Welcome to The Searchlight! Your one-stop shop for time-saving business hacks and essential resources, all designed to boost the entrepreneurial journey 🚀 

Weekly Catchups

News | Industry Insights | Trends

• ⚡️ The most optimistic entrepreneurs…

  HSBC’s Global Entrepreneurial Wealth Report 2024 revealed that 98% of entrepreneurs in the UAE are confident that their businesses are set to flourish, despite geopolitical uncertainty and global macroeconomic headwinds, according to HSBC’s latest survey. 95% also expect personal wealth to increase in the next few years. The UK continues to rank among the most alluring places in the world for international businesspeople.

• 🇺🇸 🤖 Trump 2.0 & tech

  A second Trump term would reshape tech significantly. With Musk's support, expect looser regulations, especially in crypto. Changes at the FTC could give tech companies more flexibility, while planned AI rules might get shelved. Relations with China could strain further, impacting the semiconductor industry. Meanwhile, social media companies are watching closely as Trump reconsiders Section 230 and TikTok's status

•  🔢 0

  Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are taking the helm of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) without a paycheck. Elon Musk fired back at Senator Elizabeth Warren's retort about “split leadership” in a department about “efficiency”, highlighting their unpaid commitment as the ultimate efficiency. DOGE's mission? To supercharge Trump's "Save America" initiative by trimming bureaucracy, axing needless regulations, and revamping federal agencies.

Biz Hacks

Strategies | Tools | Marketing Tips

Better End of the Bargain

Katie Steckly's journey from making Harry Potter fan videos in her bedroom to founding Creatorly Media shows how far passion can take you. After launching her content creation business in 2018, she faced a common creator's dilemma: how to price her services.

Should it be hourly rates? Equipment costs? Audience reach? With 294,000 YouTube subscribers and 25,000 newsletter readers today, Katie's message is clear: don't wait to "make it" before valuing your work. New to content creation? Here's your pricing guide.

LET’S DIVE IN 👇️ 

1) The 20% increment rule

Successful creators suggest not lowballing your way through those initial brand partnerships. Living with a perpetual fear of losing out on a client is real, but you must rise above the fears. Start with your current rate as a baseline. Add 20% for each new brand inquiry. Here’s why:

• When you underprice, it’s not just money you’re losing— it’s also your energy. 

• You end up taking more deals to meet income goals. 

• Quality suffers as you juggle with one too many commitments. 

• Your audience senses inauthenticity. 

When is the ‘right time’ to increase rates? 

• Your calendar is consistently full. 

• You’re rushing through deliverables. 

• You feel resentful about project work. 

• Your creative energy is depleting. 

2) Brand-to-audience fit matters

In 2024, follow-count alone cannot determine your market value. 

• Picking a niche multiplies value: A tech-focused creator with 10K followers might command higher rates from B2B SaaS companies than a lifestyle creator with 100K followers. Why? Conversion potential trumps reach. 

• Example: A cyber security expert with 5K followers charging $2,000 per video because their audience consists of IT decision-makers.

3) Be prepared to be discovered 

• Brand Partnership Pipeline: Regularly engage with brand content in your niche. Create content that references (but does not pitch) brands you want to work with. Comment thoughtfully on posts from brand marketing managers. 

• Dominate a sub-niche: Specificity will capture a brand’s attention and then help them stay invested in your story. 

• For example, Instead of 'social media tips,' become 'the LinkedIn carousel design expert' • Rather than general 'tech reviews,' become 'the remote work setup specialist. 

Biz Essentials

Stay Ahead of the Curve

Don’t Miss It!

Networking | Business Development | Entrepreneurship

Feedback, Please!