While it’s important to create a 10-year business model, your real focus should be on your business plan for three years, two years and one year. Once that’s set, reverse engineer it to the quarter and then down to the month. StartupNation exclusive discounts and savings on Dell products and …
When you’re hustling, time is money and that money comes in coins, not bills. It’s why we made our Website Terminology Glossary for web pros. This free resource for designers, developers, marketers or anyone else makes it easier explaining technical stuff to clients. Rather than a lengthy back-and-forth, use this glossary …
Choose Your Mentors Wisely You’ve started your own home based business and you’re excited about the possibilities. You have dreams of paying off your home, traveling the world, brand new cars parked in the driveway, spending quality time with your family all while your computer works like a robot around …
You may not know all the best practices for website navigation, but you can probably tell when they haven’t been followed. Have you ever landed on a website and been unsure of where to click in the top navigation? Or, felt overwhelmed by crammed stacks of links in the footer? …
Resolutions aren’t just about reading more books or getting to bed earlier or finally breaking your addiction to oatmeal creme pies. Resolutions, like the marketing resolutions here, are also great tools to help you make critical decisions and improvements in your business. Try out these marketing resolutions Here are five …
To call 2020 a turbulent year for business would be a severe understatement. With an evolving set of rules by various state and local governments, businesses are having to think on their feet and take drastic steps to increase sales to stay afloat. By August 2020, 29 prominent U.S. retailers …
Karen Etchells runs Innovast Digital Marketing, a creative web agency specializing in informational websites and content creation. You can find Innovast on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. You can connect with Karen on LinkedIn. Tell us about yourself. Who are you? Where are you based? I’m Karen Etchells. Mom of five, …
As you step into the role of entrepreneur, you’re going to learn countless lessons along the way. Fortunately, many have been where you are, and there are numerous resources you can use to help learn those lessons—you don’t have to learn every lesson the hard way! Get the advice and …
One of the best ways to measure how far technology has come is to use a legacy product. It’s true of devices like computers and smartphones. And it also applies to websites as well. For instance, compare a WordPress website you built recently with one from a decade ago. You’ll …
To journey without a plan or a map is simply just wandering. And wandering in business never leads to success. We need to be constantly reevaluating our business plans, almost to a point where they become a living organism. StartupNation exclusive discounts and savings on Dell products and accessories: Learn …
In this article, we’ll take a first look at Snowpack — specifically Snowpack 3, which at the time of writing has just been released. Snowpack is a front-end build tool that’s been getting a lot of attention in the community for offering a different approach from tools like webpack, and …
Donté Colley is a Toronto-based digital content creator seeking expression via fashion and digital media. He aims to connect and empower global communities through authentic joy, movement, and a message of self-love. Read on for words of motivation and inspiration from Donté Colley. GoDaddy Q&A with digital content creator Donté …
The full scope of benefits that come from website audits and their variations is massive. Audits for managing your online presence are an opportunity for you as a web developer or designer to analyze, refresh and adapt your site. The goal is to improve your online visibility, discover and grow …
On this episode of “Everything Borrowed,” Mark Hackel, County Executive for Macomb County, joins Andrew to talk about a few of the topics we are currently facing on the home front. Mark explains his thoughts and feelings on his job as a politician, the current issues surrounding COVID-19 and his …
The multiple COVID-19 vaccines that have come out are nothing short of scientific miracles. The speed and efficacy of these life-saving, pandemic-squashing shots are a testament to human achievement. That being said, getting these vaccines into the arms of everyday people has been a challenge. That’s especially true here in …
The rise of open-source software has been one of the most impactful things to happen to the web design industry. Just think about all of the apps – large and small – that have made life easier for designers and developers. And perhaps none have had an impact quite as …
Being a freelancer is a daunting task for anyone. Be it a designer, writer, developer or UXer, freelancing is a full-time — and sometimes a 24-hour job. You will need to anticipate, plan and confirm your client’s needs and wants, and deliver with limited time and resources. Sometimes, you need …
The following is adapted from “Fireproof” by Mike Morse One day, a new client walks into your law firm, and you quickly realize that this will be a big case. This case is not only going to make you a lot of money; it’s going to make you famous. What …
There’s no shortage of remote web development jobs, especially at a time when so many companies have made the shift to remote working. But without a strong resumé, your chances of landing a developer job interview are reduced, or worse, non-existent. In this article, we cover ten simple tweaks you …
David Koder’s passion and commitment drives the success of D Koder Marketing, a Bath, Pa.-based agency that forges long-term relationships with clients. Catch up with David on YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. The who: Given a business name is so central to a brand, we tend to put a …
Designers often like to critique other designers. It’s just a natural side effect of being creative. We see a website or app and immediately start looking at how it all fits together. What challenges might have our brethren faced along the way? Would we have done anything differently? Of course, …
This is a story about the importance of amazing customer service. Sometimes, entrepreneurs can get too caught up in the day-to-day problems and trying to make money that they forget there are actual humans purchasing their products and services. StartupNation exclusive discounts and savings on Dell products and accessories: Learn …
Today, we’re speaking with Evan Rocheford, the co-founder and CEO of NutraMaize™, a company transforming the United State’s largest staple crop – corn – into a platform for delivering better nutrition on a population-wide scale. NutraMaize™’s innovation is a unique variety of orange non-GMO corn. The vibrant orange color comes …
Our Managed WordPress Ecommerce Hosting lets you create a robust ecommerce store quickly and easily. That means building the exact store your clients need for hundreds, even thousands, less per year. Build more store for less Powered by WooCommerce, our Managed WordPress Ecommerce Hosting features powerful flexibility with easy-to-use extensions and client-management tools. That …
Bootstrap 5 CheatSheet – This interactive reference will help you navigate the latest version of Twitter’s CSS framework. Make Animated Content Placeholders with HTML and CSS – Add user-friendly placeholders with this tutorial. Why Is Focusing on Long-Term Goals So Difficult? – Ways to help you home in on the …
The biggest challenge for a startup founder is knowing where to focus. You’ve got to pitch investors, target the right customer, hone your business model and raise critical funding just in time. Your team is lean, the margin of error narrow. Yes, you can screw up some things, but there’s …
Four-time Stanley Cup champion, former Red Wings enforcer, host of “Grind Time with Darren McCarty” podcast and a true Detroit gem, Darren McCarty joins Andrew for episode 15 of “Everything Borrowed.” Darren is an advocate for the legalization of cannabis, which is on a list of things that helped his …
On this morning’s WJR Business Beat, Jeff discusses a recently released study by Verizon, which highlights the corporate office jargon that irks Americans the most. Topping the list as most favored office jargon? “Big picture.” Coming in very last on the list of least favored phrases? “Behind the 8 ball.” …
On today’s episode of StartupNation Radio, Jeff is joined by leading business coach and co-host, Jon Dwoskin. Together, they interview three entrepreneurs who have pitched their businesses on “Shark Tank.” Today’s featured guests are Renaldo Webb, founder of Pet Plate; Tate Stock, founder of Chirp; and Meredith Jurica, CEO of …
I have a confession to make. I’m not actually a pastry chef. But I did work in a professional kitchen once upon a time, and baking is one of my favorite hobbies. I just love the awesome sights, sounds, and smells of a kitchen full of baking goods. The brilliant …
Why were there only two Midwest startups on LinkedIn’s list of the top 50 startups on the rise? Cameo, based in Chicago (as well as remotely), and Seamless.AI, based in Columbus, are really awesome startups, and we were so happy to see them on the list. We just think LinkedIn missed a couple more major …
The pandemic has made life difficult in innumerable ways, but it has also presented business opportunities to savvy entrepreneurs. Company closures left spaces for startups to fill, and the unprecedented environment prompted the creation and development of specific markets. For example, IBM’s U.S. Retail Index estimates that the coronavirus and resulting social …
The Jamstack has a nice way of separating the front end from the back end to where the entire solution doesn’t have to ship in a single monolith — and all at the exact same time. When the Jamstack is paired with a REST API, the client and the API …
When you’re hustling, time is money and that money comes in coins, not bills. It’s why we made our Website Terminology Glossary for web pros. This free resource for designers, developers, marketers or anyone else makes it easier explaining technical stuff to clients. Rather than a lengthy back-and-forth, quickly look …
Asking for help is hard because being vulnerable is hard. Female entrepreneur, Sarah-Allen Preston, launched an app to help people who feel like they’re sinking, but have a hard time leaning on their community to receive a helping hand. Preston shares how her own traumatic experiences pushed her to find …
It’s no secret that online learning is ridiculously popular. Even before COVID-19 forced many businesses and industries to pivot online (or shut their doors completely), the e-learning industry was booming. In 2019, the e-learning market hit a whopping $200 billion in revenue, and experts are projecting the online course industry …
In this article, we’ll explore what wireframing is, and why it’s worth doing it with Figma — the most-used UI design tool on the market today. We’ll take a deep dive into Figma, and learn how to design user interfaces with it — digging into wireframing as we go. BTW: …
Did you know that 75% of all new jobs in this country are created by small businesses? Or that 99% of all employers and approximately half of this nation’s GDP is driven by small businesses? On this morning’s WJR Business Beat, Jeff discusses the importance of our small businesses in …
2020 was a chaotic year, especially when it came down to traditional marketing strategies. But while we saw plenty of business and marketing changes in 2020, it’s time to also look at new trends emerging for 2021. Here are six key marketing trends to watch for your business. 6 marketing …
If you’re not growing your business online in the current climate, you will likely leave a lot of money on the table. As 2021 begins, we’re witnessing a fast-changing landscape. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, everything from working to socializing to ordering and shopping online has become the norm. In …
Did you know that Google received nearly 2.3 trillion searches in 2019? No matter what question people have, nowadays, their first instinct is to open their laptops or grab their phones, type it in Google, and check the first, second, or perhaps third result that shows up. This means one …
The beginning of the year has always been a popular time to start a business. If you’ve been considering forming an LLC or incorporating, but are curious about the benefits of starting up in January, look no further. We’ll catch you up on the biggest reasons why entrepreneurs like forming …
Many business owners, entrepreneurs, and even veteran marketers devise their strategy for the New Year starting in January. I’m here to make a case for developing your 2021 marketing strategy now, or more specifically, throughout the last quarter of the year. 7 steps to develop your 2021 marketing strategy Developing …
Starting and running a home-based business offers many benefits: decreased commute time, increased flexibility, and lower overhead costs, to name a few. However, when building or transitioning to remote business, several areas require extra attention. Digital advertising, data systems and connectivity tools need to be updated, and so does your …
Continue to kick off this new year with monumental savings of up to 45% off during Dell’s Presidents Day Sale, running Feb. 8 through Feb. 17! StartupNation exclusive discounts and savings on Dell products and accessories: Learn more here Call today to speak with a Small Business Advisor for a …
Nothing makes a sadder trombone than seeing that gorgeous site you just launched defaced, stuffed with spam or showing other evidence of a hack. Time to get in touch with that client so you can break the bad news: your website just got hacked. It’s a tricky scenario that could …
Welcome to another episode of StartupNation’s “Key Moves” podcast, hosted by Jeff Sloan! StartupNation exclusive discounts and savings on Dell products and accessories: Learn more here (Jayson Waller) In this podcast, Jeff goes beyond the mere backstory of business success and dives into the key moves made by the leaders and founders …
Rely on cPanel Hosting services that scale with your needs. With 99.9% uptime guarantees, you’ll enjoy unmetered bandwidth, superior performance and nimble load times. Benchmarks designed to meet your requirements With plans designed for a single project to multiple websites, cPanel Hosting offers robust features to fuel your business — …
If your ecommerce revenue has plateaued, you may be wondering about how you can encourage growth. While manufacturing an entirely new product is often risky and costly, white labeling is the perfect solution to help an ecommerce business grow. White labeling is a partnership between a manufacturer and a retailer. …
Friend, writer, teacher, podcaster and history buff are just a few words to describe today’s guest. On this episode of “Everything Borrowed,” Jason Hundey joins host Andrew Blake to discuss the evolution and history of rock and music as a whole. Hundey has taught a university-designed Music History course for …
Even if you prefer to stay out of the spotlight and let your web design work speak for you, a relevant award can bring with it a number of benefits. Anyone who makes a living in the digital space should, at some point, look at how to apply for awards …
Streamline your work flow from anywhere with top tech solutions from Dell Technologies! StartupNation readers can save up to 42% off on these business grade solutions, which can be custom fit to your needs. To learn how to boost your productivity while working remotely, check out Dell’s white paper below: …
One of the credos at the Mike Morse Personal Injury Law Firm is to be the best law firm to work for in Michigan. We came up with that 13 years ago. But during these unprecedented times, I keep asking myself, what does it really mean? I do think we …
When you’re hustling, time is money and that money comes in coins, not bills. It’s why we made our Website Terminology Glossary for web pros. This free resource for designers, developers, marketers or anyone else makes it easier explaining technical stuff to clients. Rather than a lengthy back-and-forth, quickly find …
Over 3.2 million Americans filed a business application in 2020, 500,000 more than in 2019. Are you a member of this group? If so, you’re proof that the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in America despite present day challenges. As a new business owner, you’re likely struggling with where …
On this morning’s WJR Business Beat, Jeff breaks down the most visited websites in the world. The top five rankings, according to data from SimilarWeb, are as follows: Google.com YouTube.com Facebook.com Twitter.com Wikipedia.org Tune in to the WJR Business Beat, below, to learn more about these website rankings! Tune in …
Charles Coristine, president and CEO of LesserEvil Snacks, channels his passions for mindfulness and healthy living into creating snacks. Today, “Everything Borrowed” host, Andrew Blake, chats with Coristine about his journey from a career on Wall Street to shaping LesserEvil’s core beliefs. The company prioritized not just ingredients, but spirit …
Let’s get real: In the web design world, complaints come with the territory. If you’re selling a product or service based on creative design and interpretation, you’ll eventually encounter an unhappy client. And keeping clients happy is key to providing exceptional customer service. Most complaints fit into one of these …
“Our small city of freaks and geeks, fast learners, and team players has been a crucible for startups,” Dug Song, co-founder and general manager of Duo Security at Cisco, said. Ann Arbor has been a launchpad for cybersecurity startups, the most notable being Duo. In 2018, Duo, one of the fastest-growing cybersecurity …
The following is excerpted from “Entrepreneur to Millionaire: How to Build a Highly Profitable, Fast-Growth Company and Become Embarrassingly Rich Doing It” by Kent Billingsley (McGraw-Hill Education, Feb. 2, 2021). StartupNation exclusive discounts and savings on Dell products and accessories: Learn more here A smarter and faster path to entrepreneurial …
One of the things that holds people back is that they don’t start mapping out their day until they get to work. It’ll take them 30 to 40 minutes to figure out what’s going to happen — but if they did it the night before, it would only take 10 …
This post was originally published on July 31, 2018, and was updated on March 4, 2020 and February 1, 2021. Many entrepreneurs might find themselves getting comfortable after their website has been created, with the misguided understanding that it will take care of itself. But updating your website is just …
This article was originally published on Feb. 22, 2018, and updated on Feb. 1, 2021. It’s no secret that nearly 5 billion people across the world have access to the internet. From mobile devices to desktops, it seems like everyone these days is plugged in — and if your business …
Silicon Valley is known for its revolutionary ideas, grandiose statements and ability to challenge the status quo. By now, we’re all familiar with the classic persona of the Bay Area-located, hoodie-wearing techie, who tells their team to “move fast and break things” in order to “disrupt” entire industries. However, what …
It’s not uncommon for couples to consider going into business together. After all, your life partner is an easy pick, as many spouses are loyal, supportive and even share the same dreams and goals. Plus, marriage in and of itself is the ultimate test. Like any type of partnership, …
Sponsored content Entrepreneurs are collectively being led to believe that data is the new currency. This attitude has prompted executives to hoard sizable amounts of data on behalf of their businesses. However, the truth is that the leaders at many organizations have no idea what they should be doing with …
As a new entrepreneur, you might overlook valuable sources of publicity for your business in favor of aiming for big press logos. But winning press from major online outlets doesn’t always impact your bottom line, nor is it cost efficient for new businesses. There’s a good chance that the following …
One of the key documents for starting a business is a business plan. A business plan acts as the foundation of your new company and is often used for loan applications. If you’re looking for investment capital, it’s an important document for investors to review to learn more about your …
There’s nothing sadder than a great website design just sitting there with lorem ipsum text and placeholder images. Hello, client… where’s that content you were gonna send? Often, a strategically timed message can help get things moving again. And so we present to you these free email templates for getting …
With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), voice assistants are becoming indispensable assets of everyday life. Voice search not only helps us multitask, but cuts out typing, waiting for a page to load and scrolling for answers. It also returns concise, accurate and fast results. A …
This post was originally published on Feb. 5, 2015, and was updated on April 2, 2018, March 27, 2019, Feb. 5, 2020 and Jan 29, 2021. The above content should not be construed as legal or tax advice. Always consult an attorney or tax professional regarding your specific legal or …
editorial strategy thought leadershi Content Marketing The Ultimate Guide To Becoming A Thought Leader David Tile, Founder & Director @ Article-Writing.co Posted On: January 25, 2021 In this day and age, it appears that every entrepreneur, marketer and publisher wants to know how to become a thought leader. The advantages …
Email marketing is one of the most common ways of attracting new customers to your business and growing your brand. Those who invest the necessary time into this practice quickly learn that email marketing comes with many benefits for business owners and clients. That is, of course, if the …
Finding the best VPS provider is clutch because a website communicates with clients far more than we ever could. That’s why it demands such a significant share of business resources. Still, cost is always a key concern, especially when we’re just getting started. It’s common to initially go with less-expensive …
Marketing your business rarely comes easily. There’s always room for improvement and new things to learn. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t make marketing a little easier on yourself for 2021. Let’s talk about seven ways to make marketing in 2021 easier — including marketing planning, marketing systems and …
If you’re thinking about starting an e-commerce business, you’re in good company. E-commerce is booming, with sales from last year’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday hitting $10.8 billion in a single weekend. And growth is only accelerating: by 2022, the global e-commerce market is expected to reach $6.5 trillion. Not …
While the pandemic has created numerous obstacles for entrepreneurs, some of the best and most inventive ideas have been born out of adverse circumstances. January is the perfect time to re-evaluate what worked and what didn’t work over the course of the past 12 months in order to set new …
In our current age of increasing automation and the need for secure and reliable data storage, there’s a case to be made for building your own server. Nowadays, the barrier to entry on building a server is lower than ever. However, that being said, you do need a bit of …
Keeping up with content creation can be challenging. One of the only ways to ensure that you execute and consistently publish high-quality content that drives results for your brand is by using a blog editorial calendar. Let’s look at what an editorial calendar is, why it’s important, and how to …
Sponsored content As 2020 wraps up and we begin to look forward to 2021, there is hope on the horizon. While COVID-19 still looms, there is an argument that companies could return to the office in the coming year. If you plan to get back to the office in 2021, …
Plenty of people dream of launching their own business, but then they undermine themselves, coming up with reasons to put off their dream just a little longer. And then they put it off again. And again. Maybe they don’t feel like they have the capital to pull it off. Maybe …
Daymon Hoag is the owner and operator of Buckeye Web Development, LLC, based in Kenton, Ohio. We caught up to him for a discussion ranging from his pride in the Buckeye State, to a love of ecommerce, to the power of believing in yourself. The who: Given a business name …
As an entrepreneur, you’re always on the lookout for ways to bring more organic traffic to your website. We’re constantly told that “content is key,” but there are plenty of misconceptions out there regarding the best approaches to content curation and marketing, and how search engine algorithms (such as Google’s) …
Whether you’re ready or not, it’s time to start your business planning for 2021. Even if you’re a one-person business, don’t underestimate the importance of having a business plan for the next year to help guide your decisions and keep you on track, especially as we all try to navigate …
After a year like 2020, it’s tempting to advise any and all entrepreneurs to simply hold on for dear life in 2021. Many businesses are still scrambling to move online, and big brands are diving into e-commerce in a way that may intimidate some smaller players who are looking to …
Technical SEO is an important — but often misunderstood — part of search engine optimization. This article breaks down what technical SEO actually is and provides a helpful checklist for any small business to DIY tech SEO. First, we’ll gain an understanding and explore key technical SEO definitions. We’ll talk …
With a rapid shift to online presence this year, many companies are having to explore digital options now that they hadn’t considered in the past. One business function quickly making the move to digital is public relations (PR). If you own a business, you might be asking yourself, what is …
2020 has been… shall we say… an interesting year. It’s certainly been a year of surprises in the eCommerce industry. (All those people who mocked you back in 2016 for starting a store that only sold toilet paper and banana bread baking supplies—now who’s laughing?) Customer spending has been transitioning …
In the modern world, social media permeates every aspect of business, but especially marketing. When using these digital platforms to promote your company, creating content is only half the battle; you must also connect with your audience in a meaningful way. With this in mind, let’s talk about boosting your …
*This post originally appeared Dec. 18, 2020 on the Media Temple blog. Here at the end of 2020, agencies resoundingly have a positive outlook for 2021. And agency leaders we’ve talked to have voiced a strong sense of the path forward. There’s good reason for it, too. The distribution of …
Over the years, I have witnessed a pattern that I like to call the “entrepreneur’s paradox.” This problem is most common with startups that don’t have access to a lot of seed capital. They are under tremendous pressure to keep costs low. Unfortunately, they sometimes take this too far and …
The purpose of starting a business is not to make a profit. The purpose of starting a business is to find profitable solutions to the problems of people and the planet. Conscious capitalism takes Milton Friedman’s theories of shareholder supremacy and throws them out the window. The philosophy of conscious …
Like so many families around the globe, ours has had to make some difficult decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the most agonizing was what to do about school. Should we send our daughter back to traditional school, or should we opt for an online school? Out of both …
Being a freelance web designer or web developer doesn’t mean you need to go it alone. There are businesses out there looking to work with you and support you. You might already have a relationship with these businesses as a customer. By joining their partner program, you’re moving yourself from …
This post was originally published on Jan. 28, 2015, and was updated on Feb. 20, 2019. Scam artists love preying on small businesses, but yours doesn’t have to be one of them. Here are the most prevalent tax scams targeting small businesses this tax season. Related: Understanding online security threats 6 …
