Low-Cost Strategies for Growing Your Small Business
Many small business owners are working to grow their companies, or to expand, or to “scale.” Making their business bigger is the natural next step for many entrepreneurs and founders once the venture is up and running. But unless your business is generating wads of cash, scaling it can prove challenging. As we so often […]
10 Artificial Intelligence Tools that Can Help Entrepreneurs Be More Productive
Since ChatGPT came on the scene in late 2022, we’ve been hearing a lot more about artificial intelligence (AI). We’ve been told this technology will transform our work, from what we do to how, when, and where. It is already disrupting whole industries. The potential is there for AI to handle mundane, repeatable tasks so […]
5 SEO Basics to Improve Your Website’s Google Rank
When WomensNet surveyed its community in late 2023 about the biggest business challenges, we learned that search engine optimization (SEO) was a topic many women business owners wanted help with. That made sense to us because 53.3% of all website traffic comes from online searches, and 93% of that traffic is through Google, reports Arefs. […]
How to Get the Most out of Trade Show Attendance
With cost estimates for exhibiting at national industry trade shows as high as $40,000-$60,000, small businesses may wonder if they can even afford to participate in such events. After factoring in the cost to design, build, and ship a show booth, plus marketing materials and equipment, exhibition fees, labor, and accommodations, making trade show participation […]
24 Start Up Business Grants for Women
There are more than 14 million women-owned businesses in the US as of 2024. Those 14 million companies account for 40% of all businesses, according to Forbes. The number of women-owned ventures is also rising faster than businesses owned by other types of owners. According to the 2024 Wells Fargo Impact of Women-Owned Business Report, […]
Anatomy of a WomensNet Grant Application
Michaella Estevez and Ashley Olafsen, co-founders of The Wildflower Company, caught the attention of the WomensNet advisory board with their detailed grant application. By explaining the big picture for their “wellness community centered around value-driven goal-setting and structured support” and the annual planner they designed, developed, and sell, The Wildflower Company was the $10,000 Startup […]
Making it happen: Advice from a Skilled Trade Winner
Would you like to learn how our past grant recipients continue to succeed… despite the challenges of women-owned businesses? Maybe you’re up against similar challenges and can glean a gem or two! We’d like to reintroduce you to Leah Baum, with Paint Baum, our 2022 Skilled Trades winner. — What do you wish you had […]
6 Ways to Improve Your Website’s Performance
We all know that the look and feel of websites change over time. The design and aesthetic of business websites evolve and shift and unless you’re paying close attention, you might not notice when the appearance and functionality of what is considered the “standard” website is completely different from a year or two ago. Suddenly […]
4 Things to Know About Grants
Although they can be difficult to find, small business grants are out there. They are frequently harder to track down than other financing options because grants offer free money, often without strings attached. Unlike loans which have to be repaid over time, grants are effectively gifts, as long as you agree to use the money […]
Creating a Profitable Black Friday Sales Offer
Whether you are a fan of Black Friday shopping or not, billions of dollars in sales are transacted on the Friday after Thanksgiving each year. In 2022, between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, $20.4 billion was spent. Part of the reason for the huge spike is that some buyers hold off on purchases until Black […]
How to Better Secure Your Business from Theft
News that Target, Whole Foods, and Nordstrom are closing some stores in 2023 due to increasing incidents of theft underscores how expensive crime can be. The cost to companies is in the billions of dollars collectively, the U.S. Department of Commerce says. But if major corporations are retreating due to the negative impact theft is […]
Maximize Your Business Deductions Before Year-End
As we head into the busiest and most profitable time of year for retailers, restaurants, and holiday-related companies, businesses of all types should start to assess where they are financially. That is, how is your business performing revenue-wise? Are you ahead of projections or behind? How about expenses? Has your cash outflow for costs tracked […]
Improving Your Circle of Friends
Motivational speaker Jim Rohn famously said, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” Which means that the results you’ve been achieving individually and as a business owner have been impacted by the people in your inner circle. They are your role models, your counselors, and your confidants, and they influence […]
Planning for the Most Productive Q4 You’ve Ever Had in Business
You’ve probably heard that there are two times of the year when people typically stop to plan out the next few months. The most common time for reflection and planning is at New Year’s, because you have the whole year looming large in front of you. The second most popular time is around Labor Day. […]
5 Easy Ways to Become a More Sustainable Small Business
Concerns about our planet continue to increase, pushing companies of all sizes to explore how they can reduce their impact on the environment. Although smaller companies have a smaller footprint, because there are so many, even minor efforts to minimize the business’s impact on the environment can reap big rewards. In fact, according to the […]
Where to Find Free Business Training
Success in business often comes down to what you know. You need to know enough to come up with ideas that can be turned into a profitable business, of course. That’s the basis of entrepreneurship. But if you have no business experience, or lack expertise in a particular type of venture and want to quickly […]
How Small Businesses Can Sell on Amazon
Amazon dominates the online retail industry, owning 37.8% of the US market. It generated $356 billion in sales in the US alone in 2022. However, Amazon doesn’t just sell its own products. In fact, it started by selling products manufactured by other companies and has only recently started branding its own offerings. This offers a […]
Build Your Business by Starting an Online Community
Our reliance on the internet for information has dramatically changed how we buy products and services. Easy access to friends, family, colleagues, neighbors, classmates, vendors, and potential customers has increased the time we spend online. And because we collectively spend more time online, more business than ever is being done online. However, deciding to sell […]
4 Steps to Attracting More Referral Business
Despite all the money businesses spend to attract new business, one of the best ways to gain new customers and clients is through referrals, or having others recommend your product, service, or company to someone else. Used synonymously with “word of mouth marketing,” referrals and recommendations actually generate $6 trillion in consumer spending each year. […]
Choosing the Best Location for Your Business
Any company that serves customers face-to-face should take extra care when selecting a location for its operations. This is especially critical for newer businesses that don’t already have a large customer base. To find a great location based on what your business is like today, versus where you hope to be five years from now, […]
Leverage the Power of Scent in Your Business
Scents and odors can have a significant impact on our perception of companies and brands. In fact, research has shown that scent marketing can be used to increase brand loyalty and sales. Meaning, adding a pleasing smell can help create a positive customer experience that leads to higher sales. This realization was driven home last […]
Payroll Options for Small Businesses
Confused about how to pay your employees? You’re not alone. Calculating federal and state tax withholding amounts, along with other potential types of withholdings, such as retirement or health insurance, for example, which need to be deducted from an employee’s paycheck, can be confusing. Yet despite the complexity of payroll calculations, 58% of small business […]
5 Steps to Building a Personal Brand
Your personal brand is how your potential market perceives you. It’s important because your brand impacts their willingness to buy from you. Your personal brand can enhance, or detract from, your ability to sell your products and services. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to try to shape your personal brand to be an […]
Should Your Business Hire Family Members?
When you’re in the early stages of starting or running a business, it can be comforting to know that you have family members who support you. Some may even tell you they’re happy to help out here and there. As a startup, this may sound like music to your ears! But before you start taking […]
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