ReportWire

Tag: Revenue Generation

  • What Smart Marketers Are Doing Now to Maximize Q4 Revenue — And How You Can Too | Entrepreneur

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    It’s August. Your inbox is full of OOO replies, Slack pings have slowed to a whisper and if you’re lucky, you’re halfway through a bottle of overpriced rosé on someone’s porch.

    But if you’re just now starting to think about your Q4 strategy? You’re not behind — you’re already in trouble.

    Q4 isn’t just another quarter. It’s the Super Bowl of marketing. And while most teams are sleepwalking through summer, this is your chance to take the lead. The ones who win Q4 are laying down the groundwork now. The ones who don’t? They’re scrambling come October, wondering why their revenue flatlined.

    Here’s how to avoid becoming a cautionary tale.

    Planning ahead isn’t a luxury — it’s survival

    When I started The Go! Agency, I thought being 30 days ahead meant I was being proactive. I had calendars, content and what I thought was control.

    In reality, I was just managing chaos with a pretty spreadsheet.

    Now? We’re finalizing Q4 deliverables in August and testing campaigns by early September. That way, when the holiday madness hits, we’re not creating — we’re executing.

    And this isn’t just an enterprise strategy. Whether you’re a DTC startup, a B2B SaaS company or a one-person marketing team, planning early gives you the one thing your competitors won’t have: momentum.

    Related: 3 Marketing Trends You Need to Capitalize on Now Before Your Competition Beats You to It

    What smart Q4 prep looks like in August

    If you’re in marketing, here’s what you should be doing right now:

    • Reviewing Q1–Q3 performance to cut what’s not working and double down on what is
    • Updating last year’s holiday campaigns while there’s still time to test new angles
    • Writing your email flows and SMS sequences so they’re ready by October
    • Locking in vendors, platforms and partnerships before placements fill up
    • Coordinating team bandwidth to avoid last-minute scrambles

    This isn’t overkill. This is what the winners do.

    Don’t just “check the budget” — work it like a lever

    Most teams treat budgets like static numbers. You get a number then go spend it. Smarter teams ask: Where did we get the best return last year and how quickly can we shift budget if something pops off?

    One of our clients, a global beverage brand, set a modest ROAS target for Meta campaigns last fall. When performance started to surge, we were able to reallocate budget mid-month. Result? A 135% ROAS over-delivery and more than $30,000 in incremental revenue — in November alone.

    If you don’t know where your flex is, you can’t take advantage of the spikes.

    Audit your channels before you sink more money into them

    Now’s the time to pressure-test what’s really working. Start with the basics:

    • Where’s your traffic coming from — and more importantly, where’s it converting?
    • Are your email flows actually performing or are they just coasting?
    • Are you reusing the same holiday sequences from 2022?

    Last year, we helped a premium pet brand revamp their email strategy in August. By the end of Q4, they had generated $47K in placed orders from email alone. And their best-performing email? It went out in February — and brought in another $7K.

    The lesson: strategy beats panic every time.

    You can’t launch big if half your team is out

    Your Q4 calendar is only as strong as your team’s availability.

    Every year, brands plan big November launches — only to realize their lead designer is in Italy until the 12th and the social media manager is at a conference. That’s how good ideas turn into half-baked campaigns.

    Plan around real availability. Who’s in-office when? Who can step in if needed? Have you onboarded freelance or contract support in case things scale?

    You don’t need a massive team. You need a present, prepared one.

    Learn from last year — then upgrade it

    If you haven’t analyzed last year’s Q4 data, you’re flying blind.

    What channels converted best? Which campaigns flopped? Which subject lines actually got opened?

    Find the patterns. Then improve them.

    Maybe your BFCM sale crushed it but your remarketing ads underperformed. This year, rebuild your mid-funnel strategy and refine segmentation before crunch time.

    Q4 is not the time for trial and error. That’s what August and September are for.

    Don’t coast into January — accelerate into it

    Here’s what no one talks about: January is a goldmine.

    If your business touches wellness, finance, productivity or anything “new year, new me” adjacent, start building those campaigns now.

    Your competition will be crawling out of the holiday fog. You’ll already be converting.

    Related: Why Your Old Marketing Tactics Are Killing Your Growth in 2025

    Marketing isn’t optional — it’s the main engine

    Too many teams treat marketing like a side hustle — something to turn on when sales slow or revenue dips.

    But marketing isn’t an accessory. It’s the engine. It’s what gets you seen, heard, clicked and remembered.

    So while everyone else is “planning to plan,” do the smart thing.

    Plan now. Lock it in. Execute early. Optimize often. Win more.

    Because by the time your competitors realize Q4 has started, you’ll already be two laps ahead.

    It’s August. Your inbox is full of OOO replies, Slack pings have slowed to a whisper and if you’re lucky, you’re halfway through a bottle of overpriced rosé on someone’s porch.

    But if you’re just now starting to think about your Q4 strategy? You’re not behind — you’re already in trouble.

    Q4 isn’t just another quarter. It’s the Super Bowl of marketing. And while most teams are sleepwalking through summer, this is your chance to take the lead. The ones who win Q4 are laying down the groundwork now. The ones who don’t? They’re scrambling come October, wondering why their revenue flatlined.

    The rest of this article is locked.

    Join Entrepreneur+ today for access.

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    Christopher Tompkins

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  • How a Smart Marketing Plan Turned One Brand’s Emails Into $47,000 in Revenue | Entrepreneur

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    Planning isn’t sexy. It doesn’t trend. No one’s going viral for updating their content calendar or plotting campaign touchpoints.

    But here’s the hard truth most marketers won’t admit out loud: the teams that win are the ones who plan. Period.

    As CEO of The Go! Agency, I’ve worked with growth-stage startups, international brands and Fortune 500s. And the difference between consistent growth and quarterly chaos always comes down to this — the presence or absence of a plan that actually works.

    Yet every August, the same cycle begins. Q4 shows up like a freight train, and suddenly everyone’s scrambling:

    • Campaigns are rushed
    • Budgets are misaligned
    • Messages are muddled
    • Leadership is confused
    • Teams are exhausted

    And all of it could have been avoided with one thing: a strategic, forward-looking, execution-ready plan.

    Related: Why Your Old Marketing Tactics Are Killing Your Growth in 2025

    Why most marketing plans fail before they even start

    Let’s stop pretending a planning session is a slide deck with buzzwords or a half-hearted brainstorm led by someone who still thinks “go viral” is a tactic.

    Planning is not about checking a box. It’s about building a structure that connects real objectives to measurable actions across every channel. But most teams aren’t doing that.

    They’re treating planning as an afterthought — if they’re doing it at all. And when your plan is a vague Notion doc, a disjointed task list or worse, a whiteboard of “cool ideas,” don’t be surprised when your campaigns flop.

    The planning process has become a casualty of hustle culture. We’ve been trained to equate movement with progress. But in marketing, unplanned execution is just expensive guessing.

    The fall framework that delivers results

    At The Go! Agency, we’ve built and tested a framework that cuts through the noise. It’s what we used to help a premium pet nutrition brand drive over $47,000 in email campaign revenue and increase TikTok video views by nearly 500% in a single quarter.

    It’s also what helped an international beverage equipment company exceed ROAS goals by 135% — scaling from 9.4 to 14.78 in just four months.

    And no, it didn’t require 10 tools or a 92-slide deck.

    Here’s how it works:

    1. Set goals that actually mean something
    “We want more engagement” is not a goal, but “We want a 30% increase in demo bookings from LinkedIn in Q4” is.

    Start with your business objectives, not just marketing KPIs. Growth only happens when your marketing activities ladder up to tangible business outcomes.

    2. Audit your current channels
    You’re probably doing more than you think: emails, blogs, paid ads, social, events, PR. But how much of it is working — and how much is noise?

    Take stock. Know what’s performing and why. Then cut what’s not moving the needle.

    3. Lock in messaging that doesn’t suck
    Your message is your fuel. If it’s generic, recycled or vague, your audience is already tuned out.

    You don’t need “clever.” You need clear, compelling positioning that reflects your unique POV and actually speaks to real pain points.

    And no — ChatGPT can’t do this for you. AI is a multiplier, not a mind reader. Garbage in, garbage out.

    4. Match the message to the market
    Segment smarter. The same campaign can’t serve every audience. Tailor your messaging per segment and then match it to the right platform.

    LinkedIn for B2B thought leadership? Absolutely — it’s still the best platform for building trust and credibility with a professional audience. TikTok for brand storytelling? If your audience lives there, it’s a powerful way to connect through authentic, culture-driven content. Email for conversion? Still king — when it’s targeted, relevant and backed by a strong message.

    5. Build around a calendar
    Themes drive cohesion. A roadmap aligns execution. You need to know what’s happening when — and how your campaigns, content, sales pushes and partnerships sync up.

    Planning gives you rhythm. That rhythm gives your team momentum.

    Stop glorifying the grind

    Let’s kill the myth that planning is rigid. The right plan is a launchpad — not a cage.

    It’s what lets you pivot without panic when a new initiative lands in your lap. It’s what helps you say “no” to shiny distractions. And it’s what allows you to build campaigns that scale, not scramble.

    You don’t need more meetings. You need direction. You don’t need a productivity tool with 30 integrations. You need strategic clarity.

    The ROI no one talks about

    Think planning is overhead? Here’s what it really unlocks:

    • Smarter content with a clear purpose
    • Faster execution with less firefighting
    • Scalable campaign architecture
    • Higher ROI with fewer wasted hours
    • Cleaner data to prove your impact

    And let’s not ignore the internal wins: clearer expectations, tighter collaboration and less burnout.

    The brands that scale aren’t guessing. They’re mapping.

    Related: 3 Marketing Trends You Need to Capitalize on Now Before Your Competition Beats You to It

    Final word: be the marketer who’s ready

    You can’t be bulletproof without a blueprint. And planning is your blueprint.

    This fall, don’t wait to react. Build your roadmap now. Align your team. Ground your efforts in strategy, not spaghetti.

    Because the truth is, in a landscape filled with marketers who are busy, the ones who are intentional will always win.

    Planning isn’t sexy. It doesn’t trend. No one’s going viral for updating their content calendar or plotting campaign touchpoints.

    But here’s the hard truth most marketers won’t admit out loud: the teams that win are the ones who plan. Period.

    As CEO of The Go! Agency, I’ve worked with growth-stage startups, international brands and Fortune 500s. And the difference between consistent growth and quarterly chaos always comes down to this — the presence or absence of a plan that actually works.

    The rest of this article is locked.

    Join Entrepreneur+ today for access.

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    Christopher Tompkins

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  • How a Mom’s Garage Side Hustle Hit $1 Billion Revenue | Entrepreneur

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    This Side Hustle Spotlight Q&A features Sandra Oh Lin, 50, of Los Altos, California. She is the founder and CEO of KiwiCo, a company that provides educational activities for kids meant to spark creativity and problem-solving through hands-on play. Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of KiwiCo. Sandra Oh Lin.

    Want to read more stories like this? Subscribe to Money Makers, our free newsletter packed with creative side hustle ideas and successful strategies. Sign up here.

    What was your day job or primary occupation when you started your side hustle?
    I had just stepped away from seven years at eBay Inc., where I had launched PayPal Mobile and led the eBay fashion business. I was working on a new fashion-related startup idea before I ended up starting KiwiCo in 2011.

    Where did you find the inspiration for the side hustle?
    When my kids were younger, I tried to find ways for them to exercise their creativity and put their problem-solving skills to work. I wanted them to grow up to feel like they could envision and better the world around them. As an engineer by training, I saw creating and building through hands-on activities as a way to explore, discover and build creative confidence. At the same time, I was drawing on my own childhood — I have such fond memories of making and building things with my mom while I was growing up.

    Related: After College, She Spent $800 to Start a Side Hustle That Became a ‘Monster’ Business Making $35 Million a Year: ‘I Set Intense Sales Targets’

    What were some of the first steps you took to get your side hustle off the ground? How much money/investment did it take to launch?
    I started by creating hands-on projects for my kids. Then, I started to share them with friends and family during playdates. The parents and kids were so enthusiastic about the activities that it gave me the confidence to take it further. I laid the groundwork to see if there was a market for a real business. Then, I leveraged my network to start conversations with investors. We raised a little more than $10 million in venture funding. From there, we were able to become profitable and cash flow positive — and fund our own growth.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of KiwiCo

    Are there any free or paid resources that have been especially helpful for you in starting and running this business?
    I had a strong background in product design (having worked in R&D at Procter & Gamble) and ecommerce (from time at PayPal and eBay). Yet, I didn’t have any direct experience with fulfillment, supply chain and operations. I had a lot to learn. So I made a conscious effort to surround myself with people who were true experts. One example is Mike Smith, who was the COO of Walmart. He provided invaluable guidance, and he even helped interview our VP of operations candidates when we were hiring. Advisors like Mike were so helpful to us at that time.

    If you could go back in your business journey and change one process or approach, what would it be, and how do you wish you’d done it differently?
    I had always heard people say that a strong culture is so important to define and cultivate when you build a company. That way, you can point to and reinforce the behavior and values that align. While I was able to grok that academically, I put it aside when I should have addressed it earlier. As a result, some of our hiring was off in the beginning, and we had to course correct, which was costly. It would have been helpful to have put the framework into place from the beginning.

    When it comes to this specific business, what is something you’ve found particularly challenging and/or surprising that people who get into this type of work should be prepared for, but likely aren’t?
    During the pandemic, one of our toughest challenges was sourcing enough supplies to keep up with surging demand. In the years since, we’ve seen our fair share of ups and downs on that front, but one thing has remained constant: the importance of strong, trusted relationships with our suppliers. They’ve been incredible partners through it all, and those collaborations have been key to helping us navigate post-pandemic growth with resilience and adaptability.

    Related: This Mom’s Creative Side Hustle Started As a Hobby With Less Than $100 — Then Grew Into a Business Averaging $570,000 a Month: ‘It’s Crazy’

    Can you recall a specific instance when something went very wrong? How did you fix it?
    I’ll never forget our very first alpha shipment. We had just 19 crates to send out, and it took a team of five of us the entire day to get them boxed and shipped. By the end, we were exhausted and looking at each other like, There has to be a better way. It was a wake-up call that we needed better systems and processes for fulfillment if we were going to scale. We figured it out along the way, but that moment sticks with me as a reminder of how far we’ve come.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of KiwiCo

    How long did it take you to see consistent monthly revenue?
    With our core business being subscription-based, we’ve seen consistent monthly revenue from the beginning. KiwiCo has been profitable and self-funded for many years now. What started in my garage has grown into a company that has shipped more than 50 million crates to families in over 40 countries and created more than 1,500 hands-on products and activities. It’s amazing to see how far we’ve come, while still staying true to the heart of why we started: sparking creativity and confidence in kids everywhere.

    What does growth and revenue look like now?
    To date, KiwiCo has generated more than $1 billion in lifetime revenue. This is something I’m incredibly proud of, not just because of the number itself, but because it represents millions of moments of creativity and discovery for kids and families. Additionally, we launched in Target and Barnes & Noble this past year as part of building our wholesale channels.

    Related: He Spent $36 to Start a Side Hustle. Now the Business Earns 6 Figures a Year — With Just 1-2 Hours of Work a Day: ‘Freedom.’

    What do you enjoy most about running this business?
    One of my favorite parts of this journey is that my kids not only understand what I do for work but also are involved in helping shape KiwiCo’s products. My kids were the original source of inspiration for the company, and they continue to be critical testers of our products to ensure we’re creating the best hands-on activities for kids to discover and unleash their creativity and explore as they learn about the world around them.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of KiwiCo

    What is your best piece of specific, actionable business advice?
    Finding a community of founders can be so helpful. Sharing the challenges and the opportunities that come from building a business with others who are in the same boat can be so valuable. You can gather everything from tangible, actionable advice to empathetic ears that have been there and done that.

    This Side Hustle Spotlight Q&A features Sandra Oh Lin, 50, of Los Altos, California. She is the founder and CEO of KiwiCo, a company that provides educational activities for kids meant to spark creativity and problem-solving through hands-on play. Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of KiwiCo. Sandra Oh Lin.

    The rest of this article is locked.

    Join Entrepreneur+ today for access.

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    Amanda Breen

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  • Email Isn’t Dead — But Your Strategy Might Be. Here’s How to Revive It | Entrepreneur

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    Let’s address the elephant in the inbox.

    Email marketing isn’t dead. It’s not outdated. It hasn’t been replaced by TikTok, Threads or an army of AI bots. In fact, email is still one of the most reliable, highest-ROI marketing channels in your arsenal — if you actually use it right.

    But here’s the inconvenient truth: most businesses don’t. They treat email like a leftover tactic from 2009, not the strategic revenue engine it can be. So when their campaigns fail, the blame is often directed at the platform, the audience, the open rates — everything except the real culprit: a broken system.

    I’ve had enough client calls that start the same way to spot the pattern. “We’ve been sending emails for years,” they say. “Newsletters, sales promos, special offers. But it’s just not working anymore.”

    Spoiler: The problem isn’t email. It’s execution. Let’s break it down.

    Stop sending and hoping

    Before you send another message, ask yourself one question: What is the actual goal of this email? If your answer is “generate leads,” great. That’s a start. But leads don’t materialize just because you hit send. Email isn’t magic. It’s a relationship channel.

    You need a strategy. Are you building relevance? Segmenting based on interest? Optimizing timing? Tracking behavior across your site and CRM? If not, you’re not doing email marketing. You’re just sending digital flyers and hoping someone notices.

    Related: 12 Reasons Why Your Emails Aren’t Driving Business

    Your list isn’t a strategy

    Here’s the harsh reality: most email lists are digital junk drawers. Bloated, unsegmented and outdated.

    One client had 25,000 contacts in a single list labeled “Newsletter.” No segmentation. No tagging. Just one-size-fits-all messaging to cold leads, VIP clients and long-lost contacts alike. Their click-through rate? Less than 1%.

    Would you hand the same sales pitch to a returning customer, a cold prospect and a lapsed buyer? Then why are you emailing them like they’re all the same person?

    Your email platform has segmentation tools for a reason. Use them. Tag based on behavior, purchase history, content engagement and lifecycle stage. And if your list is outdated? Run a re-engagement campaign. Let people self-select. And yes — let them unsubscribe. Because a clean, active list will always outperform a bloated one.

    Your platform might be failing you

    If you’re still using the free version of Mailchimp from 2017, expecting results is like entering a Formula 1 race on a tricycle.

    Email platforms have evolved. If yours doesn’t offer automation, A/B testing, tagging, CRM integration or real-time analytics, it’s holding you back. For ecommerce, I recommend Klaviyo. It connects directly to Shopify, lets you recover abandoned carts, trigger smart automations and — this is key — track actual sales tied to email behavior.

    And yes, you’ll need to invest in a platform that can handle more than “send newsletter.” If you’re serious about revenue, stop being cheap about the tool that drives it.

    Stop worshiping the open rate

    Everyone obsesses over open rates like they’re gospel. But here’s the truth: a high open rate doesn’t mean anything if no one clicks, converts or remembers you. Don’t just design pretty emails. Design strategic ones.

    Ask better questions. What KPIs actually map to your business goals? For ecommerce, it might be revenue per email, cart recovery rate or product clicks. For B2B, it may be meetings booked or resources downloaded.

    Start there. Reverse-engineer your content. Then test relentlessly. Subject lines. Send times. CTA placement. Message framing. Real marketers test. Lazy marketers send and pray.

    Visibility, credibility, engagement — then sales

    Email doesn’t operate in a vacuum. It’s part of a journey. You don’t go from “nice to meet you” to “here’s our invoice” overnight. So layer your content.

    Visibility gets you seen.
    Credibility makes you trusted.
    Engagement builds the bridge.
    Sales walk across it.

    If every email is just a promotion, you’re not building a bridge — you’re shouting into the void. Offer value. Share insight. Deliver relevance. And when it’s time to sell, you won’t have to beg for attention. You’ll already have it.

    Related: 6 Reasons Your Marketing Emails Aren’t Converting — and How to Fix Them All

    Campaigns don’t build revenue — systems do

    Most marketers jump straight to tactics — “Let’s send something Tuesday at 10 a.m.” — with no infrastructure underneath.

    But if your email doesn’t plug into a system, it’s a short-term stunt, not a long-term strategy.

    Here’s what a real email system looks like:

    • Set up automated workflows for key stages like onboarding, re-engagement and post-purchase to nurture your audience over time.
    • Build segmented customer journeys that align with specific buyer behaviors so your emails are always relevant and timely.
    • Integrate your email platform with your CRM and ecommerce systems to enable real-time targeting based on user actions.
    • Define clear KPIs that are directly tied to business outcomes before you create or send any campaigns.

    This is the work most marketers skip. And it’s why their email marketing never scales. Strategy always beats volume.

    Want to win Q4? Fix this in Q3

    Here’s your reality check: once fall hits, you’re out of time. Black Friday. Cyber Monday. Holiday chaos. End-of-year goals. Your calendar will be execution-heavy and strategy-starved.

    So fix it now.

    Audit your platform. Clean your list. Segment your contacts. Define your goals. Connect your data. Build the machine. Because when email works, it doesn’t just deliver opens. It delivers ROI. Recurring revenue. Customer loyalty. And a real reason to celebrate when the quarter ends.

    Let’s address the elephant in the inbox.

    Email marketing isn’t dead. It’s not outdated. It hasn’t been replaced by TikTok, Threads or an army of AI bots. In fact, email is still one of the most reliable, highest-ROI marketing channels in your arsenal — if you actually use it right.

    But here’s the inconvenient truth: most businesses don’t. They treat email like a leftover tactic from 2009, not the strategic revenue engine it can be. So when their campaigns fail, the blame is often directed at the platform, the audience, the open rates — everything except the real culprit: a broken system.

    The rest of this article is locked.

    Join Entrepreneur+ today for access.

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    Christopher Tompkins

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  • We Built a 7-Figure Business Without a Single Investor — Here’s Why Saying No to VC Was Our Smartest Move | Entrepreneur

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    You’ve heard this story before: a couple of college kids launch a startup from their dorm room. Surrounded by engineers, finance majors and future founders, venture capital wasn’t just common — it was expected. So when my co-founder and I launched Prepory, our college admissions coaching company, we assumed we’d need funding to be taken seriously.

    We entered a pitch competition and came in second. No check. We reached out to investors. No bites. We had a choice: give up or keep building.

    We kept building.

    What started as a one-person operation helping students in our local community has grown into a seven-figure, global company with nearly 100 team members. We’ve supported over 14,000 students, partnered with school districts and institutions in multiple countries and built one of the most trusted brands in college admissions — all without a single outside investor.

    Here’s why we said no to VC, and why bootstrapping was the smartest decision we never planned to make.

    The pressure to raise

    In elite academic circles, starting a business often goes hand in hand with chasing venture capital. I pictured the high-stakes pitch rooms, the dramatic investor meetings — scenes straight out of The Social Network. But after our early efforts fell flat, we stopped trying to win someone else’s approval and turned our focus inward.

    We obsessed over our product, our client experience and our outcomes — not “scale.”

    One month before our one-year mark, we hit $100,000 in revenue. It wasn’t a headline-grabbing number by Silicon Valley standards, but it proved something more important: we didn’t need permission to grow. We just needed to execute.

    Related: Most Startups Ignore This One Asset That Makes or Breaks Their Success

    What bootstrapping taught us

    In hindsight, bootstrapping didn’t just work — it shaped the business in ways VC money never could.

    Every dollar mattered, which meant we tested fast and paid close attention to what customers wanted. Client feedback shaped everything. We pivoted early on from a B2C model to B2B — realizing that one school contract could bring the same revenue as ten individual clients. That insight wasn’t born from a boardroom; it was born from necessity.

    Bootstrapping also made me a better leader. I didn’t start by managing dozens of people. I started with one, then five, then ten. That kind of slow, intentional growth gave me room to develop as a leader — learning how to listen, communicate clearly and lead with clarity and care. There was no pressure to scale overnight, so we could prioritize culture, values and quality.

    The hidden cost of raising too soon

    VC can be a powerful accelerator — but if you raise too early, it can also be a trap.

    Many founders take funding before they’ve found product-market fit. They shift their focus from solving customer problems to pleasing investors. Instead of building a strong foundation, they’re stuck managing burn rates and expectations. Teams get stretched. Quality suffers.

    We built slowly. That meant we stayed close to our mission and recruited talent who were energized by the opportunity to build something meaningful. Today, we outperform companies twice our size because we’ve built a team that shows up with purpose — and we’ve stayed aligned with what matters most: helping students reach their full potential.

    Related: How to Scale a Business Without Wasting Millions (Or Collapsing Under Your Own Growth)

    Should you bootstrap?

    Ask yourself this: What do you actually need the money for?

    If you’re building a product that truly requires upfront investment — hardware, tech or time-sensitive development — funding may make sense. But if you’re starting a service-based business, you might not need capital to get traction.

    Bootstrapping requires resilience, patience and a tolerance for delayed gratification. But it gives you full ownership of your company, your vision and your decisions. Today, we have the freedom to invest in growth on our own terms.

    People still ask if we’d raise money now. My answer? Not unless we have a strategic reason to. Not because I’m anti-VC, but because we no longer need it.

    Bootstrapping gave us something far more valuable than capital: it taught us how to build a resilient, values-driven, adaptable business. And if we ever decide to raise, we’ll do it from a position of strength — not survival.

    You’ve heard this story before: a couple of college kids launch a startup from their dorm room. Surrounded by engineers, finance majors and future founders, venture capital wasn’t just common — it was expected. So when my co-founder and I launched Prepory, our college admissions coaching company, we assumed we’d need funding to be taken seriously.

    We entered a pitch competition and came in second. No check. We reached out to investors. No bites. We had a choice: give up or keep building.

    We kept building.

    The rest of this article is locked.

    Join Entrepreneur+ today for access.

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    Daniel Santos

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  • When’s the Best Time to Sell Your Business? Here’s What I Tell My Clients (And It’s Not When You Think) | Entrepreneur

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    Over the past 10 years, when do you think was the best time to sell a business?

    Believe it or not, it was just after the pandemic. In June 2024, the U.S. Department of the Treasury reported that American business investment had exceeded expectations, outperforming pre-pandemic projections by $430 billion. “The outlook for future business investment growth is encouraging,” the report stated. “Firms are observing persistently high returns to their capital, and founders are starting new businesses at historic rates.”

    Across industries, 2020–2022 outperformed even 2019 in many metrics. Manufacturing, for example, “surged back” in Q3 2020 with record gains in output and hours worked, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

    The real lesson: It’s not about timing the market

    You don’t sell based on headlines. You sell based on your business, your industry, and your momentum.

    Company valuations have stayed remarkably consistent over the past 25 to 30 years — even during recessions like 2008–2009. Waiting for the “perfect” economic moment to exit is a common mistake that often leads to missed opportunities.

    One of our software clients was nearly ready to sell last year. But their industry began heating up so fast, we advised them to hold off. They now have a 10-year growth runway — and a chance to exit at a significantly higher valuation. On the other hand, we had a client in the print-and-postage business who waited too long. They ignored clear signs of declining demand. By the time they were ready to exit, their window had closed — and so had their leverage.

    The point: There’s no universal “right time” to sell. There’s only the right time for your business, in your industry.

    Related: When Should You Get Your Business Ready to Sell? The Best Time to Start Is Now — Here’s Why.

    Three steps to build value in uncertain markets

    Economic volatility causes many owners to second-guess their exit plan. Should I move faster? Should I take the first good offer?

    In most cases, the answer is no. Instead, refine your original plan with three key adjustments:

    1. Prioritize profitability over revenue

    Buyers don’t pay for top-line growth — they pay for what drops to the bottom line.

    One of our marketing clients was bringing in $5 million in revenue but losing $200,000 annually. After focusing on profitability, they trimmed revenue to $3 million but turned a $220,000 profit. That leaner, more profitable business was ultimately worth more — and attracted better buyers.

    2. Build operational efficiency

    A well-run business is more attractive, more resilient, and easier to sell. Aim for:

    • Fewer people delivering the same output
    • Documented, replicable systems
    • A team that can run the business without you

    Buyers want to see a machine that works — and still has room to grow.

    3. Stay realistic about valuation

    Remember Quibi? The mobile streaming platform launched with $1.75 billion in funding — and folded in six months. Or any Shark Tank episode where founders get laughed out of the room for unrealistic projections.

    Valuation isn’t about hype. It’s about performance, predictability and market reality.

    So when is the right time to sell?

    Here are two signs we see consistently:

    • Growth takes more effort for less return.
    • You start thinking, “I’ve got a couple good years left in me.”

    Those thoughts are signals. Don’t ignore them. They’re often the earliest signs that it’s time to plan your exit.

    The market moves, but your strategy shouldn’t

    Selling a business takes time — sometimes years — especially if you want to maximize value. Public markets fluctuate daily. But private business sales operate on a different timeline and follow different rules.

    The buyers are different. The financing is different. The valuation metrics are different.

    So don’t rush. Don’t panic. And don’t let headlines distract you from your long-term strategy.

    Related: Sell Your Company When You Least Expect It — How to Properly Scale and Sell Your Business

    Final thought: Focus on what you can control

    The best time to sell isn’t about market timing — it’s about business readiness.

    Ignore the noise. Focus on profitability, operational health, and what’s actually happening in your sector. That’s where real value lives — and where the best exits are made.

    Stay strategic. Stay grounded. And don’t sell your business short.

    Over the past 10 years, when do you think was the best time to sell a business?

    Believe it or not, it was just after the pandemic. In June 2024, the U.S. Department of the Treasury reported that American business investment had exceeded expectations, outperforming pre-pandemic projections by $430 billion. “The outlook for future business investment growth is encouraging,” the report stated. “Firms are observing persistently high returns to their capital, and founders are starting new businesses at historic rates.”

    Across industries, 2020–2022 outperformed even 2019 in many metrics. Manufacturing, for example, “surged back” in Q3 2020 with record gains in output and hours worked, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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    Jessica Fialkovich

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  • Co-founders of Stakt on Starting a Side Hustle Earning $10M in 2025 | Entrepreneur

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    This Side Hustle Spotlight Q&A features New York City-based friends and co-founders Millie Blumka, 31, and Taylor Borenstein, 31. The pair started a side hustle in 2021 called Stakt, an adaptable workout accessories brand.

    Blumka was a director of brand partnerships at Showfields and Borenstein was a product implementation manager at Bloomberg when they invested about $50,000 of their personal savings into the business. The co-founders have since grown it from a two-person operation to a lucrative business on track for $10 million in revenue in 2025 as it scales across Amazon, DTC and B2B.

    Read exactly how they did it, here.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of Stakt. Taylor Borenstein, left, and Millie Blumka, right.

    Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

    When did you start your side hustle, and where did you find the inspiration for it?
    Blumka and Borenstein: We had the idea for Stakt back in 2020 when home workouts became the norm and our old yoga mats just weren’t cutting it. We needed more support and versatility for the variety of workouts we were doing like sculpt and pilates, and we couldn’t find a mat that could keep up. We found inspiration through our own personal need and noticing many trainers we looked up to were rolling their mat in half to get extra support…we knew there had to be a better way.

    Related: This Couple’s ‘Scrappy’ Side Hustle Sold Out in 1 Weekend — It Hit $1 Million in 3 Years and Now Makes Millions Annually: ‘Lean But Powerful’

    What were some of the first steps you took to get your side hustle off the ground? How much money/investment did it take to launch?
    Blumka and Borenstein:     Neither of us had started a business before, let alone created a product, so the first step was a lot of networking. We spoke with friends of friends to try to understand how you even go about creating a product. We also did a lot of surveying to understand if this was an “us” problem or if other people were struggling with this, too. We each invested $25,000 of our own savings to get the business off the ground and have invested profits ever since.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of Stakt

    If you could go back in your business journey and change one process or approach, what would it be, and how do you wish you’d done it differently?
    Blumka:     If I could go back, I’d probably establish our lanes much earlier. In the beginning, we both tried to touch everything and be hands on for every aspect of the business. Once we defined who owned what, things became so much smoother. Having those roles in place earlier would have saved us a lot of time.

    Borenstein: I probably would have hired customer service support sooner, as we spent a lot of our time on customer experience when we could have spent it building the business.

    Related: These Friends Started a Side Hustle in Their Kitchens. Sales Spiked to $130,000 in 3 Days — Then 7 Figures: ‘Revenue Has Grown Consistently.’

    When it comes to this specific business, what is something you’ve found particularly challenging and/or surprising that people who get into this type of work should be prepared for, but likely aren’t?
    Borenstein:     Before starting a consumer brand, I had always thought, How hard could it be if you have a good product? It turns out the product is just the first step: Growing a business takes a ton of discipline, hard work, networking and efforts across all verticals to really make it successful.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of Stakt

    Can you recall a specific instance when something went very wrong — how did you fix it?
    Blumka:     We once had an entire container of inventory arrive damaged, and we didn’t feel comfortable selling it. Instead, we donated the mats to local organizations and used them for community events. It left us out of stock for a while, so we leaned on pre-orders and reframed the challenge as a marketing opportunity.

    How long did it take you to see consistent monthly revenue? How much did the side hustle earn?
    Blumka:     We didn’t pay ourselves until we decided it was time to make Stakt our full-time jobs instead of just a side hustle.

    Borenstein: It took about a year before things leveled out and we saw consistent monthly revenue. For the first year, there were good months, great months and bad months — eventually it became more consistent and easier to predict.

    Related: At 24, She Immigrated to the U.S. and Worked at Walmart. Then She Turned Savings Into a ‘Magic’ Side Hustle Surpassing $1 Million This Year.

    What does growth and revenue look like now?
    Blumka and Borenstein:     We are on track to do $10 million in revenue this year — doubling what we did in 2024.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of Stakt

    What do you enjoy most about running your business?
    Blumka:     The combination of creativity and community. I love taking an idea and turning it into something people genuinely connect with. That said, the real reward is seeing our products out in the wild, with people actually using and loving them. Building community around movement and wellness has been the most fulfilling part. Plus, doing it alongside my best friend is the biggest bonus.

    Borenstein: At some point, this truly stopped feeling like work. Stakt is an extension of me and my family, and every day I get to work with my best friend and my husband (whom we hired last year). I love that I can make my own schedule, my hard work is rewarded with the growth of my own business, I meet awesome people, and I get the opportunity to design new products and see them come to life.

    “Chaos is part of the journey.”

    Based on your journey so far, what’s your best advice for aspiring founders?
    Blumka:     There will never be a perfect time, perfect product or perfect plan, but you have to start somewhere. There will always be a reason to wait, but the real progress starts once you launch. This is when you can adapt, learn and grow.

    Borenstein: Everyone will have advice, but trust your gut — there’s no single playbook. And remember, no one has it all figured out; the chaos is part of the journey.

    Want to read more stories like this? Subscribe to Money Makers, our free newsletter packed with creative side hustle ideas and successful strategies. Sign up here.

    This Side Hustle Spotlight Q&A features New York City-based friends and co-founders Millie Blumka, 31, and Taylor Borenstein, 31. The pair started a side hustle in 2021 called Stakt, an adaptable workout accessories brand.

    Blumka was a director of brand partnerships at Showfields and Borenstein was a product implementation manager at Bloomberg when they invested about $50,000 of their personal savings into the business. The co-founders have since grown it from a two-person operation to a lucrative business on track for $10 million in revenue in 2025 as it scales across Amazon, DTC and B2B.

    Read exactly how they did it, here.

    The rest of this article is locked.

    Join Entrepreneur+ today for access.

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    Amanda Breen

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  • I Scaled My Company From $10 Million to Over $200 Million in 4 Years. Here Are 3 Things He Did to Lead The Company Through Market Disruptions. | Entrepreneur

    I Scaled My Company From $10 Million to Over $200 Million in 4 Years. Here Are 3 Things He Did to Lead The Company Through Market Disruptions. | Entrepreneur

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    When I started Appfire in 2005, hardware was king and companies like Dell, IBM and HP were the leaders and innovators of all things tech. Businesses relied heavily on hardware to fuel their IT infrastructure, and the idea of the cloud seemed like a utopian dream. My partner and I built our business to support traditional hardware-centric models, and it was a system that served as well in those early years.

    By 2010, I found myself at a crossroads as the rise of cloud computing was slowly shifting focus toward virtualized environments and we were deep in development to deploy new collaboration software on a hardware-based platform. VMware burst onto the scene, making virtualized software all the rage. Hardware evaporated almost overnight.

    As a business leader, I had to make a difficult decision: should I steer my team and company in a direction that would essentially abandon all the work we’d put towards our hardware-based product to jump on the virtualization trend with the rest of the market and our competitors? Or should we stay the course, pressing on with our product that was built on a hardware platform? After careful deliberation, we decided against investing in virtualization right away as the timing wasn’t right for us.

    I’m reminded of this anecdote as the AI boom continues its momentum, with no signs of slowing down. Just take a look at Nvidia’s recent earnings or Atlassian’s introduction of Rovo, an AI assistant. Someday, when we look back at the history books, this period will be marked by the incredible rush and shift we’ve seen from companies of all sizes to integrate AI into their offerings. This extends beyond merely providing AI-powered solutions. Companies are rebranding, restructuring and reinventing themselves as AI-centric to attract investment, talent, and market share.

    As business leaders, we’re constantly faced with the challenge of whether we, too, should jump on the latest trend. Do we follow the pack and shift our entire strategy and product roadmap, or remain on our current path?

    Related: 10 Growth Strategies Every Business Owner Should Know

    Through my own journey of growing and scaling a leading software company from $10 million to over $200 million ARR in four years, I’ve identified three tips that can help leaders determine whether to embrace a trend or stay the course.

    1. Ensure the shift aligns with what customers want

    Don’t lose sight of customer wants and needs during times of change. Getting it right for your customers is more important than being right. Research has found that more than 90% of people believe companies should listen to customers to drive innovation. Even if as a business leader you vastly desire to incorporate AI into your end model, if it’s not important to your customers you will fail and you won’t make a profit.

    There are several ways you can get this feedback from your customer base. Deploying customer surveys, implementing a customer advisory board and meeting with customers in person are great ways to understand if what you are building makes sense for your customers. If your company has a strong channel program, talk to your partners regularly about what they are hearing from customers

    2. Determine if you have the right resources

    It can be tempting to jump on a trend, particularly when the market demands it and competitors are already on board. In 2010, one of the main reasons we decided not to quickly shift from our hardware platform strategy to virtualization was that we didn’t have people in place with the right skill set. Because of that, we knew we couldn’t succeed in virtualization in a way that would have an immediate impact on our customers.

    When a drastic market shift happens, instead of jumping on the bandwagon, put those efforts and resources into training your staff. Many are willing and looking to expand their skill set – in fact, one study shows nearly 75% of employees are willing to learn new skills. Then once you have the right people with the right skills who can help you make an impact, you can turn your focus to innovation. When employees get the right training to gain the skills they need, the business itself will see the benefits.

    Related: Your Company Won’t Grow Until You Follow These 4 Keys to Success

    3. Stay true to your core values

    Remember the core values you established when you launched your company and use them as guiding principles as you make decisions. Nearly all employees agree that a workplace culture grounded in core values plays a critical role in long-term success.

    If the latest trend aligns with your mission, vision and purpose, it could be a valuable addition to your strategy. However, if it doesn’t, pursuing it may not help your company long term. Staying true to your foundational principles ensures that your business remains focused, authentic, and purpose-driven amidst evolving market dynamics.

    When a new trend disrupts the market, navigating a path forward can be challenging. Consider the approach Atlassian took with Rovo. While others rushed to get an AI assistant to market last year, Atlassian was intentional and strategic. It mattered more to them to release a tool that aligned with their mission of making teams more effective than being the “first.”

    Remember that getting it right for the customer matters more than conforming. Oftentimes blindly following the crowd without critical thinking can lead to conformity and a loss of innovative thinking. Don’t lose sight of your mission, vision, and purpose. These values are likely what attracted employees and customers to your organization in the first place, and what will keep them long after a trend has faded out.

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    Randall Ward

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  • This Google Update Could Be Tanking Your Traffic. Follow These Steps to Boost Your Page Views and Revenue Now. | Entrepreneur

    This Google Update Could Be Tanking Your Traffic. Follow These Steps to Boost Your Page Views and Revenue Now. | Entrepreneur

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    Google’s March 2024 Core Update was a seismic event for blogs and website owners relying on organic search traffic. This significant algorithm change targeted low-quality content and AI-generated spam, leading to the deindexing of hundreds of websites in its early stages. The consequences were that severely affected sites lost valuable organic traffic and advertising revenue overnight.

    The update aligned with findings from an Originality AI study, which revealed a high prevalence of AI-generated content among the deindexed websites. 50% of impacted sites had 90-100% of their posts generated by AI.

    This crackdown demonstrates Google’s commitment to enhancing search result quality and combating manipulative tactics like AI content spam. But it also raises an important question: How can website owners increase organic traffic significantly in this new reality?

    Related: The Rules of SEO Are Changing — Here Are 5 Powerful Strategies to Help You Rank in 2024

    Strategies for increasing organic traffic in 2024

    In the wake of the March 2024 Core Update, website owners must adapt their strategies to regain lost ground and significantly increase organic traffic. Here are some key focus areas:

    1. Perform a comprehensive content audit

    The first step is thoroughly analyzing your content. Use tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush to identify:

    • Articles performing well but not ranking in the top search results (prioritize these)
    • Content that has stopped performing after the update
    • Underperforming content that has never ranked well

    You can strategically allocate your optimization efforts by understanding which content assets are working and which need improvement.

    2. Focus on your best-performing content that hasn’t yet ranked #1 in searches

    Double down on your strengths to increase organic traffic rapidly. Find high-volume, low-competition keywords with a difficulty score of less than 10 that rank between 2 and 8. These are more likely to get that coveted highlight in the rich snippet position.

    Related: The Rules of SEO Are Changing — Here Are 5 Powerful Strategies to Help You Rank in 2024

    3. Optimize for featured snippets

    The highlighted results at “position zero” above the primary organic listings are known as featured snippets. There are four primary categories of them:

    • Paragraph snippets
    • List snippets
    • Table snippets
    • Video snippets

    4. To improve the ranking of your website and attract more highlighted snippets, it is essential to adhere to current SEO best practices:

    • Understanding the query’s intent and matching the snippet format.
    • Defining your topic succinctly in two to three sentences for paragraph snippets.
    • Using objective, fact-based language and avoiding personal pronouns.
    • Structuring content logically with proper heading tags.
    • Writing simply and using language your audience understands.

    Above all, prioritize providing a superior user experience over basic keyword optimization.

    Google’s stance on AI-generated content

    While Google has not explicitly banned AI-generated content, the message is clear: quality, originality and user value are paramount. AI should be leveraged as a supportive tool, not replacing human expertise and creativity.

    Matt G. Southern of Search Engine Journal aptly says, “Google is not waging a war against AI; the battle is against mediocrity.” The responsible use of AI as a content creation aid is acceptable. Still, it must be coupled with human insight, editing and a commitment to providing genuinely valuable information to users. AI should be leveraged as a supportive tool, not replacing human expertise and creativity.

    Related:

    The intelligent use of AI

    While the update penalized sites for over-relying on AI content, Google’s emphasis has always been on originality, depth and reader value. The ethical use of AI as a research aid and writing co-pilot is acceptable as long as human editing ensures unique, high-quality content.

    The future is E-E-A-T moving forward — Google’s prioritization of Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness (E-E-A-T) will be essential. Establish your topical authority by:

    • Citing reputable sources.
    • Showcasing author expertise prominently.
    • Providing accurate, trustworthy information.
    • Ensuring an optimal user experience through intelligent design.

    Websites solely focused on keyword optimization rather than holistic quality signals will increasingly be left behind.

    The March 2024 Core Update ushered in a new era of search where quality, originality, and authority reign supreme. You can significantly increase organic traffic in this new landscape by auditing your content, capitalizing on your strengths, and adhering to E-E-A-T principles. The path ahead requires a steadfast commitment to creating an exceptional user experience through genuinely valuable content.

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    Ekaterina Ovodova

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  • Use This Framework to Transform Your Sales Team and Drive Steady Growth | Entrepreneur

    Use This Framework to Transform Your Sales Team and Drive Steady Growth | Entrepreneur

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    Predictable revenue is the number one goal for sales leaders. It is the ability to consistently generate a steady stream of revenue, month after month, without relying on unpredictable spikes or one-time deals. Why is this more important than ever? According to Ebsta, sales cycles were 32% longer, and 25% more stakeholders were involved in the process this year. In Q4 of 2022, a mere 29% of salespeople made quota, down 14% YoY. Selling is fundamentally getting harder, and businesses must re-evaluate their strategy if they want to drive consistent growth.

    As an agency, we’re using the predictable revenue framework as a foundation for client success. Here’s how it can transform your sales team, as well as some strategies and tips for mastering it.

    Related: The 4-Step Process for Building a Scalable Sales Machine

    What is predictable revenue?

    Predictable revenue is a sales strategy that creates a consistent and repeatable sales process. It is about building a system that generates a steady revenue stream rather than relying on sporadic deals or one-off sales.

    The concept of predictable revenue was popularized by Aaron Ross, who used it to help Salesforce.com grow from $5 million to $100 million in annual recurring revenue. In his book of the same name, Ross outlines the critical components of predictable revenue and how it can be implemented in any organization.

    The two types of revenue:

    According to Ross, there are two types of revenue: predictable and unpredictable. Unpredictable revenue results from intermittent deals, one-time sales or relying on a few key clients. This type of revenue is not sustainable and can lead to a rollercoaster of highs and lows.

    On the other hand, predictable revenue results from a consistent and repeatable sales process. It is the bedrock of a successful business and allows for steady growth and scalability.

    The predictable revenue framework

    The predictable revenue framework comprises four key components: specialization, lead generation, qualification and closing. Let’s look closely at each of these components and how they contribute to predictable revenue.

    Specialization:

    Specialization is the process of dividing your sales team into specialized roles. This allows each team member to focus on their strengths and responsibilities, increasing efficiency and productivity.

    The two main roles in the specialization process are the sales development representative (SDR) and the account executive (AE). The SDR generates and qualifies leads, while the AE is responsible for closing deals.

    By dividing these roles, you can create a more efficient and effective sales process. The SDR can focus on generating a high volume of leads, while the AE can focus on closing deals and building relationships with qualified leads.

    Lead generation:

    Lead generation is the process of identifying and attracting potential customers. This can be done through various methods, such as cold calling, email marketing, social media and content marketing.

    A targeted and consistent approach is key to successful lead generation. This means identifying your ideal customer profile (ICP) and tailoring your lead generation efforts to reach them.

    Qualification:

    Qualification is determining whether a lead is a good fit for your product or service. This is where the SDR plays a crucial role. They are responsible for qualifying leads and passing them on to the AE for further nurturing and closing.

    Qualification involves asking the right questions and understanding the needs and pain points of the potential customer. This ensures that the AE only spends time on leads with a high chance of converting into paying customers.

    Closing:

    Closing is the final step in the predictable revenue framework. This is where the AE takes over and works to close the deal. By this point, the lead has been qualified and nurtured, making the closing process more efficient and effective.

    The key to successful closing is building relationships and understanding the customer’s needs. This allows the AE to tailor their approach and address any objections or concerns the potential customer may have.

    Related: The No. 1 Reason You’re Not Experiencing Consistent Revenue in Your Business

    Tips for mastering predictable revenue

    Now that we have covered the key components of the predictable revenue framework, let’s dive into some tips for mastering it.

    Implement a scalable sales process:

    A scalable sales process is essential for achieving predictable revenue. This means having a process that can be replicated and scaled by your sales reps as your business grows.

    To create this, you need to have a clear understanding of your target market, ICP and the steps involved in your sales process. This allows you to identify areas for improvement and make adjustments as needed.

    Focus on lead quality, not quantity:

    While it may be tempting to focus on generating a high volume of leads, the key to predictable revenue is to focus on lead quality. This means targeting leads that are more likely to convert into paying customers, which means understanding who your target audience is, where they are and what they need at each stage of the buying journey. This will result in a higher conversion rate and a more efficient sales process.

    Leverage technology:

    Technology plays a crucial role in achieving predictable revenue. There are various tools and software available that can help streamline your sales process and improve efficiency.

    At the bare minimum, a customer relationship management (CRM) system can help you track and manage leads, while a sales enablement platform can provide your team with the resources and tools they need to be successful.

    Continuously train and coach your sales team:

    Training and coaching are essential for mastering predictable revenue. This involves providing ongoing training and communication that covers messaging, objection handling and competitor insights.

    By doing this, you can ensure your team is equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to win.

    By implementing the predictable revenue framework and following these tips, you can transform your sales team and achieve consistent growth month after month.

    Whether you are a small startup or a large enterprise, mastering predictable revenue can help you reach your sales goals and drive the success of your business. So, take the time to implement these strategies and see the results for yourself.

    Related: 10 Ways to Maximize Your Sales Team’s Performance

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    Paul Sullivan

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  • How to Turn Marketing into a Sales and Revenue Engine | Entrepreneur

    How to Turn Marketing into a Sales and Revenue Engine | Entrepreneur

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    We’re all being asked to deliver bigger, better results with less investment. A friend of mine who’s a marketing leader at a B2B fintech told me last week that her company slashed her budget by 40% — but kept targets the same. Sadly, she’s not alone. As Gartner’s 2023 CMO Spend and Strategy Survey outlines, 71% of CMOs said they lack the budget to fully execute their strategy this year. Three-quarters say they face “increased pressure to do more with less.” This trend is set to continue.

    Other pain points include proving that the marketing function directly contributes to revenue growth, creating better leads, having a better view of the customer across the business and increasing conversion. Sound familiar? I see this every day with the clients we work with, and the struggle is real — which is why we’re going down a different path.

    Related: Aligning Sales and Marketing Needs To Be Your Priority

    Blended ABM

    It’s all about creating target account acquisition strategies that align marketing and revenue teams around customer experience and growth — increasing conversion, retention and expansion (while reducing budget wastage). We call this blended ABM (account-based marketing), and it sits at the heart of our proprietary AMPLIFY process.

    Why? If you actually want to succeed with less, you must move into a space where you are highly targeted on who you can — and cannot — acquire. This is why we evangelize blended ABM over demand generation. Don’t get me wrong: Demand gen has a relevant place in the marketing mix, but in my view, it’s more reactive to the market instead of intentionally targeting it.

    Do any of us have the time and budget these days to be solely reactive instead of proactive? I’d argue no. Let’s be real: 80% of buyers make a decision before talking to your sales team, so your content is mainly used for research only; no one can afford to just educate people. We need to sell to people.

    Let’s break it down, starting with target accounts. This entails being entirely clear on your most successful ideal customer profile (ICP) and personas — as well as defining your buyer’s journey so you know exactly who your target customer is, what type of company they work for, what their pain points are, who makes up their buying committee and how they buy.

    By sticking with the types of companies with which you have short sales cycles, long business relationships and consistently upsell and expand revenue, you’ll know exactly who to target with a blended ABM approach — and your sales and leadership teams will come to love the strategy. It’s about being bold, confident and deliberate about your target accounts and why you’re targeting them. And for the record, that pool of accounts could still be 1,000 or 2,000 strong.

    Related: The Rise of Account-Based Marketing

    Research and intent data

    Additionally and within those accounts, you’ll likely need multiple micro strategies, for example, a compete strategy. How do you identify the good-fit clients currently utilizing your competition? How do you pinpoint potential customers currently looking at your business rivals?

    Simple: research and intent data! If you start layering intent data on top of this, you can start to see exactly when someone is in the market to buy from a competitor or seeking a product/service like you offer and target them accordingly. With blended ABM, you enroll them in a 1:Many approach, moving them up to 1:Few or 1:1 if difficult to close and worth the time and effort.

    Only focusing on high-probability target accounts increases the likelihood of conversion. There are, of course, a swathe of buying committees currently sitting on their hands; when you can accurately convey your value and how you transform the buyer’s world, you have a greater likelihood of success with activating those too.

    For successful blended ABM, you need a single view of the customer. Align your marketing, sales and customer success teams around a CRM like HubSpot and start sharing vital information on customers, targets, companies and content that’s working (or not).

    Related: Here Are 5 Trends to Watch Out For in Sales and Marketing in 2023

    With blended ABM as the basis of your strategy and the enhanced knowledge of your customer achieved through the above, you’re using far more focused content and ads to only go after those target accounts in the market — especially as only 6% of your target audience is in the market at any one time. This in turn drives higher quality SQLs and clearer campaign ROI, meaning your goals across sales and marketing become aligned, too — and the latter can unequivocally prove its contribution to revenue.

    And as Ewan McIntyre, Chief of Research and VP Analyst in the Gartner Marketing practice said in the aforementioned study, “CMOs need to become a new type of enterprise leader…assuming a more business-focused role that pivots into a period of investing for profitability. Those that carry on status-quo will face significant challenges.”

    This path is for marketing leaders who are pragmatic, if not a little brave — and definitely tired of the status quo. Your leaders will need a bit of education, but the outcomes are clear: higher profitability, better alignment and customer experience. What’s not to love?

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    Paul Sullivan

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  • 6 Unique Strategies to Generate Immediate Ecommerce Revenue | Entrepreneur

    6 Unique Strategies to Generate Immediate Ecommerce Revenue | Entrepreneur

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    In this article, we will discuss six tactics that can help put immediate cash in your pocket. These aren’t long-term strategies for scaling your business, but rather quick tactics to employ for immediate revenue. You need to be strategic with the traffic sources you allow as part of your marketing mix. Although, nobody is going to blame a scrappy entrepreneur for doing whatever it takes to keep revenues humming.

    Especially with investor expectations and persistent interest rate hikes, having an understanding of tactics that provide immediate revenue and cash flow can help you overcome the ongoing “tough times” in the world of ecommerce.

    Here are six unconventional growth tactics for immediate ecommerce revenues:

    Related: 3 Ways Entrepreneurs Can Tailor Their Ecommerce Strategy for Maximum Growth

    1. Brand partnerships

    Your brand has certain assets of value — including your email subscribers, social media followers, customer lists, etc. A very cost-effective strategy is to partner with like-minded entrepreneurs that sell complimentary products to yours. For instance, you can send an email to a portion of your customers sharing information with an exclusive offer from the partner brand, and they will do the same with your brand and their audience. The goal here is for both parties to get a nice revenue bump, and if both parties are happy with the performance, this can also be repeated on a monthly or quarterly basis.

    2. Call your customers

    Your most loyal customers may appreciate a friendly check-in from the founder of their favorite brand. This gives you an opportunity to share a glimpse of any upcoming product launches, ask for general feedback, share information on upcoming special events, etc. You can also use this time to offer the customer an exclusive offer. This can include free gifts, product samples, free gift cards, etc., as part of a larger bundle. This will give you a revenue boost and can improve repeat customers’ relationships with your brand.

    3. Virtual events

    Hosting virtual events — like webinars, social media live streams or virtual fashion shows and product showcases — can be an invaluable opportunity to help prospective customers alleviate any objections they have to purchasing your product. Use the opportunity to showcase your products, engage with your audience and provide exclusive offers to your attendees. Virtual events can create a sense of community, generate buzz and lead to immediate sales.

    4. Retail takeovers

    You may get into a little bit of trouble with this one. Pretty much, stand outside a big box store that caters to a similar audience to yours. Every customer who comes out gets a flier, a coupon and a sales pitch. If you do a proper job educating these prospective customers on your product or service and have a strong audience fit with the retail stores of focus, your conversion rate can be much higher on this channel. Having more than one person scattered across multiple stores can help. However, this would be a more desperate “mayday” tactic to employ in a “need to make payroll” type of situation.

    Related: How FOMO Tactics Can Increase Ecommerce Revenue

    5. Email networks

    Leveraging your owned email lists to drive revenue is one tactic — leveraging the emails of others can prove to be another cost-effective way to generate revenue quickly. Some people and organizations have access to up to millions of emails — for instance, email newsletters, content publications, brand owners, etc. There are also multiple networks that allow email list owners to monetize while allowing brands to promote their products. You can work with dozens of these mailers, either directly or through networks. Each of these relationships would operate on a performance-based model, meaning, you only pay a fixed pre-determined fee for every sale generated.

    6. Pre-orders

    Money up-front without having to ship inventory until later is a pretty damn good deal. You’re getting an interest-free loan from your customers here. Spin up a landing page for the new product. Make sure to include ample product education and a pre-order offer. The customer is paying the price of having to wait longer to receive their product when they could potentially purchase an alternative elsewhere — giving them a discount, free gift or collectible, for example, can help incentivize customers. Ideally, you have a large enough audience of loyal customers that you can focus on for these offers, as your conversion rate may be much lower if served to a cold audience unfamiliar with your brand.

    Having an understanding of the tactics available to you can be invaluable. However, there’s also value in having a level of preparedness — planning ahead, building relationships with vendors and preliminarily testing these channels for their efficacy for your unique brand. When a problem arises, you may not have weeks, but rather days to find a solution. Smaller issues that can come up leading to delays could be detrimental in these situations. You need to ensure that when the time inevitably comes, you’re nimble enough to quickly capitalize on these opportunities.

    Related: 6 Ways to Quickly Improve Your Conversion Rate and Make More Money From Ecommerce

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    Mustafa Saeed

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  • 3 Effective Strategies to Make Money From Your App | Entrepreneur

    3 Effective Strategies to Make Money From Your App | Entrepreneur

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    The app market is booming, and with millions of apps available in different app stores, it’s important to ensure that yours stands out from the rest. But how can you make money from your app?

    In this article, we’ll discuss three app monetization strategies that can help you generate revenue from your app. We will particularly emphasize in-app purchases as they are now considered one of the main monetization strategies, with in-app purchase examples in popular applications.

    Related: How to Make Money With Your App: 5 Monetization Strategies To Try

    In-app advertising

    When it comes to in-app advertising, there are several different types to choose from. This includes banner ads, interstitial ads and native ads. However, it’s important to consider using non-intrusive ads to maintain a positive user experience. These types of ads can include sponsored content such as texts, photos or videos. The content you post in your ad campaign must be visually appealing but not aggravating so that it doesn’t cause any cases of user frustration. It is also important that you make sure that the ad you choose fits seamlessly within the app’s interface and looks neat.

    Types of in-app advertising

    1. Banner ads:

    Banner ads are the most common type of in-app advertising. It usually comes in a rectangular form and is placed at either the top or bottom of the screen. A banner ad usually doesn’t contain many words or text; it depends instead on pictures and visuals that are able to deliver the ad’s value.

    2. Native ads:

    Native ads function exactly as their name suggests. They are employed to be viewed natively so as to match and blend in with the app’s interface. One of the benefits of native ads is that they tend to perform better than traditional banner ads. Users are more likely to interact with a native ad because it doesn’t feel like an advertisement. Native ads are thought to be the least intrusive type of ads. They are also very efficient, as you can control where they appear to users and how frequently.

    3. Interstitial ads:

    Interstitial ads are a common form of in-app advertising. They are full-screen ads that appear at natural breaks in the user’s flow, such as when transitioning between different sections of an app. Unlike banner ads, which are small and can be easily ignored, interstitial ads are highly visible and require the user to interact with them in some way, either by clicking on the ad or by dismissing it. While interstitial ads can be effective at generating revenue for app developers, they can also be a source of frustration for users if they are too frequent or disruptive. To avoid this, developers need to carefully balance the frequency and placement of interstitial ads.

    Related: How Can App Makers Improve Revenue and Keep Users Engaged?

    Subscription models

    Subscription models have become increasingly popular among app developers as a monetization strategy for their services. These subscription models are designed to create a steady stream of recurring revenue for developers, enabling them to provide consistent updates and improvements to their apps. There are several different types of subscription models that developers can choose from, each with its own unique approach to generating revenue.

    Types of subscription models

    1. Freemium model:

    The first and most popular model is the freemium model. With the freemium model, users can download and use the app for free, but they are limited in terms of features and functionality. To unlock the full range of features, users must pay for a subscription. An example of an app that uses such a model is Spotify. Spotify allows all users to access an unlimited library of music and podcasts. However, users of the free plan have some limited functionalities, such as limited skips per playlist and interrupting ads between songs.

    2. Tiered model:

    Another type is the tiered subscription model. This model offers users different levels of access to the app based on how much they pay. For example, a basic subscription might provide access to the app’s core features. Meanwhile, a premium subscription might offer additional functionality and perks. A popular app that uses such a model is Flo.

    Related: Do You Want To Monetize Your App? Here’s What You Need To Consider

    In-app purchases

    One of the most popular and effective app monetization strategies nowadays is in-app purchases. This strategy has been gaining recognition and dominating the market. It is commonly used in ecommerce apps and gaming apps. In-app purchases are additional features or content that users can buy within an app. They can include virtual goods, additional or premium content, or extra functionality. In-app purchases are typically made through a user’s app store account. They can purchase whatever the app’s currency is and use it around the app for whatever they need.

    In-app purchases are a popular way for app developers to monetize their products. By offering additional features, content or functionality, developers can provide a high-quality user experience while generating revenue. Developers should make the costs and benefits of in-app purchases clear to customers while also providing them with relevant and useful solutions.

    In-app purchase examples

    There are several different types of in-app purchases that app developers can offer to their users. Here are a few in-app purchase examples:

    1. Consumables:

    Consumables are virtual goods that users can use or consume. For example, in a game, a consumable might be a virtual currency that can be used to purchase items or upgrades within the game. Once the currency has been used up, the user must purchase more to continue using it.

    2. Non-consumables:

    Non-consumables are virtual goods that do not expire or get used up. For example, in a productivity app, a non-consumable in-app purchase might be a premium feature that unlocks additional functionality.

    3. Subscriptions:

    Subscriptions are another in-app purchase example that provides users with access to premium content or features for a set period of time. For example, a news app like Forbes or BBC News might offer a subscription that provides access to exclusive articles. This subscription can be non-renewable or auto-renewable.

    Creating a successful app is not just about developing a great one; it’s also about finding effective ways to monetize it. In-app advertising, in-app purchases, and the subscription model are three app monetization strategies that can help you generate revenue from your app. It’s important to choose the strategy that best fits your app and your target audience.



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    Omar El Bahr
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  • From Hustle to Happiness: Redefining What It Means to Succeed with Alex Schlinsky | Entrepreneur

    From Hustle to Happiness: Redefining What It Means to Succeed with Alex Schlinsky | Entrepreneur

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    I don’t know of many people who have taken a straight and narrow path to entrepreneurship, myself included.I studied entrepreneurship in college but didn’t actually do anything about it until about ten years later. Most entrepreneurs I know had a 9-5 for a while then decided it was time to do their own thing.

    But my most recent podcast guest, Alex Schlinsky, is different. He bypassed having a traditional 9-5 and immediately pursued entrepreneurship. Reason being, he thought there was a chance he might die at a young age.

    I don’t want to make this overly dramatic but I can imagine feeling like you don’t have a lot of time left can encourage you to truly live for the day and make the most out of however many days you have left.

    Fortunately, you don’t have to go through a life or death experience in order to take more control over your future because Alex shared the lessons he learned during the most recent episode of the Launch Your Business Podcast.

    Some key takeaways from our interview, which you can listen to here or below:

    • The power of persistence in getting where you want to go in life
    • How to build a robust and lucrative online community
    • Why the “hustle hard” mentality makes no sense (and what you should do instead).

    We also discussed Alex’s new book, The Anti-Hustler’s Handbook: A Step-by-Step Guide for Hardworking Entrepreneurs: Who Want To Redefine Success Now & Discover Infinite Choices for Fulfillment Without Sacrificing Everything That Matters.

    The power of persistence and purpose

    Alex got to the anti-hustle movement unintentionally (he hustled himself into burnout at a young age). It all started with a diagnosis of a congenital heart defect at 18. Alex said that when you know you have open heart surgery at some point in your future, you want to make your time count. So in school, he worked himself into the ground to earn a degree in psychology while running a business on the side.

    After graduating, the idea of putting more years into school became untenable. He also wasn’t quite ready to be an entrepreneur and grow his digital marketing agency – so he threw himself into his passion, which was local sports. In pursuit of media credentials with the Miami Dolphins, he called their media department every day for two months straight.

    “After hearing every single objection in the book, I knew one thing that was really important to me, which is I was willing to hear no more than they were willing to say it,” Alex remembers. “And so I just called and called and called eventually knowing that the brow beating will eventually make them capitulate and they would give me this opportunity.”

    His persistence paid off, and he still has the Dolphins media member’s badge in his office, reminding him of the feeling of achievement after months of work – a feeling he says he wanted to chase over and over.

    Accidentally starting a 7-figure business

    The season was rewarding, but it yielded about $500 for his coverage. To make income, Alex turned to the business he had accidentally started during his last year of high school, when Facebook had released the business page feature. Alex’s neighbor (who was a personal injury attorney) was convinced that Facebook would be crucial to bringing in business. The neighbor offered Alex $1,000 per month to post once per day on Facebook and run his email newsletter.

    Alex worked for about ten attorneys throughout his college years, waking up early to pull potential case opportunities (like recalls) and post them on Facebook, then heading to class for the day.

    “It’s so crazy because I never really thought about it as a business. It was just a side hustle the whole time. Fast forward four to five years later, finishing college, realizing journalism isn’t really gonna make me money as much as it is passion. What can I do? And, and so naturally I thought, ‘Is social media a business?’”

    It doesn’t take much Googling to find the answer.

    Alex got some training, transitioned his offer from social media to Google advertising, and quickly built a seven-figure agency.

    Alex’s moment of reckoning

    Because he had open heart surgery hanging over his head, Alex worked in overdrive, putting in maximum effort into all of his endeavors.

    About 10 years after his diagnosis, his heart had grown to the point of needing intervention. Alex said he accelerated the need for help by 30 years – and although the doctors couldn’t give him a straight answer, he connects early surgery and the 10 years of working in overdrive.

    “But it was enough in my mind to know that putting the engine in red all the time, what happens to the engine?” Alex asks. “It dies, it breaks, and that’s what ended up happening.”

    Alex said he was so bought in to hustling, when the doctors told him that they needed to operate as soon as possible Alex’s first question was if they could push surgery until after a business event he had coming up.

    “That’s how skewed my mind was,” Alex said. “I just got the bombshell news that I had to have open heart surgery, and my brain was [saying], ‘Can I push it until after we do our business event?’ And that was a really big wakeup call for me.”

    The End of Hustle

    Waking up doesn’t necessarily mean slowing to a complete halt. Alex now runs a community called Prospecting On Demand, which offers mentorship for agency owners, digital marketers, coaches, and consultants looking to scale their business.

    This is the tricky part: Alex said that for most people, “scaling” means acquiring more at all times. So even when you reach the top of one mountain, there’s always more to be gained. It leaves the business owner feeling a lack of clarity, always churning towards bigger accomplishments (whether or not that actually adds benefit to their life).

    “The anti-hustle model inherently is all about identifying what the true goal of entrepreneurship is,” Alex explained. “Everyone wants to be happy and they want to be free. The thing is with freedom is most people posit freedom as financial freedom and time freedom. And yet so often time is just thrown aside for the benefit of financial freedom, financial freedom, financial freedom – without ever defining what even financial freedom was (and worse, never taking the time to define it and allowing someone else to define it for you). … You can actually come out with a very clear understanding of particularly how much money you have to make instead of this indefinite more, right? Because that lack of clarity is what creates that anxiety and frustration and – for so many people – that burnout.”

    Alex said that the results of defining success and scale are beneficial for the business and the business owner, but they also expand to the friends and family.

    “I think most people, when they come into a coaching program, mentorship program, their intention is very directly related to bottom line ROI, which makes a lot of sense and I respect that completely,” Alex said. But ultimately what we end up finding is how much impact we have on people’s lives, on their family’s lives, on their relationships with their children and their friends, their family, their peers, their network.”

    Next Steps

    Ready to learn more from Alex so you can make more money without sacrificing the people and experiences that matter most?

    • Check out Alex’s mentorship program, Prospecting On Demand
    • Connect with Alex on LinkedIn
    • Check out Alex’s book, The Anti-Hustler’s Handbook

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    Terry Rice

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  • No More Excuses: Tanner Chidester’s Harsh Truths to Improve Your Business | Entrepreneur

    No More Excuses: Tanner Chidester’s Harsh Truths to Improve Your Business | Entrepreneur

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    I was recently scrolling through Instagram and a video caught my eye: A guy asked his viewers, “If you’re not willing to send DMs, are you really sure you want to start a business?”

    The guy, it turns out, is Tanner Chidester. As the Founder of Elite CEOs – among other companies – Tanner has generated over 60 million dollars in the online coaching world.

    But as a college athlete turned entrepreneur, his path to success was not always straightforward.

    So If you’re struggling with your business, sometimes the answer isn’t the latest tool or someone to hold your hand and tell you it will all be better. Sometimes you just need a wake up call.

    Tanner is here to give it to you.

    I sat down to interview him for this week’s episode of the Launch Your Business Podcast where he shares:

    • The hard truths you need to know as an entrepreneur
    • The unexpected traits you need to be resilient as a business owner
    • How to avoid “miserable success”

    You can check out my key takeaways below:

    Tanner shares the benefit of mentorship

    “If I paid for help sooner, I probably would’ve made another $20 million and I probably would’ve saved myself from a lot of struggle and heartache.

    Tanner recalled how he struggled for the first few years of his business and how it shaped his view on mentorship.

    “Two years may not seem like a big deal but when you’re doing 16, 18 hours a day and you live in a shithole and you have a terrible car and girls are laughing at you; it doesn’t feel like it’s not a big deal. It feels like the world’s ending. And so I almost quit five times. And the only reason I didn’t is I had a mentor that told me not to, and I’d figure it out.”

    Fortunately his mentor not only encouraged him not to quit, they provided him with the actions, tools and mindset needed to succeed.

    The one tactic that led to his explosive revenue growth

    “People forget, I did door to door sales for eight months, six days a week, 12 hours a day.”

    Tanner describes this as one of the worst experiences of his entire life. This is why he was so excited about the idea of using direct messages on social media to grow his own business.

    “When I was able to start making sales just using my phone it wasn’t fun, but I was making 10 times more just sitting on the couch. Before I was sweating all day, I would chafe my legs and even have guns pulled on me.”

    This experience contributed to his confusion around why other people aren’t willing to take a similar approach; simply messaging prospective customers and pitching your offer.

    “There’s so many other things you could go do, and make so much less, that are so much harder in terms of work and effort.”

    Tanner clearly wants to win, but he wants you to as well

    I often say perfection is the enemy of progress. Tanner shared his perspective on how a delay in taking action can lead to failure.

    “You have to move quickly because if you don’t and you extend this timeline to success. Every day you go past that, you increase the chances that you’re going to quit.”

    He continues and shares his motivation for helping entrepreneurs.

    “That’s also probably why I’m so passionate because people, they don’t get it. And they think by not taking action they lose nothing. But you are losing something, you just don’t know what it is. Until maybe you meet your maker.”

    Tanner concludes with a simple, but grounding statement that defines his mission.

    “I just want people to win. I know what it feels like to lose, so I just want people to win.”

    Next steps:

    Ready to learn more from Tanner? Here are a few ways he can help you.

    You can also learn more about Tanner by visiting his website, and be sure to give him a follow on social media at tanner.chidester.

    I love feedback! If you have any questions or suggestions for future podcasts please connect with me on LinkedIn or Instagram.

    Listen to the full episode with Tanner below.

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    Terry Rice

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  • Pat Flynn Teaches You How to Build a Revenue Generating Audience | Entrepreneur

    Pat Flynn Teaches You How to Build a Revenue Generating Audience | Entrepreneur

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    You know that building an audience is important. Whether it’s on LinkedIn, YouTube, your newsletter – you want to grow the base of people who know, like, and trust you, and will eventually buy from you.

    But, knowing that an audience is important is entirely different from having the skills to build an audience that lasts. So how do you do it? How do you build an audience of engaged, vocal followers who will not only buy your product but spread the word on your behalf as well?

    For this week’s podcast episode I sat down with Pat Flynn to discuss just that. Pat is the co-founder of SPI Media, a podcast, and owns several successful online businesses – when it comes to audience building, he’s the real deal.

    You can read the key takeaways from our discussion below and listen to the full episode here.

    Being an expert isn’t enough to find success

    Just scroll Instagram or Linkedin for a few minutes, and you will find people with way less skill and knowledge than you who have an audience hanging on their every word.

    Here’s a tough truth: You can be the most skilled expert in the world, but if you don’t know how to communicate that skill in a way that resonates with your audience, you’re going to be outdone every time.

    How do you build a presence that creates lifelong fans? Good question, we’ll cover that next.

    Be the audience before seeking an audience

    Pat advocates for becoming part of your target audience before you start to build a presence there. This gives two big advantages:

    1. You speak the language – by the time you’re ready to sell, you’re using the same vocabulary, know the inside jokes, and know who key players are. If you come in with no background knowledge, you aren’t offering expertise or a unique perspective. You’ll just be white noise to that audience.

    2. You can empathize with your audience. When you’ve been a part of a group, you know the problems they deal with, what motivates them, what slows them down. And that enables you to solve problems for an audience more effectively.

    Master one platform before expanding to others

    While you’re joining the audience, notice what platform they gather on. Then start with mastering just that platform.

    Pat said that if your effort is distributed across five platforms with five different sets of best practices, you’re going to fail. Instead, pick one platform and take courses on how to best utilize it.

    Invest in your community there. Learn about the individuals that follow you, care about their lives, decide how you’re going to show up on that one specific platform.

    Calculating Return on investment

    This part is tricky, because most business owners would like to know for certain that if they put in a certain number of hours, they’ll get a certain number of dollars out.

    Pat says ROI is the wrong way to look at it – when you discover who the people are, and what they need, you have an infinite number of ways you can solve their problems.

    He also points out that knowing your audience increases the impact of other areas in your business – copywriting, lead magnets, sales. All of those are infinitely more effective when you know your audience.

    Another note on ROI: If you measure it after your first project launch, it’ll feel lousy. The value of investing in your audience compounds over years.

    Next Steps

    Want to learn more from Pat? First, listen to the full interview Pat Flynn Teaches You How to Build a Revenue Generating Audience.

    Then, check out SPI Media’s All-Access Pass. In addition to gaining access to interactive DIY courses, you’ll also join a community of entrepreneurial peers of all levels who are committed to learning and improving their skill set.

    And, here are a few ways I can support you.

    Either way, I wish you the best of luck and feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn or Instagram.

    To hear the full conversation and get access to additional resources tune in to this week’s episode of the Launch Your Business podcast.

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    Terry Rice

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  • 4 Strategies to Increase Your Conversion Rates

    4 Strategies to Increase Your Conversion Rates

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    There’s no question that conversion rates are important to the success of any business. After all, a company can’t make money if its potential customers aren’t converting into actual paying customers. But what many business owners don’t realize is just how big of an impact hitting your conversion goals can have on your business’s bottom line.

    Consider this: If your company has a 1% conversion rate and you’re bringing in $1 million in revenue each month, increasing your conversion rate by just two percentage points — to 3% — means you’ll be bringing in an additional $2 million each month. That’s an extra $24 million per year!

    Of course, increasing your conversion rate is easier said than done. But it’s certainly not impossible. Here are a few tips to help you boost those numbers and reach your full revenue potential:

    Related: 5 Key Tips to Improve Conversion Rates

    1. Perform regular funnel analysis

    Funnels can be really simple (ad, sales page, delivery email) or incredibly complex (several ads leading to segmented landing pages leading to a sales call leading to … well, you get the picture). At any stage in the process, your funnel either loses people or moves them forward to the next stage.

    If you’re not regularly performing a funnel analysis, usually called an audit, you could be missing out on revenue that could be a game-changer for your business. Let’s look at a simple evergreen webinar funnel with a “buy now” option for a $1,500 offer as an example. We’re going to keep it super simple and assume you’re sending just one email to your existing list to drive them to the webinar registration page. Your funnel looks like this:

    • Email: converting at 50%

    • Registration page: 15%

    • Webinar: 20% watch rate

    • Order conversions: 0.67%

    With the conversion rates above, you’ll bring in $1,500 or one sale.

    Your email is converting really well, so we don’t need to do anything with that, but the registration page? Not doing so hot. We want that number to be 25% or higher, so we’re going to optimize the registration page.

    This might mean changing up the copy, design, images — even the offer itself — until we hit our goal of a 25% conversion rate on the registration page. With all other things being equal, that increase in conversion rate on the registration page alone nets you another sale, bringing your revenue for this funnel up to $3,000.

    By working through each step in your funnel this way, you could go from bringing in $1,500 to $28,500 — just by hitting the minimum conversion rate at each funnel stage!

    2. Make sure your website is optimized for conversions

    Your website is often the first point of contact between you and a potential customer, so it’s important to make sure it’s up to snuff. Is your site easy to navigate? Do the pages load quickly? Is the copy clear and concise? Is there a strong call to action on each page?

    If you answered “no” to any of these questions, it’s time to do some website soul-searching. Making even small changes — like adding testimonials or enhancing your calls to action — can make a big difference in terms of conversion rates.

    Related: 5 Tactics to Supercharge Your Website Conversion Rate

    3. Segment your email list

    When it comes to email marketing, quality is more important than quantity. Sending out a generic message to your entire list is likely to result in few conversions because not every recipient will be interested in what you have to say. Segmenting your list enables you to send more targeted, relevant messages that are more likely to lead to conversions.

    Not sure how to segment your list? Start by dividing it into smaller groups based on factors like geography, age, gender, interests, etc. Then craft different messages for each group.

    4. Personalize the user experience

    In today’s competitive market, simply having a website isn’t enough — you need to go above and beyond to stand out from the crowd. One way to do that is by personalizing the user experience for each visitor to your site.

    Thanks to advancements in technology, this is easier than ever before. There are now numerous tools available that allow you to collect data about each user and then use that information to display content that’s tailored specifically for them.

    Related: Why a ‘Personal’ Customer Experience Is Critical to Your Business’ Success

    Reaching — and exceeding — your desired conversion rate can have huge implications for your business revenue. If you’re not happy with your current numbers, take heart; there are plenty of things you can do to improve them. By following these four tips, you can start making progress toward reaching those all-important conversion goals.

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    Jacinda Santora

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