10 Essential Marketing Activities for Small Business Owners: From Beginner to Advanced
As a small business owner, it can be overwhelming to know where to start when it comes to marketing your new venture. The first few months after opening your doors are crucial for establishing your brand, building awareness and attracting customers. Here are the first five marketing activities you should prioritize for your business: 1.
Don’t Wait, Update! Why Small Businesses Need to Optimize Their Google Business Profile Right Now
Stop me if you’ve heard this one… Knock, Knock. Who’s there? Nobody… because your customers couldn’t easily find you online. **Pause for uproarious laughter.** As a small business owner, you hopefully already have a website and social media presence to promote your products or services online. However, these tools alone aren’t necessarily enough to attract
Entrepreneur Spotlight: Saidah Farrell, Marshmallow of the Month Club
Business growth looks different for every entrepreneur. For some, it could mean product diversification or entering new markets, for others it could mean opening a storefront or upgrading technology. For Saidah Farrell, owner of Marshmallow of the Month Club, growing her company that creates subscription boxes of artisan marshmallows, freshly baked graham crackers and chef-inspired
Mentoring Minute: A Conversation with Mark Hoersten
The Entrepreneurship Education Consortium (EEC) is ramping up for its Spring 2023 Tech Side Hustle. Offered each semester to member colleges and universities in Northeast Ohio, Tech Side Hustle is an extracurricular program designed to attract, coach, and fund student entrepreneurs. Participating student cohorts are paired with experienced local mentors like Mark Hoersten, who guide
Black History Perspective on Confronting Disparities in Tech
As a Black American, Black History Month brings forth many mixed emotions. For me, there are feelings of pride and inspiration as I dive into our country’s rich heritage and the foundational role Black people played in nearly every aspect of American history. But there’s also a sense of frustration with the influx of performative
Celebrating the Dream of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
As the nation comes together to honor the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, I am taken back to a moment in history that helped shape my life and my purpose. I was ten years old living in Arlington, Virginia on August 28, 1963 when Dr. King marched in Washington D.C. and delivered
Profit Plan vs. Budget: Creating A Profit Plan with Purpose
As a small business owner, chances are you’ve been told countless times how important it is to have a business plan or a budget for your small business. Budgets are the worst! Hopefully, you don’t use one for your business. What you really need is a Profit Plan which shows how your business is going
5 Content Ideas to Post on Your Business’s Social Media Pages
Struggling to figure out what to put on your business social media pages? Regularly updating your social media is important to help keep your business fresh in people’s memory and on their feeds. Here are 5 fantastic ideas that will help you stay active on Facebook, Twitter, and more. 1. Share Industry News No
Shop Local on Small Business Saturday with JumpStart Impact Program Graduates
Small Business Saturday is an annual event that encourages consumers to shop small and support local businesses every holiday season. When we shop locally, more of our money stays local. There’s a direct correlation between supporting local independent businesses and having our dollars recirculate to create a multiplier effect: creating more local jobs, strengthening local
What (or Who) Will It Take to Build a Thriving Entrepreneurial Ecosystem?
Earlier this year, the White House delivered a proclamation designating November National Entrepreneurship Month. I wholeheartedly believe in the power of entrepreneurship to transform communities. Reflecting on nearly 20 years as CEO of JumpStart, a nationally recognized entrepreneurial support organization, I’ve experienced first-hand the impact entrepreneurs have on the cities and regions they call home. Startups
JumpStart Launches Year-End Giving Campaign To Help Tech Startups And Small Businesses Go Further, Faster
JumpStart is kicking-off its year-end giving campaign to expand entrepreneurial support services to tech founders, innovators and small business owners across Northern Ohio. As a venture development organization, JumpStart unlocks the power of entrepreneurship to transform communities, helping entrepreneurs grow, researchers commercialize and corporations innovate. When startups and small businesses face roadblocks, JumpStart helps move
VIDEO: Verizon And JumpStart Open Clark Fulton Learning Center Providing Free Tech-focused Training To Cleveland Residents
Community members and organizational leaders recently gathered to celebrate the opening of the Clark-Fulton Learning Center, located within the Fulton Branch of Cleveland Public Library. Attendees heard celebratory comments from community members and leaders, including Councilwoman Jasmine Santana, and participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony, center tour and technology demonstrations. The learning center offers free technology-focused