Marketing in the Trenches on a Budget
In today’s tech-driven world, there are many options for marketing. However, that does not mean that other, less “techy” methods of getting your company’s message out to the world should be scoffed at. Unfortunately, in this tech-filled world, people are busier and more distracted than ever, so actually getting through to a person can be...
StartupNation’s 10th Anniversary and 10 Million Served
Here on the eve of StartupNation's 10th anniversary, we'd like to thank you for your support of StartupNation. Through the years we've helped more than 10 million entrepreneurs become more successful. And now we're upping the stakes, cranking up the volume and pushing it to the max! Introducing StartupNation's Next-Level Success Club. It's a game-changer....
Gerber Hits a Nerve
One affiliation I am thrilled to have made over the years at StartupNation is with Scott Gerber. You may have seen him contributing on our Small Business Braintrust video series, or if you're a Gen Y entrepreneur, you may know Scott in his role as founder of the Young Entrepreneur Council, which is a very...
Saved! By Automatic Backup
Picture this: It's late December. You're planning for the year ahead. You resume your work after dinner. Totally in the zone! But there's a problem. A major problem. The computer is frozen. Nothing works. You turn it off. You turn it on. Nothing works right. Your files and software are inaccessible, useless. I'm telling you...
StartupNation 1, Facebook Squatter 0
Similar to our efforts on Twitter to claim the www.twitter.com/startupnation account name, we have now achieved something similar for www.facebook.com/startupnation. As I wrote a while ago here in my blog about the Twitter squatter who was trying to extort StartupNation, there are definitely systems in place at the social media companies that support ethical companies...
Stressed Out, But Investing – Survey of Businesses by Brother
Data. It's all around us. But I found Brother's new survey results particularly interesting given the news we share through our new webcast series called, Small Business Braintrust, particularly our "Views on the News" feature. In the survey, it may come as no surprise that stress levels are at an all-time high among business owners....
Weekend Read Will Change My Approach, Change My Year
I started my Saturday this past weekend with a midwest to westcoast flight. By the time I was over the Rockies, I was so excited to get to work on the new ideas filling my head that I couldn't WAIT to get off that plane! I had just finished reading through Josh Linkner's brand new book,...
Post Here to Win a Sleek Dell Vostro V130 Laptop
Every now and then, I throw you a freebie. This is one of those occasions. Here's the deal: Dell has provided me with a Dell Vostro V130 laptop, and I'm so impressed, they're allowing me to give one away for free to one entrepreneur winner among you! Through this giveaway, you have a chance to...
26 Business Ideas – Take Your Pick!
I don't know about you, but I grew up dreaming of running my own business. One of my sources of inspiration was Entrepreneur Magazine. I'd go over to the bookstore, flip through each monthly issue and get TOTALLY psyched about the possibilities ahead of me. Rieva Lesonsky was Editor of that magazine at that time, and so,...
Building Your Company to Last (Part 2)
Last week I posed the question, What's your favorite company. Thanks for the responses and explanations folks! This week, staying on the theme of building a company to last, I wanted to pick up on comments made during the panel I moderated at the Conquer & Grow conference regarding "culture" and its importance to companies...
Building Your Company to Last (Part 1)
Last week in Vegas was incredible. The events were phenomenal and the density of information, networking and inspiration was off the charts! The panel discussion I moderated at Conquer & Grow, which included Pamela Slim (author of Escape from Cubicle Nation), Clate Mask (who runs Infusionsoft), and Donavan Roberson (Cultural Evangelist at Zappos), was really interesting...
Come Get INSPIRED! Sloan Brothers, Eric Trump, Mel Robbins and more!
Come visit me and my brother Jeff, presenting at the W Hotel in Boston this coming Tuesday! Sure, getting ahead in the current market is no small feat. But with the right guidance, inspiration and contacts, you can make it happen. One night only, in Boston - Tuesday October 19th at 3pm...
Expert Gene Marks weighs in on how to increase 2010 profits
Our friends at Kodak have generously (and very strategically) sponsored our next and upcoming 1-hour webinar: Ways to Increase Profitability and Productivity Gene Marks, a business management expert and entrepreneur I hold in high regard (as do Forbes, Business Week and American City Business Journals where he provides regular columns), is going to walk through proven,...
ABC’s Shark Tank is Casting Again! More StartupNation Members in the Spotlight?
Some of you StartupNation folks have already appeared on Shark Tank and you know the exposure (and possibly money) it can bring you. Well, Shark Tank is back. The producers of the ABC reality series are on a nationwide search to discover the next successful – and possibly wealthy – entrepreneurs, inventors, businesspersons, dreamers, promoters,...
Las Vegas, Baby!, Two Great Events Happening at the Same Time!
Care to join me for event in Vegas? If you've been looking to, A) take your business to the next level; B) network with great people like you who run their own exciting businesses; C) meet experts who might have breakthrough ideas for you; or, D) need an excuse for a boondoggle to Vegas... then...
Votes are in, Judging Underway for Leading Moms in Business
I am ever amazed by the intensity and on-top-of-itness of competitors in the StartupNation Leading Moms in Business Ranking competition. The popular voting and entries phases have just closed and now we're tabulating those votes and selecting stand-out competitors as judged winners. It's always a difficult process - so many of them deserve the spotlight...
Our Franchise eBook – Your guide to becoming a franchisee
We've been working hard in collaboration with the country's leading experts on crafting a Franchising Guide eBook that helps you walk through the key considerations and action steps to pursue your own franchise of interest and embark on the life of an entrepreneur. https://startupnation.com/franchising/ is where you can find out more. Use this downloadable workbook to:...
Pew Study: Small Business Most Trusted “Institution”
Trust Congress? Sorry, that institution got among the lowest ratings in a Pew Research Center study that was recently released. The Pew Center polled Americans to determine who they trusted least and who they trusted most. Small business owners - you should be proud. America trusts YOU most. More than churches, our President, labor unions, the...
Read up, and start getting referrals
Among the many "experts" out there touting "the way" to success, there are a lot of fly-by-nights, lightweights and hucksters. But I must say, John Jantsch is among those who offer true substance and real value and merit our follows. And here's the reason why: He's practical. In his new book, The Referral Engine, John provides specific rationale,...
Got a restaurant concept? NBC Casting Call!
Just got this from a casting agent for NBC TV: Do you have an idea for America’s next great restaurant? Are you sitting on a billion dollar concept? If you think your restaurant idea has what it takes to go national and bring in millions of hungry Americans, read on... From NBC and Magical Elves,...