Browsing Tag
market research
44 posts
How to Spot the Difference Between a Million-Dollar Business Idea and a Dud
The startup life is built on the notion that anyone has the power to make it big with the right idea and a lot of hard work. Technology continues to level the playing field for innovators and creatives, providing new opportunities for ambitious entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs must be able to communicate their stories quickly and effectively...
4 Reasons Why Choosing the Right Business Model is a Make-or-Break Decision
When launching a startup, most entrepreneurs are focused on fine-tuning their product or service. While this is a critically important element of the process, successful entrepreneurs must first focus on choosing the right business model. Whether you’re turning a side hustle into a six-figure business or launching what you hope to be a major product...
How to Conduct Market Research for Startups: The Market-In Approach
Startups often overlook market research, specifically the market-in approach, but it is a crucial component of a successful, sustainable growth strategy. You can't grow if you don't know. Too many founders, especially those who come from a technical background, take a product-out approach to building their offering and scaling their company. They create a product...
A Step-By-Step Guide to Writing a Killer Business Plan
A business plan is as important to a new business as a map is to a ship, or blueprints are to an architect. A written business plan will guide your actions and keep you focused on your short- and long-term goals. Your business plan puts your aspirations into words (and charts), demonstrating to partners, investors...
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: Why Small Businesses Fail (Episode 271)
On today's Business Beat, Jeff discusses the top reasons that businesses fail, as found from a study by CB Insights. Tune in to the Business Beat, below, to learn more about why small businesses fail: Tune in to News/Talk 760 AM WJR weekday mornings at 7:11 a.m. for the WJR Business Beat. Listeners outside of...
3 Keys to Business Planning in a Pandemic World
The concept of having a business plan may seem cliche, but the reason so many business mentors and coaches advocate for planning is because it works. Developing a business plan will increase your chance of starting a business by 152% and it will increase your chance of growing past the initial startup phase by 129%....
7 Steps to Successfully Launch a Product
There are thousands of companies creating and promoting thousands of products in the global marketplace each year. You probably haven’t even heard of the vast majority—many of which failed on arrival. According to Harvard Business School research, 95 percent of new products fail in their first year. You may have a great, ground-breaking product idea,...
5 Step Process for Turning a Hobby Into a Side Hustle
Many successful entrepreneurs started by taking a hobby and turning it into a side hustle. That side hustle can eventually turn into a bona fide business. But where do you even start? StartupNation exclusive discounts and savings on Dell products and accessories: Learn more here 5 steps to turn your hobby into a side hustle...
How to Use the COVID-19 Crisis as a Catapult Into Entrepreneurship
Whether you’re one of the 40 million plus Americans who’ve lost their job during the COVID-19 crisis, or the pandemic made you realize life is too short and it’s time to pursue your passion, you might be looking at a career change. Shifting course is never easy, especially during an economic recession. In some ways, the...
5 Actionable Steps to Unlock Your Entrepreneurial Spirit During Quarantine
COVID-19 has not only drastically impacted the health, finance and business sphere, it’s also had serious ramifications on social behavior. Mandatory quarantines have forced people to remain home for weeks (even months) at a time. And while millions of people have struggled to adapt to the new limited lifestyle, others are taking a more pragmatic...
Building a Sustainable Brand: Why Going Green is Good for Business
Today, consumers care more about where their products come from than ever before. With many brands reaping the rewards of a more socially and environmentally friendly approach, it’s time for startups to follow suit in building sustainable brands. StartupNation exclusive discounts and savings on Dell products and accessories: Learn more here The market for ethical...
Don’t Let These 5 Sneaky Startup Expenses Break Your Budget
The budget is one of the most important components of your startup's business plan. An in-depth knowledge of your cash flow and expenses will allow you to make more informed decisions and manage your business more effectively. But, the only way your budget can help you is if it’s realistic. A good budget will include...
8 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Launching an App
You’ve just finished developing your app and you’re looking to get thousands of downloads. You want users to find your app and tell you how great it is. The problem is: there are all kinds of mistakes that novices (and even more advanced creators) make when launching a new app. I have interviewed dozens of app...
Why Consumer Lifestyle Data is the Key to Successful Marketing
Traditional market research is dead. Whether it’s customer surveys, focus groups, or interviews, brands looking to truly understand their consumers need to leave these dated methods in the past. Unsurprisingly, the answer to obtaining consumer insights in an age in which tech has truly taken over is data-powered. In order to achieve marketing success, your...
Why All Budding Entrepreneurs Need to Embrace Market Research (and How to Do It)
Market research is one of the most powerful tools available to budding entrepreneurs. Effective market research can not only help you decide if your business idea is worth pursuing, but it can also help you discover a new direction for expanding your side hustle. Many entrepreneurs avoid or neglect to do market research because they...
How to Turn Your Passion Into a Successful Business
Mark Twain once said, “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” However, over 87 percent of America’s workforce is unable to reach their full potential at their job because they are not passionate about their line of work. It’s time to make a change....
How to Successfully Define and Grow a Niche Brand
You’ve got a business idea but it’s, well, kind of niche. Maybe it’s so niche that you’re not sure where you’ll find customers, or if it’s even a sustainable idea at all. Never fear. We’re living in the golden age of startups, and there’s no such thing as “too niche.” It’s never been easier for...
The Right It: Why So Many Ideas Fail and How to Make Sure Yours Succeed
The following is excerpted from "The Right It: Why So Many Ideas Fail and How to Make Sure Yours Succeed." Copyright © 2019 by Alberto Savoia. Reprinted with permission from HarperOne, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers. The Fake Door Pretotype The name for the Fake Door pretotype comes to us courtesy of Jess Lee, who at...
7 Steps to Turn Your Great Idea Into a Profitable Business
The world can always use more great ideas that foster changes and improve lives. But, what would be even better is if those ideas were turned into profitable businesses that provided a product or service for the benefit of others while helping the founder realize his or her dream. To do so requires knowing the...
7 Lessons Business School Won’t Teach You — But Being an Entrepreneur Will
You learn many critical skills in business school: self-discipline, strategic thinking, better time management and a broader worldview, amongst many others. Also, you learn useful academic theories and how to apply them to real-world problems. But, no matter how broad your curriculum and how great your professor, you cannot learn everything within the walls of...