You’ve been thinking about becoming an entrepreneur, and maybe you’ve run the idea past colleagues. Maybe you’re already pursuing it by writing a business plan and actively seeking funding. It has to be the right time and place, or you shouldn’t take the leap, especially considering the challenges faced by entrepreneurs — even in the...

Some changes in consumer behavior during the current crisis are fairly obvious. For instance, more people had to switch to working from home. Companies with digital tools and platforms aimed at remote workers suddenly found themselves experiencing greater success — and Zoom completely surpassed earnings expectations. However, there’s more going on with consumer behavior that may impact revenue growth. Here’s how entrepreneurs can leverage...

Small business owners need help, especially if they’re new to starting and growing a business. For some, that means seeking help from a more experienced colleague who can lead by example while for others, guidance comes in the form of networking events that connect them with professionals who’ve had similar experiences. While those methods are...

Not only does the outside world judge a company based on the performance of its CEO, so do the employees. If you’re a CEO and you think your team needs a boost in morale, ask yourself, “Why would customers and employees rally behind me?” We’ve all heard stories of or even worked for companies that...

As crowdfunding took off, serious investors noted that something was missing from the process. While savvy investors want to put money into a promising crowdfunded product like Pebble or COOLEST Cooler, they want more than an early edition of the product or a branded T-shirt for their efforts. This difference has made crowdfunding more of...

Right now we’re experiencing a bit of a contraction in the tech ecosystem, as many companies announce layoffs and venture capitalists slow down their investing. In my opinion this is just a natural, appropriate reaction to a lack of strong business fundamentals among some companies and not a precursor to a major collapse of some sort....

You may have watched some those super-expensive Superbowl ads go viral over the years and lamented your own small (or nonexistent) marketing budget, knowing that kind of exposure is out of reach. Well, it may not be after all. After this year’s Superbowl, the Brewers’ Association, an industry group representing the majority of craft brewers...

Customer service is one of those things that you just can’t ignore if you’re aiming for success and longevity for your startup. Customer service in general is important to your company, because it is often the only contact a customer has with your business. Since that first contact is so critical, you want to make...

If repeat business is your goal, good customer service is essential. According to a recent survey, one bad customer service call will send most customers away permanently. Since repeat customers bring in more money than new customers on average, it’s important that businesses find ways to nurture their existing buyers and this includes the customer...

Insightful, personal stories are the most effective path to get people caring about your brand. As the Internet has become firmly ingrained in our lives, there’s never been a better chance to develop or grow a global business. However, the world wide web has created a more discerning customer who is not content to be simply a number....