Business Tools

Reading sample business plans is essential when you’re writing your own. As you explore business plan examples from real companies and brands, you’ll learn how to write one that gets your business off on the right foot, convinces investors to provide funding, and confirms your venture is sustainable for the long term. But what does a business plan look like? And how do you write one that is viable and convincing? Let’s review the ideal business plan formally, then take a look at business plan templates and samples you can use to inspire your own. Business Plan Format Ask any successful sports coach how they win so many games, and they’ll tell you they have a unique plan for every single game. The same logic applies to business. If you want to build a thriving company that can pull ahead of the competition, you need to prepare for battle before

Creating and managing content is more challenging than ever. With so many channels, keeping track of all of your posts can be cumbersome. Enter social media aggregators. These tools can help you oversee your digital presence and distribute information to your audience. In this post, you’ll learn about the different types of social media aggregators and what they can do for your team. From there, we’ll share the top tools already on the market. What is a social media aggregator?The Benefits of Social Media AggregatorsTypes of Social Media AggregatorsSocial Media Aggregation Tools Like other content aggregators, social media aggregators pull posts from your platforms and display them as a collection. You can embed the collection on your website to highlight posts about your brand, including user-generated content. Aside from your website, there are several places to feature these collections, including email marketing and digital screens at live events. The Benefits

Those who know me, know that I have a healthy obsession with travel, and so, I often pour through travel blogs looking for the best way to plan a trip and the best activities to do in a given place. One tool that will always help me find what I need is content aggregation. Since they’re not solely for travel sites, content aggregator sites can be a useful strategy. Marketers can reach new audiences, and consumers can find relevant resources. In this post, you’ll learn what content aggregation is and discover high-quality sites. Table of Contents How Content Aggregators Can Help Marketers How to Pick the Right Aggregator Service Aggregation vs. Creation vs. Curation Content Aggregation Tools Essentially, content aggregator sites collect and repost content so viewers can see articles from various sources all in one place. Usually, these sites are set up to aggregate content through RSS feeds automatically.

In an era where more than 20% of small enterprises fail in their first year, having a clear, defined, and well-thought-out business plan is a crucial first step for setting up a business for long-term success. The business plan is an undeniably critical component to getting any company off the ground. It’s key to securing financing, documenting your business model, outlining your financial projections, and turning that nugget of a business idea into a reality. Business plans are a required tool for all entrepreneurs, business owners, business acquirers, and even business school students. But … what exactly is a business plan? In this post, we’ll explain what a business plan is, the reasons why you’d need one, identify different types of business plans, and what you should include in yours. Business Plan Template [Download Now] Working on your business plan? Try using our Business Plan Template. Pre-filled with the sections

Gantt charts. Love ‘em, hate ‘em, or can’t live without ‘em, they’re a reality of a marketer’s life. But how do you make yours stand out from the rest? Below you’ll see some of the best examples around, along with some free templates to get you started. Dive in below and find your favorite. Table of Contents What is a Gantt Chart used for? How to Make a Gantt Chart Benefits of Using a Gantt Chart Ways to Make Gantt Charts The elements within a Gantt chart can be grouped into four categories: resources, milestones, tasks, and dependencies. Resources. Project managers must have insight into what resources are needed for tasks outlined in a Gantt chart for each to be completed on time. Milestones. Along your timeline, there will likely be milestones, both small and large, that must be hit to keep your project on track. A milestone for a

For your team, screen recorders can be used for several reasons — from creating tutorials for your website to recording a recurring tech issue to sending your marketing team a quick note instead of an email. Plus, we can’t forget about product demos and training videos that can be used by many departments on your team, from marketing to sales to customer service. Below, let’s learn about the best free and paid screen recording options for your company — whether you work at a small business or enterprise company. What is the best screen recorder? What’s considered the best will depend on what you need. Are you using it for work? For fun? Will you be live streaming on another platform? Once you’ve figured out your use cases, it will be easier to choose a screen recording tool. Other qualities you should take into account include: Cost User interface and

Whether you’re an entrepreneur looking for investors for your small business or the CEO of a large corporation, an executive summary can help you succeed and is a critical component for long-term growth. A short, attention-grabbing executive summary is an essential part of your business plan. Done correctly, it will ensure your company becomes or remains a key player in your industry. In this post, you’ll learn what an executive summary is and how to write one that engages investors, customers, and general audiences. Essentially, an executive summary is the front cover of your business plan, convincing readers that it’s worth their time to read the whole thing. A business plan includes a company overview, your company’s short-term and long-term goals, information on your product or service, sales targets, expense budgets, your marketing plan, and a list including each member of your management team. However, a CEO or investor might

The importance of using a great SEO Chrome extension can’t be overstated. SEO is essential if you want your site to rank on Google, and the right extension can help you automate research and analysis, leading to a more effective SEO strategy. With so many SEO Chrome extensions available, marketers often find themselves spending more time finding a great fit than getting actionable analytics. To help you navigate the crowded world of Chrome extensions, we’ve come up with a list of our favorites for SEO. Best SEO Extensions for Google Chrome 1. MozBar Price: Free; MozBar Premium, free 30-day trial, then paid plans from $99/mo MozBar allows its users to check SEO within their browser using just one click. MozBar provides metrics while viewing any webpage, and allows users to export SERPs into a CRV file and access analytics. Upgrading to MozBar Premium offers functions like analyzing keyword difficulty, page…

While your invoices might not be a front-facing part of your business, it doesn’t mean they should be plain and boring. To help you get a sense of the design possibilities, we put together a collection of impressive invoice examples that may inspire you to rethink your current design. But first, let’s review how to design an invoice in the section below. How to Design an Invoice You don’t need to be an expert to create professionally designed invoices. In fact, you can use invoice templates to get started. However, you need to know a bit about the structure of an invoice so that it’s functional and ensures you receive your payments on time. 1. Decide on your invoice format. Start by choosing the format you want to use for your invoice. Popular formats include: print, PDF, Google Docs, Word, and Excel. Each one has its pros and cons, but…

Ask any successful sports coach how they win so many games, and they’ll tell you they have a unique plan for every single game they coach. The same logic applies to business. If you want to build a thriving company that can pull ahead of the competition, you need to prepare yourself for battle before you break into a market. Business plans guide you along the rocky journey of growing a company. Referencing one throughout your voyage will keep you on the path toward success. And if your business plan is compelling enough, it can also convince investors to give you funding. But how do you actually write a viable and convincing business plan? Below, let’s review the format of a business plan and sample business plans you can use to inspire your own. Business Plan Format Before you get started on your business plan, you might be wondering, “Where…