Category: Advice
5 Business (Types) That Are Perfect For Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding is one of the more empowering developments of the Internet age. Through the connected power of the masses, aspiring entrepreneurs can get their great ideas seen, supported, and funded. A wide variety of ideas have found enormous success with crowdfunding. A few of the biggest successes include a redesigned “Coolest Cooler” that raised over…
5 Questions with David Bobbitt, President of the SCORE Foundation
1. Tell us about SCORE, and what the organization’s mission is. SCORE builds vibrant small business communities through mentoring and education. Our backbone is 11,000+ volunteers—successful executives and entrepreneurs across the USA—who give back through no-charge mentoring. We have amazing SCORE volunteer groups in Manhattan and in Cedar Rapids in Eastern Iowa, in South Dakota…
Customer Success Story: Tropic Tan
Sharon Herd and her husband wanted to purchase and expand a tanning salon and were looking for a small business loan to help facilitate the purchase and fuel the expansion of Tropic Tan in Kennesaw, Georgia. After completing an online loan application at 2:00 am, she was on the phone the next morning with an…
Three Reasons Why You Are Missing Out On New Customers
While you might be running an offline business, the strength of your digital efforts has a powerful influence over the potential success or failure of your business. According to a survey by Search Engine Land, 85% of consumers have used the Internet to search for local businesses. It’s not surprising as eMarketer estimates that US…
Do You Have the Right Insurance For Your Business?
Insurance is designed to protect small businesses from expenses associated with lawsuits, but also from costs surrounding injured employees, stolen equipment, or damaged property. No matter what type of business you run, consider purchasing some or all of the following types of insurance for your company and its assets: 1. General Liability Insurance. If your…
The Single Biggest Killer of Employee Productivity in Winter… And How to Beat It
Winter can be a rough time for employee morale, what with the frigid temperatures, icy roads, and those gloomy winter skies. It’s also a rough time for our employee health; since we are all cooped up indoors together, we spread germs faster during the winter months. That means that your team is much more likely…
These Grammy Nominees Learned Key Business Lessons. Can you Guess Them All?
Making it in the music business is no easy task – and these days especially, success demands a deep understanding of both the artistic side and the business side of the industry. Here are a few Grammy nominees with exceptional professional capacities that can be valuable to any business owner. 1. Know how to market…
The 8 Worst Customers in Movie and TV History
Difficult customers can make for brutal experiences in real life. But on the big (or small) screen, few narrative devices are as entertaining as someone losing it in a retail establishment. All of the factors for hilarity and/or drama are already in place—a public setting, a loud conflict, a person taking out his or her…
Small Business Marketing: What Could You Do With $4 Million?
What is a Hackathon and Why is OnDeck Doing One?
A blending of the words “hack” and “marathon,” a hackathon is a creative approach many tech companies use to empower their development and product teams to innovate. A hackathon gives teams a chance to step away from their day-to-day projects and dedicate time to solving problems they really feel passionate about with others motivated to…
5 Ways Social Media Can Get Diners Into Your Restaurant
The days of relying on street fliers and window signs for restaurant promotion are over. The ease and reach of social media now makes it easy to entice diners, provided you ‘know’ how to navigate your online options. Here are a few tips on how to increase your customer base and incentivize past customers to…
4 Things You Didn’t Know Marketing Could Do For You
OnDeck Success Story: Axis Pack N Ship
About Axis Pack N Ship Like most entrepreneurs, Raj Gauri always knew he wanted to be his own boss and run his own business. As a result, he’s been serving his customers for 16 years out of his Norwalk, CT Axis Pack N Ship. In addition to shipping all over the world, he and his…
Do I Really Need to Meet With My Accountant Every Quarter?
Your accountant is there to help you file your tax return, but also to avoid financial missteps, including unwise tax decisions, costly disorganization, and poor budgeting. And while the tax time meeting is mandatory, it’s also important to meet with your accountant throughout the year. Here are six ways that quarterly meetings with your accountant…
How ‘Binge Watching’ Has Changed the Way Your Customers Act – And What You Can Do About It
You may have heard of “binge-watching,” the phenomenon popularized by Netflix, in which people watch entire seasons of a TV show all in one sitting. The phrase describes a new trend that is changing the way we consume entertainment. But the “binge” phenomenon also spreads to other types of consumption, including shopping. As Wharton School…