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You are here: Home / Archives for Strategy

The Best Order Management Software for Small Businesses

June 12, 2019 by Asif Nazeer Leave a Comment

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The Best Order Management Software for Small Businesses

You may find Running an online business rewarding. But stresses clearly come with the job. So good order management software remains critical for any small eCommerce business. And it will help your business establish itself in the market.

Order Management Software

Check out this selection of quality order management systems for small businesses of various sectors.

Megaventory

Megaventory holds the distinction of being one of the first US companies to offer online inventory and order management. The company dates back in 2010. They provide specialized support staff boasting PhDs and MScs. And a standard deal runs $135 per month. But you’ll also get a fifteen day free trial.

Brightpearl

This automated inventory tracking system makes sure you have enough inventory. And it sees to it the inventory is in the right locations to meet your business demands. Brightpearl software shows you inventory at all locations. And this makes your business more profitable. But it also limits the risk of overselling.  You’ll find this software flexible. And you can choose the level that fits your business. The system also offers a 30-day trial.

ShipStation

ShipStation offers a web-based software. And it makes e-commerce retailers more efficient at processing and fulfilling orders. The software also helps businesses ship orders to all the most popular marketplaces via all the top carriers.

The company focuses on the user. And it plans to keep improving its product. The Starter package for small businesses makes 50 or less shipments a month. It costs just $9 per month. And it comes with a 30-day free trial.

SellerActive

SellerActive offers software to help online retailers business operations. And this gives them time to focus on growth. The SellerActive software gives you process improvements. You’ll get automated repricing. And the software offers synchronized product listings. The tool spreads these listings actoss Amazon, Walmart, Jet and eBay.

You’ll find various Basic and Pro plans. Ad they start as low as $79 per month. But the most expensive Pro plan costs $899 per month. You’ll also get a demo. And you’ll receive free consultation available before you commit.

Shipedge

Shipedge offers software that is modular and scalable. And it automates complex eCommerce operations. You’ll find software that is 100% web-based. And the main module delivers management and warehouse management systems. Other modules include returns, exchanges and multi-carrier shipping.

The pricing depends on what modules are included in your package, with an All-in-One option including everything and a Modular version that provides only what you need.

Zoho Inventory

Growing businesses will be well served by Zoho Inventory’s management software. It enables you to keep track of every unit with a powerful stock management, order fulfillment and inventory control system. The Basic package costs $39 per month, the Standard package $79 and the Professional package $199. There is also a free version for businesses currently making 20 or less orders per month.

Orderhive

Orderhive is a unified business tool that features an ultra-modern design, user friendly interface, robust features and seamless integrations with marketplaces, shopping carts, shipping carriers and accounting software. It includes a real-time inventory tracking system and you can also use it to streamline and automate your back-end processes.

The Starter package costs $99 and the Professional package $199 per month. Customer support is available 24/7 and there is a 15-day free trial.

Stitch Labs

Stitch Labs is purpose built for modern multi-channel retailers, offering scalability through improved efficiency that create sustained growth and help businesses expand into new channels and products. The software gives you enhanced inventory visibility and accuracy, as well as streamlined workflows to meet the most complex and demanding operations.

Comprehensive service and support is also provided. The Basic package costs $799 and the High Growth package costs $959, plus there is a Premium package with advanced functionality and customization. A free demo is available upon request.

Emerge

The Emerge app is a complete system for businesses looking to expand. It deals with traditional offline distribution and  online e-commerce sales and includes a purchase and inventory management system, multi-channel ordering, and helps make accounting simple. It costs just under $40 per month and there is a free trial available.

TradeGecko

TradeGecko combines inventory management processes, important business applications and online commerce to create a central core for your wholesale and eCommerce business. It is a cloud-based inventory management system with three packages available, each with a free trial. The prices start at $39 for the basic Founder package, $79 for the Lite package and $199 for the Small Business package.

Multiorders

Use Multiorders to integrate all your sales channels and manage your orders with a multichannel inventory management system with integrated shipping management software. You can manage pricing and stock levels of all sales channels from one place, as well as connect all of the shipping carriers you use and print labels with just a single click. There is a free 14-day trial and the Starter package costs $44 per month.

Finale Inventory

Cloud-based Finale Inventory is multichannel inventory management software specifically designed for high volume eCommerce businesses. It is customizable and versatile for whatever workflow and processes your business uses.

Each account has a dedicated account manager who is trained to listen and better understand your unique requirements, and they will offer recommendations and perform customizations as well as train you in how to get the absolute maximum out of Finale Inventory. The Bronze package starts at $99 per month, with the highly integrated Platinum package costing $649 per month.

Kibo

Kibo helps retailers and branded manufacturers achieve optimal performance of both B2C and B2B commerce. It provides a complete ‘omnichannel commerce platform’ delivered with a low total cost of ownership and a quick time to market. The price varies according to what options you choose, but there is a free demo to try upon request.

Image: Depositphotos.com

This article, “The Best Order Management Software for Small Businesses” was first published on Small Business Trends



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10 Local Marketing Ideas You May Not Have Considered – Yet

June 11, 2019 by Asif Nazeer Leave a Comment

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10 Local Advertising Ideas You've Never Thought About

Consider the fact that over half (58%) of senior marketers think local marketing is essential. That’s reason enough to look at these 10 local advertising ideas you’ve never thought about.

Josh Turk is the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) for Blitzbet.com. He provided some ideas and one good strategy to start with.

“When classic traditional advertising strategies aren’t delivering, you send in the “Guerrillas,” he writes. “They implement killer tactics, in warfare context, guerilla strategies depend largely on the element of surprise.”

Local Advertising Ideas

Flash Mobs

Turk suggests you can use friends and staff at locations like the local community theater.

“Be sure to setup a few fold-out banners and wear t-shirts with your logo and a creative slogan.”

Traditional Local Media

Newspapers are still a great way to get the message out in smaller towns. Alerting the local editor is a perfect method to get free press for a publicity stunt.

Chalk Sidewalks

Turk also suggests you can use a high traffic sidewalk in front of your brick and mortar location. A message written in colorful chalk will draw customers in.

Car Video Streaming

This is a great way to make your message both local and mobile. Grabb-it is a car video streaming service. Create an advertising video, place it in a backseat window, and drive to a high traffic location.

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Car Wraps for Gig Drivers

Know someone close who drives a fair bit and is looking for a passive income?  Wrapify places small business ads on vehicles. Drivers get paid to drive around town with them displaying your goods and services.

Rideshare Advertising for Uber and Lyft Drivers

Viuer is a good side hustle for local rideshare drivers and an advertising platform for your small business. The drivers earn some extra cash for displaying ads and you get the word out. Best of all is the Geofences feature that targets ads to specific city zones.

Apps

Getting the word out about your goods and services requires a consistent blogging and posting effort. You can spread the net too wide on the Internet if you don’t focus. There’s a great app for local campaigns that helps.

Brad Ormsby, the owner of Colorstone Marketing in Modesto, CA explains.

“One of the best things I’ve seen small business owners using is an app called Nextdoor,” he writes.   “With this app, you can post locally and only people within your neighborhood are allowed in. This gets you local people, often neighbors, who are interested in your service. I’ve worked with companies who pull several jobs per week just by posting on it.”

Google My Business

Using the big search engines can help you get good local advertising results too. Remember, potential customers use online searches to look for goods and services right at home.

“Get local advertising with a Google My Business listing for your location,” writes Tyler Horvath from Tyton Media.  “That way, when people are searching for you online, your business shows up in Google Maps, Places and local searches.”

Join Facebook Groups

Stacy Caprio is the founder of Growth Marketing.  She says good local leads can be found on Facebook by joining targeted groups there.

“Make your own profile and bio clearly displaying your business and how it helps people,” she writes. “Then engage with others in the group and post your own mini-wins and stories. People will start to notice you and you’ll be able to network and gain customers.”

Buy Space on a Digital Billboard

Finally, here’s a new way to localize advertising on electronic billboards. Blip allows you to buy the time and space you need on their digital rotating billboards. You set your own budget based and locations and times. Purchase a little or as much as you want.

Image: Depositphotos.com

This article, “10 Local Marketing Ideas You May Not Have Considered – Yet” was first published on Small Business Trends



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The Secret Behind Using Sustainability in Your Marketing

June 10, 2019 by Asif Nazeer Leave a Comment

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How Your SMB Can Benefit from Sustainability Marketing

Once, companies and brands touting their ethically-sourced ingredients and environmental values found themselves in the minority. This “feel-good” messaging remained the primary language of homespun business owners. And they sold rustic wares at farmers’ markets. But today it pays to be “green” in a very big way. And the size and scope of your business makes no difference in  this regard.

Sustainability Marketing

Consumers increasingly get turned off by products or services perceived to be wasteful or harmful to the environment. So right now your company should start thinking about sustainability. And include sustainability-related messages in your marketing. You’ll find it easy to adopt an environmentally-friendly image if you sell artisanal organic snack food. But what if your business operates in a B2B vertical? Here your environmental impact and sustainability efforts become less obvious?

But it doesn’t matter what industry you’re in. Your business likely undertakes some form of sustainability initiative or another already.

  • Do you offer e-billing to your customers so you can reduce paper waste?
  • Does your physical plant participate in a local recycling program?
  • Do you use recycled paper products for your shipping/packaging needs?
  • Does your business go above and beyond to engage in ethical supply chain and sustainable sourcing of your products?
  • Do you get your energy from renewable sources?

It doesn’t matter if these measures are also good for you bottom line. You should include any of these sustainability efforts in your marketing messages too.

Practicing Sustainability?

You won’t find sustainability to be the most glamorous part of your business. But you can probably find some examples already in place. And you must publicize these examples whenever possible. In many cases, you could probably take at least a few of your company’s existing environmental practices and protocols and showcase them. Use them show a commitment to environmental sustainability on your website and other promotional materials. 

But do you want to put your money where your mouth is?

You can always cut a check and donate to a worthy environmental cause. And publicize the donation! Perhaps your company can find a closely related environmental charity to which you can donate. Or become a sponsor of local organizations in your community.

For example, if you sell fishing poles, maybe you could donate money to an organization or government agency that helps protect freshwater resources. You could also team up with an environmental organization to fund a special event that encourages natural resource conservation and raises awareness in your own community.

Your company could collect a percentage of sales from a certain product and then give that money to a local group that promotes environmental stewardship. Cash donations are a tangible way for you to do some good for the environment, while also bolstering your company’s image in the eyes of the public.

The generosity of your financial gift can help offset some of the environmental impact of your business, and it’s a great way to make inroads with environmentally-conscious consumers.

Why Should You Practice Sustainability?

The “why” in the discussion of sustainability is just as important as the “how.”

For example, let’s say that your company has just installed a few new solar panels on the roof of its headquarters. That’s great! You’ll save some money on your energy bill each month, but try to think about what you would tell your customers in a press release or a blog post: “We want clean air and value healthy communities, so in order to reduce the harmful effects of burning fossil fuels we are now sourcing more of our energy from alternative forms of energy.”

People are much more inclined to get excited about these overtures – and more excited to support your business – if you can find a way to include them.  Sustainability is a profoundly complex and important issue. Virtually every aspect of how we live and work will continue to evolve as the demand for natural resources continues to rise.

Many consumers are eager to support businesses that are embracing the challenges of the present and anticipating the changing needs of the future. Demonstrating to your customers that your business is forward-thinking about how you conduct your operations to minimize impact on the environment is a great way to show that you’re a forward-thinking, innovative company in other aspects.

Progressive sustainability is not just good for marketing, it’s good for business and it’s good for people, too.

Image: Depositphotos.com

This article, “The Secret Behind Using Sustainability in Your Marketing” was first published on Small Business Trends



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10 Expert Tips for Creating an Effective Online Presence for Your Small Business

June 8, 2019 by Asif Nazeer Leave a Comment

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Today, every business needs an online presence. Whether you run a local business or sell products online, a website, social media and other online profiles can help you reach a larger audience. Whether you’re just starting to build an online presence or looking to step up your efforts, here are some tips from members of the online small business community to help.

Create More Effective Instagram Videos

Video is the perfect outlet for getting a unique message across to your potential customers. If your target audience is active on Instagram, then you should be utilizing video on that platform. But how can you make your videos more effective? Joe Forte explains in this UpCity post.

Use Organic Social Media as a Base for Paid Marketing

It’s true that ads and paid promotions on social media can help you increase your reach significantly. However, you can’t really make use of these options without a solid base of organic social media content. John Jantsch explores this concept in this Duct Tape Marketing post. And the BizSugar community discussed it further here.

Fix Your Local SEO Mistakes

When you’re trying to reach local customers online, you need to be very careful when shaping your SEO strategy. There are tons of mistakes that impact businesses and make their efforts less effective. Gary Shouldis outlines some of them in this 3Bug Marketing post.

Target Adjacent Markets with Smart Risk Taking

If you want to expand your target audience, it helps to look into adjacent markets that are very similar to your current customer base. But it’s important to do this without alienating your current customers. That takes some smart risk taking, according to Ben Gibson of Marketing Land.

Leverage the Full Potential of On-Site Search

A search function is important for any website. It helps your visitors find specific types of content they’re looking for, providing a better experience overall. But simply having a search bar may not be enough. To make the most of this function, check out this Search Engine Journal post by Jes Scholz.

Get Inspiration for your Landing Page Designs

Landing pages can help you provide a more targeted experience for your website visitors, making it easier to purchase or convert into paying customers. If you’re interested in making use of this tactic for your website, see the examples in this DIY Marketers post by Lana Miro.

Examine the DNA of Shareable Content

If the content you create on your blog or website is shareable, you can extend your reach significantly. But what separates great shareable content from the rest? This Social Media HQ post by Christian Zilles includes a full explanation.

Embrace Different Ways of Promoting Your Business

If you always stick to the same methods for promoting your business, you’ll continue to get the same results. So if you want to grow, you need to embrace new methods, according to Lisa Sicard of Inspire to Thrive. BizSugar members also offered commentary on the post here.

Stop Making Simple Mistakes with Your PR Pitches

PR pitches can help you gain more attention for your business both online and off. But if you make mistakes with your pitches, they may not have the impact that you’d like for your business. Learn about the most common mistakes and how to avoid them in this RightMix Marketing post by Rachel Leist.

Create Content That Attracts Customers

Quality content can really help you step up the impact of your website and online presence. But it’s important to consider exactly how your content can attract your target customers, rather than creating generic posts. In this Social Media Examiner post, Michael Stelzner dives into what constitutes quality content.

If you’d like to suggest your favorite small business content to be considered for an upcoming community roundup, please send your news tips to: sbtips@gmail.com.

Image: Depositphotos.com

This article, “10 Expert Tips for Creating an Effective Online Presence for Your Small Business” was first published on Small Business Trends



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Good News for Small Hotel Owners, 72% Rank Guest Ratings Above Brand

June 7, 2019 by Asif Nazeer Leave a Comment

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Impact of Hotel Reviews - 72% Say Guest Ratings More Important Than Brand

A survey of more than 900 consumers by the Expedia Group reports guest ratings carry more weight than brand value.

Impact of Hotel Reviews

For 72% of the respondent in the survey, the reviews and ratings of guests are more valuable. So much so, they say they are willing to pay more for hotels with a higher rating. As much as 35% more for a 4.4 rated hotel over one rated 3.9, and 24% more for a 3.9 rated hotel over a 3.4 rating.

Small hotel owners who can’t compete with large brands in terms of sheer size can now do so with quality service.

Abhijit Pal, Head of Research, Lodging Partner Services, Expedia Group, said as much in the press release.

Pal said, “This shows that guest ratings have essentially leveled the playing field for independent hotels, as more potential guests seek out third party endorsements for hotel properties they are considering. It also reveals that independent hotels can compete on a global scale with brands if they focus on guest experience.”

Guest Rating

The internet, social media, and smartphones have changed the way consumers interact with a business. If your business doesn’t provide a quality customer experience, they will let you know with their peer reviews.

It is this ability which has empowered consumers and given small businesses the potential to compete with much larger brands.

Consumers also want unique experiences, which is much harder to deliver for a large hotel with 200 rooms. What this means for small hotels is they can go above and beyond a large chain to provide the best possible experience. And if it is done right, the reviews from your guest will drive in more customers.

Survey Report

The report says guest reviews are important, but it is not the number one factor in making a decision on where to stay. Not surprisingly, price is number one.

Consumers first look at the price of the hotel, whether it is a popular brand or not. According to the report, promotions and discounts are an almost sure fire way for customers to choose your property.

After price, guest ratings is the most important factor for the majority of the respondents in the survey. This was the case on both sides of the pricing structure. No matter how much a customer is willing to pay, they want value for the amount they are paying.

To get this perceived value, they are getting the information they need from previous guests and the reviews they leave behind.

The report concludes by saying brand as an attribute isn’t as powerful as guest ratings. And the days of brands solely driving the decision are gone.

For independent hotels who are delivering a customer experience above and beyond what their guests are expecting this all good news.

Image: Depositphotos.com

This article, “Good News for Small Hotel Owners, 72% Rank Guest Ratings Above Brand” was first published on Small Business Trends



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83% of Small Business Owners Ask Their Accountant for Tech Advice

June 6, 2019 by Asif Nazeer Leave a Comment

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83% of Small Business Owners Ask Their Accountant for Tech Advice

A new report highlights how small businesses turn to their accountants for technology advice. AndZoho partnered with AccountingWeb on the report. It shows small businesses are asking for this advice 83% of the time. And 40% of the accountants say they are asked tech questions up to 20 times a month.

Small Business Trends contacted Andy North at AccountingWeb to learn more. North put the survey together with Zoho. And he started by talking about the kinds of technology accountants most often answer questions about. First, 62% answer questions on desktop accounting software. And 46% answer questions on software training. While 46% answer questions on support services. And 57% answer questions on data security.

North filled in some detail on these numbers.

“By far the most common (according to the survey) is desktop accounting software along with related third party apps and integration. That’s followed closely by the same for cloud software,” he wrote. “Software training and overall needs analysis was also a common area in which businesses sought advice.”

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports almost 20 percent of SMBs fail in their first year. Half do the same by the end of year five. Technology is a partial answer to higher success rates. Small businesses are turning to accountants for tech help and more than just bookkeeping.

The report shows that business owners see their accountants as much more than just number crunchers. North said the challenge for accountants is to keep pace with the demand. He outlined the reasons he thought accountants are good at this.

Trust is Important

“ First, one of the most important factors when seeking expert advice is trust,” he writes. “Hopefully, the accounting partner has already earned that trust, so it’s a smaller step to ask for advice about technology. ”

The second is the common notion that accountants know everything about how a business functions financially.

“Finally, tech systems are integrated with accounting solutions on the web. The person who knows the accounting system is in a good position to advise on technology.”

Clients Ask For It

Thirty eight percent of accountants supply technological advice because clients ask for it.  Still others (21%) reported answering these questions allowed them to use their passion for technology.

Even though they are being encouraged to charge for their advice, some accountants still have misgivings.

Some reported they felt they were out of their depth (22%) while others (19%) worried about liability.

North said there were some consequences for the SMB/accountant relationship.

“It is a shift from being a relatively passive partner focusing on what happened in the past, to a proactive partner focusing on the future,” he wrote. “A major conundrum here is ‘What are accountants actually charging for? The time spent completing a task or the knowledge and advice added to that? Furthermore, firms have to become much better at packaging and selling these services to their clients.”

He also talked about where he sees the trend going.

“I think, ultimately, accounting firms will develop more mature business models. We will see firms across the board offering clearly defined and priced technology consultancy services.

It may eliminate some of the variables and therefore risk,” he said.

Industry Leaders

He pointed to Zoho as one of the industry leaders. They offer a wide range of the kind of technology needed on one platform. North said this simple platform will make it easier for accountants to provide this type of advice.

“Zoho helps accountants overcome the challenges of giving business advice by providing an all-in-one suite of apps. It connects an accountant’s core focus, finances, with nearly every tool that their client may need,” said Raju Vagesna, Zoho’s Chief Evangelist in a company release.

AccountingWeb conducted the survey in North American with over 400 firms.

Image: Depositphotos.com

This article, “83% of Small Business Owners Ask Their Accountant for Tech Advice” was first published on Small Business Trends



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How to Choose a Laptop for Your Small Business

June 5, 2019 by Asif Nazeer Leave a Comment

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How to Choose a Laptop for Your Small Business

Laptops continue to increase in popular for business use. And not only do they allow you and your team to get work done from anywhere. But many also provide all the power, storage and speed that you really need. And this allows you to perform your day-to-day functions.

However, with the increasing popularity of laptops, there are also more devices to choose from than ever before. Wading through all the brands and specs can get complicated, especially for small business owners who already have tons of other tasks on their plate.

How to Choose a Laptop

Whether you’re looking for a laptop that you can use personally in your home office or a selection of devices to supply to a small team, here are some helpful tips for those who aren’t sure how to choose a laptop for business use.

Evaluate Your Workload Needs

Every business owner or profession is going to use their laptop slightly differently. So that means their specific feature and spec requirements are going to vary. Before you get started comparing specific models, you need to figure out what it is you need from a laptop. And that starts by looking at the tasks you regularly accomplish on your device.

Jason Harrison of Harrison Technology Consulting LLC said in an email interview with Small Business Trends, “What you need depends on the workloads you plan to tackle with it. If you are doing typical tasks (Email, word processing, spreadsheet work, basic presentations, web surfing, etc.) Then a mid-priced mid-powered device will do you well. If you plan on doing some heavier compute tasks like video editing, heavy image rendering/manipulation, coding, or music production, then you’re going to want to invest in as much as you can afford to get enough power and other system resources to do these tasks in a reasonable amount of time.”

Avoid Really Low Cost Equipment

Of course, you need to find a laptop that fits within your company’s budget. However, opting for bargain basement devices can often cost your business more in the future with extra repairs, loss of productivity or more frequent replacements.

Harrison says, “Most of the time you get what you pay for. Typically, the higher quality equipment from companies like Apple tend to hold up well, last a really long time, and be less trouble.”

Don’t Get Weighed Down by Tons of Specs

When shopping for laptops, there are tons of different specs you can look at. You might see terms like CPU, screen resolution, 4G cards and hard drive storage. Some of these things might impact specific businesses. For example, if you work with high res graphics, a high screen resolution may be important.

However, many of these aspects are fairly comparable within specific price points. So Harrison cautions against getting bogged down with minutiae unless it’s a very specific need for your company.

He adds, “These days most mid-priced and up computers are more than capable and specs mean a lot less. Obviously, if you plan to do audio or video work, then you’ll want to pay attention to the devices video and audio hardware. For basic computing needs, most specs are often more than enough.”

Look into RAM

However, there’s at least one spec that is relevant to pretty much any computer buyer. RAM impacts each device’s performance based on how much memory and storage it can hold.

Harrison explains, “That said, RAM is still one key spec to pay attention to. While most basic configurations are at least in the 8GB range, I typically suggest 16GB as a minimum to help provide a bit more performance when running many apps and to provide a bit more longevity in the devices life without the need to worry about upgrading the RAM anytime soon.”

Consider Getting Help from a Professional

If you want to invest in a quality laptop that’s perfect for your business, but don’t want to do all the research and comparison shopping on your own, consider hiring an IT consultant. To ensure that you get unbiased advice, Harrison recommends going with someone who does not resell hardware or software products from specific vendors. That way, you can be sure they’re actually going to recommend you the products that are right for your business, rather than trying to earn some extra money.

He says, “These pros are hired by you and work for you and are out to help you get the best solution for your business. These pros often pay for themselves many times over. They can also be a very valuable resource to assist with ongoing needs such as developing a solid security plan for your system and helping maintain the system. Computers and like devices are not appliances. They are complex devices that do require proper software management, security management, and ongoing attention to keep them running securely and smoothly.”

Image: Depositphotos.com

This article, “How to Choose a Laptop for Your Small Business” was first published on Small Business Trends



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Best Cities for Serial Entrepreneurs

June 3, 2019 by Asif Nazeer Leave a Comment

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Some entrepreneurs just love to start businesses — over and over again.  There’s even a name for them: serial entrepreneurs. But have you ever wondered where to find serial entrepreneurs?

Our rankings of the Best Cities for Serial Entrepreneurs highlight where you can find large concentrations of serial entrepreneurs.

Serial entrepreneurs for our purposes are defined as those who have started three or more businesses prior to the one they run today. Below you’ll see a list of metropolitan areas where large numbers of these serial entrepreneurs live and work.

Why do certain cities foster more serial entrepreneurs than others? There could be several reasons. Some cities in our rankings offer substantial support resources for entrepreneurs. In others, the history and culture is steeped in entrepreneurialism and calculated risk taking. Still others offer a community of like-minded business owners able to provide networking opportunities and mentorship.

Our rankings are based on our proprietary analysis of U.S. Census data. The rankings reflect the percentage of serial entrepreneurs to the overall population in metropolitan areas of the United States with over 50,000 people. We also reviewed factors such as industry clusters, lifestyle, infrastructure, costs and workforce availability.

Read on for the Best Cities for Serial Entrepreneurs, 2019 edition.



Best Cities for Serial Entrepreneurs

1. Salt Lake City

Utah’s most populous municipality is also a major center for serial entrepreneurs. It is home to 2,689 serial entrepreneurs, making up .23% of the population.

Robert Brady, Founder of Righteous Marketing says, “The business community in Salt Lake City is phenomenal. The entrepreneurial spirit is strong and founders are generous with their time to support the community.”

2. Miami

The sixth most densely populated city in the U.S. is also a hub for serial entrepreneurs. In fact, 11,669 serial entrepreneurs operate there, making up .19% of the population.

Like some other U.S. cities, Miami owes its very existence to entrepreneurs. Fruit grower and businesswoman Julia Tuttle talked railroad mogul Henry Flagler into building a rail line to the region due to the area’s importance to the citrus industry. Tuttle believed the area could become great. Her vision turned out to be correct. The city was officially incorporated in 1896.

3. Denver

The home of the Broncos football franchise has proven fertile ground for serial entrepreneurs too. Research shows 5,231 serial entrepreneurs make the city home, amounting to .18% of the population.  

The city of Denver has long been a place where hopeful entrepreneurs have come seeking their fortunes. The first settlement on the site of what is now Denver was a mining camp established by speculators at the beginning of the Pike’s Peak Gold Rush in 1858.

4. Oklahoma City

The home of one of the world’s largest livestock markets is also a magnet for serial entrepreneurs.  The city has 2,422 serial entrepreneurs, making up .18% of the population.

Beyond the Fortune 500 companies that make their home here, there are also quite a few small business success stories. For example, in 1964, Tom and Judy Love leased an abandoned service station in the area with just $5,000. Fast forward to today. Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores is a family owned chain of more than 470 truck stops and convenience stores in 41 states.

5. Dallas

A thriving center of business since the 19th century, it’s no surprise Dallas is also a hub for serial entrepreneurs. It is home to 12,622 serial entrepreneurs making up .17% of the population.

Sarah Hudson, owner of The Marketing Analysts, says, “The Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington regional area is the fourth largest in the nation, ranking just below New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. Whether it’s homes, highways, hotels, schools, hospitals, office buildings or retail spaces, growth and construction is non-stop in every direction.  While much of the growth has taken place in the North Dallas suburbs of Plano, Frisco and McKinney, you can see it throughout the metroplex. From new mixed-use communities in Irving’s Las Colinas, including new convention and meeting facilities, and a soon-to-open 350-room Westin hotel, to Facebook’s 150-acre high-tech data center in Fort Worth, which could produce a new regional tech hub for small businesses, opportunity is brimming for entrepreneurs.”

6. Tampa

Home of the largest port in Florida, the city and its surrounding metro area has 5,137 serial entrepreneurs. They make up .17% of the population.

The Port of Tampa now ranks 7th in the nation handling nearly half of all the freight passing through the state. So there are tremendous opportunities for businesses that depend on the shipping industry, such as retail and e-commerce, and other industries related to shipping, such as warehousing and transportation. Fun fact: Wikipedia also maintains its servers in the city.

“We are headquartered a few hours south of Tampa, and the city is in the news a lot. Tampa is a fast growing area. Along with business opportunities you get a great lifestyle. Located on the beautiful Gulf Coast, residents enjoy 244 days of sunshine. It’s hard to beat that,” says Anita Campbell, founder of Small Business Trends Media.

7. Raleigh

Known as the City of Oaks, the metro area also supports 2,090 serial entrepreneurs. That’s .16% of the total population.

It may not be as well known as the nation’s other huge tech centers, but Raleigh is located within North Carolina’s Research Triangle. So it is a major center for the high-tech and bio-tech industries. And it also attracts businesses that support these industries and those that seek to find clients among the high-tech and bio-tech industries.

8. Orlando

Nicknamed “The City Beautiful,” Orlando should also be known for its support of serial entrepreneurs. Research shows 3,827 serial entrepreneurs make the city home, amounting to .16% of the population.

Barbara Weltman, President of Big Ideas for Small Business, Inc. points to the business-friendly environment as one reason serial entrepreneurs thrive.  She says, “Orlando is the center of Florida. The state government here is supportive of small business. There’s no personal income tax on owners and various other business taxes (e.g., rent taxes) have been going down in recent years.”

9. Seattle

The home of Starbucks and coffee culture is also a center for serial entrepreneurs. Seattle has 5,850 serial entrepreneurs operating there, constituting .15% of the population. Perhaps all the coffee houses with their welcoming environments for startups make it easier to swallow taking risks.

The city’s most famous landmark was an adventurous enterprise in its own right. Constructed for the 1962 World’s Fair, the Space Needle is 605 feet tall, making it the tallest structure west of the Mississippi. It is built to withstand winds up to 200 miles per hour and earthquakes up to a magnitude of 9.0.

10. Portland

Already famous for brands like Nike, Portland nurtures its share of serial entrepreneurs too. The city has 3,703 serial entrepreneurs, making up .15% of the population.

Like the serial entrepreneurs who make the city home, Portland has been the recipient of much good fortune. Even its name was the result of a bit of luck. Settled in the 1840s, the city was originally called “Stumptown” or “The Clearing” — because of all the trees cut down to build it. Two founders finally agreed on a new name for the city simply by flipping a coin. Good choice.

Methodology for Best 10 Cities for Serial Entrepreneurs

As a serial entrepreneur, there’s no reason you must build your businesses in one of the cities listed above. It’s always wise to start a business where you are today or near your target  customers. But if you haven’t yet started your business or are looking for a new locale, one of the 10 cities in our rankings may be a good destination to explore.

This Best Cities for Serial Entrepreneurs ranking is based primarily on our proprietary analysis of the U.S. Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Entrepreneurs (ASE) and Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places of 50,000 or More.

Cities were ranked on the percentage of entrepreneurs in each category rather than the number of entrepreneurs. However, other data we reviewed based on information available to us included:

  • Population
  • Industry clusters
  • Lifestyle
  • Workforce
  • Costs
  • Infrastructure
  • Other startups nearby

Check out our infographic below for a shareable summary of the best cities for serial entrepreneurs.

Best Cities for Serial Entrepreneurs


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Some Small Businesses Had to Wait Longer Than 6 Months to Hear About a Loan Application

June 3, 2019 by Asif Nazeer Leave a Comment

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How Long Does It Take to Get a Business Loan

When it comes to a business loan, applicants want to start and expand their company, or they need funds to get out of a financial jam. But the application process is not uniform across the board, which leaves room for inefficiencies small business owners inevitably face.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Business Loan

A new survey conducted by Lending Express reports inefficiency runs rampant. A number of small business applicants (7.5%) say they had to wait more than 6 months to hear back about a loan application. Another 16.3% said they had to wait more than a month.

The waiting process varies from institution to institution, but this length of time can be detrimental. If a small business owner has to wait up to six months or more, opportunities will go by the wayside.

As stated by Lending Express, a single loan can make all the difference in the world for a small business. With just a single loan, 61% of owners said they were able to turn profitable.

In the emailed report the company said, “Funding for small business owners is vastly important. It allows them to start, boost and even keep their businesses afloat. Luckily, though at times a trying experience, this survey found that most small businesses can become profitable after receiving just one loan.”

The survey was designed to determine the current business lending landscape. With a representative sample of more than 1,000 small business owners, Lending Express conducted the Google survey in April 2019.

Business Lending Landscape

Small business owners have a wide range of views on the current lending landscape. But the one common theme is they want their loans processed as soon as possible. So much so, 17% of Gen-Zers are willing to clean toilets for a two-day loan process. Another 14% are willing to go through a root canal for that speedy loan process.

It might sound comical, but the need to get the funding quickly highlights the anxiety small business owners are facing.

The anxiety is further exasperated with each loan denial. Because one in eight or 12.6% of owners say they have been turned down twice. Another 9% said it was three times. This has crushed the confidence of a segment of the small business sector.

More than a third or 36.5% say not all deserving small business owners get the funding they deserve. For Gen-Zers, the disillusionment is even deeper as 43.6% say they have no confidence in the integrity of the lending process.

When it comes to gender, millennial females are disenchanted with the lending process. Close to 9 in 10 or 89.5% millennial females feel there is gender-bias in lending. But only 58.7% of their male counterparts perceive gender bias.

The perceived gender bias is high across all ages. While 83.4% of all females say there is some level of bias, it goes down to 70.6% for males.

Key Takeaway

This survey offers some interesting insights into the current business lending landscape. It shows business owners have some predetermined understandings about the lending process. If this is not based on fact, it can deter them from applying for a loan altogether.

Whether you are applying for your first business loan or you are looking for some capital to expand, talk to the lender. Even if you are well informed, the information you have may not apply to this specific lender.

The more informed you are, the better you will be prepared to come up with the requirements the lender wants.

Image: Depositphotos.com

This article, “Some Small Businesses Had to Wait Longer Than 6 Months to Hear About a Loan Application” was first published on Small Business Trends



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80% of Americans Experience Tech Frustration on a Daily Basisc

June 2, 2019 by Asif Nazeer Leave a Comment

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Digital technology has transformed the way people communicate, socialize, work, shop, play, travel and more. And this has increased their reliance on the technology, which makes it that much more frustrating when something goes wrong.



Technology Frustration

According to a study by Asurion, 80% of Americans experience some type of tech frustration every day. The number goes up to 5 per day for 53% of Americans, and 30% say it is more than five times each day. And there are some which experience up to 40 daily tech frustrations.

If you are a small business owner and this frustration is directed towards your website, mobile app, or other digital presence, you might never see your customers again. Which is why you must do all you can to keep everything on your end up and running.

Even if everything is in tip-top shape on your end, it doesn’t resolve the tech frustration consumers face elsewhere. And as Bettie Colombo, spokesperson for Asurion, said in the press release, people have better things to do. “No one wants to spend such a large part of their day trying to get their tech to work the way it should. After all, it’s the very thing that’s supposed to make our lives easier.”

Asurion has a unique perspective on the tech frustration people experience. The company helps over 300 million people around the world with their tech related issues. To better understand these pain points, Asurion conducted a study along with OnePoll.

The study looked at the tech habits of 2,000 Americans, and these are some of the most pressing issues the poll identified.

The Most Frustrating Tech for Americans

The most frustrating tech for Americans is WiFi, which is not that surprising. Considering the amount of time people are on their smartphones or laptops using WiFi, any connection related problem will quickly receive the wrath of users.

Four out of five Americans say they are very frustrated or somewhat frustrated with dropped or slow connections.

So, not being able to connect to WiFi is almost as frustrating, which is why it is at number two. More than a third or 38% say they are frustrated because they are not able to connect, and another 34% are somewhat frustrated.

The fact the biggest issues are related to connectivity highlights how much Americans rely on their mobile device. Smartphones have become an integral part of the way people live today. Whether it is finding a location or ordering food, when this connectivity is lost, the frustration is quick to surface.

Two issues are identified as the number three problem, one of which is also related to connectivity. Slow downloads and buffering and issues logging in to the device or app is frustrating for 71% of the respondents.

Some of the other frustrating tech-related problems are battery life, computer or app crashes, forgetting passwords, and security issues/viruses.

Frustrating Devices

In order to get frustrated with technology, people have to use the devices which cause this ire. And at the top of the list is the smartphone. Americans have gotten so frustrated with their phone, 55% said they have broken them after throwing them so hard.

The smartphone is the number one source of frustration for 75% of Americans. This was followed by laptops (61%), internet routers (61%), tablets (56%), and streaming devices (51%).

The initial tech frustration is just the beginning. Americans say they are just as frustrated with the amount of time it takes to fix the issue. More than 40% say they spend over 10 minutes per tech incident to resolve the problem. Some incidents can take much longer.

If you are running a business and your tech is down for more than 10 minutes that is time you can ill afford to lose. Make sure you have a backup and recovery system in place so you can be up running as soon as possible.

80% of Americans Experience Technology Frustration on a Daily Basis

Image: Depositphotos.com


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