Brick-and-Mortar Small Businesses Still Have a Place in an Online World
Brick-and-Mortar Small Businesses Still Have a Place in an Online World
It’s an online world out there. Amazon.com has just come off a record-breaking holiday season. According to the e-commerce behemoth, small and midsize businesses profited like never before: More than 50 percent of items sold came from the “little guys.” With these stats in mind, is there any point to a brick-and-mortar shop anymore? Should you even bother with the headache of securing a lease...
Small Business Digital Marketing Techniques That Are Worth the Wait
Digital marketing has been around since the advent of the internet. The concept includes both inbound and outbound strategies, and the umbrella term encompasses everything from email marketing to pay-per-click ads to awesome new tactics such as chatbots, augmented reality and beyond. It’s a fast-paced world out there. Very few small business owners have time for the long game; everyone is looking for the next “quick fix,”...
5 Small Business New Year’s Resolutions for 2019
We’re on the cusp of a new year, staring back at the triumphs (and hiccups) of 2018 while looking forward to the clean slate 2019 has on offer. It’s a time of merriment, reflection and anticipation, a time when we vow to do better and be better in the coming year. Most of us will make a resolution or two -- exercise more, eat less,...
Get a Jump on Your 2019 Small Business Marketing Plan
It’s that time of year again. Your neighbor’s 850-watt holiday lights are shining through your window, preventing sleep for the foreseeable future. Every retail establishment seems to have “Jingle Bell Rock” on repeat. And you’re settling down for a (probably short) winter’s nap. However, before you pull that sleep mask down over your eyes and resolve to remain in your blanket fort until the new...
Small Business Social Media: The Next Horizons
When you think of social media sites, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn probably are the first three to come to mind. Dig a bit deeper and you’ll probably add Instagram, Pinterest and Snapchat to the list. But there are several other social media platforms that are flying under your radar -- but may still take your small business places that you’ve never been before. Yes, there are...
10 Ways to Market Your Small Business on the Cheap
No one ever said being a small business owner was easy. If it was easy, everyone would do it. You’re not only dealing with the day-to-day operations, you’re also dealing with the “B” word -- “budget.” When times get tough, the marketing budget suffers. But it doesn’t necessarily need to. Here are 10 ways you can market your small business on the cheap. Boost a...
From Enlisted to Entrepreneur: Resources for Veteran Small Business Owners
You’ve served your country with pride, come back to a hero’s welcome (or hopefully at least a backyard BBQ) and now you’re basking in the glow of civilian life and the lack of someone barking orders in your face 24/7. What’s next? For many American veterans -- 2.5 million as of 2017 -- the answer is to start a small business. But how do you...
Why Your Small Business Should Advertise in Print (But Not Newspapers)
When was the last time you read a newspaper? No, not an online New York Times article your aunt shared on social media, but a real, physical newspaper -- the kind that rustles in your hands and makes you turn to page six to continue reading the front page story. Chances are, it’s been a while. With the decline in newspaper subscriptions, it’s no wonder....
Make the Most of Google My Business
Looking for a free way to boost your small business online? Google My Business is your ticket to driving traffic straight to your (real or virtual) doors! Google My Business is a business listing site like hundreds before it. The difference is, it’s optimized for local search. It helps you connect with people right in your own backyard who are looking for your products and...
To Groupon, Or Not to Groupon?
As a small business owner, you want exposure wherever exposure is available. Whether it’s social media, pay-to-play advertisement or even IRL marketing strategies (guerrilla marketing, anyone?), the more visibility you have, the better, right? But what if that “exposure” means that you peddle your wares at a significant discount, a la “daily deal” coupon sites like Groupon, LivingSocial or any other “buy this now and...