As a small business owner, you know that a credit card can be a helpful tool for managing your business’s finances. It’s also an excellent way to provide your employees with the means to handle their business expenses. But if they’re not used correctly, credit cards can quickly get out …
If you’re a small business with an online presence, then you know that SEO is essential in order to be found by potential customers. In this post, we will discuss five ways that you can improve your SEO and see better rankings in search engines. These eight tips are easy …
Joe Pascaretta knows a thing or two about small business growth. Yes, he heads small business marketing for Dun and Bradstreet but he has also run a landscaping business and he and his team speak to thousands of business owners year. Listen to our interview here on SoundCloud or here …
Digital evangelist and and author Vala Afshar, a former key executive for Salesforce, recently noted: “Read to improve your writing. Write to improve your thinking. Speak to improve your storytelling.” His remark is profound, and should resonate highly with the readers of Smart Hustle. Think about the many headlines competing …
Having a strong community is a powerful way to build your business. If your business is more than just “products”, but a “community” it’s much more powerful. Having a customer is nice, in fact, it’s essential. AND having an energized community means you’ll always have customers. In my book “Celebrity …
Sales is about listening to and understanding the client’s needs. It’s about helping them to understand you have the solution to what they need. You can solve their problem. Dr. Nadia Brown, founder of The Doyenne Agency, Inc., unpacked for the Smart Hustle community what we need to do to …
Now in its second (or third or fourth) leg, the global pandemic – which could soon be called an endemic – made its mark by creating obstacles for everyone. Every business, big and small, experienced its fair share of challenges. Yet, in the height of the pandemic, minority-owned small businesses …
You’ve been doing double duty for a long while. Working your reliable day job has been paying the bills, and your evenings and weekends have been reserved for your true passion: running your own business. In some ways, you have been getting the best of both worlds: stability and security, …
Take a moment to think about all of the data your business currently has stored digitally. Customer account documents, databases, financial statements, years of tax documents, personnel records, presentations, inventory/sales, the list goes on and on. All of this data is important and worth saving. From a business perspective, this …
Small businesses form a large part of America’s professional landscape, accounting for about 44% of all economic activity in the US. What makes businesses thrive changes, and 2022 promises to continue showcasing new inclinations and tendencies. Here are some of the top trends in small business this year. Here are …
Bert Thornton has spent 40 years leading the growth of Waffle House, as its former President and COO. Mentorship has been an important part of his success. When Bert started there were a handful of Waffle Houses, when he retired, they had thousands. Bert’s passion is developing future leaders through …
Intuit QuickBooks has long been the leading software helping small business owners manage their cash flow and bank account balances. Over the years it’s extended those services to payroll, accounting help and more. Recently Intuit QuickBooks is moving into directly providing financial services to its customers as well. Ramon Ray, …
Whether we like it or not, online businesses are slowly taking over. The pandemic has undoubtedly contributed to this trend to a great degree. More and more people decide to try their luck in one of the fastest-growing industries. That’s why it is easier than ever before to start and …
The leading French novelist, Milan Kundera, said, Business has only two functions- marketing and innovation. For any organization, marketing falls in the spectrum of primary business activities. It is an undeniable fact that while sales drive revenue, marketing gravitates people towards a brand and inspires purchasing decisions. Having said that, …
We are living through a period of high inflation, at levels that haven’t been seen in decades. Small business owners are worried about inflation hurting their businesses; a recent survey of small business owners conducted by Wave found that 36% of small business owners are concerned about the impact of …
Do you dream about partnering your small business with a multi-million dollar brand? Exposure to industry giants can bring entrepreneurs new opportunities to create and sell to different markets. And with the right gumption, anything is possible. Today, 57% of companies use partnerships to further their brand. Not only …
You see it everywhere. In the airport, on Amazon, in college bookstores, and carpet cleaning services, bundling is the open secret used to increase cash flow. The basic truth is – it works. What is Bundling Bundling is combing items that are often bought together at a perceived discount or …
Marketing is not easy. So many companies use a variety of tools, apps, sticky notes and Excel to manage their marketing. You’ve got the copywriter, the designer, the brand manager and other people all involved. The challenge? How do they communicate, follow up, keep track of deadlines and so much …
Some people believe that launching a business is stressful. Uncertainty exists no matter how well you plan your to-do list or schedule your time. However, there are two sides to a coin. Most businesses collapse due to financial factors such as the entrepreneur running out of cash, being incapable of …
There are thousands of great business books. These are the top 10 small business books that I’ve read over the years that have been most helpful for me. These books will help ground you in mindset, marketing and finances. MINDSET of business, being a better leader and inspiring your team. …
As much as 82% of internet users come across fake negative business reviews online. Seeing as almost 34% of the total market value of the world’s biggest companies depends on their reputation, you can begin to realize the importance of online reputation damage control. Improving and maintaining your digital prestige …
Join Ramon on his LIVE podcast on Clubhouse, “Breakfast with Champions” as he shares his best tips, each week to help you in your business and life. Can America’s Cities Make a Post-Pandemic Comeback? Not one way – “one that favors choice, rather than thinking there’s only one way …
Recently I was the judge of a competition. I’ve judged many competitions – with seasoned business owners and with young students. Most of the competitions are “fast-paced” and require a fast decision. It’s NOT like Shark Tank where there can be 30 or more minutes of deliberation, then some due …
We talk a lot about how to live your “best life”. But what does it look like if you wanted to know the steps to live your worst life? I’m a host of Breakfast with Champions, one of the fastest-growing shows on Clubhouse (the audio only app). In an episode, …