It’s hard to get customers through the door of your store if they don’t know you’re open for business. One easy way to let people know your doors are open to them is to hang a sign in the window. And if you’re looking for something more than a simple piece of plastic you flip over at the beginning and end of your day, you’re in luck. Modern LED lighting technology opened a whole new world of open sign technology for businesses. Today’s signs are often fully customizable and come in all different shapes and colors. And they’re simple to operate, too. Many allow you to control them from your smartphone. Take a look at our top picks for open … [Read More...]

To make the most of the tools and platforms your business uses, you may need to change your thinking. You can look at things in new ways or find new uses for tools you already use. Here are tips from the online small business community to help you get more value out of everything. Drive Local Foot Traffic With Twitter Ads Twitter isn’t just for promoting online offerings. Local businesses can use the tool to drive foot traffic. Small Business Trends is pleased to share this Social Media Examiner post by our Executive Editor Shawn Hessinger. Check it out for tips on using Twitter to drive local foot traffic. Learn How the Twitter Algorithm Changes Twitter and other social sites are constantly updating their algorithms. And… [Read More...]

We are far from the days when banking tasks meant driving to a branch, waiting in long lines, filling out deposit or withdrawal forms, and conducting business face-to-face. Now, thanks to online business banking, you can manage all your small business needs quickly and easily through your computer or mobile device. Digital banking has completely revolutionized the industry by offering the convenience, mobility, and flexibility that small businesses expect. The question is whether switching to an online bank, for some or all of your banking needs, is right for your business. Here’s what you need to know about banking online for business. What Is Online Business Banking? Online business banking gives you the ability to manage your business account over the internet using a… [Read More...]

Branding experts and marketers stress the important of having a unique business name. A business name is the foundation for advertising to get new customers. What Should I Name My Business? Choose a business name that will connect with your brand and of course make sure the name is available. Short and simple is best for business name ideas. How Do I Name My Small Business? Consider your target audience when choosing a business name. It should be used as a domain name and in an email address too. Brainstorming with employees is a good way to get name ideas for your business. Using dictionary words can get you started and make sure you pick the right business name or brand names. What Are Some Business Name… [Read More...]

Starting a business after retirement is a growing trend. According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, about 25% of workers between 50-59 are self-employed. Of those ages 65-69, 46% are self-employed. And 68% of those between 75-79 are too. All of these groups have higher rates of self-employment than those under 50, where just 20% are self-employed. Those who started a business from scratch represent only one group breaking into the business world after retirement. Franchises offer proven business concepts to help some entrepreneurs make money more quickly. Those who have significant retirement savings can often buy into one of these programs quickly. In fact, there’s been about a 40% increase in people over 55 buying into franchises since 2007. There are tons of options for those… [Read More...]

The early days of running a business can be both exciting and overwhelming. You need to consider everything from marketing to permits. And you may even be juggling these things while working another job. To make the biggest possible impact with your new business, see what experienced members of the online small business community have to say. Get Your Startup Up and Running While Working a Paying Job There’s value to sticking with a steady job in the early days of starting a business. However, it can seem overwhelming to juggle both roles. Read this Startup Professionals Musings post by Martin Zwilling for keys to handling this situation. Use These Conversion Driven Tactics to Get Your First Customer Getting that first customer can be a major… [Read More...]

September 11, now known as Patriot Day, is a time to remember one of our nation’s worst tragedies and honor our nation’s veterans and first responders. Americans are reminded to never forget the events of 9/11/01 and one company that’s never forgotten is Battle Bars. Honoring military veterans and first responders is something Battle Bars does every day. Battle Bars are 14 unique protein bars, all non-GMO and most are gluten free. The protein bars help people gain muscle and maintain energy. Battle Bars Aims to Make a Difference The veteran-owned business donates generously to its core charity, Operation Enduring Warrior. OEW is a veteran-founded nonprofit which honors, empowers and motivates our nation’s wounded military and law enforcement veterans. OEW accomplishes those goals… [Read More...]

What do you think of when you hear the term small business? Some people think sole proprietorship. Other people define the term by the number of employees. However you define it, there are 30.2 million small businesses in the USA. Still, to find a definition of small business that works, we’ll need to delve deeper. How Do You Define a Small Business? The definition of a small business depends on a few factors. The Small Business Administration (SBA) has a table of size standards that helps. It varies by industry but takes into account the number of employees and annual receipts. A small business could set up its business structure as a partnership, sole proprietorship or privately owned corporation. It has less revenue than larger corporations or… [Read More...]

When you’re running a small business, you need to punch above your weight to compete with your much larger rivals, and that’s especially true if you’re only fielding a small marketing department. One of the most important marketing channels, and one that you can’t afford to overlook, is social media. It’s estimated that by 2023, the number of social network users in the United States will increase to 257 million. 62.6% of marketers say that their social media advertising is somewhat or very effective. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the different platforms and can’t decide which one to focus on, Facebook is the place to start. It boasts over 2.6 billion monthly active users, and it also heads the pack when it comes… [Read More...]