Small Business Resources

6 Things You Should Never Do on a Plane, According to a Former Flight Attendant

6 Things You Should Never Do on a Plane, According to a Former Flight Attendant

It’s no secret that being a flight attendant is no easy task. From long hours and days away from home to potential delays and unruly passengers, it takes a special type of person to survive and thrive on the job. Cabin crew training is intense and can take months to complete, and covers everything from food hygiene and incident reporting to fire fighting, terrorism awareness, and even how to deliver a baby. But many cabin crew claim that the trickiest and most challenging part of their days involves customer service: dealing with passenger requests, worries, nerves, and… (Read on…)

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7 Japanese Concepts That Can Improve Your Life

7 Japanese Concepts That Can Improve Your Life

Besides instilling in me a desire to crane-kick everyone, The Karate Kid …implanted a nascent interest in Japanese culture. When I was five, I remember cobbling together a small Shinto shrine out of construction paper, popsicle sticks, and Elmer’s glue so I could have a setup similar to Mr. Miyagi’s dojo in my bedroom. It’s funny to think about a five-year-old church-going kid living in the middle of Oklahoma creating a Shinto shrine for himself.

My appreciation for Japanese culture has deepened since then and continues today. One of the things I love about the Japanese is…. (Read on…)

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My Addicting Step-by-Step Process To Get Tons Of Glowing Testimonials From Your Freelance Clients

My Addicting Step-by-Step Process To Get Tons Of Glowing Testimonials From Your Freelance Clients

We all know that testimonials are an important part of marketing. Humans are social animals and social proof is a powerful signal that can turn a prospect from a skeptic to an enthusiastic buyer.

The problem is that actually getting good testimonials is a pain, which is why a lot of freelancers don’t bother, or have really boring, vague testimonials to share.

Well, no more!

In this article, I’m going to give you my exact process to get great testimonials from your clients. (Read on…)

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Where to Get Free Money to Start a Small Business in 2023

Where to Get Free Money to Start a Small Business in 2023

Small business owners don’t always have access to enough resources to meet their goals. Luckily, there are many business grants and other funding programs available to help. Here’s a guide to several ways to fund projects for your small business.

How Do You Get Free Money to Start a Business?
Free money to start a business usually comes in the form of grants. These can come in many forms, from federal small business grants to those offered by local nonprofits. The process usually includes an application where you outline your need and how you’d use the funds. (Read on…)

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6 Ways Small Business Owners Can Get Their Employees to Use AI

6 Ways Small Business Owners Can Get Their Employees to Use AI

One of the most pivotal innovations that artificial intelligence offers small businesses is the ability to change the rules of engagement — a more level playing field. And its adoption in this size category has been stunning: According to Unbounce’s recent Break Free: The State of AI Marketing for Small Business report, approximately 30% of small and medium-sized businesses are leveraging some form of artificial intelligence.

One overriding challenge, however, is that implementing (Read on…)

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Best Business Books of All Time

Best Business Books of All Time

Reading great business books is one of the most cost-effective methods to become a whip-smart business person. As business book editors, we read a lot of books — and this curated book list is to bring you the best choices.

Indeed, reading top-notch business books is a smart investment of time and money. As business book editors, we’ve navigated the sea of literature to distill the most potent wisdom and strategies for you. This list will guide you towards making the right choices in the business landscape. (Read on…)

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OpenAI, Google, others pledge to watermark AI content for safety, White House says

OpenAI, Google, others pledge to watermark AI content for safety, White House says

AI companies including OpenAI, Alphabet (GOOGL.O) and Meta Platforms (META.O) have made voluntary commitments to the White House to implement measures such as watermarking AI-generated content to help make the technology safer, President Joe Biden announced on Friday.

“These commitments are a promising step but we have a lot more work to do together,” Biden said. (Read on…)

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Former Google Recruiter’s No. 1 Resume Red Flag: ‘There’s Zero Chance You’re Going To Move Forward’

Former Google Recruiter’s No. 1 Resume Red Flag: ‘There’s Zero Chance You’re Going To Move Forward’

Writing a powerful resume can seem like an art form in and of itself. And when doing so, there are various don’ts to keep in mind: Don’t misspell words. Don’t go over two pages. Don’t write a list of vague skills without providing proof you’ve actually accrued them.

For Nolan Church, who’s worked in talent acquisition at companies like Google and who’s currently the CEO of talent marketplace Continuum, there’s one major red flag. “The No. 1 thing I don’t want to see on a resume is probably text bricks,” he says, which is to say “endless streams of text that have a lot of words but not a lot of content.” (Read on…)

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Small Businesses to Congress: Prioritize Passing the Main Street Tax Certainty Act this Congress

Small Businesses to Congress: Prioritize Passing the Main Street Tax Certainty Act this Congress

“Passing the Main Street Tax Certainty Act would stop an enormous tax increase currently scheduled to strike small businesses at the end of 2025,” said Brad Close, NFIB President. “The 20% Small Business Deduction is set to expire in 2025, and without it, small businesses will have to limit their plans to grow, invest, and hire. By making the deduction permanent, small business owners will have the tax certainty they need to make business decisions about their future. We are encouraged that this important legislation has been introduced in both the House and the Senate and urge Congress to consider it.” (Read on…)

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Experts Say This Is the Key to Marketing a Mom and Pop Business

Experts Say This Is the Key to Marketing a Mom and Pop Business

Marketing opportunities are endless, but marketing budgets are finite. Is it better for a mom-and-pop business to put money into online and social media marketing, or to invest in real-life sponsorships and events?

As with many things in business, you can only find out through trial and error, says Rus Graham, cofounder of New England-based Rushton Gregory Communications.

“The difficulty with marketing programs is that everyone is unique,” Graham says. “There isn’t a cookie-cutter approach.” (Read on….)

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The Impact of Technology On Personal Finances

The Impact of Technology On Personal Finances

Technology has transformed how we interact, work, and even handle money. From mobile banking applications to digital budgeting tools, technology has changed the financial landscape, giving customers unparalleled power and convenience over their money. This post will examine how technology has influenced personal economics and how individuals may utilise these advancements to make better financial decisions. Technology integration has opened up new avenues for financial management, whether budgeting, sensible investment, or long-term planning. (Read on…)

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Content Marketing In 2023: The Ultimate Guide

Content Marketing In 2023: The Ultimate Guide

Content marketing is a strategy that utilizes a wide variety of channels, including social media, websites, videos, infographics, podcasts and blogs, to attract potential customers. By creating, publishing and sharing relevant content, companies are building their brand, establishing trust, increasing engagement and ultimately influencing more people to buy their products and services.

With an influx of options everywhere we turn, establishing and nurturing a strong, sustainable relationship with customers is more important than ever. Buyers need to feel not only satisfied, but also truly cared for, in order to stay loyal to a business. In addition to supporting this customer relationship, content marketing also helps make it easier for your customers to become champions of your brand and assist in boosting awareness.

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How To Leverage An Omnichannel Marketing Strategy To Reach Your Audience Wherever They Are

How To Leverage An Omnichannel Marketing Strategy To Reach Your Audience Wherever They Are

The data shows that omnichannel marketing strategies have power. When implemented successfully, they increase ad-driven store visits by 80%. With consumers relying more on their mobile devices and expecting tailored, seamless experiences from brands, failing to embrace omnichannel marketing seems like a wrong turn. Omnichannel strategies can boost sales, personalize the customer experience and increase retention rates.

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How To Use Social Media To Help Your Business. Hint: It’s More Than Posting Cute Pictures.

How To Use Social Media To Help Your Business. Hint: It's More Than Posting Cute Pictures.

One of the keys to small-business marketing is building name and brand awareness. Everyone talks about social media today, but it is more than posting pictures and snappy quotes. Social media marketing is all about gaining a voice in a very crowded communication space no matter what your business, industry or market segment. The key rule of thumb is to use your content to convert searchers, readers and fans into buyers by driving them to your website where they can take your call-to-action. (CTA)

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For Many Small-Business Owners, a Necessary Shift to Digital Payments

For Many Small-Business Owners, a Necessary Shift to Digital Payments

The number of Americans who say they are “cashless” has jumped in the last five years. Forty-one percent of Americans said they did not use cash for their purchases in a typical week in 2022, up from 29 percent in 2018, according to a Pew Research Center survey released last October.

Small-business owners increasingly are making the switch to cashless payments for several reasons, including rising consumer demand, faster checkout, lower labor costs and increased security. Those who wait risk losing revenue, experts say.

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Sales And Marketing Alignment For Improved Business Effectiveness

Sales And Marketing Alignment For Improved Business Effectiveness

Organizations are constantly looking for strategies to increase leads, customer satisfaction and revenue.

An effective way to achieve this is through sales and marketing alignment.

When your marketing team is enabling sales, it becomes easier to achieve target goals.

In this guide, we will investigate the benefits and challenges of sales and marketing alignment. We will also discuss some of the best strategies and share success stories:

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How Can Small Local Service Businesses Use AI To Improve Their Digital Marketing?

How Can Small Local Service Businesses Use AI To Improve Their Digital Marketing?

When many of us hear how AI will change the world – particularly digital marketing – our thoughts (and occasionally fears) drift towards how big organizations will use machines to do the work of legions of copywriters, designers, and other content creators.

Large corporations with equally large customer bases and competitively driven content needs are looking to sophisticated AI systems to generate content, and process and analyze data to stay ahead.

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6 Types of Insurance for Small Businesses

6 Types of Insurance for Small Businesses

Small businesses can face many risks. Learn about different types of insurance that can protect your company from unexpected circumstances.

Small businesses face a variety of risks, ranging from natural disasters to cyberattacks. Different types of insurance can help protect your business from various adverse — and often costly — circumstances. Here are a few of the insurance options available to help protect your small business.

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5 Tips For Effective PPC Bidding On A Budget

5 Tips For Effective PPC Bidding On A Budget

PPC advertising can be a game-changing tool for small businesses looking to kickstart sales or increase brand awareness. Unfortunately, it’s also extremely easy to overspend if you aren’t careful. 

When your budget is tight, it’s crucial that you set yourself up for success when creating a PPC account.

Just a couple of bad months of PPC spending can be the difference between growing or shutting your doors forever.

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What is a Target Market and How to Pick One

What is a Target Market and How to Pick One

When marketing a business, the key to success lies in the ability to target the right group or groups of people accurately. Knowing your target market is essential for any company that wants to create an effective, compelling marketing message that resonates and results in sales.

In this guide, we’ll explore what a target market is, how to define one, and why it’s so important.

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Small-Business Financing Options

Small-Business Financing Options

When you need cash to finance your business’s growth or ongoing operations, there are many small business finance options to choose from. Financing options range from business credit cards and microloans to multi-million dollar SBA loans and crowdfunding.

Read on to learn more about different ways you can finance your small business and which one may be right for you.

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Small Businesses, Big Opportunities

Small Businesses, Big Opportunities

More than 70% of business owners want to originate digitally, and often the only easy way to do that is with a personal account, as banks have lagged on digital originations for businesses with multiple complexities, including the upcoming CFPB Section 1071 rules that will require banking institutions to collect and report data on lending to small businesses, defined as enterprises with gross revenue under $5 million.

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5 Principles To Follow When Allocating Your Marketing Budget In An Uncertain Economy

5 Principles To Follow When Allocating Your Marketing Budget In An Uncertain Economy

Even with the threat of a recession in the next year, companies should prioritize marketing to stay ahead of competitors. In fact, marketing spending is on the rise—now is not the time to back down. Cost-cutting shouldn’t be the strategy driving your annual marketing budget—you won’t meet growth goals this way. Instead of crafting marketing initiatives based on cost, focus on proven effectiveness.

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16 Strategies To Set Your Small Business Apart From Larger Competitors

16 Strategies To Set Your Small Business Apart From Larger Competitors

Whenever a new small business emerges, they have a big challenge competing against larger corporations that overtake the market. It can be hard for a new business to get its bearings and find ways to differentiate itself. However, with some creativity and strategy, there are ways to set themselves apart from larger corporations.

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Run A Small business? Follow This End-of-the-Year Checklist Before 2022 Ends

Run A Small business? Follow This End-of-the-Year Checklist Before 2022 Ends

Make sure you don’t forget anything important with this small business checklist. We put together some of the most important steps you should take before the year ends. Now is the time to tie up loose ends, take an inventory of your business and sniff out any weak spots holding you back. It’s important to take some time at the end of each year to do a thorough review of your company.

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The Small Business Owner’s Guide To Business Storytelling

The Small Business Owner's Guide To Business Storytelling

The best storytellers immediately draw the audience into the story, capture their attention and set the tone for a unique experience that the audience will remember, whilst focusing on these five key elements. Sharing stories allows us to connect with people in real life, and create memories that are more intense and last longer. But how do stories impact us on a psychological and physical level, and how can they benefit your business?

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4 Personal Finance Secrets of Successful, Wealthy People

4 Personal Finance Secrets of Successful, Wealthy People

Wealth creation is an extremely popular topic of discussion.

In a world where everyone wants to spend their money and has an eagerness to enjoy material possession, some people work day and night to make money.

The goal is not to become a money monger, but you can live a tension-free life if you have enough money in your pocket.

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