Small Business News

From Instagram to TikTok, mastering social media is a must if you are a small business owner. The Social Media Strategies Summit is going to bring together social media and marketing experts from Walmart, Intuit, Nickelodeon, Nationwide, Pfizer, Home Depot, and others. They will be speaking on the importance of social media for your brand as well as ways you can improve your social media initiatives and revitalize your strategy framework.

The Social Media Strategies Summit is a virtual conference taking place from February 23 to 24, 2022. Click on the red button and register now.

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What to Use for Lead Bait [Webinar]
December 15, 2021, Online

You don’t have to give away your services for free to prove exactly how you can help. The perfect bait to hook new prospects into your lead generation pool is about quality and value.

Social Media Strategies Summit | Virtual Conference
February 23, 2022, Online

Learn from a mix of industry leaders who will share the proven social media strategies they use to grow their brands. SMSS is the premier social media conference for solution and service providers to engage directly with a targeted audience of decision-making marketers.

TECHSPO Atlanta 2022 Technology Expo (Internet ~ Mobile ~ AdTech ~ MarTech ~ SaaS)
June 30, 2022, Atlanta, Georgia

TECHSPO Atlanta is a two-day technology expo returning June 30th to July 1st, 2022 at the luxurious The Westin Peachtree Plaza Atlanta Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia. TECHSPO Atlanta brings together some of the best developers, brands, marketers, technology providers, designers, innovators and evangelists looking to set the pace in our advanced world of technology.

This weekly listing of small business events, contests and awards is provided as a community service by Small Business Trends.

You can see a full list of events, contest and award listings or post your own events by visiting the Small Business Events Calendar.

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This article, "Revitalize Your Social Media Strategy With this Summit" was first published on Small Business Trends

Read more: https://smallbiztrends.com/2021/11/revitalize-your-social-media-strategy-with-this-summit.html

Social media and blogging are two powerful options for communicating with customers. There’s a good chance your business already uses one or both of these strategies. But stepping up your efforts can help you stand out. Read these tips from members of the online small business community to learn how to make the most of your blogging and social media strategy.

Managing all your communication across social media platforms can be time consuming. Luckily, there are inbox tools available to combine these messages and save you time. Check out an extensive list in this Blogging Wizard post by Adam Connell.

Audio and video content can be an effective way to reach customers. And social media is an effective way to share these messages. So how can you repurpose content originally created for other platforms? Fay Lora explains in this Social Media Revolver post.

Social media isn’t just about spreading marketing messages. It’s simply a way to communicate with customers. So you can easily answer questions and address other customer service concerns. Learn how in this Social Media HQ post by Christian Zilles.

Social media can also be an effective sales tool. Specifically, many businesses generate leads by connecting with their target audience on these platforms. Read how to accomplish this goal from this BizEpic post by Ivan Widjaya.

Social media and blogging often go hand in hand, since they can each promote the other effectively. In this Mostly Blogging post, Janice Wald offers tips for promoting your blog on social media.

Whether you’re running a blog, local business, or social media empire, mentions on other blogs can help you market. But you first need to foster these relationships. Erik Emanuelli explores the concept here. And BizSugar members discussed the idea further.

Instagram is one of the most powerful social platforms for businesses. But it can be tough to manage if you’re not constantly on a mobile device. Luckily, there’s a way to manage your content right from Canva, as Ileane Smith details here.

Social media is always evolving. So you need to stay on top of the changes if you want to make the most of these platforms. Experts often share predictions based on observations and the current state of various platforms. Andrew Hutchinson of Social Media Today shares 26 predictions for 2022 in this post.

Some business owners think that blogging is only effective if you’ve been doing it for awhile. But it’s not too late to get started with this tactic if you haven’t already. Read this Lion Blogger post by Atanu Das for more on why you should start a blog in 2021.

Social media is a powerful business tool. But it’s not the only way to promote your brand. Elijah Shoesmith offers some alternatives in this Inspire to Thrive post. And BizSugar members shared their own thoughts here.

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This article, "Step Up Your Social Media and Blogging Strategy with These Expert Tips" was first published on Small Business Trends

Read more: https://smallbiztrends.com/2021/11/social-media-and-blogging-strategy.html

Although the days of large PPP loans and forgiveness are over, for now, there are small business grants across the country taking place year-round. The latest business grant news reveals offers from Dove Chocolate for women entrepreneurs as well as a Los Angeles Job Creators Quest Grant, South Dakota FAST Launch Grants, Avon Lake Small Business COVID-19, and others.

The benefit of these types of grants is they help businesses and entrepreneurs in a given category or segment. This not only identifies and solves a particular issue but it also highlights the need to help said issue by the government and other sources. Dove Chocolate’s grant is a great example of this. The brand has a big reach, providing this grant will showcase many women entrepreneurs who otherwise wouldn’t get the recognition they deserve. And being on the company site or social media channel could be all the recognition they need to receive funding from investors or lenders.

If you are a small business owner looking for a grant, look for them online, the SBA, as well as your local Chamber of Commerce.

Read: Latest Business Grants News – Dove Chocolates Offering Money to Women Entrepreneurs

There are lots of great deals and special promotions at this time of year thanks to the Black Friday and Cyber Monday promotional trend, and many of them are just what a small business needs.

Small business owners are willing to do almost anything to have a successful holiday season in 2021. In fact, 44% of business owners say they’d listen to Jingle Bells on repeat this year if it meant having a successful holiday season for their business with no disruptions. That’s not all they’d do, either.

If you are redesigning your company website to address the demands of today’s consumers and technology, there is a common pitfall you should avoid. And that is overlooking the mobile experience of your audience. According to a study by Best SEO Companies titled, “Why Companies Are Prioritizing the Redesign of their Website,” website redesign is currently in hyperdrive.

With a little under half the US labor force working from home during 2021, it certainly seems like remote working has become a big a part of our ‘new normal’. As the infographic compiled by TrackTime24 below shows, most work-from-home (WFH) employees report being happy with the situation. However, it has caused many  employers to have trust issues with their work force.

TikTok, the video focused social networking service, has released a 2021 Holiday Guide for Business. The guide was launched on November 16, just ahead of the holiday season in the US, which runs from late November to early January.

Apple recently launched their new Apple Business Essentials service which incorporates device management, 24/7 support and iCloud storage. The service is currently available in beta and will include multiple flexible subscription plans aimed at small businesses with up to 500 employees.

A new report by Biz2Credit reveals that among small businesses who took Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans those in finance and retail had done well in recovering from the effects of the pandemic.

The twelfth edition of Small Business Saturday will be held this Saturday on November 27, 2021, and is geared to encourage consumers to support local businesses by shopping small.

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This article, "In the News: Grants Between $1k and $10K Available For Small Businesses" was first published on Small Business Trends

Read more: https://smallbiztrends.com/2021/11/in-the-news-grants-between-1k-and-10k-available-for-small-businesses.html

Making a great first impression on customers is important for businesses that want to stand out from the competition. Customized packaging solutions can help businesses achieve this goal. Not surprisingly, therefore, in recent years demand for custom packaging for small businesses has picked up steadily.

Unlike a one-size-fits-all packaging solution, custom packaging is uniquely tailored around a small business’ specific needs. The shape, size, materials, color and style of the package is modified to reflect the business and to create a special buying experience. In addition to asking what is custom packaging, you should also ask what is branding in business, because they go hand in hand in today’s eCommerce and shipping-centric business.

Growing competition means businesses have a harder time convincing prospects to buy from them. Custom packaging is an important tool to gain customer’s attention and elevate user experience. If done creatively, it can also help small business brands gain a sharp competitive edge.

With an increasing number of businesses leveraging custom packaging to boost sales, should you also consider this option? From a small business’ perspective, choosing custom retail packaging can open up several opportunities. Let’s explore more in detail.

In many instances, the packaging of your product is the first glimpse customers get of your brand. With unique packaging, you can provide an excellent user experience from the get-go.

If the many unboxing videos on social media are anything to go by, customers form an opinion and a bond with a business before they have even opened their package. This makes it useful to focus on customizing packaging to boost customer experience. And don’t forget to use the best shipping tape also, as this can improve the experience.

A major challenge for businesses today is to differentiate themselves. This is not easy when the market is cluttered with lookalike products. Customized shipping boxes can address this challenge by creating a truly unique impression. Customized shipping boxes can reflect the brand and help form a stronger bond with the customers.

Choosing customized packaging makes good sense from a cost standpoint as well. By selecting this option, businesses can avoid using larger boxes they don’t need. This is a smart idea especially because shipping companies charge for volume in addition to the weight of the package. So, make sure to look into the cheapest place to buy boxes to lower your overall cost.

Businesses can go in many different directions with customized packaging. From unique box design to special sticker design, there are several customization options available today. Here are a few to consider:

Thanks to a host of business packaging solution providers, getting custom packaging for your business has become quite easy. There are many solution providers that specialize in customizing all elements of your packaging including customized stickers, bags and more. There are also some companies let you design your packaging. They, in turn, take care of producing the elements for you. Let’s check out a few of them.

Packlane offers full customization and comes with a user-friendly 3D design tool. With Packlane, you will be able to choose from four types of custom boxes: mailer box, product box, shipping box and econoflex shipping box. Another benefit of choosing this solution provider is they ship both in the U.S. and outside.

UPrinting is another option for end-to-end customized packaging solutions. They specialize in customizing a number of packaging elements such as stickers, labels, boxes, bags and pouches. UPrinting also has 24/7 customer service to address questions and concerns.

Etsy offers a range of options for custom and handmade pieces for mailers and packages. Etsy is a good place to look for cost-effective options.

Sticker Mule specializes in custom stickers. Here, you can find a range of stickers, labels and mailers. They offer free shipping and free online proofs all over the world.

Pack Help addresses small businesses’ needs that are looking for cost-effective custom packaging solutions. They offer low minimum order quantities, fast turnaround options and an easy-to-use online editor.

On Paper Mart, you will find a range of custom product packaging options. These include boxes, bags, mailers and tape. A user-friendly online design studio will enable you to design your own packaging. And with same day shipping, it is easier to get the products delivered in time.

ShipBob is a 3PL provider that combines its inventory management technology with nationwide in-house fulfillment. Unlike other solution providers, ShipBob doesn’t offer custom tapes and has size limitations on boxes.

The Box Maker provides custom packaging options including product labels and boxes to small businesses. The company has 8 locations across Oregon, Washington and Arkansas.

Arka offers custom printed packaging for small businesses. Some of the products on offer include boxes, stickers and tape. They have a simple process that involves choosing the products, dimensions and quantity online. Businesses can offer their artwork to Arka and receive a proof in just two days.

Refine Packaging offers free quotes, free design support, low minimums and excellent customer service. The company has offers live chat to help businesses get desired support instantly. For high-volume orders, Refine Packaging offers attractive discounts. The final order is delivered within 8-10 business days.

Custom Boxes & Packaging: Design and Order Online | Packola

Packola has a user-friendly interface that allows small businesses to design custom packaging in minutes. Its online design tool lets you create tailor-made mailer boxes, shipping boxes and product boxes. There are no minimum order quantity and the site comes with live chat support.

Customized Shipping Boxes for Everyone – brandINcolor

Brand in Color offers mailer boxes, shipping boxes and even pizza boxes for customization. The minimum order count is 25 boxes and it offers fast shipping (3 days). The company provides examples of past work for inspiration.

Not all businesses may know where to begin with customized packaging. Should they go with a full package of customized solutions or should they start slow with a few elements such as custom boxes and tailored packaging supplies? Here are some tips for small business owners interested in this option:

Image: Depositphotos

This article, "Brand Your Products with Custom Packaging" was first published on Small Business Trends

Read more: https://smallbiztrends.com/2021/11/custom-packaging.html