Remember, just a few weeks into the new year? You had goals to eat healthier, get in the gym, and start a new business. But now, we’re inching closer to the end of the year, and you’ve struggled to hit any of your goals. I’m no exception to the rule, either. I have a pair … Read more
Starting a business. The want-to-be entrepreneur’s daydream. Many founders have spent hours speculating the vision before finally making it happen. Freedom, flexibility, income—it’s all just a startup away. However, many small business owners overlook one small (though crucial) detail: it takes money to make money. Startups don’t grow on trees. You’ll need capital to get … Read more
Whether it’s Pubcon or MozCon, Dreamforce, or SXSW, SEO conferences and business networking events can be a great way to freshen up your skills, tune into industry trends, and connect with other professionals. In fact, getting the most out of networking events requires more than just listening to panels and handing out your business cards. … Read more
As far as job descriptions go, ‘Business Consultant‘ has to be near the top of the list for most ambiguous. After all, you would struggle to find two more broad terms than ‘business’ and ‘consultant,’ so pair them up, and you’ve got a match made in heaven. But despite the ambiguity of the name, business … Read more
Joining a local accelerator program was an important factor in successfully securing grants for my community-based business. Joining this program was truly eye-opening. Accelerator programs have the purpose of helping businesses (usually start-ups) accelerate their business growth. When you join a program like this, you get access to advisors who will help you further develop … Read more
Business budgets are a source of truth for your income and expenses. That includes all the money you spend — from A/B testing your marketing campaigns to your monthly office rent. While organizing the numbers may sound difficult, using a business budget template makes the process simple. Plus, there are thousands of business budget templates … Read more
The thrill. The anticipation. The calls. The website building. The samples. The price shopping. The all-hands-on-deck moments. The night before. The big day. Does that feel like planning a wedding or starting a business? How about both at once? Emma Bolton began her wedding planning with a challenge. She wanted a “wow” factor. She wanted … Read more
You’ve made your LinkedIn account, you’ve posted a couple of thought-provoking pieces, and now you’re wondering what your next step is. Sure, you can add another article post to your page, but with minimal followers, it feels a little hollow. “How, oh great LinkedIn gods, can I gain a larger audience?” you cry, sinking to … Read more
You’ve managed to create your ideal business (sounds like congratulations are in order!). Everything is set up perfectly. Your website is like a shiny new car in the driveway, just waiting for you to take it for a spin. You sit back, waiting for potential clients to come swarming in, blown away by your professionalism, … Read more
As your business grows, it’s easy to see it as a tree of disconnected branches and it’s harder to keep on top of what all those branches are doing. That’s why you hire people to take care of these different areas, reporting to fewer staff members until everything reaches you. With all these different areas … Read more
Welcome to Breaking the Blueprint— a blog series that dives into the unique business challenges and opportunities of underrepresented business owners and entrepreneurs. Learn how they’ve grown or scaled their businesses, explored entrepreneurial ventures within their companies, or created side hustles, and how their stories can inspire and inform your own success. Leadership is comprised … Read more
The term “dropshipping” has gotten a bad rap in recent years, On one end of the argument, you have those who believe dropshipping can make you a millionaire, and if you aren’t making 100 grand in passive income every month from your private jet, you are a loser. Spoiler alert: 99.99% of these claims are … Read more
Small businesses face significant challenges, particularly when securing financial resources to sustain and expand their operations. They frequently grapple with cash flow constraints, limited credit history, and stringent lending requirements from traditional financial institutions. These hurdles can impede their ability to seize growth opportunities, invest in technology, retain talent, and weather unexpected market fluctuations. And … Read more
When you’re considering a new venture, one of the first things you should do is determine whether there is a valuable market for it. Imagine putting in months of hard work to realize that there are only 100 people in the U.S. who will potentially buy your product. Knowing this early on will enable you … Read more
The digitally driven world has lowered the barriers to entrepreneurship. There has been a noticeable rise in college students embracing entrepreneurship. The trend is particularly prominent in the realm of e-commerce. Starting an e-commerce business is rewarding, combining education and real-world experience. If you are someone with an entrepreneurial spirit, this guide walks you through … Read more
Corporate responsibility should play a major role in the objectives and organization of any business. Businesses must consider the impact they are having on society and the environment — better business practices are being demanded on a worldwide scale. The average consumer is more environmentally and socially aware than they used to be. Companies that … Read more
Question: How many social media platforms should a local business be using? Realistically, it is a challenge to manage multiple platforms well with the limited resources of a small business. – Keegan Edwards There’s no end to the tasks small business owners have to juggle daily. When you’re managing everything from strategy to sales, adding … Read more
Emergency savings are a necessity for us all. But this is especially true for small business owners, entrepreneurs, and freelancers. For such folk, a major unpaid invoice can fall on the same month as an unexpected household emergency — like your oven calling it a day or your air conditioner packing it in the middle … Read more
