Increasing sales has always been tricky, but it’s becoming even more so for small businesses. With so much to balance, what is the most important step to take first?

Thankfully, Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) leaders and other sales experts have stepped up with their most powerful sales tactics. Dive into their recommendations below to discover impactful ways to increase sales.

“How do you increase sales for a new small business?”

1. Create an Irresistible Offer“

I speak from personal experience when I say that it’s important to have an offer that sets you apart. It makes people think, ‘Huh, that makes a lot of sense, and I’d be pretty dull not to at least give it a try.’

“Unfortunately, people are a lot more skeptical these days—especially if you’re working online. Everything can be faked, altered, or changed. People are less than authentic, and there’s a valid reason not to trust new brands.

“The fastest way to get over that hurdle is to make it impossible to say no.

​“Let me give you an example.

“I just opened a brand-new consulting practice. I specialize in turning around struggling businesses, but I have no track record on my own.

“To get businesses to work with me, I offer to work based on performance. I’ll put in all the work and energy to turn them around. Together, we’ll set specific metrics, milestones, and goals. If I hit those milestones, I get paid. If I don’t hit them, I don’t get paid.

​“In that kind of situation, almost all the risk is on me, and I show that I’m 100% confident in my skills. A struggling business that is about to go under has nothing to lose. They get an expert for free, and I get to prove myself and will probably have a solid case study afterward.

“If I were running social ads, I would offer to make a creative and ad campaign to beat their control free of charge. They’d just need to treat it like another test within their ad account. If I beat the control, I get their business. If I don’t beat the control, they won’t be any worse for wear because they’re likely already testing multiple new ads every month.

“The best way to increase sales for a new business is to create a powerful offer that people would be stupid to refuse.” ~Daniel Ndukwu, DoxFlowy

​2. Leverage a Referral Program

“Having a referral program is one of the most effective ways to increase sales for a new business. People often rely on the reviews and recommendations of others prior to making a buying decision. They reach out to others to try to learn from their experiences in order to make a safe purchase.

“Having a referral program allows you to transform your current customers into your brand ambassadors. They promote your solutions on your behalf and recommend them to others to claim the benefits or special perks offered by you. This is a proven strategy that has a significant impact not only on customer acquisition but also on retention.” ~Jared Atchison, WPForms

3. Introduce Attractive Lead Magnets

“If you’re getting a lot of visitors but not a lot of sales, adding lead magnets to your site can help! Lead magnets are exclusive content or discounts that people can get if they join your email list. The key to driving sales is to focus on promotions for first-time customers. For example, you can offer visitors 20% off their first order if they sign up for their unique code. You’ll want to create pop-ups or banners that promote your lead magnet on specific parts of your site, like product landing pages.” ~Josh Kohlbach, Wholesale Suite

​4. Strategize Targeted Advertising

“Run advertising where your customers are, and create better offers than your competitors. Advertising can be affordable when you use long-tail keywords and target specific locations. Consider this use case: You are a seller whose production costs are lower depending on the customer’s location. You run a location-based ad where the production costs are lower. Not only will you increase sales, but you will also derive learnings from the invaluable advertisements. If sales come from online sources, ads can yield deeper insights than prior market research.

“You will need to run a strategy of awareness campaigns in combination with retargeting, and can tighten the location and keywords. This advertising strategy can also re-engage those who visited your website or expressed interest in your goods or services with retargeting.” ~Matthew Capala, Alphametic

5. Offer Free Shipping

“One of the effective strategies to increase sales for a new small business, especially one that has a digital presence, is to offer free shipping to your customers. Most people do not complete their purchases due to the extra shipping amount added to the cart at the time of checkout. This is a huge turn-off for them, causing them to abandon carts and leave without completing the transaction. Offering free shipping when getting started prevents you from losing these customers, which in turn helps you achieve more sales.” ~Stephanie Wells, Formidable Forms

​6. Utilize Video Content

“In my experience, the hardest part of generating revenue in the early days was finding customers. Adding videos to your website and social sites like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok will help you improve brand awareness, which translates to sales. I suggest creating long-form videos and breaking them up into smaller shorts so people can discover you through the shorts and then subscribe and check out the rest of your content. In this pool of subscribers, there will be people who are genuinely interested in your products or services. ~ Daman Jeet Singh, FunnelKit

7. Host Engaging Giveaways

“We’ve found that giveaways are an excellent way to boost brand awareness and drive engagement. There are a lot of prizes to choose from, too. I suggest offering something from your website, such as a physical product or subscription, as the grand prize. Alternatively, you can use a more general prize like a pair of nice headphones or an Amazon gift card.

“You can generate sales after the contest ends and the winner is announced by sending a special discount code to everyone who participated. With this discount in hand, many will be tempted to make a purchase, which is bound to turn some of the people who entered into customers.” ~John Turner, SeedProd

​8. Introduce a Loyalty Program

“One effective way to increase sales for a new small business is by introducing a loyalty program. This means giving rewards to customers who make repeat purchases through your website. There are a few ways you can go about this.

“A common strategy is to offer customers points for every dollar they spend. Your customers can then redeem these points and save on future purchases. You can also reward customers’ loyalty by giving them discounts for committing to auto-renewal orders or long-term subscriptions. People are far more likely to keep using your site if they’re getting a great product and are rewarded for their loyalty.” ~ Benjamin Rojas, Co-Founder, All in One SEO

9. Employ Diverse Marketing Strategies

“Increasing sales for a new small business involves a blend of strategic marketing, customer engagement, and building a strong brand presence. At Velvet Caviar, leveraging social media was essential. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok allowed us to showcase our products and connect with our target audience, turning engagement into sales. Offering promotions and discounts, especially for first-time buyers, provided an immediate sales boost and helped build a loyal customer base.

​“We also focused on delivering an excellent customer experience, ensuring a user-friendly website, seamless checkout, and responsive customer service. This approach encouraged repeat business and word-of-mouth referrals. Email marketing helped us maintain customer engagement by sharing updates and promoting special offers, driving repeat sales.

“Collaborating with influencers expanded our reach, while positive customer reviews built trust and influenced new buyers. By combining these strategies, we steadily grew our sales, even in the early stages. Consistency, customer engagement, and adaptability were key to our success.” ~ Michelle Aran, Velvet Caviar

10. Engage the Local Community

“As a successful florist with over 10 years in business, I have learned a thing or two about what actually can make a difference for a new small-business owner. Getting right into the community at the beginning is one of the things that really works. Get yourself out there with local events, partner with other local businesses, and maybe even teach a few flower-arranging classes. It’s all about visibility and those personal links within the community.
​
“Another potent strategy is incentivizing referrals. If your customers are elated with your service, they generally get excited about sharing their experience with friends and family. Offering a small discount or some special deal for every referral can give them that little push. Don’t also be blind to the power of small touches—things like handwritten thank-you notes or custom arrangements that make your customer feel special, which can give rise to lifelong fans.

“Finally, use social media to engage with the masses. Beautiful arrangement pictures, behind-the-scenes looks, and engaging with your followers will have them coming back for more. Engage your audience with fun polls or contests, or even by just commenting back. All of these personable and engaging strategies will keep people coming back and raise awareness and sales for your new business.” ~ Sophie Marasco, Thanks A Bunch Florist



​Source: https://smallbiztrends.com/
Image Credit: ​Pexels.com | Photo by Mikhail Nilov

In order to build a successful business, you need more than just a great idea. You also need good credit. Understanding how to build business credit is vital as it can be used to secure loans, lines of credit, and other financial assistance to help your business grow.

​In this article, we will explore strategies to improve business credit, drawing on insights from business credit bureaus. If this seems like the key to advancing your business, you’re absolutely correct. Let’s get started!

How to Build Business Credit

How do you build business credit? It’s a question that many small business owners ask, and for good reason. There are a number of things you can do like watching your credit utilization, but here are 14 of the most effective strategies:

Establish Your Business Entity

Establishing your business entity is a critical step in legitimizing your business. It involves choosing between several structures, such as Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, Limited Liability Company (LLC), or Corporation.

This choice affects your liability, tax responsibilities, and capacity to obtain funding. For example, an LLC provides personal liability protection and tax flexibility, whereas a Corporation is suitable for businesses intending to issue stock.

​Registering your entity with the appropriate state authorities and obtaining an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS solidifies your business’s legal standing.

Register Your Organization

Registering your business with a business credit bureau, such as Dun & Bradstreet to obtain a D-U-N-S number, is crucial for establishing a business credit profile.

This registration allows lenders and vendors to assess your business’s creditworthiness based on your business transactions and payment history. It’s a foundational step in building a reputable business credit report.

Set up a Business Bank Account

A business bank account segregates your personal finances from your business transactions, enhancing your company’s professionalism and credibility.

It simplifies accounting processes and supports your case when applying for business credit or loans by showcasing your business’s cash flow and financial health to potential lenders.

​​Apply for a Free DUNS Number

The D-U-N-S number, issued by Dun & Bradstreet, is a nine-digit identifier for businesses. Obtaining this number is free and crucial for building your business credit. It is recognized worldwide and utilized by creditors to assess a business’s reliability and financial stability, which affects your chances of obtaining financing and contracts.

Report to Business Credit Reporting Agencies

Actively reporting your business transactions and financial status to credit bureaus can help you establish and enhance your business credit score. Making sure that your vendors and creditors report your payment history to agencies such as Experian, Equifax, and Dun & Bradstreet can greatly influence your creditworthiness with potential lenders.

Establish Trade Lines with Vendors and Suppliers

Trade lines are credit accounts with vendors or suppliers. Establishing multiple trade lines and ensuring they report your payment history to credit bureaus is an effective way to build your business credit. On-time or early payments on these accounts can positively affect your business credit score.

​Get a Business Credit Card

Securing a business credit card and consistently making timely payments is a straightforward way to build credit. It also helps in keeping personal and business expenses separate, simplifying tax preparation and financial management.

​Apply for a Line of Credit

A business line of credit not only provides flexible access to funds but also contributes to your credit history when managed properly. Regular use and repayment of a credit line can positively influence your business credit score.

Make Timely or Early Payments

Your payment history is a significant factor in your business credit score. By ensuring that all bills, loans, and credit card payments are made on time or early, you demonstrate financial responsibility and reliability to creditors.

Connect with Other Businesses in Your Industry

Networking with other businesses can create opportunities for trade credit, partnerships, and the sharing of financial advice. These relationships can enhance your business’s growth and may also improve your access to credit.

​Join an Entrepreneur Group or Networking Organization

Membership in business associations or networking groups can offer valuable resources, mentorship, and increased visibility. These organizations frequently host workshops on financial management and provide opportunities to connect with lenders who specialize in extending credit to small businesses.

Request Trade References from Suppliers and Customers

Trade references can bolster your credit application by providing lenders with evidence of your business’s reliability and prompt payment history. These references act as testimonials to your business’s financial responsibility.

Borrow Responsibly

When using credit, it’s essential to borrow within your limits. Overleveraging can negatively impact your credit score and overall financial well-being. Demonstrating responsible borrowing and repayment habits will positively influence your business credit report.

​Monitor Your Credit Scores

Regularly checking your business credit report for inaccuracies and tracking your credit score’s progress can help you understand how financial actions influence your credit. Immediate correction of any errors ensures your credit report accurately reflects your business’s financial stability.

Why it’s Important to Establish Business Credit

Establishing a robust business credit profile is a critical step in fostering a healthy and sustainable business. It not only opens the door to financial opportunities but also establishes trust and credibility in the market. Here’s why dedicating time and effort to build business credit is essential:

• Access to Better Loan Terms: A good business credit score can help you secure loans with more favorable terms, including lower interest rates and higher credit limits.
• Separation of Personal and Business Finances: Building business credit helps to separate your personal finances from your business, protecting your personal assets and improving the creditworthiness of your business.
• Leverage in Negotiations: Having established business credit can give you a better standing when negotiating terms with suppliers and vendors, potentially leading to better payment terms and lower costs.
• Preparation for Future Opportunities: As your business grows, opportunities for expansion will arise. Having established business credit ensures you are prepared to seize these opportunities without unnecessary delays.
• Attractive to Potential Investors: A strong business credit profile can make your business more attractive to potential investors or buyers, as it is a testament to the financial health and stability of your business.
• Improved Chances for SBA Loans: Building business credit increases your likelihood of obtaining a Small Business Administration (SBA) loan, an essential resource for growing your business.
• Increased Business Value: Over time, having established business credit can increase the overall value of your business, as financial institutions, and potential partners or acquirers view it as a lower risk investment.

​When you are starting your business journey, it’s essential to establish credit with business credit bureaus. This step not only helps you gain access to lines of credit and loans necessary for funding your business expenses, but it also improves your chances of qualifying for Small Business Administration loans.

While building business credit is not a complex process, the process does require time, strategic planning, and consistent efforts.

Initiating this process early on, coupled with maintaining a positive payment history and making informed financial decisions, can set a strong foundation for a prosperous business future.

Remember, building credit is a gradual process that’s instrumental in paving the way toward making your enterprise thrive.
​
​5 Benefits of Building Business Credit

We’ve already established that business credit is important for getting loans and other forms of financial assistance. But what are some other benefits of building business credit? Here are five benefits that building business credit brings:

1. Builds credibility. Good business credit demonstrates to vendors, suppliers, and other business contacts that you’re a reliable, reputable company.
2. Gives you a financial safety net. If you have business credit, you can tap into it in times of need. This can help you weather a financial crisis or take advantage of opportunities when
3. Track your expenses. Personal and business finances can get mixed up quickly, making it difficult to track business expenses. However, if you have business credit, you can more easily keep track of your business expenses, which can be helpful come tax time.
4. Get better terms from suppliers. Good business credit scores can give you access to better terms with suppliers, such as extended payment terms.
5. Helps you get loans. This is the most obvious benefit of business credit, but it’s worth mentioning again. If you have good business credit, you’re more likely to get approved for loans and other forms of financing.

​Step-by-Step Guide to Building Business Credit: A Checklist

As previously stated, establishing business credit is crucial for obtaining future funding and nurturing a successful enterprise. Utilize this detailed checklist to methodically create a strong business credit profile.

Feel free to print or save this table as a guide to systematically build and maintain a strong business credit profile.
​
Here’s a word from Karlton Dennis on “How To Get Business Credit for Your LLC in 2023” you’ll want to check out after reading:

​FAQs: How to Build Business Credit

How long does it take to build business credit?

When learning how to build credit for business, it’s important to remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day. It takes time to build business credit, usually about 6-12 months. But, the effort is worth it.

Can a personal credit card help with building business credit?

No. You need to use a business credit card to establish business credit. However, your personal credit score may go down since a hard inquiry will be run when you apply for your credit card.

Can you establish company credit if you don’t have any debt?

Yes, it is possible to establish business credit without incurring any debt. One way to do this is to get a business credit card with a $0 balance. Another way to do this is to join a business credit monitoring service.



​Source: https://smallbiztrends.com/
Image Credit: ​Envato Elements

The world of content writing has evolved beyond just slapping words on a page and waiting for the Google gods to bless you with traffic. With Search Generative Experience (SGE) and other AI tools, the content landscape in 2024 has reached a new frontier where creativity must be combined with strategy, SEO has grown smarter and audiences are more discerning than ever.

So, let's cut to the chase — if you're not adapting your content strategy, you're falling behind.

Here are the critical content writing trends you need to pay attention to if you want to dominate the market in 2024 and beyond.

​1. AI-assisted writing: It's here to stay — but you still need humans

I get it — AI is the shiny new toy in the content creation space. Everyone is obsessed with tools like ChatGPT, Jasper and others for generating blog posts, social media captions and even email newsletters. And while AI can help streamline workflows, let's not kid ourselves — AI-generated content lacks the nuance and human touch that readers crave.

​Brands leveraging AI without human oversight risk sounding robotic, detached, and boring. The key for 2024? AI should assist your writers, not replace them. Use AI for data-driven insights, topic ideation or first drafts, but always have a skilled human writer refining, adding personality and ensuring the piece resonates emotionally with your audience.

In short, AI is a tool, not a savior. Use it wisely.

2. Hyper-personalization is no longer optional

In 2024 and beyond, "one-size-fits-all" content is dead. Audiences want content tailored to their specific needs, interests and even personal browsing habits. In fact, according to a report by McKinsey, 71% of consumers now expect companies to deliver personalized interactions. And guess what? They get frustrated when that doesn't happen.

That means your content strategy has to include personalization at scale. This could be personalized email newsletters, targeted blog posts for segmented audiences or even AI-driven personalized content recommendations on your website.

​Personalization doesn't just mean using someone's first name in a marketing email. It means delivering content that meets people where they are in their customer journey — whether they're just learning about your product or are ready to buy.

If you're not investing in understanding your audience segments in 2024, don't be surprised when your competitors steal them away with content that speaks directly to their needs.

3. SEO is smarter, so you need to be, too

SEO isn't the straightforward keyword-stuffing game it used to be. Google's algorithms, including its integration with AI through the Search Generative Experience, now focus more on context, user intent and topical authority than just keywords.

This means writers can no longer rely on writing 1,000-word articles stuffed with keywords and expect to rank well. The future of SEO content writing is about quality over quantity. Writers need to focus on creating comprehensive, authoritative content that answers questions in depth and provides real value. Think topic clusters, internal linking strategies and long-form content that answers search queries from multiple angles.

​Remember, your goal isn't just to get the click; it's to keep the reader engaged, build trust and position your brand as an expert in your industry.

4. Video and interactive content are king

Writing is no longer limited to just blog posts and articles. Interactive content and video are becoming integral parts of content strategy, and if you're not integrating these mediums, you're missing out on massive opportunities.

The shift towards video isn't slowing down either. According to a report from Wyzowl, 91% of businesses use video as a marketing tool, and that number is expected to grow even further in 2024. Whether it's video tutorials, webinars or product demos, these formats engage audiences in a way static content often can't.

​But don't just stop at video. Interactive content — think quizzes, surveys, calculators and interactive infographics — can exponentially increase engagement and drive traffic. According to Demand Metric research, interactive content generates twice as many conversions than passive content.

Writers in 2024 need to think beyond words and start thinking in terms of engagement. How can your writing enhance and support interactive formats? How can you craft compelling video scripts, quiz questions or even chatbot dialogues?

5. Authority and trustworthiness matter more than ever

Trust is becoming a critical currency in the age of misinformation and AI-generated content. Google's E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) guidelines are tightening, and the search engine is prioritizing content from verified, trustworthy sources. This means that authority-driven content — whether it's interviews with experts, in-depth research pieces or case studies — will stand out more than ever.

Your content needs to prove that it's backed by legitimate expertise. Including author bios, citations from credible sources and links to industry research will make a massive difference in your rankings and reader trust. Consumers are savvier today, and they can spot content that's fluff or baseless. So, it's critical to establish your brand as an authoritative voice in your niche.

​6. Long-form content is making a comeback

Long-form content has made a strong comeback. Google still rewards long-form, comprehensive guides and articles that provide in-depth value, and readers are still willing to spend time on content that solves their problems. According to research from Search Engine Journal, posts that are 2,500 words tend to perform best in terms of search engine rankings.

However, that doesn't mean writing long content for the sake of word count. Your long-form pieces need to be well-researched, informative and packed with value. If your 3,000-word article doesn't solve a reader's problem, they'll bounce, and Google will take notice.

So, if you're going to write long-form content, make sure it's worth the read.

7. Voice search and conversational content

The rise of voice assistants like Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant has changed how people search for information. Voice search is more conversational, and content needs to adapt. When users ask voice assistants a question, they expect direct, concise and clear answers.

​Content writers need to think about conversational tone and long-tail keywords that mimic natural speech. This might mean writing more FAQs, creating concise answers at the top of your articles (to aim for featured snippets) and focusing on how your audience is asking questions out loud, not just typing them into a search bar.

Wrapping it up: Adapt or get left behind

If you don't adapt your strategy to embrace these trends, you risk becoming irrelevant. Whether you're leveraging AI to assist your writing, personalizing your content at scale or integrating video and interactive formats, the message is clear: innovate or fade away.

Your content strategy is no longer just about keywords and clicks — it's about engagement, authority and providing real value. So get ahead of the curve and start implementing these trends before your competitors do.

​If you want to dominate the digital space in 2024 and beyond, it's time to rethink, refresh and refine your content game. Are you ready?



​Source: https://www.entrepreneur.com/​
Image Credit: Pexels.com | Photo by Lisa Fotios

What Type of Business is Best for Real Estate?

This depends on the individual’s goals and experiences. Someone who is interested in helping people find their dream home may be better suited to working as an agent.

However, someone with experience in construction and development may be better suited to becoming a developer.

The most successful real estate business is the one that best matches the individual’s skill set and goals.

What Type of Real Estate Makes the Most Money?

If you want to keep your real estate business profitable, you’ll want to focus on properties that generate positive cash flow. To have a profitable venture, you’ll need to find properties with high rental rates or by developing properties that can be sold at a premium price.



​Source: https://smallbiztrends.com/
​Image Credit: Depositphotos