Previous Newsletters
October 13, 2025We’re now 16 days into the federal government shutdown, and small business owners across the country are starting to feel the pinch. It’s not one big blow; it’s more like death by a thousand paper cuts. A few examples:
The SBA hasn’t processed a 7(a) or 504 loan in over two weeks. That is roughly $100 million in small business financing frozen every day.
Contractors, suppliers, and local businesses near government hubs are watching foot traffic drop and payments stall.
In the DC–MD–VA region, the impact is even sharper. During the 2018–19 shutdown, the D.C. metro area lost $119 million per day in revenue.
But, in speaking with business owners around the country, the biggest hit isn’t financial, it’s psychological. Many owners have told me, “We can plan around bad news; we can’t plan around no news. The uncertainty is paralyzing.”
If this shutdown continues through Election Day, which is 22 days from today (10/13), it will be longer than the 2018–19 shutdown (which, at 35 days, was the longest in our history). And no one knows what comes next.
Still, true to form, I am hearing stories of resilience from business owners.
Knowing that the shutdown is temporary, business owners are tightening cash flow, communicating with lenders, and playing the “What If” game.
Some are even finding hidden opportunities. I read about “Shutdown Specials,” in the Washington DC area by retailers and restaurants. Other businesses are finding new customers, or stepping in where government services have stalled.
The message here? Control what you can control.
Uncertainty may dominate the headlines, but adaptability will decide who comes out stronger when the lights finally come back on. [...]
October 13, 2023Small businesses are the vibrant threads that add color and diversity to the global economy. However, their success journeys are often marked by unique challenges and opportunities that require precise planning—and, often, an astute co-navigator by your side.
We recently talked to Ken Yancey, a long-time small business advocate, board member of the National Business Association (NBA), and excellent small business navigator who shares five essential small business survival tips.
Small Business Survival Tips
1—Keeping Up With Changing Consumer Behaviors
For your small business to truly thrive, you must be conscious of current consumer behaviors. Today’s consumers are dynamic, and their shopping and buying habits are rapidly changing. Yancey points out that activities like social shopping powered by AI are being embraced, especially by younger consumers. And he says, “To stay relevant, it’s essential to meet customers where they are and ensure a seamless experience across different platforms.” Increasingly consumers of all ages are online, on social, and using mobile devices.
2—Embrace New Technologies
The pace of technological innovation is rapidly accelerating, and it’s imperative for small business owners to explore and embrace them. While this can seem overwhelming, it offers businesses numerous opportunities to better serve their customers and streamline operations.
Yancey says, “Leveraging tools like AI can help businesses anticipate and respond to changing consumer demands and expectations.” You need to explore the new technologies and hire employees who understand them and can quickly deploy the solutions.
Too often, small business owners shy away from transformative tech, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, thinking it’s too expensive to invest in and designed for bigger companies. But Yancey points out that “businesses that embrace these technologies can improve efficiency, manage costs, and stay competitive. Being at the forefront of integrating technology into operations is crucial for long-term success.”
2—Commit to Lifelong Learning
Part of embracing new technologies and other innovations is committing to lifelong learning. The NBA believes this is an essential part of being able to survive downturns and thrive. Yancey urges small business owners to “stay current about new trends, emerging technologies, and best practices.”
One of the keys to small business success is leveraging as many resources as you can, global and local. “Often, solutions to business challenges are closer than they appear,” says Yancey. But you have to proactively seek out solutions and resources. Networking helps, of course, as does being part of an organization surrounded by people who have faced similar challenges and can share their solutions.
4—Understanding Your Ecosystem
But before you can grow, you need to look inward as well. That means having a comprehensive understanding of your supply chain, vendors, and the broader business ecosystem. As a former banker, Yancey understands this well. He says, “External disruptions, such as logistical challenges, can have far-reaching implications, even for small businesses. Proactive understanding and contingency planning are essential.”
If you don’t embrace this—if you allow your company to remain stagnant—you risk being left behind. Yancey advises, “Continuous questioning, adaptation, and a willingness to change are necessary to thrive in today’s dynamic business environment. Listening to experts and staying informed can provide valuable insights for navigating shifts.”
5—Prepare to Pivot
It sometimes feels like the business world rediscovered the word “pivot” when the pandemic emerged. But that’s not true. As Yancey reminds us, “Change is inevitable in business. Whether due to evolving customer behaviors, technological advancements, or external challenges, businesses must be agile and ready to pivot. Those unable to adapt risk becoming obsolete.”
The Impact of Small Business
Small businesses have a profound impact not only on their communities but also globally. Entrepreneurs worldwide face unique challenges, and Yancey says, “It’s crucial to be aware of and empathize with the challenges faced by entrepreneurs in different parts of the world. At NBA, we’ve seen that even modest investments in countries like Rwanda can create significant opportunities, particularly for women-owned businesses.”
He adds that these stories are not only inspiring but also serve as a reminder to be grateful for the opportunities we have here in the U.S. In fact, Yancey believes that sharing information about investing in global entrepreneurial efforts, philanthropic efforts, and the success stories of global entrepreneurs can have multiple benefits. He says, “It builds trust and rapport with stakeholders, acts as a marketing tool, and demonstrates a business’s commitment to giving back to society.”
About the National Business Association: Championing Small Businesses
For over four decades, the National Business Association has stood as a steadfast advocate for small businesses across the United States. In an ever-evolving business landscape, the NBA has continually adapted to the changing needs of entrepreneurs, offering invaluable resources and support.
Let’s learn a little more about the organization and what it does to support small business owners.
Long-Standing Support: Since its inception, the NBA’s mission has been to empower small business owners. In its 40+ years, it has witnessed and helped the growth and transformation of countless entrepreneurial ventures.
Governance: At the heart of the NBA is a dedicated board of directors who share a genuine commitment to the well-being and advancement of small business owners. These individuals bring their expertise and knowledge to steer the NBA in the right direction.
Resources and Benefits: Small businesses often grapple with limited resources and information. The NBA bridges this gap by providing a wide array of resources, tools, and information carefully curated to address the unique challenges entrepreneurs face. Plus, it offers exclusive benefits and discounts to its members, helping them access vital resources at a reduced cost.
Access to Benefits: One of the key advantages of being a member of the NBA is the access it provides to an extensive network of features, benefits, content, and contacts. For small business owners, this means gaining entry to opportunities that may have otherwise been out of reach.
Support for Business Initiatives: The NBA understands the importance of collaboration and support. It works closely with vital small business organizations like the SBA, SCORE, the Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), and Women’s Business Centers (WBCs), providing valuable content and financial support.
Current Trends and Community Building: There is a burgeoning interest in startups, and the NBA knows how alone a startup entrepreneur can feel. That’s why it’s interested in fostering a sense of community and shared knowledge among both new and current small business owners.
Value-Packed Membership: The NBA offers various membership levels, each designed to cater to the diverse needs of entrepreneurs. These memberships come with a wealth of resources, discounts, and opportunities. As a special incentive, the NBA currently offers a free one-month trial, allowing businesses to explore the benefits risk-free.
Outreach and Updates: To keep members informed and engaged, the NBA plans to provide regular updates through newsletters covering essential issues in the small business world. Staying informed is crucial for businesses to adapt and thrive in an ever-changing landscape.
As we approach 2024, the business landscape is more dynamic and interconnected than ever. The National Business Association is here to help you embrace the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. [...]
July 20, 2023Everyone is buzzing about ChatGPT and Google’s Bard and the many uses small business owners can turn to the services for. But does it work?
I asked ChatGPT to write 100 words on how it can help small business owners.
Here’s what it wrote:
ChatGPT can be a valuable resource for small business owners in many ways. Firstly, it can provide them with information on a wide range of topics, from marketing and branding to customer service and finance. Small business owners can ask ChatGPT questions about specific challenges they are facing and receive relevant and helpful advice.
ChatGPT can also assist small business owners with automating routine tasks and processes, such as scheduling appointments or managing inventory. This can help save time and reduce the workload for small business owners, allowing them to focus on more strategic tasks and grow their business.
Overall, ChatGPT can serve as a helpful tool for small business owners to gain knowledge, automate tasks, and ultimately improve their business operations.
What do you think? Would you use it? [Editor’s note: I didn’t edit it, but if you use AI to write for you, you will need to edit it. For example, the word “firstly” is not commonly used, and it wrote “business” when it should have been “businesses.”
Learn more about ChatGPT and Google’s Bard.
[...]
May 10, 2023If you have employees who are younger millennials and members of Generation Z, you may have to work extra hard to keep them.
A study from Gallup, reported by Insider, shows that their attitudes about their jobs have shifted from enthusiasm to indifference. During the pandemic (from 2019 to 2022), Gallup shows the share of employees under age 35 who say they’re “engaged” with their work fell from 37% to 33%—the lowest level since 2011.
Even worse, the percentage who say they’re “actively disengaged” increased from 12% to 17%. Apparently, according to Gallup, these young workers are now as unhappy with their jobs as everyone else.
Learn more about why young workers are unhappy and how to fix it. [...]
May 10, 2023AI is capturing the attention of so many in the entrepreneurial world, partly because, I believe, there’s so much we don’t understand about it and its capabilities. And then there’s a bit of fear of the unknown, no doubt a result of seeds planted by watching that episode of The Twilight Zone, where Rod Serling, always ahead of his time, scripted ordinary appliances suddenly taking over the world.
As most of us slowly dip our toes into what is sure to be an ocean of AI applications for our businesses, this caught my eye. Entrepreneur Bruno Aziza, writing on Medium, answered a question many business owners are likely asking, “How can I scale AI?” Aziza replied, “Make the “I” bigger than the “A” and explained three ways that could work. A quick summary:
Trust: Trust is THE foundation great decision-making stands on. Semblance of truth is not truth.
Interaction: To work at scale, AI must be multimodal or contextual in input and output. .
Action: To work at scale, information and action need to be tied within a domain. Informing at speed is essential. Acting and transacting within an application flow is what makes it most useful.
Learn (so much) more about AI and how it can help you run a better business.
[...]
May 9, 2023The author of Email Marketing Rules just released an updated and greatly expanded fourth edition of his book. And in his column on MarketingProfs, he talks about how much email has changed in the past 10 years:
Email can be read on smart watches or read aloud by voice assistants
Marketers can create interactive emails
Privacy features launched
Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning have gained roles in selecting audiences, determining email content, picking send times, writing copy, and more
And he discusses three significant changes yet to come:
AI and machine learning will help us scale our personalization, segmentation, and automation efforts
Omnichannel orchestration will help us not only better coordinate campaigns across all of our channels but also use the right channels and incorporate data from all of our customers’ brand interactions
CDPs will help us centralize and clean all of our customer information so we can understand customers as whole people and use that data to fuel our AI, machine-learning, omnichannel, and other efforts
Learn more about the still-evolving power of email. [...]
May 2, 2023As much as I know people don’t like to talk about money, the poll below astounded me.
Empower, a financial services company, recently surveyed thousands of Americans and discovered that 62% don’t talk about money, even though they think about it.
Fast Company reports the shocking stat: “It’s easier to believe in magic than financial planning: 71% of Americans said they bought a lottery ticket, and 24% of millennials said they’ve spoken to a fortune teller, but only 33% of Americans have spoken with a financial planner.” And the kicker is that 66% of those surveyed “believe more conversation could help people achieve financial freedom.”
Learn more about why it’s essential to talk about money—especially with a financial planner. [...]
April 10, 2023 If, like millions of people, you’re no longer heeding your New Year’s resolutions to get (or stay) fit, a fitness tracker may help you get back on track.
Make Use Of (MUO) reports that fitness wearables may well be the key to staying fit. In fact, it says that many people actually prefer to wear a fitness tracker all day—and sometimes all night, as well.
If you’re on the fence about investing in a fitness tracker MUO offers seven “genuinely good” reasons to buy one.
Learn more about how fitness trackers can help you meet your daily health goals—and more.
[...]
February 7, 2023Five Things To Know This Week:
1) Sleep Secrets from Truckers
2) Walmart Launches a New Small Business Initiative
3) Content Ideas for Your Company Newsletter and Blog
4) Can Your TV Really Be Hacked?
5) Business Owner Spotlight: Judi Henderson, Mannequin Madness
Happy Tuesday, February 7th!
I recently listened to my first Small Business Edge podcast episode from March 2018. Wow, was I green! Thankfully, I’ve learned a thing or two since then about podcasts and creating content that interests our listeners.
I posted two links below to podcasts I recorded in the last few months. The first podcast is with Judi Henderson. She is fun, engaging, and spiritual; I loved talking with her.
The second podcast is with my son Robert. It’s part 2 of a podcast we recorded three years ago about his incredible journey dealing with mental illness. We recorded the first podcast on World Mental Health Day in 2019. It is still my most downloaded podcast ever.
The response to Robert’s story was overwhelming. In letting himself be vulnerable, Robert connected with thousands of people worldwide who either struggle with mental illness or are close to someone going through a similar situation.
Somehow, we allowed the pandemic to sidetrack our efforts to successfully launch a podcast called “I Didn’t Ask for This,” which covers all things related to mental health issues. We plan to get the podcast back up and running again next month.
Podcasts are a great way to share ideas, advice, humor, inspiration, and moving stories. Thanks to the feedback I received from listeners, I am doubling down on my podcast efforts this year and adding two more podcasts to my repertoire—Bricks or Sticks with Jocelyn Ring and “The R&B Show” with Rieva Lesonsky. I will post more information in future newsletters, with links to the shows we produce.
In the meantime, enjoy your week—and make the most of it!
Brian Moran, CEO
Small Business Edge
Brian Moran & Associates
brian@smallbusinessedge.com
Sleep Secrets from Truckers
Do you wake up tired, even after getting eight hours of sleep? Me too—when I manage to get those eight hours in. Maybe you’re getting too much sleep. Dean Croke, a former truck driver and current principal analyst at an on-demand freight marketplace, has taught sleep science classes for truckers and shift workers for years. He tells Fast Company that it’s the minutes you sleep, not the hours, that count.
Croke says we sleep in 90-minute cycles, and if the alarm wakes us in the middle of a deep sleep cycle, we have “sleep inertia.” He says five 90-minute cycles are ideal—that’s 7.5 hours of sleep. If, like many business owners, you can’t manage that, Croke suggests you sleep for three hours (two cycles) and then for 4.5 hours later in the day (three cycles).
Learn more about getting a truly good night’s sleep. Walmart Launches a New Small Business InitiativeWalmart just launched Walmart Business, a program that makes it easier for small businesses to shop there. Walmart Business is a website offering over 100,000 products.
Chain Store Age says Walmart “identified key product categories for operations, including office supplies and furniture, food and beverage, restroom, electronics, classroom, and facility needs.” And the company makes it easier to restock goods.
Walmart told Chain Store Age it wants to “remove complexity in purchasing, lower costs, and give our customers more opportunities to serve their customers and communities.”
Read more about how your small business (or nonprofit) can save time and money by shopping at Walmart. Content Ideas for Your Company Newsletter and BlogDo you have a company newsletter? It’s often challenging to come up with new ideas. Constant Contact’s February newsletter is filled with ideas to inspire your content creation.
We all know we celebrate President’s Day and Valentine’s Day in February. But there are actually 19 days you can celebrate in February (and it’s a short month!). For instance, did you know last Sunday was National Chocolate Fondue Day?
The newsletter also offers more ideas you can use in your newsletter or as blogging fodder.
Get more content ideas for your small business.
Can Your TV Really Be Hacked?
As silly as that sounds, yes, it can. According to MUO (Make Use Of), today’s smart TVs are just “computers connected to your network, and there’s a good chance it’s not a well-protected one.”
Hackers can use your TV to “distribute malware or launch denial of service (DDoS) attacks” or even spy on you.
Learn more about the 12 ways cybercriminals can hack your TV and how to protect yourself. Business Owner Spotlight: Judi Henderson, Mannequin MadnessI’ve written about Judi before in this newsletter and had her as a guest on my podcast. I will use almost any excuse to feature fun, smart, social business owners who are making a difference in the world, and Judi is definitely one of them. Judi is an accidental entrepreneur who owns the largest mannequin recycling/liquidation company -based in Oakland, CA. Here are just a few highlights from the podcast I did with Judi:
“When I grew up, entrepreneurship wasn’t on the table. There was no such thing as a girl boss. To me, living close to Silicon Valley, an entrepreneur was a young white male from Stanford with venture capital money in the tech field. I certainly didn’t see myself in that life.”
“I called my company ‘Mannequin Madness’ because, when I started the business, everyone thought I was a little crazy for doing it.”
“We have 55,000 followers on Pinterest. It’s a big DIY market where people turn mannequins into Christmas trees and mailboxes.”
“The biggest mistake I made was not seeing myself as an entrepreneur.”
“I’m 65 and not even close to retirement. I have new and bigger dreams today than I had 20 years ago. I’m much more comfortable when taking risks.” Click HERE to visit Judi’s website
Click HERE to listen to my podcast with Judi
Click HERE to listen to the full podcast of I Still Didn’t Ask For This: Robert Moran’s Amazing Mental Health Journey. [...]
January 25, 2023Five Things To Know This Week:
1) How to Improve Your Focus
2) How to Improve Your Memory
3) Should You Buy a Treadmill Desk?
4) Increasing Customer Loyalty
5) Business Owner Spotlight: JoAnn Cilla
Happy Tuesday January 24th!
Ubuntu is a South African term that, translated, means “I am because we are.”
When we open our senses, and make ourselves available to the miracles and possibilities in our world, we strengthen our connections with others and the universe. Imagine the positive impact!
It sounds good to me; I’m in.
Brian
Brian Moran, CEO
Small Business Edge
Brian Moran & Associates
brian@smallbusinessedge.com
How to Improve Your Focus
If you’re like many of us, it’s become harder to maintain focus and all too easy to slip down rabbit holes scrolling through social media, playing Wordle, or numerous other distractions. Mashable talked to Dr. Gloria Mark, Ph.D., a psychologist and professor whose research found that 47 seconds is the average 21st-century attention span on a computer screen.
On Mashable’s blog, Mark offers advice from her new book, Attention Span: A Groundbreaking Way to Restore Balance, Happiness, and Productivity, including “three go-to strategies for maintaining your attention span.”
Learn more about replenishing your attentional resources and how to do more by doing less. How to Improve Your MemoryIn the same vein, Vox talked to Charan Ranganath, also a professor, who says, “If we remembered everything that we experienced, our brains would be hoarders, clogged with all sorts of useless crap that gets in the way of what we really need.”
Tying in with what Dr. Mark talks about in her book (mentioned in #1), we can only remember what we pay attention to. And in today’s “constantly plugged-in, always-on world, people are faced with a barrage of information — emails, news, pointless meetings, traffic updates, chitchat from family members,” it’s increasingly difficult to pay attention.
This article is filled with tips, including how to use technology to your advantage.
Read more about “making even everyday moments memorable.” Should You Buy a Treadmill Desk?
Was one of your New Year’s resolutions to get more exercise? Mine too. But it’s hard for busy entrepreneurs like us to find the time to work out when we have so much to do.
Since many business owners are skilled at multitasking, why not work and work out at the same time?
WorkLife talked to one devotee who spends almost her entire workday at her treadmill desk. She says that since she started simultaneously walking and working, her cholesterol and blood pressure have improved, as have her focus, productivity, and motivation.
Read more about the benefits of a treadmill desk.
Increasing Customer Loyalty
Every business dreams of having a base of loyal customers they can count on. But even your most loyal customers are likely not satisfied every time they do business with you.
In this article on Harvard Business Review, the authors suggest business owners should “learn to appreciate complaining customers” because “companies that handle complaints in a great way create stronger customer loyalty.”
The good news is that customer loyalty has risen in the last 12 years, particularly among millennials.
Learn more about how to create loyal customers.
Business Owner Spotlight: JoAnn Cilla Real Estate
Who leaves a big, well-established brand to start a competing business in the middle of a pandemic? JoAnn Cilla.
In November 2020, my brother Colin called me about a business partner who wanted to start her own real estate agency. He asked if I could give her some advice. I jokingly responded, “Sure, don’t do it!” Thankfully, that wasn’t the advice I gave to JoAnn Cilla. I did tell her that it would be a difficult, rocky road and that she would need the right mindset to successfully navigate her uncharted path.
JoAnn opened her agency on March 1, 2021. Today, she has her own building in Lindenhurst, Long Island, with four real estate agents, an assistant, and over 70 five-star online reviews from satisfied clients.
Even with the market downturn, home sellers and buyers continue to call JoAnn via referrals from family and friends. JoAnn is successful because she is willing to take strategic, calculated risks when other businesses are in “hunker down” mode. And she believes in herself and her agents.
Click here to learn more about JoAnn’s business and hear her story.
Podcast Quote of the Week:
Click here to listen to my podcast with Rudi. [...]
January 17, 2023Five Things To Know This Week:
1) Are You Going to Start a Business in 2023?
2) 8 Bold Tech Predictions for 2023
3) Managing Your Marketing Budget in an Uncertain Economy
4) Are You Putting Obstacles in Your Own Path?
5) Business Owner Spotlight: Geoff Foster, Core Technology Molding Corporation
Happy Tuesday, January 17th!
I’m making a change to the “5 Things” newsletter. Previously, I posted great resources for business owners. Now, I want to put the spotlight on great business owners. Each week, I will introduce you to business owners who do amazing things somewhere across the country, or around the world. There are millions of great stories; my goal is to share some of them with you.
On a different note, I intend to continue using this letter to bring you positive, motivational, and inspirational messages. You never know when the right message, delivered at the right time, to the right person, can change someone’s life.
Today’s message is about mantras. A mantra is a positive affirmation; a reminder that helps us remember something important to us. I have several three-word mantras for 2023, and will share one of them with you: “Gratitude Changes Everything.”
This mantra reminds me that while bad things may happen in life, it’s my choice how I respond to them. Looking at life through a lens of gratitude makes the bad things tolerable, the good things great, and the great things priceless.
Gratitude also reminds me to focus on what’s happening right now. I can’t change the past, and I refuse to worry about the future. I will simply do the best that I can do in this moment and enjoy every minute of it…like writing this note to you!
Let me know your 3-word mantras for 2023. What do you want to be reminded of today?
Thanks,
Brian
Brian Moran, CEO
Small Business Edge
Brian Moran & Associates
brian@smallbusinessedge.com
Are You Going to Start a Business in 2023?
We’re running out of time to talk about 2023 predictions, so I want to share some more. If you’re considering starting a business this year, check out these seven startup predictions from crunchbase.
My favorite? Originality is in. Copycat ideas are out.
Read more startup predictions for 2023. 8 Bold Tech Predictions for 2023
As MUO (Make Use of) notes, “If 2022 taught us anything, it’s how fast things can change. Within a span of a year, we saw some of the biggest tech giants struggle to stay afloat, new rivals enter the market, and what appears to be the beginning of the AI revolution.”
So what’s in store for tech in 2023? MUO shares eight bold predictions.
Learn more about tech trends for 2023. Managing Your Marketing Budget in an Uncertain Economy
The beginning of a year is not only the time for making (and breaking) resolutions and reading expert predictions about the year ahead. It’s also time to deal with the “b-word”—budgets.
If you’re a B2B company, you’ll want to check out this post about managing your B2B marketing budget in 2023. There are a lot of smart, actionable tips here.
Learn more about how to manage your budget in an unpredictable year.
Are You Putting Obstacles in Your Own Path?
Should you live where your business is, or can you effectively run a startup remotely? This crucial question was posed by Steve Blank, Stanford professor and “father of modern entrepreneurship,” to a former student and founder of a new tech startup. Most of her clients were in New York, while she lived 3,000 miles away in the Silicon Valley.
In his column on the readwrite website, Blank explains that scaling a business remotely is not the best way to grow and that “exponential growth requires relentless execution.” There are a lot of other valuable lessons here—that apply to entrepreneurs in all fields.
Read more about scaling and growing and how to get out of your own way. Business Owner Spotlight: Geoff Foster
This week we are shining a spotlight is on Geoff Foster, Co-Founder and CEO of Core Molding Technology Corporation in North Carolina.
Geoff started the company with his wife Tonya in 2006; they currently have 45 employees. The business focuses largely on the automotive and pharmaceutical industries, and ships products to clients in 120+ countries. A key to their success is their incredibly positive company culture. They were able to greatly increase revenue during the pandemic through teamwork and perseverance.
Click here to read more about Geoff’s company. Click here to listen to the Small Business Edge podcast I did with Geoff. [...]
January 10, 2023Five Things To Know This Week:
1) Flex Benefits Help You Retain Employees
2) Social Media Marketing Trends
3) Habits are Better than Resolutions
4) TV Without Wires
5) Resource of the Week: U.S. Commercial Service
Happy January 10th!
It’s a great day to make things happen! Face whatever is in front of you, meet it head on, then defeat it. That obstacle is keeping you from your dreams, goal, and happiness.
Brian
Brian Moran, CEO
Small Business Edge
Brian Moran & Associates
brian@smallbusinessedge.com
Flex Benefits Help You Retain Employees
One of the biggest challenges small business owners faced last year that’s expected to continue into 2023 is attracting and retaining skilled employees.
Many surveys of the nation’s workers reveal that most employees want to work for businesses that offer a good benefits package. But more companies are discovering that one-size-fits-all benefits packages are not all that appealing to employees.
Instead, flexible benefits are often more appealing because you can customize them to your individual employee’s needs. Some examples of flex benefits include commuter benefits, work-at-home options, career planning, paid time for volunteer work, professional development, and more.
Learn more about flex benefits. Social Media Marketing TrendsSocial media had a tumultuous 2022, and there’s still a lot of uncertainty about some highly popular social platforms as we head into 2023.
Social Media Examiner rounded up 28 social media experts who shared their advice and tips about using social media to establish trust with customers, increasing your ROI with social customer care, AI innovations, and more.
Learn more about 2023’s social media trends. Habits are Better than ResolutionsLast week I noted that it was likely that some of us already broke some of our New Year’s resolutions. (Yes, I’m guilty.) So I was happy to see this article in Fast Company that said we should ditch making New Year’s resolutions altogether and work on creating new habits instead.
According to the article, making resolutions is futile since our brains are wired against change, so “we often rely upon motivation, and motivation runs out usually after two or three weeks.”
The article shares the six principles of forming habits, including something I’ve always believed in—celebrate your wins.
Read more about forming new habits in 2023. TV Without Wires
CES (the Consumer Electronics Show, CES 2023) was last week, and I’m always dazzled by the tech introduced there. There was a lot of coverage in the tech newsletters, and this wireless TV caught my eye.
Displace TV is launching the world’s first truly wireless TV. The 55-inch OLED television is lightweight, weighing less than 20 pounds, and the company says the battery can last for about 30 days on a charge.
One of the advantages of a wireless TV is that it can be placed anywhere in a room—no worrying about proximity to a wall socket. Also, the company claims remotes can be replaced with hand gestures.
The TV is expected to ship in late 2023. Tom’s Guide has the details.
Learn more about the world’s first wireless TV. Resource of the Week: U.S. Commercial Service
The U.S. Commercial Service has a network of export and industry specialists in over 100 U.S. cities and 80 countries worldwide. These trade professionals provide counseling and various products and services to help SMBs export their products and services.
The U.S. Commercial Service is part of the Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration. You can learn about all aspects of exporting and world markets through its online solutions or find help through its local assistance or virtual services programs.
Get more important exporting news by following them on social media (LinkedIn and Twitter) or joining the mailing list. [...]
December 27, 2022Five Things To Know This Week:
1) How to Protect Your Business from Cybercrime
2) The Shocking Truth About Gen Z Workers
3) Top Retail Trends for 2023
4) Get Startup Cred ASAP
5) Collective
Hello SBE Newsletter Readers,
There are a handful of days left in 2022. What’s your plan to finish the year on a high note? Are you close to achieving your business and personal goals?
I love taking time between Christmas and New Year’s to look back on my wins and losses, hits and misses of the year. The exercise is a big help in mapping out my GPS Plan for the New Year.
I have big goals for 2023. My company is rolling out a marketplace for business owners that is free to join for now (www.sbemarketplace.com). In addition, I am launching a new podcast series called “Bricks or Sticks” with Jocelyn Ring to accompany our monthly workshop for business owners (www.bricksorsticks.com).
What are your big goals for 2023? If I can help you achieve them in any way, let me know.
Until we talk again, have a happy and healthy New Year! Thank you for being part of my journey.
Brian
Brian Moran, CEO
Small Business Edge
Brian Moran & Associates
brian@smallbusinessedge.com
How to Protect Your Business from Cybercrime
At a CNBC-sponsored event, the FBI said cybercriminals are increasingly targeting small businesses. Last year, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center “received nearly 850,000 complaints regarding cyberattacks and malicious cyber activity with nearly $7 billion in losses, the majority of which targeted small businesses.”
And what’s worse, CNBC and SurveyMonkey data shows most small business owners (61%) don’t think their businesses will be the victim of a cyberattack in the next year, up from 58% in 2021.
Don’t be complacent. Learn more about how you can protect your small business from cybercrime. The Shocking Truth About Gen Z Workers
Everyone thinks that members of Generation Z (Zoomers) are technologically adept since they’re digital natives.
But a survey of UK and U.S. workers from HP shockingly reveals that Zoomers aren’t that comfortable using workplace technologies. And they’re experiencing “tech shame” because they’re not as tech-savvy as their older coworkers assume they are.
One way to make them feel more comfortable at work is to offer more tech training to your younger employees.
Learn more about Gen Z employees and workplace tech. Top Retail Trends for 2023
Retailers have had a challenging 2022, even though consumers are shopping and spending more. Will 2023 be any better?
A report from Mastercard Data & Services says 2023 will be the year with the fewest restrictions since before the pandemic started, and “consumers will expect choices in how, when, and where they shop.”
Learn more about why you need to pivot to meet and exceed consumer needs. Get Startup Cred ASAP
If you’re one of the millions of Americans planning to start a small business in 2023, you know you will face many challenges. One common problem many startup entrepreneurs have to deal with is that it typically takes a long time to establish business credibility.
Obviously, the sooner you can do that, the better. There are various ways you can do that—and you can get insight from startup founders who share their own experiences.
Read more about establishing credibility for your startup. Resource of the Week: Collective
Collective, a fintech startup with a roster of funders that includes actor Ashton Kutcher and the founders of YouTube, Patreon, Twitch, and Substack, just announced it is expanding to all 50 states.
The company offers an all-in-one online back-office platform, including tax, accounting, and bookkeeping services, to self-employed business owners and freelancers.
Learn more about how Collective plans to serve solopreneurs and freelancers across the country. [...]
November 29, 2022Five Things To Know This Week:
1) Avoiding Digital Scams
2) The Best Laptops for Your Small Business
3) Tips for Surviving the Holiday Selling Season
4) Exploring the Rural/Urban Divide in Small Business
5) Resource of the Week: Free Cash Flow Webinar
Hello SBE Newsletter Readers,
As you read this newsletter, there are 26 days (including four weekends) until Christmas. If your business relies heavily on sales during the holiday season, I have three suggestions:
1) Keep two eyes on cash flow, sales, and inventory for the next 26 days…and have a backup plan if anything starts to go off course.
2) Visit your website, as a customer, DAILY. Check it from your desktop, laptop, and phone. Click on every link to make sure it all works. Have your IT person on standby in the event he/she is needed. Every second counts (downtime or incorrect/broken links can cost you).
3) Remember that social media is a dialogue not a monologue. Follow your customers online. If they buy something from your store and then post it on a social media platform, like it, comment on it, and share it. More importantly, add a hashtag so that new and existing customers can click on it and see ALL the people posting items they bought from your store.
I hope the suggestions help. Make the most of the next 26 days and remember to enjoy each one of them.
Brian
Brian Moran, CEO
Small Business Edge
Brian Moran & Associates
brian@smallbusinessedge.com
Avoiding Digital Scams
Digital scams are everywhere—and during the holiday season, it’s critical that we be vigilant to protect our personal and business lives.
The spurt of e-commerce businesses started in the past few years has made those entrepreneurs particularly vulnerable to security breaches, data loss, and fraud.According to a recently released Biannual Threat Report from Visa, almost 75% of fraud and data breach cases investigated by its Global Risk team involved e-commerce merchant experiences.
Learn more about how to avoid fraud in Visa’s, Fraudulese: The Language of Fraud. The Best Laptops for Your Small Business
The holiday shopping season is in full swing, and bargains galore are out there. You may have missed Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but those designations have given way to super sales all season long.
This is a great time to shop for your small business. If you’re in the market for a laptop, PC Mag offers a deep-dive guide so you can find the best laptop for you and your employees.
Learn more about the best laptops of 2022.
Tips for Surviving the Holiday Selling Season
A recent Capital One Business survey revealed that many small business owners might find it challenging to navigate the holiday season.
To help, they asked entrepreneurs John and Kendall Antonelli, owners of Antonelli’s Cheese Shop in Austin, to share some of their top tips. (You may recognize the Antonellis from their TV ads.)
The Capital One survey also showed that about 70% of small business owners say they’ve experienced at least some mental, physical, or emotional exhaustion caused by the stress of running their business in the past year.
If that sounds like you, the Antonellis advise business owners that “it’s okay to say no. We tell ourselves to ‘make hay while the sun is shining’ and skip all the extra activities and events during the holidays that we would typically say ‘yes’ to. It’s also a good time of year to recommit to personal endeavors such as regular exercise, maintaining a healthy sleep schedule, and staying hydrated.”
Read more tips from the Antonellis.
Exploring the Rural/Urban Divide in Small Business
As we all well know, not all small businesses are the same. And one of the biggest differences seems to be between entrepreneurs located in urban and rural areas.
According to a new report from SCORE, rural business owners report higher expenses and fewer customers than their non-rural counterparts. In particular:
Rising fuel costs (49.3%), slowing customer spending (48.6%), tight marketing budgets (47.6%), and a limited local customer base (34.6%) are their most vexing customer-related challenges.
Rural entrepreneurs are twice as likely as non-rural entrepreneurs (19.2% vs. 9%) to cite the lack of broadband/high-speed internet access as a technology challenge.
Small businesses in both rural and non-rural areas say a lack of technological knowledge or assistance is particularly challenging.
Learn more in SCORE’s Megaphone of Main Street: The Small Business Rural/Urban Divide report.
Resource of the Week: Free Cash Flow Webinar
At some point, most small business owners struggle with cash flow issues. If you’re one of them, I hope you’ll join me Thursday, December 8th at 2 pm ET and 11 am PT for a free webinar, How to Effectively Manage Cash Flow in 2023, sponsored by Zoho.
Learn more about managing your cash flow. Click here to listen to the full podcast with Laura. [...]
November 15, 2022Five Things To Know This Week:
1) What is Mastodon?
2) Inflation-Fighting Tips
3) 4 Google Search Tricks
4) Shopping for Holiday Bargains
5) Resource of the Week: Zoho Finance Plus and Zoho Books
Hello Small Business Edge Readers,
Most days, I absolutely love what I do. I often get to speak with business owners around the world about their obstacles and opportunities. They tell me what keeps them up at night and drives them daily.
Judi Henderson is one of those business owners. She is the founder/CEO of Mannequin Madness in Oakland, CA, and was my guest on a recent Small Business Edge podcast. Here are just a few of the gems she shared with my listeners and me:
When I found out how many retail stores threw out perfectly good mannequins because they were last year’s style, I saw an opportunity. And this was way before people were talking about sustainability.
I called my company ‘Mannequin Madness’ because, when I started the business, everyone thought I was a little crazy for doing it.
We have 55,000 followers on Pinterest. There’s a big DIY market where people turn mannequins into Christmas trees and mailboxes.
The biggest mistake I made was not seeing myself as an entrepreneur.
I’m 65 and not even close to retirement. I have new and bigger dreams today than I had 20 years ago. I’m much more comfortable when taking risks.
There is always something you can learn from other entrepreneurs.
Below is a link to listen to the full podcast. I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I did recording it. America could use more business owners like Judi!
Brian Moran, CEO
Small Business Edge
Brian Moran & Associates
brian@smallbusinessedge.com
What is Mastodon?
If you’re a Twitter user, you may have noticed quite a few mentions of a social media site named Mastodon and wondered what people are talking about. Many Twitter users are looking for a new similar social platform in case they decide to leave Twitter.
But it’s all a little confusing. Here are a few articles that may help solve the mystery.
Learn more at Tom’s Guide, CNN, and CNET.
Inflation-Fighting Tips
If you’re like most small business owners, you’re struggling with inflation. Whether you’re buying gas, taking clients out for lunch, purchasing inventory, or paying rent, chances are it’s costing you more than it did a year ago.
You are not without recourse, however. There are ways you can fight inflation. My friend Rieva Lesonsky got some inflation-fighting tips from Ben Johnston, the COO of Kapitus, including how to negotiate with your landlord.
Learn more about fighting inflation.
4 Google Search Tricks
Searching for something on Google can be straightforward and quick or a laborious, frustrating undertaking.
This quick read on Fast Company shares 4 Google search tricks that will make searching quicker for you. For instance, I didn’t know it’s possible (and simple) to exclude specific topics from your search results.
Read more about how to simplify your Google searches.
Shopping for Holiday Bargains
As I noted a few weeks ago, we’re already in the midst of the holiday shopping season. And if you’re like most consumers, you’re looking for bargains and deals.
MUO (Make Use Of) says that while you can still find great deals on eBay, better bargains can be found online at other shopping sites.
Read more about 15 retail websites that are cheaper than eBay.
Resource of the Week: Zoho Finance Plus and Zoho Books
Entrepreneurship is a global phenomenon, with small businesses opening up in huge numbers worldwide. To help those business owners, Zoho Corporation announced that its Zoho Finance Platform now supports more than half a million businesses in more than 160 countries.
The impetus behind this growth is Zoho Books, the cloud-based accounting application, which now supports 180 currencies and 17 languages and features a comprehensive global tax engine that solves country-specific tax compliance challenges. And today, with the launch of the accounting app in Mexico, Zoho Books boasts 14 editions and a global version.
The comprehensive Finance Plus platform offers solutions for accounting, inventory management, travel and expense management, billing and subscription management, and payroll management.
Learn more about Zoho Finance Plus and Zoho Books globally and in the U.S. Listen to my podcast with Judi
If you were forwarded this email, you may subscribe to our newsletter here. [...]
November 8, 2022Five Things To Know This Week:
1) Do You Need a Meeting Moderator?
2) What Consumers are Buying
3) Profiting from I Dos
4) Cleaning Up
5) Resource of the Week: Celebrating Entrepreneurship
Hello Small Business Edge Readers,
November is National Entrepreneurship Month, and I want to take this opportunity to introduce you to one of the new faces of American entrepreneurship.
Jacob Block was a 28-year-old venture capitalist from Columbus, Ohio, who brokered sales of critical PPE (masks and gowns) from Asia to the U.S. during the pandemic. In his business dealings, Jacob consistently had trouble sourcing a critical piece of equipment—nitrile gloves for frontline workers.
He investigated if and how he could effectively compete with China and Malaysia and produce the highest quality nitrile gloves in the world in Grove City, Ohio. He discovered he’d have to produce “about four billion gloves a year.”
He said, “Ok then, go big or go home!”
As you read these words, Jacob sits inside a 527,000-square-foot warehouse, watching state-of-the-art equipment produce the gloves he dreamed about last year. He raised $41.5 million in equity from investors and borrowed $105 million to get his company where it is today.
Jacob turned 30 this year, a milestone event in his life. When I asked if he had other milestones on the horizon, he replied, “I want American Nitrile to help bring manufacturing back to America. We cannot have critical PPE produced by equipment on the other side of the world.”
Well done, Jacob!
To learn more about Jacob, listen to my podcast with him. Just go to the bottom of this newsletter and click on the link to our show.
Brian Moran, CEO
Small Business Edge
Brian Moran & Associates
brian@smallbusinessedge.com
Do You Need a Meeting Moderator?
With more businesses operating under a hybrid environment, online meetings can quickly get off track and unfocused. The solution? Appointing meeting moderators.
WorkLife shares some best practices from the University of Colorado for facilitating hybrid meetings. Some suggestions include encouraging engagement, having the right tech (being able to screen share is a must), and setting expectations ahead of time.
Learn more about running hybrid meetings. What Consumers are Buying
If you’re a clothing retailer, you need to stock plenty of coats and jackets. NPD reports that 43% of consumers say they need to buy new coats and jackets for the winter season.
Also, apparel is one of the top items consumers plan to give as gifts, so you might want to amp up your holiday promotions. NPD reports that consumers will be “spending, albeit more selectively, paying particular attention to new trends, product features, and sought-after brands.”
Read more about the products consumers will be looking for this holiday season. Profiting from I Dos
So many different types of businesses are involved in the wedding industry, so you’ll be glad to know that the new QuickBooks Wedding Industry Report says almost all (98%) of those surveyed say it’s important for them to work with a small business vendor for their weddings.
The brides and grooms believe they’ll get better and more personalized service from a small business—and most plan to pay their vendors in cash.
Learn more about what brides will be buying for their weddings. Cleaning Up
Small business owners never have enough time to get it all done. Balancing your business and personal obligations and responsibilities is always a challenge. Keeping your house clean is essential (especially if you work at home), but it’s always a time suck.
Using a smart cleaning device can help you get the task done faster, and you don’t necessarily need to be involved in doing the dirty work.
Make Use Of (MUO) offers details, answers FAQs, and shares their picks for the best cleaning devices.
Learn more about the best cleaning devices for your home.
Resource of the Week: Celebrating Entrepreneurship
November is National Entrepreneurship Month, where we “celebrate the doers, dreamers, and job creators whose vision and grit fuel our economy and capture the essence of America.”
And November 14th-20th is Global Entrepreneurship Week, and November 15th is National Entrepreneurship Day.
I salute all the business owners who work hard every day nurturing their businesses. I hope you all have a lot to celebrate.
Learn more about National Entrepreneurship Month.
Click HERE to listen to the podcast with Jacob Block [...]
November 1, 2022Five Things To Know This Week:
1) Get “More Rewards” on Saturday, November 5th
2) Tech Gifts for “Geeks”
3) Encouraging Entrepreneurial Women in Canada
4) Moving Money Internationally
5) Resource of the Week: First Women’s Bank
Hi Small Business Edge Newsletter Readers,
Today is a great day to have a great day!
We are coming into the homestretch of the year and the holiday season is almost upon us. With all the discussions about rising interest rates, inflation, and a looming recession, I included a few financial topics this week to help you navigate those obstacles.
I don’t have a crystal ball or the winning numbers to the current $1 billion Powerball jackpot, but I do know that life is best spent living it one day at a time.
Make the most of this day, today, and don’t worry about what may or may not happen tomorrow. Hope for the best, plan for the worst and then focus on what’s in front of you.
Carpe diem,
Brian
Brian Moran, CEO
Small Business Edge
Brian Moran & Associates
brian@smallbusinessedge.com
Get “More Rewards” on Saturday, November 5th
According to a new Bank of America survey, 51% of Americans plan to do most of their holiday shopping on or before Black Friday and Cyber Monday this year. To help these early shoppers this Saturday, November 5th, Bank of America is launching its first More Rewards Day—a one-day celebration giving Bank of America consumer and small business cardholders the opportunity to earn bonus rewards for all the purchases they make with a Bank of America credit card on that day.
On More Rewards Day, all Bank of America consumer and small business credit cardholders will automatically earn 2% cash back, two points per $1, or two miles per $1 spent in addition to the rewards they typically earn. And it’s easy—the bonus rewards will be automatically applied to their accounts.
The offer starts at midnight Eastern Time on November 5th and ends at 11:59 pm Eastern Time that same day. To qualify, purchases must have a transaction date of November 5, 2022. And, of course, we encourage everyone to shop at small businesses on November 5th and every day.
Learn more about More Rewards Day.
Tech Gifts for “Geeks”
Speaking of shopping early, if you’re in the market for holiday gifts for the “geeks” in your life, MUO (Make Use Of) has the perfect gift guide for you.
You’ll find gifts in different price ranges, including my favorite—a Star Wars night light.
Check out these gifts for geeks. Encouraging Entrepreneurial Women in Canada
Unlike in the U.S., Canadian women are about two times less likely to start a business than men, according to Chase bank in Canada.
To encourage startups, the Canadian government is offering several programs to help women become business owners, including investing more than $6 billion in its Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, which helps women-owned businesses access the financing, talent, networks, and expertise they need to start up, scale, and reach new markets.
Learn more about how Canada is helping women become small business owners.
Moving Money Internationally
Visa just announced it’s partnering with Thunes to help small businesses move money internationally. The partnership will include 78 digital wallet providers, reaching 1.5 billion digital wallets across 44 countries and territories. This new partnership expands Visa Direct’s reach to nearly 7 billion endpoints, including over 3 billion cards, 2 billion accounts, and 1.5 billion digital wallets.
Through this collaboration, Thunes’ B2B payments platform will connect to Visa Direct, allowing financial institutions, governments, neobanks, and money transfer operators to enable consumers and small businesses to send funds to markets across Africa, Asia, and Latin America where digital wallets may be the go-to payment method.
Learn more about how to move money internationally.
Resource of the Week: First Women’s Bank
First Women’s Bank is the only women-founded, women-owned, and women-led commercial bank in the country with a strategic focus on women’s economy. Their clients are entrepreneurs, innovators, and leaders – moms, daughters, and caregivers.
Their business banking offers innovative capital solutions, a modern digital banking experience, and a community dedicated to providing clients with resources, support and inspiration.
Make sure to visit their new Resource Center to view online and mobile banking demos, as well as watch videos about running a successful business!
Visit First Women’s Bank for more information. [...]
October 18, 2022Five Things To Know This Week:
1) 4 Tips to Improve Your Text Marketing
2) Buy Now, Pay Later Usage Soars
3) TikTok Success
4) Employee Retention Tool
5) Resource of the Week: American Marketing Association (AMA)
Hello Small Business Edge Newsletter Readers,
I received such positive feedback from the quotes I’ve added to recent newsletters that I decided to press my luck and give you one more this week. I hope you like it.
“You are the books you read, the films you watch, the music you listen to, the people you meet, the dreams you have, the conversations you engage in.
You are the sound of the ocean, the breath of fresh air, the brightest light and the darkest corner. You are a collective of every experience you have had in your life.
So drown yourself in a sea of knowledge and existence. Let the words run through your veins and let the colors fill your mind.” – Jac Vanek
…And then share the good stuff with the entire world! – Brian Moran
Brian Moran, CEO
Small Business Edge
Brian Moran & Associates
brian@smallbusinessedge.com
4 Tips to Improve Your Text Marketing
Text marketing is more popular—and effective than ever. MarketingProfs reports that 64% of consumers want businesses to text them more, which rises to 83% among Gen Z.
MarketingProfs cites a study showing that “texting converts better than other types of marketing outreach.” An article on the site says, “texting as a marketing tool is at a crossroads. If your business isn’t already texting customers, you’re behind the curve; and if you are using text, you may be finding it harder to stand out,” and offers marketing tips so you can stay ahead of the curve.
Learn more about the effectiveness of text marketing. Buy Now, Pay Later Usage SoarsA new consumer survey reveals that 40% of holiday shoppers plan to pay for their holiday gifts with buy now, pay later (BNPL) services.
If you’re a retailer (or e-tailer), strongly consider offering these options since the survey from Bluedot reveals that 48% of Gen Z, 47% of millennials, and 40% of Gen X say they’re going to use BNPL services this holiday season.
Learn more about BNPL usage by consumers.
TikTok Success
TikTok is the fastest-growing social media channel today—and it’s no longer just for teens. The site is an increasingly effective e-commerce platform.
Entrepreneurs are running thriving businesses on TikTok, and HubSpot shares the stories—and success strategies of several of them.
Learn more about how you can take advantage of TikTok’s rising popularity.
Employee Retention Tool
So many small businesses are still looking for ways to hang on to valued employees. A recent report from Bank of America reveals that 84% of employers say offering financial wellness tools to their staff can help reduce employee attrition, and 81% say these tools also help attract higher-quality employees.
The 12th annual Workplace Benefits Report, Navigating a New Era of Financial Wellness, also shows that 62% of employees are stressed about their finances, 80% of employees are concerned about inflation, and 71% feel the cost of living is outpacing growth in their salary or wages, which is likely a big reason they’re looking for ways to cope.
Learn more about offering financial wellness tools as an employee benefit.
Resource of the Week: American Marketing Association (AMA)
Marketing is the lifeblood of all small businesses—without it, no one would know what you do or where to find you.
The American Marketing Association has 65 chapters in North America and offers training, conferences, and networking opportunities. If you become a member, you’ll get discounts from other member businesses and access to its marketing-themed academic journals.
Learn more about joining the AMA.
Click Here to listen to the entire “5 in Five” podcast.
[...]
October 11, 2022Five Things To Know This Week:
1) Power Up Your Google Search
2) Are Your Employees Engaged?
3) Fighting SAD
4) McKinsey Technology Trends Outlook
5) Resource of the Week: Cash Awards for Minority and Women Business Owners
Hello SBE Newsletter Readers,
What is holding you back from achieving success beyond your wildest imagination? Is it not having goals? Do you not have a GPS plan on how to get there? Is no one holding you accountable?
I can help you. Go to the BricksOrSticks.com website and see how Jocelyn Ring and I are helping business owners commit to success. It’s not for everyone, just business owners who are willing to change their approach to work and be held accountable to their goals.
We are currently running the October workshop, and accepting registrations for November. I hope to see you there.
Brian
Brian Moran, CEO
Small Business Edge
Brian Moran & Associates
brian@smallbusinessedge.com
Power Up Your Google Search
How many times a day do you search for something on Google? For me, it’s so many I couldn’t possibly keep count. And I’m obviously not alone. Google processes 105,000 search queries a second.
But are you searching effectively? MakeWorkOf shares 14 Chrome Extensions that will power up your search and “give you better results or let you navigate more quickly to what you’re looking for.”
Learn how to make your Google searches more powerful. Are Your Employees Engaged?
Since we’re still experiencing a tight labor market, large numbers of employees leaving their jobs, and an apparent outbreak of “quiet quitting,” employee engagement is crucial to keeping your staff intact.
FlexJobs surveyed thousands of American workers and found out:
51% of workers say they’re either only “somewhat engaged” or “not at all engaged”
40% say they feel just “okay” at work
And 18% say they’re “pretty terrible” or “miserable.”
If you want to grow, that’s concerning. A blog on FlexJobs gives you the whole picture, from employee engagement to where people want to work and what makes them happy.
Learn more about employee engagement. Fighting SADI lived in California a long time ago, and while it was a great experience, I missed the seasons I was used to growing up in New York. That said, come winter, I miss the California sunshine.
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) impacts more than 10 million Americans every winter. SAD can make you, well, sad and stressed and affect your work productivity.
While special lamps can improve the effects of SAD, this in-depth article in WorkLife discusses other possible solutions, including potential tech solutions.
Learn more about SAD and how to mitigate its effects on you and your employees. McKinsey Technology Trends Outlook
Which tech trends will most affect your small business? McKinsey’s recently released Tech McKinsey Technology Trends Outlook offers new analysis of the development, possible uses, and industry effects of advanced technologies.
The report highlights “14 of the most significant technology trends unfolding today.” McKinsey says the study builds on last year’s trend research, adding “fresh data and deeper analysis.”
McKinsey is hired by some of the country’s biggest corporations, government agencies, and nonprofits, who pay a lot for their insights.
Learn more from this free report to better prepare your business for the future. Resource of the Week: Cash Awards for Minority and
Women Business Owners
Comcast RISE is awarding a total of $2 million to 200 small businesses owned by people of color and women in South Florida and Chicago. Each area will receive $1 million.
If you’re an eligible business, act now since the deadline to apply for a $10,000 grant closes on October 16th.
Learn more: Apply here. Get more information on the South Florida grant and the Chicago grant. Click here to listen to our entire podcast on www.NJSBDC.com. [...]
October 4, 2022Five Things To Know This Week:
1) Overcoming Your Fear of the Unknown
2) The Fundamentals of Web3
3) Need New Content Ideas?
4) The State of Rural Entrepreneurship
5) Resource of the Week: What’s Hot for 2023—Free Webinar
Happy October Small Business Edge Readers!
I often tell you how much we appreciate your feedback about this newsletter (and our other content) and how seriously we take it.
Let me share an example with you. Last week, I received an email from Barbara Weltman, a good friend and one of the country’s top business tax experts. Barbara paid me a nice compliment on our newsletter, and added, “There is no easy way to share your content online or give you credit for it.”
Wow, what were we thinking? I relayed the suggestion to our team, and one week later, each item has a series of share buttons underneath it!
Thank you, Barbara, for the suggestion and to everyone else who’s written to us with comments and compliments. We read and appreciate every one of them.
Until next week, I hope you carpe diem the heck out of this week and have a lot of fun doing it.
Brian
Brian Moran, CEO
Small Business Edge
Brian Moran & Associates
brian@smallbusinessedge.com
Overcoming Your Fear of the Unknown
The authors of this article from the Harvard Business Review say we “humans are wired to fear the unknown.” And that’s why uncertainty, whether personal or professional, can be “nerve-racking, exhausting, or even debilitating.”
But they argue that people don’t realize that “uncertainty and possibility are two sides of the same coin.” In uncertain times like those we’re currently experiencing, that’s good to know.
The authors offer four solutions for dealing with your fear and learning to navigate through the “gateway of the unknown.”
Read more about “transforming your relationship with change.” The Fundamentals of Web3
Do you fully understand Web3? Yeah, me neither. But with so much buzz about new digital technologies like cryptocurrencies and NFTs (non-fungible tokens), I thought I should learn more.
This new article from McKinsey does a great job explaining the fundamentals of Web3, what it is and what its use cases will be, its possibilities and limitations, and how disruptive it will be for businesses.
Learn more about Web3 and how it will impact your business.
Need New Content Ideas?
Since creating content is now such an essential part of most marketing efforts, small businesses often struggle to come up with new ideas for their content.
If you need help in this area, there’s a really useful post on the Constant Contact blog that offers great advice, from planning your content to getting ideas relevant to your business.
Read more about how and where to get content ideas for your website. The State of Rural Entrepreneurship
According to SCORE’s new Megaphone of Main Street: The Small Business Rural/Urban Divide, while most (75%) of America’s small businesses have returned to pre-pandemic or better sales levels, many rural small businesses are struggling—53% say they feel “somewhat or extremely negative about the economy and its impact on their businesses.”
SCORE’s survey of small businesses shows that when compared to non-rural businesses, rural entrepreneurs are:
30.2% more likely to cite inflation as one of their top three business concerns
32.4% more likely to cite supply chain disruptions
9.3% more likely to report higher costs of doing business
24.5% more likely to report higher vendor prices
Learn more about the challenges facing rural small business owners. Resource of the Week: What’s Hot for 2023-Free Webinar
My long-time friend and colleague Rieva Lesonsky loves to keep track of the trends that impact small businesses. Here’s your chance to learn the latest information and to find out the latest business ideas and trends as we head into 2023.
Rieva is giving a webinar on Thursday, October 6th, for the Small Business Administration (SBA), and you can join—for free. She’ll be talking about the consumer behaviors that have changed in the last few years and how you can pivot your small business to address those demands, the hottest businesses for 2023, how the country’s changing demographics impact your small business, and a lot more.
You’ll learn more at the free event, which starts this Thursday at 10:30 am ET. You can register here. [...]
September 20, 2022Five Things To Know This Week:
1) The Powerful New Features of iOS 16
2) Should You Start a Business During a Recession?
3) Avoid End-of-the-Year Stress
4) Are You a Perfectionist Manager?
5) Resource of the Week: Bricks or Sticks?
Hello Readers,
Welcome to Autumn!
I love the change in seasons—the contrast between summer and fall, cooler weather, fire pits, football games, and trees transforming themselves into works of art.
I have long used this week to review my business goals for the past three months. Where did I achieve my objectives? Where did I fall short? More importantly, what do I need to do in the next three months to stay on track to reach my annual goals?
Until putting this week’s newsletter together, I didn’t know that September is National Self-Improvement Month! So, I suggest you do what I do—use this time to recommit yourself to hitting your goals for the year.
If you are a business owner and need help solidifying the foundation of your company, then you will definitely want to read our “Resource of the Week” below. It might just be the edge you need to succeed in 2022, 2023, and beyond.
And thank you very much for your feedback about our weekly newsletters. It takes a village to get these done each week, but I work with a team of awesome professionals, and they always deliver.
See you same time next week.
Brian
Brian Moran, CEO
Small Business Edge
Brian Moran & Associates
brian@smallbusinessedge.com
The Powerful New Features of iOS 16
If you own a smartphone, you likely know that Apple just released the newest version of iOS last week. If you’re wondering if you should update your phones, CNET says, “It comes with a slew of new features and upgrades that aim to improve how your iPhone works. This includes a more customizable lock screen, a way to edit sent messages, and a magic photo editing tool.” And the much-missed battery percentage is back.
You can find out which iPhones can support iOS 16 here.
Learn more about the details of iOS 16.
Should You Start a Business During a Recession?
During recessions, many entrepreneurs pause their business efforts. Whether they plan to start a new company or grow their current one, they think going ahead with their plans is too risky.
This is the wrong approach, says a partner in a VC firm that focuses on early-stage startups. On the SCORE blog, he says there’s less competition during recessions, and it’s easier to find customers (your marketing messages go further).
Learn more about starting or growing a small business during a recession. Avoid End-of-the-Year Stress
The first day of fall starts Thursday. This year has gone so quickly, and typically many of us get extra stressed as we hurtle toward the end of the year.
A blog on the Eblin Group asks if you have a strategy for “surviving the mad dash? How will you stay focused, sane, and healthy and still get a lot of stuff done?
Read more about how to avoid year-end stress.
Are You a Perfectionist Manager?
You may think that the more you demand from your team, the better your business will be. But that’s not typically the case. An article in Harvard Business Review says, “being a perfectionist manager is a surefire way to undermine” your team’s morale and performance.
For businesses to succeed, the author asserts, you have to “encourage experimentation” and show your staff you “recognize that failure is part of the process.”
There is more than one type of perfectionist—see if you recognize yourself as one.
Learn more about avoiding the pitfalls of perfectionism.
Resource of the Week: Bricks or Sticks?
Most people know the story of the three little pigs and the big, bad wolf. The first two pigs built their homes with foundations of hay and sticks, respectively, and lost them when the wolf huffed and puffed and blew their houses down.
They ran to the third pig’s house, the one that used bricks to build his foundation. The wolf tried hard but was unable to blow his house down. He ultimately fell into a pot of boiling water when he tried to climb down the chimney. The pigs were spared.
This story is reminiscent of the pandemic, and COVID-19 was the big, bad wolf. Many companies discovered whether their businesses were built on flimsy foundations or strong ones. If your business has been struggling for the past few years, trying to navigate the twists, turns, and obstacles thrown in your path, I want to help you.
I am co-hosting a monthly workshop with Jocelyn Ring starting in October for 20 business owners. The workshop is divided into four weekly pillars designed to provide you with the bricks you need to build the strongest possible foundation for your business.
If you’re feeling uncertain about what’s next for your business, this workshop is for you.
Visit www.bricksorsticks.com and sign up for our workshop. It starts on October 3rd. Let Jocelyn and I help you run a more efficient and productive business by showing you how to build the strongest foundation so the big, bad wolf cannot destroy your business. Listen to my podcast with Brandon here. [...]
September 13, 2022Five Things To Know This Week:
1) How Gen Z is Shaping Entrepreneurship
2) Should You Hire a Social Media Content Creator?
3) Are You a Go-With-the-Flow Type of Leader?
4) Improve Your Brain Function with Brown Noise
5) Resource of the Week: National Hispanic Heritage Month
“Because you are alive, everything is possible.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
What’s on your bucket list? What is one thing you really want to accomplish in your life? Run a marathon? Open your own business? Visit every state?
I love the quote from Thich Nhat Hanh above (pronounced “Tick-Not-Hahn”) because it makes me believe I can do anything. Granted, I will never play 1st base for the NY Mets, but I dream of visiting every state in the U.S. (I only have North Dakota, Oklahoma, and Alaska left), and there are other “BHAGs” on my bucket list.
What’s a BHAG? It’s an acronym for “Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal.” I first learned about BHAGs in Jim Collins’ book, Built to Last. BHAGs are goals that don’t take a day, week, or month to complete. Sometimes they take years or even decades. But, remembering the words of Thich Nhat Hanh, “everything is possible,” we should all have at least one BHAG on our bucket lists.
Don’t be afraid to have really BIG goals. Write them down, give yourself enough time to complete them, find good people who will support you along the way (and hold you accountable), and don’t forget to enjoy the journey. BHAG!
Thanks for being part of my journey too.
Brian
Brian Moran, CEO
Small Business Edge
Brian Moran & Associates
brian@smallbusinessedge.com
How Gen Z is Shaping Entrepreneurship
Last spring Microsoft commissioned a report, the Small Business State of Mind, that shows how entrepreneurial Gen Z is—62% say they’ve already started or plan to launch their own businesses.
Is Gen Z the “most entrepreneurial generation” the world has ever seen? Perhaps so, says the report. Here are five trends the report says are shaping entrepreneurship today:
9-to-never. Gen Z small business owners are redefining the workplace hustle.
The do-good effect. Small business owners investing in social good are seeing the benefits.
Risky business. Small businesses are letting data breach prevention fall to the wayside.
Road to retirement. Why is Gen Z set on small business ownership? Early retirement.
TikTok over textbooks. Gen Z small business owners are leaning into TikTok for business advice while debating the necessity of a higher-ed degree.
Learn more about the future of entrepreneurship.
Should You Hire a Social Media Content Creator?
Before you answer, according to Sprout Social, a social media content creator is not the same as a social media manager. The job of a social media content creator is to, obviously, create content, whether it be in the form of blogs, newsletters, etc. Yes, that sounds like a regular content creator, but in this case, all the content is “solely focused on understanding and building their audience on social media.”
Sprout Social says you have three options for hiring for this position. You can hire an in-house creator, work with an outside agency, or contract a freelancer.
Not convinced you need a social media content creator? There’s a lot more to know before you decide.
Learn more about hiring a social media content creator.
Are You a Go-With-the-Flow Type of Leader?
A post on the SmartBrief blog discusses the importance of using improvisation skills to be a better leader. The author argues that the ability to go with the flow shows you have the flexibility to make the right moves at the right time.
She says improvising builds energy for business leaders and offers seven tips for learning how to get the most out of improvisation, including breaking bad habits and learning how to tell stories.
Learn more about learning how to improvise and be a better leader.
Improve Your Brain Function with Brown Noise
No, that’s not a typo—I didn’t mean white noise. There are actually several different types of noise, including white, brown (also known as red), and pink noise.
The Sleep Foundation says, “brown noise contains sounds from every octave of the sound spectrum, but the power behind frequencies decreases with each octave…resulting in a sound” that’s deeper than white noise (or pink), reminding people of the sound of rainfall.
Research shows brown noise may help improve cognitive performance, helping you think, learn, and remember better. (And yes, white noise will help you sleep better.) And it’s apparently trending on TikTok.
Learn more about how the effects of the different noises.
Resource of the Week: National Hispanic Heritage Month
Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15th to October 15th by celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson. President Ronald Reagan expanded it in 1988 to cover 30 days beginning on September 15th and ending on October 15th. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988.
September 15th is an important date because it is the anniversary of independence for several Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16th and September 18th, respectively.
Click HERE to learn more about National Hispanic Heritage Month.
Click HERE to listen to our special 5 in Five podcast where five experts offer their advice to business owners for the second half of 2022. [...]
September 6, 2022Five Things To Know This Week:
1) How Startups Can Fight Inflation
2) Words Matter
3) Twitter’s Actually Getting an Edit Button!
4) Boosting Your Cell’s Signal
5) Resource of the Week: Ready.gov
Hi Small Business Edge Readers,
September is National Preparedness Month. As of today, there are 117 days until the end of the year. What potential calamities and disasters could happen in the next 117 days? More importantly, is your business (and personal life) prepared to withstand them? Hurricanes, hackers, fires, and other adverse events don’t schedule themselves on your calendar; they almost always hit without warning…and usually at the worst possible times.
In a disaster, you will get knocked down. But, creating a plan and being prepared measurably increases the odds of getting back up and running with minimal downtime. Without preparation and planning, you will probably stay down. This is not me jinxing you; this is reality.
Take time TODAY (don’t wait for tomorrow) to play the “What If” game with your key employees and business advisors. Ask critical questions (e.g., What if we get hacked? What if a hurricane hits us or our customers? What if I become disabled?). Then, write down exactly how you will best respond to these situations. This becomes your Emergency Response Plan. Give everyone on your team a copy, so they know exactly what to do when disaster strikes.
Side notes: Have emergency drawers—filled with flashlights, batteries, candles, water, etc.—at your office and home. Also, today is a good day to review your insurance policies to see what you are covered for in the event disaster strikes.
Hope for the best, but plan for the worst
Brian
Brian Moran, CEO
Small Business Edge
Brian Moran & Associates
brian@smallbusinessedge.com
How Startups Can Fight Inflation
While inflation dipped slightly in July, Phillip Kim, an associate professor of entrepreneurship at Babson College, says startups will still face high prices “for the foreseeable future.”
Kim says, “entrepreneurs need to concentrate on creating value for the customer” and stay focused on the basics of their startups.
Learn more about how startups can thrive in challenging economic times.
Words Matter
Most of us know we should avoid jargon when speaking to others, because it often seems like posturing and inauthentic speech. But leadership coach Lolly Daskal says, “there are other phrases that mislead employees and signal poor leadership.”
Some of these phrases surprised me, mostly because I use them (like “I’ll do it myself”) or hear them often (“with all due respect”).
Daskal explains why these phrases undermine your leadership and suggests different ways to express the same thoughts.
Read more about the power of words.
Twitter’s Actually Getting an Edit Button!
Are you one of the millions of Twitter users begging the social media company for an edit button? I am. And it seems the company is about to introduce one—starting in the New Zealand market before unveiling it in Australia, Canada, and the U.S.
One caveat before you start celebrating—at the moment, according to PCMag.com, the “edit function will only be available for a select group of paid users, “everyone will still be able to see if a Tweet has been edited.”
Read more about Twitter’s edit button.
Boosting Your Cell’s Signal
Even the best smartphones can encounter a weak signal, whether due to finding yourself in the middle of nowhere or experiencing dead zones in your home or office. Don’t panic; CNET offers some solutions, ranging from simple to more complex ones.
Here’s one they call “tried-and-true” that I had no idea about. Did you know that “turning on Airplane mode, waiting a few seconds, and then cycling it off can definitely help with reception” most of the time?
Learn more about how to boost your cell signal.
Resource of the Week: Ready.gov (Sept is National Preparedness Month)
Launched in 2004, National Preparedness Month is held every September. The program is designed to help all Americans and businesses prepare for and respond to emergencies, including natural disasters and potential terrorist attacks. National Preparedness Month culminates on September 30th with National Preparedness Day, the national day of action.
Learn more HERE about how to prepare your business for all types of disasters.
Click HERE to listen to the 5 in Five podcast with Kathleen [...]
August 30, 2022Five Things To Know This Week:
1) How New Websites Can Identify Important Keywords
2) The Best Computer Keyboards
3) Conquering Stress
4) Does Your Business Need a Content Room?
5) Resource of the Week: The Small Business Edge (SBE) Marketplace
Hi Small Business Edge readers,
“Don’t worry twice” is a 3-word mantra I often share with business owners who tell me they are anxious and stressed about the future. They worry about inflation, rising interest rates, finding and retaining good employees, consumer demand, and more. In short, they fear the unknown and what may or may not happen.
A few years ago, I created something called a “GPS Plan.” It’s designed to help business owners worry less about the future because they have already mapped it out. The concept is similar to putting an address into a smartphone which then tells you how long it will take to get to your destination and if there are any delays along the way. I do the same with a business owner’s strategic goal.
Starting in October, Jocelyn Ring, a top branding and leadership expert, and I will host a monthly workshop for business owners who worry about the future. The class, titled: Bricks or Sticks: Building a Foundation For a Business That Lasts, will enable business owners to create their own GPS Plans, define the type of business owner they want to be, turn a reactive mindset into a proactive one, and give them the secret sauce to success (We call it “D.C.A.”).
If you’re interested in learning more about the “Bricks or Sticks” class, click here. You can also email me if you have questions.
Oh, and don’t worry twice.
Brian Moran, CEO
Small Business Edge
Brian Moran & Associates
brian@smallbusinessedge.com
How New Websites Can Identify Important Keywords
One of the issues startup entrepreneurs face is their new websites and SEO. Practical Ecommerce says that while “an established website has many options to expand keyword lists and identify organic search opportunities,” a new site doesn’t have the data that enables it to identify keywords.
Their post offers information about the tactics and tools that allow you to narrow your keyword list even when you don’t have internal data.
Read more about the best ways to do keyword research for a new website.
The Best Computer Keyboards
Computer peripherals can be as crucial to your computing experience as the actual computer itself. Keyboards, for example, can increase productivity. And the right keyboard can offer a better ergonomic experience.
But there are so many options, how do you know which keyboard is right for you and your employees? The “Wirecutter” column from The New York Times did a deep dive on the best types and sizes of keyboards for Macs and Windows computers.
Learn more about which keyboard is best for you.
Conquering Stress
All business owners experience stress. How you handle stressful situations determines whether you can find the answers to relieve your anxiety. Fast Company suggests that while “obsessing over a stressful situation can be harmful, there are times when thinking things through fully is the right move.”
Their solution to destressing may seem a little old-fashioned—it involves using paper and pen—though I suppose you could just as easily use your computer to make a list of what’s stressing you and then classify the stressors.
The article explains how doing this can help you conquer your stress and move on.
Learn more about dealing with stress.
Does Your Business Need a Content Room?
So, you’ve never heard of a content room? Neither have I. But after reading this post on worklife, I want to create one.
Content rooms are “designed to feel informal and cozy” and feature great sound design. If you do live events or film a lot of videos at your business, content rooms provide a quiet space for your teams to create and not get in the way of your other employees.
Experts say a content room’s two most important elements are “dimension and flexibility.” You also want a room with “the right look, tone, color, and materials.” Content rooms are in high demand at the moment, and there are several resources you can tap into.
Read more about how to create a content room.
Resource of the Week: The Small Business Edge (SBE) Marketplace
The Small Business Edge (SBE) Marketplace. We are excited and proud to announce the launch of the SBE Marketplace, a community for business owners hosted by Rieva Lesonsky, John Lawson, and Brian Moran, three top small business experts with decades of experience helping business owners. On the SBE Marketplace, members can:
Network with like-minded people
Showcase their products and services
Learn more about products and services that will help them run more productive companies
Gain access to top experts on relevant business topics.
The website officially launches on September 1st.
Click HERE to sign up for a free membership today!
Click HERE to listen to the 5 in Five podcast with Vijay Ramachandran [...]
August 23, 2022Five Things To Know This Week:
1) 7 Productivity Tips for You and Your Employees
2) How to Take the Stress Out of Making Cold Calls
3) Retain Your Staff Without Spending a Fortune
4) Celebrating Black Business Month
5) Resource of the Week: CNET
Brian Moran, CEO
Small Business Edge
Brian Moran & Associates
brian@smallbusinessedge.com
7 Productivity Tips for You and Your Employees
Summer is quickly winding down, which means business is (or should be) ramping up. Many small companies slow down in the summer, and getting back in the productivity groove can be a little challenging.
If that sounds like you, or if you’re just looking for a productivity boost, check out these seven tips from Business.com.
Learn more about how you and your team can be more productive.
How to Take the Stress Out of Making Cold Calls
Selling is one of my favorite job responsibilities. While it energizes me, I know it intimidates others, especially when you have to make a cold call.
That’s why it’s often helpful to have a prepared sales script. This blog post on HubSpot provides tons of tips about sounding authentic and not robotic and includes cold calling scripts.
Learn more about making successful cold calls.
Retain Your Staff Without Spending a Fortune
With the Great Resignation still going on and the nation essentially at full employment, small businesses are still struggling to keep their employees onboard. Adding to that stress, inflationary pressures can lead to employees asking for bigger raises than usual.
How are business owners handling this? Fast Company says we now know salary isn’t the only thing that motivates workers. It says, “a strong corporate culture and engaging with staff to ensure there’s purpose and incentive to their work can be just as powerful for keeping employees happy.”
They also want flexible work arrangements (64% of the workforce would consider looking for a new job if required to return to the office full time), bosses who listen to them and act on their input, to be recognized for their efforts, and incentivized to stay (not necessarily by money).
Read more about how to keep your employees happy and onboard.
Celebrating Black Business Month
SCORE is celebrating Black Business Month by providing resources and information for current and aspiring Black small business owners.
In addition to a post highlighting the opportunities to start or expand a beauty business aimed at Black consumers, there’s a helpful blog about how all of us can support Black-owned businesses.
Learn more about how to help Black business owners.
Resource of the Week: CNET
When CNET was launched back in the 1990s, its goal was to “give audiences knowledge on all things computing.” Today, that mission has expanded to guiding its readers “to a better future.”
CNET is one of the first places I check when I want the scoop about the newest tech, the best deals, and to get tech tips. But today, CNET is so much more—it’s packed with news, tools, and information about money, home, wellness, cars, and more.
So whether you need to know why your hydrangeas aren’t the color you want or if the new Galaxy Z Fold 4 is worth $1,800, CNET is your go-to source.
Learn more every day on CNET. Listen to the full podcast with Savita Jones by clicking here [...]
August 16, 2022Five Things To Know This Week:
1) Can You Crowdfund Your Small Business?
2) Do Your Email and Content Work Together?
3) Taking the Awkwardness Out of Self-Introductions
4) Americans are Moving Into Barns
5) Resource of the Week: Pitney Bowes Financial Services
Brian Moran, CEO
Small Business Edge
Brian Moran & Associates
brian@smallbusinessedge.com
Can You Crowdfund Your Small Business?
Some small business owners have found successful raising money on GoFundMe. A blog post on Small Business Trends says GoFundMe is “one of the best resources available to a business owner trying to raise money.”
The post discusses the benefits of turning to a crowdfunding platform like GoFundMe instead of taking out a business loan, including how it’s likely you’ll get your money quicker than waiting for loan approval, and you can easily reach out to people (including family and friends) all over the country.
Not sure if this will work for you? The post’s author says, “you’ll never know what type of response you’d get unless you try.”
Learn more about raising money on GoFundMe. Do Your Email and Content Work Together?
Email is not just for sending messages. A new report from the Content Marketing Institute (CMI) reveals that critical role email plays in promoting and tracking the effectiveness of your data.
As reported in the blog email on acid, when measuring the success of content, tracking email engagement (63%) was one of the top three ways B2C marketers use to gain insight into content performance. The top two methods were website metrics (67%) and conversions (65%).
The study also showed that not enough businesses were taking advantage of email to distribute content, instead turning to Facebook (88%), LinkedIn (78%), and Instagram (70%).
Learn more about how you can best integrate your email and content marketing programs.
Taking the Awkwardness Out of Self-Introductions
This isn’t something I have problems with, but I’ve noticed that when I’m participating on panels or in meetings, some people get tongue-tied when it’s time to introduce themselves.
If that’s you, you’ll definitely want to read this post In The Harvard Business Review. It thoroughly explains what it calls the “eloquent and effective” self-introduction framework. It’s also a simple three-part approach that invokes the present, past, and future.
Learn more about how to take the stress out of introducing yourself.
Americans are Moving Into Barns
No, they’re not sharing space with cows and horses. But “barndominiums” are one of the biggest trends in the home industry. Google Trends data shows increased search activity for “barndominium” since early 2020.
According to Insider, real estate listings on Realtor.com reveal that many of these homes (typically being built from scratch) are located in the Midwest, especially in Texas.
Read more to find out why you may actually want to live in a barn.
Resource of the Week: Pitney Bowes Financial Services
I’ve had the pleasure of working with Pitney Bowes since 2013. They’ve helped small business owners run better companies since 1920, when they launched their first postage meter machines.
Today, Pitney Bowes Financial Services helps small and midsize companies with everything from working capital to equipment financing.
Meet their team leaders, check out their offerings, and see if they can help your business in 2022. You can also listen to a “5 in Five” podcast I did with Christopher Johnson, SVP & President of Pitney Bowes Financial Services here.
Listen to my podcast with Christine here. [...]
August 9, 2022Five Things To Know This Week:
1) 12 Best Ways to Delight Your B2B Prospects
2) 6 Best Note-taking Apps
3) Are You Hiring?
4) Do You Get Enough Free Time During the Day?
5) Resource of the Week: Zoho One
Brian Moran, CEO
Small Business Edge
Brian Moran & Associates
brian@smallbusinessedge.com
12 Best Ways to Delight Your B2B Prospects
Do you own/work for a B2B company? As you well know, the industry has changed, particularly in how you find and attract clients.
HubSpot says it’s never been more difficult to be in B2B sales. “You have to manage heightened expectations, battle against a multitude of competitors, and make sure you have time to meet the needs of everyone in your pipeline.”
Of course, HubSpot doesn’t leave it there. It presents the challenges facing B2B salespeople today and the solutions that can help you succeed.
Read more about 12 ways you can delight your B2B Prospects.
6 Best Note-taking Apps
How do you take notes? Do you neatly write it out in a notebook, or are you more of a scrawler? Do you take notes online? In a word processing tool? Or do you use a specific notetaking app?
However you like to take notes, Zapier, an app integration platform, maintains that “there’s a notes app out there that can handle all your weird quirks and note-taking needs.” It examined nearly 40 “general-purpose note-taking apps” to find the best ones that are quick and easy to use and accessible from any of your devices.
Learn more about the 6 best note-taking apps.
Are You Hiring?
According to the July Hiring Report from Alignable, while 51% of small businesses are looking for new employees, 45% have put their hiring plans on hold due to high labor costs and inflation.
Of course, the actual numbers vary by industry. And minority business owners are particularly impacted—58% say they must immediately implement a hiring freeze so they can “stay afloat.”
Check out the July Hiring Report to see what others in your industry are experiencing.
Do You Get Enough Free Time During the Day?
As the classic song from Porgy and Bess goes, “Summertime, and the livin’ is easy…” Except for business owners. Time management and productivity coach Alexis Haselberger says that to carve out more free time in your day, you first need to define how much discretionary time you’re looking for.
As a busy business owner, if you had too much free time in a day, it would likely mean you’re not very busy at your company—and that’s never a good thing. Haselberger says the sweet spot of free time is between 2-5 hours a day.
Do you think it would be impossible to carve out two hours a day to relax? Haselberger tells you how and provides a free 8-step framework.
Read more about how you can find more free time in your day.
Resource of the Week: Zoho One
Zoho One is a unified platform with over 40 integrated applications to manage, connect, and automate business processes across your entire business. They offer a free 30-day trial with no credit card required and offer free versions for many of their products.
Zoho cares about their employees, their customers, and making the planet a better place. I attended their conference last month and was impressed with their purpose over profits philosophy. Check out their Zoho One platform and let me know what you think.
Learn more about Zoho One. Listen to my podcast with Kaaryn here. [...]
July 19, 2022Five Things To Know This Week:
1) 23 Apps That Increase Productivity
2) Small Business Loan Approvals Rise—Slightly
3) How to Lead Better Virtual Meetings
4) To Boldly Go Where No Man—or Telescope—Has Gone Before
5) Resource of the Week: New Jersey Business Action Center
Hello SBE Newsletter Readers,
This week’s newsletter is filled with ways to make you more productive. From 23 apps that will help increase productivity to tips on automating your tasks from Gordon Henry at Thryv, we remind you that “Time is the only currency that matters.” You can always generate more money, but no one has figured out how to generate more time.
Spend it wisely, and watch the time robbers!
Brian
Brian Moran, CEO
Small Business Edge
Brian Moran & Associates
brian@smallbusinessedge.com
23 Apps That Increase Productivity
Like most business owners, I’m always in search of tips, tools, and tactics that will increase my productivity. I work at home and have three dogs, so I’ve long searched for an app that provides ambient noise. There’s a great one included on this list of 23 best productivity apps from Fast Company.
There’s lots more to discover here, for smartphones and computers, for both Windows and Mac operating systems.
Learn more about increasing your productivity. Small Business Loan Approvals Rise—Slightly
There’s some good news for small business owners looking for money. According to the latest Biz2Credit Small Business Lending Index™, loan approval rose ever so slightly in June from 15.3% to 15.4% at big banks and from 20.9% to 21.1% at small banks.
In addition, the report shows banks’ loan approvals have risen every month this year.
Alternative lenders’ loan approval rates also increased from May to June, while those at credit unions dipped from 20.6% to 20.5% in June.
Biz2Credit CEO Rohit Arora says, “While the cost of capital for small businesses is rising because most small business funding comes at variable rates, borrowers need capital for growth…can find it at a variety of lending sources.”
Learn more about small business funding and the Biz2Credit Small Business Lending Index™.
How to Lead Better Virtual Meetings
Even though some of us have returned to the office full-time, many are running hybrid or virtual companies. And that means we’re still participating in numerous video conferences.
Leading a virtual meeting may sound easy, but it’s not that simple to focus on the task at hand while holding everyone’s attention.
This article in Harvard Business Review is written for new managers, but it has good advice for all business leaders.
Read more about leading better online meetings.
To Boldly Go Where No Man—or Telescope—Has Gone Before
Yes, I’m borrowing words from the opening of Star Trek. But, in case you missed it, last week, NASA released the first images from the James Webb Space Telescope—and they were truly breathtaking. The first picture released shows a galaxy cluster from 4.6 billion years ago. Another, which looks like agates floating in space, is informally known as the Southern Ring Nebula and is approximately 2,500 light-years away.
Learn more about these amazing pictures from NASA.
Small Business Resource: New Jersey Business Action Center (NJBAC)
The New Jersey Business Action Center (NJBAC) is a business advocacy team within the Department of State dedicated to solving problems and maximizing growth opportunities for NJ business owners.
The NJBAC can connect you with government agencies, direct you to appropriate officials, facilitate meetings and follow-ups with regulatory agencies, and so much more, all at no cost. And it’s all kept strictly confidential.
Whether you are an entrepreneur just getting started or a corporate executive looking to expand, the NJBAC can help you.
Learn more by calling 1-800-537-7397 or by going to their website. Listen to my podcast with Gordon here. [...]
July 12, 2022Five Things To Know This Week:
1) Improve Your Social Media Engagement with Emojis
2) How Business Owners Can Supplement Their Income
3) We All Scream for Ice Cream
4) Are You Forgetting More?
5) Resource of the Week: UENI
Hi Friends of Small Business Edge,
Today is a great day to have a GREAT day! I hope you carpe diem the heck out of the next 24 hours. Work hard, but make sure you take time to do some fun things, too (like me, listening to Bob Seger as I write this newsletter).
I created a summer playlist on Spotify to listen to as I do my work. It very well may be the single greatest playlist ever. If you want to hear what I’m listening to, send me an email, and I will send you a link to the playlist. Even better, send me your favorite song, and I will add it to the list.
Thanks,
Brian
Brian Moran, CEO
Small Business Edge
Brian Moran & Associates
brian@smallbusinessedge.com
Improve Your Social Media Engagement with Emojis
In addition to being National Ice Cream Day (see below), July 17 is also World Emoji Day.
There are about 3,460 emojis right now, and 10 billion emojis are sent every day.
But emojis are not just cute expressions standing in for words. They’re helpful marketing tools.
Contentworks says using emojis “works wonders for engagement. Using an emoji in a tweet can increase engagement by 25%. In a Facebook post, you can see shares increase by 33% and interactions by 57%. For Instagram posts, engagement can go up by 48%.”
Learn more about why you should incorporate emojis in your marketing materials. How Business Owners Can Supplement Their Income
In these inflationary times, many small business owners are looking for ways to supplement their income. According to Luke Pardue, an economist at Gusto, 33% of their small business customers say they need side hustles to keep their primary businesses going. The same is true for 53% of Black and 49% of Asian American and Pacific Islander business owners.
Shopify’s blog offers some great side hustle ideas for small business owners to consider.
Read more about Shopify’s 24 side hustles to help you keep your company afloat.
We All Scream for Ice Cream
July is National Ice Cream Month—and July 17 is National Ice Cream Day, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. And did you know the average American eats about 20 pounds (or 4 gallons) of ice cream a year? (Actually, that sounds low to me.)
Ice cream is not only a treat to eat, but it’s also a big, burgeoning industry—last year, U.S. ice cream makers “churned out more than 1.3 billion gallons of ice cream.” And American ice cream businesses contribute $13 billion to the national economy.
There are many opportunities to get started in the ice cream business, and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Many ice cream chains began with a stand or a truck.
If being an ice cream entrepreneur interests you, Small Business Trends gives you the scoop.
Learn more about starting an ice cream business.
Are You Forgetting More?
Unfortunately, as we age, our memory tends to not be as sharp as when we were younger. But there are some tricks we can do to help bolster our memories—including walking backwards! According to the scientists mentioned in this Fast Company article, it really works.
Learn more about five easy ways to improve your memory.
Small Business Resource: UENI (pronounced You and I)
UENI is a mission-driven organization that has helped 650,000 small businesses get online. Founded in 2014, UENI will build your small business a beautiful website in 7 days for $149 and guaranteed happiness or your money back.
UENI is easy, affordable, and comes with access to high quality human support. The company provides a Done-For-You website that is ecommerce and bookings-enabled and comes with a Google Business Profile, a Zoom call with a website expert to launch your website, an easy-to-use website editor, and lifetime free hosting. The company supports nearly 1,000 different categories of business and builds thousands of new sites every month. I love how they are helping small business owners!
Learn more about how UENI can help your small business get online. Listen to my podcast with Kathleen here. [...]
July 5, 2022Five Things To Know This Week:
1) Earn More Rewards with this New Small Business Credit Card
2) What to Expect with iOS 16
3) Are You Purposely Productive?
4) How to Write More Effectively
5) Resource of the Week: Rebound Webcast with Matt Doherty
Happy Independence Day!
Yesterday we celebrated the 246th birthday of our country. Not all of the birthdays have been pleasant ones, and it often seems like at least half the country is angry or protesting at any given moment.
I learned years ago to separate myself from people who choose to only fix blame instead of fixing the problems. I love our country, warts and all, and the 320 million+ people who inhabit it. To me, America is family, and small business owners are my favorite siblings. If I can help you run a better business or answer pressing questions, my email inbox is always open.
To quote former President Bill Clinton, “There is nothing wrong with America that can’t be cured with what is right with America.” Happy birthday to the red, white, and blue!
Brian
Brian Moran, CEO
Small Business Edge
Brian Moran & Associates
brian@smallbusinessedge.com
Earn More Rewards with this New Small Business Credit Card
PayPal just launched the PayPal Business Cashback Mastercard “to better meet the everyday financing needs of small business owners.” The card has no annual fee and offers a 2% cashback reward on all purchases. In addition, the rewards never expire, and there’s no limit on how many you can earn. PayPal says this makes the card “among the highest cashback rewards value available.”
Payments Dive says the offering also “includes a virtual card, free employee cards, and Mastercard benefits. Plus, the cards are integrated with PayPal’s merchant platform.
Learn more about the benefits and rewards of this new credit card. What to Expect with iOS 16
Apple iPhones have a 50% share of the smartphone market in the U.S., so millions are eagerly anticipating the release of iOS 16. The operating system update, announced in June, is rumored to launch in September.
According to Macworld, OS 16 is packed with new features like customizable lock screens (and you can create multiple lock screens), a new way to follow sports games, Uber journey progress, workouts, and more (called Live Activities), the ability to recall sent emails and texts, and so much more.
Learn more about the feature-packed iOS 16.
Are You Purposely Productive?
Do you yearn for more free time? What business owner doesn’t? An article in Fast Company suggests we “practice purposeful productivity, which requires a more intentional approach to tasks and to-dos.”
You start by figuring out where your time goes. And realizing there’s a difference between “important” and “urgent.”
The author offers valuable tips that enable us to find more time.
Read more about how you can get more done in a day.
How to Write More Effectively
I’ve spent most of my career in sales, so it surprises people when they find out I majored in journalism in college (Go Marquette Golden Eagles!). The writing and communication skills I learned have served me well, especially when crafting sales pitches and decks.
My friend Rieva Lesonsky has been editing articles for many years and maintains it’s easier to write long rambling posts than shorter, concise ones. And the Harvard Business Review agrees, saying, “it’s hard to carve out enough time to write effectively.” Even better, they offer “three strategies to pare down your prose.”
Learn more about how to write more concisely and effectively.
Resource of the Week: Rebound Webcast with Matt Doherty
Matt Doherty is an Author, Entrepreneur, Keynote Speaker, and NCAA Basketball Champion (He started on the 1982 UNC Tarheels with Michael Jordan, Sam Perkins, James Worthy, and Jimmy Black). As a Vistage Chair in NC, Matt hosts the Rebound Live Webcast, a monthly discussion on leadership and the most pressing topics for business owners and executives.
The next Rebound webcast is on Tuesday, July 12th, 8AM-9AM ET with guest Jon Reid. The topic is “Diversity, Equality & Inclusion.” To join the webcast discussion, click here https://coachmattdoherty.com/webcast/ Listen to my podcast with Bridget here. [...]