Chris Christoff

July 29th, 2021

12 Pieces of Consumer Data Every Small Business Should Collect

Businesses have access to a treasure trove of valuable customer data, from how their audience is engaging with a social media post to their feedback on a product or service. When properly collected and analyzed, this data is invaluable for improving the customer experience — but you need to be collecting the right data.

July 23rd, 2021

Solopreneurs: 11 Tips for Hiring Your First Employee

July 19th, 2021

11 WAYS COMPANIES CAN ENSURE DATA SECURITY FOR IOT DEVICES

Members of Young Entrepreneur Council explain how companies can better manage the safety of their customers’ data.

July 15th, 2021

Nine Lessons These Entrepreneurs Wish They Knew Before Writing Their First Business Plans

So, you have a great business idea and a basic foundation of your vision. Your next step, before pitching to investors or even thinking about launch day, is to write a solid business plan.

July 13th, 2021

Can Leaders Ever Be Too Transparent?

Transparency is often boasted as a defining quality of successful business leaders. Oftentimes it helps team members feel valued and comfortable enough to share their own opinions. But can too much transparency have negative effects on company operations and employee morale?

July 13th, 2021

10 Expert Tips to Minimize Annoying Chatbot Features and Delight Your Customers

Chatbots can enhance the customer experience on your company website if they’re designed well. But all too often, these little bots have features that disrupt the user experience, resulting in bounces and a feeling of poor customer service.

July 11th, 2021

10 Questions Every Sales Professional Should Ask Potential Customers

July 10th, 2021

13 Tips to Make Faster, Better Decisions for Your Business

Making thorough, educated decisions doesn't have to take tons of time.

July 1st, 2021

10 EFFECTIVE WAYS TO LEVERAGE TECH FOR ULTIMATE PRODUCTIVITY

Members of Young Entrepreneur Council share their best tech hacks for getting time back in your workweek.

June 28th, 2021

Eight Smart Social Media Moves To Ramp Up Your Company’s Success

While social media is a popular way for people to connect with friends and share entertainment, it’s also a great way for businesses to market their products and services. But for businesses that haven’t yet cracked the code on going viral, building a solid social media presence can seem like an unreachable goal. 

June 24th, 2021

13 SEO and SEM Tips for Businesses With Limited Budgets

Thanks to search engines leveling the marketing playing field, even the smallest business can today benefit from the reach that search engine marketing (SEM) offers. But when you’re short on money, time, and resources, learning all about SEO and SEM—and how to leverage them effectively in your digital marketing strategy—can be a challenge. Here, 13 leaders from Young Entrepreneur Council share SEO and SEM tips that work for them, and that won’t break the bank.

June 24th, 2021

13 WAYS TO BUILD UP THE HYPE FOR YOUR NEW APP LAUNCH

Members of Young Entrepreneur Council share their best tips for marketing your newly launched mobile app.

June 24th, 2021

Eight Questions To Ask Yourself Before Moving Forward With A New Product Or Service Idea

Entrepreneurs and business leaders are often filled with ideas, but that doesn't mean they should always move forward with them. It’s first important to determine if that new product or service idea is actually a viable option for your business. Asking yourself some initial questions can help you validate your idea before taking the next steps to see it through to fruition.

June 23rd, 2021

Business Owners: 9 Things to Stop Doing When Creating Marketing Content

June 21st, 2021

12 Characteristics All Top Recruiters Share (and Why They Get Results)

June 17th, 2021

12 Ways to Empower Your Employees to Become Better Leaders

To be great leaders, they’ll first need a great leader.

June 14th, 2021

13 Tips to Increase Your Adaptability and Reduce Stress in Times of Change

Everyone experiences changes in their lives, whether big or small, and the stress that comes along with these changes can either hurt you or allow you to grow stronger. One of the best ways to manage this stress is to learn to be more adaptable.

June 8th, 2021

10 Tips for Keeping Up a Social Media Presence as a Busy Entrepreneur

June 4th, 2021

New to Networking? 10 Steps to Ensure You’re Making Long-Term Connections

June 4th, 2021

3 Ways To Win Back Lost Customers

There are plenty of advantages that come with building an audience that’s loyal to your brand.

May 28th, 2021

Eight Lesser-Known Red Flags Of A Toxic Work Environment

Some work environments are healthy and result in an open sharing of ideas and techniques. Unfortunately, others can be decidedly more toxic, but it’s not always easy to notice when it’s your everyday reality. Because a daily work environment can be fluid and dynamic, it's sometimes hard to spot the red flags that denote a toxic environment. Most entrepreneurs may not even realize one is forming around them.

May 27th, 2021

10 TIPS TO ENCOURAGE EMPLOYEES TO FOSTER THEIR OWN COMPANY CULTURE

Members of Young Entrepreneur Council explain how to encourage employees to play an active role in shaping organizational culture.

May 27th, 2021

8 Content Marketing Mistakes You Might Be Making (and Why You Should Fix Them)

May 24th, 2021

Limited Resources? 13 Easy Practices for Better Employee Onboarding

Small businesses have several benefits over larger companies, but resources aren’t usually one of them. This limitation can significantly impact the way a small business deals with new hires. While a larger company can dedicate weeks or months to training a new employee under an experienced team, smaller businesses don't always have that luxury. The result is that these smaller enterprises have to be more creative with their onboarding. Below, 13 professionals from Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) delve into this topic by answering the following question:

May 21st, 2021

13 ESSENTIAL LESSONS FOR LEADERS FROM THE REMOTE-WORK ERA

Members of Young Entrepreneur Council share the most important lessons they've learned about leading from afar.

May 17th, 2021

13 Common Mistakes Hiring Managers Make (And How to Avoid Them)

May 17th, 2021

12 Leader-Recommended Techniques to Actually Start Journaling Effectively

A journal can be a valuable tool to an entrepreneur. Being able to sit down and reflect on your thoughts throughout the day can provide a much-needed dose of perspective and can help you to improve your focus.

May 14th, 2021

How to Increase Productivity as a Home Business Entrepreneur

Running a business from your home brings with it a whole host of benefits, including being an extremely cost-effective option, but it also has its cons. When your business takes place at home, it's very easy for household demands to overshadow business needs. 

May 11th, 2021

9 Tips to Improve Your Live Customer Chat (for Customers and Employees)

May 10th, 2021

14 Ways to Create Your Own Happiness at Work (Even if You Don't Like Your Job)

One of the biggest influences on a business and its employees is a positive attitude. Leaders who have a positive mindset and are pleasant to be around get the most out of their peers and employees. A happy attitude is infectious, and when workers are in a good mood, they yield good results.

May 7th, 2021

IMPROVE YOUR MOBILE APP’S USABILITY AND DESIGN WITH THESE 11 UX TRENDS

Members of Young Entrepreneur Council explore some user experience trends every app developer should be implementing.

May 4th, 2021

11 Popular Productivity Hacks (And Why They’re Overrated)

Not every method is going to work the same for every person.

May 3rd, 2021

Nine Tips to Convince an Investor to Fund Your Startup (Even When You Have No Experience)

May 3rd, 2021

Hire Better: 10 Entrepreneurs Share Their Tips on Finding the Right Candidates, Fast

April 30th, 2021

Four Clever Ways To Skyrocket User Retention

Retention is one of the keys to steady growth.

April 28th, 2021

Creating Your First Company Video? 10 Tips You Should Know

April 26th, 2021

11 Leader-Recommended Tools To Help Your Business Stay Organized

Effective task management can be quite a challenge for many professionals and businesses, especially when dealing with complex assignments or a large volume of projects, each with its own specific requirements, deadlines and deliverables.

April 21st, 2021

12 Smart Ways to Transform Your In-Store Experience for the Post-Pandemic World

From ramping up online offerings to implementing new health and safety protocols, the Covid-19 pandemic has transformed the way people do business—especially for physical retail stores navigating the future of post-pandemic shopping. While it can be challenging for companies to pivot their operations based on customers’ changing needs and expectations, it can also serve as a unique opportunity for growth.

April 19th, 2021

11 Ways to Reclaim Your Time for Rest and Relaxation

As entrepreneurs start getting more involved with their businesses, it’s not uncommon that they find there's less time to spend on themselves. Unfortunately, being a successful business owner can often mean spending many hours engrossed in work without taking personal breaks. The result is almost always burnout, which can have negative effects on your health and well-being.

April 19th, 2021

12 Effective Ways to Use Short Video Content for Your Small Business

The face of social media has changed significantly in a short time, and today short video content is dominating user news feeds. While some social media platforms use video as a feature, like Instagram Stories, others, such as TikTok, use short videos as their main form of communication. Businesses can then leverage this content on their own social media pages to help improve their customer engagement and boost sales. To share insights on how to do just that, 12 experts from Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) answer the following question:

April 9th, 2021

SHOULD YOUR BUSINESS DEVELOP A LONG-TERM CONTENT STRATEGY OR CONTINUALLY REINVENT ITSELF?

Members of the Young Entrepreneur Council weigh in on whether a long-term or campaign-by-campaign content strategy works best for brands.

April 7th, 2021

10 Tips to Asking a Top Publication to Contribute Guest Content on Your Website

Getting quality guest posts on your website is one of the most effective ways to ensure that your brand gains added visibility. The more high-quality sites post to yours, the better search engines will rank you and the more positive relationships you’ll build.

April 5th, 2021

12 Steps to Surrounding Yourself With Positive People

Whether you’re a business leader or just someone trying to improve their life, surrounding yourself with positive people can be an important part of personal development. Aside from offering support when you most need it, positive people can also challenge you to grow and evolve as an individual, all while giving you the confidence you need to take action.

April 1st, 2021

How To Maintain Blog Traffic And Maximize Conversions

The best way to build rapport with your audience and increase sales is through content marketing. Blogs are typically the focal point of every content marketing strategy, and it’s not hard to see why.

March 29th, 2021

13 Subtle Traits That Can Make Someone an Influential Person

If you want to lead, you may want to nurture these traits first.

March 26th, 2021

Eight Entrepreneurs Share Lessons From Business Disasters That Were Blessings In Disguise

Devastating occurrences sometimes happen in business without a lot of forewarning. Entrepreneurs can leverage insurance to protect themselves from things such as fire or theft, but there are other less obvious disasters that are more difficult to prepare for.

March 22nd, 2021

10 Entrepreneur-Recommended Bookkeeping Tools For Small Businesses

Bookkeeping is a tedious but necessary process for all businesses. But for small businesses with limited resources, streamlining the process becomes of even greater importance. One way to do this is to invest in a reputable accounting software or tool that keeps you organized and on track.

March 22nd, 2021

13 Entrepreneur-Recommended Habits To Maintain Productivity (Even When You're Busy)

No matter how stressed or busy you get, the right habits can keep you moving forward.

March 16th, 2021

Nine Practical Ways To Protect Your Company From Hackers And Phishing Attacks

Sensitive information is stored and accessed digitally by businesses every day. While it's a lot more convenient for companies to have data stored digitally, unfortunately this also means these files are more vulnerable to attacks from hackers. Malicious users can gain access to a company’s data in several ways, including phishing, a method which takes advantage of unsuspecting employees as a gateway. 

March 14th, 2021

12 Resources and Communities Entrepreneurs Should Follow for Industry Insight and Tips

Staying tuned in to the pulse of your industry is key to becoming a successful entrepreneur. Public groups, online forums and the like are among the most valuable resources for gathering and contributing industry information. But if someone is looking for in-depth insight into their business niche, locating the right groups where this discussion occurs is the first step. To help you find them, 12 members of Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) respond to the following question:

March 12th, 2021

15 Free Tools Solopreneurs Can Use to Start Their Business on a Budget

When an entrepreneur starts a business, the immediate concern is how much it will cost to set up. Cost can sometimes seem like a barrier to entry for those hopeful business owners looking to get started on a budget. Luckily, evolving tech has provided many free alternatives to the paid tools other professionals use.

March 10th, 2021

Nine Smart Tips To Save Money When Just Starting Your Business

When you’re trying to get a business off the ground, you don’t always have a lot of resources at your disposal. In order to gain some momentum, it may then be necessary to “cut a few corners.” However, this doesn’t mean you have to betray your ethics, as there are a few elements of business you can reasonably (and legally) cut or save money on to help give your business the kick-start it needs to get going.

March 5th, 2021

Three Tips For Creating An Irresistible Job Résumé

When your résumé is created with care, you’ll have an easier time finding a job that fits your needs from a financial and self-growth standpoint.

March 4th, 2021

Managing Your Energy: Eight Tips To Staying In Peak Performance Mode At Work

Your energy levels are a key factor in how productive you are during the day. For an entrepreneur, maintaining high energy levels throughout the workday is necessary for maximum efficiency. But with so many things playing a part in how energetic we feel, it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly how best to manage those energy levels for work.

March 4th, 2021

Streamline Your SaaS Vendor List With These 13 Entrepreneur-Recommended Tips

Many businesses rely on software-as-a-service (SaaS) companies to help them run their everyday operations. However, with so many specialized vendors, it's easy to lose track of the number — and price tag — of the SaaS providers you're working with. To help, members of Young Entrepreneur Council weighed in on the following question:

March 1st, 2021

13 Easy Changes to Your Daily Routine That Will Boost Long-Term Productivity

February 26th, 2021

Eight Things Machine Learning Can Do To Improve Your Daily Customer Interactions

As machine learning becomes more prevalent in business, it has the potential to affect a company’s day-to-day interactions with its customers, whether positively or negatively. Many businesses have already invested heavily in machine learning and have found great success. However, new tech can always be intimidating, scary or potentially difficult to implement.

February 25th, 2021

15 WAYS BUSINESS OWNERS CAN MAKE THE MOST OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Members of Young Entrepreneur Council offer their firsthand insights on leveraging social media effectively this year.

February 24th, 2021

9 Expert Tips to Supercharge Your Business LinkedIn Page

February 24th, 2021

Employers: Eight Red Flags You May Not Notice Until After You’ve Hired Someone

During the interview process, there are some red flags that will be immediately apparent to an employer. Unfortunately, there are also a few of them that may slip by unnoticed, and it's only after the hire starts working that the company realizes they may have made an error.

February 22nd, 2021

13 STRATEGIES TO EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATE A COMPLEX IDEA TO YOUR AUDIENCE

Members of Young Entrepreneur Council share some foolproof ways to break down a complicated concept for your target market.

February 22nd, 2021

13 Crucial Roles You Should Consider Hiring First When Building a Marketing Department

Marketing is a crucial element of any successful business, and even small business startups will need to begin building their marketing department as soon as possible. However, some marketing roles are more critical to your business’s success than others. To help you determine which role you need to hire for first, 13 experts from Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) answer the following question:

February 19th, 2021

How To Make The Best Use Of LinkedIn And Virtual Networking Opportunities

At a time when in-person meetups are typically off the table, virtual networking platforms like LinkedIn can be valuable resources for business owners. The opportunity to connect regardless of location can open doors that just aren’t possible without these online tools. But while LinkedIn has some of the same features as traditional social media sites, its purpose, and therefore its use, should differ.

February 5th, 2021

Seven Effective Ways Leaders Can Track Department-Specific Goals

Many companies set goals for the year, but can often lose track of them as other problems and priorities arise. Ensuring each department has its own goals to work toward is one way to help prevent this issue. But how can a leader figure out if each department is on track with its goals?

February 5th, 2021

Three Ways AI Can Help You Evolve Your Digital Marketing Strategy

The main reason businesses use AI is for data collection. Instead of manually going through every customer interaction, businesses can use AI programs to compile this information into actionable reports. Consequently, business owners and marketers can make smarter decisions about their campaigns.

February 2nd, 2021

12 Rules to Better Manage Client Expectations Early On

When a client signs on with your business, they have certain expectations about what your performance will be. The best way to end up with a happy client, however, is to manage these expectations early on. If you don't, and a client feels as though they should have gotten more from your business but didn't, their testimony could severely damage your future business and your reputation. To ensure you don’t end up in this situation, 12 experts from Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) share their insights on the following question:

February 1st, 2021

12 CLOUD COMPUTING TIPS FOR GROWING YOUR BUSINESS

Members of Young Entrepreneur Council share some basic how-to tips for small businesses that want to use cloud computing.

January 26th, 2021

11 Tips to Make Your Sponsored Social Media Posts Stand Out

January 25th, 2021

14 STRATEGIES TO PREPARE YOUR COMPANY FOR THE AUTOMATION REVOLUTION

Members of Young Entrepreneur Council share how to prepare your company for greater integration of artificial intelligence and automation.

January 22nd, 2021

18 Tools Businesses Should Leverage for Customer Engagement in 2021

Entrepreneurs share their favorite tools, apps, and software for managing and interacting with customers.

January 20th, 2021

10 Lucrative Side Hustles You Can Get Started on Today

The modern world has made it really easy for anyone to get started on a side hustle. In fact, most entrepreneurs get started with some sort of side gig. Transitioning those side hustles into standalone businesses that can financially support them usually begins with understanding how to make a significant amount of profit, but not all side hustle ideas are lucrative enough to evolve into something financially stable.

January 19th, 2021

12 Strategies to Make Your Customer-Facing Content More Engaging and Authentic

January 17th, 2021

13 Recruiting Lessons to Remember When Hiring for a Senior Position

Hiring for a senior position at a company usually requires a lot more time and effort than hiring for other positions. In many cases, business owners may have a hard time finding the most effective way to source senior talent for their organization. You don't want to lose out on great talent, but you also need to spot the best talent out of the field of applicants, because making a wrong hire at this level can spell disaster for the organization.

January 14th, 2021

17 Creative Ways to Bring Together Company Leaders for Productive Conversation

17 members of YEC share effective tactics for gathering together leaders in a way that will lead to actual productivity and strategizing.

January 8th, 2021

13 BEST PRACTICES FOR ENGAGING AND RETAINING MOBILE APP USERS

Members of Young Entrepreneur Council offer some effective ways to keep users coming back to your mobile app.

January 7th, 2021

Four Tips For Publishing Powerful Blog Content

Publishing powerful content is about a lot more than the words you choose to write. Your audience is the No. 1 deciding factor in your success. Turn to them as your blog evolves so you can continue publishing relevant content that gets your business big results.

January 4th, 2021

11 Tips for Hiring a Part-Time Employee to Help With Your Business’s Finances

Small businesses, like any business, have finances that need to be kept in order. Owners can deal with these duties to a point; however, small businesses tend to grow, and hiring an employee dedicated to keeping the company's finances in check is often a necessary next step. Luckily, many small business owners can hire someone on a part-time basis. This route carries a lot less overhead in terms of time and money compared to hiring a full-time employee, but it also comes with its own challenges. That’s why we asked 11 entrepreneurs from Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) the following:

December 30th, 2020

12 Leader-Recommended Marketing Strategies (And Why They’re so Effective)

December 21st, 2020

13 Practical Steps for Conquering Self-Doubt

Self-doubt can be debilitating for some individuals. If you're trying to advance your career, the belief that you’re not good enough can quickly put an end to those aspirations. It can make you feel less confident about your abilities, which in turn can make you seem less trustworthy and dependable to others. If you can't believe in yourself, will anyone else?

December 21st, 2020

Nine Ways To Navigate The Holiday Workload While Already In Crisis Mode

It's no secret that the holidays are among the most hectic times of the year for businesses. Everyone wants to close off the year well, and the holiday season makes for some fantastic business opportunities, but staff also looks forward to spending more time with loved ones and away from work.

December 21st, 2020

9 Things Mobile Marketers Should Do Better in Q1 The first quarter of any new year comes with its own challenges and expectations for marketers. WIth mobile marketing having grown exponentially in this pandemic-hit world of social distancing and remote work, marketers will have their work in Q1 of 2021 cut out for them. So what should mobile marketers focus on doing better in the first quarter of the new year and why?

December 18th, 2020

Eight Ways To Differentiate Your Idea In A Saturated Market

One of the worst things for a budding entrepreneur is to realize that the problem they're solving already has a solution. The business environment has diversified a lot, but the low cost of entry has now made it easy for others to develop similar ideas.

December 17th, 2020

10 Effective Methods for Locating the Right Talent

Businesses are in an unenviable position of having to find the most talented individuals in their field and entice them to work at their organization. In many cases, finding qualified candidates has come down to creating the right ads and vetting candidates properly.

December 11th, 2020

Four Ways To Effectively Personalize Your Marketing Emails

The key to building a highly effective email marketing strategy is personalization.

December 4th, 2020

How To Encourage Holiday PTO Without Leaving Your Business Short-Staffed

With the holidays approaching quickly, many are ready to set their “out of office” messages and relax and recharge. It’s important for employers to encourage this balance and promote the use of paid time off around the holidays. However, if everyone takes off at the same time, it may leave you with a skeleton crew and piles of work for when employees return, making for a not-so-happy start to the new year. 

December 2nd, 2020

14 WAYS TO REDUCE ONLINE CART ABANDONMENT AND CONVERT MORE SITE VISITORS

Everyone online shopper has added items to their cart, only to close out of the website before completing the purchase. This behavior has led to an average online cart abandonment rate of 60% to 80% for many e-commerce sites.

November 25th, 2020

10 Out-Of-The-Box Marketing Promotions To Jump-Start Your Early-Stage Business

Trying to get people interested in your startup may seem like fighting a losing battle. The early stages of a startup have several challenges to getting customers involved in the business. Advertising to a large market can be expensive, and you have to figure out if your strategy will even work with your core audience. Standard marketing campaigns can be useful, but audience responses can be lackluster for something they've seen dozens of businesses try before.

November 19th, 2020

13 Essential Resume Elements to Warrant an Interview

Resumes are the first look that business owners get at potential hires. As a result, they must use these resumes as a basis to figure out if that person is worth bringing in for an interview or not. Each business has its own demands for potential employees and therefore looks for specific elements in candidates’ resumes to determine possible fit. How can job seekers optimize their resumes to include these essential elements? To help, we asked we asked 13 successful entrepreneurs from Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) the following question:

November 17th, 2020

https://www.forbes.com/sites/theyec/2020/11/17/nine-risks-entrepreneurs-should-be-aware-of-when-starting-their-first-business/

November 12th, 2020

How To Build Hype Around A New Product

If you want to find success with your next big release, you must know how to build hype around your new product.

November 10th, 2020

20 Innovative Apps Ideal for Managing a Team Remotely

These 20 entrepreneurs discuss the best features for remote management of a displaced workforce.

November 4th, 2020

16 Common Mistakes Companies Make With Their Blogs

A company blog isn't anything like a personal blog, yet many businesses look to individual bloggers to inform their choices on topics and content. Some strike on their own, coming up with their own ideas and fleshing them out by themselves, but the result can be just as underwhelming.

November 4th, 2020

Nine Creative Strategies for Keeping an Audience Engaged on Your Website

A website can be a critical marketing tool as long as you manage to keep your audience engaged. Marketing can drive traffic to your website in several ways, with video, text, or image content. But once they get there, how do you keep them there?

November 4th, 2020

16 Best Practices for Optimizing Your Sign-Up and Landing Pages

It's often said you only get one chance to make a first impression, and that holds true for your company website. The visual appearance and written copy on your sign-up and landing pages must be compelling enough to grab a visitor's attention and convince them to take the next step in their relationship with your brand.

November 2nd, 2020

13 Signs You May Need a Motivation Boost

Staying motivated as an entrepreneur takes a lot of effort. In several situations, business owners find themselves struggling to point themselves in the right direction, whether in their profession or in their personal life. In both of these cases, your inspiration dictates the drive you have to accomplish your goals.

October 27th, 2020

12 Critical Marketing Skills in Today’s Digital Landscape As today’s digital landscape has shifted, with more companies switching to almost-entirely online operations, marketers’ roles and responsibilities are also changing. So which are some of the newest skills and competencies that are now critical for marketers to succeed in today’s increasingly digitized world?

October 26th, 2020

Here's How to Foster a Community Around Your Brand

[long-form emailed to Kelsey]

October 21st, 2020

12 BIG UPCOMING TECH TRENDS ENTREPRENEURS PLAN TO LEVERAGE

Members of Young Entrepreneur Council share the upcoming technology trends they're most excited about and how they plan to jump on board.

October 16th, 2020

Eight Habits To Rely On For Better Work-Life Balance

Working from home requires paying attention to many small details regarding your mental and physical well-being, with work-life balance tending to be significantly higher among remote workers compared to traditional office workers.

October 15th, 2020

11 Warning Signs a Deal Is Going to Fall Through

Being able to close a deal is a crucial part of an entrepreneur’s skill set, but sometimes, vendor agreements and partnerships can fall through due to unavoidable circumstances. Knowing that a deal is about to fall through before that actually happens can be quite beneficial for a company, as it gives the opportunity to choose its next steps in advance: pursue the agreement more aggressively, back off and let it fail, or do nothing and see if it corrects itself. However, before the business can take any action, it must be able to identify the telltale signs of a deal collapsing. To help, we asked 11 entrepreneurs from Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) the following:

October 12th, 2020

20 Uniquely Useful Tools for Conducting Market Research

These 20 entrepreneurs from YEC discuss their favorite market research tools and why you should be using them.

October 9th, 2020

How to Communicate Important News Internally: 15 Best Tips

An effective internal communications strategy is essential when trying to build a cohesive team working together toward the same goal. Especially when it comes to announcing important news to your team, using the right internal communications approach is of utmost importance. The right communications strategy ensures the communicated message is clear and easily understood, leaving no room for error. That’s why we asked 15 entrepreneurs from Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) the following:

October 9th, 2020

Hiring New Remote Employees? Here’s How to Successfully Onboard Them Virtually

Remote working has taken the world by storm, as more and more businesses are looking at hiring workers and having them operate remotely. Aside from the convenience of the workers, the company also benefits from higher productivity and worker morale. However, getting those employees onboarded can be a challenging task. Businesses can't rely on the tried-and-true formulae they've used for years to onboard on-site employees and should instead adapt their techniques to cater for remote hires.

October 9th, 2020

10 Reasons a Press Release Is Still a Valuable Business Tool Once widely used by businesses as a way to boost visibility even if they did not have any relevant news to share, press releases are now believed to be an outdated approach, according to many industry professionals. However, when used right and timed appropriately, they can still be valuable tools for an organization. Here are 10 reasons why the press release still matters:

October 7th, 2020

11 IMPORTANT TRAITS TO LOOK FOR IN A SENIOR CREATIVE DIRECTOR FOR PRINT AND WEB

Members of Young Entrepreneur Council explain which qualities a hiring manager should seek out in a senior creative director who's working on both print and web campaigns.

October 5th, 2020

11 New Technologies Impacting Product-Based Businesses As technology advances by leaps and bounds, its impact on the business world is growing exponentially. For product-based businesses in particular, leveraging the right technology is key when it comes to manufacturing, promoting, advertising and commercializing their offering. Here are several recent or upcoming technologies expected to have the biggest impact on product-based businesses.`

October 5th, 2020

14 MAJOR TECH ISSUES OF 2020 (AND THE INNOVATIONS THAT WILL RESOLVE THEM)

Members of Young Entrepreneur Council discuss some of the past year's most pressing technology concerns and how we should address them.

October 5th, 2020

3 Ways to Strengthen Customer Trust With Social Media

There’s no better place to build trust as a business.

October 1st, 2020

14 Unique Ways to Encourage Innovation in Your Company

As a business owner, you know your company can't remain stagnant and stuck in its ways if it hopes to grow. That growth requires innovation and creativity, both of which are best sourced from everyone on your team.

October 1st, 2020

11 Major Productivity Disruptions and How to Overcome Them

September 30th, 2020

10 Unique Habits To Increase Your Productivity

With the sheer amount of productivity hacks and life hacks on the market today, it's easy to get overwhelmed. Even with all of these, it can be hard to figure out which ones work and which ones are just myths.

September 30th, 2020

11 Unique Strategies for Reaching Out to Generation Z Audiences

With each passing year, demographics change. Where a company's core demographic might have been millennials a few years ago, today it's shifted to Generation Z. Unfortunately, there's a marked difference in values between generations, and businesses need to revamp their marketing strategy to reach out to their newest client base without alienating their other followers.

September 29th, 2020

15 Ways to Get Return Visitors to Read Your Blog

If you're like the hundreds of content marketers out there that have invested in blog content, you want people to read it. If you've been watching your metrics for visits, you might realize that many visitors don't even bother with your blog. Sure, they might follow a social post from your media to your blog, and possibly read a single entry, but they won't engage further than that.

September 29th, 2020

12 Nontraditional Marketing Channels That Are Surprisingly Effective

Social media following is an integral part of executing a successful marketing strategy. Engagement on social media is far higher than other channels. However, despite their constant presence, social media networks aren't the only way for a company to do outreach and connect to their core audience.

September 28th, 2020

14 Simple Tips to Improve Your Recruiting Efforts Right Now

September 25th, 2020

Eight Boxes To Check If You Want To Be A Great Salesperson

Sales is a challenging industry that takes a unique combination of traits and skills to succeed. When we examine the truly memorable salespeople we know, a few things become immediately apparent -- most notably, that there are certain features all successful salespeople share.

September 23rd, 2020

17 Utilities to Automate Marketing for Better ROI

17 leaders from YEC share the tools and processes they use and why they work.

September 21st, 2020

13 Best Tips for Practicing Your Investor Pitch

Entrepreneurs should all know by now how nerve-wracking delivering a pitch to investors can be. If you've invested a lot of your time and effort into designing a business idea, you want to get the point across to investors effectively. As with anything, practicing your delivery can go a long way toward making a steadier presentation. That’s why we asked 13 successful entrepreneurs from Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) the following question:

September 16th, 2020

13 Valuable Resources for Learning New Work-Related Skills

September 11th, 2020

10 Tried-And-True Email Marketing Tactics That Actually Work

Despite the numerous digital communications channels available today, email is still one of the best ways to get and stay in touch with your customers. Email marketing is notorious for its high return on investment, and with nearly 4 billion active email users, there’s a huge potential audience waiting to receive your messages.

September 8th, 2020

Nine Best Methods for Determining Pay Raises for Employees

Each company gauges the contribution of its employees differently. Some focus on deliverables, while others rely on employee loyalty and worked hours to determine a worker's contribution to the business.

September 4th, 2020

14 Smart Ways to Leverage a Virtual Assistant for Productivity

September 3rd, 2020

15 WAYS TO CREATE A MOBILE-FIRST E-COMMERCE EXPERIENCE YOUR CUSTOMERS WILL LOVE

Members of Young Entrepreneur Council explain how companies can optimize their mobile shopping experience.

September 3rd, 2020

Here's How to Cut Recruiting Costs Without Sacrificing Quality

August 31st, 2020

11 Critical Elements That Can Set Your Digital Brand Apart To stand out among the competition in an increasingly digital world, a company’s own digital brand or footprint needs to be unique and memorable. Here are 11 critical elements your organization should consider when developing a digital brand identity that is sure to get you noticed.

August 31st, 2020

Improve Your Mood in Under 10 Minutes With These 12 Strategies

August 28th, 2020

10 Clear Signs You Need To Make A Mobile App For Your Customers

Many businesses see a major shift in their success once they establish a website that lets them provide new information and tools to their customers. However, some may see even greater success if they develop a mobile app.

August 27th, 2020

Nine Cool AR/VR Elements To Include In Your Personal Branding Strategy

Once seemingly confined to the spheres of gaming and technology, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are becoming increasingly common in both personal and professional ventures. In fact, VR and AR can be used to great effect in one’s personal branding strategy, especially if it's giving your audience a deeper connection or more intimate look at your business.

August 27th, 2020

20 Free Advertising Platforms for Increased Visibility on a Budget

Free advertising has leveled up, as there are now more alternatives to paid ads than ever.

August 25th, 2020

How To Stop Following And Start Leading

Focus on growing as a person while helping those around you

August 18th, 2020

17 Valuable Recruitment Resources for Your Next Project

17 professionals from YEC share the best websites for locating fresh talent.

August 3rd, 2020

Four Leadership Tips You Need to Know

All leaders make mistakes; just be sure to see them as opportunities for growth.

August 3rd, 2020

12 Business Planning Tips for First-Time Founders

July 30th, 2020

14 Things That Could Throw Off The Wearables Revolution

Electronic wearables were an exciting new concept just years ago. Now, they’ve slowly become the norm, with gadgets like smart watches and sleep trackers overwhelming the market.

July 22nd, 2020

13 Concrete Ways Aspiring Entrepreneurs Can Build Their Self-Confidence

As a budding young entrepreneur, you're likely to meet a lot of people telling you, "no." While some of these people are well-meaning, the constant negativity will eventually impact your self-confidence.

July 20th, 2020

13 Searching Self-Questions to Help You Become a Better Leader

Leadership is a battle for constant improvement.

July 15th, 2020

14 Essential Lessons for Young Entrepreneurs

Learning from others is vital to your success.

July 10th, 2020

Small Team? 15 Tips for Expanding Your Marketing Efforts With Limited Resources

Employees who work on small teams may need to play multiple roles to ensure everything runs smoothly. With such limited resources, you may not be able to have a dedicated full-time marketing person to help you reach your full potential as a brand. That's why we asked members of Young Entrepreneur Council the following question:

July 10th, 2020

11 Strategies to Make Your Voice Heard in a Crowd

It takes more than just raising your voice

July 6th, 2020

13 Mobile 'Priorities' That Just Aren't Worth It, According to Entrepreneurs

July 3rd, 2020

11 Engaging Ways To Inform Consumers About Your Latest Offerings

The only way a business can garner new customers and retain current ones is by laying out the benefits that its product or services present to the consumer. In the past, all it took was a flashy headline and a few bullet points that punched home the usefulness of the product or service. Today's world has evolved to a point where traditional advertising no longer makes the same impact. Even newer, more modern methods of advertising are having a hard time getting traction among some demographics.

June 30th, 2020

14 Quick and Easy Ways to Keep Up With Industry News

June 30th, 2020

10 Smart Social Media Moves That Can Help Boost Your Business

Social media is becoming an increasingly important part of every business’ marketing strategy. Making the right move with your social content at the right time can help bring positive attention and new customers to your business.

June 29th, 2020

16 Ways Leaders Can Stress Less and Adapt to Opportunities

Stress is common when you’re in a management position. With countless tasks to complete, employees to manage and business operations to oversee, it’s no surprise many leaders end up feeling overwhelmed at one point or another.

June 26th, 2020

How To Easily Slow Down Customer Churn

You have the power to reduce the number of people who stop using your product or service.

June 25th, 2020

10 Smart Ways Business Leaders Can Leverage Social Media in a PR Crisis

Since the internet has permeated business to such an extent, PR crises are becoming far more common for companies. Many of those PR faux-pas are due to misuse or misunderstanding of social media interaction. However, as much as social media can be a tool to cause a PR crisis, it can also be useful in helping to manage it. Social media is still the best way to create a rapport and interact with a particular demographic of customers directly.

June 23rd, 2020

15 Smart Ways for Leaders to Thrive Under Stress

June 22nd, 2020

12 Key Elements Leaders Should Consider When Doing Live Video Video has become one of the most effective and popular forms of content businesses use in their marketing efforts. Live video in particular is a great way to engage with your target audience in a personal, meaningful way. Here are 12 key elements every business leader should consider to achieve success with their live video content.

June 22nd, 2020

Growing Quickly? 8 Ways to Make Sure Your Culture Keeps Up

[long-form emailed to Kelsey]

June 19th, 2020

27 Books for Success to Add to Your Summer Reading List

June 16th, 2020

https://www.inc.com/young-entrepreneur-council/how-to-encourage-employees-to-create-their-own-company-culture.html

June 15th, 2020

15 Ways for Leaders to Encourage Employee Self-Teaching

Within any company, the ambitions of individual team members should aid the overall organization. However, it takes a leader to fuel, direct, and inspire this ambition into a way that helps both the team members and the organization as a whole. One way leaders can get their team members to realize their ambitions is by guiding them toward self-teaching and taking initiative, as a way of expanding their knowledge and skills while also seizing new opportunities within the company. To help, we asked 15 members of Young Entrepreneur Council the following:

June 12th, 2020

15 Collaboration Tools for Remote Teams (That Aren't Slack)

With so many remote working teams in the world today, productivity requires utilizing tools that can connect the team through voice, chat and video. Slack rules the roost as the team collaboration software, but it’s far from being the only reliable one. Dozens of team collaboration tools have gained growing popularity over the last two months. Some of them offer similar functionality to Slack and might even be better at some things. Others are sorely lacking in utilities to help a team get organized.

June 11th, 2020

16 Things to Avoid When Doing Content Marketing The internet is full of tips and advice on what to do when developing a content marketing strategy, but knowing what not to do is equally important to ensure success. Here are 16 things marketers should definitely avoid when doing content marketing.

June 8th, 2020

https://www.inc.com/young-entrepreneur-council/founders-share-their-best-advice-for-selling-your-business.html

June 8th, 2020

15 Ways to Bounce Back When Things Are Going Badly

In all walks of life, there will be pitfalls that plague professionals. For an entrepreneur, especially, it may occasionally feel like nothing is working out, no matter what you do. There's a saying that success only comes to those who get back up each time they get knocked down. The problem is that the saying doesn't detail how you get back up from a fall. Some leaders can find themselves falling over and over, and each time the recovery takes more out of them. 

June 8th, 2020

Hiring Your First Remote Employee? Follow These 16 Tips

Working remotely has become the new standard in the COVID-19 era. Companies that followed a traditional in-office model have had to adjust to how they presently work, and soon have to learn how to hire remotely.

June 8th, 2020

How to Make the Most of Self-Discovery Practices: 15 Proven Strategies

Entrepreneurs can be so busy in today's business world that they lose sight of themselves. Introspection has an essential place in an entrepreneur's mindset. Understanding one's goals and motivations can help one come to terms with what one wants out of life.

June 4th, 2020

15 Effective Ways to Reach Gen Z on Social Media

As the up-and-coming generation of consumers, Gen Z has become a hot target demographic for many brands. This generation of true digital natives is even more entrenched in the world of technology than the millennials who came before them. Therefore, companies that want to reach them need to go all-in on social media, Gen Z's preferred place to "hang out" online.

June 2nd, 2020

Four Tips For Leaders Entering The Remote Workforce

Employees flock to managers who know how to identify and solve issues.

May 29th, 2020

10 Key Factors in Determining Whether an Employee Should Get a Raise

It takes a lot of mental fortitude for an employee to approach their employer for a raise. There's no playbook for managers and business owners to know how to gauge whether an employee deserves a raise or not. The factors as to whether an employee deserves to earn more can be approached in several different ways. From the addition of value to the support they provide, each plays an integral part in determining whether a raise is warranted. That’s why we asked 10 entrepreneurs from Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) the following:

May 28th, 2020

4 Tips for Understanding Your Target Audience

People across all demographics want to do business with brands that deliver personalized content and evolve their company based on pain points and user feedback.

May 26th, 2020

Here's How to Run a Successful 'Traditional' Ad Campaign for Your Local Market

Despite the overwhelming preference for digital media among modern marketers, traditional advertising methods are still being implemented today and driving great results. Newspaper, TV and radio spots can offer tons of potential for businesses looking to reach a local market -- if they're used the right way.

May 21st, 2020

https://www.inc.com/young-entrepreneur-council/how-successful-leaders-avoid-bad-morning-habits.html

April 27th, 2020

4 Ways to Use Social Media to Organically Boost Brand Visibility

You might be tempted to pay for ads, but engagement will go much further if it's organic.

April 16th, 2020

14 Ways to Define Your Unique Personal Brand

April 15th, 2020

13 Entrepreneurs Share Their Journey to Accessing Startup Capital

Accessing capital is one of the biggest challenges many new entrepreneurs face. From loans to investments, securing the proper financing is a long and taxing process, but it can be overcome. Members of Young Entrepreneur Council explained how they worked through their funding challenges.

April 15th, 2020

12 Ways to Boost Your Following on LinkedIn LinkedIn remains one of the most valuable resources for a business in terms of building industry connections, finding talent and attracting new potential customers. So how can a new business make the most of its LinkedIn page to boost its following and gain more visibility?

April 7th, 2020

https://www.inc.com/young-entrepreneur-council/6-bad-business-situations-that-turned-out-to-be-blessings-in-disguise.html

April 1st, 2020

Help High-Performing Employees Get Back In Gear: Eight Actionable Steps

If prompted, there's at least one employee that business owners can point to definitively and state that they are one of the most high-performing hires at the company. However, these high-performing employees sometimes go through issues that can put them off their game. For the company, this can impact performance and efficiency.

March 31st, 2020

Four Smart Tips For Getting Your First Guest Post Published

Take your content marketing strategy to the next level by getting published on someone else's website.

March 17th, 2020

Eight Proven Strategies For Maximizing Productivity During Your Work Day

Time management is one of the most challenging parts of being an entrepreneur. When you're a business owner, you don't have the luxury of getting all your tasks laid out for you. You have to formulate those tasks, assign importance to them, and schedule them so that they can get done in a reasonable window, all while finding ways to keep the entire business running and growing.

March 5th, 2020

How To Win Back Customers Who Stop Engaging With Your Emails

You’re going to encounter customers who are no longer interested in your brand. But there are people you can still win back if you understand their goals and interests.

February 24th, 2020

10 Entrepreneurs Share One Piece Of Advice That Has Stuck With Them

The world's most successful entrepreneurs are often fiercely independent and self-reliant. They have the courage to keep going when things get difficult and know how to push themselves to overcome even the most challenging of situations.

However, no one becomes a success completely on their own. Entrepreneurs also need a strong support network of peers and mentors who can offer them sage advice and wisdom throughout their journey.

Below, 10 members of Young Entrepreneur Council share the one piece of advice that has stuck with them over the years and helped them get where they are today.

February 19th, 2020

3 Simple and Effective Leadership Tips for Remote Managers

Overseeing a team that's spread across the country -- or even the globe -- doesn't have to be as challenging as you think.

February 11th, 2020

https://www.inc.com/young-entrepreneur-council/7-ways-to-shut-down-negative-self-talk-regain-confidence.html

February 10th, 2020

Identifying Your Employees’ Leadership Potential: Eight Critical Traits

A leader is someone who takes the initiative and drives the business forward to fulfill its goals. Within a company, leaders are responsible for guiding and inspiring those whose departments they lead. Many leaders get to their positions after years of experience and learning what their jobs entail.

January 23rd, 2020

3 Ways to Protect Your E-Commerce Website in 2020

Continue refining and adding new layers of protection to your cybersecurity plan this year.

January 22nd, 2020

https://www.inc.com/young-entrepreneur-council/6-proven-tactics-for-dealing-with-upset-customers.html

January 13th, 2020

Feeling Down? 16 Ways To Remind Yourself Of Your Potential

Everyone feels down from time to time -- especially when you're dealing with the stress of running a business. Those negative feelings can make you question everything.

While it's OK to feel down, the best way to relieve that feeling is to actively seek out positive thoughts. That's why we asked Young Entrepreneur Council members what they do in moments of doubt to help remind them of their potential. Ask yourself the following questions to regain your confidence during a mental or emotional rut.

January 13th, 2020

Here's How To Stay Active On Social Media As An Introverted Leader

Having an active social media presence is a great way for leaders to grow their business. It helps you establish your personal brand and authority, as well as reach a wider audience of potential customers. However, it also requires you to expend time and energy, which can be especially draining for an introverted or introspective business owner.

Fortunately, you can use your introspection to your advantage while engaging on social media. Below , 10 Young Entrepreneur Council members share their best tips for introverted leaders who want to stay active on social media without burning out.

January 9th, 2020

Track Your 2020 Departmental Goals With These 10 Effective Tactics

As your company grows, managing both company-wide and department goals can become more and more challenging. It can feel like a delicate balancing act -- and if it's not coordinated properly, prioritizing broader company goals could come at the expense of the individual departments.

As successful business leaders, the experts of Young Entrepreneur Council have learned how to track their department-specific goals as their companies have grown. That's why we asked a panel of YEC members to share their best tips for monitoring departmental objectives. Here's what they had to say.

January 2nd, 2020

4 Tips for Choosing an All-Star Business Mentor

Look for someone who will help you grow, not hold you back.

December 16th, 2019

Finding Investors For Your Business: Eight Entrepreneurs Share Crucial Advice

Entrepreneurs usually have to locate a source of funds to make their dreams into a reality. Sometimes, all you have is an idea, and as good as that idea is, unless you know how to get funding, it'll remain a thought in your head. Convincing people to invest in a business is more than just laying out the positives and negatives. Finding the right pitch for the correct type of investor is crucial in securing their financial help.

December 10th, 2019

https://www.inc.com/young-entrepreneur-council/becoming-a-great-business-leader-7-communication-secrets.html

December 6th, 2019

13 Considerations When Weighing New Office Policies

Office culture doesn't stagnate, and there will always be a constant change around how a business operates. Instituting new office procedures and policies as the company culture changes may mean taking some chances. Not all new plans are guaranteed to succeed, and some of them require considerable risk on behalf of the company.

December 5th, 2019

How to Segment Your Lead List Like a Pro

Use email marketing to increase your conversions this holiday season.

December 3rd, 2019

https://www.inc.com/young-entrepreneur-council/q1-planning-6-top-tips-to-start-new-year-on-right-foot.html

November 27th, 2019

https://www.inc.com/young-entrepreneur-council/7-top-strategies-for-delivering-effective-feedback-to-your-team.html

November 21st, 2019

Dealing With Social Media Controversy? 15 Tips for Handling It Gracefully

In the age of social media, a controversy -- and a potential public relations crisis -- is always lurking. It's impossible to completely avoid controversial issues and conversations if your business is on social media, but knowing how to handle them with grace and professionalism can save you from landing your brand in hot water. To help you, we asked members of Young Entrepreneur Council the following question:

November 19th, 2019

From Training To Travel, Here Are 12 Cool Uses Of Virtual Reality

The world has been enamored with the use of virtual reality ever since the movie “Tron” came out in the 80s. Today's VR is a bit different from the fancy world of the silver screen, but the technology has a lot of practical uses.

November 14th, 2019

Three Ways AI Is Improving Website Development

There are numerous benefits for consumers, business owners and developers when AI is used during the design phase.

October 9th, 2019

How to Find the Right Social Media Influencer for Your Campaign

Influencer marketing has helped businesses of all kinds build brand awareness, prolong engagement and generate sales.

September 18th, 2019

How To Write A Business Plan That's Right For You: Four Tips

Crafting a sound business plan will always take a lot of work, but it doesn't have to be overwhelming.

May 4th, 2018

4 Ways To Stand Out During Your Job Hunt This Year

Looking to add a specific skill to your arsenal to make yourself more marketable? Consider an online course.