There’s an old saying: “Plan for the worst, but expect the best.” As a kid, I remember hearing my dad say it. Though I didn’t fully understand what he meant, it stuck with me. Today, I use this saying as part of my personal and professional modus operandi. When the crap hits the fan, it […]
In March 2020, I issued a warning to my readers. (And, no, I sadly could not see the future plummeting toward us.) I warned that political advertising spending would drive up the cost of digital marketing. Experts projected $6.7 billion would be spent on political advertising during the 2019–2020 election cycle. I warned business owners […]
Many years ago, I saw a musical titled “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.” Ralph Macchio was the lead performer, and the musical tells the story of how Macchio’s character goes from the mailroom to the boardroom by not really accomplishing anything in his career other than kissing up to the right people. […]
At Newsletter Pro, we know the impact of giving back, especially when it comes to children in need. That’s why every year, we collect donations for foster kids in our Idaho communities with our annual Fostering Christmas event. This is just one of the many reasons we appreciate Yoobi. Yoobi was founded in June 2014 […]
We’ve all been there: A longtime client goes dark, then they ghost you entirely, and you aren’t really sure why. You had a relationship with them, so what gives? They go dark because they don’t want to break the bad news to you. They don’t want to tell you that they no longer need your […]
Back in 2009, Tim Cook stepped up to fill in for Steve Jobs at Apple during what everyone assumed would be a single medical leave of absence. The temporary stint turned into a permanent position starting in 2011, and now, almost 10 years later, Cook is thriving as the tech company’s CEO while carving out […]
Have you ever interacted with a business and known it is different? Take Vistaprint, for example. If you’ve shopped there before, you know it’s a step above. It’s beautifully simple to customize products, and the company offers free return shipping if you’re not happy with your item. Costco is another good example. Its employees are […]
We’ve probably all been through the job-hiring process. Securing a job can come with all sorts of obstacles for even the most qualified applicants. But for job seekers who have disabilities, were incarcerated, or are otherwise marginalized, these can be insurmountable obstacles. Many of the people who fit one of those descriptions want to work. […]
Does your company have a mission? If you’re passionate about a cause, finding a way to link that zeal to your profits could be your secret to success. Even if you don’t have a charity in mind to champion from day one, don’t dismiss this strategy. You could end up finding it along the way. […]
If you’re like most other small businesses, your most valuable asset is your customer list. It tells you who your customers are, who hasn’t bought yet, how much they spend when they do buy, how often they buy, and much more. It really is the lifeline of your business. Many people have asked me what […]
Anyone who’s heard my backstory knows I’ve always had a passion for entrepreneurship. I started selling pagers in high school and later ran a dry-cleaning business that led me to newsletters. I thrived being my own boss, running my own company, and managing my career — until I didn’t. Passion Is Key Early in my […]
Last year, I got into a discussion at my Scale-Up Business Bootcamp about lifestyle businesses versus growth-focused businesses. Of course, there are some who set out specifically to have a lifestyle business. But in my experience, some entrepreneurs suddenly shift from “Let’s grow a company” to “I want a lifestyle business.” When this happens, they […]
A few years ago, pre-pandemic (time has gotten weird!), I attended 24 or more conferences per year. That was way too much. But it gave me a good sense of current marketing trends. For the past year or so, there’s been talk about a hot new tool that is disrupting online marketing. Want to take […]
Once upon a time, the political views of business owners and private companies were just that — private. But according to Vox, the decadeslong trend of remaining politically neutral has seen a major reversal since 2016. Some companies, like the environmentalist outdoor gear brand Patagonia, have always aired their views. But in the last four […]
Have you taken a vacation from your business recently and trusted your processes to keep things afloat? Some of you may be asking yourself, “A vacation? During COVID-19?” Aside from travel being impractical during the pandemic, you may be anxious about leaving your business during a crisis. Right now, you might feel like you’re in […]
