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  • Small Business Marketing isn’t Just for Experts. You Can Do This.

    Small Business Marketing isn’t Just for Experts. You Can Do This.

    Running a small business means wearing multiple hats—owner, manager, accountant, and often, reluctant marketer. If you’re a skilled craftsperson, service provider, or retailer, you probably didn’t start your business to become a digital marketing expert. Yet here you are, wondering how to compete against bigger companies with dedicated marketing teams and unlimited budgets. The good news? Effective marketing for my small business doesn’t require an MBA or a massive budget—just smart, focused efforts that leverage your unique advantages as a local business owner.

    Start with Google My Business

    Before diving into complicated marketing strategies, claim and optimize your Google My Business listing. This free tool is often the first impression potential customers have of your business when they search for services in your area. Ensure your hours, address, and phone number are accurate and current. Add high-quality photos of your storefront, products, or work samples. Respond to customer reviews professionally, thanking positive reviewers and addressing concerns from negative ones.

    Many small business owners underestimate the power of Google My Business posts. Use this feature to announce sales, new products, special events, or seasonal hours. These posts appear directly in search results and help potential customers understand what makes your business special.

    Think Like Your Customers, Not Like a Marketer

    When developing marketing for my small business, consider how your actual customers describe what you do. A bike shop owner might think in terms of “bicycle maintenance” and “cycling accessories,” but customers search for “fix flat tire near me” or “bike tune-up.” A bakery might focus on “artisanal pastries,” while customers look for “birthday cakes” or “fresh bread.”

    Spend time understanding the problems you solve rather than the services you provide. That shift in perspective helps you create content, choose advertising keywords, and write website copy that actually connects with people actively looking for solutions.

    Leverage Your Community Connections

    Small businesses have built-in advantages that larger competitors can’t match: authentic relationships with customers, deep community knowledge, and the ability to provide personalized service. Leverage these strengths in your marketing efforts.

    Partner with complementary local businesses for cross-promotion. A yoga studio might partner with a health food store, or a pet groomer could work with a local veterinarian. These partnerships cost nothing but expand your reach to customers who already trust businesses similar to yours.

    Simple Social Media That Actually Works

    Social media marketing doesn’t require posting three times daily or creating viral content. Focus on one platform where your customers actually spend time, and post consistently but realistically. For most small businesses, this means Facebook for community connection or Instagram for visual businesses like restaurants, salons, or retail shops.

    Share behind-the-scenes content that showcases your expertise. A watchmaker might post short videos of repair processes, while a landscaper could share before-and-after photos of completed projects. This content demonstrates competence while building trust with potential customers.

    Website Basics That Convert Visitors

    Your website doesn’t need to win design awards, but it must clearly communicate what you do, where you’re located, and how customers can reach you. Many small business websites fail because they’re too clever or artistic rather than informative and functional.

    Include customer testimonials, clear pricing information when possible, and prominent contact information on every page. Make it easy for mobile users to call you directly with a clickable phone number. Consider adding a simple contact form for customers who prefer email inquiries.

    Budget-Friendly Advertising Approaches

    When ready to invest in paid advertising, start small with Google Ads focused on your immediate geographic area. A $200 monthly budget can generate significant results when properly targeted to local searches. Begin with your most obvious services and expand gradually as you learn what works.

    Facebook advertising can be particularly effective for businesses targeting local customers. You can create ads visible only to people within a specific radius of your location, ensuring your marketing budget reaches potential customers rather than people hundreds of miles away.

    Measuring What Matters

    Track simple, meaningful metrics rather than getting overwhelmed by complex analytics. Focus on phone calls, website contact form submissions, and foot traffic increases. Ask new customers how they found you and keep informal records of which marketing efforts generate actual business.

    Effective marketing for my small business isn’t about implementing every available strategy—it’s about choosing tactics that fit your resources, schedule, and customer base. Start with one or two approaches, execute them consistently, and expand gradually as you see results. Your authentic expertise and community connections are powerful marketing tools that no algorithm or advertising budget can replace.


  • Grow Your Business NOW! A How-to-Guide

    Grow Your Business NOW! A How-to-Guide

    Successfully growing your business in a global pandemic is challenging. However, some of the most impressive businesses, inventions and innovations were born in times of distress and hardship. 

    We’ve put together a guide to help you chart a course for customer growth through adhering to strategies and tactics applied to the customer journey to engage with your business. 

    Attracting and retaining new customers is much different today versus the days of taking out an ad in the local newspaper and hoping for the best. Today, business owners of all sizes across all markets need creative marketing strategies to compete in the current, dynamic market.  

    In a time of uncertainty, two things remain the same: 

    1. Consumer expectations remain high:  You must deliver a product or service that is efficient, has timely and courteous customer service, provides transparency, and creates a 1:1 relationship with the customer.
    2. Winning at the “basics” is key to success. 

    Achieving this may sound daunting, but with a healthy appreciation of the five stages of the customer journey and the key marketing actions within each, success is more than achievable. We’ve outlined the five stages and key marketing actions below. 

    Your marketing plan must address each phase of the customer Journey

    1st: Discovery– how consumers discover your product  

    • Achieved through:  Online lists social media & search engine optimization 

    2nd:  Validation: how consumers validate why you are the best choice 

    • Achieved with: Education via blogs, online guides and live chat

    3rd: Conversion- helping consumers make the purchase and gaining the right insights

    • Achieved by: Customer relationship management (CRM)

    4th: Retention- maximizing the post-purchase experience 

    • Tools used: Email marketing and data analysis 

    5th: Loyalty-Retaining customers and turning them into advocates 

    • Key Tactic: Influencer marketing 

    To further define: the customer lifecycle is a term that describes the different steps a customer goes through when they are considering, buying, using, and remaining loyal to a particular product or service. 

    This lifecycle has been broken down into five distinct stages: reach, acquisition, conversion, retention, and loyalty.

    1. Discovery

    This is when a customer begins searching for a product or service.  It is said that discovery most often begins online.  This is when customers compare products across competitor brands, as well as research  customer reviews, ratings and articles. Eventually, the customer will reach out to a certain brand with questions and concerns.  When your marketing materials and content are in the “right places” this will make you more discoverable and help potential consumers become aware of you. 

    Ways to Improve your discoverability: 

    Local Listings
    There are three major online local listings you should be represented on. Firstly, and most importantly, there’s Google Places. You want to show up on Google searches, and you want to be included in online listings, so you need to be registered on Google Places. This is doubly important if your business is a retailer or a restaurant.vThe other online listings are Yahoo! Local and Bing’s online listing. All three of these online listing services are free, and they’re a great way to get your business out there. Consider getting your online presence up and running through these services.

     

    Social Media: If you are not engaging on social media, now is the time. There’s no two ways about this: either your Facebook, Instagram  and Twitter accounts need to be on point or you’re leaving money on the table. Social has replaced many forms of traditional marketing (e.g., newspaper advertising) and helping many companies achieve great success.  If you are debating hiring a social manager or agency, it is worth the investment.  

    • B2B MUST:  Make sure your company LinkedIn profile is professional and clear.  Have all employees update their personal profiles with the same brand message. 

    Search Engine Optimization
    Search engine optimization, or SEO, is a process of making your website’s pages easier to find in search engine results. This involves using specific keywords and repeating the keywords in headers, titles and meta descriptions. A web developer, site designer or some similar type of professional would be ideal to tap in this sort of marketing push.

    Consider hiring a freelance web designer to make sure your business has a webpage that is ideal for search engine optimization. They’ll be able to go in and make your site look great, and make it more searchable on sites like Google.

    2. Education

    This is when and how a brand “responds” to “inquiries” from the potential customer, as well as inquire for more information on the customer’s needs. Following that, the brand will offer the best products or services to satisfy the customer’s needs, as well as educate the customer on the uses of those products or services.   Responding comes in many forms and businesses are smart to offer multiple response styles (e.g., online materials, live chat, easily accessible customer service phone lines or email). 

    Online materials: For example, if a customer is exploring new sneakers a running company would be wise to provide a product comparison chart addressing typical runner demands – tread, ankle support, width, etc. 

    Live chat:  Zendesk offers real-time out reach – reach out and talk to customers before they even ask a question. Innovative clothing rental company Le Tote uses an automated trigger to offer help to customers who are lingering on the checkout page. By proactively engaging customers during the buying process, Le Tote is able to reduce cart abandonment and increase conversions.

    Accessible customer service: Sometimes “picking up the phone” is the easiest way to confirm your questions. Business with clear contact information and smart, well trained customer support ready to help will have better odds at winning the customer, building loyalty and gaining advocates. 

    Services like Ruby help make this possible, even if you are a 1-man show: 

    Ruby is a 100% US – based virtual receptionists business service specializing in making the most out of every customer conversation. They understand that when clients call, it’s important, urgent, or both and offer  daytime and after-hours call support, helping put customers  at ease, taking  down messages and information, and answering questions. Ruby’s got you covered 24 hours a day with live coverage. They can direct calls to you, your staff or take messages at any time everyday of the year. 

    Blogs
    Another great way to support the education phase is a blog, it also helps drive SEO and your google rating.  Things that a blog could cover are quite varied and could depend on your business’s specifics. For instance, if your business is a restaurant, your blog could cover recipes, specials, events and news relating to the restaurant. Whatever makes your business tick, that’s what you should blog about.

    3. Purchase

    Wohoo!!!  You won them over, they have all the information necessary and make the big purchase or commitment.   Congratulations, your marketing efforts to attract them worked!  Now the fun begins, it’s time to keep them, encourage repeat purchases and turn them into brand advocates.   This is more easily achieved when you have the right tools integrated into your purchase platform, so that when they make the purchase you gather the key information from the get-go. Thankfully, many ecommerce and POS systems offer CRM (Customer Relationship Management)  solutions or have an open API system to allow for integration. 

    A great example of a CRM tool provider is bridg.com. Bridg helps gain rich insights into your entire customer base (known and unknown), segment and create optimized audiences, and drive direct revenue generation through targeted personalized marketing with closed loop measurement.  

    4. Post-Purchase Engagement (phase II of your marketing strategy)

    This is when you begin building a lasting relationship with your customer. Great ways to engage are email followup asking for feedback on the customer service experience, their level of happiness with the brand and/or if they would be willing to follow you  on social media. This information can also help you improve your product, service or gain insights on more needs.  You should also plan to follow-up in the next 30-60 days to introduce a new product or additional service. 

    • ENGAGEMENT TIP: Take a look at your customer orders to see if certain products pair well together and create your own “Regularly bought together” or “Customers who purchases, also liked” 

    Email Marketing
    Email marketing allows you to email your customers directly when they’re on a mailing list. You could email them news about new offers and deals, or coupons for hot new items. You could also email them to keep them abreast of news relating to your business, potentially increasing customer engagement with your brand.

    5. Retention & Advocacy 

    Retention begins when the customer is happy with their first purchase or engagement, feels good about their purchase and feels as though that you took care of them or listened to their feedback. The customer feels like an important asset to the brand and makes additional future purchases with the brand.

    From a local popcorn shop to a venture backed technology advocacy is one of the best forms of marketing.  This is the stage of the relationship, where the customer feels fully vested with your product or service and even if there is no need for them to make an immediate secondary purchase, they are happy to recommend your business to their friends, family and colleagues. Spreading awareness amongst social circles is easy to do once a customer is loyal to a brand, and if they continually spread positive recommendations, their extended network is more likely to convert as well.  This was the original form of “influencer” marketing. 

    TIP:  Influencer marketing is a hot topic these days, but it simply bowls down to advocacy, which we know is critical.   In the world of social media, “influencers” those who have a large following or are admired for their style or professional experience (think a successful marathoner or photographer), it often requires a financial investment as well as free product/services. If you are not ready to go down the paid path, you can engage your customers and encourage them to share their experience with shopping with you. This might not have the same impact as someone with a huge following, but it does help your brand get in front of more eyes.  


    In short, there are a number of ways you can leverage the internet to make your business more recognizable and to increase your business’s performance. Really, the biggest mistake you could make is ignoring your online presence. 

    There’s money to be made: you only need to capitalize on online marketing so you can make it!


  • What’s the Best Website Builder for 2021?

    What’s the Best Website Builder for 2021?

    When it comes to making websites, it’s much easier today than it was 20 years ago. If you’re looking to make a great website, look no further than these excellent resources. Below are our picks for the best web creation tools for 2021!

    The Best Website Builder tools for 2021

    Wix

    Wix is a cloud-based site building platform that is quite popular. It offers a lot of templates and tons of customization options. Their site builder is a drag-and-drop style, meaning it’s incredibly straightforward and easy-to-use. If you’re brand new to web design, it’s a great launching point. Their free version has limited bandwidth and storage, but you can use it to see if you like the style. If so, you can upgrade to premium and get to building more content for your site! The downsides are there, though: it’s unwieldy to move from Wix to another platform. That said, it’s still a good choice.

    Shopify

    A great resource for building online storefronts, Shopify is a fully-hosted site builder. All the data and backups are hosted on their servers. They’re a little on the pricey side, but they offer a great service. You can even integrate your Shopify page into WordPress! They also use a drag and drop style, meaning building your site is very straightforward. If you’re looking to open an online storefront, this is your way to do it.

    Weebly

    Weebly is another fully-hosted site, which is a pro and a con. While your data is backed up and safe, you also can’t change the site functionality. Their site builder is quick and intuitive, though, so you’ve got nothing to worry about there. They also have e-commerce integration, but they charge a 3% transaction fee. All said, they’re a good choice, but not the most popular.

    Squarespace

    Thanks in large part to aggressive advertising via YouTubers, Squarespace is a well-known name on the internet. The web-building tools are top-notch, and it’s easily one of the best out there. You don’t sacrifice a good-looking website for how easy it is to build with the platform. Many swear by the platform’s tools, and it’s rapidly gaining ground as a favorite of web-builders. The only downsides are the limited third-party integration. For instance, they only accept transactions through Apple Pay, PayPal or Stripe, so your options are limited.

    WordPress

    One of the most popular web platforms, WordPress is a fantastic resource. In fact, the site you’re currently on is powered by WordPress! It’s a relatively inexpensive service, but it has a bit of a learning curve. That said, it’s a flexible and robust tool to create any kind of site you would like to make. If you want to exert maximum control, this is a great tool for you! Consider WordPress if a small learning curve doesn’t deter you from making whatever site you have in mind.


  • The Top 3 Applicant Tracking Systems

    The Top 3 Applicant Tracking Systems

    An applicant tracking system (ATS) is a software application that enables the electronic handling of recruitment needs. An ATS can be implemented or accessed online on an enterprise or small business level, depending on the needs of the company and there is also free and open source ATS software available. 

    When you apply for a job online, your resume isn’t typically going directly to a recruiter or hiring manager. It’s first being processed by an ATS. Whether that human recruiter ever sees your resume could depend on how well your resume is optimized for ATS algorithms.

    Why employers use applicant tracking systems

    Top employers hire for several jobs at a time and receive hundreds of resumes for any given opening. Because applying for a job online is easier than ever, many of these applicants are unqualified and figured “it was worth a try.”

    Applicant tracking systems keep all these resumes in one place, helping recruiters and hiring managers stay organized as well as EEOC compliant. In theory, these systems also save time by automatically surfacing and highlighting top candidates. In reality, ATS do help hiring professionals narrow their applicant pool, but top candidates slip through the cracks.

    Most large corporations utilize applicant tracking systems. Jobscan research found that 98% of Fortune 500 companies use ATS while a Kelly OCG survey estimated 66% of large companies and 35% of small organizations rely on recruitment software. If you’re applying to a large organization, chances are you’ll face an ATS. If you’re applying through any online form, you’re applying through an ATS. Even job sites like Indeed and LinkedIn have their own built in ATS.

    Viewing Applications

    Some recruiters still choose to glance at every job application that comes through their applicant tracking system. In this case, most take a quick glance at the applicant’s past highlights, job titles, and companies. They can make a determination about whether they want to learn more in about 6 seconds. It’s important to make sure your top skills and qualifications are easily identifiable.

    Automatic Rankings

    Some applicant tracking systems can automatically compare your resume to the job description. For example, Taleo calls this feature “Req Rank,” which ranks each applicant based on how well their resume scores based on the job description. A common way recruiters filter resumes in an applicant tracking system is by searching for key skills and titles. For example, if a recruiter is hiring for an Administrative Assistant position out of 400 resumes, their first step will probably be a search for “Administrative Assistant.” This will isolate candidates that have done the exact job before. Anyone that doesn’t have that exact term in their resume is out of luck. A search can contain multiple terms. For example, they might perform a complex search that contains a combination of titles and skills important for the job:

    Administrative Assistant AND data entry AND payroll …

    Candidates who can predict the correct resume keywords will have the greatest chance of being included in recruiter search results. The best way figure out which skills and keywords to include is by analyzing the job description. Jobs can automates this process by analyzing your resume against the job description to show the top skills and keywords missing from your resume.

    Our Top 3
    #3. Homebase

    Homebase makes hourly work easier for the whole team. With free online tools and mobile apps for managers and employees, Homebase eliminates the paperwork and headaches of scheduling, payroll, hiring and team communication. Start saving 4+ hours every week by visiting joinhomebase.com. Used by over 100,000 businesses of all sizes across the US.

    #2. BambooHR

    BambooHR offers easy, integrated applicant tracking (ATS) as part of our award-winning cloud-based HR platform. Onboarding tools, e-signatures, time-off tracking, performance management, plus easy reporting and a convenient mobile app set you free to do great work. Released from the data management spiral, HR professionals become more effective, more efficient, and more human. Visit bamboohr.com or give us a call to see a demo and start a free trial.

    #1. Breezy HR

    The most highly rated ATS on Capterra, Breezy streamlines your entire hiring process; giving you more time to connect with candidates by automating tasks like advertising on 40+ job boards, screening, interview scheduling & follow-ups. We include all the tools your team needs to hire more efficiently, from referrals & sourcing tools for LinkedIn and dozens of others to custom scorecards & interview guides. With Breezy, you’ll be making better, hiring decisions in less time. It’s GDPR compliant.

    If you own a business and found this article helpful, you might like our article about the top cloud services of 2018.


  • Is Networking on LinkedIn the Path to a New Job?

    Is Networking on LinkedIn the Path to a New Job?

    LinkedIn is a social platform, much like Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, but it has a distinct edge over those platforms for job-seekers. While Facebook and the like are inherently casual and mostly for wasting time (sorry, Facebook) LinkedIn could help you score a new job.

    No, seriously! LinkedIn is a professional networking app that allows you to make connections and make your name known amongst professionals in your field. If you’re not using LinkedIn to expand your professional network, you’re missing out on a huge help to your career prospects.

    LinkedIn and Job Prospects

    What is It?

    LinkedIn is, at its core, a professional-minded social networking app. The stated purpose of the site is to help connect professionals. You can upload your resume, work history and connections and make yourself more well-known in your field.

    Unlike Facebook and Twitter, profiles on LinkedIn are professional first. Recruiters and employers often first look to a candidate’s LinkedIn profile to see how the candidate stacks up. It’s a quick way to pull someone’s work history and resume without having to go through the formal hiring procedures.

    Networking

    If you’re a freelancer or someone looking to break into a field, then the networking offered by LinkedIn is a huge boon. Hiring managers and recruiters often set apart time of their day to browse LinkedIn connections. By increasing your network’s size, you make it that much more likely that hiring managers can see you in their normal scouting.

    You can’t predict just how big of a role networking could play in your job-hunting process. Just because you know someone, you might get an inside track on a job you didn’t even know existed. If you’re gunning for a competitive position, the benefit of knowing someone in the field can be impossible to pass up.

    Job Listings

    Another big part of LinkedIn is the job listing section. If you’re actively hunting for a job, you can make managing your LinkedIn a full-time job! There are always new listings going live on this tab, so you can rest assured that you’ll find new opportunities on the site every day. In fact, many people get messages about open positions if they simply maintain their LinkedIn.

    If you’ve become recently unemployed, LinkedIn can be a huge boon to your job search. It puts you in the loop regarding what jobs are open in your field and gives you a structure to searching for your next career. The listings can be sorted based on pay, field and requirements.

    This allows you to stay up-to-date on just what options are available to you. If you’re keeping tabs on your LinkedIn profile, then you make it that much more likely you find the work you’re looking for. It almost acts like a headhunter agency that doesn’t take a cut of your pay when it finds you a job!

    In the Know

    Another huge aspect of LinkedIn is the active job article section. The articles can keep you in the loop on various industry trends, changes in the company or companies you’re interested in getting work in and showing you what behaviors led to various CEOs and execs getting ahead. It helps to know what got the people at the top to their positions and just how they keep their position in their field. After all, knowing is half the battle!

    Personal Brand

    LinkedIn is also important in managing ones own personal brand. If you apply for a job and the employer looks up your LinkedIn profile, it can help solidify your professional legitimacy. If people who know you have endorsed your skills and put their name behind you, it makes you that much more desirable than the candidates who don’t have such guarantees.

    There are numerous skills you can list on your profile, such as Photoshop or Microsoft Excel. Some people list skills like “sales experience,” “customer service experience,” or “writing talent.” Any of these types of skills can be endorsed by your LinkedIn connections, including your prior managers and coworkers.

    Is LinkedIn Right for You?

    So, you’re looking for a better job and you don’t know where to start to get yourself a leg up. Well, maybe it’s time to download LinkedIn and get your profile up. It’s not that hard to list your skills connect with your coworkers and former managers, and get validation on your personal skills.

    When you’re competing for positions in highly sought-after fields, every little bit helps. Put yourself in a winning position by getting a LinkedIn account.


  • How LinkedIn Can Help You Find a New Job

    How LinkedIn Can Help You Find a New Job

    There’s no way to sugarcoat it: trying to find a new job is really, really difficult. It’s hard to even know where to begin. Who’s hiring? Who has good benefits and a good work environment? If you’re not using some kind of job board or have a ton of connections, you’re running in blind.

    That’s where LinkedIn comes in. More than just being a simple job board site, LinkedIn is the best social media app for meeting professional connections. After all, it’s much easier to get ahead in a crowded job market when you know the right people. Here’s how to have LinkedIn work for you.

    LinkedIn

    Take it Seriously

    LinkedIn might be a social networking site, but you should take it seriously. It’s not quite the same as Facebook or Instagram. It’s an opportunity to present yourself in a professional and well-curated way for potential employers and colleagues.

    As such, you should make sure you present your best self on LinkedIn. Make sure your pictures aren’t ones of you and your buddies hanging loose and partying. Make sure you’re well-dressed and well-groomed in your pictures!

    Use it Often

    Make sure to use LinkedIn often. Even if you’re employed and like your job, it’s good to have connections that you cultivate. If you only use the app when you’re looking for a new job, you’ll be out of luck. It’s not enough just to run to it in an emergency: you need to keep up to date!

    By using the app often, you ensure that you’ve got a presence online that potential employers and professional connections can see. This is essentially an ad for yourself as an employee. Take pride in it, and make sure everyone knows just how good of an employee you are.

    Resume

    Make sure you keep a well-formatted, up-to-date copy of your resume easily accessible on your LinkedIn. You never know when a recruiter or hiring manager might come along and see your profile. If they do, you want to make sure your info is all up-to-date and accurate!

    There’s no reason to potentially miss out on a great job just because you’ve got some goofy typos on your resume. Make sure you keep everything connected to your business page tight and well-formatted. This is an easy step to take that will take you only a few minutes, so don’t put it off!

    If you’re looking to make lasting businesses connections, LinkedIn is where it’s at. Get your profile active and looking great today.


  • An Easier Way to Sell on eBay

    An Easier Way to Sell on eBay

    The updated mobile app from the veteran online marketplace will make it much easier to upload your stuff. The new eBay app, which has already rolled out on both iOS and Android, allows users to upload an item in a just a few seconds.

    Scan and Go

    The biggest change to the app is the addition of a barcode scanner, along with a product search feature. The app works best if you have the original box since you can simply scan the barcode. However, if you didn’t hang on to the box, never fear! You can still look up the name of the product in eBay’s extensive database and pull up the necessary information.

    The app fills out the majority of the fields for you although you’ll still need to enter the item’s condition. For many items, eBay is even able to provide images from its library, suggest a price, and calculate shipping costs. You can edit any of the pre-populated fields as needed.

    The Power of Data

    The new app builds on the simplified selling tools debuted by eBay last year. Using structured data and predictive analytics, the platform draws on its vast database of listings to cut down on the time it takes to upload an item. They hope that the streamlined process will make the platform more appealing to current sellers and newbies alike.

    “At eBay, we’re dedicated to delivering a seamless and efficient selling experience for both first-time and seasoned sellers alike,” says Kelly Vincent, eBay’s VP of Consumer Selling Product & Engineering. “This is one of many enhancements we’ll be making this year. We’ll continue to leverage structured data and new technology developments to help our sellers ‘get it sold.’”

    Limited Features

    Unfortunately, sellers who trade in vintage or unique items will find that the new app has limited functionality. The lack of barcodes on vintage items and the variability in condition means that these sellers will still need to enter most of their information by hand and upload their own photos instead of using the provided stock images available for newer mass-market products.

    Increased Competition

    When it arrived on the scene over 20 years ago, eBay was a revolutionary way to sell online. Since then, resale apps like OfferUp, Poshmark, LetGo, and ThredUp have emerged to pose serious competition. Facebook’s Marketplace has also claimed a piece of the online resale pie, focusing on connecting local sellers and buyers.

    Although there are over 13 million listings added to the site each week using the mobile app, eBay is betting that their faster, simpler uploading process will keep the platform competitive.


  • Online Furniture Stores that Beat Physical Retailers

    Online Furniture Stores that Beat Physical Retailers

    Furniture shopping can be fun, but stores are often crowded and most people don’t really have the time to actually go looking for furniture. Now, don’t get us wrong: we all love a good trip to Ikea. That said, there’s definitely a lot that goes into furniture shopping.

    Everything from the selection to bringing the furniture home to setting up can be a great big hassle.  But thanks to the internet, shopping for furniture and home decor has never been easier. With all these stylish and affordable goods at your fingertips, it’s very easy to decorate and style your home. It’s a new dawn for everyone who loves beautiful designs, and there are several great places online to shop for new furniture.

    If you’re looking to shop for new furniture and avoid the physical retailers, consider these online furniture stores. After all, online shopping is always a great alternative to going to brick and mortar stores to shop!

    Online Furniture Stores

    Blu Dot

    Blu Dot is an interesting retailer from a design perspective. They were originally founded back in 1997, and their focus has always been on design. The two architects and sculptor who started the site have always tried to make the furniture designs modern, striking and accessible all at once. This shows in both their web design and their furniture design!

    With a stated goal of bringing good design to as many people as possible, it’s easy to see why they’re so highly recommended. The mix of materials, styles and sensibilities at play with their furniture is always neat to see. If you like a more off-the-wall look, this is for you!

    Wayfair

    Wayfair is one of the most customer-friendly online furniture stores out there. While you might spend hours on other sites just looking for the right piece of furniture, Wayfair cuts through that like a knife. The “Shop This Look” feature allows you to create a cohesive interior décor that will wow any guest.

    It doesn’t stop there, though. You can filter results based on custom price ranges, and the search functionality is exceptional. The search results are highly accurate and almost always exactly what you’re looking for. They even offer free shipping on items over $50! That’s a hard deal to beat.

    Apt2B

    If you’re looking to furnish a smaller space, such as an apartment, this is the retailer for you. Apt2B specializes in smaller furniture for apartments and town homes, furniture that maximizes smaller spaces. The furniture is designed with an eye for space economy, bringing big style to small furniture.

    Thankfully, that big style doesn’t make for a big price tag: the prices are all rather reasonable. The range on display is upscale and modern, and even the hippest of buyers will love what they have to offer.


  • Ever Dreamed of Starting Your Own Business? Have You Considered Dropshipping?

    Ever Dreamed of Starting Your Own Business? Have You Considered Dropshipping?

    What is a Dropshipping Business?

    Drop shipping is proving to be an extremely popular business model to budding entrepreneurs, especially, millennials and gen Zers. This is because it relies largely on internet marketing skills and the idea of not handling stock or the items one is selling adds to its allure.

    If you have been looking for a business that you can start with limited funds, and grow as you continue with your regular job, then drop shipping is for you. Here’s a detailed guide on how to start a dropshipping business.

    In a dropshipping business, the store owner gets to sell directly to the customer without having any inventory. When a consumer buys a product in this store, the product is shipped to them by a third-party supplier.

    In terms of prices, the consumer pays the retail price the store owner has set, while the store owner pays the supplier the wholesale price. The rest is profit!!

    How to Start a Dropshipping Business in 2021

    Now that we’ve seen what dropshipping is all about, here’s what you need to do to set up such a business:

    Commit to setting up a dropshipping business

    Here’s what we mean by this: you’ll need to invest heavily either in time or money.

    Dropshipping is no different from other businesses. It will require significant commitment and that you have a long-term perspective. What do we mean by investing in each of these?

    Investing time into the business

    This is our preferred form of investment for various reasons:

    • You learn the ins and outs of how the business operates, which will come in handy when the business grows and you have to manage it.
    • You develop an intimate knowledge of your customers and market, and this informs your decision making.
    • You’ll steer clear of vanity projects that may eat up your capital to no success.
    • You’ll pick up some new skills that will help grow you as an entrepreneur.

    While not everyone might be able to quit their job and embark on growing their online store, it is still possible to start this business while holding a 9-to-5 position. All you need is to set the right expectations towards customer service and the appropriate fulfillment times for customers. As the business grows, you can move to working full time depending on the business’ cash flow and profitability.

    Investing money into the business

    In this approach, you invest a significant amount of money on programmers, developers, and marketers.

    However, this approach has proven to be too expensive in the long end compared to investing time. This is because success in the dropshipping business requires that you be deeply invested in its success as you grow it from the ground up. Additionally, having no knowledge of how the business works at different levels may expose you to manipulation from expensive ‘experts’.

    While you don’t have to do everything on your own, it’s advisable to be the primary driving force from the go.

    However, you still need a small amount of money in the range of $1,000 for your business to be launched and be operational. This will be used in operational expenses and any incorporation fees required. Once you are committed to the business, the next step is coming up with a business idea.

    Come up with a niche

    The niche that you come up with has to be laser-focused and one that you love. If the product range is not focused, you’ll have a hard time marketing it. And if you are not passionate about the niche you choose, you might end up getting discouraged, as it is a lot of work scaling a drop shipping business successfully. With all this in mind, here’s how you can settle on a niche:

    Settle for businesses with large profit margins. When in the drop shipping business, your focus is usually on marketing and customer acquisition. This means that the effort needed to sell a $20 item is almost the same as for a $1,500 item. As such, settle for a niche that has on demand higher-priced products.

    Low shipping costs are crucial. Your supplier may be handling the shipping, but if the cost is too steep, then it may drive customers away. For this reason, find items that are inexpensive to ship, as this may present you the option of free shipping to your customers, taking up the cost in a bid to attract additional sales.

    Ensure your products appeal to impulse buyers’ with lots of disposable income. When you are keen on getting traffic to your website, you want the highest conversion rate as most visitors might not come back. The products on sale should lead to impulse buys and appeal to those with disposable income.

    Ensure people are actively searching for the item. Leverage tools like Trends and Google’s Keyword Planner to check keywords related to your niche of interest. If no one is searching, that might not be a lucrative niche.

    Develop your brand. You earn bonus points if you can rebrand what you are selling and sell it as your own. Look for products that you can white label and make them your brand using custom branding and packaging.

    Niches that you can start from home

    Here are some of the most lucrative dropshipping niches:

    1. Power tools
    2. Tech supplies
    3. Lifestyle niche
    4. Beauty and Health
    5. Drones and Accessories

    Conduct Competition research

    You are probably aware that you will be operating in the same sphere as other drop shipping operations including retail giants like Amazon and Walmart. In spite of this, don’t make the mistake of going for a product that has little or no competition. This is actually a sign that there is no demand for the product.

    Some of the reasons why a product may face no competition include high shipping costs, lower profit margins, or manufacturing and supplier issues. Settle for products with competition, as this shows there’s high demand and the business model is sustainable.

    Some ways to conduct competitor research include:

    1. Leverage competitor spy tools like Alexa and Similar Web. These tools are good at tracking your competitors’ online activity. They’ll compile competitor online information, including their social media profiles, number of visitors, top traffic sources, and their competitors.
    2. Social media. Browse for Facebook ads related to your niche and note the top brands in the area. Look at how they communicate with their customers, how their feed is designed, and the amount of engagement they are getting.
    3. Subscribe to their email lists. By subscribing to your competitors’ email lists, you get their updates right into your inbox. You also get to see their marketing strategy. You also learn about the deals and promotions that they use to draw customers to buy from them.
    4. Google search. Search engines are a great place to start. Compile a list of your top five competitors. Search key search terms in your niche, like ‘phone covers.’ The top results are your top competitors and you will gather information on how they promote their products.

    Learn everything you can from your customers and keep the research in a spreadsheet for continuous reference.

    Settle for a supplier

    Settling for a dropshipping supplier is a crucial step if you are to create a successful business. Without a supplier, you won’t have products to ship to the consumer, and your business will never see light of day. Partnering with the wrong supplier is another step into the grave and therefore you need to exercise utmost caution.

    Ensure your conduct due diligence. As you will learn, many drop shipping suppliers are found overseas, thus communication is crucial, both in terms of their response speed and also being able to understand one another. If you are not fully confident with their communication abilities, then better ditch them for another supplier.

    Alibaba has grown to be one of the largest resources of finding and communicating with potential suppliers and manufacturers. Oberlo is also a marketplace that helps you find products to sell online. Ensure you ask lots of questions and identify their production capabilities if your business is to grow exponentially. You want a supplier that will be able to scale with you.

    You can learn from other entrepreneurs who have set up similar businesses in the past. You can find plenty of information online from business blogs to subreddits on drop shipping.

    Build an eCommerce site

    The next step to setting up a dropshipping business is to launch a website that supports this business model. You can leverage an ecommerce platform like Shopify for this. This site will be the home of your site- where you’ll be sending traffic, process payments, and sell products.

    Shopify is a complete commerce platform that enables you to sell in different places, in multiple currencies, and you can manage products and payments. Plus, you don’t need designer skills or to be a developer to use Shopify. There are tools that will help you with everything that you need to design your store.

    You might be tempted to get a web designer for a custom solution. However, it’s a wiser move to leverage plug-and-play alternatives, especially at the start. Once you are stable with a regular revenue stream, you can source for website customization.

    Choose a business structure

    If you are keen on setting up a long-term venture, then you want to start a legitimate business entity. Here is a rundown of the three commonly used structures:

    1. Sole proprietorship. This is the simplest structure to implement. However, it has no personal liability protection. In the event that your business gets sued, your personal assets are at risk. Its filing requirements are minimal and your business’ earnings are reported on your personal taxes.
    2. Limited liability company (LLC). This offers more protection of personal assets as your business is established as a separate legal entity. There are additional filing requirements and you’ll pay incorporation and ongoing fees.
    3. C corporation. Major corporations fall under this, as it offers the most liability protection. They are more expensive to set up as they are subjected to double taxation.

    ***Seek legal advice when deciding on the kind of business to choose***

    Devise a customer acquisition plan

    Despite having a killer product and website, you still need customers who want to buy. There are a number of ways to draw potential customers. The most effective way is to launch a Facebook ad campaign.

    • Facebook ads enable you to generate sales and revenue from the word go. This will allow you to scale quickly. The site also enables you to exhibit your offer directly to a highly targeted audience. This levels the playing field with larger brands and retailers.
    • Influencer marketing. If your budget is limited, influencer marketing is a sure way to experience higher return-on-investment while effeciently reaching your target audience. In fact, people nowadays tend to trust influencers more than conventional advertising. If you choose this route, settle on an affiliate fee as opposed to a flat rate. This way, you’ll both make money off each sale.
    • Content marketing. This method will give you a long-term traffic stream to your online store. Start a blog and produce content on your niche. Make the content educative and entertaining to your target audience. Additionally, you can opt to start a YouTube channel, start a podcast, or create infographics that help advertise your brand. For each strategy, ensure that you subtly include call to action tabs.
    • Communities. Involve yourself with cliques that are passionate about your niche. You can strike conversations with prospective customers on online forums such as Reddit, or even Facebook groups. Aim to help the potential customers while building relationships. This ensures they trust your brand and desire to buy from it.

    Analyze and improve

    You need to keep track of the results of your campaign and whether it is reaping benefits. With Shopify analytics, you can get information on:

    1. Sales. You can identify your best performing channels, where to pump more money, your best selling products, and your best customers.
    2. Shopper behavior. This includes the medium, that is, desktop or mobile and their conversion rates.
    3. Profit margins. You compare the sales and gross profits of every month.

    You can also leverage tools like Search Console and Google Analytics to gauge search traffic and improve on your SEO.

    In conclusion, with those steps, you should be on your way to setting up a stable drop shipping business with a revenue stream of over 1000 dollars a month. And with more consumers migrating from physical stores to online stores, the future couldn’t be brighter for drop shipping. What are you waiting for? Opportunity is knocking!