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Zoho Webinar to Discuss Turning Site Visitors into Sales Leads

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Event post - November 13, 2020 (3)

You have a website, and it is getting some good traffic, so how do you convert those visitors to leads? This is not an easy question to answer. However, Zoho is holding a free webinar titled, “Business Website Basics: Converting Visitors to Leads” to give you a basic understanding of what it takes to make it happen.

This is part of a series of webinars to give small business owners the tools they need to establish an online presence. The other sessions cover Setting Up Your Website, Establishing Your Brand Story and Elements of Website Design.

With this particular webinar, the trainers will cover CTAs, web forms, and Zoho PageSense to optimize your website through iterative testing.

The event will take place on November 17, 2020, from 7 pm – 8 pm EST.

If you can not attend the live event, you can register for it and Zoho will send you the recorded session shortly after it is over.

 

Click the red button and register, it is free.

Register Now

Featured Events, Contests and Awards

Zoho Webinar: Converting Visitors to LeadsZoho Webinar: Converting Visitors to Leads
November 17, 2020, Online

Want to learn how to turn website visitors into leads? Then look no further! We’ll go over CTAs, web forms, and Zoho PageSense so you can see how to optimize your website through iterative testing.

Getting Started with Zoho OneGetting Started with Zoho One
November 24, 2020, Online

A walk through overview of Zoho One using real case studies from Zoho customers to demonstrate different ways Zoho One can support your business. Join us!

Small Business Saturday: #ShopSmallSmall Business Saturday: #ShopSmall
November 28, 2020

Small businesses are counting on all of us – let’s show them how much they mean to our communities. From getting takeout to shopping online, every time you
#shopsmall, you’re supporting small businesses at the heart of your community.

More Events

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    November 18, 2020, Online
  • Diving Deep into Passive Activities and Real Estate Professional Status
    November 19, 2020, Online
  • Yield Bookkeeping Small Business Owners Roundtable
    November 19, 2020, Online
  • Tech Outlook 2020
    November 20, 2020, Online
  • The Investment Summit
    December 3, 2020, Online
  • Social Media Strategies Summit for Small Businesses – Virtual Conference
    December 8, 2020, Online
  • LinkUpConferenceShow
    December 8, 2020, Online
  • VIRTUAL – Beyond 2D: The Rise of Immersive Commerce
    December 9, 2020, Online
  • VIRTUAL – Mind The Gap: Womxn Designing for Womxn
    December 10, 2020, Online
  • DataScience Contest
    January 1, 2021, Online
  • Rail Cybersecurity Summit USA
    February 9, 2021, Online
  • 5th Advancing Project Controls Summit 2021
    February 22, 2021, Online
  • HR Benefits Conference, April 2021
    April 7, 2021, Las Vegas, United States
  • 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, Pennsylvania
  • DigiMarCon New England 2021 – Digital Marketing, Media and Advertising Conference & Exhibition
    May 6, 2021, Boston, Massachusetts
  • DigiMarCon Canada West 2021 – Digital Marketing, Media and Advertising Conference & Exhibition
    May 13, 2021, Vancouver, British Columbia
  • DigiMarCon Canada East 2021 – Digital Marketing, Media and Advertising Conference & Exhibition
    May 17, 2021, Montreal, Quebec
  • DigiMarCon Canada 2021 – Digital Marketing, Media and Advertising Conference & Exhibition
    May 20, 2021, Toronto, Ontario
  • DigiMarCon Canada 2021 – Digital Marketing, Media and Advertising Conference & Exhibition
    May 20, 2021, Toronto, Ontario

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.com

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Can’t Afford Your Installment Loan Payments? What You Can Do – Ideas

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Perhaps pre-pandemic you took out a loan in order to take advantage of a promising business opportunity. But then the economy started to slip and your business income dropped off, too. Suddenly can no longer afford the loan payments. Here are some suggestions that can help you get back on track and keep your business afloat.

RELATED ARTICLE: WHAT ARE THE BEST SOURCES OF ECONOMIC NEWS?

Things in life don’t always go as planned. A downward economy can negatively affect many people, including you.

So maybe right now you’re wondering, “How can I keep up with my online installment loan payments?” or, “What happens if I don’t pay?”

Fortunately, there are actions you can take, but you’ll have to move fast to minimize your risk of falling deeper into debt. The longer you wait the more you’ll risk damaging your finances. 

There are certain strategies you can follow that will help you get back on track with your loans. Believe it or not, you can get your installment loan payments under control and relieve some of your stress. 

What Happens When You Fail to Pay Your Installment Loans?

First, it’s important to know about the worst-case scenario: what could happen if you fail to pay your installment payments.

What happens is, you default on your loan. This means you will end up owing more money due to fees, interest charges, and penalties. All of these start building up in your account by the day.

Your credit score also takes a plunge when you don’t repay your lenders. Sure, you can rebuild your credit and start all over again, but it might take quite a few years. 

You don’t have to worry about ending up in debtors’ prisons. They don’t exist anymore. However, if you can’t keep up with your loan payments, you should keep your eye out for legal documents about a potential court appearance.

Yes, it can be frustrating, but there’s no need to worry about all this. That’s because there are steps you can take to ensure that you don’t end up in that position. 

RELATED ARTICLE: CREATIVE WAYS TO FUND YOUR STARTUP

What You Should Do First

Negotiate with your lender. You probably still have some time before your next due date. Therefore, if you foresee that soon you won’t be able to afford your loan payments, what you can do is talk to your lender directly.

They might be able to provide you with some options. For instance, they may reduce or temporarily suspend your loan payments, change your due date, or lower your payment for a certain time.

Keep in mind, however, that you’ll have to explain to your lenders why you can’t make the payments. David Winfield of Simple Fast Loans says, “Some lenders may ask you to provide them with proof that you’re unable to pay your installment loan.”

How to Manage Your Loan Payments

To manage your payments, you’ll need to prioritize them. You surely don’t want to get evicted from your home or have your car taken away from you.

You will have to make a decision on which loans to keep paying installments on and which to stop.

In most cases, you would probably choose to keep making payments on your house and your auto loan. However, the rest would have to get cut. Credit cards, unsecured loans, and any other smaller personal loans would all have to wait.

Another option would be to make your installment loan payment slightly late. Of course, it’s better to pay your installment loan payments on time. But if it’s not possible for you, the worse that could happen is damaging your credit score. 

Keep in mind, if you pay the installment on your loan within 30 days of the due date, it might even not get reported to the credit bureaus.

With your safety and health as a priority, make a list of your payments. Then choose wisely which loans you need to keep paying. 

Consolidate Your Debt

By seeking a different debt consolidation loan you might be able to alleviate your stress because these loans offer lower interest costs and lower required payment. Also, they give you more time to repay.

You can still apply for a new loan if you haven’t started missing payments. Lenders approve those who are on schedule with their installments. 

Begin by applying at banks, community credit unions, and online lenders for unsecured loans. It’s best to apply simultaneously so that you minimize your credit damage and choose the best offer.

Turn to Income-Based Repayment

You might be able to lower your monthly loan payments with an income-based repayment program. 

These are programs that help keep payments affordable. It’s a great way to ease the burden off your loan installments. Lenders see if your monthly income is extremely low and provide you with an extremely low installment to pay each month.

Seek Credit Counseling

If you need other solutions tailored to your specific needs, then you can seek out credit counseling. 

At credit counseling, they deal with everyday consumers who are in trouble with their installment loan payments. They can come up with solutions that you haven’t thought of before.

You can get this service for free in some cases, but make sure the service is free before you apply for counseling.

Start your search with the NFCC (National Foundation for Credit Counseling). Before you reach an agreement, ask for their fees and terms.

File for Bankruptcy

Another option, which may seem too far-fetched, is to file for bankruptcy. More on this in this video:

It’s a strategy you can take action toward if you’re in dire need of financial stability and want to solve your loan payment problems.

Bankruptcy might be right for you, if:

  • Reaching agreements with your creditors has failed. 
  • Your debt is far beyond your income.
  • Wage garnishments are leaving you with nothing.

Get Back on Track with Your Loan Payments

There are solutions to any problem and that counts for loan repayments as well. 

Whether you need to manage your savings and finances or earn more money, you can always find ways to get back on your feet. 

Follow the advice above and you will be on the right track to getting help for a stressful situation.

On another note, it’s also very practical to learn how to increase your savings, spend your money more wisely, and invest in opportunities that will improve your financial position in the long run.

RELATED ARTICLE: 10 WAYS YOU CAN PROTECT, PRESERVE, AND GROW YOUR WEALTH

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Where to watch the launch of the SpaceX Crew-1 mission to the International Space Station?

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This Saturday the Crew-1 mission will depart for the International Space Station (ISS) promoted by NASA and SpaceX. The rocket will take off at 6:49 pm CDMX time.


2 min read

This article was translated from our Spanish edition using AI technologies. Errors may exist due to this process.


They say the third is the charm. This Saturday the Crew-1 mission, promoted by NASA and Space X, will make its third attempt to leave for the International Space Station (ISS).

After two unsuccessful attempts, on October 23 and 31, this project promoted between the US space agency and the company founded by Elon Musk will take American astronauts Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover and Shannon Walker into space, as well as Japanese Soichi Noguchi .

The trip next Saturday will take place months after the test launch that took place between May and August, in which some astronauts were also taken to the space laboratory and specialists could be brought back without any problem.

Photo: Nasa Via YouTube

NASA called on all citizens to be part of this historic moment with activities such as the “boarding pass” to be part of “this mission.” He also asked the citizens of the world to share videos, images and thoughts around this task.

Where to watch the launch

This launch means the resumption of manned flights from the United States since last May, after nine years of interruption.

Thanks to digital platforms and social networks, you can follow the launch towards the ISS live on NASA channels . The rocket will take off on Saturday at 00:49 GMT (at 6:49 pm CDMX) on Saturday from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

It is expected to arrive at the ISS eight and a half hours later, on Sunday at 09:20 GMT (03:20 am CDMX).

Both the launch and arrival at the space laboratory will be broadcast live on NASA’s television space, as well as its website and social networks .

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Working from Home Is Leading to Record Levels of Burnout. Is a 4-Day Work Week the Fix?

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4 min read

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.


As the pandemic drags on, it’s no surprise that American workers are becoming burned out while working from home—69% in fact, according to a survey from Monster.

Since May, the rate has shot up nearly 20% possibly because the majority of workers, about 59%, are taking less time off than they did last year, and 42% who are still working from home don’t plan to take time off to recuperate.

This issue of burnout raises the question to employers, why not transition to a 4-day work week?

According to a global survey of nearly 3,000 employees across eight nations conducted by The Workforce Institute, 78% of full-time workers say it would take less than seven hours each day to do their job if they could work uninterrupted, with 45% admitting that their job should take less than five hours per day.

Related: 5 Solutions to Your Biggest Work-From-Home Challenges

In 2019, Microsoft Japan implemented a 4-day work week and saw a 40% boost in productivity. So, if three-quarters of workers crave a longer weekend, why haven’t US companies embraced the trend? Because rearchitecting the workday requires effort.

Here some things entrepreneurs should embrace if they want to make the jump.

1. Test the switch before committing

Studies show it’s entirely possible to have equal or greater productivity from adopting a four-day workweek, but the transition process can be bumpy. The key is to plan for the transition phase and manage expectations with team members.

Give yourself a one-month pilot period where you can ensure company goals are able to be met and ascertain if work is being fairly delegated.

The month will allow employees time to plan for the reduction in office hours, and it may become clear if everyone should have the same work pattern and hours, or if adjustments need to be made depending on seasonality or deadlines.

2. Be ruthless about protecting your time

Trimming the hours in your workweek will not be effortless and protecting your biggest asset—your time—will become a major focus.

Related: 8 Tips to Work From Home Without Being Distracted

You’ll have to evaluate every minute spent in meetings and deny any request that isn’t critical to moving the business forward. Follow the 80/20 rule and constantly examine which projects are giving your business the biggest return on the time invested. Once you determine which clients or projects are generating the most income with the least amount of time needed for completion you can streamline your offerings to only those types of projects.

You’ll also have to retrain workaholic employees to detach from wearing their long days and busy-ness as a badge of honor. Dole out accolades to those are being the most productive in the least amount of time, and soon the everyone will be proudly sharing how they achieved awesome results by being focused, rather than working into the night.

3. Automate and outsource

Once you feel you have eliminated all ineffective tasks and all inefficiencies in your workflow, it’s time to examine where your team can further delegate or automate. Automation is defined as “the systematization of a task so that it can be performed either by computer or sub-contractor.”

Any and all tasks that don’t need your specific expertise can be automated.

Typical tasks that are perfect for automation because they don’t need your hands-on expertise are:

  • General administration
  • Graphic and Web design
  • Bookkeeping
  • Client support for menial tasks
  • Social media management

4. Reward productivity

It’s incredible how productive someone can be when they are focused on hitting a goal and being incentivized — the reward is more free time. By rewarding productivity, you focus your team on the results produced rather than the amount of time spent on a project. Start by setting weekly goals and slowly build on them. If the results are achieved, reward them with additional free time or financial incentives.

5. Focus on the tremendous upside potential

Downtime allows employee’s creative subconscious to solve problems that your conscious mind may have not been able to do. Having 3 days off may encourage employees to indulge in more self-care: work out, meditate, carve out time for their families and hobbies.

Related: 10 Tips From CEOs on Working From Home Effectively and Happily

According to Workforce Institute, 34% of global workers say their ideal workweek would last four days, while 20% said they would prefer to work three days a week — assuming their pay remained unaltered.

Successfully moving to a 4-day work week may involve some short-term pain, but it can lead to long-term gains for your business.

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Best Bubble Mailers – Small Business Trends

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If you buy something through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more.

More small businesses are now online, which requires shipping items to their customers near and far. This means ensuring the safety of each item during shipping with the right packing material. Bubble mailers protect the item you ship so they arrive at their destination safely.

Another benefit of using bubble mailers is they are an easy and cost-effective way for your business to protect your merchandise. While boxes provide added protection, bubble mailers can offer similar protection for small items without added cost.

The key is to ship items with bubble mailers that do not require heavy-duty protection because they have their limitations. Take a look at our list of the best bubble mailers for the next time you need to ship an item to your customers.

Best Bubble Mailers

 

UCGOU Black Poly Bubble Mailers

UCGOU 6x10 Inch Black Poly Bubble Mailers Padded Envelopes Shipping Bags 50pcs

Top Pick: This is one of the most reviewed bubble mailers on Amazon with 10,261 ratings. The UCGOU mailer is opaquer, even though it is black, than other mailers. This feature hides the items you have in the envelope. The envelopes are self-sealing, and the line of the bubbles is at 80gsm or (grams per square meter).

UCGOU 6×10 Inch Black Poly Bubble Mailers Padded Envelopes Shipping Bags 50pcs

Buy on Amazon

 

Metronic Poly Mailers

Metronic 25pcs Poly Bubble Mailers 10.5x16 Inch Padded Envelopes

Runner Up: The Metronic bubble mailers are made with multilayered polyethylene sheets to protect the content within it. The self-adhesive envelope has a tamperproof seal so you cannot open it without any visible signs. Best of all, Metronic offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Metronic 25pcs Poly Bubble Mailers 10.5×16 Inch Padded Envelopes #5 Bubble Lined Poly Mailer Self Seal Classic Blue

Buy on Amazon

 

Scotch Bubble Mailer

Scotch Bubble Mailer, 10.5 x 15.25-Inches

Best Value: This bubble mailer comes from Scotch, a brand known for its packing materials. This kraft-paper mailer has a durable barrier to protect your item along with the bubbles. The company says the bubbles have superior burst strength capable of resisting punctures or tears.

Scotch Bubble Mailer, 10.5 x 15.25-Inches, Size #5, 25-Pack

Buy on Amazon

 

GSSUSA White Poly Mailers

GSSUSA White Poly Bubble Mailers 6x10 Padded Envelopes

The end-to-end self-adhesive tapes on the GSSUSA bubble mailers ensure a tight waterproof seal. You can get these mailers in five different colors and three different sizes (4×8,6×10,8.5×12). This company also offers 100% satisfaction with each purchase.

GSSUSA White Poly Bubble Mailers 6×10 Padded Envelopes #0 Shipping Envelopes Self Sealing

Buy on Amazon

 

Sales4Less #5 Poly Mailers

Bubble Mailers 10.5X16 Inches Padded Envelope Mailer Waterproof Pack of 100

Made from polypropylene the Sales4Less bubble mailers have 3/16” bubbles to cushion the items you put in the envelopes. It provides a puncture, tamper, and water-resistant container once you seal it with the peel-and-seal self-adhesive strip. The company also offers 100% satisfaction guaranteed or your money back.

Sales4Less #5 Poly Bubble Mailers 10.5X16 Inches Padded Envelope Mailer Waterproof Pack of 100

Buy on Amazon

 

Fuxury #5 Inch Mailer

Forest Green Bubble Mailer Self Seal Padded Envelopes

Fuxury has mailers in eight different colors. They are made from heavy-duty 100% plastic using hot-pressing technology to ensure durability. The envelope is lined with air cellular layers and 360°strong air bubble technology. And it includes a white inner liner to protect the privacy of the content. Fuxury offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee with its products.

Fuxury #5 10.5×16 Inch Forest Green Bubble Mailer Self Seal Padded Envelopes Pack of 25

Buy on Amazon

 

LIMNUO Poly Mailers

LIMNUO 25pcs Pink Poly Bubble Mailers 8.5x12 Inch Padded Envelopes Self Seal Envelopes Bag

This line of poly mailers come in three colors and three different sizes (4×8,6×10,8.5×12) at an affordable price. Made from polypropylene material, it will not add to your shipping cost while protecting your item inside from moisture.

LIMNUO 25pcs Pink Poly Bubble Mailers 8.5×12 Inch Padded Envelopes Self Seal Envelopes Bag

Buy on Amazon

 

Choose the Best Bubble Mailer

  • Size: When you buy a bubble mailer, you must consider two dimensions; the interior and exterior dimensions. The interior dimension is the usable size. This is what the mailer will hold inside. And the exterior size is for shipping costs.
  • Self-seal mailers: These envelopes are not small and if you are a business you are probably sending out many of them. You do not want to be licking large envelopes to seal them. Self-sealing mailers have a strong adhesive that provides a tight seal.
  • Paper or plastic: Kraft paper is strong, but it has its limitations when it comes to moisture. Poly bubble mailers on the other hand are waterproof. Choose the mailer depending on what you are shipping and the protection it requires.
  • Branding and color: If you need a large number of bubble mailers, you can get custom colors and even have your brand on the envelope. This is a great way to send your package in style while advertising who you are during the transit.

Bubble mailers have become an essential part of eCommerce when it comes to shipping. If you are doing a lot of shipping as part of your business, invest in custom envelopes with your brand, logo, and color on it. This will add yet another differentiating factor customers will appreciate.

ALSO READ:

Images: amazon.com

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How LinkGraph Can Help You with Your Website’s SEO – SEO

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It can be tough to navigate the sea of SaaS companies that flood the SEO industry today. This is why knowing about LinkGraph’s excellent services is helpful. In this post, we investigate this company’s services.

Let LinkGraph Help You with Your SEO

When you own an online business, search engines’ algorithms can be a tough concept to understand and keep up with. You already have so many tasks to complete in your day-to-day operations. The job of optimizing your website and social media profiles is almost too intimidating to even approach. This is where LinkGraph can help.

SEO is the most effective tactic for increasing a company’s Google rank and brand awareness. Google is the world’s most trusted search engine. This is why how your website ranks on Google’s search results is so important.

Using specific SEO tools while designing or restructuring your company’s website can guarantee it will have high placements on search engine results pages. The rise in the use of SEO tools has been accompanied by the emergence of SEO companies that help business managers optimize their search results.

RELATED ARTICLE: MARKET RESEARCH STRATEGY: BEST PRACTICES

What Makes a Good SEO Company?

The best SEO companies are not only highly experienced in search engine optimization. They must also be proficient in web page optimization for mobile devices. They must be experts in digital marketing and high-quality content creation. Further, they must be great at creating social media campaigns and conducting niche keyword research. They should also be proficient with administering content audits and managing effective lead generation. All of these SEO strategies can have a big effect on your website’s domain authority and your ranking in search results.

SEO companies such as LinkGraph are often referred to as SaaS companies. SaaS stands for “software as a service.” This is software that is licensed to users on a subscription basis. LinkGraph is a SaaS company that specializes in helping businesses optimize their websites for search engines. When your website’s search engine optimization (SEO) strategies are working properly, search engines can find it. More importantly, customers and potential customers can find your business.

A SaaS SEO company acts as an SEO content optimizer. These companies work to identify your target audience so their editorial team can perform effective audits on your website’s landing page. Then they add niche keywords and other social signals to your site to drive organic traffic from the search engine results pages (SERPs).

How Is LinkGraph Different from Other SEO Companies?

LinkGraph is an SEO company that leads the pack among other SaaS companies today. Their SEO software, link building, web design, and content creation strategies are second to none. LinkGraph prioritizes your business’s growth, and they strive to increase organic traffic to your web page with their SEO campaigns.

LinkGraph’s SEO services start with an audit of your web page. During this audit, they search for bad backlinks as well as find places to add keywords and other relevant content. These improvements will boost your site’s ranking on Google’s search results.

It can be tough to navigate the sea of SaaS companies that flood the SEO industry today. This is why knowing about LinkGraph’s excellent services is helpful. LinkGraph’s content optimizer software and technical SEO tools are what make it stand out among SaaS companies.

Link building is a crucial element in LinkGraph’s site content optimization. Your onsite content metrics correlate directly to its SERPs ranks. What’s more, potential customers will trust a piece of content more when it’s located higher within search engine results.

In general, they’re more likely to visit the web pages at the top of SERPs just because they show up first. This is why LinkGraph’s goal for your site is to directly apply the insights and metric information they gain from their audits. This knowledge helps them create quality content that will increase your domain’s page authority.

High Quality Content Performs Well in Search Engines

LinkGraph can also manage social media advertising and content marketing for your company. LinkGraph’s experienced editorial team generates top quality content marketing. These talented individuals are experts in creating engaging, keyword-based copy. Their writers know that the best way to create high-quality content is to create content that is highly informed.

LinkGraph’s heavily researched keyword analyses allow their editorial team to create copy that is optimized to perform well in search engines.

RELATED ARTICLE: GROW YOUR BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES WITH THESE 3 TIPS

Start Improving Your SEO Strategies Today with LinkGraph

LinkGraph offers potential customers a free consultation and free backlink analysis. This is a great way to see how strong your web page’s current backlink profile is, and it will also help LinkGraph perform niche keyword research and lead generation. Implementing both of these SEO tools together is a great way to efficiently and effectively reach your target audience.

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The Green Berets Who Went From Elite Warriors to Elite Bourbon Makers

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7 min read


Days after 9/11, while many Americans were watching the news in a state of shock and horror, a team of 12 Green Berets took action. They covertly entered Afghanistan and began to wage war against the Taliban … on horseback.

It wasn’t until 48 hours before their insertion that the men were informed they would have to traverse the steep and treacherous landscape of Afghanistan on horses. It was the first of many aspects of this mission, code-named Task Force Dagger, that they would have to figure out as they went along. 

Despite being often cut off from communications with command headquarters and outnumbered forty to one, these men, The Horse Soldiers, fought in a series of intense battles side-by-side with militia allies and successfully captured the city of Mazar-i-Sharif from the Taliban, a strategic stronghold.

The Horse Soldier’s story inspired a book, a movie and a monument that can be seen at the 9/11 Memorial in New York. Nearly 20 years after Task Force Dagger’s success, retired Special Operators Scott Neil, Rob Schaefer, Mark Nutsch, Bob Pennington, Tyler Garner and John Koko, along with Elizabeth Pritchard-Koko, found a new mission: they founded American Freedom Distillery. The all-American company’s signature offering is the award-winning Horse Soldier Bourbon, which is sold in bottles pressed in molds made from steel salvaged from the World Trade Center site. 

Related: How To Get Into The Whiskey Business When You Don’t Know Anything About the Whiskey Business

Co-founder and branding manager Elizabeth Pritchard-Koko took some time to explain the group’s incredible journey from elite warriors to elite spirits makers.

Entrepreneur: What inspired you all to band together as bourbon makers?

Pritchard-Koko: My husband John and I and our friend Scott Neil were on a trip out west on horseback a couple of years ago. We were trying to figure out what the next phase of our lives was going to look like, what we would do next. We stopped at a little craft distillery in Driggs, Idaho, called the Grand Teton Distillery. The husband-and-wife team let us back into the operation, and this was sort of our “aha!” moment. We spent the next three weeks hitting every craft distillery we could find all the way back to Tampa, Florida, where we’re from. We knew this was what we wanted to do.

(Credit: Sunship Films) From left to right: Co-founders Scott Neil, Bob Pennington, Mark Nutsch and John Koko speak at an event held at the World Trade Center

What was your next step?

We learned everything we could in regards to the craft. We went to Scotland and visited a friend who was a Royal Marine and had started Wolfburn Distillery. He let us train there for a while. Then we moved on to Ireland where we trained with one of the oldest distilling families in the world. We’ve traveled the bourbon trail up and down Kentucky and spent time perfecting the craft. Some of us attended a distilling school there. Everyone in this community has been nothing but welcoming in sharing information with us. Bottom line: We didn’t launch until the product met the standards we set for ourselves early on. It had to be exactly what we loved to drink ourselves.

Related: How to Be Your Own Boss and Drink on the Job

There are many craft bourbons. How does yours stand out from the pack? 

There is a very special differentiator to our bourbon and that is our story. We are authentic. Behind Horse Soldier Bourbon are the men that went into Afghanistan — days after 9/11 — on horseback, and the Horse Soldier moniker on our bottle is the statue at Ground Zero dedicated to them, America’s Response Monument. The story behind it is a differentiator, but so is the product itself. It’s award-winning. This is a completely American-made product, from the packaging to the people who make it.

Can you explain the design elements on the bottle? 

The bottle itself has a lot of symbolic meaning, and it truly is reflective of who we are. Each bottle is pressed by a mold that was forged from steel from the Twin Towers. The bottle has broad shoulders like the men who carried the burden in America’s darkest days. The hatchet and arrow are symbols of the Green Berets and Army Rangers. I felt it was important to use metal as an element that also spoke to our history. The bottle is absolutely beautiful and elegant and striking enough to be considered jewelry for any bar. It stands out on the shelf and is equally as feminine as it is masculine.

What did it feel like when you saw the first case that was ready to be sold?  

The first bottles we distilled were filled and labeled by hand using wooden gigs. Those were long, physically grueling days, which made it so much more rewarding. We felt it was important to understand every angle of the business. Our children and family members were often in the hand-bottling runs, and as a mother, this was one of my proudest moments. Growing something from a concept to a product on the shelves is an indescribable feeling, especially when you see the crooked neck labels on some of the bottles that were put on by our kids, families, and friends. 

Related: From MMA Champ to Whiskey Entrepreneur: a Conversation With Conor McGregor

What has been the biggest lesson you’ve learned in producing and marketing it?

Nothing comes easy. You make mistakes, learn to grow from them and push forward. We’ve changed a lot in regards to design and brand, and it keeps getting better. We make what we love to drink. This is our passion, and we hope it shows.

In terms of funding, what did you learn that you can share with other startups? 

We were not prepared for the early success of the brand — which is a great problem to have, but it is, in fact, a problem. We thought we would do 1,000 cases the first year but sold through that in the first month, and then the reserve of another 1,000 cases sold, and we really had to start thinking about seriously upping our production and building our brand. It was moving fast — faster than we ever imagined. 

In the beginning, the capital was all the co-founders’ personal money. We decided to recapitalize ourselves. We did a round of funding and that allowed us to grow nationally; it took a long time to complete. The biggest advice is to stay true to your core values and to your family and team. No amount of money is worth the loss of your fundamental brand values. Seeking capital is exhausting and can get met with many “close but not there yet” moments. If you stay true to yourselves, in the end, the capital raise is so much more rewarding. 

What does the word “entrepreneur” mean to you?

To believe in something so much that you manifest it. You don’t measure it by how much you make but how much you love the journey — mistakes and all.  To be able to define your own success however you want, whatever “success” may mean to you.

Is there a particular quote or saying that you use as personal motivation?

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

(Credit: Sunship Films) Replica of the America’s Response Monument

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Bamboozle Uses New Way to Bring Eco-Friendly Materials to the Market

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In the past, consumers often had to choose between eco friendly products and practical ones. But now, there are better options for producing these materials. So people can now enjoy the best of both worlds.

This combination is exactly what Bamboozle brings to the market. Learn how the company brought these two factors together in this week’s Small Business Spotlight.

What the Business Does

Sells eco-friendly homewares.

Brand Manager Avishai Greenstein told Small Business Trends, “Utilizing a revolutionary process, our responsibly made unique bamboo fibers blend is molded into stylish homeware products that are made from reclaimed, renewable, and biodegradable materials. We have brought a sensible and convenient step toward green living into homes, through our practical, affordable, and beautifully designed collection.”

Business Niche

Mixing sustainability with practicality.

Greenstein says, “While many consumers desire to make more sustainable choices, their daily lives allow for little sacrifice. Design, usability, and price tend to dominate their priorities. By understanding what is possible in the realm of sustainability and simultaneously acknowledging their needs we have assembled a product line that empowers customers to make better choices easily.”

How the Business Got Started

By accident.

Greenstein explains, “We were requested by a factory to find a new use for defunct machines destined to be scrapped. We found that we could through trial and error reduce the amount of resin in favor of more natural filler. From our experience we also knew that furniture factories produce large amount of waste in the form of sawdust that is usually incinerated. By using that waste as the filler, we had created something that was sustainable, dishwasher safe, and biodegradable.

“We took the product to the Inspired Home Show (formerly The International Housewares Show) we had hoped to find a major retailer interested in a sustainable material. Instead of a traditional sourcing partnership we found that all our interest was coming from independent retail and media. To serve that interest we built our collection and the Bamboozle brand.”

Biggest Win

Developing a popular composter product.

Greenstein adds, “It was an independent store that suggested it would fit within our brand’s image. We put a lot of value in what our customers tell us and developed the composter with the understanding that design is just as important, if not more so, as sustainability in the eyes of the consumer.

“For the first year, with lukewarm sales we had thought it was yet another trial that yielded mixed results. However, after a major online retailer and tastemaker had presented it to their audience it took off. Funny enough the store that suggested the composter never did order it. The composter now accounts for a rather large percentage of our sales and taught reinforced two core concepts in out development process. First, listen to everyone’s input and weigh it carefully as a comment can make a future. Second, the right product takes its time to find its audience.”

Biggest Risk

Moving the business.

Greenstein explains, “We had limited warehouse space and no drop ship capability from our location in New York and were growing quickly. We knew that the future of our business would require those capabilities to survive and at the time it seemed like the best option.

“The move proved to be quite disruptive and costly. A few employees had chosen not to move, and some moved back after trying to live in both places at once. It also created a rather large distraction that took us away from our core business. However, as ecommerce grew our bet had started to bare fruit. Our investment into inventory, space, and drop shipping capabilities became the core of our business. Especially now when ecommerce is the only way to safely shop for many consumers.”

Lesson Learned

Take advantage of earned media for marketing.

Greenstein says, “We had spent significant resources on pay per click ad that yielded disappointing sales. It was only through public relations that our story could really be told properly and attract our true audience.”

How They’d Spend an Extra $100,000

Product development.

Greenstein adds, “We are constantly looking for ways to make new materials and products that push the boundaries of sustainability. The process is time consuming and requires us to build partnerships that require us to make inventory commitments on untested products. Having the extra assets to assume that risk can go a long way to speeding up this ongoing process.”

Team Strategy

Take risks as a team.

Greenstein explains, “Many of us came here from the corporate world where decision making is a personal risk. Our goal from day one was to change that in two ways. First is to build a trust between every part of our company to suggest ideas and take risks without fear. Fear of failure is an incredibly difficult thing to unlearn but the results are profound. It had reduced politics, stress, and allowed creativity to become our core language.

“Second was to distribute the burden of a decision by including as many stakeholders in it as necessary. This had a very positive side effect allowing different departments and expertise to add input on projects that may not have to do with their direct work. Having a customer service agent in a development meeting, or a marketing manager in an operational meeting brings perspectives that have allowed us to operate as a cohesive unit.”

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Image: Bamboozle

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Hacking Hub Virtual Meeting Is Presented to Solve the Social, Economic and Environmental Challenges of Jalisco

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This program invites students, professionals, creatives, innovators and enthusiasts to present innovative ideas that can solve the social, economic and environmental challenges of the State.


4 min read

This article was translated from our Spanish edition using AI technologies. Errors may exist due to this process.


  • With a bag of 100,000 pesos in prizes, this initiative seeks innovative solutions through two hackathons; InnovaWaste and InnovaBrick.

The Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology (SICyT) and center of innovation and entrepreneurship Hualiz, the hand of the Municipal Government of Ocotlan and Mexican Chamber of Construction Industry (CMIC), launch the virtual event Hacking Hub, a program that invites students, professionals, creatives, innovators and enthusiasts to present innovative ideas that can provide solutions to social, economic and environmental challenges of the State.

“Hacking Hub is a virtual meeting in hackathon format that, through three days of intense work, multiple people from different disciplines and academic degrees will work to find innovative and fresh solutions to different current problems”, explained Libia Pérez Astorga, general director of Hualiz.

The meeting will take place in two hackathons that will take place on the weekends of November 13-15 and November 20-22. Each hackathon will consist of three days in which participants will connect so that through mentoring new ideas and existing projects are guided towards the path of success.

Alfonso Pompa Padilla, head of the SICyT, highlighted the relevance of this type of events to promote solutions to the challenges of the State: “Hackathons have proven to be the modern way of facing challenges, it is what excites scientists, to technology developers, to people with an entrepreneurial spirit, to offer solutions to the great social challenges we face, or to develop opportunities for economic development ”, and urged participants not to leave their projects at the hackathon, but to take them to the launch of an entrepreneurial initiative and the generation of companies with high technological content.

Image: courtesy of Hacking Hub

The hackathons that make up this initiative are:

  • InnovaWaste Hackathon: November 13-15. This challenge, promoted in collaboration with the Municipal Government of Ocotlán, consists of designing and developing an innovative project that helps to improve and facilitate the management and use of the municipality’s solid inorganic waste.

  • InnovaBrick Hackathon: November 20-22. With more than 12 thousand affiliated companies, as well as hundreds of specialists, workers and independent workers of various profiles, as well as new professionals seeking job offers in the industry, the Mexican Chamber of the Construction Industry (CMIC) faces the challenge of finding a way to connect all the players in the sector, and this hackathon seeks an innovative idea to solve this challenge.

“These types of activities are designed to promote and recognize the great talent of innovators. I am sure that after this participation there will be better proposals to improve the quality of life of our municipality ”, expressed Paulo Gabriel Hernández Hernández, Municipal President of Ocotlán about InnovaWaste.

For his part, Carlos del Río Madrigal, President of CMIC said: “Innovation has its main foundation in collaboration, and we are sure that with Hacking Hub we will be able to connect and articulate all the players in the construction industry in our state of more efficient, inclusive and equitable way ”, on the problem that InnovaBrick seeks to solve.

Hacking Hub has a bag of 100,000 pesos to recognize and promote projects that stand out in one of the following categories:

  • New Idea Category: prize of 50 thousand pesos in cash and specialized mentoring.

  • Existing Projects Category: prize of 50 thousand pesos in smart money , in addition to specialized training, personalized advice and strategic links for the development of the project.

“We have learned that any of us can have innovative ideas, that anyone has the potential to create solutions to our environment. We know that mentoring and collaboration are the key to achieving this, and the work of institutions, companies and innovative minds is the way to better evolution, ”said Libia Pérez, inviting all interested parties to register and participate.

All details and registration to the event can be found on the official event page .

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