Business
Articles and resources for entrepreneurs and small business owners.
75 articles
The Benefits of Running a Logo Design Contest
If you’re a business owner or entrepreneur looking to create a memorable, professional logo, you might be weighing a few different options. Working with a design agency, hiring a freelancer, or even trying to tackle the project on your own can all yield results. But if you haven’t considered running a logo contest yet, you […]
An Honest Review of Designjoy Design Agency
Every company needs design work to ensure that its business works and that it can market its services correctly. Usually, a business’s design needs will be vast, and it must ensure that it can display its services in the best light to its audience. However, it’s also well known that businesses have a budget, and […]
An honest review of Superside: Creative services company
It’s no secret that hiring and employing an in-house design team is a significant cost to a company, especially if the business’s design needs are wide-ranging. That’s why an increasing number of businesses are turning to creative services platforms that provide access to talented creatives at a lower cost than hiring a full-time employee or […]
Let’s Talk About Daybeam, The New Time Tracker On The Block
It is starting to look like remote work, freelancing, and contract work are here to stay. For some, this is good news and will usher in a better work-life balance. For others, it has resulted in anxiety and worries about possible drops in productivity and an inability to know how their workers are performing. An […]
Should Your Design Team Be Using AI Graphic Design Tools In 2023?
If you are a business owner, design agency leader, or member of a design team you have probably spent at least a few minutes, and probably much longer, curious about the capabilities of the latest AI-powered Graphic Design tools. You are far from alone. The majority of Graphic Designers at all levels are concerned about […]
Is AI Copywriting Right For Your Business?
We have been interacting with computer programs via a chatbot for a decade or so. These exchanges were often extremely limited (and frankly frustrating) due to the clearly pre-programmed canned responses provided by the chatbot in response to complex human inquiries. While we were gamely explaining the orange juice incident that left our brand new […]
The Best Free Harvest Alternatives
If you have a hybrid or remote workforce, chances are you’re looking for a time-tracking platform that’s easy to use and affordable. One of the most popular time trackers on the market (with over 70,000 users) is Harvest. Harvest’s free subscription lets users track time and send invoices from one integrated application. This app also […]
The Best Free Clockify Alternatives
Today, most companies have a completely remote or hybrid work environment. Meaning businesses now need a time and attendance system that can easily support in-person and remote team members. Clockify, launched in 2017, is one of the most popular time-tracking apps for hybrid and remote workers. Their free plan offers unlimited tracking, users, projects, reports, […]
How to Establish and Maintain Brand Consistency
Brand consistency is important in building trust and recognition. To maintain brand consistency, you must remain on-brand across marketing channels and in everything that you do as a brand. More consistency brings you more recognition and trust among customers and potential customers. Here we share 4 things you can do to ensure that your organization […]
Small Business Owners’ Tips For Hiring An Outsourced Design Team
In a world of images and branding, every company needs a talented design team for marketing and communications. It’s not always possible for small businesses to keep permanent teams. Even the companies that have dedicated designers may need additional help for large or specialty projects. Hiring an outsourced design team is easier and more cost-effective for some of […]
The Eight Business Trends that Will Define 2021
The coronavirus pandemic has changed the future of business. Adjustments made during lockdowns and as things began to open will determine how businesses will fare. These 8 trends should be considered that will help organizations excel in 2021 and beyond. The last year has seen businesses struggle to find new methods to maintain and increase […]
12 Business Resources for Female Entrepreneurs
While Cisco, Eventbrite, Orange Theory Fitness, 23andMe, and Bumble all sound like a random list of companies when grouped together, they all have one thing in common. They are all billion-dollar businesses that were founded by women. If you look deeper into the tales of these “girl bosses,” you’ll find stories of drive, determination, and […]
The Limitless World of Creative Advertising
Advertising is a crucial aspect of running a business. With the changing of times and advances in technology, the sky is the limit when it comes to advertising strategies. Businesses are constantly creating new exciting ways to promote their brands and make them more memorable to consumers. Anyone can expect to be presented with consistent […]
Personalization For eCommerce Businesses
Have you ever visited a site, or browsed something on the web, and then seen ads targeted towards what you looked at the next few days? Maybe you were checking out a snazzy new jacket for an upcoming event and then boom, the next day you’re seeing ads for jackets similar or the same jacket […]
10 Traits Of Successful Leaders
Every successful business, in every industry, has one particular thing in common: high-quality leadership. Without a great leader, any business, no matter how incredible the product or service is, is basically dead on arrival. The leader is the business’ captain, standing at the helm and guiding it towards the destination. Leaders provide focus, vision, guidance, […]
How To Ask For A Letter Of Recommendation
It can be hard to land an interview in today’s job market, never mind actually getting the position. For new professionals and people looking to make a career change, the job search can be even more complicated. It’s challenging to compete when you’re still establishing your career history. Stand out from the crowd with letters […]
Awesome Small Businesses To Shop Online
Do you want to shop small but don’t want to go out? Want to experience the feeling of a small, local shop and know that you’re supporting a small business without ever having to leave your house? The answer is to shop online. There’s no fuss and no having to leave the comfort of home; […]
When It Comes to Selling Your Business, It’s All About Timing
Starting a business, and successfully running a business, can be one of the most worthwhile decisions you’ll ever make. However, there comes a moment when second guessing that decision leaves you with confusion on whether the business is growing and earning a decent bottom line, keeping your passion involved, or it simply becomes a has-been. […]
Why Negative Reviews Are Good: Your Business Needs Criticism
Scared of getting a negative review of your business? That’s totally normal. Customer complaints and criticism can feel like a personal attack — or at very least, an unfair strike against your 5-star rating. But criticism is actually an opportunity. If handled well, you can improve your customer relations and ultimately your brand reputation. Check […]
What is Co-Branding and Is It Right for Your Business?
Nike and Apple. Doritos and Taco Bell. Starbucks and Spotify. These brands go together like peanut butter and jelly — and that’s no accident! It’s all thanks to the power of co-branding. In these collaborative partnerships, brands play off each other’s strengths and create exciting new products and experiences for consumers. And it’s not just […]
Why Your Website Must Be User-Friendly
User-friendly. User experience. User-focused. These basic elements of good website design all reflect the grand principle of usability: the idea that every website should be built with the user in mind! Sadly, it’s easy to lose sight of our visitors’ interests and goals, especially with the amazing technology we have at our disposal. With websites, […]
These Email Marketing Trends Will Grow Your Business In 2023
Email is probably the Internet’s oldest form of communication that still has an enormous impact. While we may not be hanging out in newsgroups or sending IRC chats anymore, we continue to use email. It’s a way to share information and make connections, and most consumers don’t want their inbox to be crowded with sales […]
Are You Ready To Sell Your Business?
You have a small inkling, then a feeling, then a growing wish to sell your business. You feel the time is right, perhaps for your own personal reasons or maybe because of the market. The motivation is there and the drive to sell is strong. You might be ready to sell your business, but is […]
Business Philosophy Examples
A business philosophy can be life-changing for a company. When you’re first creating your business philosophy, you want to ensure it’s one that not only fits your company but encourages and inspires customers and employees. A business philosophy is basically the intentions of your company put into words. In addition to your intentions and employee […]
What Is A Business Plan? Easy Brand Strategy Tips
Two of the most essential factors in the success of your business are having a solid business plan to guide you through and strategies to build your brand. Here we provide vital information to get your business plan together and construct your branding strategy. The Business Plan Questioning the importance of a solid business plan […]
How To Switch From a Storefront to E-commerce
With the Covid -`19 Pandemic, it’s no surprise that we’ve seen so many storefront stores switch to e-commerce. Thinking about making the decision and switching yours as well? Maybe a little overwhelmed at the thought? It can be confusing, but the good news is that this article tells you how to make the transition easy! […]
What is a Business Trademark?
Your business means everything to you and to others who depend on its success. If you leave your plans to chance, how well do you think your business will perform? Will your products and services have the impact you desire? Will they be recognizable as yours to the marketplace? Don’t take a chance on poor […]
What Is Influencer Marketing?
Ever wonder how some businesses seem to expand into the stratosphere with marketing and networking success? Oftentimes, the key is simply a matter of who you hire and whether their influence on social media and beyond can attract more consumers to your business. Entering into the world of influencer marketing has the ability to take […]
Why You Need A Logo
From the iconic Nike logo to the memorable Google colors, logos surround us from the internet to billboards. So, what’s the importance of these logos? Why does every company put so much time, thought, and investment into ensuring that their logo turns out amazing? And, the million-dollar question, should you be putting this much effort […]
How To Sell Your Business
Thinking about selling your business? Emotional as it may be to sell what you’ve worked so hard on, there’s also a lot of practical things that go into selling something you built from the ground up. Even if you aren’t selling right now, there are things you want to keep in mind even now. Most […]
How Does Google Adsense Work?
Google AdSense isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make decent money with it! In fact, Google AdSense is one of the better and more reliable ways to monetize your site. The key to making money with Google AdSense is the same as with many other money-making schemes, you have to know […]
How To Build A Successful Business Model
The success of your business venture starts at your business model, yet so many entrepreneurs lack the basic understanding of what a good business model actually is. If you’re among this group, don’t worry, you’re certainly not alone. Which is all the more reason to gain valuable insight and an advantage over your direct competitors. […]
The Difference Between A Businessman And An Entrepreneur
There has been much debate about the difference between business people and entrepreneurs, and often, people claim the titles when they don’t actually run a business, while others shy away from the title out of insecurity. The truth is, businesspeople, work to expand existing ideas’ place in the market, while entrepreneurs forge new products and […]
What Is A Brand Ambassador on Instagram?
Brand ambassadors can be extremely beneficial when promoting a brand and its products. Regardless of your business size, a brand ambassador can be vital to your marketing strategy. With the internet reach in our day and age, it’s important to involve social media reach to better engage with your audience and increase engagement. If you […]
Business Instagram Guide for Beginners
Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms to date; the platform is widely known, and it’s rare to meet someone who doesn’t have an account. It’s also widely used by businesses for their marketing strategy; if used right, the platform can be magic when building relationships with a company’s audience. However, for […]
What Are Chatbots and How Do They Work?
A chatbot, or bot, is a software application that simulates a real human conversation. Chatbots process and interpret the user’s words and instantly provide a pre-set answer to the user. Chatbots allow humans to have a conversation with computer software that will allow them to feel as if they’re having a conversation with a human. […]
Choosing The Perfect Business Attorney
Although it may be dreaded to hear, there comes a point in every company where legal representation will be needed. You’ll hear the horror stories about small companies that have waited too long, right until they get sued, and then frantically are searching for a business attorney, only having to settle for one that may […]
How to Diversify Your Business
One of the most common pieces of advice that entrepreneurs receive related to business is to start small, then expand. And that’s exactly what many companies do – they focus on getting a handle on one offering, before expanding to multiple offerings. There isn’t anything wrong with this strategy as a starting point. By focusing […]
Signs That you Are Ready To Expand Your Business (and how to do it)
Every entrepreneur dreams of scaling their company one day. When starting off, every company’s long-term goal is to work towards growing and scaling into a bigger company that, ultimately, makes a larger profit. However, this is often easier said than done. There comes a time with every business where you’ve experienced steady growth, you’ve been […]
Sole Proprietorship or Partnership- Which is Better?
When starting a business, you’ll be faced with countless decisions. There’s no shortage of research, and various questions will arise when starting your own company. One of the first questions that will pop up is whether you want to operate alone or pursue a general partnership. In this article, we’ll go over: Sole Proprietorship or […]
The Key to Running a Successful Business
Ever heard the expression “Two’s company, three’s a crowd”? How about “too many cooks in the kitchen”? Amusing aphorisms aside, the composition of your business’s executive team is an understated element in your business’s success. Too many executives try to do it all — or, they bring on so many advisors and directors that no […]
Effective Team Management Strategies
When you look at any leading company, you’ll find that behind the company, is a good leader. After all, a company is only as good as the person who runs it. There are lessons all managers can learn by looking at the leaders behind the companies they admire and looking at what effective team management […]
Here’s What Might Be Slowing Down Your Small Business
Most small business owners have every intention and desire to have their company running on all cylinders, but sometimes those best intentions can actually get in the way of the company’s success. If you suspect your business could be running more efficiently, or generating better numbers, let’s take a look at some well-intentioned pitfalls that […]
How To Conduct A Competitive Analysis
Competitors are a huge part of any company; they play a crucial part in the business. Competitors, oftentimes, will be able to tell you more about your company then your own company will be able to. They’ll give you valuable information about the business industry that isn’t always available for researching. Sizing up your competitors […]
Evolving Your Small Business Marketing Strategy
Businesses should constantly be growing their company; whether it be through developing new products or having new thoughts on your marketing strategy, it’s important that throughout the years you adapt and develop your company, helping it evolve with the times. A little confused when it comes to what you can do to adapt new concepts […]
Turning Disaster Into Success
The coronavirus pandemic has turned our world upside down. We’ve seen a crash in the stock markets and millions of companies have faced unexpected losses during this time. Some companies have had to temporarily close while others have merely buckled down while they waited for the storm to pass. Now, all companies are trying to […]
How To Be an Effective Business Leader
Management and leadership are not the same thing. If you’ve ever worked in a place with a toxic atmosphere, you probably noticed that the negativity permeated down from the top and broadly infected the workplace. Maybe the manager was incompetent, petty or unfair. Perhaps the manager played favorites or demanded unrealistic results. Either way, it […]
Building A Content Marketing Machine Like A Pro
Ever wonder how to build a good marketing strategy? We get it, and building a content marketing machine can help. Content marketing is where it’s at. Every business uses content marketing to grab consumers’ attention and convince them to use their services. If done right, there’s something almost magical about the power that content marketing […]
My Marketing Stunt: What I Need and How to Pull It Off
Marketing; it’s the key aspect that has the power to make or break a company. Do it right, and get your company out there and customers buying from you, and you can be a huge success. Fail, and put effort, money, and time into creating an epic marketing plan only for it to fail and […]
How To Protect A Network From Cyber Attack
If your company experiences a cyber-attack, that cyber-attack is no joke. Many businesses, especially when it comes to small businesses, view themselves as less susceptible to having cyber-attacks affect their company due to the size of their company. This, however, is one of the biggest mistakes that these small companies can make because small business […]
Why You Need a Sensational Logo For Your Business
When you need to connect your mind to the business in question without ever seeing the actual name of the brand, how important is it for instant recognition? Without question, a logo is the holy grail of your business. Think of the ‘golden arches’ of McDonald’s, or the ‘swoosh’ of Nike–these two are iconic for […]
Everything You Need to Know to Build a Successful Online Business
The world has largely moved online, and knowing how to conduct business online has become essential to success. But how do you build and conduct a successful online business? This outline will help you build one from the ground up. Decide on a Business Model Figure out the kind of business you want to build. […]
What Is A “Sister” Company?
A phrase that is not uncommon to hear in the business world is ‘sister company’. Perhaps you’ve heard it mentioned in an article you read online, or maybe you’ve heard it tossed around the office. Although it may sound like a confusing phrase, it’s actually much more simple then it sounds. However, although this is […]
How Do You Keep Remote Workers Motivated? 6 Tools To Inspire Your Remote Team
Leading a team in business is hard. Leading a team that is working remotely is even harder. Just last year, it might have been said that leading a remote team was not for the faint of heart. Yet this year, practically every team has unwittingly been turned into a remote team. Practically every leader, whether […]
Digital Marketing For The Modern Business
Most adults remember the days of Saturday morning cartoons. Waking up early, claiming a seat on the couch with a tv tray and bowl of cereal, and spending all morning watching the only cartoons that would be on all week. Kids didn’t just love Saturday mornings for the cartoons. Part of the fun was the […]
5 Ways to Effectively Manage a Freelance Remote Team
Working from home can be both freedom of expression feeling, or a completely chaotic experience if left to your own devices. More often than not, being a remote worker has its perks and can be extremely productive in our current economic climate. Businesses–large and small–are turning to remote work to cut down on overall in-house […]
How To Create An Awesome Brand Experience
These days, it isn’t enough to have a catchy name, beautiful logo, or robust marketing strategy. Consumers, especially those of younger generations, desire experiences. That’s why you need to transform your brand into a story that draws your customers in, then create an amazing brand experience that boost their loyalty. Heavyweight players like Apple, Nike, […]
Steps To Creating A Personal Brand
Personal brands aren’t just for life coaches, fitness gurus, influencers, or home organization experts! Everyone, no matter their industry or career level, needs a strong personal brand. Creating a personal brand identity will help you win clients, customers, and promotions, and will provide you with other benefits for your career. When you look at personal […]
How To Evaluate Your Product Market
Not all big ideas are winners. It’s not that they aren’t good, it’s that there is little to no market for them. Needless to say, that’s a dealbreaker when it comes to launching a business based on that idea. You could invent an amazing device or be the best in the world at a certain […]
Ways To Keep Your Company Safe And Secure
When you think about protecting your business, you might first think of installing an SSL certificate on your website or a security system at your store. However, there’s another type of security you should keep in mind. Every company involves confidential information and trade secrets that are essential to the function of your business. Without […]
Characteristics Of A Successful Business Owner
Small business owners have a lot in common. They are resourceful and creative, among other things. But aside from finding common traits among business owners, there’s an important question to ask: What traits do the best business owners have? Business owners are a small percent of the population. When you talk about which ones […]
Three Of The Worst Ways To Waste Money On Marketing
Marketing is for real! Marketing in itself is not a waste of money, but many methods of marketing chomp away loads of finance without generating satisfying returns. Most marketing campaigns are not mistakes, but rather poor execution. In our interconnected lives today, it’s clearer than ever that audiences are converted into customers. Therefore, the appearance […]
The Reasons Why “The Customer Is Always Right” Is Wrong
We’ve all heard it: “The customer is always right.” But, what if I told you that’s not true? To be frank, sometimes the customer is flat out wrong. If you’ve ever worked in a customer service job then you know this to be true. You’ve probably wanted to scream it from the rooftops! The seemingly […]
What Unique Challenges Do Family-Owned Businesses Face?
Managing a family business can be challenging. It often requires a careful balance of work life and personal life. Establishing boundaries and fine-tuning roles is the key to long-term success. Remember, the people you work with will also be the people you share a dinner table with. That’s what makes the dynamics of family businesses […]
Recognizing Your Toxic Behaviors: 5 Ways To Make Yourself More Desirable
Doing a little soul searching and being self-aware can change the course of your life. We’re all guilty of having toxic behaviors at some point in life. It happens. Recognizing how attitudes and choices play a role in our everyday lives is the first step towards making changes that will allow for positive growth. Stop […]
Five Of The Best Ways To Scale Your Company
Every entrepreneur dreams of scaling their company. When starting small, every company’s goal is to work towards growing and scaling into a bigger company that, ultimately, makes a larger profit. However, this is often easier said than done. Many businesses fail when trying to scale and there are a dozen reasons why, one of them […]
Do You Have What It Takes To Be A True Leader? These Four Skills Can Make or Break Your Success
There is a theory that some people are just born leaders and their charisma is an innate, un-teachable trait. Somehow, they know exactly the right thing to say at the right moment; they can read other’s energy just by stepping into a room, and harness that energy to inspire a loyal following. While that may […]
Take It Personally
One of my very first jobs was marked with a huge failure. Something I had worked hard on, had invested hours in, had not gone the way we had wanted it to go. The details are not important, but I ended that day almost in tears. My boss at the time kindly took me aside […]
Strategies For Implementing Change In The Workplace
Change is inevitable in business; it’s often necessary for growth. Change in business highlights something about companies that most people don’t want to admit that their enterprises have disabilities. Whether they work with their capabilities and work around their disabilities is what makes or breaks the flow through change. You must implement change across the […]
The Top 3 Ways to Feel Better at Work
If you feel like you hate your job or are miserable in your workplace, you’re not alone. Around the world, a mere 13 percent of workers feel energized and engaged in their workplace. There are many reasons you could hate your job, maybe you are exhausted from another aspect of your life, or you don’t […]
How To Rebrand A Company
We all know that branding is important for the success of a company. Rebranding allows brands to get a much-needed refresh as the brand evolves and adapts to change. After a rebranding is complete, investors, fans, and customers are presented with a brand-new look for the company. How To Successfully Rebrand A Company The reasons […]
10 Marketing Strategies That Will Boost Your Holiday Sales
Believe it or not, the holidays are upon us once again! For your business, this season means much more than turkey and stuffing at the dinner table or where best to string up your lights. The holiday season, which officially starts the day after Thanksgiving on Black Friday, is the busiest shopping time of the […]
Why Is Design Important In Your Website?
In order to have a successful business, it is imperative that you focus on web design. This is because many potential customers will visit your website in order to learn about your brand, products, and services, which means that you will only have a small window of time to deliver a great first impression with […]
What Are The Most Popular Businesses To Start?
One of the great things about today’s business climate is that people are far less likely to settle. More people than ever before are preparing to jump in and start their own businesses. While some people know exactly what industry they want to start a business in, others simply have the drive and the desire […]
Why You Should Be Outsourcing Your Graphic Design
Although there are many people still adapting to the idea, outsourcing your graphic design isn’t a bad idea. There are many benefits that you get from outsourcing your design that, under normal circumstances, you wouldn’t get. Reasons why you should be outsourcing your graphic design. 1. Saves money. Nobody wants to spend thousands on […]