For many small business owners, content creation is a struggle. It requires a lot of time and resources, and it’s hard to know if it will impact your bottom line until after you execute the idea. User-generated content (UGC)—essentially asking your customers to make content for you—is one way to make content creation a bit…
Ultimate Guide
Virtual Fitting Room: Retailers’ Guide (With Examples)
Virtual fitting rooms—which leverage technology that lets shoppers see what they look like in clothes and other products without physically trying them on—have made steady progress since their debut in the mid-2000s. Demand accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, and many third-party platforms have now made the technology accessible to online and brick-and-mortar retailers of all…
What Generational Marketing Is (+ Best Tactics for Each Gen)
Generational marketing refers to marketing strategies tailored to specific age groups, including the Silent Generation, Baby Boomers, Generation X, Generation Y, and Generation Z. By understanding the unique characteristics, values, and preferences of different generations, small businesses can tactically design campaigns to connect with their target audience better. Overview of Generational Marketing Generational marketing is…
Employment Reference Check: Guide for Small Businesses
An employment reference check refers to calls you make to at least two references (they may be personal or professional) where you ask about the candidate’s qualities, qualifications, and work habits. While most references that an applicant provides are biased in their favor, asking the right questions can help you uncover some red flags or…
SBA Community Advantage Loan: What It Is & How to Apply
The Small Business Administration (SBA) Community Advantage loan program offers funding to businesses in underserved markets, such as startups, veterans, and minority entrepreneurs. You can get up to $350,000 in funding and, like other loans backed by the SBA, this loan can offer some of the most competitive rates available. SBA Community Advantage loan requirements…
Ultimate Guide to Ecommerce Chatbots
Although the use of chatbots is still relatively new, ecommerce is quickly becoming the biggest customer of this new technology. So, exactly what are ecommerce chatbots? Simply put, an ecommerce chatbot is a type of artificial intelligence (AI) that simulates conversation with customers on an ecommerce site to answer questions, provide customer service, and facilitate…
What a Video News Release (VNR) Is & How to Create One (+ Examples)
A video news release (VNR) is a video-based press release sent out by companies to media outlets. VNRs are an effective method to share important business announcements in dynamic and creative ways that text and still images can’t match to gain press coverage. Read on to find out more about what are video news releases…
Ecommerce Website Cost: Complete Pricing Guide
If you are looking for ways to expand your retail business, an online store is a great option. Starting an online store often requires less investment than opening a retail shop, but surprise costs do pop up. You can spend anywhere from a few hundred to thousands of dollars starting an ecommerce website, depending on…