Letâs be realâwhen you think about press releases, you probably picture a big corporation announcing a merger or a fancy tech startup debuting its latest gadget. But hereâs the truth: press releases arenât just for the big guys. Theyâre a secret weapon for small and medium-sized businesses, too. You might be thinking, "Thatâs old-school, right?" Wrong. Press releases are still one of the most underrated tools in your marketing arsenal.
If youâre looking for ways to get your name out there, gain credibility, and attract some much-needed attention, you should definitely be using press releases. Letâs break down why:
When your business sends out a press release, it shows the world youâve got something important to say. It screams, âHey, look at usâweâre making moves!â And guess what? People listen. Press releases give your business an air of legitimacy that your average Instagram post just doesnât.
Pro Tip: Press releases are trusted by media outlets, so w...
We all know the drill. The leaves start falling, the snow starts piling up, or summer rolls in, and suddenlyâbam!âsales hit a nosedive. Every small business owner dreads the seasonal sales slump. But here's the kicker: while you canât eliminate the seasons (unless youâre Zeus, which, spoiler alert, youâre not), you can prep your business to weather the storm.
Ready to minimize the damage? Letâs dive into six techniques thatâll keep you afloat, even when the customers start ghosting you like a bad Tinder date.
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The best way to not put all your eggs in one seasonal basket? Diversify. Sure, your pumpkin spice latte business is booming from September to November, but whatâs happening in March? Introduce new products or services that complement your main hustle but arenât reliant on any one season. Keep your audience interested, and more importantly, keep the cash flow going. Think off-season promotions, bundles, or offering an entirely new line of services ...
Securing funding is one of the biggest challenges small business owners face. Whether youâre just starting out or looking to scale, the process is often slow, rigid, and full of roadblocks. Traditional lenders donât always get it â they focus on outdated requirements that leave many businesses frustrated and stuck. But thatâs where Credit Banc by Shield Advisory Group comes in. Weâve listened to the struggles of small business owners, and weâve created a solution thatâs fast, flexible, and built around your businessâs needs.
Letâs face it: most small businesses donât have the luxury of time. Waiting weeks for an approval and then even longer to access funds can slow down growth and, in some cases, put businesses in jeopardy. The demands of running a business donât wait, so why should your financing?
On top of that, traditional lenders often rely on rigid requirements that simply donât apply to many small businesses. Credit scores, fina...
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Ever feel like your business is running you instead of the other way around? If your daily routine has you putting out fires left and right like youâre a member of the NYFD, itâs time to call in some reinforcements. Automation tools can take over the boring, time-sucking tasks that keep you from focusing on the big stuff.
And you donât need to be a tech wizard to set these up, either. We're talking free, easy-to-use tools that can shave off hours of grunt work every week.Â
Hereâs our list of 7 free automation tools you need to start using ASAP to reclaim your time.
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What It Does: Think of Zapier as your businessâs personal assistant. It connects your favorite apps and automates repetitive tasks without you lifting a finger. For instance, you can set it up to save Gmail attachments directly to Dropbox or sync new leads from your website to your CRM.
Why You Need It: If youâre constantly switching between apps and manually transferring information, Zapier has your ba...
We get it. Running a small business means balancing a hundred things at once (things that are often on fire), and sometimes, the thought of investing in your own growth can seem like just another line item you canât afford right now.Â
But hereâs the thing: waiting too long to invest in your business might be the most expensive mistake youâll ever make.Â
Donât believe us? Keep reading to learn why âwaiting for the right timeâ to grow could be killing your businessâand your future success.
You know that saying âopportunity knocksâ? Well, sometimes it bangs on your door like a debt collector at 6 a.m. The longer you sit back and play it safe, the more youâre leaving money and growth on the table. And letâs be honest: in the world of small business, time is money.Â
That prime real estate location youâve been eyeing? Someone else just snagged it.Â
The new equipment you need to streamline production? Its price just went up.Â
The next wave of customer de...
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Letâs be real for a second. Small business funding sounds straightforward, right? You need cash, you get a loan, and boomâproblem solved.Â
Wrong.Â
In reality, not fully understanding small business funding can wreck your business faster than a late-night tax audit. Weâre not talking about just missing out on better rates or leaving money on the table; we're talking about sinking your whole damn ship because you didnât read the fine print.
Hereâs the deal: small business funding is more than just getting approved for a loan. If you don't understand how to navigate the landscape, youâre setting yourself up for financial headachesâand, in some cases, straight-up failure.
"Low interest rate!" That's how they hook you, right? Sounds sexy, but letâs dig deeper.Â
A low rate on a loan doesnât always mean youâre saving money in the long run. Short repayment terms and hidden fees can slap you in the face faster than a rejection email from you...
Letâs be real: entrepreneurship is no cakewalk. Youâre balancing a hundred platesâsome are spinning nicely, and others are ready to smash to the floor.Â
But what if you didnât have to juggle it all alone? Enter mentorshipâthe secret sauce for entrepreneurial success. Sure, it sounds a bit clichĂ©, but thereâs a reason all those successful CEOs swear by it.
You might think mentors are only useful when you're just starting out, but thatâs a huge myth. Whether youâve got a fresh idea or youâve been working at it for years, a solid mentor can help you dodge landmines, whether itâs about scaling your business, dealing with a difficult client, or making that next big hire. Theyâve already been through the trenches, and trust me, theyâve made enough mistakes so you donât have to.
Running a business is stressful AF, and sometimes you just need someone who gets it. A mentor isnât just there to hold your handâtheyâre there to ch...
Welcome to the Future: Itâs Virtual
Youâve got 24 hours in a day, and if youâre like most small business owners, youâre probably using at least 25 of them. Managing a growing business is no joke, and thereâs only so much caffeine can do before you start seeing double.
Enter the virtual assistant (VA) â your secret weapon to scaling operations without losing your sanity. Think of them as your right hand, but, you know, virtual. They can handle all the nitty-gritty stuff so you can focus on the big picture.Â
Letâs break down how to find, hire, and integrate a VA into your business to help streamline your operations and maybe even find some time to breathe.
First things first, letâs talk about why you need a VA in your life:
Ever feel like youâre playing a high-stakes game of âGuess Who?â with your inventory?Â
Seasonal trends can make you feel like a psychic at a crystal ball conventionâtrying to predict whatâs hot (or not) based on the weather, holidays, or some inexplicable consumer urge to buy swimwear in December.
But hereâs the thing: getting ahead of these trends is key to not just surviving but thriving. And no, you donât need a magic wand or a PhD in fortunetelling. With a bit of planning and some smart tactics, you can predict seasonal changes and manage your inventory like a boss.Â
First off, not all seasons are created equal. Depending on your business, âseasonalâ could mean summer vs. winter, the holiday rush, or even back-to-school madness. Itâs crucial to understand your unique seasonal peaks and valleys. Hereâs how you can do it:
So, youâve hit the sweet spot with your small business. Sales are booming, customers love what youâre doing, and youâre ready for the next step. But now comes the big question: Should you franchise your business or scale it? Both paths have their merits, but they come with very different challenges and rewards.Â
Letâs break it down so you can decide which route is best for you and your business goals.
Franchising is like having a clone armyâexcept these clones are paying you for the privilege of copying your success. When you franchise, you allow others to replicate your business model using your brand, systems, and products or services. This means youâll have a network of independently owned locations that follow your guidelines but arenât directly under your management.
Rapid Expansion with Less Capital: You donât need to foot the bill for every new location. Franchisees invest their own money to open and opera...