If you’re the typical small business owner, you began your business with an exciting idea, a passion. No one goes into business thinking, “I can’t wait to work on cash flow challenges.” And yet, cash flow is one of the top reasons businesses close their doors. It’s not that they aren’t making money. It’s that managing it is not everyone’s skill set. Money management challenges are one of the most critical areas you need to master to be successful. This article is here to provide general information. Consult a financial planner or tax professional for more long-term solutions. 5 Money Management Tips for Better Business Here are some of the key issues and ways to address them: Cash Flow Management Many small businesses struggle with maintaining consistent cash flow. This can lead to difficulty paying bills, making payroll, or investing in growth opportunities. You might have the money promised to you on paper, but not knowing when it will come in can be a challenge. Businesses at every level can be impacted by this so it takes consistent monitoring. To improve cash flow: · Create detailed cash flow forecasts and monitor them regularly. · Encourage timely customer payments by offering incentives or implementing stricter payment terms. Enforce those terms and send out reminder invoices. · Negotiate favorable payment terms with suppliers. · Maintain a cash reserve for unexpected expenses or slow periods. According to a JPMorgan study of 597,000 small businesses, 25% held a reserve covering fewer than 13 days of expenses if other revenue dried up. Budgeting and Expense Tracking Small businesses often lack robust budgeting practices and struggle to track expenses effectively. If this feels like you, consider: · Creating a detailed, realistic budget and review it regularly. · Using accounting software (or an app) to automate expense tracking and generate accurate reports. · Separating personal and business finances to avoid confusion. Your accountant will appreciate it. · Assessing finances and adjusting budgets regularly as needed. Debt Management Taking on too much debt or mismanaging existing debt can be detrimental to small businesses. COVID brought on unparalleled times. One thing we learned from it is that you must be prepared for the known challenges and the unknown ones. To manage debt more effectively: · Be cautious about taking on unnecessary debt · Prioritize paying off high-interest debts first · Consider consolidating multiple loans to simplify repayments · Build and maintain a good business credit score Tax Compliance Many small businesses underestimate the importance of tax planning and compliance. To improve in this area: · Work with a tax professional to stay on top of obligations and deadlines. If you don’t know a reputable one, check with the chamber. · Regularly set aside money for taxes. · Stay informed about tax laws and possible deductions. Financial Planning and Analysis Small businesses often lack the time or expertise for thorough financial analysis and planning. It’s likely something that’s best outsourced to a pro. Again, if you don’t know one, check with the chamber. To enhance financial management: · Understand and regularly review key financial statements including the balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement. It’s boring, but beneficial. · Use financial management software to automate repetitive tasks and generate insights. · Establish financial protocols and plans, no matter how small your business is. Doing so early will put you on the path to success. · Regularly assess your business's financial performance and adjust strategies accordingly. If you don’t have the money to work with professionals right now, talk to your chamber, SCORE chapter, and SBA. There are many low-cost options to help you get on the right track for long-term success.

AI is one of the most efficient tools we’ve seen since the advent of the computer. But if you’re using it to generate content and then just copying and pasting, you’re missing out. And that kind of “laziness” could be costing you customers. Here’s how a couple of quick edits can bring your AI-generated content from meh to aaaamazing. First, we’re going to assume you can write a good solid prompt. Telling AI what role you want it to have (you are a brilliant small business owner, for example), who your audience is, what kind of content you’re looking for, and what tone you want, is essential to getting a solid first draft. Here’s what you do from there to create non-robot-like narratives and articles. Add Stats Stats generated from AI can be questionable (unless you select a tool like Perplexity that cites its sources). That’s why it’s best to research your own. It’s even more effective if you source stats that are taken directly from your community. That gives your content a unique and local flavor. Link It with Your Narrative What’s your business story? Add parts of that into the article you just generated. You can include personal recollections, stories, and/or business examples. This livens things up but there’s another reason you want to add your own flavor. AI-generated content is not copyrighted. If you use AI to create an ebook with no edits from you, there is nothing legally stopping your competitor from taking that content and replicating it word for word. However, if you make it yours with your personality and examples, it’s arguably no longer up for grabs. Add Art I know I’ll catch a little flack for this, but when you add your own artistic flair, you are again distinguishing yourself in the market. You are helping your audience get to know you, not AI. Add a Theme This is something the AI can do for you, if requested. Doing so helps differentiate the content generation it’s doing for you from that of your competition. If you are a plumber, for instance, and you identify an audience and tone that you share with your plumbing competition, then you ask AI to write a blog post about what to do with a leaky faucet, you could both end up with very similar pieces. But if you add another step to the article and give it a theme, your post will be more unique. For instance, you might say write a post about how fixing a leaky faucet will make you feel better about your contributions to the environment. That little direction makes your article slightly different from everyone else. It will help give context and drive action on the importance of prompt repairs. AI is one of the best productivity tools you can implement in your business. But you want to do it in a way that does not jeopardize the quality of your content. Adding emotion and placing your personality into the piece will make it your own. Finally, while there are a lot of AI tools out there, be consistent in the ones you use for your business content creation. Speak to it the way you would a friend or a long-time employee. Show your personality. Upload pieces of content you’ve produced that you like. AI will respond to you in much the same way a beloved friend will learn your preferences and personality over time. If you do this, eventually the narrative and adding personality suggestions in this article will happen naturally with AI. Now if only I could get it to fold my laundry. That would be a real win.

Veterans Day is Monday, November 11th, and it is the ideal time to express thanks to those who have protected our freedoms and way of life. While you don’t have much time to pull it all together, honoring Veterans Day in a meaningful, non-commercial way can strengthen connections between your business and the community while showing genuine appreciation for veterans' service. And you don’t have to stop there. You can extend the relationship year-round. Honoring Veterans on Veteran’s Day Veterans Day is similar to Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day in the way that it serves to remind us to thank those whose efforts go unrecognized. If you remember veterans throughout the year, you may not need the reminder of Veterans Day. But for many of us, it provides time to think about and appreciate their service. Here are a few ways to honor them: 1. Host a Community Event: Organize a gathering at your business exclusively for veterans, such as a coffee hour or small reception. Offer complimentary refreshments and a quiet space for conversation. Create a welcoming environment for veterans and build a sense of community without a sales focus. 2. Share Their Stories: Dedicate a space in your store or on your social media channels to highlight veterans' stories. Encourage local veterans or their families to share their experiences, with permission, or partner with a local veterans' organization to collect inspiring stories. It’s a way to honor their service while educating and inspiring others. 3. Offer a Day of Service: Instead of focusing on promotions, close your business for a day (or a few hours) to volunteer with a local veterans' organization. Invite staff and customers to join you or make it a company-wide service day to give back to the community and show your appreciation in action. 4. Support a Veterans' Cause: Donate a portion of Veterans Day sales, or better yet, directly donate to a local or national veterans' charity without tying it to purchases. Display information about the cause in your store so customers understand why you’re supporting it. 5. Hold a Flag Ceremony or Moment of Silence: Start the day by inviting the community to join you for a flag-raising ceremony or a moment of silence. It’s a respectful way to honor veterans without any commercial agenda. Remember Veterans Day honors the living, while Memorial Day honors those who have passed. 6. Sponsor or Collaborate on a Veteran-Led Workshop or Talk: If you know veterans with skills they’d like to share (like woodworking, cooking, fitness, etc.), invite them to host a workshop at your business. It allows veterans to showcase their expertise and gives the community a chance to learn from them. Make Veterans Day Everyday There are other ways to honor and appreciate veterans year-round such as: · Hiring a vet or a military spouse · Offer flexible work arrangements and work-from-home options (so military spouses can continue to work for you even if their family is relocated) · Providing discounts for veterans and active military · Sponsor a veteran’s family · Highlighting your employees who have served · Support vets in a way that fits in with your business and mission (for instance, if you own a bookstore, carry a vet’s book) · Be open to seeing the correlations between the work they did in the military and how that might fit your employ (for instance, they may not have direct customer service experience, but they’re used to delivering difficult messages) · Partner (or work) with veteran-owned businesses · Welcome new military families into the area; after all, they’ll be veterans someday

You have a great business. You offer items/services everyone needs, yet you’re struggling to get people in the door. What can you do? You need traffic to increase sales, whether that’s online or in-person. If your business is struggling to bring in customers, you know that has to change if you’re going to survive. While there are many ways to improve your online traffic (search engine optimization, user experience, etc.), your physical business’ traffic is all about location. But before you go and pack up your stuff to find a better location, let’s go over a few things you can do to increase your daily visitors. The Right Foot Foot traffic is great, but a bunch of Looky Lous aren’t going to pay your bills. You need to attract the RIGHT kind of potential customers. For instance, if you own a bakery that makes the most delicious dog treats ever, a parent looking for a Paw Patrol Birthday cake is not your ideal customer (unless they have a dog celebrating too). Before you read the rest of these steps to help you increase foot traffic, you need to be sure of your ideal audience, their needs, and their challenges. Use that information to shape how you use the tips below. 25 Tips to Increase Foot Traffic for Your Business Show Don’t Tell Most businesses tell audiences what they do or offer. That doesn’t inspire action. It sounds good, but it won’t get someone who’s seated on their couch at home motivated enough to stop in. You need to show them why they need your product or service. I don’t mean “show” in the literal sense (although images and video are great marketing tools). To motivate people to take action, you need to paint the picture of how your product/service gives them something they need or want. You can do this through words and/or images. For instance, instead of saying, “We have the best bread in town,” (that’s nice, but I’m not leaving my home for that), say “our bread will make all the other kids at lunch jealous and we’re so sure of this, we want you to stop by for a free sample between 10-2 (nothing beats bread fresh out of the oven). Start winning the cafeteria lunch wars.” In that example, you’re playing on a fear of missing out and parental pride in packing the best lunch. Plus, you’re bringing them in with the offer of a delicious free sample. Which brings us to the obvious… Offer Something Delicious Even if you don’t sell food, offering a free sample is a great way to bring in a crowd; just check out Costco on the weekends during their sample days. If you don’t sell food, you may wonder how offering a free sample of something you don’t sell will work. Give away something that fits with what you sell. For instance, if you have a bookstore, cook up a recipe from one of your cookbooks (hopefully a recipe you can make in-store in a crockpot so the delicious aroma permeates your place). A pet store might give out free pet treats. If you sell furniture (with a fabric care product), offer a messy treat and invite people to sit on your couch. Then show them how easy it is to clean. Talk to the Chamber Your local chamber probably receives a lot of visitors. Let the chamber know you want to increase foot traffic to your business. They may be able to send you referrals. Perhaps they have an event coming up that could help you increase visits. Make sure you tell them the type of audience you want to attract. Here are a few additional ideas to increase your foot traffic: 1. Improve your curb appeal. 2. Ensure your storefront is spotless, windows are sparkling, and any outdoor signage is in top condition. 3. Create interesting window displays that change regularly to draw people in. Use bright colors and unique props. Highlight your bestsellers or new arrivals. 4. Use a sidewalk sign with a clear and enticing message, daily specials, or promotions. 5. Bring your store outside. During good weather (and assuming your city allows it), bring a few items outside to catch the attention of people walking by. 6. Make sure your store is well-lit inside and out, especially in the evenings. You don’t want to lose possible customers because they think you’re closed. 7. Team up for joint promotions. Cross-promote each other on social media or host a small "block party" event. 8. Offer a free class or demonstration (if your products lend themselves to it), such as a quick tutorial or a hands-on/making class. 9. Participate in farmers' markets, craft fairs, or community festivals. 10. Complete your Google Business Profile ensuring it is up to date with accurate hours, photos, and contact information. Encourage customers to leave reviews! 11. Run simple contests or giveaways on social media to increase engagement and attract new followers. 12. Offer free Wi-Fi to encourage people to linger in your store (or perhaps work there). 13. Play appropriate music to set the mood. 14. Use a subtle, pleasant scent to enhance the ambiance. Avoid anything too perfumy. 15. Ensure your store is easy to navigate and products are well-organized. Clutter and crowded aisles are not inviting. 16. Acknowledge each person who enters your store with a friendly greeting. 17. Offer assistance without being pushy. 18. Ensure your staff is knowledgeable, friendly, and provides excellent customer service. 19. Set up a comfortable seating area to encourage people to stay longer and browse. 20. Provide a charging station. It’s a welcome bonus, especially for visitors. 21. Offer water, coffee, or tea to make customers more comfortable. 22. Add an Instagrammable item. Some people lead an Insta life, and they want to show their followers all the interesting things they’re doing and places they’re exploring. Create cool photo backdrops in your business to become a stop for them. By implementing these ideas, you can create a more inviting and engaging shopping experience that encourages people to visit and return to your store.

If you want more views on your business content, you don’t have to be a celebrity (although that makes things a lot easier). All you have to do is help your audience get to know you, and by doing so, humanize your business. Some people are gifted engagers. They naturally know how to get people interested in their stuff. But for most of us, it’s a learned activity. If you’re not a born engager, here are five things you can do to improve your business content. 5 Engaging Content Tips First, you don’t have to share everything about your life, but opening up to your audience can go a long way in helping them know, like, and trust you. It may feel awkward sharing something that has nothing to do with your business, but if you’re talking about a part of you, like your dreams and your struggles, people will identify with you and that increases the draw of your content. Sharing the Challenges My neighbor has an e-commerce wellness business. She was recently hit hard by Hurricane Helene. She lost the bottom floor of her home and all her products. Instead of hiding that from her audience, she has shared it in spades. Through live videos every day since the hurricane, she has documented her struggles and her triumphs, her bad times and her blessings. Her audience has been very responsive and when she’s back up and running, I have no doubt they will support the rebuilding of her business. She showed her audience her humanity and they have laughed and cried with her. For the Love of the Team Another thing you can share are the triumphs and tribulations of your favorite team, whether that’s your favorite pro, college, or little ones’ team. Don’t be concerned that if you show a love for “State” that you’ll alienate the “University of” crowd. After all, your sports enemies may get a kick out of teasing you after a loss. Showing the Love If you feel comfortable with it—and they support you doing so—share info about your family. People love to know you have family and friends. “Family” includes your pets. If you show the love, your audience will see you in a new light and feel a greater connection with you. Once Upon a Time We all started somewhere. Sometimes beginnings are comical, and we can barely believe we’ve made it as far as we have. Other times there are serious lessons to be shared. Talk about your origin story. How did you get to where you are? Full Team Ahead In addition to sharing stories and information about yourself, get your team involved. Encourage them to tell their stories as well as share their favorites. By helping your audience get to know you, they’ll see your business as something more than just a money maker. When your business is competing on prices alone, it’s a slippery slope to the bottom cost. When they support you for a reason other than you being the cheapest in town, you’ll have more loyal customers as well. Finally, it’s best to share this engaging content in the medium that you feel the most comfortable with and the form(s) you’ll stick to. That being said, video is one of the best ways to show your humanity and help people identify with you. If you’re not currently doing video, it may be the difference between a lukewarm following and one that takes off.

The market is volatile. No, we’re not talking about stocks. The needs and desires of your audience are evolving, and your business marketing needs to follow suit. If you’re not practicing agile marketing, you’re going to fall behind. Agile marketing is one of the most crucial aspects of marketing for businesses today. It offers significant advantages in an ever-changing marketplace. And the public’s expectations surrounding it (bet you didn’t know they already expect agility in marketing) can mean a potentially costly mistake for businesses that aren’t implementing it. What Is Agile Marketing? Agile marketing is the practice that allows marketers to adapt to changing environments, whether that be social media trends, customers’ needs/desires, or responses using emerging technologies. When you are an agile marketing shop, you can make changes to your current campaigns quickly for the benefit of your customers and ideal audience. If you’re a solopreneur, you are likely already doing this. But as your company grows, and departments emerge, agility often becomes a larger task and must be purposely addressed. Let’s break that down… Key Benefits of Marketing Agility One of the main benefits of marketing agility is rapid adaptation. Companies with agile marketing capabilities swiftly respond and adapt to market trends, consumer behaviors, and emerging technologies. They are relevant and competitive in a fast-paced environment. Agile marketing facilitates quicker decision-making, allowing teams to test and iterate strategies in real-time. They’re more effective in their data-driven marketing efforts. By emphasizing flexibility and responsiveness, agile marketing enables businesses to better meet customer needs and preferences. This customer-centric approach fosters stronger connections with target audiences and drives loyalty. Companies that embrace marketing agility gain a significant edge over their competitors. With agile marketing you can: · deliver products and services faster · capitalize on new opportunities · effectively respond to customer feedback · have more fun with social media trends while gaining greater reach It may seem like a small thing but having a team that can identify trends, create quick content, and exploit the trends can astronomically increase their audience overnight. Conversely, those that must run all marketing through multiple departments before getting approval will likely miss these opportunities for greater visibility. So, how do you adopt agile marketing practices? Isn’t planning to be less of a planner an oxymoron? Implementing Agile Marketing To harness the power of agility in marketing, businesses should consider the following strategies: · Foster a Culture of Flexibility and Empowerment. Encourage a mindset of continuous learning and customer-led marketing. Empower employees to make decisions based on your mission. It’s difficult to be agile with multiple levels of signoffs required. · Leverage Data and Technology. Utilize real-time data analytics and advanced technology to enable personalized and effective marketing strategies. See the next section about Agility in Action for a real-world example of why this is important. · Work in Sprints. Implement short, focused marketing campaigns to drive rapid progress and allow for frequent reassessment of effectiveness. · Promote Cross-Functional Collaboration. Encourage communication and teamwork across different departments/areas to enhance problem-solving and innovation. Each of your teams may have a different view or knowledge of your target audience. Agility in Action Hurricane Helene impacted people in six states, nearly 200 people lost their lives (at the time of this writing), and over 150,000 households have applied for disaster assistance (this number is expected to rise rapidly over the next several days). The impact of this storm was much larger than most and if you market nationally, your marketing should’ve reflected this in some way. Agile marketers tweaked or paused their messaging. Many large marketers did not. Facebook is a prime example of this. Although, to be fair, it was an ad from a business and not Facebook directly. Facebook populated my stream with a paid post about swimming lessons when my street was underwater. While the irony (or perfect fit) made me laugh, it didn’t do the business that had paid for the ad any favors. They should’ve paused it. (Of course, the day after the flood receded my stream became home to all sorts of remediation and hardware store ads. The algorithm was working overtime that day.) Next, I saw major retailers email (and text) marketing to my area with the same marketing campaigns they had been running prior to the storm. With today’s access to data, this made them appeal callous and clueless. More is expected of businesses because of technology. Perhaps if it had just been my little town impacted, I wouldn’t have thought anything about their campaigns but since six states were involved, they looked like a prescheduled business with no one behind the wheel. When there is a major news event (flood, fire, school shooting, or other devastation), at the very least, review the content of your prescheduled social media posts. You don’t want to post about it being a lovely beach day in the middle of a devastating hurricane, for instance. Email campaigns should also be assessed. Marketing agility can help you from making a PR blunder when marketing nationally. It is a critical factor for business success. People know you have the data; they expect you to use it for good. Many businesses have spent years collecting data. They’ve used to personalize their marketing. Because of this, they’ve created an expectation around personalization. If you have embraced personalization to get your customers’ attention, you need to be prepared to use it for assistance as well. By implementing agile principles, you can enhance your business’ adaptability, improve customer engagement, and gain a competitive edge. As the business landscape continues to evolve with new tech, the ability to pivot quickly and effectively will remain a key differentiator for successful organizations and help humanize your business as well.

If you’re like many of us, you may have decided that watching the news is not in your mental health’s best interest. From angry rants to misinformation, it’s difficult to understand the benefits these days. That’s why focusing on positivity and feel-good stories can help your business stand out and create a sense of connection with your audience. But what kind of “feel good” content can you provide? Good News Topics for Small Businesses Being the bearer of good news in your community will not only make people feel good, but it will also give you a reputation as someone who cares. When it comes to helping people to know, like, and trust you, this speaks volumes. Here are a few ideas of things you can share: Acts of Kindness Share stories about employees or customers going above and beyond to help others. Highlight local initiatives where the business or community members are supporting charitable causes. In the upcoming months, especially around the holiday, you’ll see a lot of this. Customer Success Stories Feature testimonials or case studies where a customer has had a positive experience or achieved a great outcome thanks to your products/services. Highlight what they have achieved as the primary story then mention how you helped as a secondary point. Employee Milestones & Celebrations Announce work anniversaries, promotions, or personal achievements of your team members. Celebrate employees’ birthdays, new babies, or life events (before sharing make sure they are okay with this publicity). Supporting Local Causes Share updates on any partnerships or donations to local charities, schools, or community projects. Post about volunteer efforts and the positive impact they are making locally. Ask your employees what their favorite causes are and give them a shoutout on social. For instance, if you have an adopted dog and believe in the importance of adopting and helping the shelters, share that. New Products or Services Launch Introduce a new product line, service, or offering that solves a problem or adds value. Highlight how these innovations are making life easier for customers or improving the community. Sometimes the way your product or service helps isn’t directly about your product but the makers who use it. Consider how Sharpie showcases the artists that use their permanent markers. Eco-Friendly Initiatives Share the steps your business is taking to become more sustainable—reducing waste, recycling efforts, or eco-friendly products/services. Post about local environmental wins, such as clean-up events or green energy milestones. Talk about how you’re supporting local initiatives and doing your part even if it’s not mandatory for you to do so. Local Business Collaborations Collaborate with other businesses in ways that benefit the community, such as joint discounts or events. Share stories of how your business is helping lift up other local entrepreneurs whether it’s through mentoring or working with young people who want to own a business. Community Achievements Celebrate milestones in your community, such as a neighborhood clean-up, school achievements, or local sports team wins. Congratulate students on their academic achievements. Share remarkable long-standing achievements or history about the area. Make people proud of your town and your business community. Recognize individuals in the community who are making a difference. Health & Wellness Tips Share tips, advice, or workshops on staying mentally and physically healthy during challenging times. Highlight how your products or services can help. For instance, if you run a restaurant, “star” the low-cal or low-carb options to make it easier for those on restricted diets. Discuss what you do to unwind when you have a bad day. Highlight the success of customers or community members who have made strides in improving their health. Positive Industry Trends Share good news about your industry—innovations, recovery stories, or exciting new trends that signal growth and opportunities. Customer “Thank You” Posts Publicly thank customers for their loyalty, sharing heartwarming moments, photos, or stories from customer interactions. Run campaigns where customers share their own good news stories, featuring them on your page. Feel-Good Holidays or Observances Celebrate small, positive holidays like National Compliment Day, World Kindness Day, or Random Acts of Kindness Week, encouraging others to spread joy. Local “Hidden Gems” Features Highlight local attractions, businesses, or nature spots that uplift the community and showcase positive aspects of the area. Create “good news tours” of local treasures that bring people together and inspire positivity. Send a call-out to some of your favorite businesses—a rising tide lifts all boats. Small Wins & Milestones for the Business Celebrate overcoming challenges and adapting in tough times, showcasing resilience and optimism. Positive Customer Reviews & Feedback Feature a regular "Good Vibes" post series where you share uplifting feedback from happy customers, making them feel appreciated. Feel-Good Content (Quotes, Memes, Videos) Share inspirational quotes, funny memes, or heartwarming videos that brighten up people's day and spread positivity. After all, everyone forgets their woes when they see videos of dogs being reunited with their owners.stud By sharing the good things in your community, your business can foster a sense of togetherness, spread joy, help people temporarily forget their struggles, and build a strong, positive brand presence. Can’t we all use a little more of that?

If you’re like most businesspeople, finding ways to get names on your emailing list can be exhausting. We all want tons of fans and followers. There’s value behind a list of people who are interested in what you offer. Most businesses start their list with people they know. But if you want to turn your email list into marketing gold, you need to get strangers (who will become potential customers) interested in you. That’s no easy task. It’s the kind of activity that most of us avoid because the thought of it seems so overwhelming. The Basics of Building an Email List At the most basic level, your goal is to get people on your email list who want to stay in contact with you. From a business perspective, most people join an email list because they are hoping for discounts or special deals. Here's a list of conventional methods to grow your business email list: 1. Website pop-ups – they’re annoying but they work 2. Lead magnets (e-books, whitepapers, etc.) – give something to get something 3. Blog subscriptions 4. Newsletter sign-ups 5. Webinars or online events – to view the free webinar they need to join the list 6. Social media promotions/ads 7. Checkout process opt-ins – if you sell online, remind customers to sign up for discounts 8. Contact forms 9. Landing pages 10. Trade shows or in-person events 11. Referral programs 12. Free trials or samples – again, you give to get 13. Contests and giveaways 14. Email signature links – some people like you so much, they’ll click on the link 15. Partner cross-promotions – you see this in webinars often where an influencer will support a fellow influencer with a complementary offering 16. Freemium model for software/apps – offer a product for free (or discount) with sign-up 17. YouTube video descriptions – this is prime real estate; if they like your content, they might “pay” with contact info 18. QR codes on printed materials – this is an easy way to get people to your sign-up form 19. Table tents – if your business has tables with people waiting or sitting at them, creating a table tent with a QR code to your sign-up list will get subscribers These methods, offer tried and true ways to get more subscribers. But they’re also things that everyone else is doing. Unique Ways to Get More Email Subscribers If you want to stand out, try these things: 1. Interactive quizzes. Create fun quizzes that provide valuable insights, with results sent via email. These are popular with stylists, trainers, nutritionists, and other personal services professionals. 2. Virtual reality experiences. Offer a VR demo or tour of your products/services, requiring email registration. Developers and hoteliers use this for properties that have not yet been built. 3. Personalized infographics. Let visitors input data to generate custom infographics, delivered to their email. 4. Augmented reality business cards. Design AR-enabled cards that reveal additional content when scanned, prompting email sign-ups. 5. Gamified loyalty program. Develop a points-based system where customers earn rewards by providing their email and engaging with your brand. Online games use this approach by offering additional bonus “coins” or “powerups” for reviews and shares. 6. Time-sensitive digital coupons. Offer exclusive discounts that expire quickly, encouraging immediate email sign-ups. This is a very popular tactic on e-commerce sites. 7. Podcast bonus content. If you have a podcast, offer extra episodes or behind-the-scenes content to email subscribers. 8. Social media challenges. Run contests requiring email entry, with user-generated content shared on social platforms. 9. QR code treasure hunts. Create physical or digital scavenger hunts using QR codes, with prizes for email subscribers. 10. AI-powered product recommendations. Offer personalized suggestions based on user preferences, sent via email. Growing a business email list requires a multi-faceted approach of conventional and innovative ways. Traditional techniques like website pop-ups, lead magnets, and social media promotions remain effective, while unique strategies such as interactive quizzes, and gamified loyalty programs can get you noticed. Whether going the traditional route or doing something a little more innovative to get names on your email list, the key is to provide value to potential subscribers. Offer things like exclusive content, personalized experiences, or tangible rewards/discounts. Ultimately, the most successful email list growth strategies align with your brand's identity and the preferences of your target audience, turning them into long-term, loyal fans.

If you’re a business owner or feel responsible for a business (regardless of your actual job title), it’s not unusual to feel stuck. No, I’m not talking about the golden handcuff-kind-of-stuck where because of the cost of living, you can’t get off the work treadmill. I’m talking about feeling stuck from a mental perspective—completely uninspired. Like the business version of writer’s block, when you’re stuck, you’re not feeling creative, and your business is paying the price for it. Yes, the simple answer to when you feel this way is to take some time off—a vacation or, if you’re able, a sabbatical. But that’s simply not feasible for many of us. So, what do you do to bring back that loving feeling? To feel the excitement you used to feel about your business? To see things from a new perspective again? You must first recognize that there is a problem and then you need to shake things up. 6 Ways to Get Unstuck These creative approaches to getting past business boredom may not all work for you. They’re not designed to. This isn’t a step-by-step list. Consider how you might loosen a knob that’s stuck or a car that’s trapped in the mud or snow. You start off applying consistent pressure. When that doesn’t work, you shift to spurts of momentum and exaggerated force. And in the case of getting a car out of the muck, it’s often the rocking (the rhythmic application of force followed by a rest that creates rocking) that frees it. Your mind (and outlook on your business) likely needs a little on/off switch, which can be accomplished by doing something different. If any of the following are part of your daily practice, skip over that idea or do it in a new way. Psychologists refer to this as Divergent Thinking. 1. Practice Mindfulness and Meditation Engaging in mindfulness practices can help you improve focus, reduce stress, and enhance decision-making abilities. Regular meditation fosters a clearer mindset, allowing for better management of daily challenges and long-term strategic planning. With less stress, you may feel invigorated again. 2. Engage in Cross-Disciplinary Learning Exploring subjects outside of one's industry can spark creativity and innovation. For instance, a tech entrepreneur might benefit from studying art or philosophy, which can provide fresh perspectives and inspire new ideas applicable to their business. Cross-disciplinary learning isn’t hard, expensive, or time-consuming. Read a book, listen to an audiobook, subscribe to a newsletter in an area you know little about, join Blinkist to have access to thousands of book synopsis (like Clift Notes for adults), sit with an employee and ask them to teach you something—professional or about an interest they have. Learning something new can give you a fresh perspective. Next, try to find correlations in the learning you’re doing. How do these seemingly random lessons fit into what you normally enjoy or pursue? 3. Seek Out Mentorship and Reverse Mentorship While traditional mentorship is valuable, reverse mentorship—where younger or less experienced individuals provide insights to seasoned professionals—can offer new viewpoints on emerging trends, technologies, or even language (ever try to have a casual conversation with a Gen Zer? They use a completely different dictionary). This reciprocal learning can enrich your understanding of your market and customer base. Check with your chamber. They may have a mentorship program or might be able to match you with someone who can expand your understanding in a new area of interest. If you don’t have time to invest in a new mentor/mentee relationship, attend one of the Lunch & Learns in a subject you would never have thought of attending before. Again, look for correlations between what you’ve learned and how you might use it in your business or life. 4. Participate in Community Service or Volunteering Engaging in community service can enhance leadership skills and empathy, which are crucial for effective management. It also allows you to build networks and understand community needs. If you don’t have an interest in a cause, talk to your chamber. They’d be glad to put you to work. 5. Use a Swipe File or mymind Ever stumble across something that interests you, but you don’t have the time to pursue it? Well, that time is now. Take out whatever notes you’ve taken or swipe file you’ve kept and pursue something on your bucket list. If you don’t have a swipe file or bucket list, create one and start adding to it. I use mymind because it keeps a beautiful visual representation of books I’m interested in, website articles I want to read, movies I want to watch, etc. Prior to the app, I was using my notes function on my phone but it’s harder for me to find the snippets I wanted to save on there. (My notes are extensive so I needed a better solution.) If you’re always finding articles on the web that you don’t have time to read, try Pocket to save them for later. Pocket will also make suggestions on content to check out based on your interests. 6. Experiment with Personal Projects Undertaking personal projects unrelated to your business can foster creativity and innovation. These projects allow for risk-taking in a low-stakes environment, encouraging problem-solving and adaptability that can translate back into the business realm. They can also reduce stress, help you meet new people, and teach you the value of patience. Who knows? Maybe you’ll even uncover a new love or revenue stream!