Category: Ebay Selling

Even the most driven, talented entrepreneurs face a very real risk of failure. Although business failure rates aren’t as high as many claim — 9 out of 10 businesses failing within five years is an often-cited yet erroneous figure — the Small Business Administration (SBA) confirms that about 50% of small businesses fail within five years and about 67% fail within 10 years. In other words, the business you open today is not likely to be around in a decade. This failure rate has changed little over time. Newer businesses fail for many reasons. Even great business ideas can be overwhelmed by forces beyond an owner’s control, such as a sudden economic downturn or unscrupulous actions by employees. Other businesses are vulnerable to problems that can be fixed but often aren’t, such as poor management or high structural costs. And beyond these individual factors, many inexperienced entrepreneurs are simply afraid…

When you own a small business, the idea of content marketing can land somewhere on the “where do I even start?” side of your plans. You’ve probably heard that content marketing is a cost-effective way to advertise and know you should be doing it, but you might not be sure where to start or how to get your content out there. The good news is that content marketing is a lot easier that it seems. In most cases, creating a content marketing plan for a small business simply involves sharing more about what you do via social media and other channels. Chances are you already use tools like Facebook and Instagram. Content marketing just means planning out what you share, how you share it, and when you share it. Content Marketing Overview The term “content marketing” refers to a method of advertising where you offer free content to a designated…

Tell me if this sounds familiar: An acquaintance from high school reaches out on Facebook to let you know about a great opportunity she wants to share. A casual acquaintance from church suddenly emails to invite you to a get-together at their house. Or one of your followers on Instagram leaves a comment encouraging you to check out a new work-from-home business venture that lets you set your own schedule.The product might be leggings from LuLaRoe, makeup from Rodan + Fields, or a weight-loss shake from Plexus. It’s suddenly everywhere in your inbox and all over your feed, with virtual “parties” and heartfelt testimonials from distributors and their customers. This is multilevel marketing (MLM) in the age of social media.Companies like Stella & Dot, Jamberry, and Pampered Chef all fall under the category of direct sales, also called multilevel marketing or networking marketing. And they’ve exploded in popularity in the last decade.…

It has never been cheaper or easier to start a business.Once upon a time, you needed a business loan, venture capital funding, or deep pockets to finance a new business. Today you can buy a domain name for $5, build your own website for free through a company like Bluehost, and open shop.That means even in a down economy, you can launch an online business with little financial risk.Of course, the less money you spend, the more time you need to invest. But given the low barrier to entry, there’s little to stop you from launching a virtual business as a side hustle, regardless of this month’s GDP or stock market numbers.Why an Online Business?Online businesses come with an inherent advantage for scrappy entrepreneurs with little startup capital: you can operate them from your home without having to sign a commercial lease. That saves you money up front, and it also keeps…