Thomas Griffin

July 28th, 2021

Common Misconceptions About Being A Business Owner (And Why They Aren’t True)

Popular television shows, books, movies and the media in general often paint an idyllic picture of entrepreneurship, but it’s not until you’re actually in the thick of business that you fully understand what it means to be a business owner.

July 27th, 2021

Three Brutal Truths About Success You Need To Know Now

You aren't born successful. You have to work hard to earn it, and in doing so, you might have to give up a lot of things.

July 26th, 2021

8 Common App Features More Companies Should Eliminate

July 23rd, 2021

11 Emerging Business Opportunities In The Internet Of Things Sector

The Internet of Things (IoT) has been gaining more and more traction over the past few years as connected devices and smart home and office gadgets dominate the market. According to Statista, the IoT market revenue worldwide is projected to climb to over 1 trillion dollars by 2030.

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 13th, 2021

11 Ways Marketers Can Reach More Millennials on Social Media

One common piece of marketing advice is to meet your audience where they are. For the many companies looking to reach millennials, that means social media — and especially through the use of Instagram and TikTok. These social platforms provide great opportunities to engage with millennials and influence their purchasing behaviors. But how can you ensure your social media marketing efforts will be successful and won’t actually turn millennials away from your brand?

July 12th, 2021

12 COMMON TRAITS OF THE TECH INDUSTRY’S MOST SUCCESSFUL COMPANIES

Members of Young Entrepreneur Council discuss characteristics all top tech companies share and why.

June 28th, 2021

Not Naturally Charismatic? 13 Other Ways to Have a Positive Impact on Your Team

There are some business leaders who instantly light up a room when they walk into it. They have this charisma that draws people to them and makes others want to listen. However, if you don't feel like you have this type of personality naturally, you don't have to give up on being able to make a positive impact on others. With a few simple techniques, you can be a business leader whom others look up to and wish to be. 

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 21st, 2021

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

June 17th, 2021

14 Podcasts That Have Impacted How These Entrepreneurs Run Their Businesses (and Why)

With the rich educational value podcasts often provide their listeners, it’s no surprise that the business community turns to this popular form of content to improve their skills and strategies. Some entrepreneurs even make major business decisions based on the information they’ve learned and the stories they’ve listened to on podcasts.

June 16th, 2021

Eight Overlooked (But Important) KPIs All Entrepreneurs Should Track

When establishing a startup, it can be difficult to know which metrics you should be focusing on. You may be watching and reporting on basic key performance indicators (KPIs) such as your gross profit margin, but are there metrics you're overlooking? The answer is most likely yes.

June 14th, 2021

10 Signs You May Need to Turn Down a Potential Client

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 14th, 2021

14 INDUSTRIES PRIMED FOR DISRUPTION BY AI

Members of Young Entrepreneur Council predict which industries AI is likely to have a major impact on in the near future.

June 7th, 2021

13 Ways to Become a Positive Role Model for Yourself and Others

A positive role model is someone others want to emulate and follow, and successful entrepreneurs often become — sometimes unknowingly — the role models for other professionals. Whether it’s at work or in their personal lives, these leading entrepreneurs become a focus of attention because they have qualities that aspiring founders strive to replicate.

June 7th, 2021

4 Ways Professional Experience Can Make You a Better Entrepreneur

Many people are passionate about starting their own business and being their own boss, but to be a successful entrepreneur you need a lot more than just passion.

June 4th, 2021

12 WAYS FOR NEW ENTREPRENEURS TO CONQUER IMPOSTOR SYNDROME

Members of Young Entrepreneur Council share their best tips for overcoming self-doubt when starting out in business.

May 27th, 2021

Nine Factors To Consider When Creating The Perfect Product Packaging

Product packaging is often overlooked as something unimportant. However, like an extension of the product itself, it can attract customers as well as build the brand's reputation. But the look of the product packaging is only the start. The packaging should not only appeal to the customer, but also to any potential retailers.

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 20th, 2021

10 Business Leaders Share Their Best Tips For Creating An Effective Webinar

Webinars have increased in popularity since the world has gone virtual and they’re only expected to maintain their prevalence. Many companies are now looking to create webinars to expand their reach, connect with their audience and establish themselves as industry thought leaders.

May 19th, 2021

Got An Angry Customer? Nine Techniques To Keep Your Conversation Productive And Positive

It's an inevitability in any business; you can't please every customer and, eventually, someone will get upset. But what matters is how you deal with their expectations and come to a common solution.

May 17th, 2021

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

May 16th, 2021

10 Critical Tips to Applying for Business Awards (and How to Find Ones Worth Your Time)

Getting recognized by peers can significantly increase a business’s exposure, potentially resulting in increased visibility and more customers. However, not all awards are worth the time and effort to apply to them. Some of them don't carry a lot of weight with other experts in the field, some you may not even qualify for and others try to get businesses to pay them for consideration. But which ones are worth it? To offer their best advice, 10 professionals from Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) respond to the following question:

May 14th, 2021

Nine Leaders Share The Traits They Look For In New Remote Hires

The pandemic has made remote and hybrid work arrangements mainstream. But it has also given managers a unique opportunity to bring different talent to their teams from all over the country and the globe. That being said, it's also important to think about how those new hires will work and be managed in a remote setting.

May 14th, 2021

13 THINGS EVERY JOB CANDIDATE NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT THE TECH INDUSTRY

Members of Young Entrepreneur Council share some important insights every entry-level tech candidate should know before joining the field.

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 4th, 2021

Three Strong Ways To Delegate Efficiently And Avoid Micromanaging

To be a good leader and entrepreneur, it's important to know the difference between these two leadership styles.

April 16th, 2021

11 BUSINESS LEADERS PREDICT THE NEXT BIG STEP IN ENCRYPTION TECHNOLOGY

Members of Young Entrepreneur Council share their predictions for upcoming advances in encryption tech.

April 13th, 2021

10 Times You Should Definitely Not Text Your Customers

April 12th, 2021

Three Reasons Why You Need A Powerful LinkedIn Profile

Different people use LinkedIn for different purposes like building networks, getting hired, staying updated on industry news, etc. But no matter what your goal is, if used strategically, LinkedIn can help you achieve it and boost your professional growth to a great extent.

April 7th, 2021

13 Poor SEO Habits Marketers Should Avoid

Search engine optimization is a prominent concern for marketers across all industries and for any business with an online presence. Having good SEO habits is likely to get your website ranked on search engines above your competitors. However, poor SEO habits likely won’t produce the results you’re looking for and can potentially lead to your site getting heavily penalized.

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.

March 30th, 2021

Won an Award? 9 Smart Ways to Leverage It to Boost Your Brand

March 29th, 2021

12 Ways to Center Yourself When You Can’t Stop Overthinking

Many entrepreneurs will concede that their worst problem is overthinking complex decisions. The issue with overthinking is not only that it stifles creativity and innovation; it also erodes your confidence as an entrepreneur and can make you second-guess yourself.

March 26th, 2021

Scaling Quickly? 12 Tips to Grow at the Right Pace for You and Your Team

When your business starts seeing success, it's natural to want to ride the momentum and build upon it. However, it's possible to grow too fast, too soon. 

March 26th, 2021

12 Web Design Elements That Will Boost Traffic on Your Homepage

Good web design can make or break a modern business. If your website is smooth and easy to navigate, it will attract more users and is a vote of confidence for your organization. A poorly designed site can have the opposite effect, turning users away no matter how good the product is.

March 25th, 2021

11 Tips for Entrepreneurs Looking to Write Their First Book

Putting together a book takes time, energy and a lot of effort. And while it accounts for a lot of the book's labor, writing isn't the only thing an entrepreneur needs to concern themselves with. Publishing the book and the marketing associated with it also have a place in the overall success equation. But not all new writers know what to expect from the writing process. To help, 11 experts from Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) answer the following question:

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

Four Ways To Build A Strong Personal Brand For Your Career

Branding makes you memorable and tells your users what to expect from you.

March 17th, 2021

Small Business Owners: Eight Impactful Reasons To Leverage Cloud Technology

Because they often have very limited resources, small businesses have to be intentional about the tools they use. They don’t have the luxury of testing out and paying for expensive software and systems they ultimately may not keep, so it’s important that their chosen solutions are budget-friendly and effective from the start.

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 3rd, 2021

How To Combine Your Business's Content And Media Planning To Target The Right Audience

Finding a core audience to market to is a crucial part of making a business profitable. Many marketing departments spend thousands of dollars building a picture of their ideal customer to inform how and where they should market. Once they do that, it's just a matter of unifying their content and media planning to target their product's most viable buyers.

March 1st, 2021

Four Practical Interview Skills To Help You Land Your Dream Job

Everybody dreams of having a great job. But to land your dream job, you first have to convince the hiring manager that of all the candidates who’ve applied for the position, you fit best for the role. For that, you need to know what exactly the hiring manager is looking for.

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 25th, 2021

11 Smart Ways to Grow Your Email List on a Budget

Email marketing is a great way for small businesses to stay connected with their customers and encourage more sales. The problem is that because of their size they often have limited resources for growing their subscriber lists. So to help small business owners expand their email audience (even on a budget), the members of Young Entrepreneur Council weighed in on the following question:

February 24th, 2021

9 Expert Tips to Supercharge Your Business LinkedIn Page

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 9th, 2021

IN A FUNK AT WORK? 13 SIGNS IT’S TIME FOR A CAREER CHANGE.

Members of Young Entrepreneur Council discuss how you’ll know when it’s time to consider a career switch.

February 8th, 2021

4 Important Things Every Young Entrepreneur Should Know

If you really want to be successful, you need to keep going.

February 5th, 2021

Eight Expenses CEOs Might Not Think To Budget For

When heading a company, there are certain budget items that should be of critical concern. Basics like payroll and product costs are easy to figure in to your operational budget. But business is nothing without its unexpected expenses, and there are bound to be a few that CEOs will forget to account for.

January 28th, 2021

Don't Like Your Colleague? 14 Tips to Develop a More Positive Working Relationship

January 22nd, 2021

11 Ways to Boost Employee Morale and Productivity During the Cold Days of Winter

For many companies, maintaining a high level of engagement and motivation among employees during the dark winter months can be quite a challenge. And with a growing remote work environment, it is even more difficult to make sure your team stays engaged and productive while also ensuring they make time for self-care. To help, 11 entrepreneurs from Young Entrepreneur Council reflect on the following question:

January 19th, 2021

Important Factors to Consider Before Franchising Your Business

If you’re looking to expand your business, franchising your business could be a great option. Growing a company by franchising can offer many benefits—but you need to be aware of the drawbacks, too. To determine whether or not you should franchise your business, we asked members of Young Entrepreneur Council the following question:

January 14th, 2021

10 Ways to Optimize Your Virtual Hiring Process

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

Five Powerful Ways To Boost Your Attention Span

Staying focused at all times may not be possible. But the problem is that without proper focus, even the simplest task appears to be more complicated. This can directly affect your productivity and cause stress. 

January 6th, 2021

Overnight Success? Nine Effective Tips To Scale Your Business Fast

While it's not a common thing, some businesses do explode into popularity overnight. For the companies that do, it can be a completely new landscape to navigate. Suddenly, consumers want your product and they can't get enough of it. Your supply lines and logistics may not be able to handle the traffic at its new demanding level.

January 4th, 2021

STRUGGLING TO DELEGATE? 13 TIPS FOR THE HANDS-ON CEO

Members of Young Entrepreneur explain how hands-on CEOs can get more comfortable with delegation.

December 30th, 2020

12 Promising Industries to Start a Business in Today

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 16th, 2020

How To Boost Your Digital Marketing Conversion Rates Quickly

Every marketer uses digital marketing to grow their visibility, expand their email list, increase sales and boost their overall conversion goal. But not all see quick results from their campaign.

December 15th, 2020

No Product Reviews? Here's How to Encourage Amazon Sales Anyway

December 10th, 2020

Switching Industries? 11 Ways To Figure Out The Right Fit

Whether it’s frustration from limitations in their current industry or being shaken by the instability of the job market during COVID-19, many professionals are starting over in their careers, possibly in a new industry entirely. 

December 3rd, 2020

14 Ways to Achieve Personal Goals While Successfully Running a Company

November 25th, 2020

How To Deal With Rejection As A Writer

Every writer faces rejection at some point, but this doesn’t mean that you should stop writing altogether. 

November 23rd, 2020

14 Traits That Will Get Employers to Notice You

November 23rd, 2020

11 Best Methods for Achieving Uninterrupted Focus

Entrepreneurs can be easily distracted. Whether it's new ideas popping into their heads or the demands of their businesses, distractions abound and can easily steal away your focus.

November 23rd, 2020

12 Ways Service-Based Businesses Can Take Advantage of the Holiday Season

The holiday season is usually a goldmine of opportunities for product-based businesses that deploy specific marketing strategies to make their offering stand out and be relevant for that time of the year. While service-based businesses typically find it more difficult to capitalize on this season’s business opportunities, there are still several creative strategies they can deploy to make holiday marketing work in their favor. To help, we asked 12 entrepreneurs from Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) the following:

November 18th, 2020

10 Smart Questions To Expect From Investors

When you set out to pitch your idea to an investor, you usually go through the most common questions that they're likely to ask. Discerning investors are careful about where they put their money, but a well-prepared entrepreneur can quickly answer a surprising amount of what they ask.

November 11th, 2020

10 Genius Questions That Will Help Your Staff Generate Ideas And Solutions

Innovation is the key to a successful and progressive business, and your staff should constantly be looking for ways to grow your brand. As a leader, it’s your responsibility to keep your workers engaged and motivated.

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 9th, 2020

10 Ways To Use LinkedIn's New Tools To Boost Your Outreach

LinkedIn is often thought of as the go-to social network for professionals, but it’s more than just a social media platform. It’s a powerful marketing tool for brands to engage with customers, employees and business partners.

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

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 3rd, 2020

13 Strategies for a Successful Microinfluencer Partnership

Influencers are the newest way of reaching out to social media audiences. Unlike traditional advertising, these influencers have their own goals and ambitions. Influencers thrive on building relationships between themselves and their audiences. Microinfluencers tend to have fewer followers but an even more close-knit community. In many cases, this closer relationship makes it easier for them to convince users of their perspective. When dealing with micro-influencers, businesses should understand what makes this particular relationship work so well. To help, we asked 13 entrepreneurs from Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) the following:

November 2nd, 2020

How To Create A Culture Of Appreciation In Your Team

Appreciation culture is an effective way to develop emotional connections between your employees and your company, which in return can motivate them to stay loyal and dedicated to the company culture.

October 29th, 2020

Got Negative Feedback? Nine Smart Strategies For Handling It The Right Way

No matter how diligent a person is, they will, at some point, receive negative feedback in their career. Whether it’s an unsatisfied customer, an upset manager or a tense situation with a colleague, you can’t make everyone happy 100% of the time.

October 29th, 2020

UP YOUR UGC GAME WITH THESE 13 CONTENT STRATEGIES

Members of Young Entrepreneur Council share some creative ideas for tech companies that want to leverage more user-generated content.

October 28th, 2020

10 Key Steps That Will Help You Make Less Biased Decisions

We all have biases that affect our decision-making. These biases can sometimes be minor and have minimal impact, but other times they can have an outsized and potentially negative influence on your business and how it’s run.

October 28th, 2020

13 Pros and Cons of Using Personality Tests to Evaluate Employees

As entrepreneurs, we understand how powerful the classification of personality types can be in recruitment. From Myers-Briggs to Enneagram, the number of ways to gauge a person's innate traits can be measured in a hundred different ways. Several companies use one or more of those personality tests to develop their employees' potentials.

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 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 15th, 2020

14 SIMPLE CHANGES THAT WILL IMPROVE YOUR MOBILE ADVERTISING STRATEGY

Members of Young Entrepreneur Council offer suggestions for entrepreneurs that want to change up their mobile ad campaigns.

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

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 8th, 2020

13 Key Elements to Ensure a New Hire's Success in the First Three Months

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 6th, 2020

10 Brilliant Strategies For Maximizing Your Commute Time And Improving Your Life

Many companies that shifted to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic have helped employees eliminate their daily commute. However, some professionals do still need to make regular trips into the office – and spending time commuting to work can feel stressful and counterproductive. If you use your time wisely, though, there are plenty of ways to maximize your commute and make it a productive one.

October 5th, 2020

15 Entrepreneurs Share the First Hires They Made for Their Business and Why

October 5th, 2020

14 TECH TRENDS EVERY ENTREPRENEUR SHOULD PREPARE FOR

Young Entrepreneur Council members share some upcoming tech trends they believe will have an important impact on business leaders.

October 5th, 2020

A Unique Approach To Writing A Better Company Bio

Company bios are often boring pages published on your website as an afterthought — but shifting how you think about your bio can help you write a better one.

October 2nd, 2020

11 Considerations When Offering Equity To Early-Stage Non-Tech Hires

When you set up your startup and start hiring your first few people to staff, not all of them will be tech workers. Non-tech professions such as sales, marketing, etc. are also crucial to the success of a product. Some companies don't offer these hires any equity, but this may be a huge mistake. You can lose talented professionals if you don't sweeten the deal enough.

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

15 TIPS FOR SCALING UP YOUR SERVICE-BASED BUSINESS

Members of Yount Entrepreneur Council offer their tips for effectively growing a service-based company.

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 25th, 2020

13 Expert-Recommended Tricks For Accelerating Your Online Growth

For online businesses, a high-performing website that encourages engagement and conversions is the key to successful growth. It often takes time to build up a steady stream of website visitors and consistent buyers. However, there are some things you can do to help accelerate the process.

September 24th, 2020

15 Smart Ways to Get More Mileage Out Of Your Digital Content

If your company has a blog and social media presence, you know how challenging it can be to keep up with the constant demand for new content. Recycling and updating existing content is a great way to put a fresh spin on what you’ve previously published without the hassle of coming up with a brand-new idea.

September 21st, 2020

Stressed Out? 15 Practical Actions to Combat Doubt, Fear and Anxiety

Today's world is more stressful than ever. The fast-paced, always-on environment many of us operate in is enough to cause anxiety among even the most organized leaders. Throw in the current global pandemic and an economic recession, and it's no surprise that many people are experiencing doubts and fears in their personal and professional lives.

September 16th, 2020

13 Valuable Resources for Learning New Work-Related Skills

September 16th, 2020

15 Productivity Tips to Help Entrepreneurs Succeed

Small-business owners realize almost immediately how different their businesses are to run than large corporations. For success, a small business needs to adopt its own strategies that work with limited available resources. Entrepreneurs in this position need to make critical decisions about what approaches they'll take to elements of business growth and development.

September 15th, 2020

THE 14 MOST EXCITING DIGITAL MARKETING DEVELOPMENTS OF 2020 (SO FAR)

Young Entrepreneur Council members share some of the most exciting trends and developments they've seen in digital marketing this year.

September 14th, 2020

Seven Ways to Pivot to Profitability During Uncertain Times

While each business and industry is different, this framework should help you pivot toward profitability once again and sustain growth in the future.

September 14th, 2020

15 Common Buzzwords Hiring Managers Hate Seeing on Job Applications

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 10th, 2020

Feeling Burned Out? Nine Ways To Get Back On Track

When you’re overworked, it’s easy to burn out. The extra hours and workload can cause you to become stressed and ultimately less productive at work.

September 10th, 2020

12 E-Commerce Marketing Elements That Need to Change E-commerce marketing practices vary significantly based on industry, customer habits and what you’re selling, but there are some key aspects that stay the same across the entire sector. To stay relevant and competitive, businesses need to regularly review and adjust their e-commerce marketing strategies for optimal engagement and results. Here are 12 critical aspects of e-commerce marketing that are long due an overhaul.

September 4th, 2020

14 Smart Ways to Leverage a Virtual Assistant for Productivity

September 3rd, 2020

Here's How to Cut Recruiting Costs Without Sacrificing Quality

September 3rd, 2020

11 Important Tips to Keep in Mind When Negotiating Your Salary

August 31st, 2020

15 Important Questions to Ask Yourself When Developing Your Company Mission

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

https://www.inc.com/young-entrepreneur-council/7-successful-sales-tactics-why-they-work.html

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

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 26th, 2020

14 Ways to Increase Brand Loyalty Through Social Media

Brand loyalty forms a core concept of marketing in the 21st century. In a paradigm shift, thanks to better interactivity with consumers, brand loyalty is now easier to achieve than ever before. With a medium where the brand can interact directly with clients in the form of social media, all a company has to do is use their social media presence cleverly. Once they leverage their following and provide value to the audience, brand loyalty is sure to follow. To help, we asked 14 successful entrepreneurs from Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) the following question:

August 24th, 2020

Here's How To Successfully Communicate Your Brand Story To Your Audience

Building your brand is an important part of running a business. To truly connect with your audience, you must define and express who you are and your goals as a business. Often, the best way to do this is by telling your story.

August 24th, 2020

How Sports Can Teach You to Be a Better Leader

When leaders provide team members with the tools they need to succeed, everyone wins.

August 20th, 2020

10 Smart Ways To Keep Up With Ever-Changing Social Media Functions

Social media is constantly evolving, as are the ways people use it. What was once primarily used for connecting with old friends and family has morphed into a platform for sharing perspectives and launching campaigns.

August 19th, 2020

How Busy Entrepreneurs Can Make Time for Vacation: 11 Expert Tips

Entrepreneurs have some bad habits, one of which is not knowing when they need a break. With many young entrepreneurs, it's almost impossible to take a step back and relax. Yet studies have shown that entrepreneurs that don't take time out to smell the roses risk serious health problems later on in life.

August 17th, 2020

https://www.inc.com/young-entrepreneur-council/feeling-unfulfilled-try-these-7-things-to-find-better-purpose.html

August 10th, 2020

How To Come Up With Influential Blog Content Ideas: Nine Expert Tips

Content marketing has become a cornerstone marketing approach in the world of business and for good reason. It's a cost-effective method of getting new clients to notice the company while keeping current customers engaged with valuable information. However, for the bloggers, it can be a pain to come up with new ideas. With content so widespread on the internet, it's challenging to develop new topics or new spins on old issues.

August 5th, 2020

10 Content Creation Tips Companies Can Learn From Publishers Like BuzzFeed

In today's world, every business knows that consistent, quality content is the key to engaging consumers. Publishing giants like BuzzFeed have mastered the art of drawing people in with engaging headlines and interactive features, and encouraging repeat visitors with well-researched, valuable articles.

August 3rd, 2020

17 helpful tools to improve your email marketing efforts

These tools and strategies can make email marketing more efficient and less time-consuming.

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 27th, 2020

17 Small Business Legal Tools to Make Your Life Easier

Business legal matters can be intimidating, but these tools can help you understand and streamlining the process.

July 23rd, 2020

Why Old-School Management Is Now Irrelevant

Gone are the days of Mad Men-style meetings, budgets and executives.

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 21st, 2020

13 Most Relevant Bits of Consumer Data to Collect

One of the most significant elements in helping a business get to know its customers is their data. Over recent years, consumers have started to take notice of how businesses use their data. While many aren't bothered, a few are against a company getting its hands on their information. As a result, they are averse to sharing access to their data.

July 20th, 2020

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

Leadership is a battle for constant improvement.

July 14th, 2020

Here's How To Ensure Your New IoT Product Keeps Its Data Secure

The internet of things (IoT) has given consumers and businesses the ability to make their homes and offices "smart." Because IoT devices can communicate and exchange data with one other, they have vast potential for streamlining workflows and making us more efficient. However, with all the data each internet-connected device collects, stores and uses, there's also an inherent security risk.

July 13th, 2020

Want A More Productive, Focused Team? Encourage These 10 Habits

A strong daily routine can make all the difference in a team's productivity. Things like creating a to-do list at the start of each day and blocking off time for "deep thinking" work often help people get organized and feel more focused throughout the workday.

July 13th, 2020

15 Essential Steps for Creating a Business Exit Strategy

July 9th, 2020

Eight Ways IoT Companies Can Better Safeguard Their Consumers

The internet of things (IoT) is growing at a rapid pace, but sadly, security protocols for those devices are still in their infancy. Customer data security should be a significant concern for IoT companies. At present, there are several glaring holes in security that can be addressed with some dedicated effort. A few IoT companies have even patched out security vulnerabilities.

July 7th, 2020

Sophisticated Website Builders for Startups on a Shoestring Budget

You don't need to spend a ton of money to build a great business website.

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.

July 2nd, 2020

Choose The Best Online Course For You In Four Steps

Ask yourself a few questions about your learning style, budget and what you want to learn.

June 30th, 2020

14 Quick and Easy Ways to Keep Up With Industry News

June 30th, 2020

Nine Effective Ways To Collect And Use Customer Feedback

Customer feedback is an invaluable asset to any company. Without this information, businesses would struggle to figure out what’s working, what isn’t and how they can improve their processes. But how exactly do you get your customers to share their honest opinions – and what do you do with that information once you have it?

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 26th, 2020

13 Things to Remember Before You Apply for a Business Award

Winning a business or industry award can be a great honor for your business, as well as a highly effective PR opportunity. However, to be considered, you'll first need to submit an application to be reviewed by the award committee. To help you with this process, we asked the members of Young Entrepreneur Council the following question:

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 24th, 2020

16 HR Quality Checks to Ensure You're Recruiting With Equity

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 18th, 2020

14 Effective Methods for Improving Discipline in the Workplace

Professionals, regardless of their work environment, sometimes find their focus flagging. If you're someone who has to deal with divided attention between multiple tasks, the amount of effort you put into a job will start telling on your psyche before too long. To deal with this situation, you'll have to figure out how to retain your focus and discipline within the workplace.

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 15th, 2020

15 Key Traits Entrepreneurs Should Cultivate to Improve Themselves

June 11th, 2020

https://www.inc.com/young-entrepreneur-council/six-ways-to-stop-feeling-like-a-fraud-at-work.html

June 9th, 2020

How To Improve Asynchronous Communication When You Work From Home

Eliminate confusion, encourage teamwork and maintain open lines of communication no matter where your employees are located.

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 5th, 2020

10 Effective Ways To Develop Employee Trust During Periods Of Change

Trust is essential in a team, especially in times of change. Leaders need to believe employees will carry out their tasks properly, and employees need to believe heir leaders are taking them in the right direction. But trust between people isn’t a given -- it has to be earned.

June 5th, 2020

Offering Live Customer Chat? Follow These 15 Important Tips

In today's always-on, digital-first world, consumers increasingly expect companies to offer fast and convenient channels for customer support. To this end, many brands now offer live chat so customers can reach them faster than an email or phone call.

June 4th, 2020

15 Low-Cost Ways to Grow Your Small Business

June 2nd, 2020

19 Places to Find Talented Freelancers

19 entrepreneurs delve into where online freelance talent is most readily found

June 1st, 2020

Eight Strategic Approaches To Encouraging Employee Innovation

There's no question as to how vital innovation is to a business. However, the pitfall that most entrepreneurs fall victim to is thinking that all change must come from the top. If a company hires right, its talented employees could offer a vast resource in terms of their innovation to the company.

May 29th, 2020

18 key considerations when selling a business

18 leaders from YEC discuss what elements business leaders should keep in mind before selling their company.

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 29th, 2020

10 Effective Ways To Retain Customers Through An Unanticipated Business Disruption

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted nearly every business and industry in some capacity. Some non-essential employees have taken to remote work, while many others have faced reduced hours or layoffs.

May 21st, 2020

15 Practical Ways to Fit More Time Into Your Day

One of the most common complaints that professionals have in the 21st century is how little time there is in a day. The truth of the matter is that the day hasn't changed, but how we manage our time has. Losing time on frivolous activities is nothing new. However, with the advent of attention-stealing applications, we lose more time than ever before without even realizing it.

May 20th, 2020

Why Your Hobbies Make You A Better Problem-Solver

Schedule some time for creative play. You may be surprised at the positive results.

May 1st, 2020

5 Ways Leaders Can Stay Calm in Uncertain Times

Engage in a little self-care to help you through these strange times.

April 16th, 2020

14 Ways to Define Your Unique Personal Brand

April 16th, 2020

10 Underrated Business Skills That Every Entrepreneur Should Have

As an entrepreneur, it’s useful to have strong business acumen -- an almost intuitive skill that can and must be honed. However, good business sense alone isn’t enough; there are several other traits an entrepreneur needs in order to succeed.

As some of the top leaders in their respective industries, the members of Young Entrepreneur Council know what skills are required to succeed in the business world. Below, they share 10 underrated skills that all entrepreneurs should possess, but often don't.

April 16th, 2020

16 Ways to Encourage Engagement With Your Brand

April 15th, 2020

14 Thing To Consider Before Making a Major Business Purchase

Making a major spending decision in your business, whether that be a new hire or a new marketing campaign, is often intimidating. You want to make sure you’re investing your money wisely, in a way that will yield a worthwhile return. To help you, we asked a panel of Young Entrepreneur Council members how to make financial decisions with confidence.

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 15th, 2020

10 Effective Ways to Make Your Sponsored Posts Stand Out on Social Media With so much competition for a target audience’s attention on social media, creating truly engaging posts that stand out requires creativity and business savvy in equal parts. What are some of the most effective methods that any business could implement to create sponsored posts that will be noticed by your audience on social media?

April 8th, 2020

Why You Need to Stop Working 100 Hours Every Week

Working hard is essential to success, but we need to stop praising those who work long hours and overwork their teams.

March 20th, 2020

5 Creative Hobbies You Should Try This Year

You won't know you like something until you try it.

March 11th, 2020

https://www.inc.com/young-entrepreneur-council/7-ways-to-effectively-build-rapport-with-new-customers.html

March 2nd, 2020

Eight "Harmless" Habits That Are Keeping You Back

Entrepreneurs have habits that can both aid and hamper their efforts to be better businesspeople. Some practices even seem to be completely harmless but we don’t truly realize how damaging they can be until we make a small change that impacts them and shows how die-reaching its consequences are.

February 28th, 2020

How to Effectively Market Your Nonprofit

Highlight all the good you're doing on the first platform people will see: your website.

February 13th, 2020

Eight Best Tips To Blend Content And Media Strategies For Your Target Audience

Marketing is only truly effective if it strikes a chord with the audience it's intended for. Brand messages resonate more when the business aims them at the right audience. Since branding happens across multiple channels, having a consistent plan for both content and media is necessary.

February 7th, 2020

5 Exciting Email Marketing Trends to Watch in 2020

Happy email subscribers equal higher engagement rates and conversions.

January 21st, 2020

11 Crucial Operational Skills Every Small Business Owner Needs From Day One

When you own a small business, you have to take on many of the day-to-day responsibilities yourself -- at least in the beginning. Having some basic knowledge across all aspects of business operations can go a long way to making your business flourish, and ultimately turn you into a more well-rounded manager when you do eventually hire staff.

But which skills are the most important to develop from the get-go? We asked 11 members of Young Entrepreneur Council which fundamental skill – tech, operations, leadership, etc. – all small business owners should have to manage day-to-day operations. They shared their answers below.

January 17th, 2020

4 Customer Service Trends You Need to Know in 2020

Give your customer service strategy a boost as we begin the new decade.

January 16th, 2020

Time Management Tips: Focus on Brand Growth or Competition?

January 16th, 2020

Want To Connect Your Offline And Online Presence? Try These 10 Marketing Strategies

In the modern world, entrepreneurs typically need to maintain both an online and offline presence to generate business. It’s important to connect your digital and real-life persona to keep a consistent image, which can ultimately help build trust with your potential customer and follower base.

The members of Young Entrepreneur Council have spent time honing their personal brands to grow their business. Below, they share 10 ways to successfully connect your offline and online marketing efforts.

January 14th, 2020

https://www.inc.com/young-entrepreneur-council/fighting-winter-slump-7-ways-to-get-team-back-in-working-shape.html

January 14th, 2020

10 Tricks To Actually Keeping Your 2020 New Year's Resolutions

A New Year’s resolution is a great way to kickstart the year on the right foot, while setting the stage for continued growth. However, most people struggle with sticking to their resolutions beyond the first few weeks (or days) of the new year.

So how can you beat the odds and meet your goals in 2020? We asked the members of Young Entrepreneur Council to share how they make their New Year’s resolutions work in the long term. Their best answers are below.

January 2nd, 2020

10 Entrepreneurs Share The One Challenge They Never Expected When Starting A Business

Starting a business always comes with a certain amount of risk. You’re opening yourself to the possibility of both the successes and challenges that come with entrepreneurship, many of which are difficult to predict before you start.

As successful business owners, the members of Young Entrepreneur Council have experienced firsthand the unexpected challenges of starting a company. Below, they share 10 of the toughest obstacles they didn't expect to face, and how other leaders can prepare for them.

December 27th, 2019

4 Ways Your Business Can Give Back This Season

In the cold winter months, keep spirits warm and morale high with acts of service and appreciation.

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 13th, 2019

How to Rock Your First Speaking Engagement

Landing a speaking engagement is as exciting as it is nerve-wracking.

December 12th, 2019

Embracing Remote Work Culture: Seven Tips For Entrepreneurs

Technology advances rapidly, and business owners need to keep pace with it, or they risk losing their best talent. Thanks to connectivity in all parts of the world, entrepreneurs no longer need to have employees inside their offices at all points in time. Many businesses outsource work to professionals around the globe and leverage specialized technology that makes it easy to plan meetings and manage teams and projects from a centralized office.

December 11th, 2019

Eight Proven Methods To Keep Company Culture Intact When Growing Your Team

Company culture is the foundation of how a business functions. When a business hires new employees, there can be a tendency for those newcomers to shape company culture through their personalities. On rare occasions, these people can be charismatic enough to change company culture completely. If the changes benefit the organization, then this might be a good thing.

November 27th, 2019

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

November 22nd, 2019

How to Overcome Your Bad Work Habits

Admitting to your bad work habits is the first step toward conquering them.

November 20th, 2019

11 Essential Aspects To Consider For Successful Online Video Development

Online videos are one of the most successful marketing materials that a business has at its disposal. However, crafting an online video to draw people in takes a bit more skill than merely recording something and adding branding to it.

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 18th, 2019

10 Exciting Implications Of Recent Technologies

The rate of technological advancement has seen the world change almost entirely in just a single decade. In a short space of time, humanity has managed to develop advances that people only 50 years ago would be unable to fathom.

November 18th, 2019

10 Exciting Implications Of Recent Technologies

The rate of technological advancement has seen the world change almost entirely in just a single decade. In a short space of time, humanity has managed to develop advances that people only 50 years ago would be unable to fathom.

November 1st, 2019

How to Create Effective B2B Marketing Videos

Video content has to be entertaining enough to capture viewers and effective enough to turn them into customers.

October 11th, 2019

How to Boost Your E-Commerce Sales This Halloween: 3 Ideas

How will you implement Halloween into your marketing strategy this year?

September 26th, 2019

How to Find the Right Remote Opportunity

How will you refine your job search so you find remote work that’s right for you?

September 5th, 2019

How to Write Killer Email Copy for Your E-Commerce Business

Get creative with your email marketing to encourage action.