StartupNation

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• When is the Best Time of Year to Launch Your Business?
• How To Make Your Startup Bankable
• 5 Pay-Per-Click Tips for Startups and New Businesses
• WJR Business Beat: Record Spending On Small Business Saturday (Episode 329)
• Are You Making these 3 Customer Feedback Mistakes?
• 7 Essentials for Successful PR in 2022
• The Impact of SSL and HTTPS on a Website’s SEO
• How to Achieve Startup Success from Day 1
• 9 Steps for Building Your Brand on Social Media for Respect, Recognition, Results and Revenue
• WJR Business Beat: Shopify Jump-Starts Starting A Business (Episode 328)

When is the Best Time of Year to Launch Your Business? Posted: 02 Dec 2021 09:00 PM PST Is there such a thing as the "best" time of year to start a business? There are 30.2 million small businesses in the United States, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). While these businesses certainly didn’t start up at the exact same time, I do wonder if there are certain times of year where it's more ideal to launch a business than others. Let's take a look, season by season, to determine if there's really a "best" time to open your doors for business. Spring Spring comes off the heels of the long winter, and of those months, January tends to be one of the busiest for processing incorporation paperwork at Secretary of State offices throughout the United States. Once the documents have been processed, entrepreneurs who filed early are poised to open their doors to the public. This may sound pretty obvious, but the first few months that a business is open can make or break it, and spring is an important time for your startup to grow. Seasonal business or not, for those launched in the springtime, this is their time to flourish. Outside of the U.S., spring is said to be the favored time to start a business in the United Kingdom. A report from the Aldermore Future Attitudes revealed that in 2017, UK small businesses launched in spring tended to triumph over companies created during other seasons. 5 Mistakes Derailing Startup Founders Summer For many, summer means taking a break to relax. On the other hand, for entrepreneurs, summer brings a motivational burst of inspiration to start a seasonal business. The beauty of launching a summer business is that it’s a great time for entrepreneurs of all ages to throw their hats in the ring. A grade school student can open up a lemonade stand, a college student may start up that sporting goods company they’ve always dreamed of, and someone tired of his 9-to-5 may start side hustling with a lawn care service. The timeframe is also fairly flexible, as many seasonal businesses can remain operational once the summer has ended, or reopen again the following year on a seasonal basis. Related: Incorporate Your Business Through StartupNation Autumn Are entrepreneurs more productive during the fall months? According to studies, the answer may be yes. Task-management software company, Redbooth, announced intriguing new research in 2018. Compiled over four years, the data revealed that the average worker is more productive in autumn. In fact, the average worker is 20 percent more productive in autumn than in the winter (as well as 11 percent more productive during the same timeframe than in spring and 7 percent more productive than in summer). The study also found that the most productive months of the year are September, October and November. Productivity aside, what else does autumn bring to the table for entrepreneurs? The speculation is that the changing season itself can be a big motivator. Fall meant going to back to school as kids, and now it means back to business for adults. Summer offers enough time to focus on getting the kinks and issues of the business ironed out, readying it to launch in autumn. Winter Many entrepreneurs add "start a business" to their list of goals and resolutions for the New Year. More often than not, they'll use the first few months of the year to get a head start on getting the business up and running. However, we typically recommend that entrepreneurs looking to file a business close to the end of the year should consider consider a delayed filing for their businesses, versus a standard incorporation filing. A delayed filing allows you to file your paperwork now, and you are able to set an "effective on" date about a month out. This is ideal for anyone forming an LLC or corporation for their business, as it ensures that the entity is approved and formed at the start of the new year. Must-Read: 5 Leadership Traits No Entrepreneur Succeeds Without What if I can’t decide when to start my business? Ultimately, there is no true "best" time of the year to start a business, but there is also no “worst” time of the year to be an entrepreneur. There are certainly benefits to starting a business during a particular season depending on your specific business, but the best thing you can do is prepare yourself. You'll need to draft a thorough business plan, incorporate the company, file for business licenses and trademarks, and file any other required registration paperwork. After you're done, sit down and hold on tight. You're about to go on the ride of your life! Originally published Dec. 17, 2018. Sign Up: Receive the StartupNation newsletter! The post When is the Best Time of Year to Launch Your Business? appeared first on StartupNation.

How To Make Your Startup Bankable Posted: 02 Dec 2021 09:00 PM PST You've probably heard it countless times: "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail." While it's always a great idea to think about your long-term personal goals, this adage is even more applicable if you're venturing into entrepreneurship. Smart planning can go a long way in making your startup bankable. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that only about 25% of new businesses will last more than 15 years. And 20% of these same businesses might only reach two years. Why not give your startup a fighting chance by putting a solid plan in place? Here are some ideas to get you going. 7 tips to create a bankable startup Select a name. Just like your personal introduction, your business needs to be recognizable by its name. Go for simple and memorable. The right name for your business will clearly reflect what you offer and will make marketing easier. And be sure to do your homework. You don't want to accidentally use a previously licensed name and wind up with a legal fight on your hands. Know your edge. Your offer is unique because you are unique. Even if you have the same product or service as another business, no one provides it exactly like you. So, what sets you apart? What gives you your edge? Plan how you can stand out from the crowd and market from there. Verizon Small Business Digital Ready: A free resource for learning basic business skills, the latest digital technology and more. Build an online presence. There's no denying that we live in a digital era. From social media to marketing to your business website, you need to be showing up in order to build a profitable startup. And while social media platforms are an important way to promote your business, your website is your own digital real estate. You own it. Here are a few quick tips to help you maximize your impact online. Use search engine optimization (SEO) strategies to be found when potential customers search for businesses like yours. Basically, use the words your customers will be typing into the search bar. (SEO goes a lot deeper than that, but it's an excellent place to start.) Make your website mobile-friendly. A large percentage of people view websites from their phones, so make sure yours is easy to read and navigate. Show your website readers what to do next. Your call-to-action buttons should be clear and easy to find. A confused reader does not buy! Show up consistently on social media. The algorithms favor accounts that are active and engaged. Provide valuable and relatable content on social media and on your website. You'll position yourself as the expert in your field. And you'll grow a following of people who know, like, and trust you. Manage your financial systems. From the day you start your business, you need to keep your finances organized. Plan a reliable bookkeeping strategy so you can keep an eye on your profitability. Whether you choose to track your own income and expenses or hire a bookkeeper or accountant to do it for you, you'll never regret starting early. When you can see your profit and loss statements and other financial reports, you'll be able to make wiser decisions for your growing startup. Unsplash Get the right people. Your business is not an island. So, when it comes to choosing the people you'll work with, don't rush your decisions. As a startup, you might want to invest in a team of freelancers rather than employees in order to save money. But whatever path you take, make sure you're partnering with people you can work well with and who can share your vision to generate a bankable business. Know your budget. Budgeting is an essential planning step for your startup. Taking the time to create a sustainable and realistic budget is always a wise investment. And remember, this isn't a once-and-done thing. Revisit your budget monthly so you can adjust and adapt to how things are playing out in your growing business. Time to promote. A bankable startup requires marketing. People need to know you're in business. And you need to actively let them know how you solve their problem with your product or service. There are thousands of books dedicated to the art of marketing, but don't overcomplicate it at the start. Think about where your clients are and how you can reach them. Will you pay for Facebook or Pinterest ads? Print flyers? Get onto other people's podcasts as a guest expert? Create a marketing plan that makes sense for your business and then stick to it. Adapt if you need to, but don't quit. Your startup is counting on you! The bottom line Your startup will face hurdles. But by taking action ahead of time, you can create the business you want. The seven tips above will help you plan for, and run, a bankable startup. Sign Up: Receive the StartupNation newsletter! The post How To Make Your Startup Bankable appeared first on StartupNation.

5 Pay-Per-Click Tips for Startups and New Businesses Posted: 02 Dec 2021 09:00 PM PST Pay-per-click (PPC) marketing can be an extremely valuable strategy for any business, but particularly startups trying to get their foot in the door. The problem is that as a new business, you likely don't have a large budget for potentially expensive projects such as online advertising, and may not have the knowledge to develop an effective strategy that's going to give you the ROI you need.  PPC can be an endless, overwhelming undertaking, so we've outlined five expert PPC tips for new businesses so you can master the world of online ads before your competitors beat you to it.  Pay-per-click tips that work Understand your audience One of the key first steps to any marketing strategy is to know exactly to whom you're marketing. This is even more relevant when it comes to PPC as you will be targeting specific keywords that match up to the search intent of the user. Before you put together your campaigns, consider what it is that your audience will likely be looking for, and pull together what you expect their journey through your site to look like once they reach your landing page. Are you answering all the questions they might have about your product or service? Is it easy for them to make a purchase from you? Understanding your audience is about more than just knowing what they're looking for — you need to consider how they will reach you, the kinds of content they will want to consume and their potential barriers to purchase.  5 Reasons Your Digital Ads Aren't Performing Identify your solution and USPs Once you have a thorough understanding of your target audience, you need to consider why they would want to purchase from you specifically. What is it about your solution that stands out, or that solves their particular problems? Identifying your USPs (unique selling propositions) will also play a key role in creating the copy for your PPC ads. You will need to include your USPs if you have any chance of drawing the user in and encouraging them to click on your ad.  A mistake startups often make is focusing solely on marketing a specific product rather than looking into the problems they are solving for their audience groups. A mistake startups often make is focusing solely on marketing a specific product rather than looking into the problems they are solving for their audience groups. Keyword research will help you to define what it is that people are searching for and will inform your decisions as to which landing pages you should be targeting with your PPC ads. AnswerThePublic is another interesting tool to discover what is being asked about your specific industry online.  Master content writing A well-researched strategy is useless without compelling writing to support it. Your PPC ads need to stand out, but that doesn't have to bust your budget. If you can include your key USPs, some valuable information and a clear call to action in your ad copy, you could be onto a winner.  Of course, the copy you will be using in your ads will also largely depend on whom you are targeting and why. While there are character limitations to keep in mind, you can still establish a clear tone of voice by choosing vocabulary to suit the style of your brand and entice your prospects. For small businesses specifically, this could be a simple case of demonstrating your uniqueness through the content of your ads.  Use remarketing strategies Remarketing is a brilliant way to capture the prospects who have slipped through your fingers the first time around. Allocating some of your budget to a remarketing campaign could secure the warm leads who already expressed a level of interest in your site, and could also give you some interesting data insights as to how many people are returning to your key landing pages.   Monitor, test and improve For new businesses, it can be difficult to get started with PPC advertising without having any previous data insights to rely on, but unfortunately the only way to change this is to get started as soon as possible! Even with some small, low-budget campaigns, startups can begin to see results (both good and bad) and learn from them for future campaigns. The mistake that is often made is that business owners dive into PPC, blow the budget and don't come back to check performance metrics on a regular basis. Continuous monitoring and A/B testing is the only real way to achieve ROI from your PPC efforts. If you're looking to set up some PPC marketing campaigns for your new business, hopefully these tips have given you some insight as to what you should look to include (and avoid!).  Most Popular: The Benefits of Encouraging Creativity and Innovation in the Workplace The post 5 Pay-Per-Click Tips for Startups and New Businesses appeared first on StartupNation.

WJR Business Beat: Record Spending On Small Business Saturday (Episode 329) Posted: 02 Dec 2021 09:12 AM PST On today’s Business Beat, Jeff reports on record Small Business Saturday sales and more good news for local businesses. Tune in to the Business Beat, below, to learn more:   Tune in to News/Talk 760 AM WJR weekday mornings at 7:11 a.m. for the WJR Business Beat. Listeners outside of the Detroit area can listen live HERE. Are you an entrepreneur with a great story to share? If so, contact us at editor@startupnation.com and we'll feature you on an upcoming segment of the WJR Business Beat! WJR Business Beat Transcript Good morning, Paul! Well, we’ve just come off the biggest shopping discount promotions of the year, Black Friday and Cyber Monday in the bag now, but the most important shopping day of the year in my view, well, it’s Small Business Saturday, which took place this past Saturday sandwiched between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The good news, Paul? Sales on this most important shopping day recorded an all-time high with an estimated $23.3 billion in U.S. consumer spending. Now to be clear, Small Business Saturday is the American Express program focused on encouraging shopping at local retailers, in particular the independently owned shops in our own local communities. And this year, thankfully, U.S. shoppers showed up in a big way. Other data worth noting about this year’s Small Business Saturday shopping promotion? Well, a majority, approximately 80% of consumers surveyed, indicate that they understand the importance of supporting the small businesses and their communities on Small Business Saturday. Now 66% of those consumers reported that Small Business Saturday inspires them to want to shop small all year long. Lastly, 78% of independent retailers surveyed indicate that these holiday sales are simply so critical to them that it will enable them to stay in business in 2022. So, there you have it, Paul, keep shopping locally everyone. I’m Jeff Sloan, founder and CEO of startupnation.com, and that’s today’s Business Beat on the Great Voice of the Great Lakes, WJR. <!– /wp:canvas/coll The post WJR Business Beat: Record Spending On Small Business Saturday (Episode 329) appeared first on StartupNation.

Are You Making these 3 Customer Feedback Mistakes? Posted: 01 Dec 2021 09:00 PM PST Most businesses are aware that consumer feedback is essential. Good customer feedback is crucial for the success of any business; however, negative reviews can ruin your company. When correctly done, getting feedback from your consumers can substantially help your business. Besides, how else will you understand what your consumers are thinking if you're not asking? Good consumer review surveys are hard to come by in this digital era, but it doesn’t mean they can’t be created. Surveys can show that companies make common mistakes and, by avoiding them, you'll make the consumer experience both smooth and straightforward. You’ll boost the chances of obtaining valuable data since your customers can finish the surveys without getting bored halfway through. Taking this into account, below are some of the mistakes that you need to stop making. Sign Up: Receive the StartupNation newsletter! Focusing only on negative reviews If you go through your consumers' feedback and only pay attention to the critics, then you're doing it all wrong. Something will be amiss if someone rates you 0 or 1. Remember that you'll gain substantial feedback from promoters and passive consumers via their responses. Have a strategy that highlights what works and what doesn’t for your customers. This way, you’ll avoid the extra work of constantly handling cases. Learn more about your chief promoters and why they like your services. Get to know what your passive users can’t see and use this information to propel your business. For this to be successful, you have to analyze every response, not just the terrible ones. In addition to dissatisfied customers, you can use the replies as a chance to improve your business by creating a better experience for your consumers. A consumer who was once dissatisfied with your services can instantaneously become a passionate advocate once they notice that you've handled their complaint. Therefore, by keenly listening to your critics, you can use negative feedback as a chance to improve your business. Poor organization & planning If you desire a customer’s full attention, you need to put more effort into creating a survey that’s appealing to the eye. Your consumer feedback form should look professional since you’re asking consumers for their opinion about the business. The last thing you’d want is for your customers to recall how you poorly constructed the survey. First impressions are essential. That’s why a professional survey needs to be organized and planned carefully, even if it requires hiring someone to do the job for you. Don’t rush your survey. Instead, ensure it’s tested, approved, and perfect before emailing it to your consumers. Shutterstock In regard to the above, design your survey in a way that won’t take too much of the consumer’s time. Surveys that are long and complicated often frustrate customers, leading to skipped questions. Regulate your questions to topics you can act on within a short period (preferably 3 months). Show your consumers that you respect the time and effort they've spent answering your questions. For the complicated and strategic questions, save them for customer care meetings with your high-ranking customers. Concerning structure, nobody wants to open a feedback form only to realize that it’s filled with empty text lines. When most consumers view this, they'll be reluctant to share because they'll feel unsettled. Alternatively, you can supply them with yes and no checkboxes or a grading system. If you have to use checkboxes, ensure there are just a few because your No. 1 priority is to make the consumer’s life comfortable. Asking customers the wrong questions It is vital to steer clear of asking unnecessary and monotonous questions. Make sure you only include relevant customer feedback questions. Asking too many personal questions such as marital status and income may benefit your analysis, but it needs to be done correctly and at the right moment. Bombarding your consumers with too many questions can make them shy away from giving their feedback. Alternatively, you can make these questions either optional or eliminate them. In addition to asking repetitive questions, never ask your consumers about things that you already know. In relation to the above, a good customer feedback question hits the bull’s eye by specifically asking how your business needs to improve. A good example is "How frequently do you use our service?” because it will inform you if the consumer is a short- or long-term user. This information will help you understand if you need to target better and learn which responses to give more attention to. Also, check your grammar because it plays a role in your consumer's feedback. A feedback form with questions that have grammatical errors can lower a customer’s interest. It will show them that you weren’t serious with the study and that it isn’t vital. Therefore, check and recheck your survey for any errors that can sabotage your customers' relationship. Winding up A successful company pays attention to consumer feedback and addresses every concern to build a lasting relationship. However, it has been quite challenging to get good consumer feedback over the years due to user data concerns. Modern platforms like social media have made things more accessible, such as increased connection points. Because of this, consumers have more information concerning the businesses they’re dealing with and what they have in common. In regard to social media, consumer reluctance to share feedback has been a battle. That is why companies should use a more comprehensive network and seek consent among their customers rather than stressing individual data. Concerning the customer feedback form, ensure that your questions are straightforward and concise. This way, you’ll get higher interaction from the targeted consumers. Treat your users the same way you’d want to be treated: Respect their time and effort, don't ask lengthy and confusing questions, and respond to their concerns as soon as possible. Using each of the steps provided above, you'll have cemented a good, loyal and trusting bond that will last for years. Finally, are you familiar with how detractors can ruin a company? Kindly share with us by leaving your comments below. The post Are You Making these 3 Customer Feedback Mistakes? appeared first on StartupNation.

7 Essentials for Successful PR in 2022 Posted: 01 Dec 2021 09:00 PM PST Public relations and the ways in which we communicate are constantly evolving. As you look toward a new year for your business, it's important to keep new and essential PR tools top of mind as they have the ability to make your outreach and engagement efforts easier and faster than ever before. In this article, we'll explore seven essentials to help you adapt and be more successful with PR efforts in 2022. Digital business card As we move into a new year, consider upgrading your old school business cards for an eco-friendly, no-touch, high-tech model. A digital business card, also referred to as an electronic or virtual business card, allows users to share and save contact information quickly, without exchanging a tangible product. What's great about digital business cards is that they can be customized with the information you wish to share, allowing you to get as general or specific as you want. For example, in addition to your standard contact information, company name and logo, you can include a picture, video, social media and links or QR codes that direct recipients to specific materials or destinations online. If you're an expert networker and find yourself handing out hundreds of business cards a year, a digital option may save you a bit of money as there are several digital business card providers that offer little to no-cost options. Two different options to consider if you're interested in digital business cards are HiHello and Haystack. Both digital card providers offer a wide array of integrations that can help streamline the back end of your business, making networking easier and more efficient. Editorial calendars Editorial calendars are the ultimate guide to figuring out the topics and themes that publications will cover throughout the year. If you're interested in having your business, product or service considered for or included in a 2022 issue, you'll want to consult the publication's editorial calendar to see where you'd be a good fit. Most publications offer easy access to editorial calendars directly on their website. If you can't find the calendar, you can simply request a copy through the general contact form on the website or email the editor. Downloading and reviewing editorial calendars is a great way to gain insight into what matters most to the writers and the time line they are working toward. Keep in mind that many journalists must work well in advance of the issue date to source their articles and submit content to editors for review and approval. Be sure to reach out as soon as possible if you think you're a good fit for a story or have something to offer. Even if the journalist isn't working on the story yet, they are keen to collect sources and circle back when the time is right. Related: 6 Free and Low-Cost Resources to Create and Execute a PR Plan Digital press kit If you're interested in garnering visibility for your business in 2022 and beyond, you'll want a digital press kit. Also referred to as a media kit, press kits provide access to information about your business, products and overall brand. Essentially your business' highlight reel, a press kit contains materials you will use repeatedly throughout the life of your business, including fact sheets, bios, logos, photos, contact information and more. If you already have a press kit developed, conduct a thorough audit now to ensure that all content is accurate and information is up to date for the coming year. Logo variations Variations of your logo are an absolute must for 2022. Logo variations are alternate versions of your logo, such as transparent backgrounds or square-shaped. Keep in mind that variations are not different logos, they are simply different versions of your existing logo (e.g., a one-color version if your logo traditionally has more than one color). By having variations of your logo, you can quickly deliver on requests for different sizes and formats. Having variations of your logo readily available will also allow you to quickly use your logo throughout the year. For example, you may be thinking about attending a conference this year where you'll want custom swag and branded attire. Once you have your logo variations created, it's simply a matter of plug and play when it comes to ordering branded materials. Every business needs a holistic brand identity, not just a logo. If you don't already have a brand identity, including logo designs, a color palette, creative elements and photography to support your aesthetic, make this a top priority for your business. These assets will set the tone for, and be used in, everything else you do in your business. Related: How to DIY Your Public Relations Strategy GMass If you're interested in pitching more media in 2022 while also gaining a better understanding of what happens to the emails you send, GMass is for you. An extension program that can be added directly into your Google email account, GMass allows you to not only schedule emails and send out mass emails that have been tailored to the recipient, but also automates follow-ups and manages bounce backs and automatic replies. The A/B Testing feature of the extension allows you to see which subject line received more engagement. Additionally, you have access to data that shows which reporters opened your email and replied to your email. The data your business can glean from GMass insights will allow you to tailor your pitches, track outreach and, most importantly, help you build a media list of contacts who actually engage with your information. High-quality headshots Headshots are a must in 2022. A nice headshot ensures you’re making the best impression possible as a photo can say just as much, if not more, than your business logo and branding. Headshots can be one of the most reused assets you invest in. As professional photos may be a bit pricey, sticking to timeless poses and looks will allow you to get longer use out of your photos. Additionally, talk to your photographer about capturing photos with you engaging with your business. For example, if you're a baker, try posing with different baked goods that are best sellers in your shop or snap a few shots of you decorating products. Keep in mind that having a few different headshot options allows you to keep your online accounts looking fresh and helps you share a bit of variety with external sources. Set goals The aforementioned tools can help you accomplish great things in the coming year. But remember, to be most successful in your efforts, you need to set goals. Goals will help ensure that your efforts are achieving the results you desire, keeping you focused and grounded in your planning and execution throughout the year. Takeaway While there are free and low-cost tools to help elevate your PR efforts in the new year, you don't have to — or even need to — do it all. Focus on the tools and tricks that are best for your business. Try selecting one or two ideas from this article and see what you're able to accomplish on your own. If you find that you're not getting what you want from your efforts, consider hiring a professional to help. Sign Up: Receive the StartupNation newsletter!         The post 7 Essentials for Successful PR in 2022 appeared first on StartupNation.

The Impact of SSL and HTTPS on a Website’s SEO Posted: 01 Dec 2021 09:00 PM PST In today’s time, maintaining the security of your website is one of the most important ways to boost SEO and conversions. This also comes after Google announced its intentions to build a more secure internet platform for users. To stay on top of Google’s list and rank high, marketers need to ensure that their site follows all Google-listed protocols. This especially includes securing their site. In other words, marketers need to move their website from HTTP to HTTPS. The “S” in HTTPS signals to search engines like Google that a site is now secure for users to access. They can browse through and engage with the site. In technical terms, it means a website with a secure protocol can transfer data hassle free to-and-from an internet browser. This data is in an encrypted form, assuring a higher level of security to both the site and users. StartupNation exclusive discounts and savings on Dell products and accessories: Learn more here In terms of SEO, upgrading from HTTP to HTTP can help a website: Appear more legitimate to users enabling them to shop at ease. Help search engine crawlers determine the site’s sanctity and signal the intent to offer a safer user experience. HTTP vs. HTTPS in SEO Shutterstock Google first mentioned the importance of site security in SEO in 2014 at the I/O conference. It talked in-depth about its “HTTPS everywhere” plan. It also gave away many pointers to marketers. Later in the year, Google added HTTPS protocol and security as one of the key ranking benchmarks. This means Google’s search engine algorithms will consider sites with HTTPS labels over HTTP and rank them higher on search engine result pages (SERP). Additionally, they also identify and notify non-secure websites to take necessary security measures. The more secure a website, the more weight it gets in the eyes of Google. But, what’s the difference between an HTTP and HTTPS website in SEO? HTTPS or hyper-text transfer protocol is a structure that transfers information from a user’s device to a website’s server and vice versa. HTTPS or hyper-text transfer protocol security performs the same function as HTTP, but it uses an extra layer of security while performing the task. This security blanket is known as the secure socket layer or SSL. The SSL security measure encrypts information being transmitted to and from web users to prevent cyber breaches. So, what’s the importance of SSL/HTTPS in SEO? Let’s take a look! Importance of SSL/HTTPS in SEO Provides a security blanket to a website. Sites with the HTTPS security badge have higher chances of offering users a better and safer browsing experience especially for e-commerce websites. The primary idea behind adding an SSL certificate is to encrypt the transmission of data. This data includes sensitive user information such as passwords, logins, account details, etc. Only websites and users will have the personal key to decrypt and read the data.  Encryption prevents cyber hackers from tampering with the essential site and user data. Improves ranking on Google’s search pages. Take a closer look, and you’ll notice that almost all the top search results have HTTPS. This is because, as Google announced, it favors websites with SSL badges on them. The reason being, the safer a website for a visitor to browse, the more weight it will carry on Google’s SERP. If your competitors have a secure site and you don’t, sooner or later, they will outrank you on search results. Build AMP-optimized platforms Have you ever noticed a thunder-like or lightning bolt symbol on search engine results page? That symbol depicts your website, or that specific page is AMP-optimized. AMP is an open-source HTML framework developed to optimize your web/app. It helps site pages load faster, reduce bounce rate, make the platform(s) user friendly and enhance SEO. But, to enable AMP on your site, it’s necessary to have an SSL certificate. Build trust and authority. Cybercrime is increasing at a steady pace. It is important to analyze whether a website’s connection is secure or not. No user should make a transaction from an unsecured website. To ensure that site visitors consider your brand authentic and instill their trust, add a layer of security with an SSL certificate. The safer your site, the higher will be visitor engagement rate. This also means a higher conversion rate. Click-through rate & conversions. When visitors identify an unsecured website, they should be hesitant to interact with it. Doing business is certainly out of question. The reason is simple: The presence of competitive brands with secure networks. Though many argue that this is a good way to increase the impression rate, the number of clicks will reduce significantly. This means poor click-through rate. A secure website, on the other hand, will witness a higher click-through rate and conversion rate for obvious reasons. Switching from HTTP to HTTPS for SEO Many SEO experts suggest that, in general, there are no real concerns behind moving from HTTP to HTTPS. However, ever since Google  made it one of its key ranking benchmarks, it is more than a mandate for optimizers to follow it for user security and optimization purposes. To move in the right direction, it’s important to do a couple of things to ensure your site’s traffic doesn’t suffer when you make the switch. To start with, tell Google that you’re moving your website from HTTP to HTTPS. Here are some Google-advised steps to follow to switch from HTTP to HTTPS: Use the 2048-bit key certificates. Decide whether to opt for a single, wildcard, or multi-domain SSL certificate. Use relative URLs from resources that make use of similar domains. Ensure your HTTPS site gets crawled by robots.txt. Index all the pages in search engines wherever possible. Avoid using any no-index meta tags for robots.txt. Use the right analytical tools and Google search console to track HTTP to HTTPS migration. To get the certificate, submit a certificate signing request (CSR) on the webserver. Then, select a server software to generate the CRS. After that, choose the preferred hash algorithm. Lastly, select the validity period of the certificate, and you’re done. Conclusion When you migrate from HTTP to HTTPS, you signal to Google that you have taken the first step toward providing a secure visitor experience. This is enough for Google to give you an edge. With additional SEO tactics, you can further boost the ranking of your site and sit up high on SERP. If you own a website that’s already HTTPS-enabled, now is the time to concentrate on other search engine optimization tactics and enhance the ranking of your website. But, before you move ahead, it’s also a good idea to run tests and check your website’s security level and its configuration with Google’s Qualys Lab tool. The more assured you are of your actions, the more are the chances of success. Sign Up: Receive the StartupNation newsletter!   The post The Impact of SSL and HTTPS on a Website’s SEO appeared first on StartupNation.

How to Achieve Startup Success from Day 1 Posted: 01 Dec 2021 09:00 PM PST The decision to take the leap into starting your own business is never an easy one, regardless of your experience or industry. But as venture capital (VC) firms grow, with the average seed deal growing from $1.7 million to $4.6 million in the last decade, more and more people are breaking into the startup ecosystem. Americans filed paperwork to set up 4.3 million businesses in 2020, with this trend continuing to grow into 2021. At the same time, the world of work is undergoing a radical shift. Health measures implemented to restrict the spread of COVID-19 have provoked a vast change in how businesses operate, with many increasingly opting for a hybrid, or even fully remote working model. In contrast to the old, physical-first approach, 68% of American workers say that a mixture of working in-office and remotely is the best model. In many ways, it has become easier than ever to set up your own business. The transition to implementing more digital technologies into everyday work has meant that international borders are not the same impediment they once were to workplace collaboration. Silicon Valley is no longer the sole home of startups; entrepreneurs across the globe are tapping into increased VC funding and making their mark in a variety of different industries. However, a larger number of startups also means increased competition, both for funding and market share. Verizon Small Business Digital Ready: A free resource for learning basic business skills, the latest digital technology and more. Read on for my top tips on how to make your business unique and attract startup success. Set out to solve a real problem that you have personally experienced. It's certainly possible to start a business without years of experience. Sometimes young entrepreneurs can be the most successful – we've all seen Forbes' 30 under 30 list. The idea that you can only set up a business once you've had years of experience in the field is extremely limiting and reduces the possibilities of the business sector's growth. It's not about experience. It's about having an idea that genuinely provides a solution to a real-world problem. Those who encounter an issue in the world and set up their business with a view to solve that issue will always be the most successful. These founders are truly passionate about their solution, and that pays off when it comes to revenue and reputation. For me, my ax to grind was the inefficiency of traditional consultancies within the engineering industry, but I only came to that challenge by working in those traditional consultancies. Had I not been directly involved, I don't believe that I would be able to provide a business solution that truly worked. Experiencing the challenge is what should motivate you, and this gets results Do it because you're the best person for the job, not just because you want to. Experiencing the problem is only the first step – the next step involves being introspective and asking yourself if you are truly the best person to solve the problem. You must ask yourself what you are bringing to the table that is unique in some way, and what differentiates your solution from others in the market. Initially, this involves the obvious process of market research that is essential to any business venture but should be followed up by a deeper personal reflection. One of our clients, Rob Middleton, discovered this when creating Pebble, a mental health device to help relieve symptoms of anxiety. After suffering from anxiety and finding a lack of solutions on the market, he chose to develop a product himself. Once you have gathered all the essential information about your market and its intricacies, you need to look internally and reflect on your personal characteristics. Do you have the qualities of a good leader? Do you have the technical skills that make you a reliable part of the market? Do you have the right support around you to make your dream happen? If any of these questions can be answered with "no," it may be time to think again. Go in blind and do something crazy. The next stage of the process, perhaps surprisingly, involves a little bit of blindness. Thus far I have advised the exercise of caution, taking care to make sure that your business idea is well-formed and provides a genuine solution that benefits the market. But, if you are too cautious, you may find that self-doubt begins to creep in, and you ask yourself, "Why am I doing this?" Once you know that your idea is strong and you are the best person to implement it, you must take that idea and run with it. To do something that is genuinely innovative and unexpected, you have to go into the process a little bit blind. That's to say that you must shut out the self-doubt and be confident that your business can succeed. The first stages of a startup are always difficult, with founders often working out of their living room with one employee alongside them. If you're not blind at this phase of your business, you will trip and fall over your doubt. To truly disrupt an industry, you must avoid this at all costs. Think critically, but not in the way you might expect. Part of being blind involves thinking critically, but not in the traditional sense. For me, it doesn't involve thinking critically about every single trend and fad that crops up in your industry. This can do more harm than good; there are so many distractions out there these days with new trends, new ecosystems and even new currencies. Part of being blind is being able to think critically on your business and your business alone. Stay focused, keeping an analytical mindset about how you can be resilient and survive among all the distractions. Must-read: How to Staff a Strong Culture on a Shoestring Budget   Build a strong team A new business venture is rarely a fully independent endeavor; you need a great team behind you who can support every step of the way. The team should have varied experience and backgrounds so that those with the greatest expertise can take on each essential role within the business. This builds a strong foundation for when you begin to scale your business, which can be carried out by a united team who already hold your business' shared values. Follow your gut This may seem cliché, but it is absolutely true. When you undertake a new business venture, everyone in your life will suddenly have an opinion, regardless of whether they know anything about your sector or solution. You must be able to shut out the critics and trust yourself because if you have followed these steps, you know that you are well-positioned for success. The only person who can know that is you. Most Popular: 10 Negotiation Techniques to Make You a Better Entrepreneur     The post How to Achieve Startup Success from Day 1 appeared first on StartupNation.

9 Steps for Building Your Brand on Social Media for Respect, Recognition, Results and Revenue Posted: 01 Dec 2021 08:20 AM PST When you're first starting out and trying to spread the word about your product or service, social media is one of the most important tools you'll have at your disposal. If used correctly, social media can help you build respect for your brand, which leads to brand recognition, and eventually those results become revenue. If you use social media incorrectly, your brand may fizzle out before it ever gets a chance. Below, learn how to build your brand utilizing social media: Define your target audience and market The key to any successful startup is knowing who will benefit most from your product or service. While you may have created your business with one target audience in mind, social media tools can help you zoom in on a more specific audience, who will be more likely to want or need what you're offering. Starting with a wide-ranging audience provides a broad look at potential target audiences, which can be narrowed down to include only those who would not only benefit from your product or service but those who are likely to become a customer. For example, if you're selling a product typically used by men, you can narrow the men down further by demographics and necessity. Casting a net that is too wide can lead to overspending on marketing and promotional materials and a lower return on investment. Focus on the human factor Social media is crucial for building your brand, and earning respect from your clientele is key. Social media provides a way for potential new customers to see what initial customers actually think about your product or service. People can leave immediate feedback in the public sphere, which means you have to earn their respect early in order to continue receiving more positive recognition. Right mindset and execution When building your brand, you have an end goal in mind. Whether that goal is to eventually expand your business or remain a small, mom-and-pop shop, you started your company hoping or expecting to achieve a certain goal somewhere in the future. Setting goals you can work toward is extremely important because it helps you refocus along the way. However, when it comes to executing your plan to build your brand on social media, make sure you don't let your end goal become your main focus each day. It's crucial to execute your plan using your end goal as guidance, to help you stay on the path without getting discouraged if something goes off course. Having both short- and long-term goals in place will allow you to create and execute a plan that will successfully reach your target audience. Find your tribe Your tribe consists of your brand's most loyal and dedicated fans. These are the customers who will turn to your brand over anyone else, no matter what. These people are crucial to earning respect and building your brand on social media. A company's biggest fans are also the people who are most likely to comment on a post, leave feedback on a product they've purchased, or share their opinion of a brand by providing a rating or sharing a review on social media. Those ratings, comments and feedback go a long way in building your brand and earning respect from potential customers, which is key in generating revenue. Figure out who belongs in your tribe early on and let those brand advocates know they are appreciated. Keeping them happy is crucial to gaining recognition and getting results through social media. Craft and tell your brand story No matter what industry you’re in, every entrepreneur has a story. Why did you start your business? What influenced you to bring your brand to life? Building a personal relationship with your customers is one of the most important aspects of building your brand, and social media is a great avenue to share your story. Craft your story, and make sure it is honest. Try not to include over-sensationalized details or exaggerated reasons for wanting to start your business. Sharing a piece of who you really are with your customers will help them feel as though they know and trust you and your brand. Communicate a clear and consistent message Maintaining a clear and consistent message throughout all content you produce, including your social media messaging, is vital. No matter the topic, make sure your information is consistent across all platforms. Whatever that message is, make sure it is also easy to understand and relatable. You’ve narrowed down your target audience at this point, so it should be natural to find ways to communicate with them via social media. Take the good with the bad Handling good and bad attention on social media seems simple enough, but once you've been faced with challenging situations, you see how difficult it can really be. You may have to do some damage control when it comes to negative feedback, but ignoring an unhappy customer is never the answer. Always respond to any negative social media reviews or messages with candor, and turn the experience into a learning opportunity. Create calls to action to generate revenue Creating a call to action is a quick and convenient way to generate revenue, and there are countless ways to implement this. Whether it's offering a reward for answering a quiz question correctly or getting a discount on their next purchase for sharing feedback or rating your products, getting your customers involved on social media is a great way to generate traffic directly to your website. Enduring social media impact Remember, your social strategy will only be as successful as your overall business strategy. The initial impression your brand makes on social media will stay with the brand for much of its lifecycle. The only way to consistently build your revenue and build a brand with staying power is to establish your company as a trusted, loyal, and quality brand. Navigating the world of social media can be tricky. If you are knowledgeable about what you are offering and you are confident in your message, you have a great foundation on which to build. The key to building your brand on social media starts by building relationships with your early customers and turning them in to brand advocates. Putting in the work early on will pay off in the long run. Sign Up: Receive the StartupNation newsletter! The post 9 Steps for Building Your Brand on Social Media for Respect, Recognition, Results and Revenue appeared first on StartupNation.

WJR Business Beat: Shopify Jump-Starts Starting A Business (Episode 328) Posted: 01 Dec 2021 07:54 AM PST On today’s Business Beat, Jeff talks about Shopify, a one-stop shop of resources for people who want to start a business. Tune in to the Business Beat, below, to learn how this subscription-based software can help you set up an online store and sell your products.   Tune in to News/Talk 760 AM WJR weekday mornings at 7:11 a.m. for the WJR Business Beat. Listeners outside of the Detroit area can listen live HERE. Are you an entrepreneur with a great story to share? If so, contact us at editor@startupnation.com and we'll feature you on an upcoming segment of the WJR Business Beat! WJR Business Beat Transcript Good morning, Paul! Businesses are being started in the U.S. today at a record pace like never before in our country’s history. And you know what? I believe everyone should start a business, whether part time, or full time, whether a side hustle or a public company on the New York Stock Exchange. Why? At a minimum, starting a business provides a sense of pride and achievement like few other things in life can. It provides a sense of freedom and independence that is so consistent with our society’s can-do spirit. And if you’re successful, it can provide that much needed extra cash on the side, all the way to a huge financial windfall that no 9-to-5 could ever provide. And today, like never before, there are tools and resources at your fingertips to help you get started and to help you grow and succeed. Take Shopify, for example. Shopify is a true friend to small business. It’s a subscription-based software that anyone can access to use to set up an online store and sell their products. Moreover, Shopify offers all of the tools and resources you need to market your business and to start selling immediately. So you might be asking, sounds good, but does it work? Well, Shopify President Harley Finkelstein just yesterday told CNBC that Cyber Monday sales now surpass last year's sales of $5.1 billion globally on Cyber Monday. That’s up 22% from last year’s boom year. Simply put, Paul, it’s working big time. And if you’ve ever thought of getting in on the action, now is the time to do just that. Look, whether you’re using a platform like Shopify to create your own e-commerce store or opening a store on a marketplace platform like Amazon, eBay or Etsy, it’s easy and it works. And there’s nothing like the thrill of waking up in the morning to see sales being even while you slept. So no more moaning and groaning, no more excuses. Start a business today and start making extra cash tomorrow. I’m Jeff Sloan, founder and CEO of startupnation.com, and that’s today’s Business Beat on the Great Voice of the Great Lakes, WJR. The post WJR Business Beat: Shopify Jump-Starts Starting A Business (Episode 328) appeared first on StartupNation.

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