Keith Shields is a partner with Designli, a digital product studio that helps both entrepreneurs and startup-minded businesses launch problem-solving apps and web apps. Designli's proprietary SolutionLab process brings new customers from a simple concept to a fully defined, designed, and prototyped "project blueprint" that is entirely development ready - all within 30 days.
As of July 2022, there were 3.57 million apps in Google Play, compared to 2.56 million apps in Google Play and 1.85 million in the App Store in Q1 2020, so startup apps are faced with...
It’s nearly impossible to build a profitable company completely on your own, simply because it’s impossible to have all the skills and resources necessary for a successful business. Although you may start out on your...
Many startups struggle with finding and retaining customers. Having a sustainable and systematic customer acquisition strategy is an essential component of success for any organization, especially as a startup. Once you’ve implemented the basics to...
So, you’ve waited a bit too long this year to plan out a carefully-crafted holiday marketing strategy for your startup. You’ve been busy, the day-to-day hustle and bustle has absorbed your attention, and time has...
It's no secret that Cyber Monday is a big deal for businesses large and small. According to Adobe Analytics, Cyber Monday 2019 was record-breaking, with $9.2 billion spent online, a 16.9 percent increase over the...
When you’re a new entrepreneur launching a business, you may find yourself inexperienced in a few areas. The most effective way to overcome this deficit quickly is by finding a mentor — someone who has...
Trying to pick the perfect side hustle can be a daunting task. There are so many options, and it’s difficult to know which ones you’re well suited to that have high profitability potential. By doing...
Entrepreneurs are wise to make use of software to automate and streamline day-to-day processes. But knowing which software tool to choose is challenging. Here’s a software evaluation process that will help you decide which tools...
Choosing a name for your mobile app is something you’ll want to do carefully. The fact is that people do judge a book by its cover. Your app’s name will have a significant impact on...
There’s no time like the present to start a side hustle, especially since many of us have extra time on our hands while being stuck at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. A side hustle can...
The nature of entrepreneurship involves many moving pieces. Without an organized system in place for managing your company, it’s easy for it to go off the rails. Luckily, there are project management best practices you...
You have an idea that you think could be a great business opportunity. You’ve run it by your friends, family and colleagues, and they all agree that this idea has merit. Now what? Before you...
User experience (UX) design is important for every website, but it’s especially critical for e-commerce sites. Companies lose an estimated $4.6 trillion in sales annually as a result of frustrated shoppers who abandon the purchase...
No matter how innovative, a product isn’t successful unless its users deem it so. This is why user testing is such an important part of the product development process. User testing is a method to...
Social media is a land of many opportunities for startups. Since today’s consumers and business buyers use social channels to find companies they can trust, social media is an ideal way to find and engage...
When it comes to setting yourself apart, the challenge of differentiating your company and what you sell is a tough one. Unless your product or service is truly industry-disrupting (and most successful ones aren’t), it...
There’s a lot involved in launching a new startup, from brainstorming to planning to research. But then, after so many coffee-fueled ideas are bounced around and fleshed out, you realize you need to get down...
Not everyone has the luxury of quitting their day job cold turkey in pursuit of entrepreneurship. You have bills to pay, maybe kids (or pets!) to feed. And not everyone wants to deplete their retirement...
Storytelling is one of marketing’s biggest buzzwords. Everyone is doing it, but not everyone is getting the response they hoped for. One of the main reasons storytelling fails to deliver promised results is because startups...