Two of the most important things you can do for your business are to build relationships with your customers and engender their loyalty. One of the best ways to do this is through online communities. You want to encourage your customers to feel like they're a part of something special. This in turn encourages their loyalty. Here are a few reasons why you should consider building an online community around your brand and some suggestions for making this happen. Communities increase retention rate...

Digitalization allows entrepreneurs to disrupt traditional markets and deliver new services overnight. However, over 85% of new initiatives fail. Success for Amazon, GE, and global entrepreneurs starts with clarity of mission, market and customer needs plus the definition of the business model and market approach to creating value. For example, Amazon's mission to build a place where people can find anything they might want to buy was the foundation behind their start as online bookseller throug...

As the owner of a startup, you are probably trying to do a lot with a little, and that may mean you're doing your own accounting. While you may try to handle your accounting on your own, it's usually not the best idea, especially if you're working with investors and managing payroll. If you make a mistake in your accounting, you can end up with a huge mess on your hands. Therefore, we have compiled a list of common accounting mistakes your company may be making for you to review. If you find tha...

One major consequence of the internet has been the proliferation of choice, in all arenas. Remember when you walked into clothing stores and picked out what was on the shelf? How quaint. Looking for a new kind of toothpaste? Here are 75! When it comes to material objects, figuring out what you need can usually be done through online reviews. For services, however, the currency is still the personal reference. Think about it: when you need a service, would you rather read 400 online reviews, then...

​ Preparing for the sale of a company can be a long-term process and one that can zap the energy of even the most energetic CEO. We've put together a shortlist of four things founders/management teams need to consider before selling a company. #1: Keep moving forward As you enter the sales phase, you might be tempted to scale back your day-to-day operations. This isn't a good idea. You want to keep your business running as usual, just as if a sale isn't right around the corner. This guarantees y...