Business Success Strategies

By Barbara Weltman – The National Retail Federation (NRF) says the holiday shopping season runs from November 1 through December 31. Last year, an NRF survey found that 42% of consumers planned to begin holiday shopping before November. Will this year be different? And what will consumers on average spend? Last year, sales were strong, surpassing the prior […]

By Karen Kerrigan – For entrepreneurs and small businesses, valuable technologies eliminate friction. Various digital tools are helping small businesses eliminate steps, and accomplish a task or project more efficiently, in less time, and at lower cost. AI-powered smart glasses are helping small business owners  eliminate operational downtime, automate content creation, and improve workplace accessibility, […]

By Karen Kerrigan – For small business owners, the value of artificial intelligence is moving beyond content generation and answering questions. AI is being integrated into the platforms and tools entrepreneurs already use, helping them make sense of their own business data, to identify opportunities, and make better decisions faster. As I noted in several […]

By Barbara Weltman – By now, you know the usual roles that AI can play in your business: customer relations, financial management, marketing, and strategic thinking. But there are many other ways that AI can be used to help you make better decisions and run your business more effectively. Here are some ideas. Risk Management […]

By Amy Riolo – “When you recover or discover something that nourishes your soul and brings joy, care enough about yourself to make room for it in your life.” —Jean Shinoda Bolen International Self Care Day is July 24th, and finding time for self-care is a consistent challenge of small business owners and entrepreneurs. With […]

In a Biz Tech Magazine interview, SBE Council President & CEO Karen Kerrigan is interviewed along with several business experts on ways that entrepreneurs and business owners can get more value from their data and how to manage it better. The article covers the current state-of-play and the challenges and opportunities for small businesses, including […]

by Rieva Lesonsky –  The University of Phoenix Career Institute® recently released a national workforce research study revealing that while workers appear to be “job hugging” in a cooling labor market, many are quietly using AI to build their skills, boost their confidence, and increase career mobility – potentially preparing for their next move and creating […]

By Barbara Weltman – The World Cup kicked off in North America – Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. – on June 11. The excitement is certainly living up to expectations. There are 11 host cities in the U.S. It’s estimated that the World Cup could mean $17 billion in additional GDP for the U.S. How much revenue will […]

by Rieva Lesonsky – Have you noticed that your Google traffic feels a little softer lately? Me too – and we’re not imagining it. Google searches per U.S. user are down nearly 20% year over year. That’s not a blip. That’s a behavioral shift – and for small business owners trying to get found, it […]

By Rieva Lesonsky –  One of the most consequential – and underreported – issues facing small businesses right now is succession planning. New Chase data reveals a striking gap between when owners expect to exit and how prepared they are to do so. ● 40% of small business owners plan to retire within the next […]