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Running a small business is no easy feat. That’s why we’ve created a forum for small business ideas, insider tips, and the industry knowledge you need to help your small business grow.

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Celebrating National Women’s Small Business Month
October is National Women’s Small Business Month, and there’s plenty to celebrate as more women are starting companies than ever before. Check back here throughout October to read our special Women’s Small Business Month series and join us in celebrating women’s business achievements.
Six Tips Women Should Follow to Succeed as Entrepreneurs
As a female entrepreneur, Small Biz expert Carol Roth knows a lot about success and the mindset one needs to achieve it. Start by setting your own goals and objectives, not measuring against others.
Great Entrepreneurs Start Small – Consider Richard Branson, Bill Gates, Martha Stewart
It’s easy to think companies like Starbucks, Apple, and Virgin have always been large corporations. Many of these massive, successful businesses actually started with humble beginnings. Small biz expert Steve Strauss provides insight into a few of these stories.

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Rieva Lesonsky in Sales & Marketing1 day ago (Show more Show less)

How to Start a Loyalty Program Before the Holidays

Does your retail business have a loyalty program in place? If not, now is the time to launch one before the holiday shopping season reaches its peak. A loyalty program can get first-time shoppers to… (Show more Show less)

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Bank of America SB Team in General Business2 days ago (Show more Show less)

You’re Gonna Know Me

The world’s gonna know you. We’re gonna help. Bank of America proudly celebrates National Women’s Small Business Month.

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Steve Strauss in General Business2 days ago (Show more Show less)

Great Entrepreneurs Who Started Small (Part III)

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Moderator Cath in General Business2 days ago (Show more Show less)

Home delivery

We are seeing many businesses offering free home delivery or drive-up/pick up service. Is this something you have considered? Or is this something you are doing now? Cath

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Moderator Cath in General Business2 days ago (Show more Show less)

Cooler weather

Cooler weather is on the way and some areas will have very cold weather this year. What incentives do you have in place to draw your customers out of their warm homes, into the blistery weather, and… (Show more Show less)

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moderator_lisa in General Business2 days ago (Show more Show less)

Mentoring

Many new business owners benefit from having a mentor - someone with experience who can help a newbie keep control of the many aspects of becoming a business owner. Mentors are able provide tips on… (Show more Show less)

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Bank of America SB Team in Merchant Services2 days ago (Show more Show less)

Small Business Payments Spotlight

2017 report shows that with so much at stake, small businesses must adapt to changes in the ways customers shop and pay Bank of America Merchant Services commissioned Forrester Consulting, one of… (Show more Show less)

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SBC Team in General Business3 days ago (Show more Show less)

Women Entrepreneurship in a World of Change, Moderated by Susan Solovic

To celebrate National Women’s Small Business Month in October, this Bank of America Small Business Social Series Hangout features a panel discussion about women entrepreneurs moderated by Susan…

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Moderator Cath in General Business 2 days ago

Home delivery

We are seeing many businesses offering free home delivery or drive-up/pick up service. Is this something you have considered? Or is this something you are doing now? Cath

Home delivery

We are seeing many businesses offering free home delivery or drive-up/pick up service.

Is this something you have considered? Or is this something you are doing now?

Cath

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Moderator Cath in General Business 2 days ago

Cooler weather

Share your great thoughts with your community business friends.

Cath

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moderator_lisa in General Business 2 days ago

Mentoring

When you were starting out, did you have a mentor? What was the most valuable lesson you learned from your mentor?

Since your business has been established, have you had the opportunity to serve as a mentor to a new up-and-comer? What is the most valuable lesson you feel you could share with a new business owner?

If you didn't have a mentor, do you wish you had? Would you consider mentoring someone now?

--Lisa

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Moderator Jim in General Business 4 days ago

Pay Back a Friend Day

Today is Pay Back a Friend Day. Who's at the top of your list to pay back for helping you realize your small business dreams? How would you pay them back? Share your thoughts with us. #PBAFD #FriendsAgain

Pay Back a Friend Day

Today is Pay Back a Friend Day. Who's at the top of your list to pay back for helping you realize your small business dreams? How would you pay them back? Share your thoughts with us.

#PBAFD #FriendsAgain

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dmassey8579 in General Business 5 days ago

What is the best way to market my small group practice on a small budget

Hello, Can anyone tell me the best way to market my small group mental health counseling practice on a very small budget? What is the best way to get the word out? I want the community to see us as "the" place to turn to for mental...

What is the best way to market my small group practice on a small budget

Hello,

Can anyone tell me the best way to market my small group mental health counseling practice on a very small budget? What is the best way to get the word out? I want the community to see us as "the" place to turn to for mental health.

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Moderator Rebecca in General Business 6 days ago

Is Your Business Ready for the Holidays?

Halloween will be here soon, then begins the mad rush thru the Thanksgiving/Christmas season. Many businesses will be hiring seasonal help, and of course, you want nothing but the best for your business! To ensure you have the "pick of...

Is Your Business Ready for the Holidays?

Whether you are a small brick and mortar shop, an online or Amazon retailer, or offer other holiday related services (such as mailing supplies, greeting cards, even budget planners), you will want to act soon! Rieva Lesonsky, one of our top small business experts offers some great Tips for Hiring Seasonal Employees Ahead of the Holiday Rush.

Have you started planning your holiday staffing and production yet? How do you prepare for the holiday frenzy with your business? Share your tips with our community, and let us know what has worked for you in the past. Your experiences will definitely help other members of our community in preparing for this busy time!

Cheers,

-Rebecca

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orbital config in General Business 6 days ago

Website SEO question

Hello I have been reading about SEO, SERPs, SEA, etc. to try to get better results on my site. It was saying that from the back end and reliance factors, importance, etc. how you actually display on google when someone is...

Website SEO question

Hello

I have been reading about SEO, SERPs, SEA, etc. to try to get better results on my site.

It was saying that from the back end and reliance factors, importance, etc. how you actually display on google when someone is searching. there saying about links to other sites are a good way to have a better results through google. Is this why so many things that you think are so irreverent on some web pages, ads, other pages of the same information are on some websites, displaying similar/suggestion links to other sites, because of this factor of the rankings of google?

Any webmasters know if this OR use it OR have an opinion OR could suggest any details

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Moderator Rebecca in General Business 1 week ago

ICYMI: October is National Women's Small Business Month

Did you know that over 37% of all businesses worldwide are owned by women? To help celebrate, our Small Business experts have put together a series of great articles that highlight women's achievements in the business world. You'll also find articles with tips on work-life balance, tips for success, things women should consider before starting a small business, and more.

Our experts are adding additional new features, articles and tips frequently, so be sure to check back throughout the month for additional new content at: Celebrating Women Entrepreneurs

We'd love to hear your experiences, tips and stories as well, so please feel free to share your own story.

Cheers,

-Rebecca

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moderator_lee in General Business 1 week ago

Heading for Holidays

With big holidays just around the corner, it would be interesting to hear about how personal life and business might be managed during this season, or what difficulties you encounter with it. Do you feel you take enough time away from work for yourself and/or any family in your life? If so, what about your business--do you fear it suffers significantly due to this?

For those who have employees, do you tend to have trouble finding the balance between keeping business running smoothly and your employee(s) having a fair share of family time? If you've got a system for it that seems to work well, feel free to share it here.

It can be especially hard since many businesses experience their busiest times of the year at exactly these major holidays as well. Any tips you may have for others are welcome, as well as problems you run into that we other business owners may have helpful input on.

-Lee

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LUCKIEST in General Business 2 weeks ago

Too Much Education

Whether you pivot from one corporate career to another, or from corporate to entrepreneurship, you almost always need education. Sometimes you need actual knowledge. If you're seeking a new corporate job, you might need knowledge or a credential...

Too Much Education

Whether you pivot from one corporate career to another, or from corporate to entrepreneurship, you almost always need education.

Sometimes you need actual knowledge.

If you're seeking a new corporate job, you might need knowledge or a credential or both.

Some fields require not only training, but also degrees from specific programs and universities.

And some pivots require specialized training. If you want to become a lawyer, accountant, professional librarian, or real estate agent, you'll need to pass exams and be licensed.

Many of those who pivot already have significant education and training, along with professional experience.

And many of us have been trained to place a high value on education. "When in doubt, go to school. And then? More school."

As a result, education can be viewed as both a valuable path to a new career and as a deadly trap.

On the one hand, you can save time and increase earning potential with certain types of training.

On the other, the belief that, "I need to learn more" can hold back your progress indefinitely and unnecessarily.

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Rieva Lesonsky in Sales & Marketing 1 day ago

How to Start a Loyalty Program Before the Holidays

Does your retail business have a loyalty program in place? If not, now is the time to launch one before the holiday shopping season reaches its peak.

A loyalty program can get first-time shoppers to come back again and again for holiday shopping — and long after the gifts are unwrapped. With more traffic in your store, the holiday season is the perfect time to grow your loyalty program membership.

Loyalty programs have many benefits for retailers—and are highly popular with customers. According to the 2017 Holiday Retail Outlook, 76 percent of consumers belong to a loyalty/rewards program, and 72 percent say a loyalty program makes them more likely to shop at a specific retailer. Follow these steps to start your loyalty program.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ARTICLES FROM SMALL BUSINESS EXPERT RIEVA LESONSKY

1. Know what your customers want. What attracts customers to a loyalty program? According to the Holiday Retail Outlook, these are the most desirable features:

Earning rewards for my purchases — 88 percent
Receiving special services — 32 percent
Ability to use rewards for experiences — 14 percent
Having a mobile app to store membership info — 12 percent
Being recognized with a higher status — 8 percent

Before choosing a loyalty program, it’s a good idea to survey your customers and see what rewards they want most.

2. Make it worth their while. You can handle loyalty rewards in a variety of ways. For example, you can give points redeemable for rewards; give customers cash back on purchases; or offer “tiered” rewards where perks get better the more shoppers spend. You can also mix it up by offering all of the above. Whatever system you choose, at this time of year shoppers should be able to earn meaningful rewards quickly. More than half (59 percent) of consumers use loyalty program rewards to do their holiday shopping, so the faster they can earn rewards, the more shopping they’ll do in your store. (Be sure the rewards are helping, not hurting, your profit margins).

3. Decide what you want. Many retail loyalty programs can also track shopper behavior and help you market to individuals based on their past purchases and other information. What are your goals for the loyalty program? What is your budget? What loyalty/rewards programs do your competitors offer? What kind of data do you want to collect about your customers and how do you want to use it?

4. Assess your options. Popular loyalty programs include Belly, FiveStars and Perka. Look for a loyalty program that is tailored for small retailers and meets both your and your customers’ needs. Be sure to ask about setup fees as well as monthly costs. Also take into account how easy the program is to use—both for your employees and your customers. For example, some customers may still prefer loyalty programs that offer plastic loyalty cards, not just mobile apps. Finally, with holiday season rapidly approaching, you’ll need a program you can get up and running fast.

5. Spread the word. Aggressive marketing is key to the success of a loyalty program. Promote your program in your holiday advertising, on your website, on social media and with signage in your store. Employees should educate customers about the benefits of the loyalty program and encourage them to sign up. Make it as simple as possible to join the program—no one wants to hold up the whole line of customers while they fill out a lengthy form. As you attract more loyalty program customers, you can even offer them rewards for getting others to sign up or spreading the word on social media.

Once the holiday shopping season ends, don’t let your loyalty program marketing lag. Keep signing up new members and creating new rewards. Do it right, and a loyalty program can be the holiday gift that keeps on giving.

About Rieva Lesonsky

Rieva Lesonsky is CEO and Co-founder of GrowBiz Media, a custom content and media company focusing on small business and entrepreneurship, and the blog SmallBizDaily.com. A nationally known speaker and authority on entrepreneurship, Rieva has been covering America’s entrepreneurs for more than 30 years. Before co-founding GrowBiz Media, Lesonsky was the long-time Editorial Director of Entrepreneur Magazine. Lesonsky has appeared on hundreds of radio shows and numerous local and national television programs, including the Today Show, Good Morning America, CNN, The Martha Stewart Show and Oprah.

Lesonsky regularly writes about small business for numerous websites and for corporations targeting entrepreneurs. Many organizations have recognized Lesonsky for her tireless devotion to helping entrepreneurs. She served on the Small Business Administration’s National Advisory Council for six years, was honored by the SBA as a Small Business Media Advocate and a Woman in Business Advocate, and received the prestigious Lou Campanelli award from SCORE. She is a long-time member of the Business Journalists Hall of Fame.

Web: www.growbizmedia.com or Twitter: @Rieva

Bank of America, N.A. engages with Rieva Lesonsky to provide informational materials for your discussion or review purposes only. Rieva Lesonsky is a registered trademark, used pursuant to license. The third parties within articles are used under license from Rieva Lesonsky. Consult your financial, legal and accounting advisors, as neither Bank of

America, its affiliates, nor their employees provide legal, accounting and tax advice.

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SBC Team in General Business 2 days ago

Celebrating Women Entrepreneurs

October is National Women’s Small Business Month, and there’s plenty to celebrate. More women are starting companies than ever before; thirty-seven percent of all businesses worldwide are owned by women. Check back here throughout...

Celebrating Women Entrepreneurs

October is National Women’s Small Business Month, and there’s plenty to celebrate.

More women are starting companies than ever before; thirty-seven percent of all businesses worldwide are owned by women. Check back here throughout October to read our special Women’s Small Business Month series and join us in celebrating women’s business achievements.

Additional Resources

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Steve Strauss in General Business 2 days ago

Great Entrepreneurs Who Started Small (Part III)

In a recent series of posts, I have been looking at great entrepreneurs who started small (part 1 and part 2), people like Richard Branson, Martha Stewart and Howard Schultz. What is amazing about entrepreneurs like these is not just how big their enterprises are (companies like Starbucks and Virgin). Rather, it’s how small they started, how much they overcame and how far these entrepreneurs travelled.

Take Oprah Winfrey for example. If you are looking for the quintessential rags-to-riches story, look no further. Yes, Oprah comes from incredibly humble roots, and that makes her rise and business skills more impressive. Oprah was raised by a single mom on welfare, was the victim of childhood sexual abuse and grew up in so much poverty that the kids in school made fun of her for wearing dresses made of potato sacks.

But, while we all know that Oprah is a gifted broadcaster, that is not what made her a billionaire. Lots of people have hosted talk shows, but what sets Oprah apart is her entrepreneurial chops, first evidenced when she negotiated the ownership and syndication rights to her show. That move allowed her to create her own production company and made her a millionaire by the age of 32 when her show went national.

Today, Oprah Winfrey is worth $3 billion.

Another billionaire, Steve Jobs, was raised in less than ideal financial circumstances as well. Jobs grew up in a lower middle-class family, the adoptive son of a homemaker mother, and a father who was a self-described “repo man.”

Jobs was only at Reed College for a year before he had to drop out due to floundering familial finances. He continued to audit classes at Reed, ate for free at the local Hare Krishna temple, and returned soda bottles for change to get by. In 1974, Jobs moved to India and lived in an ashram for seven months before moving back to the Bay Area and living in his parents’ toolshed.

What grounded and motivated him throughout these tough, early years was a fascination with the nascent computer revolution. It was in 1975 that he and Steve Wozniak started Apple Computer in the Jobs family garage. Apple, as we all know, was a hit from the start, but did you know that Steve Jobs was fired from the company he founded less than a decade later? But he was nothing if not resilient. When later discussing his firing from the company he loved, he said:

“I didn’t see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life.”

When he died of pancreatic cancer in 2011, Steve Jobs was worth $8.3 billion.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM SMALL BUSINESS EXPERT STEVE STRAUSS

And if ever there was an entrepreneur who started small and overcame adversity, it is none other than Walt Disney, survivor of bankruptcy, lawsuits and more. In 1922, Disney started his first animation company, “Laugh-O-Gram,” where he and his partner made short advertising films and Walt attempted to create his first animated character, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. Unfortunately, a distributor soon cheated Disney and his partner in a big deal, causing Disney to declare bankruptcy and lose the rights to Oswald in the process.

Disney started all over, in a new city, and created another new company. Then he decided to create a character to replace Oswald.

A little fellow he named Mickey Mouse.

Entrepreneurs of great enterprises and companies started from humble and often extremely adverse backgrounds. Regardless of their beginnings, they all achieved incredible success. Sometimes it’s easy to get bogged down by losses as small business owners, but reminding yourself that every business and entrepreneur had their ebbs and flows can help keep your head up.

About Steve Strauss

Steven D. Strauss is one of the world's leading experts on small business and is a lawyer, writer, and speaker. The senior small business columnist for USA Today, his Ask an Expert column is one of the most highly-syndicated business columns in the country. He is the best-selling author of 17 books, including his latest, The Small Business Bible, now out in a completely updated third edition. You can also listen to his weekly podcast, Small Business Success.© Steven D. Strauss

Web: www.theselfemployed.com or Twitter: @SteveStrauss

Bank of America, N.A. engages with Steve Strauss to provide informational materials for your discussion or review purposes only. Steve Strauss is a registered trademark, used pursuant to license. The third parties within articles are used under license from Steve Strauss. Consult your financial, legal and accounting advisors, as neither Bank of America, its affiliates, nor their employees provide legal, accounting and tax advice.

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Bank of America SB Team in Merchant Services 2 days ago

Small Business Payments Spotlight

2017 report shows that with so much at stake, small businesses must adapt to changes in the ways customers shop and pay

Bank of America Merchant Services commissioned Forrester Consulting, one of the most influential research and advisory firms in the world, to conduct a study of payments-focused attitudes and behaviors among U.S. small business owners and consumers.

Topics addressed in the inaugural Small Business Payments Spotlight include merchant and consumer sentiments towards point-of-sale and digital payments, cash, eCommerce, security and more.

Among the notable findings:

48% of consumers carry less cash than they did five years ago, but 38% of small businesses have not changed the types of payments they accept in the past five years.
53% of consumers are shopping online more than ever, yet only 44% of small businesses operate an eCommerce website.
Consumers aged 18 to 29 and over 65 are the most likely to never trust a small business again following a data breach affecting that merchant.

As the trusted payments provider for hundreds of thousands of small businesses across the U.S., Bank of America Merchant Services is pleased to share with you valuable insights in the Small Business Payments Spotlight.

Read the report (PDF) to explore what hundreds of small businesses and consumers have to say about payments today and tomorrow.

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Carol Roth in General Business 5 days ago

Six Tips Women Should Follow to Succeed as Entrepreneurs

I think of myself as an entrepreneur, not a “woman entrepreneur.” That said, there are things women tend to do as they approach business ownership that often hold them back from being even more successful. Here are some...

Six Tips Women Should Follow to Succeed as Entrepreneurs

Here are some of my top tips to leave the qualifiers behind so women can become more successful entrepreneurs.

1. Remember, Entrepreneurship is a Meritocracy. When you are the boss, you are the boss, and your potential is unlimited. You have every ability to pursue an opportunity in the same manner as anyone else, so don’t psych yourself out and create self-doubt that holds you back. Only you stand in the way of your own success.

2. Think Big. Women tend to take on less risk than men. This, again, is not because of some rigged system as much as women holding themselves back from going really big. Whether it’s concern over disappointing someone or a fear of failure, you need to be able to lean into risk and uncertainty to be successful.

It’s also often just as difficult to start and run a small business as it is a big one, so why not really reach for a crazy goal? It’s ok to take calculated, educated risk. If you don’t fail at least part of the time, you aren’t pushing yourself enough.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM SMALL BUSINESS EXPERT CAROL ROTH

3. Delegate, but Don’t Abdicate, Responsibility. Generally speaking, women are often detail oriented. And the strengths of being good at the details also means you can get bogged down in running your business, instead of growing your business.

You need to create systems to teach other people to do tasks that aren’t the best use of your time or the best service to the business. While others may not be as good as you are at a task, if it is good enough for customers to be happy, go with it.

4. Watch Your Language. Women don’t realize how often they portray themselves as non-entities or minimize their value. They apologize where there’s nothing to be sorry for, they draw attention to items that nobody needs to know and they downplay accomplishments. Often, women feel badly about talking about their work and business for fear of coming off self-promotional.

Use powerful language, own what you do and don’t offer irrelevant information that detracts from what you are accomplishing. That language informs your attitude, which informs your success. And remember that if you aren’t willing to promote yourself, it’s not likely that anyone else will either. People follow the cues you set for them.

5. Expand Your Network. While it may be comfortable to network with people just like you, it will never get you to the next level. Go outside your comfort zone, approach and mingle with people who are where you want to be and let that inspire you to move up to their level.

6. Set Your Own Goals. Lastly, it’s important to note we all have different definitions of success. For some people, family accomplishments are more important than professional ones and deserve extra focus. There are also some that judge contributions to a team and seeing projects succeed as more important than individual compensation or overall business growth. There are others that frankly don’t want the stress and responsibility that comes with trying to pursue an eight-, nine- or ten-figure business.

All of this is ok, as our individual success should be measured by our own goals and objectives. There may always be a differential in the types of businesses each individual pursues and how they approach them. If you are pursuing something based on your own measure of success, that’s not anyone else’s business to judge.

About Carol Roth

Carol Roth is the creator of the Future File™ legacy planning system, “recovering” investment banker, billion-dollar dealmaker, investor, entrepreneur, national media personality and author of the New York Times bestselling book, The Entrepreneur Equation. She is a judge on the Mark Burnett-produced technology competition show, America’s Greatest Makers and TV host and contributor, including

host

of Microsoft’s Office Small Business Academy. She is also an advisor to companies ranging from startups to major multi-national corporations and has an action figure made in her own likeness.

Web: www.CarolRoth.com or Twitter: @CarolJSRoth.

Bank of America, N.A. engages with Carol Roth to provide informational materials for your discussion or review purposes only. Carol Roth is a registered trademark, used pursuant to license. The third parties within articles are used under license from Carol Roth. Consult your financial, legal and accounting advisors, as neither Bank of America, its affiliates, nor their employees provide legal, accounting and tax advice.

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Steve Strauss in General Business 1 week ago

How Your Business Can Stand Out in a Crowded Space

Yes, you want to stand out in what is becoming an ever-crowded marketplace, but no, you certainly do not want to shout and be obnoxious to get attention. Given that, is it actually possible to stand out, and if so, how? The answer is yes,...

How Your Business Can Stand Out in a Crowded Space

The answer is yes, you can, and even better, doing so does not include yelling. I’ll tell you the secret in a moment, but first, a story:

Not long ago I went with my wife to an idyllic, small little fishing village on the Pacific coast of Mexico where the locals were kind, the beach perfect and the vibe just right (sorry, its name will remain a secret, amigos!) Many mornings we found ourselves at the same great little restaurant for breakfast.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM SMALL BUSINESS EXPERT STEVE STRAUSS

Did we keep coming back there for the delicious huevos rancheros? That was part of it. Was it because of our wonderful waitresses? Yes, but that was not the main reason. Even though there were tons of restaurants and bars in this town, we – and plenty more people – crowded this place every day. Why?

Free WiFi.

In a town where getting online was a challenge, free WiFi kept us coming back. Throughout the town there were little posters that said nothing more than “Free WiFi!” and the name of the restaurant. That was their X Factor to stand out in a crowded market.

Isn’t that true of your favorite businesses, the ones you frequent time and again? Don’t they offer something unique and out of the ordinary?

There is a bookstore in the Pacific Northwest called Powell’s World of Books. World of Books indeed. The store engulfs one full city block and is four stories high.
In Los Angeles, there is a fun sushi bar on the Westside. I don’t recall its real name because all anyone ever calls it is “Reggae Sushi.” Yep, reggae music all the time, mon.

These are X factors. These businesses have figured out something special to hang their hat on to distinguish themselves from the competition. So, the question you should ask yourself is – what is yours? What is it you do that is unique, different and special that you can tout that will make your business more memorable?

Here’s another example: Not long ago I was in Erie, Pennsylvania, giving a speech for the local Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Every year, the SBDC honors local businesses with a banquet, the culmination of which is the presentation of “Business of the Year” awards in various categories. I was fortunate enough to get to give the keynote at the banquet and meet these exceptional entrepreneurs. As I think back upon the award winners, each one had their own unique, memorable characteristic.

But my favorite was a company called Frontier Pharmacy. At a time when large drug store chains are putting local pharmacies out of business, Frontier Pharmacy is easily the busiest pharmacy in the area, routinely filling thousands of prescriptions a week. When I asked the owner what his secret was, he told me about the usual suspects – a great staff, loyal customers, and so on. Then he mentioned what I now see was his X Factor:

Free delivery.

Every day he has two full-time drivers do nothing but deliver prescriptions to his customers for free. “And I only hire retired gentleman,” he told me. Given many of his customers are ill or even invalid, it’s a brilliant idea.

So that is the answer. You don’t have to yell or be obnoxious to get noticed. You have to be different and better. What is your business differentiator? Figure it out, tout it and customers will find you and frequent your business more often – if not for the huevos rancheros then definitely for the free WiFi.

About Steve Strauss

Web: www.theselfemployed.com or Twitter: @SteveStrauss

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Shama Hyder in Business Startups 1 week ago

What Every Woman Should Know Before Starting A Small Business

Mentoring young women is something I am passionate about. I jump at every chance to speak at high schools and colleges, encouraging young women to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams. Being a woman entrepreneur has its unique challenges,...

What Every Woman Should Know Before Starting A Small Business

Mentoring young women is something I am passionate about. I jump at every chance to speak at high schools and colleges, encouraging young women to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams.

Being a woman entrepreneur has its unique challenges, but it also comes with unique rewards. It’s just a matter of finding the right path to success. To help young women find that path, I offer the following three pieces of advice every woman entrepreneur should know before starting their own business.

1. Don’t go it alone.

“Networking” often gets a bad rap among small business owners. It can conjure up images of awkward breakfast meetings, or of being pushy and salesy with everyone from friends to strangers. That kind of networking, as everyone knows, just isn’t effective.

Every small business owner needs a supportive network in order to succeed, but there are several different forms that network can take. Reaching out to successful leaders in your field for advice and mentorship can be an invaluable resource. Asking friends, family and even online connections for the help or advice they are uniquely qualified to give can also be a lifesaver. And sometimes, hiring someone is the answer, whether that’s an experienced freelancer who can take on some of the work or a consultant to give you a fresh perspective. You can even create your own network from scratch online by starting a Facebook Group or building an audience on another social media platform. Don’t ever feel that you have to go it alone – you’ll find success much more quickly and easily with a network to support you.

Networking on Bank of America Small Business Community page: Introduce Yourself

2. Treat your business like a business from the beginning.

Sometimes it can be tempting to start your business as more of a hobby than an actual business venture. You can test the waters, the thinking goes, see how it does, without wasting too much time or money on it, or disrupting the status quo, if it’s not a home run.

The problem is when you’re not investing your all into a business, it will almost never do as well as you hope. You’re actually shortchanging yourself and your business by not giving it the attention it deserves. The only way to reach success is to give it 110% - no risk, no reward. Of course, this doesn’t mean instantly quitting your day job and selling your house in order to invest in your business idea – but it does mean approaching your business as a business from the very start, in every aspect, from finances to marketing to the amount of time you spend on it.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM SMALL BUSINESS EXPERT SHAMA HYDER

3. Don’t be afraid to be authentic.

Women entrepreneurs have a unique set of skills and abilities to bring to the business world, but they sometimes feel they need to hide their true selves in order to succeed. Whether they think they have to act like “one of the boys” to make it big, or suffer from imposter syndrome - feeling that they’re not qualified enough to be successful - women can often be reluctant to let their authentic selves shine through in their businesses.

In truth, nothing could be worse for their businesses! Allowing your true personality to show, and even guide your business, is one of the most effective ways to differentiate yourself, make real connections with your audience and achieve success. Today more than ever, consumers want to hear your story, know why your business is different and develop a meaningful relationship with the companies they do business with. Letting your personality shine is the best way to help them do just that.

Through strategic networking, approaching their business as a business and showcasing their authentic self rather than hiding it, women entrepreneurs can achieve success. And don’t forget – once you hit that level of success you’ve been striving for, pay it forward, and help another woman entrepreneur up the ladder, too.

About Shama Hyder

Shama Hyder is a visionary strategist for the digital age, a web and TV personality, a bestselling author, and the award-winning CEO of The Marketing Zen Group–a global online marketing and digital PR company. She has aptly been dubbed the “Zen Master of Marketing” by Entrepreneur Magazine and the “Millennial Master of the Universe” by FastCompany.com. Shama has also been honored at both the White House and The United Nations as one of the top 100 young entrepreneurs in the country. Shama has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the prestigious Technology Titan Emerging Company CEO award. She was named one of the “Top 25 Entrepreneurs under 25” by Business Week in 2009, one of the “Top 30 Under 30” Entrepreneurs in America in 2014 by Inc. Magazine, and to the Forbes “30 Under 30” list of movers and shakers for 2015.LinkedIn named Hyder one of its “Top Voices” in Marketing & Social Media. Her web show Shama TV was awarded the “Hermes Gold award for Educational Programming in Electronic Media” and most recently she was awarded the “Excellence in Social Media Entrepreneurship” award for 2016 by Anokhi Media.

Web: www.shamahyder.com or Twitter: @Shama.

Bank of America, N.A. engages with Shama Hyder to provide informational materials for your discussion or review purposes only. Shama Hyder is a registered trademark, used pursuant to license. The third parties within articles are used under license from Shama Hyder. Consult your financial, legal and accounting advisors, as neither Bank of America, its affiliates, nor their employees provide legal, accounting and tax advice.

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Rieva Lesonsky in General Business 1 week ago

8 Common Holiday Retail Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

The holiday shopping season is almost upon us, and for retailers, 2017 has the potential to be a very good year. Consumers plan to spend an average of $728.40 each on gifts and other holiday purchases, according to The International Council of Shopping Centers’ (ICSC) Holiday Shopping Intentions Survey, which projects a 3.8 percent increase in retail sales this holiday season. Deloitte forecasts e-commerce sales to rise by 18 to 21 percent over last holiday season. There’s no need for brick-and-mortar retailers to worry, though: The vast majority of sales still happen offline, and more than 90 percent of shoppers plan to visit a physical store this holiday season.

As you gear up for the holidays, plan for success by avoiding these common holiday preparation mistakes.

1. Waiting too long: Two-thirds of consumers plan to start shopping before Thanksgiving, according to the ICSC, and 27 percent started in August. That means your planning should already be underway, too.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ARTICLES FROM SMALL BUSINESS EXPERT RIEVA LESONSKY

2. Not hiring enough staff: Customers’ expectations for quick service are higher than ever before. Plus, competition for seasonal workers is stiff so it's important to make sure you’re adequately—and professionally—staffed. It's not too early to review scheduling and start hiring.

3. Selling old-fashioned paper gift certificates: Paper gift certificates give the impression your store is out of date. They also take more time to issue, since they have to be filled out by hand, and consumers are more likely to lose them or discard them by accident. Plastic gift cards are easy and affordable for even small retailers to offer, and are predicted to be the most popular holiday gift this season: ICSC says two-thirds of consumers plan to buy them. If you’re still offering paper gift certificates, moving to a plastic gift card program can really boost sales.

4. Not updating your website: A whopping 85 percent of shoppers plan to research online before buying a product in a brick-and-mortar store, according to the ICSC study. Prepare your store’s website with a holiday makeover, including holiday-themed images, gift ideas and special offers. Add as much information as you can about the products you sell. The more detail you provide, the better.

5. Not optimizing your website for local search: When consumers go online to find local stores, your business needs to show up in the search results. To do so, make sure your listings on local search directories are complete and consistent, with your name, address and phone number spelled exactly the same way in each place. Update your listings with information about holiday hours, holiday promotions and hot products. While you’re at it, make sure your essential business information—your store’s location, hours and phone number—are prominently displayed on your website’s homepage.

6. Not advertising online: Given that 85 percent of consumers start their holiday shopping online, according to the ICSC, investing in digital advertising should be a no-brainer. Create pay-per-click ads using keywords relevant to your store or to popular products you carry.

7. Getting careless with the bottom line: Yes, consumers are projected to spend more this holiday season than last season. However, with increasing competition from online, offline and multichannel options, retailers are also expected to offer plenty of promotions. Don’t try to compete with Walmart or Target on Black Friday deals: Carefully calculate the costs and benefits of any promotions you offer, and stay on top of your profit margins throughout the season.

8. Running out of inventory: Take advantage of your inventory management system’s features to project inventory needs based on last year’s sales and this years’ outlook. Stay on top of inventory on a daily basis so you don’t get caught short, or set alerts or automatic reorders when stock runs low.

Make no mistake: By following these tips, you’ll be well prepared to enjoy success and reap the benefits of the holiday season. Happy selling!

About Rieva Lesonsky

Web: www.growbizmedia.com or Twitter: @Rieva

America, its affiliates, nor their employees provide legal, accounting and tax advice.

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Steve Strauss in General Business 2 weeks ago

Top 4 Tips to Be Productive and Not Just Busy

Did you hear the one about the guy who went onto Facebook to launch a marketing campaign…and found himself watching funny cat videos three hours later? Guilty as charged! These days, it is easy for anyone to be very busy,...

Top 4 Tips to Be Productive and Not Just Busy

Did you hear the one about the guy who went onto Facebook to launch a marketing campaign…and found himself watching funny cat videos three hours later?

Guilty as charged!

These days, it is easy for anyone to be very busy, yet very not productive. Between the many ways to communicate (phone, text, email, IM) and work (online, offline, remotely) and all the potential available distractions (the Internet, mobile alerts, TV, life) it is a wonder we ever get anything done.

So yes, there is a fine line between being busy and being productive; the key is to understand the difference and aim for the latter. Here are a few quick tips to help you switch from keeping busy to staying productive:

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM SMALL BUSINESS EXPERT STEVE STRAUSS

1. Start the night with a to-do list: At the end of the day, think about the next day, and create a list of essential action items. And remember, having too long a to-do list is overwhelming and can also be disheartening. Instead, focus on what you really need to accomplish the next day. Doing this the night before has the effect of giving you some distance from the actual work and allows you to see what is truly important.

2. Make six lists: One of my go-to productivity pros is a lawyer friend who no longer practices and has instead ventured into sharing and selling marketing and productivity advice. His favorite productivity tip is to have not one to-do list, but six:

Ready: “This is an overview list of options to choose from, depending on how much time I have and my current context and priorities.”
To-do today: “First thing in the morning, or the night before, I go to my “Ready” list and choose 3 tasks for the day.”
Done: “As soon as I complete a task, I move it to this list. I used to delete done tasks; now I collect and review them to see my progress and learn when and how I work best.”
Backlog: “These are tasks and projects I plan to do but I’m not ready to start and probably won’t be for a week or two. When I am ready, I’ll move tasks from this list to the Ready list. I check this list weekly.”
Deferred: “I check this monthly. When I’m ready, I’ll move these to Backlog or Ready.”
Someday/maybe: “I don’t know if I will do these or not. They are more ideas than anything I’m committed to doing.”

3. Stop multitasking: In our hyper-busy society that values moving fast and always going, you’ve embraced multitasking. We all have. And that’s the problem. Have you ever considered breaking this golden rule?

You should.

Put down the iPhone and turn off the wireless. You will get a lot done.

More broadly, staying focused on a single task until it’s completed is one of the best things you can do for your productivity levels. Sure, multitasking will keep you busy all day, but it will not aid you in doing a quality job on a single task.

This is the essential difference between being busy and being productive.

4. Plan your long-term goals: Long-term goal setting is a major part of ensuring your current and future productivity. By actively focusing on what it is that you want – what you really want – you will be able to make more calculated and deliberate decisions as to how you use your time.

A great way to start focusing more on your long-term goals is to write them down. The truth is, a thought is just a thought, after all. The secret is to write down what you want your long-term results to be and work backwards. Reverse engineer a process for getting from here to there.

And then add that to your lists above.

Voila! Productivity.

About Steve Strauss

Web: www.theselfemployed.com or Twitter: @SteveStrauss

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Shama Hyder in General Business 3 weeks ago

Work-Life Balance Tips For Women Entrepreneurs

Have you found a way to balance running your business with your personal life? A recent survey’s results were telling: 78% of women entrepreneurs believe they’ve found a good work-life balance – as compared with 85% of men who...

Work-Life Balance Tips For Women Entrepreneurs

Some of the disparity undoubtedly stems from expectations about traditional gender roles, but beyond that, there are ways women business owners can narrow that gap and achieve a better work-life balance. Here are three of the most effective tips:

1. Weave both halves of your life together

So often, we hear advice telling us to separate our work and home lives – not to bring work home, or to confine work-related activities to a certain room of the house. But as entrepreneurs, that can be next to impossible. Running a business isn’t a 9-to-5 job, and if you’re passionate about what you do, you’re always thinking about it. In fact, for women entrepreneurs, 61% say they work more than 40 hours each week. Trying to create artificial boundaries between your work and your personal life can cause more frustration on both sides.

Instead, why not incorporate your personal life into your work life as fully as possible? Involve your partner or children in your day-to-day work. Enlist the help of friends and family when you’re hard at work solving a problem. If you hit a slump during the day, go take care of a few personal chores if you can, to free up time that evening to approach your work refreshed. Looking at your life as a whole with various parts interwoven evenly throughout, rather than trying to chop it equally in half, will make balance much more achievable.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM SMALL BUSINESS EXPERT SHAMA HYDER

2. Make ‘Me Time’ a priority

Whether you’re pulling an all-nighter to meet a tight deadline for a client or rushing around taking care of your family, stress hits entrepreneurs from all sides. That’s why it’s vital to disconnect and take some time for yourself every so often. Do something that takes you out of the daily grind – watch a movie or head to a spa, go hiking or spend a few hours volunteering at a pet shelter. Changing your surroundings and your focus for even a few hours will allow you to recharge and regain a sense of balance, so you can jump back into your day-to-day with new energy and enthusiasm.

3. Go with the flow

Ironically enough, accepting there won’t always be a balance between your work and home life can bring a sense of peace. From day to day and from week to week, there will be times when you have to be hyper-focused on your business, and times when you’ll need to be more present for your family and friends. That’s just the nature of life, and deciding to go with the flow and do what’s necessary in the moment, without guilt, will make for a much calmer, more balanced attitude toward your life.

Finding a good work-life balance can be tricky, but interestingly enough, it can be done most successfully in round-about ways like the above, rather than pursuing it head-on. Try these approaches and see what kind of a difference they make in the way you feel about your schedule.

About Shama Hyder

Web: www.shamahyder.com or Twitter: @Shama.

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