Tag: 40billion

So, you have a great business idea, and you’re lining up the resources to make it a reality. But if you don’t establish solid corporate and accounting strategies from the start, you could be putting your business in peril before you ever get off the ground.

Follow these four steps to get off on the proper financial foot…

1. Be thoughtful before organizing.

Understanding whether to operate as a sole proprietor, partnership, S Corporation, C Corporation or LLC has tax implications, and each offers different levels of liability protection for companies. Read more…

As a small business or independent retailer, what do you do when a major chain, big-box store or national franchise becomes your neighbor and direct competitor? All along you’ve been specializing in items that aren’t in the mainstream but sell well, and then some big chain – like Walmart or Amazon, for example – decides they’re going to hone in on your action.

When this happens, what can you as a boutique or specialty retailer do to remain in business and retain your dominance in any niche market?

Your first reaction might be to lower prices in order to compete with the big stores. Read more…

Word of Mouth Marketing (WOMM) has always been a powerful way to influence business results and grow sales.

Why should Marketers care about WOMM?

If you could master what has been identified as the most valuable form of marketing – the one that consumers trust above all others and the one that is most likely to drive sales for your company – would you instead choose to ignore it or leave it to chance?

Why would you simply choose to sit back and hope conversations will just happen organically about your brand? If you want to win the marketing race, you need to unleash the power of word of mouth. Read more…

Are you contemplating the leap from your 9-to-5 job to launching your own startup? Making that transition is no small feat, and the risks involved are significant. As someone who has faced this challenge firsthand, I understand how daunting the journey can be.

In today’s unpredictable climate, stepping away from the stability of a regular paycheck, job security, and benefits for the uncertainty of a new venture may seem overwhelming. However, risk is an inherent part of entrepreneurship. Read more…

Reuse, reduce, recycle doesn’t just apply to trash, aluminum cans, and plastic water bottles any more. You can recycle and repurpose your inbound or influencer marketing content to increase its value to your overall campaign. Think of it like a neighborhood recycling program… You’re preventing waste and reducing expenses, while putting resources back into the community — or, in this case, your companies or businesses.

So, how do you do this? Here are 6 ways to get started:

1. Read more…

Many people accept that a seasonal slowdown in sales is a fact of business life. Well, nothing could be further from the truth, and as a business owner you need to get out of that mindset.

A slowdown may be something many people want because they expect this to be a season for vacations. But you don’t have to accept that. When others go to sleep, you need to wake up.

If you follow these tips, you can create opportunity for your small business while others are off to the beach or quarantined.

1. Read more…

What is content marketing? Content marketing is a method of providing information of value that convinces an audience you are a trusted expert on your topic of mutual interest, and puts you top-of-mind when it is time they make a purchase decision. The model fits every industry you can think of, including yours.

Content marketing helps in generating more leads, sales, and business. It also helps improve conversions and effectively establish your brand.

Maybe these stats will help convince you.

. 80% of American Internet users interact with blogs and social media.
. 70% of people would rather learn about a company through articles than through ads. . 90% of consumers find custom content useful.
. 62% less costly than traditional marketing.

But, you need a good strategy. Read more…

Are you flushing your money and time down the toilet? Not long after you start a business on your own, you soon realize that you need to get smarter about managing time. If you feel overwhelmed, you may need to rethink how you use your time, which is an entrepreneur’s most valuable – and scarce – resource.

Stop wasting your time by doing these 6 things, and you’ll become more productive and more successful as your business grows:

1. Read more…

How do smart entrepreneurs ensure their businesses stay profitable? They do the simple things right. Simple things like finding cheap ways to get exposure, or acting on their customers’ complaints, or networking in the right places (even while social distancing). But don’t just think outside the box, get rid of the box! Be creative. Use guerrilla tactics. And if that doesn’t work, sometimes it just doesn’t hurt to ask questions. The truth is, your success is going to be dependent upon how much work you’re willing to put in and how good you are at telling your story.

Here’s a recipe for marketing on a shoestring budget. Read more…

It’s easy for new entrepreneurs and even seasoned business owners to be frazzled and to panic when mistakes happen. As your business grows and employees and partners are stretched thin, the risk of mistakes, errors and accidents increases. Mistakes happen, but they can destroy your brand’s reputation – whether your company has made a billing error, sent an embarrassing email with leaked confidential information, or recalled a bad product.

When mistakes happen, what should you do? Here are 3 suggestions for how to deal with unexpected disasters and keep them from destroying your company:

1) Act quickly and fix it. Read more…

**Take this article with you! Download the audio version, narrated by me, and listen on-the-go wherever you are.**

Every entrepreneur dreams of their startup soaring to new heights, but the path to success is often riddled with unexpected challenges. One of the most daunting hurdles you might face in the early years is securing additional funding. Funding shortfalls – difficulty in obtaining the necessary capital to support growth or even day-to-day operations – can lead to cash flow issues, stunted growth, or even failure. Read more…

Video is rapidly growing and quickly becoming an important component of marketing strategies. If you have not yet incorporated video marketing then you are simply behind the curve. Not only that, but you are losing out on the various benefits that having a video strategy provides.

Importance of Video:

The reason video is such a powerful medium lies within its ability to engage, educate, and influence potential and existing customers. It’s a quick way to show brand personality and spread your company’s message in a compelling way. Read more…

**Take this article with you! Download the audio version, narrated by me, and listen on-the-go wherever you are.**

Starting and running a startup is often depicted as a thrilling journey of innovation and growth. But behind the excitement, there are challenges that can test your resilience and adaptability. One such unforeseen circumstance is the impact of major health problems or personal crises among key team members. Read more…

This post on how to raise money successfully using simple crowdfunding steps answers common questions for startup entrepreneurs and small businesses thinking about using crowdfunding to raise funding.

I have been in the crowdfunding space since 2008, after experiencing first-hand one of the biggest problems plaguing new businesses: There was a $40 billion gap in funding every year! That year, I founded one of the first crowdfunding platforms for U.S. Read more…

Why do startup entrepreneurs have a difficult time finding and recruiting good employees? Are they overwhelmed by LinkedIn job applications? Or, is AI taking all the tech jobs? Hiring the right people is a difficult task for many companies, even well-established businesses. The main difference is that startup entrepreneurs are often unable to retain the employees that they hire, and there are several reasons for that. However, these 3 tips will help you hire and retain better employees for your new business:

1) Hire the right skillsets. Read more…

Whether you’re a startup or established entrepreneur looking to grow, you’ll probably have to deal with common mental challenges along the way to success.

NEGATIVE THINKING

Slumps happen in business and life. Start asking positive questions when you find yourself thinking: “I’m not good enough. I can’t do this. Nothing is going right.” Try: “What’s good about this situation? What tools and resources do I need to move in the direction I want to go?”

Asking yourself better questions can help you move forward. Read more…

Dipping into your archive and giving a fresh take on quality pieces is a great way to extend your ROI, but it’s not effective to take the existing newsletter content and paste it into a blog post – it’s lazy.

Repurposing content means taking some of the same raw materials – research, original interviews, relevant theories, graphics or formatting designs – and reworking them to create new value. The enhancements should be tailored to the new format, intended platform and anticipated audience. Read more…

With the tough economic climate, crowdfunding has become a popular and alternative method of raising finance for a business, projects or ideas. Crowdfunding platforms are convenient, simple to use and reach a wide audience of investors at a low cost.

Crowdfunding can be defined as a collective cooperation of people who network and pool their money and resources together, usually via the Internet, to support efforts initiated by other organizations. Read more…

Are you sick and tired of the same old content marketing tricks that just don’t seem to increase your traffic?

Today’s audiences are tired of the same old stuff, so the time is right to be innovative, take a few risks, and implement some all-new tactics into your strategy.

If you’re risk averse, never fear – while these tips may be unusual, they’ve been proven:

1. Expert Content
Content from experts – like news coverage or a thought leader endorsement – really works.

2. Read more…

Are you a frustrated entrepreneur or business owner looking to increase your customers or clients? How do you build a trusting relationship with your customers? Here is a proven strategy to build and maintain trust in your business, and in turn attract both customers and profits.

There are many different sources of trust, and sometimes people trust for the wrong reasons. By understanding how people actually come to trust, you will be able to earn maximum trust.

People have an underlying anxiety about and distrust of nearly everything these days, especially when it comes to all things foreign. Read more…

**Take this article with you! Download the audio version, narrated by me, and listen on-the-go wherever you are.**

In today’s fast-paced tech landscape, technological obsolescence is a critical concern for startups. Rapid advancements in technology can render your product or service outdated, leaving you scrambling to stay relevant. This guide will walk you through understanding, preparing for, and mitigating the impact of technological obsolescence, ensuring that your startup remains competitive and resilient.

Understanding Technological Obsolescence

1. Read more…

Every business owner knows how to wear a lot of hats. When first striking out on your own, you have a hand in finances, social media marketing, product design, and everything in-between. But as companies grow, they need empowered employees to feel that same sense of independence.

Autonomy is one of our fundamental human needs – an essential component of a healthy workplace – our need to be driven by personal interest and enjoyment.

Employees that feel empowered are happier, more motivated, more committed to their jobs, and less stressed. Read more…

**Take this article with you! Download the audio version, narrated by me, and listen on-the-go wherever you are.**

In the fast-paced world of startups, where every day is a new challenge and opportunity, infrastructure failures can be particularly devastating. Critical failures in your physical or digital infrastructure – whether it’s a data center outage or office space issues – can disrupt your operations, impact customer satisfaction, and jeopardize your business continuity. Read more…

Welcome to the 40billion.com startup guide to funding your business. This simple guide is for new entrepreneurs and individuals who believe that they have a great business idea and are considering going into business for themselves. This startup guide provides valuable information for funding your business through friends, family, crowdfunding, angels, banks, and venture capital.

First thing you need to know is that you are not alone. The shift from large companies to smaller companies is a trend that has been underway for many years, and the shift is due to many factors, including large company layoffs, veterans returning to the work force, people looking for a second income, and those just excited to provide a product or service that fills a need in the market. Read more…

**Take this article with you! Download the audio version, narrated by me, and listen on-the-go wherever you are.**

Navigating the startup world is like riding a rollercoaster; full of ups, downs, and unexpected twists. One of the most challenging unforeseen circumstances that can affect your startup’s success is rapid shifts in consumer preferences. Just when you think you’ve nailed your target market, trends can change, and consumer desires can evolve, making your product or service seem less relevant. Read more…

Social media-a requirement for inbound marketing success-holds real influence that continues to rise. A captivating social media presence is essential in the current business environment. Neglect social media, and your business will suffer. You will not be able to optimize your content marketing, website traffic, or lead generation and conversion without social media best practices.

Provide Real Value

Winning social media marketing requires active listening and genuine participation. Read more…

1. Everyone hates status meetings.

2. When it’s eerily quiet on the line, you know the other callers are talking shit on mute.

3. And as soon as you get off the phone, you do this so you can chat about all the stupid stuff said on the call.

4. You see these buzzwords in emails almost every day.

5. Meeting invites are the bane of your existence.

6. Eating lunch at your desk is an everyday occurrence.

7. Clients always want the logo to be BIGGER.

8. Read more…

For most entrepreneurs and business managers, knowing how to communicate clearly and effectively is critical in leading growing companies and selling your new business ideas. But the words you speak and hear are only a small part of getting your message across to your employees, customers and investors. It is the way you speak and listen that makes all the difference in the world.

Consider these 11 steps for communicating and pitching more effectively as a business owner:

Step 1: Relax like you’re on social media. Read more…

As a business owner, startup entrepreneur, or marketing manager, how do you reach potential customers during these abnormal times? Are you willing to pay so your posts reach more eyes? Perhaps you should be.

One of the newest 40Billion features, called Promoted Posts, allows businesses to pay from $20 to $999 so that more visitors and contacts see their posts on computers and mobile devices for up to one year.

Using a regular whiteboard post on 40Billion.com can be effective for ramping up engagement, but with Promoted Posts, 40Billion is taking the idea one step further.

The problem is that many regular posts go unseen, and only a small percentage of a user’s contacts see a given post; though it varies depending on how engaged your contacts are. Read more…

**Take this article with you! Download the audio version, narrated by me, and listen on-the-go wherever you are.**

Data breaches are a daunting reality for businesses of all sizes, but for startups, they can be especially devastating. A data breach can compromise customer information, lead to legal liabilities, erode trust, and result in significant financial penalties. Read more…

In case you haven’t noticed already, the hashtag (#) has taken over social media.

With sites like Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn all using this hashtag format to organize content, it should be clear that this once forgotten character on the keyboard has finally made the big time.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of people out there who just don’t seem to understand the new trend. Read more…

As the world grows increasingly accustomed to staying connected digitally while social distancing, nearly all of the more traditional marketing methods have become irrelevant. Let’s take a look at what digital marketing is, and how you can harness its power to achieve success for your marketing campaign.

What is Digital Marketing?

Digital marketing is the total opposite of outbound marketing. Read more…

Everyone is busy in creating their own content marketing strategies. Companies have sensed the importance of this form of digital marketing and have been trying their best to create high quality content.

Here are 7 important steps in content marketing that every blog or website should include. It is a true assumption that the content promotion strategies very much depend on the nature of the business, but the following points can be applied to any kind of content.

1. Read more…

**Take this article with you! Download the audio version, narrated by me, and listen on-the-go wherever you are.**

Entering a new market is always a gamble, but what happens when that market becomes saturated almost overnight? For startups, this can be a daunting challenge that threatens survival and success. Market saturation – when a market becomes filled with similar products or services – can lead to decreased demand, heightened competition, and shrinking profit margins. Read more…

**Take this article with you! Download the audio version, narrated by me, and listen on-the-go wherever you are.**

Innovation is often touted as the lifeblood of successful startups. In today’s fast-paced market, staying ahead of technological advancements and industry trends isn’t just a competitive edge; it’s a necessity for survival. When startups fail to innovate, they risk becoming obsolete and losing their competitive advantage. Read more…

Are you flushing your money and time down the toilet? Not long after you start a business on your own, you soon realize that you need to get smarter about managing time. If you feel overwhelmed, you may need to rethink how you use your time, which is an entrepreneur’s most valuable – and scarce – resource.

Stop wasting your time by doing these 6 things, and you’ll become more productive and more successful as your business grows:

1. Read more…

**Take this article with you! Download the audio version, narrated by me, and listen on-the-go wherever you are.**

Scaling a startup is an exciting milestone; it signifies that your business is growing and has the potential to reach new heights. However, this phase also brings its own set of challenges. Scaling efficiently requires careful planning and the ability to navigate various obstacles, including technology limitations, logistical issues, and resource constraints. Read more…

Retargeting Ads. You’ve seen them. But, do you know what they are and how they benefit your business?

Unfamiliar with the difference between retargeting and remarketing? They’re the same thing. Google uses the term “remarketing” while Facebook tends to use the term “retargeting”.

Smart marketers and business owners use Ad Retargeting to:

. Bring back landing page visitors who don’t convert

. Re-engage with abandoned shopping cart prospects

. Upsell products to highly targeted, interested customers

. Increase brand awareness.

A highly optimized, targeted, conversion-centric landing page averages an 8-10% conversion rate. Read more…

Are you stressed out at work or starting a business? Do you feel like you’re reaching a breaking point? Are you having a hard time juggling business and family demands? It happens to many of us. The anxiety, negative thoughts, perspiration, and despair caused by stress are normal, but you should not let them prevent you from succeeding and being your best you.

To cope with the stress and stay focused, you’ll need to incorporate a stress relief routine in your workday. Read more…

This topic may be controversial, but it’s a dilemma all high-performing managers grapple with: You want your employees to perform at their best, but there’s a fine line between being a tough manager with high expectations and being an unreasonable a**hole. Here are 4 tips to ensure that you’re on the right side of the line and don’t lose your best workers:

1) Give your employees a reason to give a crap.

It can be tough if you’re providing a commodity product or service versus curing cancer, but everyone is in business to serve a need, so make sure your employees understand that. Read more…

Marketing strategies and tactics can be very different, depending on your industry, size or location. But there are five fundamentals your marketing must accomplish, no matter what type or size of business you run, and no matter where it is.

If your marketing is not accomplishing one or more of these five marketing musts, it might not be bringing your small business the new customers, brand advocates and followers you need to build a strong organization. Read more…

Google and other search engines love big brand names — and for good reason. But that doesn’t mean smaller companies don’t stand a chance when it comes to search engine optimization (SEO).

With regard to natural search results, the better the results Google can deliver, the more people will use its service. To provide the best possible results, Google tries to identify website elements that provide quantifiable proof that users find a given site valuable, as well as to refine its ranking algorithms to ensure that these factors are prioritized. Read more…

Retargeting Ads. You’ve seen them. But, do you know what they are and how they benefit your business?

Unfamiliar with the difference between retargeting and remarketing? They’re the same thing. Google uses the term “remarketing” while Facebook tends to use the term “retargeting”.

Smart marketers and business owners use Ad Retargeting to:

. Bring back landing page visitors who don’t convert

. Re-engage with abandoned shopping cart prospects

. Upsell products to highly targeted, interested customers

. Increase brand awareness.

A highly optimized, targeted, conversion-centric landing page averages an 8-10% conversion rate. Read more…

Many experts agree that influencer marketing as a marketing strategy is surging right now. Why? The largest reason is social proof.

According to research firm Yankelovich, Americans are exposed to 5,000 advertisements a day. Overwhelmed consumers are now experiencing “banner blindness” as they mentally tune these ads out. With many consumers using ad blockers, more and more brands are moving away from targeted ads and moving toward paying these influencers to represent their brands.

Though now is a great time to experiment with influencer marketing, it’s important to consider the following 4 factors to make sure you maximize the return on your marketing dollars:

1. Read more…

Unintentional gaffes and mistakes on social networking sites can happen to the best of us. There are some very good lessons business owners can glean from common social media mistakes and apply to their own marketing efforts. Here are 3 of those lessons and tips:

1) Make it known to employees that social media is not just for fun.

That’s not to say no one can have fun with social media. But owners and their employees should be aware that what they socialize is a reflection on your brand. Read more…

**Take this article with you! Download the audio version, narrated by me, and listen on-the-go wherever you are.**

Starting a business is an exhilarating journey filled with opportunities and challenges. While having a brilliant idea and a passionate team are crucial, effective financial management is the backbone that supports and sustains your startup. Poor financial management – whether it’s overspending, poor budgeting, or inadequate financial controls – can be a silent killer of startups, leading to cash flow problems, missed growth opportunities, and, ultimately, failure.

In this guide, we’ll explore the common pitfalls of financial mismanagement and offer practical strategies to navigate these challenges. Read more…

What keeps you up at night? Is it thinking about the past, the present, or the future? For me, it’s the future, fueled by my passion for what I do. Sometimes, this enthusiasm makes it hard to switch off at night. Believe it or not, this article was born from those restless nights when I couldn’t sleep and found myself scribbling thoughts and ideas next to my bed. I’ve gathered those late-night scribbles into this 5th edition of my newsletter, and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed putting it together…

In the rapidly evolving landscape of digital product management, staying ahead of the curve requires a blend of strategic foresight, operational excellence, and innovative thinking. Read more…

If at least a third of your receivables are 60 or more days delinquent, you’re not alone. In fact, you’re one of 40 percent of small businesses in that predicament – and your invoices may be partially to blame.

Before you issue your next invoice, be sure all of these parts are complete…

1. Seller info:

The source of the invoice should be clear and include your company’s name, address and telephone number. The latter is important so the customer can immediately call with questions about the bill. Read more…

Do you follow any business or product brands on social media? Are you glad you do? If that’s the case, they are probably doing at least one of three things to get your attention:

. Connecting with one of your passions and/or interests.
. Entertaining you with their engaging personality.
. Providing interesting and/or important information to you.

If you’re a small business owner, you may want to consider which of these three strategies you’re following. Read more…

Marketing is the life force of any startup; without it, the company will not succeed.

Here is a list of the top ten expert marketing tricks to help breathe life into your business:

SOCIAL MEDIA

1. Boost your posts. Give your social media content a boost. Businesses are finding it more and more difficult to get their message heard. So, give your content a paid boost via social media marketing. Read more…

**Take this article with you! Download the audio version, narrated by me, and listen on-the-go wherever you are.**

Navigating the world of legal compliance can be one of the trickiest parts of running a startup. The excitement of building your business can sometimes overshadow the importance of adhering to industry regulations and managing contracts properly. Yet, facing unexpected legal challenges due to non-compliance or mishandling of contracts can jeopardize your startup’s future.

In this guide, we’ll explore common legal compliance issues startups face and provide actionable strategies to help you avoid and address these pitfalls. Read more…

1. Everyone hates status meetings.

2. When it’s eerily quiet on the line, you know the other callers are talking shit on mute.

3. And as soon as you get off the phone, you do this so you can chat about all the stupid stuff said on the call.

4. You see these buzzwords in emails almost every day.

5. Meeting invites are the bane of your existence.

6. Eating lunch at your desk is an everyday occurrence.

7. Clients always want the logo to be BIGGER.

8. Read more…

Figuring out how to use mobile ads for a startup or small business isn’t exactly easy. Most entrepreneurs have struggled with online advertising, period. And adding mobile to the mix can seem confusing and expensive. But with so many people on their phones 24/7, neglecting to explore this new territory is a mistake.

Here are 10 tips for better mobile ad results:

1. Use In-Ad Engagement to Lower CPAs.

There is a rule in mobile that every additional click required loses half your audience. Read more…

Small businesses are especially vulnerable to hacking because they usually lack the technology expertise and site security that larger companies have. They also suffer more if their lack of expertise slows repairs and their ability to get back to work. Business owners can lose significant online traffic and sales if their site lands on blacklists operated by Google and other search engines.

Hackers are constantly breaking into innocent websites and using them to infect visitors with malware, lure them to dishonest sites and infiltrate databases to grab sensitive customer information. Read more…

Are you contemplating the leap from your 9-to-5 job to launching your own startup? Making that transition is no small feat, and the risks involved are significant. As someone who has faced this challenge firsthand, I understand how daunting the journey can be.

In today’s unpredictable climate, stepping away from the stability of a regular paycheck, job security, and benefits for the uncertainty of a new venture may seem overwhelming. However, risk is an inherent part of entrepreneurship. Read more…

In addition to the money provided by backers, crowdfunding can generate other, unanticipated benefits for small businesses. Two such benefits are 1) new customers and supporters, and 2) access to additional financing and specialized services.

New Customers and Supporters:

Everyone who contributes to a crowdfunding campaign is a potential new customer and loyal advocate for your brand. Not only are they likely to purchase from you in the future, they also are a source of great feedback.

You get amazing feedback by putting yourself out there. Read more…

Some define a business plan as a formal document that takes a long time to create and isn’t flexible, doesn’t get reviewed and doesn’t get revised. Then they say a business plan isn’t useful.

That’s sort of like saying getting regular exercise isn’t good for you because some people overdo it and end up with joint damage.

It would be better to advocate a type of business planning that could be called lean business planning. That would mean starting small with a business plan presentation template that summarizes the current strategy, metrics, milestones, tasks and basic responsibilities. Read more…

Have you heard the term “relationship marketing” being tossed around recently? Relationship marketing refers to everything you do to develop strong, lifelong relationships with your customers. From influencer programs to social media marketing to referral campaigns to affiliate marketing, relationship marketing builds brand awareness and positions your brand as your customers’ best option. Read more…

What do you think in reality Twitter is? It has long been one of the most important social media platforms available on the internet. But what do you feel is the true use of this wonderful website? Over the years, websites, such as Twitter and others are becoming more and more popular. It offers immense potential for businesses to connect to a large number of their target audience.

Easy to Reach Out to the Target Audience

Reaching out to one’s target audience was a difficult task even a few years back. Read more…

When was the last time you took a vacation? For many young startup entrepreneurs, the answer is probably “I can’t remember,” or “I don’t have time for vacation.” But you just might want to rethink your aversion to time off. To run a successful companies, you’ll need to be there, of course. But you’ll often need to also take time to clear your head or even distance yourself from the business in order to think about how to grow more effectively. Read more…

Does your business experience uncertain revenues during summer months or other seasonal or even unexpected slowdowns? If so, you may be looking for new marketing ideas to grow your business. Here are 4 ways you can give in order to get more customers and sales this summer.

For seasonal companies that thrive during summer months, marketing might be a cinch. Read more…

This post on how to raise money successfully using simple crowdfunding steps answers common questions for startup entrepreneurs and small businesses thinking about using crowdfunding to raise funding.

I have been in the crowdfunding space since 2008, after experiencing first-hand one of the biggest problems plaguing new businesses: There was a $40 billion gap in funding every year! That year, I founded one of the first crowdfunding platforms for U.S. Read more…

Unless you’re an accountant, the word accounting probably strikes fear in your heart, or a little bit of nervousness, at least. For aspiring entrepreneurs, the feeling is probably amplified. After all, poor bookkeeping from the start not only can set a project back in the short term, it can really come back to bite you over the long haul. Even entrepreneurs get audited, you know.

That said, it is possible to avoid the anger of the IRS. Here are four accounting tips for starting a business by:

1) Start off on the right foot. Read more…

**Take this article with you! Download the audio version, narrated by me, and listen on-the-go wherever you are.**

Launching a startup is like setting out on an exciting adventure; full of potential but fraught with challenges. One of the most critical hurdles you might face is creating and executing an effective marketing strategy. If your marketing efforts are failing to connect with your target audience, you’re not alone. Read more…

The marketing manager is a critical component of any company’s success. They’re the ones responsible for using creative, cunning, and savvy interpersonal skills to make the company’s product or service known. A company might sell a groundbreaking, innovating product, but it won’t matter much if no one knows about it.

Marketing directors can take a business struggling to make ends meet and jump-start its growth. However, marketing isn’t for everybody, and it requires a unique set of abilities and experience. Read more…

How can you maximize the benefits of attending professional networking events as an entrepreneur or business owner?

1. HAVE AN AGENDA.

Not all networking events are created equal. It behooves you to research the best of the bunch in your area and decide which might be best for your overall start-up goals.

What is your objective for the event? Are you looking to find a cofounder? Are you looking to meet investors? Are you simply looking to get more educated or inspired? Asking yourself simple questions like these before selecting a networking event can help refine your search – and, in turn, get more out of your selections.

2. Read more…

Keeping the doors of your small business open can depend upon your ability to market to potential clients. Email marketing has been a cornerstone strategy throughout the technological era. Prior to this, companies were limited to direct mail for advertising. Using the postal service could cost a small fortune and your materials might end up in the trash as junk mail. On top of that, a 2% response to a direct mailing was considered excellent. Read more…

It seems like a catchy idea is all an aspiring entrepreneur needs these days in order to raise money on crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and GoFundMe. Do crowds gravitate toward funding bad ideas? Or can crowds make rational funding decisions and, better yet, exceed venture capital investors and banks in identifying promising projects?

The crowd is often thought of as being a group of fools, but it turns out the crowd does consider the quality of projects and outcomes pretty well. Read more…

Let’s face it, Facebook and marketing work pretty well. Are you getting so tired of reading article after article of people writing about how marketing on Facebook is a waste of time? Whether you are a B2C or B2B company it doesn’t matter. If you are not getting results from Facebook you need to change your strategy plain and simple. While it does take a bit of time, effort and budget there is no doubt Facebook is effective and should be at or near the top of your company’s digital marketing plan.

Below are 4 top tips for creating a successful Facebook page:

1. Read more…

Whether you’re the owner of one small business or multiple companies looking to increase your clientele, here are some tips on how to build a trusting relationship with your client.

Tip #1: Be Upfront

How do you put your client at ease the first time you go to his home as a total stranger? It all starts with communication. You always call first. And then as soon as you get there, you jump right out of the car and knock on the front door. Read more…

Do you speak marketing jargon and sales gibberish? Online attention spans are short and competition intense these days, so clear language is essential to make your social media marketing perform and incite interest in your business.

As in all relationships, people connect with straightforward and honest communications. These 4 tips will help you create effective marketing descriptions to build your reputation and business:

1) Clarify your thoughts. Read more…

**Take this article with you! Download the audio version, narrated by me, and listen on-the-go wherever you are.**

Starting a business is a courageous venture filled with dreams, risks, and the promise of innovation. Yet, even with a solid business plan and a great product, unforeseen challenges can arise, and one of the most daunting is an economic downturn. Economic recessions can significantly impact consumer spending, investor confidence, and overall market conditions, making it harder for startups to sustain and grow.

In this guide, we’ll delve into how economic downturns can affect your startup and offer practical strategies to navigate these challenges. Read more…

Every firm has something that it calls a market strategy. Unfortunately, many market strategies are ineffective and almost guarantee failure.

Market strategies that really work always have the following characteristics:

1. They are strategic rather than tactical.

This sounds simple, but it’s a point that many people find confusing. Strategies define goals to be achieved while tactics define the actions you’ll take to achieve those goals. Read more…

Did you know that brand ambassadors are better advertisers — better than even the most strategically marketed advertising plans specifically made for your business by agencies? Brand ambassadors are more likely to be seen as a good or authentic source of information by people around them.

In fact, when you think about the fact that most consumer purchases include word-of-mouth recommendation during the whole buying phase, businesses would realize that brand advocacy is a necessity and would even be the best investment to get into because of its very promising return on investment.

The question is how does a business turn their customers into brand ambassadors?

This is common sense but a brand advocate has a voice on both sides – the product/service and the consumer. Read more…

Looking for marketing, advertising, promotion, and outreach options? One of the best channels for bootstrapped entrepreneurs is digital marketing. Here’s how to do online marketing right.

One of the hardest roads traveled is that of the bootstrapped entrepreneur. When you’re first starting out, you need to figure out a way to market your company on a shoestring budget. This generally means that you need to focus your efforts towards time-intensive activities that do not require much cash. Read more…

Do you speak marketing jargon and sales gibberish? Online attention spans are short and competition intense these days, so clear language is essential to make your social media marketing perform and incite interest in your business.

As in all relationships, people connect with straightforward and honest communications. These 4 tips will help you create effective marketing descriptions to build your reputation and business:

1) Clarify your thoughts. Read more…

As business leaders and athletic coaches know, you need more than exceptional talent to succeed. To create a winning team, entrepreneurs can learn from great athletes who came together to reach their full potential.

Here are 5 tips from their experience that will help you create a winning team for your startup:

1) Rally your team around a shared vision.

In a business, your employees don’t start with a shared vision, so make sure everyone is clear about the end goal and why it matters. Read more…

Location-based mobile marketing promises the sky: high conversion rates, surgical targeting, and rich consumer profiles.

But does it deliver? According to many accounts, it does.
Not surprisingly, retailers, brands, and agencies are scrambling to hone their location-based approaches. These encompass everything from “geo-aware” and “geo-fenced” ad campaigns, to hyper-local efforts keyed to Wi-Fi hotspots, and algorithmic location-based targeting of audience segments like soccer moms, bargain hunters, coffee enthusiasts, etc.

In a report from BI Intelligence on location-mobile marketing, key stats on the location-based services marketplace that indicate it’s supremacy in mobile marketing, explain how the most important techniques (such as geo-aware, geo-fenced, audience-based local-mobile campaigns) work, examine the cornerstones – such as data and audience building – to a successful location-based mobile strategy, look at who has the valuable location-based data, and analyze the six most effective local-mobile marketing tactics. Read more…

**Take this article with you! Download the audio version, narrated by me, and listen on-the-go wherever you are.**

Innovation is often touted as the lifeblood of successful startups. In today’s fast-paced market, staying ahead of technological advancements and industry trends isn’t just a competitive edge; it’s a necessity for survival. When startups fail to innovate, they risk becoming obsolete and losing their competitive advantage. Read more…

Does your business experience uncertain revenues during summer months or other seasonal or even unexpected slowdowns? If so, you may be looking for new marketing ideas to grow your business. Here are 4 ways you can give in order to get more customers and sales this summer.

For seasonal companies that thrive during summer months, marketing might be a cinch. Read more…

Influencer marketing has become a primary choice for companies and brands that want to increase exposure and get connected with a larger audience of potential customers.

But, what comes into question is the way brands tackle their influencer campaigns. It’s not uncommon for brands to adopt a non-focused, one-size-fits-all strategy to their influencer marketing; however, this brings varied, and often less-than-ideal results because there is no focus on key performance indicators.

You need a clear strategy to get the most out of your campaigns. Read more…

After you’ve surrounded yourself with the best talent you can find, creating an environment that stifles open communication can render that investment useless for companies.

Perhaps your employees are afraid to give you honest answers about your business or feel like they need to agree with every idea you have, even the obviously bad ideas. If that’s the case, your business could be suffering because you’re not getting the value of their expertise, creativity, and insight. Read more…

Are you a startup superstar, an aspiring entrepreneur starting a new business, or a busy manager of an existing business? These easy business startup guides are designed as a shortcut to help you get started and get ahead quickly…. read more

Many experts agree that influencer marketing as a marketing strategy is surging right now. Why? The largest reason is social proof.

According to research firm Yankelovich, Americans are exposed to 5,000 advertisements a day. Overwhelmed consumers are now experiencing “banner blindness” as they mentally tune these ads out. With many consumers using ad blockers, more and more brands are moving away from targeted ads and moving toward paying these influencers to represent their brands.

Though now is a great time to experiment with influencer marketing, it’s important to consider the following 4 factors to make sure you maximize the return on your marketing dollars:

1. Read more…

Welcome to the 40billion.com startup guide to funding your business. This simple guide is for new entrepreneurs and individuals who believe that they have a great business idea and are considering going into business for themselves. This startup guide provides valuable information for funding your business through friends, family, crowdfunding, angels, banks, and venture capital.

First thing you need to know is that you are not alone. The shift from large companies to smaller companies is a trend that has been underway for many years, and the shift is due to many factors, including large company layoffs, veterans returning to the work force, people looking for a second income, and those just excited to provide a product or service that fills a need in the market. Read more…

So, you have a great business idea, and you’re lining up the resources to make it a reality. But if you don’t establish solid corporate and accounting strategies from the start, you could be putting your business in peril before you ever get off the ground.

Follow these four steps to get off on the proper financial foot…

1. Be thoughtful before organizing.

Understanding whether to operate as a sole proprietor, partnership, S Corporation, C Corporation or LLC has tax implications, and each offers different levels of liability protection for companies. Read more…

Are you a startup superstar, an aspiring entrepreneur starting a new business, or a busy manager of an existing business? These easy business startup guides are designed as a shortcut to help you get started and get ahead quickly…. read more

Want an easier way to spread the word and increase sales? Imagine the thrill of seeing your business thrive with new customers who are eager for what you offer. Let us help you turn that vision into reality. Join over 170,000 companies already being promoted on 40Billion.

Learn how to grow your business in just a few easy steps. Read more…

Marketing videos are virtually essential to growing any business these days, and there are many benefits to having videos on your landing pages. For example, videos are an easy type of content for your potential leads to consume and retain, plus most people actually want a video to explain the business, product or service to them.

It’s important to note that videos are not the only thing you need to focus on when it comes to creating an optimized landing page that converts. Read more…

Every firm has something that it calls a market strategy. Unfortunately, many market strategies are ineffective and almost guarantee failure.

Market strategies that really work always have the following characteristics:

1. They are strategic rather than tactical.

This sounds simple, but it’s a point that many people find confusing. Read more…