small business compete big companies

How Small Businesses Can Compete with Big Companies & Win

  Entering an industry as a business owner where big companies are already operating in the space is a bold prospect and very intimidating. Though it’s not statistically likely that you’re going to be able to jump in and overtake a company like Target in their home court, you can absolutely prosper and even proliferate alongside the well-established heavy hitters. If there are multiple businesses who are offering the same product or service within the same general area, then that means there is probably a large enough market to support them all. Dig in, commit yourself to the task, and use the following strategies to give your small business every advantage that you can.   The Odds Are Already in Your Favor   With some exceptions, nearly everything about what a small business produces is better than the big ones. Service and support are generally faster and more attentive; quality …

business phone system

6-Step Plan to the Perfect Business Phone System

  Whether you already have an established business or are just getting started, at some point you are going to need to think about your phones. While some business owners will opt to use their cell number as the business line (please don’t do this; see why) others will be considering a fancy office system. That is until you are confronted with the upfront costs, old school desk phones, networking equipment & long term contracts that come with these “modern” office systems… This is why virtual phone systems have gained popularity in recent years. Not only are there no contracts, upfront costs, or equipment to purchase but you can have everything up and running in less than an hour. All you need is access to a web browser and either a PC, cell phone or landline! To lean more about virtual phone systems, check out this article: How Does a …

Joe Rogan podcast

UFC to Podcast Heavy-Hitter: Joe Rogan Hits the Mark

  Joe Rogan is a household name, even if you don’t quite remember what he’s famous for. Some people remember Joe Rogan from his time on NewsRadio. Others think of his stint as the original host of Fear Factor. However, his acting career pales in comparison to his position as one of the most successful podcasters in recent history. So, how did Joe Rogan go from supporting actor on a sitcom to the host of a wildly popular podcast? Certainly not from blending in with the rest of the crowd..     Facing Fear Comes Naturally to Joe Rogan   Joe Rogan helped people face their fears on Fear Factor, which is something that he strongly believes in. Early in his life, Joe overcame his own fears by taking up martial arts. He’s stated that he was “terrified of being a loser” growing up. Practicing martial arts was a natural …

virtual phone system

How Does a Virtual Phone System Work?

  It’s actually rather simple. If you’ve ever worked at a business, or have your own business that utilizes a traditional phone system, then you already understand how a virtual phone system works because the concept is the same. On-site, traditional phone systems have been the backbone of businesses for a long time, and this kind of network is a precursor to the service provided by Talkroute. Inspired by conventional networks, Talkroute works along the same principles and offers the same features—except it’s completely virtual, which is why there is no need to buy or install new equipment. It’s 100% in the cloud and works with your existing phones and devices.   Turn Your Desktop & Cell Phone Into a Fully-Functional Virtual Phone System   Just like the conventional phone networks, a virtual phone system manages every call that comes into your business. Instead of buying a bunch of new …

Hiring Remote Employees

7 Tips for Hiring & Managing Remote Employees

  More and more small businesses have been deciding to use remote employees for a few different reasons, not the least of which is to save money that would otherwise be spent on an office space. Then Covid-19 comes along & inadvertently forces us all to truly reevaluate our current working environments. While some people are already very familiar with working this way, many are not. So in this article we’ll dive in & address some of the issues a business owner will run into when hiring and managing remote employees. Working remotely immediately sounds like a great idea, and it is, but there are some things that you will encounter that you probably won’t expect. That’s precisely why it’s good to know certain key things before you delve into this pervasive & fairly new working sphere. These 7 points will help you a great deal as you move into …

Briogeo CEO Nancy Twine

Wash, Rinse, Repeat: Briogeo CEO Nancy Twine Renews Hair Care

  Nancy Twine has the distinction of being the youngest African-American to launch a line of hair care products at Sephora. After spending seven years working on Wall Street, she ditched finance for beauty. She’s now the CEO of a multi-million-dollar company and carving out a niche in a crowded industry. So how did Nancy Twine go from managing investments to managing one of the fastest-growing hair care lines? It turns out this wasn’t a sudden career change. Nancy started making natural hair care products years before reaching Wall Street. Let’s take a detailed look at the history of Briogeo and the CEO behind it.     Who Is Nancy Twine?   Nancy Twine is the founder and CEO of Briogeo. She founded the company in 2013 before the age of 30 after working for one of the largest financial companies in the world. However, her experience with making organic …

Tips for Bootstrapping

7 Tips for Bootstrapping Your Business Without Falling Apart

  This is for all you wide-eyed, ambitious, and driven small business owners out there, who have decided to take it upon yourself to foot the bill for your business without taking an investment from anyone. You don’t want to owe anything to anybody, which is both admirable and smart because once you get going and you’ve been in business for a while, it’s really nice to be able to keep all your profits (or put it back into the business, as one does). Bootstrapping your business can be tough, and especially tough when you’re not made of money. If you’ve made the decision to do that, then you probably know what you’re getting into. Be that as it may, however, you will likely still welcome some tips to make sure your business ends up fully-funded and flourishing. That’s the purpose of this article, and these small pieces of advice …

Tory Burch Grateful Billionaire

Tory Burch: The Grateful Billionaire

  The Tory Burch story is an aspirational example of hard work, dedication, and gratitude paving the way to great success. Successful entrepreneurs take advantage of every opportunity, adding knowledge to a growing arsenal of experience that can be drawn upon later. By remaining true to herself as a thoughtful risk-taker, she carved out a career that would take her to the top. Tory consistently applied the values she developed throughout her life to her business decisions & by doing so.. she has managed to create one of the most powerful brands in history.   Tory Burch Learned About Philanthropy as a Child   You might be surprised to learn that Tory Burch—one of the world’s few self-made female billionaires and an international fashion industry icon—started life as a self-professed tomboy. Tory grew up in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania alongside her three brothers, spending much of her free time climbing trees …

Guide of Resources to Help Nonprofits Thrive

Comprehensive Guide of Resources to Help Nonprofits Thrive

  Finding the right resources and guidance can be very overwhelming for owners of new or existing nonprofit organizations. Mistakes that you make now could cripple your chances of running a successful business. Helping to make the world a better place involves a lot of hard work. From obtaining funding to managing your daily operations, every nonprofit organization (NPO) faces complex choices. If you’re just starting out, you may not know how to make the right decisions or where to turn for help. To eliminate some of the stress, we’ve come up with a list of the best resources for managing your organization. Using a combination of software, online tools, and funding solutions, you’ll have more time to focus on helping those in need.     Here are the top resources for helping nonprofits thrive:   1. Learn How to Incorporate a Nonprofit at USA.gov   The U.S. Government should …

Focus On While Business is Slow

What to Focus On While Business is Slow

  After months or years of frantic hard work, your business has suddenly seen an unexpected slump.. Other than take a much-needed vacation or count your hard-earned money like a demented Scrooge McDuck, what can you do to benefit your business during the slow days? Because if they haven’t come yet, they will. Slow days come to all businesses, no matter how much potential the enterprise has. As an entrepreneur, you don’t want to lose your momentum during those times when the orders are not rolling in. First, it’s important to stay optimistic. No matter how worried or stressed you feel right then, keep your focus on long-term growth. Remember, you want your business to last, to go all the way to the finish line. A few slow days or weeks can benefit your small business more than you might think. During these times, you can take care of important …