Small Business Ideas

 Web design has come a long way since 1991, when the first ever website was published. Exclusively text-based, this site marked the beginning of what would become a digital revolution. And while recollections of “under construction” GIFs and blinding background colors make me thankful for just how far the web has come, there are some historical web design choices that actually demand a nod of respect. Websites like this one haven’t been lost to time, either. If you want to see what a website looked like at any period since its launch, enter its domain name into the Wayback Machine and choose a date. In this post, let’s take a look at how web design has evolved, from text-only interfaces up through the sleek, modern designs we see today. Early 1990s: Antiquity The early 90s marks the start of our website design timeline. At this point, there was no such thing as a high-speed internet connection. It was dial-up modems, or it was nothing. Therefore, websites needed to be built for les...

 If you're anything like me, you're consistently working out of at least 20 browser tabs, four journals, a yellow legal pad or two, and a myriad of Post-it notes stuck around your computer monitor. To the average overseer, it's nothing short of chaos. To the blogger, it's evidence of a (desperate) need for an editorial calendar. My muddled system transforms dramatically when I work with a team. I realize the need for organization and structure, and this could not be more necessary than managing a blog. Without a mutually agreed-upon system for planning, writing, and scheduling content every week, you can find yourself in a pile of missed deadlines, unedited blog posts, and a fair amount of team tension. There's no such thing as a perfect editorial calendar — it all depends on the needs of your team. Nonetheless, there are several questions you should ask yourself to determine what your editorial calendar should look like. These include: How frequently are you publis...

 Take a second to think about one of your favorite brands. A logo, storefront, color, or memorable ad campaign will likely pop into your mind. That's because a brand's visual identity is a powerful tool for telling a company's story, building customer affinity, and increasing revenue. If done effectively, visual identity can communicate a particular feeling or message without words. But a poorly-designed identity can confuse customers with lackluster messaging and disjointed graphics. So it's no surprise that consistent brands are 3.5x more likely to have strong brand visibility than inconsistent brands. Visual identity plays an essential role in branding, so it's important to understand what makes up an identity and how to create one. We'll cover all of that and share examples of successful brands that have developed a strong visual identity. What is a visual identity? A visual identity is the visible representation of a brand, from the logo and colors to the w...

 Market research is an overarching term for gathering information from you customers about your business, and focus groups are one way to conduct market research. Whether your focus group's goal is to give feedback on a product or service or help you assess how your brand stands out in your competitive landscape, thought-provoking, open-ended questions are essential to a productive discussion. Focus group questions should dive into the mind of a consumer. What do they think? How do they make their decisions? You want more than a yes or no answer, and your questions need to generate them. However, it is easier said than done. What can you ask beyond "What do you think of our product?" to provoke the most fruitful answers Focus Group Question Examples for Building Trust Among Focus Group Members Before diving into deeper questions, it's best to warm up the group with a couple of open-ended questions that allow participants to get to know each other a little bit. Partici...

 In recent years, the CRM (Customer Relationship Management system) has evolved far beyond being just a tool for contact management. As we move further into the new decade, some key CRM trends will shake up the industry as we know it. Here are some of our top predictions for CRM in the upcoming year, including rising CRM use from new markets, powerful features and integrations, and the impact of wider tech trends on CRM.CRM Trends for 2022 1. AI is becoming a key part of CRM systems. f there's one thing that's affecting all industries, it's artificial intelligence (AI). We're using a lot more of it than we might think in our daily lives as well as at work. AI-driven software resources — from conversational intelligence programs to sales analytics platforms — have a presence in virtually any industry that rests on SaaS solutions. Several CRMs fit that bill, incorporating AI into their broader functionality. 2. There are fewer barriers for first-time CRM users. 65% of sal...

 Maintenance teams need structure to do their jobs effectively — guesswork always needs to be kept to a minimum. That's why they leverage documents known as work orders to delegate and track their tasks and responsibilities. Here, we'll go over what work orders are, see what they might cover, review the difference between them and work requests, detail the work order management process, and get a helpful template for you to make work orders of your own. A work order is an internal document, detailing maintenance work that has been approved for execution. It usually covers elements like the worker the task has been assigned to, cost estimates, the date and time the task will be executed, and other relevant details that will inform how a task should be carried out. There's no single, catch-all category that covers all work orders. Each one is unique — even if it's for recurring maintenance. Still, your average work order will generally fall within one of five buckets. Tho...

  Finding a new job can be a nerve-wracking experience. You pour your heart and soul (not to mention your entire work history) into this document and wait by the phone (or your inbox) for the interview requests to come in. Fortunately, there’s a better way to communicate your skills and achievements to a potential employer than the traditional resume and summary. Before you send out resumes for your next career move, learn how a statement of qualifications can help you stand out as a candidate. What is a Statement of Qualifications? A Statement of Qualifications (SoQ) is a shortlist that highlights your most applicable skills and experiences. Your traditional resume, fleshing out each qualification through your relevant work history follows your SoQ. You can think of a Statement of Qualifications in relation to the adage "don’t bury the lead." It comes from the world of journalism and it’s a constant reminder that you should write the most important thing first. Why? Because ...

 Airbnb Co-founder, Brian Chesky, said, "If we tried to think of a good idea, we wouldn’t have been able to think of a good idea. You just have to find the solution for a problem in your own life." If you’re like Brian and you’ve already thought about a solution for a problem you encounter in your life — or you’re on the path to doing so — then starting a small business may be in your future. It may also be for you if you dream of clocking out of your nine-to-five job for the last time and becoming your own boss. But while you might feel ready for a new venture and passionate about your idea, you might be looking for some direction. To help get you started, here's a list of small business ideas separated into three major sections: Best Small Business Ideas Home Business Ideas How to Start a Small Business at Home The first step to becoming a successful entrepreneur is finding a business idea that works for you. In this article you’ll walk away with dozens of small busines...