AI is set to supercharge small business marketing. By analyzing customer data, AI will help you personalize outreach and target ideal audiences with laser focus. Strategic Marketing West 2024 will have the leading experts in the field from the top companies in the world to deliver insights into the application of this technology. You will be able to leverage AI tools to automate repetitive tasks, freeing you to create high-quality content and craft engaging campaigns. This data-driven approach, fueled by AI’s insights, will allow you to maximize marketing effectiveness and reach new heights. F ..read more

The Small Business Administration (SBA) just released its annual report card on how federal agencies are doing in giving contracts to small businesses. These agencies exceeded their FY23 goal of 23%, awarding 28.4% of federal contract dollars to small businesses. The SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman announced the results of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 federal procurement “Scorecard.” This scorecard evaluates how well federal agencies meet their small business contracting goals each year. This achievement represents a $178.6 billion investment in the small business sector, a $15.7 billion ..read more

Today’s businesses have numerous revenue opportunities, from selling products online to leveraging knowledge and skills with a home-based business. Members of the online small business community have experience with many of these options. Read about their experiences and gain valuable insights below. Start These Home Businesses with No Money You don’t need tons of capital or a fancy office to start a successful business. But if you want to start a business at home with no money, you need the right idea. Holly Reisem Hanna of The Work at Home Woman blog shares the top options here. Learn How to ..read more

Businesses throughout the Los Angeles area rely on the entertainment industry for various functions. So when two major industry unions struck last year, many small businesses felt the effects. Now, a new grant program aims to support those businesses and any that were negatively affected by COVID. Read about this new opportunity and other small business grants below. Los Angeles County Entertainment Business Interruption Fund The Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity and the County Film Office just unveiled a new $4.1 million grant program to support local small businesses that ..read more

Mobile apps are influencing our interactions, communication, and business practices. Therefore, understanding app statistics is extremely important for businesses, developers, and users. With over 20% of people discovering new brands through apps and 85% of users favoring apps over websites, mobile apps are not just a trend but a fundamental force shaping our digital landscape. The sheer volume of apps, revenue generated, and competition between platforms like Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store highlight their significance. Mobile apps serve as gateways to experiences, connections, and ..read more

Combining public and private grants can provide a powerful boost to small businesses, enhancing their access to a wider range of resources. Public grants often offer foundational financial support, while private grants can deliver specialized assistance such as technology enhancements, expert consultancy, and growth capital for scaling operations. Together, these grants allow businesses to leverage governmental backing and private sector innovation, fostering greater stability, efficiency, and expansion opportunities in a competitive market landscape. Whether you apply for a public or private ..read more

“What’s the shrewdest, smartest maneuver you’ve ever seen in business?” Here’s what YEC community members had to say: 1. Slack’s Pivot From Gaming “There are plenty of smart maneuvers in business. One that sticks out to me is the origin of Slack. The company was originally called Tiny Speck, and its goal was to develop a video game called Glitch. By around 2012, the team realized their game wasn’t going to make them any money, and they needed to quickly pivot to something else.” “Well, during game development, the team built an internal communication tool that ended up becoming, you guessed ..read more

Business leaders want a Trump-era tax cut benefitting small businesses to become permanent. The cut sunsets in 2025 unless Congress votes to extend it. However, President Joe Biden vows he will veto such legislation if it ever comes to him for signature. “Now, President Biden’s Budget will cut taxes for working families and lower deficits by trillions of dollars over a decade by making the wealthy and big corporations pay their fair share—and no one earning less than $400,000 per year will pay a penny in new taxes,” a White House fact sheet states. Still, business leaders say the tax cut benef ..read more

Customer service has emerged as a key distinction for businesses competing in today’s digital ecosystem. It’s no longer just about the quality of products or services a company offers but how well it caters to its customers’ needs and expectations. This article presents 50 key customer service statistics that shed light on the importance of keeping customers happy and the role of customer service in achieving that goal. Understanding the Customer Service Experience Customer service experience refers to a customer’s overall journey when interacting with a business. It encompasses every touchpoi ..read more

Calendly has introduced a new browser extension that makes it easier for businesses to manage their meetings directly from the web. This new tool is designed to help users book and adjust meetings without having to switch between different applications, which is a common productivity killer in today’s workplaces. Calendly’s new extension aims to cut down on wasted time by allowing users to handle all their meeting needs in one place, directly from their internet browser. The extension is gaining popularity among major companies like DocuSign and CI Assante Wealth Management, the company says ..read more