloaded your App but haven’t used it in a while.
So you see, you are not anymore a Bumblebee, a Dragonfly, or any type of insect that fly for a while then die in a few months time.
You, your App, and your company can now be a fully established platform that will not only generate good profits but will give a meaningful purpose to the users of the world.

The company's primary policy is to give App developers of all sizes the ability to monetize, grow, and even finance their business.
AppLovin main objective to help you reach your users at scale. They help you view metrics in real time for better instant insights. You then can easily measure and see the results of your ongoing campaign.
They can also help you find the right regions (state and countries) that perform best so you can build a broader and more sustainable loyal user base.

Perhaps the belief is just a myth. Apps are not dying, They are alive and well.
Apps are not fading, but instead they are evolving. They are emerging with a different mindset that targets the right audience for their business.
They are expanding their tools and growing their customer base. They are maturing and learning from their initial mistakes and improving their services not only to survive in this industry but to remain and establish itself as an entity.

Regardless of what people say, Mobile Apps are definitely here to stay.

Work for a Company that Loves you...

Francis Isberto — Tue, 21 May 2019 12:15:53 +0000

"Burnout is Real... and it can Kill you"!

In the past, everyone wants to work for Google. But today, I've been hearing a lot of sad stories of people resigning and leaving from the company that earns more than 2 billion US Dollars.
It's funny that the most admired employer in the world is not that enticing anymore. People are now aware that it isn't for everyone.
Don't get me wrong, I love Google! I am thrilled with the projects that they have. I always used their products like Google Chrome, YouTube, Google Drive, Gmail, Google Maps, Google Trends, Waze, and many many more.
Google is not the problem, it just the fact that the company went big... then that's when it started to have their own problems. The bigger the company the bigger the responsibilities which normally leads to bigger problems.
Google, and any other big company for that matter, collaborate with big teams working on any given project. That means that any given person is only going to be responsible for a tiny slice of a project, which often means more time on grunt work and less time on high-level decision making. Many programmers would rather work on a smaller team where they have broader responsibilities, even if it means giving up some earnings and prestige.

Let's face it. Everybody aims to work for a big company. The bigger the company the bigger the pay right? Big is good. Big is popular.
And when you have a company that is popular, everybody wants a piece of you. Everybody wants to know if you are hiring. Now everybody wants to compete with everybody else to get the one position that everybody is aiming after. So obviously, there will be competition.
The thing is, the competition isn't just Tough... it's brutally Insane!

Just look at any of the big companies job posting. You will see that there are gazillions of applicants taking their chances and risking it all just to be in.
And once they are in, that's when the nightmare begins. They will face truckloads of work, coding problems, and infinite working hours.
By the time they reach their 3rd year, they are pretty burnout, not enough energy to continue on their once promising career.

And because of that, people now tend to shy away from big companies because of the fear of being drained from the endless workloads.
They rather work for small companies with smaller salaries than big companies that are fully toxic. They know that the burnout is real! And in order to replenish their creativity, enthusiasm, and passion for the work they bring, they need to have breaks.
Companies must understand that "Humans needs breaks". We are all human beings after all.

People need day-offs, long weekends, retreats, and family leave to keep their sanity and have a refreshed state of mind when they come in for work the next Monday.
People are now long desiring for "Working Remotely". By this. they get to spend more quality time with their friends and family.

People are now looking not just to earn a big salary. They now prefer more freedom and a company that loves them dearly. Is their such a thing? Believe it or not, but there is.
There are some companies out there that are concern about your well being. Companies who are aware that their employees are their "Engine" and it must be properly well-oiled and maintained to function consistently and effectively.

Companies such as Buffer. A company that helps busy people to manage most of their social network accounts. This company with a heart has a team of people working remotely from 50 cities in different parts of the world.
They have a customer base of more than 4.5 million registered users and over $16 million in annual revenue.

Buffer treat their employees not entirely as workers but also as a friend. They understand what ticks you. Your interest and goals in life. They basically know you from top to bottom.
So in that regards, Buffer give their employees a competitive salary, health insurance, 401k, profit sharing, and free books and Kindle.

That is not all, their employees are provided with an amazing Home office set-up with a laptop + $500, a "Growth Mindset Fund" where they get extra money for courses, conferences, and role development.
Buffer has Working smarter stipend where their workers get some extra cash for a coworking space or a coffee shop work. There is also an option for them to work remotely especially if their location is far away from the main office.

But the one thing that will explicitly catch our breath away is the company's generosity in giving their employees ample vacation time.
Aside from their provided vacation, retreats, family leave, etc.... The company gives Sabbaticals.
A 6-week break, fully paid, after long years working with Buffer.

Sure, it will cause Buffer a great amount of money from all of those generous vacation leaves. But the cost of losing their employees due to burnout is even bigger.
Buffer fully understand the "Power of the Pause". These well deserve pauses gives their employees the option for them to relax, step back and have a moment to listen to themselves... their inner selves.
And when they get back to work, these well-rested laborers will feel more confident, energized, and a clearer vision about their organization.

Guys, hear me out on this. Don't dread about Work. Work can be nice.
Work can actually be like Marriage. Marriage is essentially about love and commitment. It's lifelong.
The same thing goes for your work. It can be the same assuming you pick the right partner (or your company in your case) who will not only respect you, but will treasure you and take care of you for as long as you live.

Employees in Buffer are experiencing bliss as we speak.
It's not too late for you to find a company that will give you the same bliss and love that you are seeking since the beginning of time.

Why I am Investing $100 to a Drone company

Francis Isberto — Mon, 13 May 2019 12:10:40 +0000

We are blessed that we are Web Developers and Software Engineers. Our skills and talents are widely sought and get rewarded generously.
Earning as little as $40,000 per annum to as high as $200,000 per year gives us some money to spare for things that we want like... a car and a house, travel overseas, buy luxurious things & cool gadgets, and yes... allotting our extra money for our savings and investment.

So what do we do with our extra money? Build and fund your own Startup company... Yeah sure, that looks like a good idea. But what else aside from that?

What if we invest our hard earned money through a new and uprising Startup company... That's a better idea.
In that way, we don't have to go to the agitation of creating and managing your own startup and just simply rely on your ROI (Return of Investment) of the startup of your choice.
Passive income gives you more freedom to do things that you truly want.

So what company should I invest in? I am not an Accredited Investor and don't have thousands of dollars to spare. What now?
And then I remembered "Republic.co"
They are a friendly investment platform amiable to assist newbies like me. So I went to their site, signed up, and then looked for the company that I want to invest in.

After long hours of research and thinking, I've decided to put my money on a Drone company.
You probably ask me why? Here's why...

Drones, or more popularly known as UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle), is what most people call the next "Goldmine". It has come to a surprise that this sunrise industry has grown from $40 million in 2012 to more than $1 billion in 2017.
Some experts predicted the UAV market would "have an annual impact...on the country's gross domestic product" of up to $46 billion.
Wow! No wonder, everybody's lining up to this new gold rush.

So why people are into it? Well, individuals and companies can do a lot of things with a drone.
There is Aerial Photography (for real estate, film-making, agriculture, and special events).
There are Commercial Inspection Services (bridges, cell and TV towers, power lines, pipelines, wind turbines, and solar panels).
They can do Mapping and Surveying (digital elevations, property boundaries, surveying construction sites).
They are into Fast Food Delivery (big companies such as Domino's Pizza are now into drones for faster and more accurate delivery).
Heck, there is even Aerial Advertising (where they provide business fly banners where everybody can see).

The list and potential are endless. For that reason, big companies now look to outsource drone companies for their specific needs. Companies of today would rather go outsourcing because it takes a lot of trouble managing their own drone.
First, the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) says that if a drone is between 0.55 and 55 pounds, then it needs to be registered regardless if it is only for recreational use. You should also need to keep it below 400 feet and within your line of sight. If not you could be fined.
Once you register, you have to get a unique serial number that needs to be applied to all your drones. And when you’re flying, you’ll need to have a paper or electronic copy of your certificate of registration.
Drone registration has to be renewed every 3 years. Failure to register can cost you up to $250,000 or result in 3 years of jail time.
Still want to continue? Why does it have to be so lame and boring right?
It will take you a lifetime before you get to fly your own drone. So that is why companies just leave all the legwork to the drone industry.

Okay, Drone it is. But which company would it be?
There are a lot of good startups out there but I picked the "Airbnb for drones"...
a startup called "Up Sonder".
This company has proficient drone pilots in over 750 cities. And they have a growing community of more than 2,000 members across the United States.
Up Sonder has automated its marketplace with an autonomous drone network to help its human pilots. Their drone service marketplace is ready to serve US businesses in their needs for lower costs, shorter project timelines, and increased safety standards.
They make sure that they give their drone pilots more control than any other platform believing that everyone should benefit from the drone revolution.
Overall, the company's main objective is to provide easy access to drone services both now with a network of humans pilots and in the future with autonomous drones management.

I have been saving a lot lately. Now it's time for me to choose an investment that gives me added income passively.
Republic.co is my investment finder, while Up Sonder will give me the return that I've been looking for.

How about you? What have you invested lately?