Turn your passion into online profit

Photo: Jopwell/PEXELS

NewsUSA - Have you ever shopped at someone’s personal online store and thought, “I could do that”? In the wake of the pandemic, more people are reinventing their work lives and choosing to follow their passions. And the ever-expanding world of e-commerce makes it easier than ever to turn your pastime into a profit.     

Launching an online business can seem daunting, especially if you lack a background in technology, computer programming, or website building, but it doesn’t have to be. The right website host and store builder platform can make setting up the online business of your dreams a seamless process.     

Nexcess, a company dedicated to ecommerce entrepreneurship, offers several tips for how to get your ecommerce business off the ground, whether you are selling physical products, digital products, or online services ranging from consulting to yoga classes. Key considerations when launching any ecommerce business include:     

- Sales. The most efficient ecommerce platforms keep it simple with automated sales and performance tools. Nexcess also has a membership website builder that allows you to add subscriber-only content for even more sales.     

- Management. Setting up an online store should be simple. Platforms such as Nexcess StoreBuilder include intuitive features that let you design a beautiful online storefront with no need for coding or a website designer.     

- Mentorship. The best platforms for online businesses have fast speed, strong security, inherent scalability, and, last but not least, competent and responsive tech support for any problems and questions that arise. Nexcess managed hosting provides live chats with a website hosting advisor to help you get started and make a plan for success.     

If you have an existing online store or website that you want to upgrade, Nexcess offers free website migration to or among any of its website hosting platforms, with 24/7 support that kicks in immediately.     

Also, many ecommerce entrepreneurs miss the importance of a business location when establishing online. The business may be in cyberspace, but location still matters for taxes and other administrative purposes.     

Some states are more appealing than others for ecommerce business owners. According to a new ecommerce study, Florida is the number-one state for ecommerce businesses, based on criteria including tax climate, economic outlook, financial resources, and infrastructure.     

Rounding out the top ten states for ecommerce businesses are Utah, North Carolina, Texas, South Dakota, Nevada, Montana, Colorado, Indiana, and Tennessee. The great thing about an ecommerce business is it can launch from any state with a website and a good idea.

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Wine pairing ideas for this summer's fun and friendship

Photo: Chelsea Pridham/Unsplash

News USA -- "Wine and food pairings don't have to be complicated," says Riana Mondavi, a member of the fourth generation of the Mondavi wine family from Napa and an ambassador for her family's CK Mondavi and Family wines. "It's really about what you taste and smell in the wine and how you feel the wine brings out and compliments the food you are eating."

If done correctly, a proper pairing can enhance the flavors of both the food and your chosen bottle of wine. The intensity of a specific food or wine depends on a lot of things such as sugar, acid, salt and spice. The food should not overpower the wine (and vice versa). By matching a light wine with light fare or a heavy dish with a heavier wine, the food and wine balance each other out and their intensities line up for a perfect pairing.

For example, if you have a dish that has a lot of citrus in it, it's great to pair with a Chardonnay, as it also has hints of citrus in it. The two enhance each other and balance out the flavors. A lighter white wine, such as a Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio, pairs well with summer vegetables, as it brings out the crisp, light flavor profiles. Red wines typically pair best with richer food such as steak and sweets, but there's no set rule. Many people pair a Merlot with seafood.

CK Mondavi and Family has made wine pairing easy for everyone, and this summer they invite you to play around with pairings. They've created a downloadable "Wine pairing made simple" guide on their website: https://www.ckmondavi.com/ckm-pairings. They also added flavor descriptors to each bottle of CK Mondavi and Family. With descriptors such as "Rich & Velvety" for Cabernet Sauvignon and "Bright & Fresh" for Chardonnay, anyone can quickly decide on a wine.

Riana Mondavi also recommends impromptu wine pairings with friends. "It's fun to get together with a group to see what everyone tastes or smells in the wine," she adds. "Everyone has a different opinion and it's fun to see what we all come up with."

So, this summer, have some fun pairing wines with your favorite foods. And while doing it, enter CK Mondavi and Family's monthly #pairNpost drawing, where you can enter to win a prize. Just snap a photo of your favorite pairing and tag it with #pairNpost on Twitter or Instagram.

It's all part of a new, fun approach to wine. After all, summer is about enjoying yourself and what better way to enjoy life than at the table with friends and family?