Archives for December 2020

The year 2020 has nearly come to an end. Time to let out a big “HALLELUJAH” if you’re a small business owner. But of course, the challenges that were presented to many of us this year aren’t going away, at least not any time soon.

And you never know when the next challenge might present itself. So, if anything, it’s time to get prepared for what may come next. It’s time to recession-proof your small business.

An upcoming webinar hosted by 3 prominent small business leaders aims to do just that.

On January 14, Small Business Trends publisher and CEO Anita Campbell along with DIY Marketers publisher Ivana Taylor join serial entrepreneur Rhonda Abrams for the webinar, The Sh*t’s Hit the Fan – NOW WHAT? 99 Recession Proof Tips for Small Business. The event is based on the book of the same title authored by Abrams.

During this online event, you’ll hear actual steps to take to get your small business ready for whatever might get thrown its way. It’s an event you literally can’t afford to miss. Get ready by registering using the link below.

Register Now

Featured Events, Contests and Awards

Check out these other small business events …

Women in Cloud Summit 2021
January 28, 2021, Online

The Women in Cloud Summit is a three-day, life-changing event for women tech entrepreneurs, corporate and community leaders, policymakers, and allies from around the globe. Women are key drivers of economic growth, and the Summit strives to change the industry narrative by creating economic access for women in the cloud economy. Summit attendees will hear from inspirational speakers, connect and communicate with industry leaders and experts, and network with other community members and entrepreneurs. Join us virtually from January 28-30, 2021.

WEBINAR: What Business Structure is Right for You?
April 28, 2021, Online

Picking a business structure is usually the first big legal decision for a new business owner and one of the most confusing. However confusing, it is an essential step to protecting your personal assets from any liabilities of the company. In this webinar, Nellie Akalp CEO of CorpNet.com, will share insight on business entities to help guide you to the best decision for your new venture.

WEBINAR: Best State to Incorporate
July 28, 2021, Online

Some say Delaware, others say Nevada while someone else may say your home state. What is the best state to register a business in? What if your business is expanding into new territory? At what point should you Foreign Qualify? Nellie Akalp, CEO of CorpNet.com, will go in-depth to answer these questions and more in this webinar.

WEBINAR: Steps to Start Your Business
October 20, 2021, Online

Starting a business can be an exhilarating time, where everything seems full of potential and purpose. But navigating the logistics of launching a business can be daunting. In this webinar Nellie Akalp, CEO of CorpNet.com, will outline the steps necessary to legally start a business and get up and running on the right foot.

More Events

• DataScience Contest
  January 1, 2021, Online
• Decoding Future HR 2021
  January 19, 2021, Online
• Talent Acquisition Week | VIRTUAL
  January 25, 2021, Online
• Rail Cybersecurity Summit USA
  February 9, 2021, Online
• 5th Advancing Project Controls Summit 2021
  February 22, 2021, Online
• Employee Wellness Summit
  February 24, 2021, Online
• Digital Marketing World Forum – North America Online 2021
  March 24, 2021, Online
• Power BI in 2021
  April 1, 2021, Online
• HR Benefits Conference, April 2021
  April 7, 2021, Las Vegas, NV
• TECHSPO New York 2021 Technology Expo (Internet ~ Mobile ~ AdTech ~ MarTech ~ SaaS)
  April 15, 2021, Online
• DigiMarCon Mid-Atlantic 2021 – Digital Marketing, Media and Advertising Conference & Exhibition
  April 26, 2021, Philadelphia, PA
• Sitecore CMS in 2021
  May 1, 2021, Online
• DevOps Engineer in 2021
  May 1, 2021, Online
• DigiMarCon New England 2021 – Digital Marketing, Media and Advertising Conference & Exhibition
  May 6, 2021, Boston, MA
• Marketing Analytics Summit North America – Virtual Edition 2021
  May 10, 2021, Online
• DigiMarCon Canada West 2021 – Digital Marketing, Media and Advertising Conference & Exhibition
  May 13, 2021, Vancouver, BC
• DigiMarCon Canada East 2021 – Digital Marketing, Media and Advertising Conference & Exhibition
  May 17, 2021, Montreal, QC
• DigiMarCon Canada 2021 – Digital Marketing, Media and Advertising Conference & Exhibition
  May 20, 2021, Toronto, ON
• DigiMarCon Canada 2021 – Digital Marketing, Media and Advertising Conference & Exhibition
  May 20, 2021, Toronto, ON
• TECHSPO Toronto 2021 Technology Expo (Internet ~ Mobile ~ AdTech ~ MarTech ~ SaaS)
  May 20, 2021, Toronto, ON

More Contests

This weekly listing of small business events, contests and awards is provided as a community service by Small Business Trends.

You can see a full list of events, contest and award listings or post your own events by visiting the Small Business Events Calendar.

Image: Depositphotos

The healthcare industry is changing dramatically. And technology is becoming a big part of that change. NexHealth wants to help usher in the next wave of efficiency in the healthcare industry.

The company provides a platform that connects patients and healthcare providers. Read more about the unique business idea in this week’s Small Business Spotlight.

What the Business Does

Connects patients, doctors, and developers.

Chelsea Robinson, Growth Marketing Manager at NexHealth told Small Business Trends, “We have an all-in-one patient experience management platform which integrates directly with practice management and EHR systems. Our platform includes important features like two way messaging, online booking, online payments, telehealth, appointment reminders and more.”

Business Niche

A real-time online booking platform.

Robinson says, “It supports full customization capabilities for 1 to 500 location medical and dental practices.”

How the Business Got Started

Because of personal experience.

Robinson explains, “After pre-med, and actually en route to medical school, our CEO, Alamin Uddin pivoted to build NexHealth. He was working in a dental office and experienced first-hand the exigent need to automate and improve the patient experience. He called on a good friend to help him accomplish this (our co-founder Waleed Asif). And the rest is history.”

Biggest Win

Developing integrations with a proprietary healthcare API.

Robinson says, “We further developed and released the API to our customers after recognizing the disparity of the healthcare industry. We wanted to offer more value to our base beyond what they were already getting in the space. It’s a “win”, not only because of the additional revenue it has brought in, but also because it’s a huge aid to innovation in a space the sorely needs it.”

Biggest Risk

Moving from New York to San Francisco.

Robinson explains, “We wanted to raise more funding in Silicon Valley, but our main market (and most of our customers at the time) was in New York. We were worried we’d lose visibility in that market, but it hasn’t hindered us from success there AND we’ve been able to raise critical funding. In fact, we recently closed a $15M Series A round.”

Lesson Learned

Invest in your team.

Robinson adds, “In our early days, we didn’t really focus on culture and making employees happy like we do now. Nearly tripling our employee headcount in the past six months has forced us to build structure into the business and make sure people feel good about working for our team. Investing in people is tantamount to investing in success.”

How They’d Spend an Extra $100,000

Engineering resources to build more integrations for customers.

Robinson explains, “We want to scale our system integrations so we can cater to more of the dental and medical market. Consistent, yet targeted improvement is important in SaaS. Listening and responding to your customer base’s evolving needs is what keeps the ball rolling.”

Last Team Outing

Celebrating a significant milestone.

Robinson says, “Our 3rd anniversary was in February and we were able to celebrate with some bowling and Karaoke before the pandemic escalated. Nothing says team bonding quite like knocking over some pins and belting out “Roxanne” with your coworkers.”

* * * * *

Image: NexHealth, Alamin Uddin and Waleed Asif

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More people are working remotely and when it comes time to talk, a video call is increasingly the preferred method. And if you want to look professional when you are on a video call, having a good backdrop goes a long way.

The background in your video calls is a representation of who you are. If it is clean, organized and it doesn’t distract from the conversation, your peers will appreciate your effort. Not only that, but it helps everyone focus on the conversation at hand.

Without the distraction of unwanted items or clutter in the background, you can do your job more effectively. The backdrops on this list will showcase the most important aspect of a video call, you.

Best Backdrop for Video Calls

Elgato Green Screen

Top Pick: This backdrop is ideal for tight spots while the green screen allows you to create virtually any background you want. The screen comes with a collapsible chroma key panel that auto-locks for easy management. The fabric is made with wrinkle-resistant polyester. It comes with a nifty pneumatic x-frame that automatically locks the screen in place. Moreover, you can retract the backdrop into the hard case and store it easily. It extends to 58.27 x 70.87 inches and has a sturdy aluminum frame.

Elgato Green Screen with collapsible chroma key panel for background removal with auto-locking frame

Buy on Amazon

Yeele Bookcase Backdrop

Runner Up: Yeele’s bookcase backdrop provides a comfortable and familiar setting for video calls. It offers privacy and prevents distractions from cluttered backgrounds. This backdrop comes in at 7 x 5 feet and it is made with vinyl that is non-toxic, acid-free, recyclable, and weighs just 0.33 pounds. Optional sizes also come in 5 x 3 feet; 5 x 4 feet; 6 x 4 feet; and 7 x 5 feet. The material is non-reflective to help minimize light reflection and it is also fade resistant.

This Computer-printed backdrop is ideal for different still and video backgrounds. And the company provides a wide range of images covering numerous themes.

Yeele Bookcase Backdrop Wooden Bookshelf Books Library Artistic Portrait Photoshoot Photography Background

Buy on Amazon

Westcott X-Drop 3-Pack Backdrop Kit

Best Value: With three 5’X7’ portable background as part of the deal, Westcott delivers a great value. The black, white, and gray backdrops are water-resistant, washable, and reflection-free. And they come with a collapsible aluminum stand that weighs under 3 lbs. with a durable fabric case for compact storage and travel.

The X-Drop’s telescopic frame expands to 5′ x 7′ and locks into place. Backdrops attach to the X-Drop’s hooks via built-in grommets. You can complete the backdrop set up quickly and easily.

Westcott X-Drop 3-Pack Backdrop Kit (5′ x 7′) Quick Assemble, Portable Background

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Webaround Gen2 Portable Webcam Background

Webaround’s portable webcam background weighs just two pounds, so it is very portable. It fits snugly on most office, gaming and even dinning room style chairs and is available in blue, green and gray for a nice and clean webcam background. Made from polyester and steel, it is designed to quickly collapse and store. The dimensions are 52 x 1 x 52 inches, which is enough to adequately create a solid background.

Webaround Fan Favorite Gen2 Portable Webcam Background, 52 Inches

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Glass Window Photo Backdrop Office Viewing

If you want the iconic skyscrapers of NY City as your backdrop this is the way to go. Starting at 5’X3’ the company can make the image as large as 15’X10’. Made of vinyl, it provides high image quality and durability. And if NYC cityscape is not your cup of tea, the company offers many other images.

Glass Window Photo Backdrop Office Viewing New York City Side Photography Background

Buy on Amazon

Kate Collapsible Backdrop Blue Pink Popup Backdrop

At 5’X6.5’, this backdrop is double-sided with blue and pink colors. There are also other color combinations available from the company. A durable, collapsible metal spring frame inside the backdrop makes it easy to store in the packing bag.  Made from no wrinkle microfiber fabric, the color won’t fade.  And if you want to have a custom pattern print on it, the company providers the service.

Kate 5×6.5ft Collapsible Backdrop Blue Pink Popup Backdrop for Photography Foldable Backdrops

Buy on Amazon

Savage Vinyl Backdrop

Savage Universal is a company that has been providing paper backgrounds and photographic products since 1937. This matte finish vinyl backdrop is easy to hang and it provides a solid, flawless background while eliminating glare. It is easy to clean, and you can even cut it to fit the background in your office or other space.

Savage Vinyl Backdrop – Photo Gray, 5’x7′

Buy on Amazon

Features to Look for in Backdrops for Video Calls

• Color: Choose colors that are easy on the eyes, such as blue, light gray, and soft white. Loud colors and patterns are distracting and they can also make it harder to see you clearly.
• Material: Look for materials that are easy to roll and deploy for your background. Make sure to also choose materials that are easy to clean and are durable. If you have your company name/logo on it, get quality print that won’t fade or wash off when you clean it.
• Size: The backdrop should be big enough to cover you entirely on all sides.
• Retractable or permanent: If you choose a retractable backdrop, the mechanism for retracting the backdrop has to be strong. Look for a reputable company that offers some protection. A permanent backdrop is easy to use and will be there at a moment’s notice, but unless you have a dedicated office/space it can be distracting when not in use.
• Ease of use: An easy to use backdrop will let you get on a video call quickly. Even if you have time, it should be easy to set up and get talking.

Your Video Call Protocol

If you are on a video call on a regular basis, set up a protocol to follow each time. This will ensure the people who talk to you get the best audio/visual experience when they interact with you.

Here are some steps you can follow to make this possible:

• Dress as for an in-person meeting (this means top and bottom, you never know when you might have to suddenly stand up to get something).
• Don’t have things that distract you on your desk (food, drinks, phone, or anything else). Keep your desk organized and have the things you need for the call at an arm’s reach. If the meeting is long, have some water away from the camera.
• Try to have natural light. If it is not possible, side lighting will deliver the best image. And remember don’t mix both sources of light.
• Place your camera just a little over your eye level and look at it during your call.
• Your audio should turn off/mute when you are not speaking. And when you are ready to speak try to let the people in the call know by giving a visual signal. This helps avoid the on and off cutting that takes place in video calls.
• Sit slightly back than you usually do at your desk. The goal is a mid-range image that includes your head at the top of your shoulders. Take pictures or record a video to find the sweet spot.
• Don’t sit too close to your backdrop. If you have space, have at least four to six feet from the backdrop and make sure it covers the whole of your background.
• If you can, try to have a room that is dedicated to your video calls.

The Importance of Video

Video is now part of the way we communicate at work and in our personal lives. Knowing what makes your calls appear professional each and every time is a skill set you must learn. And a good backdrop is just one of the tools you are going to need to make it happen.

Image: Depositphotos.com

56% of consumers plan to shop more in-store following the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine. Around 67% of shoppers say the deployment of the vaccine will not alter how often they shop online.

These important consumer statistics were unveiled by a study by DealAid, a charity that partners with businesses to raise money for good causes.

COVID Vaccine Will Increase In-person Shopping

The ‘Covid-19 Vaccine’s Impact on Retail & Ecommerce’ study focuses on discovering how consumer behavior will change with the rollout of vaccines. The researchers surveyed over 1,000 US consumers to find out about their shopping plans and to gauge understanding on how the vaccine will impact retail.

DealAid’s research provides important insight for small businesses as they continue to navigate uncertain and challenging waters. With more than half (56%) of consumers saying they plan to shop more in-store after the vaccine rollout, small retailers would be wise not to rule out opening physical stores.

By the same token, with around 67% of consumers indicating they will not change their current online shopping behavior, small retailers would be savvy to maintain online selling activities.

The authors of the report summarise the impending demand for both in-store and online shopping in the wake of the vaccine rollout:

“Based on the data we collected, more people will shop in-store and spend more money on certain product categories within 1-6 months of COVID-19 vaccine rollout. While many consumers have indicated that they will also reduce their online spending, the majority have said that they do not plan to change their online shopping behavior despite imminent release of the vaccine,” the authors wrote.

How Much Will Shoppers Spend In-Store?

The survey asked participants how much more they plan to spend in-store. It found that shoppers plan to spend $176 more per month in-store after the vaccine is rolled out to the public.

Though there’s a flipside to the extra spending among consumers. Customers say they plan to spend an average of $171 less per month online.

What Type of Items Will Consumers Be Buying In-Store?

The types of items consumers plan to buy online and offline were also explored by the survey. Clothing is the most popular item that shoppers plan to buy in-store. 75% indicated they will purchase more clothing and accessories in-store after the mass rollout of the vaccine.

Almost 42% of participants say they will purchase less food and groceries online after the widespread deployment of the vaccine.

Nearly 63% of consumers say they expect to start shopping less online within 1 – 6 months after the vaccine being released to the public. More specifically, 35% indicate they expect to shop less online within 1 – 2 months of the vaccine rollout.

The research provides retailers with important insight into expected consumer trends. Small businesses would be wise to keep an open mind about selling online and offline. Depending on what they sell, it may be prudent that retailers work towards having an omnichannel selling presence as we move into 2021.

Image: Depositphotos