Unfortunately, most jobs lost due to COVID-19 have been in female-dominated industries including hospitality, healthcare, and education. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 55 percent of lost jobs this year were held by women. We are also currently experiencing an unemployment rate of 15 percent in comparison to 13 percent in men. Although this information can be discouraging, a push for virtual work has also brought on a few positive changes to the workforce that many believe are here to stay. As more and more people work remotely and independently, a study found a 27 percent increase in the share of people who felt motivated to start a business. This year has also accelerated an awareness and push to action on diversity and inclusivity issues. This has led companies—both big and small—to adopt initiatives that boost the hiring and promotion of female team members as well as collaborations with […]
Although most small businesses have already felt the most intense negative effects of the COVID-19 lockdown, chances are that they’re still recovering on many levels. Small businesses in every community are still fully financially recovering and can use your continued support. Want to be a long-term partner in the success of the entrepreneurs and family-owned businesses in your area? We put together some actions you can take: Use your social media audience to support small businesses. Make an effort not only to buy local but also to post about it on your social accounts and spread the word. Word of mouth recommendations can go a long way, too. Have a friend looking to purchase a gift? Recommend a local gift shop. Most small businesses have online shops, so geography doesn’t matter. Buy essentials at your local family-owned shops. Even if the price is a bit more than what you’d usually pay, you […]
It’s no secret that running a business can be challenging and that it at times results in entrepreneurial burnout. As an entrepreneur, everything can hinge on the decisions you make and the work you do every day, so it can seem necessary to burn the candle at both ends. But when there’s no time for rest, you’re bound to burn out. Taking some down time away from your work can ensure you stay confident in your work and motivated to achieve. Mastering the challenges that come along with managing a business isn’t something that will happen overnight. Every new stage of business brings its own challenges, and the possibility of burnout. Thankfully, there are a few key practices to keep in order to avoid entrepreneurial burnout. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Whether you’re stumped on how to get your idea off the ground, or you’re not sure who your […]
It’s easy to get a social media page rolling, especially if you have the time and desire to give it your all. Yet, you’ll soon find that a pretty placeholder is not enough to achieve your business goals and make the investment worth your while. The true measure of social media success is what the experts call “engagement.” In other words: how many fans of your page are liking, commenting and sharing your social media content? The more people perform these activities, the more your brand will come up in their news feeds and the news feeds of their friends to extend your company’s reach. This is word-of-mouth advertising at its finest. We find this to be an ongoing challenge too — especially when you’re in a “dry” industry like insurance, parts manufacturing, finance or marketing where people may not be as excited about sharing your news as they would be on Starbucks’ page or […]
It’s okay. We’ve all done it. We’ve all kicked our feet up on the desk and imagined what life would be like working for ourselves. We picture whopping paychecks, skipping out early on Fridays if duty calls, coming in late so we can get the kids off to school, borrowing from our own personal piggy bank, working alongside people who share our passions, and finally being able to call all the shots. Of course, we soon find the reality is that we’re working longer hours than we ever thought possible; continuously feeling frustrated and disappointed in other people; wolfing down fast food morning, noon and night; and pushing our sanity to the brink. Here are the top eight obstacles online entrepreneurs face. 1. Time Management There are many distractions in the online entrepreneur’s workplace. Social media can be a huge time-waster, especially if you are working on a client’s social […]
Not every small business has a monolithic budget to work with. Yet, creating an attractive, user-friendly website is the equivalent of having a birth certificate — you simply MUST have one if you want to exist! For some businesses, the website will be a place for web searchers to find the store location, hours, and basic information. For others, it will be a way of capturing leads, converting sales, and maintaining an audience. No matter what stage of the game you’re at, be sure you aren’t making these top 8 web design mistakes! 1. Your website was not developed with “SEO” in mind. Every good website begins with keyword research. There is no excuse for skipping this step with tools like the Google Keyword Tracker available for free! You want to find words and phrases related to what you do or sell that are low in competition, but high in […]