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☆ Amazon offers career opportunities, both remote and in-office. The hiring landscape of jobs is still fluid.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Erica Sweeney | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

However, Amazon still features a remote jobs page on its AmazonJobs website. AdvertisementAdvertisementHowever, Amazon still features a remote jobs page on its AmazonJobs website that says "Amazon has virtual (or "remote") positions available to qualified individuals who live in some areas." The company says that remote work can be discussed with a recruiter during the interview process. Here are some examples:An Area Manager II position based in Ohio with the option for virtual work has a pay range of $61,400 to $100,000 per year. A virtual Operations Engineer annual salary ranges from $48,600 to $93,500AdvertisementAdvertisementThe AmazonJobs website includes a page about remote work opportunities.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Amazon Locations: Ohio

☆ YouTube ads aren't just for big companies — founders share 3 tips for using them to target customers and show off products
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Erica Sweeney | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

YouTube video ads allow businesses to target specific groups without spending a fortune. This article is part of "Marketing for Small Business," a series exploring the basics of marketing strategy for SBOs to earn new customers and grow their business. Here, two small business leaders offer tips for using YouTube ads and explain how it benefits their companies. YouTube ads can also be targeted based on location, a business' search terms, and other factors, Orzechowski said. Orzechowski said he'd seen video ads created with smartphones generate just as much, if not more, engagement than highly polished ones.

Persons: SBOs, —, Chris Orzechowski, hasn't, Orzechowski, Kenneth Burke, you'll, he'd, Burke Organizations: YouTube, Small, Service, Google Locations: New Jersey, Chattanooga , Tennessee

☆ Product giveaways are a win-win for small businesses and customers — founders share 3 ways to get the most from every one
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Erica Sweeney | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Product giveaways can help small businesses get social-media followers and find new audiences. Small businesses share how they run giveaways and the benefits they see. Partner up to cross-sellTeaming up with similar brands can enhance the results of a social-media giveaway, Wen said. Wen said they planned to test video content for giveaways and hold giveaways on TikTok. Wen says product giveaways give small businesses a chance to get creative and connect with customers in an authentic way — as long as the businesses are intentional and true to their brand.

Persons: SBOs, —, Wendy Wen, Oana Borcoman, Evans Wilson, Borcoman, It's, Wen Organizations: Small, Service, Advertising Specialty Institute, Bocce's

☆ How small-business owners can raise prices while keeping customer satisfaction high, according to founders who've done it
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Erica Sweeney | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Raising prices is an inevitable part of owning a small business. This article is part of "Small Business Playbook," a series exploring leadership challenges and the solutions that can drive growth. "Our vendors were raising prices as well, so we had to go along with it." Raising prices is an inevitable part of owning a small business, Danielle Langton, a business consultant who works mostly with women-owned businesses, told Insider. Tucker said she explained to her customers that raising prices meant the company could maintain its high quality of service.

Persons: —, Hyacinth Tucker, Tucker, Danielle Langton, Langton, Ashley Steele, Steele, Sarah Oden, Laura Morsman, It's, it's Organizations: Service Locations: Washington , DC

☆ 3 reasons short-form video is one of the best — and cheapest — marketing tools small businesses can use
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Erica Sweeney | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Short-form videos can be produced easily and inexpensively and offer high levels of engagement. This is just one example of how the New Orleans education and management firm uses short-form videos. Short-form videos are typically between five and 90 seconds and are often used as Instagram reels and stories, TikTok videos, and YouTube shorts. A Sprout Social survey found that three in five consumers consider short-form videos the most engaging type of social content. Short-form videos are easy to produce with a smartphone, making them an inexpensive way for small businesses to reach social-media audiences.

Persons: SBOs, —, Krystal Allen, Allen, Vanessa Rissetto, it's, Vanessa, Rissetto, you've, that's Organizations: Small, Service, Allen Consulting Locations: New Orleans

☆ 4 tips for small businesses to get more customer reviews — and what to do with the feedback
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Erica Sweeney | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Reviews are a low-cost way to market your business and get live feedback from customers. Here, two small-business owners offer advice for collecting customer reviews and using them to scale their businesses. In a BrightLocal survey of shoppers, 88% of respondents said they were likely to use a business that responded to all customer reviews. When you ask for reviews and respond to them, you let your customers know that you value their feedback, Elston said. "Customer reviews are your live focus group where you get really valuable feedback that you can use to enhance the customer experience, enhance your product, and enhance your business overall," she said.

Persons: SBOs, —, Caroline Elston, Elston, Platterful, Ann, Noder, they'd, she's Organizations: Small, Service, Indiana, Consumers, Public, Phoenix, Google, Federal Trade Commission

☆ Onboarding is crucial for small-business employee retention and satisfaction — here are 3 ways to support hires from day one
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Erica Sweeney | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Two founders share how to set up an onboarding process for success and retention. The human-resources firm Red Clover's onboarding process lasts 90 days. A poor onboarding process can leave employees feeling undertrained and undervalued, and some may quit as a result. Here are three ways to ensure your onboarding process is set up for employee success and retention. Since making onboarding more employee-centric, the company's retention rate has increased 70%, and everyone it's hired has shown up for their second day, Webster said.

Persons: —, Jen L'Estrange, L'Estrange, onboarding, Amanda Webster, Webster, that's, it's, Red Clover, they're, Clover Organizations: Service, Fund, —, they'll Locations: New Jersey, Florida

☆ 3 reasons social listening can be the best way to connect small businesses with customers and inspire products
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Erica Sweeney | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Social listening refers to monitoring your social media for customer feedback and industry trends. Social listening isn't easy, but small-business founders say it's worth your time. Here, two small-business owners explain how social listening benefits their companies. Sharma and Arias handle most of the social listening for their companies, with help from their small teams and the tools available within social platforms. "It's very manual," Arias said, adding that her customer-care consultant helped with day-to-day social listening and responding to comments and DMs.

Persons: SBOs, —, Ash Sharma, Sharma, Noa Arias, Bloomers, Shaula Alexander Yemini, David Wagner, Arias, Naomi Phan Organizations: Small, Service, New York, Cincha Locations: Oakland , California, New York City

☆ 'The greatest advertising you can get': Small-business founders explain how to build and grow your company with referrals
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Erica Sweeney | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

This article is part of "Marketing for Small Business," a series exploring the basics of marketing strategy for SBOs to earn new customers and grow their business. "It was just friends, and friends of friends, referring each other." Here's how two small-business owners seek out referrals and have used them to generate leads and build their businesses. Connect with your ideal clientsReferrals can reduce the time you spend pitching your company to prospective clients, Wilkerson said. "It really boils down to building long-term business relationships," Nova said, adding that those connections had been the "lifeblood" of his company.

Persons: SBOs, —, Michael Nova, Nova, Kirby Wilkerson's, Wilkerson, it's, you've Organizations: Small, Service, Nova Custom Printing, BMW, American Express, Nielsen Locations: New York City, Michigan

☆ Family-owned small businesses blend family and the workplace 24/7 — here are 3 tips for navigating brewing conflict
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Erica Sweeney | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Working with your family to build and manage a small business comes with challenges. This article is part of "Small Business Playbook," a series exploring leadership challenges and the solutions that can drive growth. About 29% of employer firms are family-owned, according to the US Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy. Set boundaries between family and work lifeFamily-owned small businesses are a "lifestyle," Engle said. Keep a small business thriving for as many generations as Engle's requires looking at the big picture, Pendergast said.

Persons: —, Matilda Reuter Engle, Engle, It's, Jennifer Pendergast, Pendergast, it's Organizations: Service, Fox Inn, Middleburg Hospitality, Red Fox, US, Business, SBA, Chamber of Commerce, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, SCORE, Small Business Administration Locations: Middleburg , Virginia, Middleburg

☆ Cofounders of a grassroots tequila company share how storytelling earned them loyal and engaged customers
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Erica Sweeney | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

This article is part of "Marketing for Small Business," a series exploring the basics of marketing strategy for SBOs to earn new customers and grow their business. Storytelling is ingrained in Nosotros Tequila & Mezcal. Michael Arbanas, a cofounder of Nosotros Tequila & Mezcal. Today, Nosotros products are available in 42 states. Helping consumers understand the motivation behind the company creates an emotional connection, builds loyalty, and distinguishes a small business, Johnson said.

Persons: SBOs, —, Carlos Soto, Michael Arbanas, " Soto, who's, Nosotros, Arbanas, Soto, Matt Johnson, Prince Ghuman Forrester, What's, Johnson Organizations: Small, Service, Los Locations: Costa Rica, Los Angeles, Mexico

☆ 3 cold-email strategies from small-business founders who used them to show off their work, land clients, and grow company profits
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Erica Sweeney | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

These cold emails have helped her land some of her best clients. For small businesses with limited marketing budgets, cold emailing can be an inexpensive way to build relationships with prospective clients. He recently landed a manufacturing company as a client after a cold email reached the company's CEO. "There's a little bit of tongue in cheek when we talk to someone because they're like, 'Does cold email work?' Show your value to build relationshipsTo make a connection via a cold email, Davis said the message needed to be personalized and offer value.

Persons: SBOs, —, Erin Derby, that's, Marshal Davis, Davis Davis, Davis, Derby, Instagram, it's, she's Organizations: Small, Service, Derby, Ascendly Locations: New York City, The Woodlands , Texas, Derby

☆ SMS marketing may cost more to set up than email, but 2 small-business founders say it's worth it
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Erica Sweeney | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Data indicates that people check their phones every 10 to 12 minutes and spend most of that time reading and responding to text messages. Since 2014, SMS marketing has helped GreenPal stay in direct contact with its 300,000 customers nationwide, increasing sales and engagement, Clayton said. Here's why SMS marketing can be a successful way to reach your customers. Understanding these rules is the biggest hurdle small businesses face in getting started in SMS marketing, she added. Often, businesses need to hire a company to build a custom program or use application-programming-interface services that offer SMS marketing, such as Mailchimp or Twilio.

Persons: SBOs, —, Bryan Clayton, GreenPal, Clayton, they've, Barbara Casey, Casey Organizations: Small, Service, Mobile, Consumer, SMS Locations: Nashville , Tennessee, SimpleTexting

☆ 3 ChatGPT tips that have helped small-business owners nail their marketing copy — and still keep the 'human touch'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Erica Sweeney | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Over one-third of small-business owners in a survey said they'd tried ChatGPT for marketing content. The founder and CEO of Slade Copy House, a copywriting agency, believed the artificial-intelligence tool couldn't replace a human copywriter. In an Alignable survey of US small-business owners released in July, more than half of respondents said they had tried ChatGPT, and one-third said they had used it to create marketing content. Using ChatGPT successfully takes practice, and it doesn't work for every marketing task. ChatGPT can save small businesses time and marketing dollars, but it's not a magic bullet.

Persons: they'd, SBOs, —, Haley Slade, ChatGPT, Slade, Chris Winfield, Chris Eckert, Winfield, It'll, We'll, it's Organizations: Small, Service, Slade, Publicly, Super Connector Media Locations: ChatGPT

☆ 3 smart strategies a small-business owner uses to manage 20 employees in 7 time zones
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Erica Sweeney | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Today, Aimtal has 20 employees across seven time zones. To make it work, Mesh said the company set clear expectations and had established processes for communication and collaboration. Insider spoke with a small-business owner and a remote-work expert about how small businesses could manage teams across multiple zones. Aimtal requires its employees to be available from 11 a.m. to noon and 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Watson said small-business leaders should build connections and immerse employees in the company's culture to keep them happy and productive.

Persons: Slack, Aimtal, Janet Mesh, Cynthia Watson, you've, Watson, Jessie Wyman Organizations: Service Locations: Wall, Silicon, Boston, Virtira

☆ 3 ways small-business owners can tackle their personal setbacks and still rocket through growth targets
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Erica Sweeney | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Starting a small business requires time, finances, support, and balancing personal responsibilities. This article is part of "Small Business Playbook," a series exploring the leadership challenges and solutions that can drive growth. "We had to figure out how to gradually reopen without a playbook of how to do that," Parrish told Insider. To make it work, Parrish and Butler said business owners must set priorities and make sacrifices. "Too often, you feel like, I started this small business, and I need to be there every single day," she said.

Persons: Neillie Butler, Mariée Ami, —, Butler, she's, It's, Tiffany Mielnik Parrish, Parrish, I've, couldn't, isn't Organizations: Service, Club Locations: Wall, Silicon, Birmingham , Alabama, Charlotte , North Carolina

☆ Is It Time to Toss My Skin Care Products?
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Erica Sweeney | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Q: I have a drawer full of skin care products of dubious age. Unless the product is classified as a drug, as acne treatments and sunscreen products are, you probably won’t find an expiration date on it, said Dr. Bruce Brod, a dermatologist at Penn Medicine. But that labeling is not required on skin care products or cosmetics either, Dr. Brod said. If skin care products are so old that you have forgotten when you bought them, you should avoid using them, Dr. Brod said. “It’s always better to be safe than sorry,” he added, since applying products that are past their prime can come with risks.

Persons: Bruce Brod, it’s, Brod, “ It’s Organizations: Penn Medicine

☆ I never thought I'd leave San Francisco, but the city feels broken. I'm glad I moved out and have no regrets.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Erica Sweeney | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

In this as-told-to essay, Lisa Grotts describes leaving San Francisco after years of loving it. I moved to San Francisco in 1984. San Francisco has changed a lotLisa Mirza Grotts said she never expected to move out of San Francisco. Now that I'm not a San Francisco taxpayer, I don't have to complain about what goes on. Did you leave San Francisco recently?

Persons: Lisa Grotts, —, Lisa Mirza Grotts, It's, I'd, Willie Brown, I've, Grotts, Lauryn Haas Organizations: San, Service, Nordstrom, Safeway, lhaas Locations: San Francisco, Healdsburg , California, Williams, Sonoma, Healdsburg

☆ 5 marketing experts on how to pull off a heritage-month campaign that's authentic and builds trust with the community
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( Erica Sweeney | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

"I want all businesses to make people of all stripes feel warm and welcome," he told Insider. "There are times when something can be well-intentioned but could be wildly off," he told Insider. Michelle Thames, founder of Thames Media Solutions. Courtesy of Michelle ThamesAuthentic marketing resonates with people and is more likely to boost brand awareness, said Michelle Thames, founder of Thames Media Solutions in Chicago. "It's definitely important to have a connection instead of just posting a meme and slapping up a picture, which doesn't really resonate," she told Insider.

☆ A small, specialty water brand created a customer loyalty program to thank consumers, and it led to a 90% repurchase rate
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Erica Sweeney | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Customer loyalty programs incentivize customers to engage with and support their favorite brands. They found that making personal connections through loyalty programs garnered more repeat customers and better feedback. We learn all kinds of things from our customer loyalty program." We've found from our loyalty program that when it comes to attracting and retaining good customers, the only thing that may be second to a strong loyalty program is excellent service." Loyalty program members also tend to spend more with companies and refer them to friends and family, according to a Forrester report.

☆ How small businesses are using marketing techniques to demonstrate their values through social causes
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Erica Sweeney | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Cause marketing can help businesses support social causes that align with their values and connect with customers. These experts say cause marketing should be equally balanced with the needs of the business. Cause marketing can include sponsoring events, fundraising, or raising awareness for a social or charitable cause. How cause marketing can benefit small businessesCause marketing can increase brand awareness for businesses and exposure for nonprofits, Conway said. When businesses support causes, it can also improve employee morale and help with hiring and retention, Conway said.

☆ 4 reasons small businesses shouldn't skip out on advertising in local media
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( Erica Sweeney | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Small businesses that invest in local advertising can connect and engage with their communities. Local advertising is a way small businesses can support and partner with other businesses. Companies can help other small businessesAppearing in local media outlets that have been around for generations and are known and trusted in the community can elevate local businesses, Walker-Smith said. He also said that many local media outlets are also small businesses themselves, so advertising is a way of supporting the business community. Even if small businesses think local advertising is too expensive, Walker-Smith urged company owners to contact local media organizations about what options are available.

☆ Newsletters are helping these companies save money and bring a personal touch into their marketing strategies
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Erica Sweeney | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Small-business owners say email marketing is one of the most cost-effective ways to reach an audience. These growing companies share how they saved money and were able to make more personal connections through email marketing. According to eMarketer, 67% of marketing professionals are investing in email marketing, and 48% of millennial consumers prefer to receive deals from brands via email. It gives businesses a direct pipeline to their audienceCollecting customer information is one of the most valuable aspects of email marketing, McNair said. "If you're not doing email marketing, you're leaving really important money on the table."

☆ 4 small business owners say a low-cost advertising strategy called 'comarketing' has helped them save time and money, and build more authentic campaigns
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( Erica Sweeney | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

This might include cobranded content marketing campaigns, collaborative social media posts, event or content sponsorships, or affiliate marketing. Comarketing offers many benefits to small businessesComarketing can help small businesses save money, stretch their marketing budgets, build a stronger brand identity, and grow customer awareness. Connect with like-minded small businessesAlignment is crucial when choosing other small businesses to partner with, Smith said. When working with other businesses on social media marketing, Boone said everyone agrees on a timeframe. She and Merrell do this by sharing similar topics across their brands' social media channels, but slightly tweaking the messaging to appeal to each audience.

☆ Small-business owners already have the most effective tool to increase brand awareness and drive sales at the their fingertips: their employees
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( Erica Sweeney | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Employee advocacy has been shown to boost trust between brands and their customers more than ads. What consumers think about employees' social media postsRecent studies have shown that employee advocacy programs can increase brand awareness and positive perceptions about a company, drive sales, and improve employee recruitment and retention. In 2022, the company's social media reach hit 81 million with an earned media value of $2.5 million, Whalen said. Data shows that employee advocacy programs can also help boost sales. According to LinkedIn, companies that encourage sales teams to share content on social media generate more leads and are more likely to exceed their sales quotas.

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