Time is an entrepreneur’s most valuable asset.

Small business owners and entrepreneurs like to have their fingers in every aspect of their companies, but at some point, there’s just not enough time to fit every task in.

If you find yourself in a crunch, there’s only one thing you can do — move tasks off of your plate. If you’re stressed and overloaded, how are you going to focus on what’s best for the business?

You should do tasks you love, and outsource those you don’t, but which tasks can you hand over?

1. Scheduling

Scheduling is easy when you have a quick phone call or two, but when you have 20 meetings with investors, business partners, and prospects, picking out times and places for meetings can take hours of emails.

Consider hiring a personal assistant. If you don’t need someone fulltime, look to companies like Taskbullet or Zirtual, which provide virtual assistants to help you out.

2. Writing and Blogging

Not a writer? No problem. Just like you hire developers to handle all of your heavy programming, you can also hire a great writer.

You can even hire a ghostwriter to write on your behalf. Worried they won’t sound like you? Fear not—a good ghostwriter will spend time interviewing you to understand your core messaging, persona, likes, dislikes, and style.

Looking for writers? Seek out referrals from professional connections or check out platforms like Elance and Contently.

3. Mailing Packages

Don’t want to stand in the line at the post office? No one does, and that’s because it’s a waste of time. You should be spending time connecting with investors, building your product, or researching your customers — not packing, sticking labels on boxes, and running to buy stamps.

Reach out to someone at TaskRabbit to take care of your mailings for you, or create a FedEx or UPS account so that they’ll come by when you call. Invest in a Pitney Bowes postage machine or get a Stamps.com account so it’s easy to send from your office.

4. Accounting and Payroll

As your business begins to scale, you’ll need to invest more time in maintaining the books, and this process can be a major pain-point.

You can start by finding self-serve software solutions to accommodate payroll and taxes, but when that’s not enough, it might be time to reach out to your local CPA. An accountant lives and breathes in the books — whatever you can do, they can do faster and better.

5. Data Entry

Need to collect and process user data? Want to get out there and do some research?

Don’t do it yourself — hire an intern or find a freelancer on Elance.

Technology is an amazing resource for hiring contractors for gigs, so you quit doing data collection on your own. The minute you find yourself clicking keys on a keyboard over and over, start looking for a contractor instead. You’ll save tons of time.

6. Waiting in Lines

Need to wake up early to stand in line at the DMV? If you’re running a business, “waiting around” means “losing time.” Believe it or not, you can find someone on Exec or Craigslist to wait in line for you. If there are a thousand tasks you need to get done, paying someone to wait in line will be worth the cost.

Use the hour of saved time to finish up a project, relax, exercise, cook dinner, or answer backlogged emails.

7. Cleaning

Is your house or office a mess? It’s easy to let neatness fall by the wayside when you’re busy with business, but it’s easier to be productive when things are tidy.

Thankfully, professional cleaning services are excellent, and they don’t break the bank. Your time is too valuable to spend vacuuming. A professional will do a much better job — and, you guessed it, they’ll do it faster.

You’ll feel refreshed and able to tackle the biggest of projects if your home and work environments are clean, fresh, and bright.

8. IT and Technology Set-Up

Wondering the best way to set up your network, WiFi, and printer? If you’re finding yourself tangled in wires, you might have a problem. You could spend hours trying to learn how to set everything up — or you can hire experts to do it fast and right.

Find an organization or software solutions that provides excellent tech support, and never waste time troubleshooting a tech emergency again.

Outsource Anything Tedious

You need to focus on the big picture (costs and revenue) to grow your company. If you’re hung up on the minutiae (data collection, direct mailings, quality control, and social media updates), you’ll inevitably hold your company back.

Time is your most important resource, so start treating it that way. Start outsourcing the little things so you can get more done.

What tasks do you outsource? Are there any that you insist on doing yourself, even though they’re time consuming?

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Being an entrepreneur is about much more than a job. Many business owners feel their venture is a life calling. Some entrepreneurs take years to plan their transition from employee to CEO. For others, the change happens by force of nature.

When someone sees the demand for a product or service and finds themselves up for trying out a new idea, what happens next?

An accidental entrepreneur is born.

These individuals come in all shapes and sizes, from the investment banker who becomes a philanthropist to the retiree who’s ready for his second wind. As business owners, we can learn a lot from their inspiring stories.

1. Patrick Hull, Phull Holdings

The moral of this story: find your inborn talents.

Twenty-five years ago, Patrick Hull was like many other college students. At the age of 19, he took classes on subjects he loved.

Hull had a plan. As a student at Virginia Tech, he was ready to jump into a career in real estate development. But Hull was exceptionally talented in the field of critical path method scheduling, so much so that he caught the attention of his professors. Hull’s instructors began passing on his name when inbound requests for logistics consulting came rolling in.

Without even realizing it, Hull had become a consultant. Starting at such a young age, he learned the ropes of self-employment on the fly. Two decades later, he’s revolutionized the transportation industry with a freight-matching service for long-haul truckers. He’s also provided cargo/gap insurance to the trucking industry. Today, as a business owner and investor, he has a controlling interest in more than 30 companies.

2. Doug Lacombe, communicatto Inc.

The moral of this story: believe in yourself.

Doug Lacombe spent five years as vice president of the Western Canada region at CNW Group Ltd., a newswire service that specializes in online press releases. Then, one day, layoffs struck his team. Doug was left without a job.

The transition was tough. At age 45, he found himself wondering what to do next. He did have a generous severance package but was unsure where to turn. After spending six months looking for a full-time job (unsuccessfully), he realized something profound. His next move was there all along — within himself.

As his severance package reached its final days, Lacombe decided to start his business. He always wanted to be an entrepreneur and strike out on his own, but hadn’t been willing to give up the paycheck.

And then he took the ultimate bet — on himself.

Lacombe opened communicatto, a digital marketing firm that has been a growth engine. Since 2009, the company has seen a growth rate of 50 percent to 100 percent each year.

As an accidental entrepreneur, Doug was able to earn as much as he did from his full-time job. Without a doubt, his jump paid off.

3. Sophia Amoruso, Nasty Gal

The moral of this story: forge your own path and create your own mold.

Sophia Amoruso never wore business suits. In fact, she got her start as an eBay seller. She ran her operations out of her modest San Francisco office. Her business kept growing and growing, so she eventually opened a standalone store.

Today, her clothing company has evolved into a company called Nasty Gal — a $128 million business and one of LA’s most rapidly growing startups.

Some never expected Sophia to grow her venture so big, but the success makes sense. Her secret weapon? Herself, her passion, her tenacity, and her unwillingness to fit to a mold. Her stuff is the real deal, and customers love it.

She’s the ultimate accidental entrepreneur.

The beauty of entrepreneurship is that it’s ever-evolving. The more people do, the more problems they uncover, and the more solutions they want to build. Neil Patel is an excellent example. He started his tenure as a consultant and then ventured into services like CrazyEgg and KISSmetrics to solve the web’s analytics problems.

The entrepreneurship bug bites many on accident, sparking a long-term journey of amazing momentum, trial-and-error, and beautiful life experiences.

What are some of the best accidental entrepreneur stories that you’ve come across? How did you stumble into entrepreneurship? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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Failure is serious business. As an entrepreneur, you’re investing immense time and resources so that your company will make it. It’s no laughing matter, tough to handle, and emotionally nerve-wracking.

We’ve written about failure before, providing information on Why Most Entrepreneurs’ Ideas Fail. We’ve also discussed The Most Valuable Lessons from Failure.

Now, the story comes full-circle with three awkward business moments that you can learn from. If things go wrong, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and try, try again.

1. Really Awkward Conference Calls – Learn to be a Leader

What is it about conference calls? Painful silences, accidental interruptions, relentless “I’m sorries,” broken dial-in numbers, and bad static. No wonder we all hate them!

Entrepreneur-extraordinaire, it’s time to learn from your less than delightful conference experiences and do something about them.

Step up and take the lead and show your team you’re committed to a positive experience. Taking on the role of leader doesn’t mean you should stop others from speaking up, though. Instead, you can take the reins and direct the conversation if there’s a lull or awkward silence.

To be extra safe, check your conference lines ahead of time to make sure that your tech is in order.

Lead smooth conference calls:

• How to Make Conference Calls Less Awkward | The Daily Muse
• 27 Tips for Teleconferencing | GigaOm

2.  The Dreaded Meetups – Learn to Step Out of Your Comfort Zone

Networking sessions aren’t your style. The last time you went to one, it was a total flop.

When you got to the event, you were way outside of your comfort zone. You clammed up, felt out of place, and realized the event wasn’t what you’d expected. You’d invested a lot in attending, but left feeling unfulfilled.

You probably didn’t get much out of the event, even though it was probably a decent opportunity. What can you do next time?

When you’re at a meet up, put yourself out there and talk to people, no matter how horrible it feels. Listen, learn, and observe as much as you can. Just let go of whatever’s holding you back. Once you get the wheels turning, you’ll run like a well-oiled machine.

Networking and meetup advice:

• Have Them From Hello | The Huffington Post
• Your Social Insecurities Are Probably Normal | LessEverything

3. PowerPoints that Fail – Learn That You’re The Most Important Tool

It happens to the best of the best — the projector breaks, your computer doesn’t sync up, or you forgot your cable. You’ve spent hours working on your pitch deck, so what in the world will you do?

If you have a PowerPoint failure, take it as an opportunity to prove what you’re made of. Technical glitches aren’t going to stop you!

At the end of the day, you don’t need your PowerPoint. It’s a tool that ultimately needs you. Give your presentation without it. Speak confidently. Show your audience that you’re strong and awesome, that absolutely no catastrophe will phase you.

And next time, rehearse as much as possible. Be prepared so that your technology can keep up with you.

Great PowerPoints:

• Death By PowerPoint: Practical Advice For Improving Presentations | The Content Wrangler
• 5 Tips for a Great PowerPoint Presentation | Inc.

Awkward business moments happen to everyone, but you can learn valuable lessons when they happen to you. Remember to be calm under pressure and remain cool and collected, no matter what happens.

What have been some of your most awkward moments as an entrepreneur? Most importantly, what have you learned?

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This is a guest post by Stefanie Amini, Marketing Director at WalkMe.

In a perfect world, all customers would be content and satisfied. In reality, you will come across customers who are angry, upset, and frustrated. As a small business owner, it’s pretty important to learn how to handle this anger. If you can’t handle dissatisfaction, you’re bound to lose customers and get even more complaints.

Thankfully, there are several things you can do to cope with angry customers so they keep using your services and gush about your support!

Here are 5 tips for dealing with angry customers:

1. Understand that Customers Have The Right to be Angry

Even if you don’t agree with your customer, they’re the one paying you, and they have a right to be upset if they’re not satisfied. Maybe they aren’t getting what they expected, are confused about prices, or have a warped perception about what your services actually do.

If you encounter an angry customer, give them space to vent their anger. Most of the time they just need to let it out. Everyone wants to feel like they’re being heard, so let them talk.

Sometimes, customers are going to be mad. Do your best to give them space to explain exactly why they feel the way they do. After they get it out, work with them to find solutions.

2. Avoid Getting Emotional

Sometimes customers raise their voices and say really nasty things. When this happens, it’s natural to get defensive—you’re only human! It’s tempting to raise your voice and scream about how irrational the customer is being, but this will only add fuel to the flames. Provide great customer service by staying calm and being rational.

Even though a customer may seem to attack you directly, rather than the faulty product or unsatisfactory service, it helps to remember that there is nothing personal about the complaint. Angry customers aren’t attacking you as an individual. They don’t even know who you are. They simply want a resolution to their problem so do your best to give one to them.

3. Come Up With a Practical Solution

Sometimes, a customer will have a complaint that seems a little ridiculous. For instance, a customer who does not know how to operate a device could swear that you sold them a faulty product. Instead of laughing at them, have the heart to empathize. Explain how to operate the product and they will thank you for it.

If you are unable to come up with a practical solution yourself, do not be afraid to consult someone who can. Remember that angry customers will be willing to do business with you again if they feel their complaints have been properly handled.

Do not forget to follow up with the customer either. Give them a call a few days later and ask them whether or not they feel their problem was adequately addressed.

4. Know Your Product and Company Inside and Out

Customers expect that those answering the phone will have a solid grasp on their company’s products and services, but sometimes agents and business owners aren’t informed or trained. If you and your employees are not educated about your services, you’re setting yourself up for disaster.

If a customer realizes that you don’t know much about the product or service you’re helping them with, they’ll probably get even more frustrated, escalating the crisis.

It’s crucial you have thorough knowledge of the services you are supporting. You should be using the products and services in your own life. That way, you can answer any and all questions that customers have.

5. Add Self-Service Technologies

There are many self-service tools out there that may be perfectly suited to your customers’ needs.  Chat boxes, call back services, support forums, and contact forms may complement your products better than a traditional call center.

Overall, customer service demands that you exercise patience of the utmost kind.  You must understand where the customer is coming from, and offer adequate empathy in order to make sure they don’t come back even angrier.

Have you ever dealt with an angry customer? If so, what are your strategies for learning to love dissatisfied customers? Please share!

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Many of our customers and friends work from the comfort of their own homes. They make calls, perfect their products, and build great software all from their private lairs.

At Grasshopper, we only get to talk to you via phone, email, or video chat, and we’ve had enough! Now, we want an inside peek.

Do you work from home? If so, what does your home office look like?

Share a photo with us for a chance to win!

• Send a photo(s) of your home office to content@grasshopper.com by May 21st. Submit your full name, city, job title, company, and one thing you love about your home office.
• One of the submissions will receive a special surprise treat.
• We’ll choose 8-10 of the offices to feature on our blog.

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If you take a look around the web, you’ll see a rainbow of color. Businesses are painting their sites in blues, reds, yellows, and oranges. Look at this post. You’re looking at a green and black Grasshopper logo, as well as an image of bright beach huts bathed in different hues.

Some of the colors around the web are chosen deliberately, while others come from the “web status quo.” Links, for example, are usually represented in blue. When people see blue-colored text, they know what to do—click, click, click.

Keeping the “web status quo” can be a great choice, but it should always be done deliberately.

If you’re in charge of design decisions for a startup or small business, how do you choose which colors to use?

Here are 6 great resources that can help you use color to jazz up your stuff. If you do color right, you’ll see more online conversions.

1. How do colors affect purchases? by KISSmetrics

If you’ve got an ecommerce site, colors can persuade your audience. In this infographic, KISSmetrics compiles data that shows how visual appearance trumps texture, smell and sound when it comes to buying. Royal blue makes customers trust you, while red and orange are the best colors to reach impulse shoppers.

2. What Color Should Your Branding Be? Take The Color Quiz! by Grasshopper

Don’t think you have to choose a color all by yourself. Consider taking a color quiz to figure out how to color your brand. At Grasshopper, we created an intuitive quiz that asks you a bunch of questions about who you’re marketing to and why you’re doing it, and then spits out the color that’s right for you. Bonus: we’ll show you the big brands that are using that color, too.

4. Psychology of Color in Logo Design by The Logo Company

This infographic shows how logo color can conjure up certain emotions. If you’re trying to come off as friendly and confident, you might pick orange, just like Nickelodeon and Firefox. If you’d rather infuse your visitors with calm, take a hint from Honda and Apple- they both use black and gray.

5. Color Theory Presentation by OWL Purdue Online Writing Lab

Ok, so you’re not a student anymore, but you can still take advantage of great resources from universities. This online presentation leads students through the basics of color theory, and is a great foundation for understanding how color might affect conversions. It’s helpful to check out a resource like this if you’re unfamiliar with how to use color.

Just because you weren’t an art student doesn’t mean you can’t get a solid grasp on color. According to the experts, doing so will catapult your brand to the top. Using reds and oranges for call-to-actions is just the beginning. Check out these resources to figure out how to rainbow your website.

6. Why Is Facebook Blue? The Science Behind Colors in Marketing by Fast Company

According to Leo Widrich, CEO of Buffer and Fast Company contributor, changing the color of one button on a website can change user behavior. In this resource, Widrich offers a number of color schemes, and asks readers to identify the brands they represent. He also explains how colors trigger certain feelings. Black, he explains, signifies credibility, power, and precision. Widrich expands on a number of resources to present a comprehensive explanation of how businesses can better use color.

So, why is Facebook blue? You’ll have to check out the resource to find out.

It’s up to you to decide what colors are best for your website, logos, branding, and other company materials. Just remember that the colors you use reflect certain ideas and play into the emotions and psychology of your customers.

What colors do you use for your business? Why did you choose them? Please share!

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People judge companies and organizations by their websites. Good websites can lead to more business, while poor ones can scare potential customers away. In this day and age, there’s no excuse for any company to have a crummy website.

Yes, it can be expensive to hire a team of developers to design a site and a huge time commitment if you build it yourself, but a great website is an essential investment. Think of it as an advertisement for your brand.

When was the last time you took a good look at your company’s site? How would you rank it?

Here are five common website design pitfalls:

1. Design Flaws

The first thing visitors will notice when they visit your site is design. Are the images too big? Is the bright red color overwhelming? What’s the ratio of text to photos? Can users find what they’re looking for?

A design flaw could be a lack of color, too much text, or a confusing navigation. But it could also be very subtle, like typography. Jerod Morris of Copyblogger writes: “Think of typography like your website’s voice, volume, and laugh.” What does your font say about your brand?

2. Not Mobile Friendly

A recent study by Google showed that 75 percent of users prefer mobile friendly websites. That’s because people are turning to the web more and more often on smartphones and tablets.

Ever visited a site that isn’t mobile friendly? Maybe the text was garbled and impossible to read, or you were unable to scroll. Ninety-six percent of those surveyed said they’d come across a site they found difficult to navigate via mobile.

If you’re creating a new site, make sure it’s mobile friendly. If you already have a booming site, talk to a development team to find out what it will take to make a site that looks just as awesome on a mobile device as it does on the web.

3. No One Can Find It

You can have the nicest looking website on the Internet, but it won’t mean anything if you aren’t generating any traffic. Hmmm…How is that done?

There are a couple ways to put your site on the map, such as Pay-Per-Click (PPC) ads and features on other sites. Perhaps the most important method is search engine optimization (SEO). By taking advantage of basic search principles, you can ensure that your website ranks higher when someone searches for you. For example, if you sell equipment for musicians, it would be great to come up as the first result when someone Googles “headphones.”

Don’t know much about SEO? Read a beginner’s guide.

4. The Message Isn’t Clear

What does your company do? That’s the first question users ask when they visit your site, and it better be answered fast. State what you do in a few simple sentences that even a monkey could understand. If visitors can’t figure out what you offer, they’re not going to convert!

A nice clear message or call to action near the top of the page can do wonders for the effectiveness of your site.

Customers will also want to know how to get in touch, so make sure contact information is easy to find. There’s nothing worse than when someone wants to become a customer or client but can’t find a way to get in touch with you. If they can’t find a phone number, contact page, or email address, they’ll quickly move on to another site.

5. It Slows Users Down

People want information and they want it quickly. Slow loading sites can prevent even the most excited potential customer from converting. If your site takes more than 20-30 seconds to load, a visitor is going to click away–they simply won’t have the patience to wait around.

This can also be applied to the navigation of your website. Users are usually turned off it takes them forever to get the information they want. If it’s hard to figure out how to get from one page to another, or there are just too many pages, you might lose some customers.

Another big mistake is repeating the same information on a number of different pages; your visitors will see it as a waste of their time and will quickly get frustrated.

Take a Look At Your Website

Some sites are sharp and user-friendly with bursting colors and a killer user experience. Others are confusing and ugly, leaving some to wonder what the company actually does, how much things cost, or how to get the information they need.  Take a good look at your website and make sure it’s a star.

Other than these five things, what have you noticed about websites that makes them stink? What frustrates you when surfing the web?

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It’s difficult to find a job, and it’s even harder if you don’t have any experience. It’s a bit of a catch 22, because if no one will hire you, how are you supposed to get that experience?

That’s why many fresh college grads are turning to jobs at startups. They can gain great skills, network like crazy, and have an impact on a brand new company.

But, just because a company is new doesn’t mean they’ll take just anyone.

Here are a few tips for how you can increase your chances of landing a job at one of the hottest startup organizations, even if you’re entering the workforce for the first time.

1. Network

It’s annoying when people say, “it’s all about who you know,” but you have control over getting your name on the map.  Use LinkedIn to figure out where other alums, friends, family, and others are working. Usually people are happy to help, so don’t hesitate to reach out.

While LinkedIn and other social media sites can be effective for networking, real life interactions are better for making connections. Meeting potential employers face to face can help you make a good impression, and it can happen in the line at the grocery store, on the bus, or at a friend’s party. Major cities host career fairs often, and it might be a good idea to make a point to attend—you never know who you’ll run into!

2. Intern or Volunteer

While most full-time jobs require some experience, there are several internship and volunteer opportunities for grads who are responsible and competent, regardless of how many years they’ve been working (or not).

This is especially true for startups. Many new companies don’t have the budget to pay full-time salaries, so they rely on workers who are looking to gain experience. You may not be making much money at first, but, boy, will you get experience. One day you could be managing social media, and the next day you could be digging through Google Analytics. Many companies will eventually hire their interns as they grow. Even if you don’t get hired, it’s experience that you can add to your resume.

Finding an internship or volunteer opportunity is fairly simple, too. InternMatch is geared specifically towards those looking for internships. The big job search sites like Monster and Indeed also list these types of opportunities.

Another option is to just go to the websites of startups you might like to work for, find a contact email, and send them a message asking about open opportunities.

3. Get Involved and Get Noticed

If you’re still a college student, getting involved with different departments and activities on campus could go a long way. Some of your friends may start their own businesses, and you can take the opportunity to help them out. By becoming a leader on sports teams or in other clubs, you may gain skills you can leverage when you’re finished with school.

If you’ve finished college, join a sports team or another club where you can meet people outside your usual circle.

One way to gain clout in the startup market is to start a personal website that shows off your area of expertise. The site will help establish you as knowledgeable in your field, and can help you stand out from the crowd.

There’s also social media. Most startups are active users of platforms like Twitter and Facebook, so you should be too. Build yourself quality profiles on those platforms and follow any startups you find interesting. If you develop a relationship with them, they’ll be more likely to consider you when an opportunity arises.

4. Take Initiative and Start Something New

If none of these sound like you, why not start your own business or build your own website? Those who have created businesses often say it makes them stand out from other job applicants, even if their company didn’t make it big. Others are luckier- they never have to work under someone else!

A great idea doesn’t equal a great business, so make sure you do plenty of research about what makes startups successful. Establish a detailed business plan, find a mentor, and read up on how to balance your books and generate revenue.

Your company might not bring in much cash, especially at first, but it will give you experience and put you within the startup community.

All it takes is for you to get noticed by the right company, and if they like what you’re doing there’s a good chance they may ask you to abandon your startup idea and bring your talents to theirs.

Do you have any advice for college grads looking to enter the startup sphere? Did you work at a startup fresh out of college? How did you get your job?

The post Looking For The Coolest Job Ever? Get Hired At A Startup! appeared first on .

Did you know 93 percent of shoppers make purchase decisions based on color and visual appearance? With a stat like that, you better be picking the right colors for logos, websites, mailings, and other swag that comes from your business.

Not sure which color is right? Take our color quiz to find out>>

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If you think Grasshopper is just for one type of startup or business, you haven’t met our customers. Grasshopper users come in all shapes of sizes—they make products for kids, offer moving and packing solutions, and sell software services.

In today’s connected world, social media companies are springing up, and we’re proud to say that many of them have chosen Grasshopper for their virtual phone system.

We talked with Davy Kestens of TwitSpark, Ashleigh Ratcliff of Privateer Digital, and Dennis O’Malley of ReadyPulse, to find out how social media junkies are using our services!

An International CompanyTwitSpark is a platform that allows teams to efficiently manage high volumes of customer complaints and feedback over social channels. It’s a bit like call center software for social media.

Davy Kestens, founding CEO, has been building websites since he was 13 years old, and recently moved to San Francisco from Belgium, where he had another startup.

Our startup has been international from day one, and because I’m constantly switching between SIM cards and cell phone numbers, I needed a system that would direct calls to my active phone number. Also, our team is very mobile and installing hardware phones just feels like a thing of the past to me.

Davy’s most used features:

• Call Forwarding. Davy uses multiple numbers behind the same extension because he travels a lot
• Unlimited Extensions. Davy likes that he can easily add extensions for new hires

A Set Point of Contact

Privateer Digital Media is a marketing firm specializing in social media, digital advertising and content marketing strategy.

Founders Ashleigh Ratcliff and Justin Gerock opened a kayak rental and tour shop and used social media as their sole marketing channel. After seeing substantial success, they founded Privateer Digital Media to help others in the same boat.

Grasshopper allows us to have a set point of contact for current and prospective clients regardless of where that number will be routed. This allows for us to work remotely, take calls on the road and provide customer service 24/7 without the need of a receptionist or being forced to miss calls while away from our office.

Ashleigh’s most used features:

• Custom greetings.  Being able to record an upbeat and informative greeting, helps prospective and current clients get a feel for the company’s personality
• Call extensions. These help clients quickly connect without a long voice prompt or a list of numbers to call (office, cell, main, etc.).

Remote Functionality

ReadyPulse is a cloud-based software company that developed an organic advertising platform, which helps the customers from online retailers tell their stories, resulting in higher online conversions.

We spoke with Dennis O’Malley, leader of ReadyPulse, father of three, and hack triathlete, about how he uses Grasshopper. ReadyPulse is headquartered in Bellevue, Washington with locations in Sunnyvale, California and Bangalore, India, which makes remote capabilities important.

It’s critical to be accessible via phone for customers and prospects. Given we have remote locations, no other phone system made it as easy to ensure call routing and responsibilities. We also saw that Grasshopper was focused on technology and  had a lot of testimonials that were helpful.

Dennis’ most used features: 

• Call routing. Dennis calls this his “number 1.”
• Visual voicemail. Being able to read voicemail messages makes life easier.

We love hearing from our customers about how they use our services, and we think these three social media companies are worth checking out.

What are the most important features in your virtual phone system? Do you use any social media companies to help you get the job done? Please share in the comments below.

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This post is part of our monthly social roundup. See what’s been going on in the Grasshopper community and stay tuned each month for more great content from our fans, followers and friends!

[View the story "Grasshopper Community Chatter: April" on Storify]

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This month’s customer spotlight is on Zlien, a mechanic’s lien filing service.

Scott Wolfe, like a lot of entrepreneurs we meet, comes from a family of business owners. His parents own a retail store and a construction company in New Orleans. With these family genes its no wonder Scott has owned everything from a web company to a law firm, and now a mechanic’s lien filing company. He’s grown up in the biz after all!

After law school, Scott started his own firm, specializing in construction law, but this was just the start of his entrepreneurial journey.  With his parents construction company, Scott saw the issues the construction industry faces with getting paid. This industry is plagued with serious credit challenges.

As a lawyer specializing in construction law, Scott saw an opportunity to help.

In the construction industry, projects are very complex. There are multiple parties working on a project. Getting paid on time doesn’t always happen. For example,  the painter may do a $50,000 paint job but not see the money for weeks or months after the job is completed. However, as we all know, bills don’t wait around until you have the money and neither do your employees. This is where mechanic’s liens come in.

So, what’s a mechanic’s lien? A mechanic’s lien is a “hold” against your property, filed by unpaid contractors or suppliers.  When a lien is filed against your property, you must pay or up risk foreclosure or double payment for the same job. It could even prevent you from borrowing, refinancing or selling the property. Yikes!

The painter above could file a mechanic’s lien to protect his business BUT filing a lien is hard, and confusing. The laws are different based on the city or state and what time-strapped entrepreneur has the spare time to dig around and figure this all out? Not anyone we know! We also forgot to mention, you only get one shot to file your lien.

That’s why Scott founded Zlien.

Thankfully, Zlien, has got you covered. Zlien manages the whole lien filing process, helping contractors and suppliers prepare and file their liens correctly and fast. Zlien also has a web-based application that calculates lien and notice deadlines, helping clients manage the complicated compliance issues we mentioned above. Talk about making people’s lives easier!

Want to learn more about Zlien? Check out their site, Tweet them, or connect with them on Facebook.

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Entrepreneurs on the hunt for the latest news should look no further. We’ve compiled a list of 11 great news sources for entrepreneurs and small business owners.

Check out our SlideShare to find out which 11 companies will give you the coolest news on 3D printing, hot new companies, and Mark Zuckerberg’s latest moves.

Inc.

Inc. provides news articles, interviews, insights, and content lists that tout in depth analysis on running a business, leadership, marketing, and sales. Articles are written with entrepreneurs in mind. Plus, everybody’s already reading Inc. If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.

Reasons to read Inc.:

• Been in the business of helping entrepreneurs for a long time (since 1979)
• Content shows in depth analysis, drawn from expert resources
• Fresh takes on workplace culture, innovation, and what other companies are doing
• Do you live under a rock? Everyone’s reading Inc.

OpenView Labs

OpenView Labs is geared towards software companies, providing practical advice to help them grow. The blog and news source doles out info on marketing, culture, funding, and more. OpenView Labs goes beyond the software industry with awesome eBooks and podcasts.

Reasons to read OpenView Labs:

• Tons of different types of content (podcasts, reports, videos eBooks, infographics, articles, etc.)
• It’s an offshoot of OpenView Venture Partners, an expert VC firm
• It’s eBook for small businesses competing with competitors is called “Slaying Goliath”

Mashable

With a focus on the latest in social media, technology, and cool new businesses, Mashable is a groovy and fun news source. Mashable brings the exciting and interesting trends to the table, detailing the latest in golf gadgets, 3D ear canal scanners, and iPad hackers.

Reasons to read Mashable:

• Reporting on every new trend in social media and technology
• Read about the NFL, rockets, Facebook, movies, Carly Rae Jepsen, Google+, and GIFs
• Cool companies and latest technology is fodder for first date conversation

Entreprenista

Entreprenista gives some love to the ladies with articles for  female entrepreneurs. Not only does Entreprenista give advice on how to zap negative thinking, grow confidence, and be a whiz at content marketing, but it also has joinable groups and ways to connect. Entreprenista jokes that happily-ever-after has “nothing to do with prince charming.”

Reasons to read Entreprenista:

• Interviews with female entrepreneurs coupled with practical advice
• Empowering content that makes you want to go out and get it
• “The Launch Guide, a beginner’s handbook for starting a business”

Businessweek

Bloomberg Businessweek reports on general trends in the world of business, but also has news articles about newcomers in tech and other industries. Businessweek provides information on politics and policy, small business, business schools, global economics, and more. Businessweek is one of the big guys- you better be reading.

Reasons to read Businessweek:

• Tons of articles and resources no matter the size and stage of your business
• “BSchool,” the business school section
• Lifestyle stories such as “America’s 50 Best Cities”

Forbes

Everybody knows Forbes, and it’s for good reason. The site provides lists of the nation’s richest businesspeople, insight into real estate trends, information about global trading, human resources ideas, and leadership lessons. Forbes has a multitude of awesome contributors. Forbes competes with Businessweek. Which do you prefer?

Reasons to read Forbes:

• News on business, investing, technology, entrepreneurs, lifestyle and leadership
• Wise, respected, and pre-vetted (founded in 1917 by B.C. Forbes)
• Lists include 400 Richest Americans, Top Earning CEOs, and Top-Earning Dead Celebrities

Fast Company

Fast Company shows off innovative companies, cool ideas, and awesome tips to help entrepreneurs be more successful–and it’s a little edgy. Readers can find articles detailing new types of robots, large company lawsuits, and Asia’s most creative companies. Its Co.DESIGN, Co.CREATE, Co.EXIST, and Co.LABS categories focus on individual industries.

Reasons to read Fast Company:

• Well-written, curious, and insightful articles from expert contributors
• An easy to surf, navigable layout makes it easy to find articles
• Edgy and cool

WordofMouth.org

WordofMouth.org is a resource for business owners looking to better understand what customers and others are saying about their brands. It’s a marketing resource for those looking to build positive relationships with their audiences. Articles include tips for apologizing, ways to use small stuff to make big impressions, and how to write shareable content.

Reasons to read WordofMouth.org:

• Great tips for improving customer relationships
• Unexpected marketing tips
• Worksheets to help you be a better marketer

BostInno

BostInno (short for Boston Innovation) isn’t as relevant if you’re not involved in the city of Boston, but it’s a fun startup meets lifestyle resource that reports on new, cool businesses, Boston-area startups, and social media trends. BostInno does an excellent job of combining business with lifestyle.

Reason to read BostInno:

• It’s a local source of information
• Articles relevant to a younger set
• BostInno’s Channel posts which feature contributors from around the city

TechCrunch

TechCrunch is a favorite for those in the software, mobile, and technology industries, as the bulk of the articles focus on cool new trends, top leaders, and innovative technologies. TechCrunch not only reports on the latest drama in the world of Apple, Google, and Facebook, but also highlights new and growing industries such as 3D printing as well as current trends in consumer tech (hint: adults text more than teens!)

Reasons to read TechCrunch:

• The latest on what’s happening in technology-based companies
• Cool articles about crowdfunding, 3D printing, and global consumers
• A Europe section for finding out what’s happening on the other side of the pond

AMEX OPEN Forum

American Express’ OPEN Forum is a mecca for small business owners and startup founders looking for expert advice. With a motto of “powering small business success,” OPEN Forum draws contributors on tricky subjects such as sales strategy, social media, marketing, and leadership.  Writers are expert leaders, coming from successful businesses to share their tips.

Reasons to read AMEX OPEN Forum:

• Expert insight into small business and startup challenges
• Tips on tough stuff, such as how to argue at the workplace
• Categories include money, managing, marketing, lifestyle, the world, and government contracting

What news sources do you check out? What sites provide the best information for entrepreneurs and small business owners?

This article was written by Emma Siemasko.

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When a new company is founded, small business owners and entrepreneurs are faced with a daunting task: they have to do it all themselves. Sure, there are software solutions, and eventually enough money rolls in to hire a staff, but when things begin, most of the load is carried by the business owner.

Those who own a business can learn something from Squarespace, a company that has a website building platform suited for startups, entrepreneurs, and small business owners.

With a straightforward product, dead simple pricing, an attention to aesthetic detail, and great customer service, Squarespace gets it. Small business owners looking to grow can take a hint.

We sat down with Matt Haggerty, Marketing Director at Squarespace, to chat about the recipe for success.

1. A Straightforward Product

Squarespace’s product is simple—they offer a website building platform to small business owners- and it works.

“Our website building platform provides small businesses with everything they need to create an amazing web presence—no coding experience necessary,” Matt said.

Squarespace has great features like an ecommerce option, cool templates, and a developer mode, but the product itself is simple and easy to use.

2. Dead Simple Pricing

Customers get annoyed when they don’t know what they’re paying for, so it’s important for companies to offer dead simple pricing. Wouldn’t you be irritated if you didn’t know what you were paying for?

Up-charging and adding on features or services without a user’s consent is not only irritating, but it’s ethically wrong. If you want to keep customers around, be straightforward with pricing. Offer simple packages, and don’t charge without letting customers know.

“We offer dead simple pricing…Squarespace charges no additional fees beyond our payment processor’s transaction fee,” said Matt.

3. Attention to Aesthetics

If you think image isn’t important, you’re living in a different age. Today’s businesses have beautiful websites, tollfree numbers, and copywriting fit for a king. Squarespace’s website is beautiful (it better be, considering the product!), and the company is committed to great aesthetics, even for those who can’t code.

We place a huge amount of importance in creating something that looks beautiful, clean, and minimal, so that your work and brand can really stand out, and creating your website can be a fun, creative experience instead of a stressful one.

4. Great Customer Service

The difference between a good and great company may lie in its customer service and support. If you can’t provide customers and users with the help they need, they’re likely to get frustrated with the company, or turn somewhere else.

Like Grasshopper, Squarespace offers 24/7 customer support. During Hurricane Sandy, the staff carried buckets of fuel up flights of stairs to keep services running. Talk about customer care!

There is much to consider when running a small business, and it’s difficult to know where priorities lie. Look to Squarespace as an example—their straightforward, do-it-yourself attitude is a perfect fit for entrepreneurs and small business owners.

What do you think is important in providing services? Are you deterred by complicated pricing and ugly websites? What differentiates a company to you?

Matt Haggerty is Squarespace’s Marketing Director. He was kind enough to chat with us about how Squarespace provides web services to their customers. Matt is part of the Business Operations team.

This article was written by Emma Siemasko.

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As an entrepreneur, you’ve worked hard, taken risks, and are wholly invested in your business. And in your personal life? You’re a stand-up guy or a go-to gal, and are always willing to lend a hand or knowledge to your peers.

You’re putting in so much work when some people make it look easy.

There’s Mark Zuckerberg, who had the right idea at the right time and became the youngest self-made billionaire.  Then there’s Jessica Mah, InDinero founder and young adult prodigy. By age 20, she had already raised $1 million to build her small business accounting app.

Success stories are built on luck, right? Well, maybe, but luck is only part of the equation. Setting and achieving goals plays a much bigger role – especially for leaders like Zuckerberg and Mah. Know what you want, and stick to the path that will get you there.

Easier said than done? You bet! When it comes to goal-setting, you need a creative plan of attack. Here are some strategies for getting started:

Ask your mentor to bet against you

Dan Martell, co-founder of Clarity and a serial entrepreneur, is a veteran business leader who has experienced amazing highs and excruciating lows. Martell understands that entrepreneurship is far from easy. So he’s devised something called the ‘Martell Method.’ In other words, he’ll bet against your success. It’s your job to prove him wrong or else you’ll have to pay up.

You don’t have to bet against Dan Martell. You can make a bet against a friend or mentor for a challenge. Raise the stakes by betting against yourself. It’ll motivate you to prove the world wrong.

Set traps against your weaknesses

Everyone has weaknesses that are difficult to conquer, so set traps to help you stay strong.

• If you have trouble waking up in the mornings, keep your alarm on the other side of the room so you have to get out of bed to shut it off.
• Trouble exercising? Force yourself to exit the train two or three stations before your usual stop to add in a daily walk.
• If you’re an online shopping fiend, make sure your credit cards aren’t automated at your favorite stores, so you have to manually plug in the numbers.

Corner yourself into a situation where you have no other choice but to meet your goals.

Get technical

Technology is amazing, and people can leverage it to reach goals. If you hate going to the gym, rest assured that millions of fellow couch potatoes are struggling with the same problem, and someone has devised a tech-y solution to help you out

Check out platforms like

• Mint.com and YouNeedaBudget for budgeting
• Mailbox for email
• Asana, Springpad, and Evernote for project management and organization
• Kickstarter, Crowdrise, and IndieGoGo for fundraising
• Squarespace, WIX, and Shopify for building websites

You can even look for solutions and communities that raise the stakes – Gympact, for instance, is a program that rewards you with financial incentive when you go to the gym. It penalizes you when you flake.

Track your progress

At any given time, you have dozens of projects, ideas, and tasks to prioritize and execute. Make sure you have a calendar laden with deadlines. Luckily, technology can help you with these aspects of running your business as well. Check out these five goal-setting apps for entrepreneurs, which we profiled as we ushered in 2013. Objectiveli, Lifetick, GoalsOnTrack, and some others made the list!

Reinvent the basics

Everyone knows that maintaining a calendar and tracking finances are the most practical ways for reaching goals, but “practical” isn’t the best motivator for everybody.

So, make it fun. Implement a system with fun colors or images or create highly sophisticated, programmable alerts and customized alarms. Use software and apps that allow you to collaborate with others. Do whatever you need to stay on top of your game.

Reward yourself

Big goals are few and far between, but small milestones can be reached on a daily basis. Make sure to celebrate the small stuff. Give yourself some time off, take a walk, and treat yourself to a nice dinner. If you’re working hard, you should pat yourself on the back all the time, not just when you reach huge goals.

What are some of the most creative ways that you stick to your goals? Share your success stories in the comments section below.

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It’s not in the car or at the office. It’s not between the couch cushions. You’re sure that Fluffy didn’t eat it. It isn’t swimming in the toilet. OMG, where the h is your p?

Losing your cell phone is a real nightmare. It’s annoying, inconvenient, and stressful. If you’re a small business owner, the phone is your life line, full of client and vendor info, calendars, and more.

Before marching down to your local wireless store and spending big bucks to get a new one, consider the following to locate your phone:

1. Call your phone from a friend’s cell or a landline. If you hear a phone with a familiar ring tone, it’s probably yours. Duh!
2. Back track. Contact everyone you met with the day your phone went missing. This includes taxi services and mass transit lost and found departments if you hopped on the subway or public bus. If you stopped at the park to feed the pigeons or broke a sweat at the gym, go back to see if anyone turned in a missing phone.
3. Check your apps. Are there any apps on your phone that show location? Apple’s iOS6 has Find My iPhone, which allows users to find their phone in a pinch, but it has to be switched on. Find My Friends and Google Latitude are both linked to GPS. If you have friends on these networks, check from their phones. This will only work if the phone is turned on.
4. Send a polite text message. Provide meet up details (choose a public place for safety), a time to meet, and perhaps a small reward.
5. Enable tracking software. If your wireless carrier provides this service, you can find out the approximate location of the phone.
6. Register the phone with missingphones.org. This recovery service connects losers and finders of phones. You will need to provide the IMEI number (found in most owners’ manuals or by contacting your wireless carrier).

Preparing for Next Time

Just because you lost your phone doesn’t mean you’re safe from losing it again, so prepare yourself with savvy apps and protective measures.

• Use passwords/PIN codes to access your phone. The simple act of enabling a password or PIN number on a phone can save you a tremendous amount of hassle. You may be able to set security on the phone so that if someone tries the wrong password a certain number of times, the phone is automatically wiped.
• Create backup files for client/vendor and other contact information. Create a simple spreadsheet and take some time each week to update with new information.
• Put your phone in the same place every night- on a nightstand, kitchen counter, or on a charging cradle. That way, you’ll know where to find it. (This doesn’t always work, but it’s worth a shot!)
• Install apps like Find My iPhone or Lookout (both free) to track your phone from your PC. This is very useful if your wireless carrier doesn’t provide tracking software.
• Consider phone insurance. If you’re prone to losing your phone, it might be a good idea to get insurance. Most wireless carriers carry insurance so that you can get a new phone for a much lower price.

Don’t worry, you’re not the only one who has lost their phone. It’s easy to lose when you bring it everywhere, and there are loads of solutions available to help you out.

Have you ever lost your phone? If so, did you find it? If not, what do you do to prevent yourself from losing it?

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Video marketing is a new trend, and companies are putting together cool videos to put their brands on the map. Emma, our Content Marketing Specialist, hung out with Chris Bolman, CEO of ZoomTilt, to learn more about video marketing. ZoomTilt has a great platform for connecting companies with video producers.

If you’re strapped for time, here are the top takeaways:

• Lots of brands struggle to create great video content
• Video scavenger hunts are innovative and fun
• Companies don’t need huge budgets for video marketing
• Don’t get discouraged. Small companies have been successful with video. Just look at the “Will It Blend?” guy!

    Emma: Hi everybody. I’m Emma of Grasshopper, and today we are meeting with Chris Bolman, CEO of ZoomTilt, who is a Grasshopper customer. We’re going to talk to Chris a little bit about what he does and what his company ZoomTilt does. So, hi Chris. How’s it going?

Chris: Hi. How’s it going, Emma?

Emma: Hi. So can you tell me a little bit about yourself. Who are you? Who’s Chris?

Chris: Yeah, sure. I am one of two co-founders of ZoomTilt. We are an online platform that connects brands with really talented content creators to generate video, unique sort of analytics and A/B testing solutions to test, rank, and compare videos, and then also sort of technology advantage distribution solutions to make sure that the right people see their videos.

Emma: Cool. That’s great. Video marketing is a hot new thing right now.

Chris: It is. It is.

Emma: Yeah. So could you talk a little bit about why you started the company?

Chris: Yeah. My co-founder and I, Anna, we met early last year. Anna is a software developer and filmmaker by background, and I have a lot more of a marketing pedigree, but I’ve also done a lot of web design and front end development. I have some filmmakers and entertainment professionals in my family. So we both were looking at similar areas or similar spaces for opportunity. We said, “You know, on the one hand, video marketing is this huge opportunity. But it seems like an accident of history where a lot of brands don’t know how to create great content. They don’t know how to measure it. They don’t even know where to start.”

Emma: Right.

Chris: So we really designed ZoomTilt as a full service, end-to-end solution where a brand can pretty much plug and play, create their own video marketing strategy from scratch, and they can basically outsource the entire process or automate it through us.

Emma: Cool. So, what are some of the cool things that customers have done with ZoomTilt?

Chris: Yeah. Our first ever project was actually a Valentine’s Day web series, which we did for Equal Exchange, which is a company that does coffee and chocolate bars.

Emma: Okay.

Chris: They really wanted to spread an emotional message around Valentine’s Day that people should unplug from technology and really connect with each other and also have some chocolate. So we used YouTube as a great vehicle and a lot of other social media where we created this series where we embedded coupon codes for chocolate within the footage, and it ended up being this scavenger hunt where people would look for the coupons in the footage. They’d share it with their friends. We ended up being one of the top trending videos on YouTube for Valentine’s Day. It ended up being really successful for the client, getting a lot of viewership. It was also a great test pilot.

Since then we’ve worked on a couple other branded projects, whether it’s integrating the product as a really cool experience or product placement into the footage, or just creating great original branded entertainment work, centered around kind of the brand’s identity and message, and then testing to make sure that that really resonates with their customers.

Emma: Cool. That’s really awesome. It sounds like quite an exciting company. So you guys have only been around for a couple of years now?

Chris: Yeah. We actually launched the very first kind of beta website last August. So we’re not even really a year old. We just actually celebrated our first year of like incorporation anniversary.

Emma: Well, happy birthday!

Chris: Yeah, thank you. Thank you. But yeah, we’re a young company. We’re looking to grow, and just really help make the video space of content marketing a really unique, defined niche.

Emma: Yeah, that’s awesome. So my last question is:  Do you have any tips that you’d give to any small company or startup that’s starting that wants to do video marketing? What would you tell them?

Chris: Yeah. Don’t get discouraged. A lot of people look at these huge blockbuster productions and these million dollar web series that a Kmart or Proctor & Gamble or whatever is doing. But you really can start quite small. I mean, for example, if you look at the Will It Blend? guy, the CEO of this tiny company who was blending like iPads and iPhones in a blender.

Emma: Right. I remember that.

Chris: His company got a 500% sales increase, and they really put that on the map. There are a lot of other examples – oral hygiene companies, the Pebble smartwatch guys. Or even actually Dollar Shave Club is another great example.

Emma: Right.

Chris: They spent a couple thousand dollars on marketing, making something really authentic, really entertaining, and really compelling that really resonated with people, and people shared it around. It ended up being a phenomenal ROI on their marketing dollar. So you don’t need a big production budget. You don’t need tens or twenties or hundreds of thousands of dollars. You can start small. Just make sure that the type of content you’re creating really creates value for your audience, whether it’s informative, it’s entertaining, it’s fun. Really think about it from that standpoint.

Emma: Great. Well, thanks so much for taking the time to meet with me Chris. That’s all I’ve got for you, but it’s been great hanging out.

Chris: Yeah. Thank you for having me.

Emma: Yeah, I hope we can do it again soon, and I will be on the lookout for ZoomTilt. So thanks so much.

Chris: Sounds great. Take care Emma.

Check out the video ZoomTilt created for Equal Exchange:

About ZoomTilt: ZoomTilt’s complete video marketing solutions helps brands, agencies and media companies create better videos. Their tools match media buyers with top-caliber creative talent, content measurement analytics and unique video distribution approaches to generate branded entertainment activations that are shareable, memorable, trackable and targeted. ZoomTilt is a proud Grasshopper customer.

This article was written by Emma Siemasko.

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This is a guest post from Lyn Graft (LG), entrepreneur, storyteller, and producer.

Editor’s Note: We connected with LG because of a tweet he sent us about his perfect startup kit. We got in touch, and LG was kind enough to expand on his idea, resulting in this awesome blog post!

Redbull, Grasshopper & a tablet – instant startup kit RT @je0xff: @grasshopper loving the service.Should be standard issue for #startups.

— Lyn Graft (LG) (@LynGraft) March 28, 2013

During the launch phase of my first startup, I reached out to successful entrepreneurs and business icons to learn as much as I could from them. I discovered that I was passionately drawn to their inspiring stories. In the process of sharing that enthusiasm with my startup tribe, I learned that I was a good storyteller. Through a side project I was working on, I discovered I was exceptional at telling their stories on film.

This discovery morphed into a personal mission to share entrepreneurial stories with the masses, and ultimately led to the creation of LG Pictures, the best entrepreneurial storytelling production studio on the planet.

Filming business mavericks from companies like WholeFoods, LinkedIn, and Zappos, gave me an insider’s perspective on tricks of the trade for successful entrepreneurs. Over the years, I’ve used this unique insight to create a kind of startup infrastructure that keeps me motivated, focused and productive while still being able to enjoy the entrepreneurial ride.

I rolled up some of that insight in a mini Startup Kit so that others could build their own system. Here it is:

BUDDY SYSTEM – Keeping it Real

As an entrepreneur, you are often ‘on an Island’ in that you are working alone or in a very small group. As you develop your idea and business, it’s important to have people around to give you feedback. To get a proper perspective, use a “Buddy System” that is composed of at least 3 perspectives:

• OPTIMIST – The 1st is the optimist – the cheering body that believes in you and what you are doing. The optimist will give you fresh energy, valuable insight, and most importantly, make you feel better after your encounter.

• REALIST – The 2nd is the realist – they tell you that the glass consists of 50% water and 50% air – just the facts – no fluff. You need this reality check on a constant basis to make sure you are not blinded by your own enthusiasm.

• PESSIMIST - The 3rd entity is the pessimist – someone that will tell you all the problems with your idea, the reasons it won’t work, or that someone else is already doing it. Make sure and embrace their comments to help you improve and better prepare yourself for what the real world will bring you.

STIMULANT STASH – Exercise, Music & Elixirs

On your island, you are going to constantly need ways to get the body and brain juices going, to inspire you emotionally, and to stimulate the mental senses. The ebbs and flows of the entrepreneurial life are extreme, and you need a broad and deep war chest of assets and activities to support the journey.

• EXERCISE – Exercise every day – walk, run, bike, or do 10-minute Kettleball exercise (ode to Tim Ferris) – no matter what. You will be amazed at how sane this keeps you and good it makes you feel. Richard Branson, one of the most successful entrepreneurs of all time, believes that in order to get more energy, get more confidence, keep from getting sick, find more time, and stay focused – you need to do one thing – work out.

• MUSIC – Few things can change your mood and get your blood flowing faster than music. Build 2-4 music playlists that have the songs that get you motivated (Swedish House Mafia), make you want to take on the world (M83), or simply just calm the mind in terms of chaos (The XX). The right sound can be like a shot of oxygen in a carbon monoxide-filled startup world, so always be on the lookout for music that speaks to you and gets the heart pumping.

• ELIXIRS - I keep a drawer (& fridge) full of what I like to call ‘natural elixirs’. It consists of Swedish Fish (not healthy, but my one true vice), KIND Healthy Bars (Nut Delight), a high protein energy bar (Oh Yeah! – 15g’s per bar) and super healthy drink in the fridge – Suja (Cold-Press Fruit & Vege Juice). My favorite addition is the Limitless Smart Shot. Energy drinks and shots are typically loaded with too much sugar and caffeine as well as less-than-ideal ingredients so I stay away from them. Limitless has select natural ingredients like Green Tea Extract, Ginseng and Guarana to provide a balanced approach to fuel your body and boost the brain’s performance – without the shakes and unhealthy additives.

CREATIVE CANVAS – Creating & Curating Ideas

As a producer and director, I’m a sponge when it comes to absorbing any form of content that activates the creative synapses in my brain. There are many ways to get this creative infusion and it varies depending on who you are, but here are my favorite ways to get creative:

1. Take naps with a clipboard (ideas pop in my head right before & after naps)
2. Go to ‘great’ movies (& making sure I’m there for the trailers)
3. Bring a Moleskine journal to coffee shops with couches that serve alcohol
4. Take long showers with no agenda so you can let the mind wander.

I learned from scouting locations and creating storyboards to treat my phone’s camera like a creative handgun, taking photos of anything that inspires me or saving photos and quotes from social media feeds. You never know where a good idea is going to come from so always be ready to capture its essence.

COMMAND CENTRAL – Productivity Corner

In order to GSD (Get Stuff Done) en masse, create a place where you can be as productive as an army of entrepreneurs. My set-up includes a 24” iMac and a 15” Macbook Pro with a 24 inch external monitor and external keyboard, all complimented by a nice Klipsch set of speakers ($150) on an extra large desk (with wireless printer below). This gives me 3 screens for tasks that require a large visual work area (e.g. managing social media activities, editing video footage) or just one big screen by turning the others off so I can focus yet still have a large digital 20”+ canvas to rip through emails and proposals or do heavy mental lifting for writing (& rewriting) scripts and storyboards.

Make sure to keep a drawer or container filled with your productivity weapons so you don’t have to leave your Command when you are in the zone. For me, that means a small stash of Swedish Fish, Sharpies, a calculator, dental floss, headphones, a favorite pen and post-it notes.

THE TREP’S SECRET WEAPON – A Smile Inducing 4-Legged Best Friend

One of the best gifts I have ever received  was from my best friend, Ingrid Vanderveldt, Dell’s Entrepreneur-in-Residence & TV Host. She showed up on my doorstep with an 8-week-old little, black ball of cocker spaniel fur. This little 4-legger, Fitty G (named after ‘50 Cent’ while taking him on a road trip across Texas listening to ‘In Da Club’), has forever changed my life. He makes me smile every day. Nothing compares to the unconditional love of a four-legged best friend and the pure joy they have every time you take them for a walk give them a treat.

If you take a moment and appreciate them, it will bring happiness and calm into your life no matter how your day went. If you don’t have the ability to have a pet, dog sit/walk for your friends, volunteer at an animal shelter, or visit a park and find a friendly K9 whose owner is smiling at your appreciation for their pup.

Create your own startup kit and make sure and enjoy the process along the way as you prepare to be a great entrepreneurial story I need to come film one day. See you on the other side of the camera…LG

“For tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today” ~ African Proverb

Lyn Graft (LG) is the founder of LG pictures. He has filmed over 350 entrepreneurs and has produced and/or directed 700 videos, TV Shows & web series for clients such as CNBC, Dell, SXSW and Microsoft. LG has founded over 8 companies raising over $8M in venture funding and has almost decade of experience in entertainment and 15 years in startups, hi-tech marketing and business development. You can get to know his furry friend Fitty G, too!

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There’s no way around it — your customers are your company’s lifeblood. Without them, your business would be a product with no revenue. Your lifelong entrepreneurial dream would instantly transform from a game-changing vision into a shriveled dream deferred.

It’s your customers who drive your success. That’s why you’ve got to give back and show your gratitude. When was the last time you thanked a customer for choosing you?

Go beyond the thank you emails and promotional codes that currently flood the market. Be kind, give value, add an element of surprise, and be memorable. We know what you’re thinking, that’s customer service 101, right? You’d be surprised at how many companies just don’t get it!

Check out these fun ways to thank your customers:

1. Give Props via Social Media and Blogs

Blogging and social media tools are more than just marketing platforms. They’re communities for telling fun stories, distributing resources, showcasing your customers, and sharing tips and trends.

Case studies, shout-outs, newsletter mentions, tweets, shares, and interviews are invaluable ways to give out exposure. If your company has built a substantial presence through blogging and social media, share the love with your customers who, like you, would love the opportunity for public recognition. Every little bit helps!

At Grasshopper, we love to collect customer stories. We do this to seek feedback, so we can make tangible improvements to our products and services. We also do it to get to know our customers so we can help them get press, something that is increasingly difficult to get. After Alex Hoffman told us his story, we featured his experience as a young entrepreneur on our blog.

2.  Host Educational Events, Create Webinars, and Write eBooks

Business owners, marketers, and executives all have a relentless passion for learning. All sorts of companies encounter a range of questions through their customer service channels. People are edging to learn, and you can be the teacher.

Explore some common questions in your industry, and see if you can find ways to answer them using resources like videos, lectures, eBooks, or webinars. If your company’s CEO is a lawncare expert, ask them to host a talk with tips for fellow landscapers. As an added touch, open up the floor with questions in real-time.

Shopify, a platform for creating online stores, has done an excellent job of this with their Ecommerce University. The site has tons of informative eBooks, and hosts numerous discussions about topics such as payments, taxes, crowdfunding, drop shipping and more. They even have an off-topic discussion for people who want to give advice about art classes in Austin.

Leverage your expertise to become an active leader in the community. Focus on giving back, not earning more.

3.  Add Surprise and Flattery

After someone does a favor for you and your brand, it’s best to thank them, but don’t let that be the only time you give customers love. Surprise your customers when they do small things, too, like mentioning you on social media or posting about you in their blog. Heck, surprise them just for fun.

If you see a customer tweet about their love for your product, send them swag they can wear proudly, like t-shirts and hats. That’s what SkinnyPop did for the team at Grasshopper after Allison Canty sent them a tweet:

I have a hard time believing @theskinnypop only has 3 ingredients. Its SO good. I’m totally addicted.

— Ali Canty (@AliCanty) March 13, 2013

Best Friday surprise ever! Thanks for @theskinnypop swag…we’re huge fans at @grasshopper!! twitter.com/AliCanty/statu…

— Ali Canty (@AliCanty) April 12, 2013

Give your customers something when they least expect it — free product upgrades, rebates, discounts or gifts with handwritten notes via snail mail. Instead of sending branded swag or a box of chocolates, consider sending something personal. If you know a customer loves their golden retriever, send them some gourmet treats for their pup.

When people feel as though you’re treating them as an individual, it’s a huge compliment. Who doesn’t like to be flattered?

Final Thoughts: Be Genuine

If you genuinely care about your customers, it will show. Be yourself. Don’t do something just because some other company did it. Think carefully about your brand and its customers. That way, you can find ways to creatively thank loyal followers.

Whatever you do, be personable and genuine— kindness and sincerity are powerful forces.

What are some ways you’ve thanked your customers? How about ways companies and individuals have thanked you?

If you’re a Grasshopper customer, tell us your story here.

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Hi, I’m Stacy! I’m the Office Manager here at Grasshopper. I’m the person you go to if you need help putting together a fun event, booking flights, shipping a package, or refilling food and snacks. I’m the unofficial “office mom!” It’s a super fun job that has lots of rewards, professionally and personally.

I’m not only an office manager, but I’m also a culture-driver. It’s my responsibility to make sure Grasshopper employees are happy, healthy, and excited about coming to work. I’ve learned a lot that can help other office managers and company culture hounds.

Here are 6 of my tips for creating awesome company culture.

• Figure out the office fax/copier on a level that can be helpful to others.  Most copy machines are frustrating and can really slow up the works.  Being a little knowledgeable is enough to be a lifesaver to your coworkers and beyond.
• Feed them fruit. Bananas = brain food.  Most people love them.  Apples and oranges, too.  Find out what day they are on sale at the grocery store and stock up. People love fruit, no matter the time of year.
• Listen in. I spend a lot of time in our kitchen, restocking healthy snacks and making sure we’re neat and clean. The kitchen is a hub of social activity, so I’m able to pick up on moods, major projects, and life happenings.  I take these opportunities to ask questions: “Do you like the snacks I’m buying?” “Who’s winning at pool?”  “What’s happening this week?”  I’ve found by simply asking questions, I’m able to get information that helps mold positive culture and office dealings in simple and effective ways.
• Leave your desk. By forcing myself out of my desk, I’m able to see what’s happening around the office and get perspective on our current culture.  I’m always interested in what people have to say and if I can give back positivity to my coworkers because of it, I’m doing my job well.
• Celebrate random events. Celebrations aren’t always major holidays.  Keep track of people’s birthdays, fun days of the year (like pie on Pi Day), and other things happening around the office.  Do trivia on random days and inter-office contests when you can.  It keeps things fresh, and makes people feel special.  And who doesn’t like to feel special?
• Create happiness! (This is also my life mantra). Being an office manager means making sure all the basic parts of the office-machine keep going.  It feels good to keep others comfortable and happy while they’re working, so try to do the best thing for people whenever you can – it’s as simple as that.  It doesn’t have to be expensive to be amazing, appreciated and remembered.

I read somewhere once that successful people “bring their whole selves to work,” an idea that people are more productive when they balance their personal and professional commitments. Grasshopper really acknowledges this on a company-wide level:  we hire the right people to do the job, who not only work hard and do great things, but bring a fully-realized personality to work.

It’s a great place to be…and I’m so happy to be office manager and culture driver.

What do you believe makes great company culture? As a leader, what do you do to instill happiness in your employees? As an employee, what helps you stay motivated and content?

Related Posts:

• Want To Work At Grasshopper? We’re Hiring!
• Hiring the Right Fit for Your Startup Culture
• Core Values and the Companies that Do Them Well

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Many of us—particularly those who don’t travel for business a lot—have a certain admiration for business travelers and mobile entrepreneurs. In fact, we often see frequent fliers as globe-trotting, jet-setting professional vagabonds.

But traveling for business is becoming more common, as many of today’s entrepreneurs and small business owners spend much of their time on-the-go. That means more professionals are discovering the unpleasant truth about travel: it’s not all mimosas and flight upgrades. It can be difficult, frustrating, and even mind-numbing.

Fortunately, business travel is getting better, thanks to technological upgrades, including tons of cool mobile apps. Don’t let your next trip wear you out. Give some of these apps a try!

Here are five apps to make “the road” a little smoother.

GateGuru

Even for the most seasoned of travel veterans, airports can be confusing. GateGuru is an application that takes your information—having you fill in your particular “journey” of the day—and spits out a variety of data to keep you informed and on time. It not only incorporates information on your flights, but also about the weather, local places to eat, and how much time you have.

Expensify

Lucky you! You’re traveling on the company’s dime. Unfortunately, you may be responsible for filling out expense reports. Expensify can help you out, describing itself as “expense reports that don’t suck.” The app allows you to track all of your expenses without the monotony of data entry. Expensify works with you while you travel to ensure you can easily (and accurately!) track everything that you’ve been charging to the business.

Pulse

What they don’t tell you about traveling is there can be a lot of downtime. Whether you’re waiting for your plane to start boarding or your train to come in on time, you can get your favorite newspapers, magazines, blogs, and other media outlets all in the same place so you don’t spend your time mindlessly surfing the web. It’s a great way to turn your regular web habit into something a little more digestible – and time-friendly.

JotNotScanner

Being on-the-go means you don’t have a lot of time to pause and smell the roses – or take really extensive notes. JotNotScanner fixes that problem for you by turning your phone into a mobile scanner that will “remember” everything you scan quickly and easily. And considering the app also integrates with PDFs, email, DropBox, and faxing, there’s no reason you can’t use JotNotScanner to save a whole lot of time on your next business trip.

PocketCloud

Yes, you may be sick of the word “cloud,” but you won’t get sick of this app. If you’ve ever been traveling and wished that you could bring your desktop with you, then PocketCloud is an app you’ll definitely have to consider. PocketCloud essentially creates a tether between you and your office (or home) computer so you don’t have to bring everything on the plane with you. By serving as a remote desktop, PocketCloud gives you all of the convenience you’re used to in an office setting and puts it all within the grasp of anyone who owns an Android.

And, of course, there’s Grasshopper! Before you jet off to Los Angeles, Honolulu, or Chicago, make sure to forward your calls to your cell phone. No matter where you end up, you can always get your calls!

What apps do you find to be most helpful when you’re traveling? Have you given any of these a try? What did you think? Please share your thoughts in the comments below!

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This is a guest post by Ryan O’Connell, Vice President at Digital Talent Agents.

In any business, particularly a small business, selling ideas and products are a company’s lifeblood. Regardless of the industry you’re in, there will come a point when you have to pick up the phone to acquire new business, make a connection, or pitch an idea.

So, how do you get more people to take your calls? How can you create a process so people aren’t just willing to take your calls, but are actually excited to hear what you have to say?

Here are four tips to get more people to take your calls:

1. Modernize your initial contact

If you haven’t noticed, the world has shifted online. Instead of spending countless hours cold calling, hoping for an appointment or conversation, use email to get in touch with the people you need to connect with — and set an appointment. This respects other schedules and gives you ample time and space to communicate your true purpose in connecting. It also gives the person a chance to digest your reason for contacting them, as well as time to coordinate it with their schedule. It simplifies your approach and is much less intrusive than a cold call out of nowhere.

2. Develop a good website.

Make sure your website portrays exactly what you do in a quick, concise manner. When people reach out to me and I look at their websites, I want to know exactly what they do without having to search through every page. If I’m not sure what you do, there’s a much higher chance I won’t take your call. If people don’t understand what you do by looking at your site, you need to meet with your team and simplify your message.

3. Improve your email signature.

In addition to including meaningful and relatable copy, always make sure that your signature indicates who you work for, what you do, how someone can reach you, and why you should be considered credible. You want to make it as easy as possible for a person to understand who is making contact, as well as why it would be valuable for them to talk to you on the phone. Credibility points can include a link to a social media profile (LinkedIn, preferably), a link to a recently published article, or a link to your personal/company website. These credibility points are going to differentiate you from spam or generalized emails from other companies.

4. Be persistent.

People are busier than ever, and they’re hard to get a hold of. Understand that there’s a difference between persistence and annoyance. There will be instances when emails go unnoticed or slip through the cracks. Make sure to follow up. Ensure that the recipients got the initial email and determine whether they’re interested in setting up a call. People appreciate persistence — if they understand that you’ve been trying to get in touch with them, they’re typically more inclined to take your call.

The end goal should always be to get someone on the phone to have a true conversation and create a relationship — not to just call as many people as possible until someone says yes. By utilizing more modern tactics, giving them a reason to talk to you, and making an effort to look credible, you’ll be able to get more people on the phone. That, of course, will result in more sales, connections, and partnerships, which are the only numbers games that matter.

Ryan O’Connell is the Vice President at Digital Talent Agents, a company that helps experts build their businesses through thought leadership and content marketing through the production of high-quality content for reputable publications.

You can reach out to Ryan on Twitter @Oconnellryan or on Google+.

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This post is part of our 10th birthday celebration. Stay tuned every month for fun posts, like this one, contests and more!

Ten years ago, your financial situation may have looked radically different than it does today. Maybe you were working a 9 to 5 at a big corporation daydreaming about the small business you would start in the future. Maybe you were just entering the workforce and exploring how to set-up your first 401(k) plan. Or, maybe you were still in high school, earning and spending money from babysitting or mowing the neighbor’s grass. No matter where you are or where you’ve been, your money has probably gone through a whirlwind of change – right under your nose, too.

For most of us, life seems much more expensive now. But is it? Check out how the costs of these ten things have changed in the past ten years.

1. Gas Prices

Back in 2003, CNN Money reported that gas prices had reached a record high – $1.72 per gallon. The U.S. Energy Information Administration forecast for this year? $3.56 per gallon. Ouch.

2. A Stamp

Today, it costs 46 cents per ounce, to send a letter via First-Class mail in the United States. That’s nine cents higher than in 2003, when the cost was 37 cents.

3. Your House

Home prices have experienced dramatic fluctuations in the last 10 years, cycling through all-time lows and all-time highs. In February 2003, the median home sale price was $187,000 in the United States, according to the Census Bureau. Real estate website Zillow says that number is trending higher – in February 2013, the median home sale price was $192,000.

4. College Tuition

According to the College Board, the average tuition, room, board, and fees for college students was $31,633 for one year at a private, non-profit, four-year institution. That was for the 2002-2003 academic year. The 2012-2013 academic year is about $8,000 higher at more than $39,000 for one year of school. And in case you were wondering, the number does account for inflation.

5. Residential Electricity

If you think that your electricity bills are rising, it’s not in your head. Because of the rising costs of infrastructure upgrades, electricity retail prices are actually getting more expensive. In March 2003, average residential electricity prices were $8.35 per kilowatt-hour. In March 2013, that number was $11.72.

6. The iPod

In 2003, your Apple’s 10 GB iPod cost $299. It was an amazing piece of technology and surely the envy of your friends back then. For that price today, you could get a 32 GB iPod touch.

7. Raising a Child

Thought kids were pricey back in 2003? Take a look at those same numbers now. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), raising a child from birth to the age of 18 cost middle-income families (those earning between $40,700 and $68,400) approximately $178,590. According to the USDA’s most recent report, middle-income parents today can expect to spend around $300,000. The cost for higher-income families has also grown rapidly, rising from $261,270 in 2003 to nearly $500,000 today. Yikes!

8. A 30-Second Super Bowl Ad

According to a recent survey by Kantar Media, the average cost of a 30-second Super Bowl ad back in 2003 was around $2.2 million. 10 years later? $3.8 million – over $100,000 per second. Then and now, the Super Bowl is still probably the most expensive 30 seconds of your life.

9. A Big Mac

When you went to McDonalds back at the beginning of 2003, you would have probably paid about $2.40 for a Big Mac sandwich. Today, that same hamburger costs $4.19 – an aggressive 75% increase.

10. Gold

Here’s a figure that will shock you. Back in 2003, gold cost around $400 per ounce. As of March 2013, that number is about four-times higher at $1,600. What a change!

Your Thoughts

Did any of these numbers surprise you? What other costs would you have liked to see compared? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!

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We’d love to hear who you go to for marketing expertise. Who’s a great expert for us to follow?

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Alex Hoffman, co-founder and principal of Dormestics, a student-run storage company, sat down with us to talk about starting a business in college.

Here’s what Alex told us:

• Life presents opportunities – take them!
• Google is your friend
• College businesses should be cool, practical, and affordable
• Lessons learned while building a business will follow you forever

When life presented an opportunity, Alex took it.

Dormestics offers storage services at Vanderbilt and other Southern universities for when students flee campus for the summer. When school’s not in session, they need an affordable place to store their stuff. Alex started Dormestics with Mike Dunn when he was only 19 years old after discovering that the existing solution was unreliable.

“The summer after my freshman year, I stored my stuff with the service my college endorsed. They lost $500 worth of things. It was a terrible experience. I was pissed off, and was inspired to start the business,” said Alex.

It was fruitful timing, as Mike Dunn was thinking about starting a storage service after he’d seen a model of it at Washington University in St. Louis. Alex and Mike put their heads together and drafted the idea for a storage service with a “for us, by us” motto. They wanted to hire students for everything Dormestics would do.

“One of the things we decided really early was to have a ‘for students by students’ service because that would make students more comfortable. We only employed students to run Dormestics. Kids managed it, and manual labor was all students.”

Not only did Mike and Alex decide to have students at the wheel, but they also recognized that they had to cater to the college demographic. “You have to look cool,” said Alex.

Alex said he encouraged his team members to promote  the services creatively. Rafi Goldman, a Dormestics manager, worked to get the Vanderbilt basketball team to promote the company. Rafi already worked with the team and had an in. The players endorsed the service and would wear Dormestics t-shirts around campus.

Google is your friend

It’s not all fun and games when starting a business in college. Challenges arise, especially if you’re young and inexperienced, but Alex didn’t despair when he got into a rut. Instead, he turned to his favorite search engine.

“My dad’s an entrepreneur and sometimes I went to him for guidance,” Alex told us. “But, more often than not, I’d go to Google. The internet is amazing- there are so many resources and you can learn anything.”

Alex told us that the internet can help anyone pick up new skills, and to learn them quickly. When he had questions about services, finance, or legal matters, Google usually provided him with an answer.

Lessons learned when starting a business will follow you everywhere

Alex has since relocated to New York City, where he works as an IT consultant. These days, Mike Dunn runs most of the business, and Alex’s stake in it is small. Still, Alex believes that the lessons he learned as a college entrepreneur will follow him everywhere.

“I’ve been able to bring up Dormestics in every interview I’ve ever had,” said Alex, “and people are always impressed to hear that I started something from scratch. I credit Dormestics with getting my current job.”

Not only has Dormestics helped Alex in his career, but he’s also learned how to work with difficult people. “It’s hard to work in the service industry,” he told us. “There were some weeks where parents would be calling up, extremely angry that their kids’ bags weren’t picked up on time. Sometimes it was our fault, and sometimes it wasn’t, but I got really good at talking to angry people. That skill helps me today.”

Advice from Alex

Alex advised college entrepreneurs and new business owners to take care of all the important legal stuff and business processes at the get-go. “Make sure all the ownership is squared away quickly because it can lead to problems down the line. Make sure to do your books correctly because if you don’t, it becomes a big pain later.”

“The point I’m trying to make is: try to figure out what the standard business practices are for finance, legal matters, and everything else. Start these processes right away so you’re not playing catch up later. If you’re doing your books correctly from the beginning, it’s a lot easier than spending money on an accountant later.”

About Alex Alex Hoffman is a young, New York City-based entrepreneur and consultant. He cofounded Dormestics when he was just 19, and now works as an IT consultant for one of the biggest firms in the world. Alex enjoys traveling in Southeast Asia, scuba diving, learning cool things online, and outfitting his awesome roofdeck.

Guess what? Alex is a loyal Grasshopper customer! He’s used us for Dormestics and for other ventures.

This article was written by Emma Siemasko.

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Today we’re celebrating Prab and his passing of the 11G certification test. Prab is our lead database administrator on our systems design team.

For those of you who don’t know, this certification means that Prab has mastered all the features in the Oracle databases that Grasshopper uses. Congratulations, Prab!

At Grasshopper, we want to provide the best service possible, and one of the ways we do that is by having the right people on board. We encourage our employees to stay up to date on the latest technologies and solutions, and honor them when they do. That’s why we’re celebrating Prab and his accomplishments.

100% up time is a top objective of the Operations team.  We’re investing deeply in our employees and enabling them with the latest training to ensure that Grasshopper customers get solid, reliable service every day. -Steve Lorusso, VP of Engineering & Operations

To celebrate (besides doing fun things around the office – check our Facebook page for photos!), we’re offering a special Prab discount!

For today only,  all new sign-ups can enjoy $25 off, thanks to Prab and his amazing skills!

How can you redeem this offer?

It’s simple! Just head to the Grasshopper site and your Prab discount will be waiting for you!

Yay, Prab!

Check out these super cool custom business cards, made by Sean. Watch Prab shed his regular clothes to become an 11G Superman:

Now for the good stuff, some awesome pictures of Prab at office parties!

The post Prab Achieves 11G Level of Certification! appeared first on .

Strategic partnerships – what a uniform, institutional, and uninspiring phrase! Kind of conjures up images of flickering florescent lights in cramped offices or an overly chlorinated public pool – either way, it’s unpleasant.

Luckily, at its core, the strategic partnership is really just about people helping people.

“Strategic alliances can deliver significant benefits to startups including reducing your time to market, providing to strategic markets and increasing your company valuation to name a few,” writes Donna Peek, global alliance manager, SAS Institute, Inc. in an article for Entrepreneurship.org.

For inspiration, here are three successful strategic partnerships.

Bespoke Post

Bespoke Post, a monthly subscription service that ships themed boxes containing grooming products to young men, has benefited from strategic partnerships with larger companies including Details magazine and liquor manufacturer Diageo.

Why the need for strategic partnership?

Bespoke Post really wanted to stand out from other monthly subscription services, so it sought out larger, more established companies already marketing to young men.

How does each company benefit from partnership?

Bespoke Post reached young men on a national level thanks to Details magazine which featured the company in its “Summer Essentials” issue. The company also reached a slew of investors to raise $850,000 in seed money to expand.

Details keeps its readers happy by consistently featuring valuable, functional, and hip products and services designed by small companies like Bespoke Post.

The companies worked together to create a gift box. Diageo provided men with liquor samples to increase future sales while Bespoke Post got the attention of potential subscribers by showcasing spirits such as Captain Morgan and Johnnie Walker.

Mello Smello

Created as a result of a partnership in 1980 between Jon and Leah Miner, then owners of a small sticker shop in Minnesota and office supply manufacturer 3M, Mello Smello produces a line of stickers known as Scratch n’ Smell.

How was this partnership born?

Building their business is what prompted the Miners to pitch their idea of adding fragrance and aroma to stickers (based on the principles of micro-encapsulation) to 3M. The idea was not new,  but it was still profitable.

3M realized it could cater to a whole new market – children and parents – and decided to partner with Mello Smello.

How did each company benefit from partnership?

The Miners have since partnered with other companies including Disney and Marvel Comics to create new sticker products including an egg decoration line, temporary tattoos, and safety and nutrition stickers for children. Retail outlets including Wal-Mart and Target currently sell the brand.

3M used its processing and shipping capabilities to promote the stickers. Who hasn’t touched their nose to a scratch ‘n sniff sticker?

Cirque Du Soleil

Everyone recognizes the  graceful, acrobatic, entertaining, and oftentimes daredevil moves of Cirque Du Soleil. Since first partnering with MGM Mirage in 1993, the Canadian circus/dance troupe now has a permanent stage in Las Vegas.

How did this partnership start?

Twenty years ago, Cirque du Soleil teamed up with MGM Mirage to produce “Mystere.” A few years later, the two partnered again to put on another show, “O.” From then on, Cirque du Soleil has continued to create and put on shows at various MGM Mirage properties including Bellagio and the MGM Grand.

Why does this partnership work so well?

This partnership works because both parties benefit from the other’s expertise. Cirque du Soleil has total control over the artistic direction of its shows, while the hotel draws more people because of Cirque du Soleil’s popularity.

The hotel pays for the construction of sets, while the dance troupe pays to develop the shows. Both partners pay to market and advertise shows – then split all profits.

Hey, What’s Your Contribution?

Partnerships are two-way streets. Before approaching another company, think long and hard about what you bring to the table – a unique product or service? New or unusual manufacturing technique? Really smart, creative, and easy going people? A talking dog that speaks not one, but three languages?

Whatever it is, keep in mind that other businesses want to know how they will benefit from partnering with you.

Do you have any experience with strategic partnerships? Do you think partnering with a larger company would help or hurt your business?

The post Strategic Partnerships (Don’t Worry – It’s Just People Helping People!) appeared first on .

If you’re reading this post, you’re probably on Twitter. Maybe you even clicked a Tweet sent out by us or one of our friends to get here, but do you consider yourself a Twitter fiend?

Maybe you think you know why Twitter is important, or maybe you’re just starting out and you’re not sure how to leverage a Twitter account for a business.  Last year, 175 million tweets were sent out and the USA has the most tweeters of any country in the world. It’s time to jump on the Twitter train with full force. Having a Twitter account is no longer enough- you need to be using it. Chugga chugga Choo choo!

Why be a Twitter fiend?

Customer Service

If people have a question, concern, or complaint about your business, they’re likely to turn to Twitter or another online source, so you better have someone manning the account. One recent study showed that 82 percent would like their inquiries addressed online!  Not only that, but these people wanted answers fast.

It happens to us here at Grasshopper. Sometimes people have a question that they need resolved on Twitter regarding a certain feature or a new account. We do our best to answer questions as soon as they get asked.

@joeypettinelli Hi there – yes it is! You can get it from the app store.

— Grasshopper (@Grasshopper) March 24, 2013

Brand Awareness

Tweeting regularly ensures that your brand gets some of the spotlight. If customers follow you, they’re reminded of what you do and are given easy access to the resources you provide. Competitors, partners, friends, and others can always keep tabs on what you’re up to, noting which events you’ll be at and what you’re doing in real-time.

Don’t let your name slip away from the brains of your customers and friends. If they keep seeing your company’s name pop up in their Twitter scroll, they’re more likely to remember how cool you are!

Networking and Connections

Twitter is the holy grail of connections. It’s the best social media outlet to keep up on casual relationships and partners, especially for entrepreneurs and startups! If you go to a conference or event, or connect with someone over a partnership opportunity, it’s an awesome idea to follow their company or personal Twitter handle. That way, you won’t forget about them and what they do. They’re likely to follow you back, and then they won’t forget about you or your company!

Tweeting Often = Success

So why isn’t having a Twitter account enough? Well, Twitter happens in real time and many businesses out there are tweeting every hour, or even more often than that! If you want to be competitive, it’s essential that your followers see your tweets. Data from TrackSocial showed that tweeting between 4 – 5 times per day is the best recipe. Brands that tweet at this level see many more retweets than those who tweet just once per day.

What have you found helpful when using Twitter? Do you think it’s a worthwhile social network for business promotion?

Need help with Twitter? These resources may help:

• 10 Twitter Tips for Newbies
• Optimizing Twitter Engagement – How Frequently to Tweet
• 20 Twitter Stats from 2012
• Why First Class Customer Service Is The Key To Social Media Success [INFOGRAPHIC]
• 9 Top Twitter Tips You Can Start Using Today

The post Why You Should Be a Twitter Fiend appeared first on .

After much deliberation and painstaking consideration, we’re pleased to announce the winner of our Gary Needs a Caption Contest. The winning caption is…

Callin’ and Ballin’

Congratulations to Perry B. for her inspiring caption! She’ll be receiving her $50 Amazon gift card and spring treat basket soon!

We also held the contest internally, and Stacy K. won our employee prize with:

Hey…I’m pretty busy right now. Don’t BUG me while I’m trying to take this shot!

Honorable Mentions:

Thank you for calling our 24/7 Customer Service, how may I help you? – Brian P.

Wrong grasshopper. Try 1-800-820-8210. -Daniel H.

Nobody’s cheering mom…. it’s like crickets in here. - Ryan C.

No, I know what you mean. LeBron’s been a total praying mantis lately – Jenn

Thank you to everyone who participated. You made us smile!

Keep following Grasshopper to participate in our next contest

The post Announcing Gary Needs a Caption Contest Winner appeared first on .

We wanted to give our friends, followers, and customers a glimpse of what it’s like to be Gary, Grasshopper’s most important employee. Gary is responsible for insect relations, cricket connections, and entrepreneurial entomology.

We decided to chart Gary’s workday from start to finish to give you a glimpse of what his life is like.

Gary comes in to the office at 9 AM.

Before Gary can start doing any work, he absolutely needs his cup of coffee. (He was up late last night at a networking event. He met a praying mantis with some awesome mobile ideas).

After Gary gets coffee, he can really get to work. He prepares for his meeting with Kamal, Business Intelligence Analyst, to discuss call center stats.

When he gets back to his desk, he finds an email from Taylor Aldredge, Grasshopper’s Ambassador of Buzz.

This isn’t the first time Gary’s missed a meeting with Taylor. In fear, Gary hides himself in the grass.

Taylor is cunning and finds Gary, but they talk it out and become friends again. To celebrate their happy co-working, they go for a ride together on the beer cart.

“Weeeeeeeeeee,” says Gary.

Gary ditches Taylor for a game of pool. He’s been playing well lately, schooling everyone in the office.

We’re not sure how, but Gary ends up in the pocket!

Now, Gary feels it’s time to get back to work, but hunger takes over.

Gary is SO HAPPY BECAUSE HE HAS A BURRITO BOWL.

Yum. For dessert, Gary really wants candy. He loves the Starbursts that Allison brings in.

Uh oh. Janet’s such a practical joker! GARY IS TRAPPED.

Janet tells Gary she’ll only release him if he gets back to work. Gary agrees, and starts doing some market research.

Emma, Content Marketing Specialist, spies Gary out of the corner of her eye and assumes he’s reading about SEO. The two argue about what should be posted on the blog, and agree to solve the dispute through a game of tic tac toe (Emma wins).

Before getting back to work, quick selfie!!!!

Gary has to leave Emma for his one-on-one meeting with Darren. Mostly, Darren praises Gary’s work, but he notes that he is often distracted, and should probably spend more time at his desk. Darren bends Gary in all sorts of confusing directions!

So, Gary takes Darren’s advice and goes to check out what Scott’s doing. Scott’s writing code for the website. Gary pretends he understands tech jargon, but most of it is beyond him.

Gary finishes up the day by making a few copies.

Wow. What an exhausting, tiring day. Gary feels he’s put in enough work, and hunkers down at the company TV. He turns on Mean Girls 2, and feels at ease.

After finishing up the movie, Gary goes home. He’ll need a long night of rest to get ready for tomorrow. Before he goes, he poses with the Grasshopper sign because he loves his company more than anything in the world!

Note: Gary is not a real Grasshopper employee. We’ve tried to hire him many times, but are prevented by insect labor laws. If Gary were an ant, we might stand a chance, as laws surrounding ant employment are much less strict.

The post A Day In The Life of Our Most Important Employee appeared first on .

In light of the recent emergence of the Hadouken Meme, which began when Japanese school girls started taking pictures of themselves hurling balls of light, the Grasshopper team got together to create our own interpretation.

We may not be Japanese, but we do have the spirit to take a photo that rocks just as much as these ones.

We love having fun at work and are lucky to be at a company that inspires us to be creative.

The post Hadouken Meme from Grasshopper appeared first on .

There are so many awesome events coming up in April where Grasshopper will be making an appearance. Where to begin?? In April, we’ll be at Less Conf, one of our favorite events of the year. We’ll also make a quick stop at Technori’s Growth Summit in Chicago and Technori’s Pitch LA event.

We’re lucky enough to have some free tickets for Pitch LA, which is happening on April 9th. Check out the details below, and let us know if you’d like a ticket.

Here’s where you can find us in April:

Less Conf

In a few weeks, Taylor, our Ambassador of Buzz, will be hitting the road for Panama City, Florida for LessConf. LessConf isn’t your ordinary startup, marketing, or business event. It’s all about challenging conventional thinking and helping you grow in the process as you learn from fellow attendees. Attending the event requires a signed waiver, so there must be some crazy activities planned! We’re sponsoring the wild reception on day one. Come hang out for a few drinks on Grasshopper and get ready for a crazy four days.

Details:

• When: April 11th-14th, 2013
• Where: Panama City, Florida
• Website: LessConf 2013

Technori Pitch LA

Technori Pitch LA is “LA’s monthly tech showcase, where geeks, veeps, and everyone in between meets,” according to its website. Noah Kagan, AppSumo’s Chief Sumo, will be keynoting the event. One more good reason to see what’s going on in LA’s startup scene. Although we won’t be attending this event , we do have a few tickets up for grabs if you’re interested in attending! For FREE tickets to Pitch LA, email us at social(at)grasshopper(dot)com.

Details:

• When: April 9th, 2013 from 6pm-9pm PT
• Where: Santa Monica, CA at CrossCampus
• Website: Technori Pitch LA

Technori’s Growth Summit

This event is for founders, CEOs, marketers, developers, and tech enthusiasts looking to grow their startups and small businesses. The event is in Chicago and has some great talks lined up (Neil Patel, co-founder of KISSmetrics, and Aaron Ginn, head of growth at StumbleUpon are two of the coolest). Taylor will be in Chicago for the event, so come say hi if you’re in the area! Tickets are still on sale for Growth Summit.

Details:

• When: April 18th, 2013
• Where: Chicago, IL at the Gensler HQ
• Website: Technori Growth Summit

Will you be attending any of these events? We’d love to meet you! Tweet Taylor at @tayloraldredge to let him know if you’ll be attending.

The post Where In The World Is Grasshopper? April Events 2013 appeared first on .

Whether you’re reaching out to customers or confirming details with a trusted staff member, communication is the lifeblood of any business. You already send emails and make phone calls, but you might be surprised at what other kinds of tools are available to help make that communication easy and effective.

Check out our list of 5 communication solutions. See what tools might help to streamline your business.

Collaboration Software

Project management is hard enough when you’re not dealing with multiple offices and remote works. Collaboration software keeps everybody on the same page by establishing a one-stop destination for assignments, status reports, shared resources and progress tracking.

Some popular examples of collaboration software include Basecamp, Onehub and Wizehive.

Cloud Storage

“Cloud” may be this decade’s technology buzzword, but that doesn’t mean it’s not extremely valuable. Cloud storage saves and stores your files at a remote location so that they’re always available. If the computer crashes, you won’t lose progress. If people are working remotely, on location, or away from the office, they can access the files whenever they need to.

Google Docs and Dropbox are two inexpensive, robust options for cloud storage.

Virtual Phone System

Traditional business phone systems are expensive and complex. Some choose to use cell phones instead, but the use of your personal phone can make you seem less professional. A virtual phone system combines the professional feel and robust functions of an old-school phone tree with the flexibility and simplicity of cell phones.

There are a number of virtual phone systems out there, including Grasshopper.

Contact Management Software

Internet connectivity makes it possible to contact exponentially wider networks of leads, customers, gurus and workers than ever before…and those contacts don’t just have an address and a phone number. They have email addresses, chat handles, Facebook accounts, Twitter feeds and LinkedIn profiles. Contact management software helps you keep it all straight, reminds you when you’re “due” to reach out to key contacts and streamlines the process of keeping in touch.

Depending on your precise needs, Constant Contact, Nimble, and MailChimp are different, but effective, contact management options.

Smart Phones

Yes, you can do everything you need with a regular cell phone, or even without one. Businesses did it for centuries. But the calendaring, text messaging and note taking apps that come standard with every phone will streamline how your office communicates. It’s why so many businesses buy smart phones or tablets for their employees.

Obviously, these are just some of the communication tools that can boost your business and streamline your efforts. What tools do you find most helpful?

The post 5 Communication Solutions for Small Business Owners appeared first on .

This is a guest post by Sara Rosenfeld of WaveApps

Running a company frequently means becoming a jack-of-all-trades. Unfortunately, small business owners often become so busy in the day-to-day operations of their business that they don’t take the time to test out new tools that could result in significant time and cost savings.

If you’re settling for the status quo, it could be hurting your business. With today’s tools, you don’t have to hunker over your desk trying to figure out payroll software. While dated payroll tools constrain you by price, location and ease of use, new solutions allow you to work from anywhere, and are more affordable than ever.

For example, you’d probably feel a little silly if you were to find yourself:

1. Rewinding anything
2. Paying for groceries by check
3. Staying chained to one desktop computer to do your work
4. Using stand-alone tools that just don’t integrate
5. Spending hours navigating ugly, complicated software
6. Paying big company prices for your small business tools

If you’re using dated payroll methods, it could be hurting your bottom line. There are significant savings you’ll see when you take payroll into your own hands.

Save on Cost

If you’re looking at a software tool built for a corporation, you’re looking at a tool with pricing built for a corporation. The cost per employee balloons when you’re not capitalizing on the economies of scale that are built into corporate payroll tools, making them an unrealistic option for many small business owners. The other alternative, hiring out your payroll, can often lead to the same inflated pricing issues. By using a tool that’s actually built for small business owners, you’ll find that your payroll system easily fits into your budget.

Save Valuable Time

One thing that small business owners already know is that time is one of their most limited resources. Time spent running complicated payroll software or talking to your outsourced payroll company is time that could have been better spent focusing on running your business.

Save the Headaches

When your tools aren’t intuitive, they can create additional stress instead of taking it away. With features that work the way you want them to, you can kiss those payroll headaches goodbye.

Payroll features to look for include:

• Employee-self serve portals, where employees can update their own direct deposit information
• Anywhere access. When your information is stored in the cloud, you can work from any device, whenever you want, wherever you are
• Smart collaborator features, so your accountant or business partners will have access to the information they need, without tedious file transfers

There are lots of things that people don’t do anymore when it comes to their small business payroll, because they just don’t make sense. By using smart tools designed for small business such as Payroll by Wave, you can make sure you’re working as efficiently and affordably as you can.

About Wave

Wave makes it easy to be your own boss. Just do what you’re good at, and lean on Wave’s suite of smart online software for help with invoicing, accounting, payments and payroll. Wave’s accounting and invoicing is 100% free.

Check out Wave’s no-nonsense pricing calculator and our payroll features and get started with Wave today!

Sara Rosenfield is Community Manager at Wave Apps, where she helps small business owners discover solutions that are designed for real SMBs. Previously, Sara spent her time at Ryerson, geeking out over linguistics while completing her Masters in Professional Communications.

The post Is Your Payroll Too Old School? appeared first on .

One of the best parts about social media is the ability to connect with our customers, fans and friends. We love getting to know you and learning about your businesses. Most of all, we like getting feedback from those who are using our product day in and day out.

With everyone so busy and all our days blurring together, we wanted to take a step back and catch up on all the action in social last month.

Check out some of the social love from the past few weeks:

Have to give respect to Grasshopper.com. A+ for knowing how to treat your customers. They put integrity over milking $/c.

— DomainAnimal.com (@DomainAnimal) March 21, 2013

Hey @grasshopper, We’ve used your svcs since ’08 & love it. Great customer svc, easy to use, great value. Keep up the good work!

— Kevin Mercuri (@KevinMercuri) March 6, 2013

@grasshopper I love your service!You emailed me a message I listen to on my iPad while picking my son up from school! #convenient !

— Mid American CNG (@MidAmericanCNG) March 5, 2013

@grasshopper Digging the blast all feature!We can be our own call center!

— GrillGrate (@GrillGrate) March 1, 2013

Our Twitter community really rocked last month! What’s next month have in store for us? Will Google+ take the cake? Will Facebook steal the show? You’ll have to wait for our next social roundup!

Have something to say? Question, comment, concern?  Tweet us, post on our Facebook wall, join us on Google+, send us smoke signals – whatever you want! We’re always here and we’d love to hear from you! Who knows, you and your business could even be featured in next month’s social love column. Stay tuned!

The post Social Love: March’s Community Chatter appeared first on .

Sure, people like fancy cars and designer shoes, but a paycheck isn’t enough to keep today’s employees happy and fulfilled. In fact, most workers say that positive feedback from a manager or other leader is what gets them going.

“Many entrepreneurs believe that digging into their pocketbooks will help drive employee engagement, but the reality is that 67% of workers say praise and commendation from a manager is truly what motivates,” wrote Clarity CEO Dan Martell in his company blog.

The ability to encourage and empower employees is one of the most important traits of a strong business leader. It’s rare, however, for employees to feel that their company is motivating them to succeed.

How can business leaders inspire their employees to work hard and feel good?

1. Prioritize Personal Growth

Your business is growing, but are your people? If you’ve worked to assemble an awesome team, they’re probably hungry for new challenges and growth opportunities. Are you enabling them to push their limits and expand their spheres of influence? Sometimes, money isn’t enough.

“Instead, consider making quality time with each employee a priority, pick up a personal tangible gift, offer a high five or fist bump, tell them they’re doing a great job, or pitch in on a task,” Martell said.

Beyond compliments, provide employees a tangible picture of what they’ve done well. Align contributions to business results. For instance, instead of saying “this rocked,” say “this rocked because it resulted in x, y, and z.”

2. Instill an Atmosphere of Trust

You hired your employees because you saw something great in them. You knew they could do their job, so you need to trust that they’ll do their best. It’s your responsibility to oversee the business, but don’t doubt decisions made by your team. If your employees feel ownership over what they do, they’ll be more inspired to work hard.

An atmosphere of trust will make your team much happier. If you’re constantly in their space and micromanaging, you’ll hold your employees back from big wins.

3. Embrace Risk and Failure

Healthy businesses innovate by taking calculated risks. Otherwise, they stagnate and fall flat. Even still, risks are terrifying.

People rely on their jobs for their livelihoods. They have mouths to feed at home, and they’re completely dependent on their employers for healthcare benefits and the ability to pay their mortgages. Your employees may be afraid to take risks because they need to keep their jobs. They may feel they have too much to lose by trying something new.

Build trust with employees by embracing failure. Talented people should feel empowered to jump in and try new approaches. Sometimes they’ll be successful, and sometimes they won’t. Regardless of outcome, your company should be a strong source of support.

You Chime In

As a leader, what inspires your employees? As an employee, what do you need in a work environment to make you feel happy and motivated?

The post Beyond Money: What Motivates Your Employees? appeared first on .

Glassdoor just released its 2013 list of highest rated CEOs, and it got us thinking about the kind of CEOs employees are wild about. We’ve checked out the frontrunners, and we’re wondering what makes these guys so loved by their employees. What skills do successful CEOs have?

Here’s who came out on top:

Facebook is a pretty different company than Ernst & Young, proving that employees can trust and love their CEO even if they’re not working for the world’s most-talked about company. Apple took the 18th spot, behind companies like EMC, Cognizant Technology Solutions, and U.S. Bank, which see a bit less of the spotlight.

“While anyone can assume a position in leadership, not everyone garners their employees’ support for how they lead the company. The CEOs who are most successful in gaining employee approval are those who paint a clear vision of what the company is setting out to achieve and how it’s going to get there,” said Robert Hohman, Glassdoor CEO and co-founder. “To be recognized by your employees as a strong leader also comes as a result of having a solid company culture that helps employees foster the skills necessary to move business forward and meet the needs of customers.”

What do you think makes a great CEO? Do the best leaders give up an office to work next to their employees like Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook? Are two CEOs better than one, like Bill McDermott and Jim Hagemann Snabbe of SAP?  Share your thoughts!

Image Source: Glassdoor

The post What Makes A Great CEO? appeared first on .

Trust us, those calls aren’t from Grasshopper, and we’re working to stop the spam call issue. We hate spammers just as much as you do!

We’ve received quite a few reports from customers about “Grasshopper spam calls,” which brought our attention to the growing problem of caller ID spoofing and robocalls.

We want to take this opportunity to explain what these things are, why they happen, how to prevent them and what we’re doing about it.

What is caller ID spoofing?

Caller ID spoofing is the act of using a fake telephone number on caller ID, thus masking the real ID and number of the caller. We are receiving reports that people are receiving calls from “us” when in fact someone is spoofing our caller ID to make it appear as though it’s us. NOT COOL.

In 2009, the FCC signed the Truth in Caller ID Act into law which bans caller ID spoofing with the intention to harm, deceive or mislead someone.

What are robocalls?

Robocalls are 100% automated and can range from a phone call that plays a prerecorded message to  dead air. We’ve even seen some calls that are just music when you pick up.

These unsolicited calls are more difficult to squash than caller ID spoofing, and have recently become such a big issue in the industry that the FTC attempted to crowdsource a solution. In fact, as of last October, they tried offering $50,000 for a solution to help reduce the amount of these types of calls. While there is no way to stop these just yet, CNN offers some great solutions for the interim such as simply hanging up, or filing a complaint with DoNotCall.gov.

Most importantly, what are we doing about the caller ID spoofing and robocalls?

We’re glad you asked! We’ve contacted our carriers and they’ve assured us they’re doing everything they can to track down the responsible parties.

Our carrier told us:

• This is a widespread issue in the industry
• They spoof different numbers on every call making it impossible to block the individual numbers
• Our carrier is working with their legal and law enforcement team to trace the calls back to where they originate.

What should you do if you’re getting spam calls?

We’re working with our customers on a one off basis and doing our best to block these numbers. If you notice something like this happening on your account, please submit a ticket to us or give us a call at 800-279-1455 so we can address it to the best of our ability.

Some relevant articles that might be of interest to you:

• Caller ID Spoofing a Growing Problem - BBB
• Who’s fooling your caller ID? - Komonews
• How swatting works -The PBX Blog
• Hate illegal robocalls? FTC offers $50,000 to help stop them – CNN

The post Spam Calls: How & Why They’re Happening appeared first on .

In the world of business, change is a good thing. It makes sense- it’s healthy to question your company’s revenue models, products, and core strengths. It’s how you keep up with the market.

Just look at Apple’s decline in the 1980s and dominance in the 2000s. After a decade-long lull and backseat position to Microsoft, Apple found a way to reinvent personal computing by turning it into a fun, user-friendly, and aesthetically-pleasing experience. They disrupted the industry with high quality, stylish, and functional personal products.

First came the iMac followed by the iPod, Macbook, iPhone, and iPad. Now, Apple has regained its reputation as a top industry innovator. Without change, where would Apple be today?

Here are three companies that grew because of pivots:

1. Twitter

Did you know that Twitter began as a personal podcasting and audio content sharing platform? In 2005, the online media industry lacked a central platform to connect users with podcasts and audio subscriptions. A company called Odeo jumped in to meet that need.

Odeo saw stiff competition from Apples iTune store, and wound up seeing more success from Twitter. The first Twitter prototype began as an internal service for Odeo employees, but was introduced to the public in 2006. After Twitter’s release, Biz Stone, Evan Williams, and Jack Dorsey along with other members formed a separate corporation and acquired Twitter and Odeo in 2006.

In 2007, Twitter spun off into its own company. The defining moment for the business was that year’s South by Southwest Interactive (SXSWi) conference when the platform’s usage tripled from 20,000 to 60,000 tweets per day. The growth never stopped — the company now has more than 900 employees, 500 million active users, and $140+ million in annual revenues.

2. Sony

It’s hard to imagine that this electronic giant’s first product was a rice cooker. That’s right — Japanese tech giant Sony got its start as a home goods manufacturer back in 1946. With $530 in startup capital and eight employees, founder Masaru Ibuka established the company in a damaged department store building in Tokyo.

The key change happened in the early 1950s when Ibuka took a trip to the United States. He had just learned about a new Bell Labs invention called the transistor — and he was inspired. Ibuka convinced Bell to license the technology to him so that he could bring it back to Japan.

That moment in history was a critical turning point for Sony.

By 1955, Sony was producing Japan’s first transistor radios. Over the next several years, Sony’s produced surged in popularity worldwide. Radios evolved into new, lightweight shapes and sizes with hours of battery life.  By 1979, this technology had morphed into the Walkman, the portable cassette player that played a pivotal role in music history.

To think that it all started with a forward-looking vision and spark of inspiration.

3. MediaBistro

This company’s story is one of continuous momentum and gradual change that eventually culminated into a multi-million dollar acquisition. There was no big ‘moment’ — rather, a series of business decisions that evolved out of exceptionally active listening. It all began with a small and focused vision that eventually grew and grew.

In 1997 freelance writer Laurel Touby decided to create an in-person networking event  for fellow freelance writers. The meetup was so successful that she grew it into a regular event. As Touby’s website became a hub for more freelance writers, she realized that they all had something in common — a fierce desire to grow their careers. She kept her eyes and ears open, listened to their needs, and responded with new website features.

Touby learned that her community wanted access to more job opportunities. So, she created one. She began asking for payments from active subscribers — but only if they were happy. She started receiving more and more payments — at which point she decided to get serious by putting together a business plan. That was the turning point. As part of this new direction, she released a set of training programs as well as a membership subscription model.

The Bottom Line

Don’t be afraid of change — new directions keep your company competitive. What changes in direction have been most valuable to your business? What have been some of your favorite example pivots?

The post Three Groundbreaking Pivots: Change is What You Need appeared first on .

It’s tax season, and many of us have money on the mind. Thankfully, there are a lot of online resources and professional finance gurus doling out advice on the internet. Trying to save up for a car? Inundated with student loans? Want to start a new business? You’re not alone, which is why experts are tweeting and writing about money.

Check out these experts (and their Twitter feeds!) for financial tips and tricks.

Mint allows users to sync their bank accounts with an online budgeting application. The app automatically categorizes transactions. Used your debit card to buy gas? That goes under Gas & Fuel. Bought a new shirt? That goes into shopping. Mint has a blog with tons of great resources for those who are looking to manage their money.

#Minters, here are 7 costly mistakes travelers make and how to avoid them: bit.ly/Zg2okb Got any to add?

— Mint.com (@mint) March 13, 2013

Steve Rhode runs GetOutofDebt.org, a site dedicated to helping people get out of debt. The site has blog posts and resources. Steve Rhode tweets out tips and tricks, often answering readers and followers questions.

Should I cash out my retirement account to pay off my credit cards? pinterest.com/pin/4607042368…

— Steve Rhode (@GetOutOfDebtGuy) March 13, 2013

You Need a Budget provides a budget system for helping out those who want to save. They’re known for four rules that can keep people out of debt, and saving money as fast as possible. They have a lot of great blog posts and tweets giving advice.

My 2012 Budget Revisited. Budgets are Your Value Compass, But Which Way is North? wp.me/p2xhIL-1QQ

— You Need A Budget (@ynab) March 7, 2013

Luke Landes, otherwise known as Flexo, is a personal finance writer, speaker, and consultant. He writes for Consumerism Commentary and speaks at nationwide conferences.

Prenuptial Agreements | Should Couples Get a Prenup? consumerismcommentary.com/prenuptial-agr…

— Luke Landes (Flexo) (@flexo) March 11, 2013

Frugal Dad provides financial advice for parents and students that want to balance spending and saving when it comes to college. FrugalDads writes a lot of instructive posts for those who are trying to save for college funds and decide on what financial and educational options are best for them.

Educational Opportunity Goes Beyond Financial Aid goo.gl/fb/Hjqbh

— FrugalDad (@FrugalDad) February 24, 2013

Saving money is no easy feat, but following these experts on Twitter can help. Having advice and resources coming through your feed can get a budget on track!

Where do you turn to financial advice? Do you follow anyone on Twitter who gives out great tips? Please share in the comments or tweet us @Grasshopper.

The post Need Some Money Saving Tips? Check Out These Tweets! appeared first on .

From indoor rock climbing gyms to on-site massages and hair stylists, today’s tech companies have a reputation for delivering stellar perks. In order to hire and retain top notch employees, companies are rolling out royal treatments.

Take a lesson from Google. With more than 32,000 employees, the search giant always makes an effort to prioritize happiness, offering benefits like gourmet food, on-site dry cleaning, educational courses, guest speakers, and outdoor sports facilities.

Happy employees are not only more productive, they’re more committed.

You don’t have to be Google to show your employees some love. Here are 5 companies that provide brilliant benefits.

1. HotelTonight: Make The Benefits Match The Company

HotelTonight, a mobile app that specializes in last-minute deals to travelers, offers unlimited vacation time and annual travel stipendswait to its employees. Not only do team members get to jet off to Hawaii, Paris, or Shanghai, they get to live and breathe the wander-lusting spirit of their company.

“Vacation is not as binary as it used to be, with people being able to work remotely from anywhere,” Sam Shank, chief executive of Hotel Tonight told Business Week. “If someone runs errands for several hours during a workday, ‘does that count as one day, does that count as a half-day? We don’t want to squabble about that.’”

2. SC Johnson: Getting Things Done

Work leaves you with little time for life’s basic chores. That’s why SC Johnson, consumer goods giant, provides its 12,000 employees  with a concierge service to help workers send packages, order flowers, shop for groceries, and research car insurance rates. They’ll even take employees’ cars in for basic repairs and oil changes. Want to go to see a Broadway show next week? The concierge will get your tickets for you.

When you devote your life to your company, other priorities can sometimes fall through the cracks. Between taking care of your kids, preparing for meetings, and writing reports, you may not have time to return library books or pick up your dry cleaning. With a simple service, S.C. Johnson demonstrates a strong investment in maintaining a healthy balance in employees’ lives.

3. Genentech: Care That Counts

Remember in college when your favorite professor would disappear for a semester to work on her book? Genetech, a pharmaceutical company, provides six-week paid sabbaticals to help employees focus on supplemental projects. Genentech describes the program as “time to recharge.”

Employees who have been with Genentech for six years as a full-time, regular employee are eligible to take six weeks off with full pay and benefits. It’s a time for personal or professional development.

The idea behind the program is to inspire creativity, generate new ideas, protect against boredom, and give employees a sense of freedom. It’s a small investment to inspire an unparalleled commitment to work.

4. AOL: Reaching Moms and Dads

The corporate world can be tough for working parents, as time and attention needs to be carefully distributed between company and kids. AOL strives to make the balance a bit easier by offering WellBaby, a program with prenatal instruction and new parent education.

AOL operates under the belief that WellBaby can help parents in more ways than one. Not only does the program teach parents about a variety of subjects, from childbirth to newborn care, but it also eliminates the risk of sick babies and high risk pregnancies that take employees away from their jobs.

New moms get eight fully paid weeks off, and AOL has an on-site daycare to make things convenient.

5. Deloitte: Educating Employees With more than 190,000 employees and $31 billion in annual revenue, professional service firm Deloitte understands the value of continued education. That’s why the organization provides high-performing business analysts with an MBA tuition reimbursement program.

Business analysts spend three to four years working for Deloitte Consulting, attend business school, and then return as senior consultants. After two additional years of employment, they receive reimbursement for the cost of their education.

The program is highly valuable for employee retention — by offering tuition reimbursement, Deloitte is able to retain top employees for five to six years.

We have fun at Grasshopper

Sure, we spend a lot of time building, monitoring, and marketing our virtual phone system, but we’re also committed to having a positive work environment. Alongside our great healthcare and insurance benefits, we always have snacks in the office and have a fun blackboard wall where we share what’s going on. We even have a beer cart that we ride around when work is too much to handle.

Your Thoughts

What are the best company perks you’ve seen? What does your company offer, and what would you like the company to adopt?

Related Posts:

• 8 Companies with Crazy Perks
• 12 Summer Perks Employees Love
• 14  Companies with Incredible Employee Perks
• Career Opportunities at Grasshopper

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Small business owners spend a lot of time and money on getting their taxes in order each year. Yes, the process isn’t much fun, but it doesn’t have to be expensive. According to 2012’s Small Business Taxation Survey, 80 percent of small business owners spent more than $1000 on tax administration services last year.  Not only that, small business owners said “financial cost to my business” was the largest federal tax burden.

Here are five ways to cut tax costs this season:

1. Do it yourself. Last year, 85 percent of small business owners hired an external tax consultant to help them out. It’s not a bad idea if you don’t know what you’re doing, but these guys are expensive. There are plenty of resources online to help you do your taxes yourself. The IRS does a good job outlining the forms you’ll need- they even have a Small Business and Self-Employed Tax Center. It might take a little more time, but you’re likely to save a ton of money.

2. Use tax software. If you’re willing to forego a tax accountant, try out one of the many tax software programs on the market. They’re made for people like you who want to save time and money on doing taxes, and can help with personal and business taxes. TurboTax and H&R Block are popular choices, as are TaxACT, TaxSlayer, and Intuit Pro Tax software.

3. Check for deductions. Many assume they’re not eligible for small business deductions, but there’s a lengthy list of what is exempt from taxes. Using a car for business purposes, setting up a home office, and starting a business within the past year all qualify you for deductions. Wondering whether you’re eligible? Check out the many more items on the deductions list here.

4. Seek out help. Don’t be afraid to ask friends, family, and business partners for help. You’ll be surprised at how many have done their own taxes and can offer advice. Surf the ‘net- there’s plenty of tax resources for people like you. We just told you to do it yourself, but if you’re really nervous and aren’t sure you can handle your own taxes, a professional accountant or tax consultant might be a good idea. Their expertise can sometimes save you money!

5. Don’t panic. Deep breath. It will be okay. If you’re calm, you’re more likely to deal with the filing of taxes quickly and efficiently. It may seem overwhelming, especially if your business is new, but you can do it.

Filing small business taxes doesn’t have to be a huge burden. If you follow these five tips, you’ll be well on your way to saving money this tax season.

What are your gripes when it comes to filing taxes? Do you have any tips or tricks to offer to others? Please share in the comments below.

This article was written by Emma Siemasko.

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Today we’ve got our Employee Spotlight on Jennifer Joos, People Strategy Manager. Jenn focuses on… People! She helps hire passionate, dynamic team players and also works on projects and initiatives tied to our brand promise and company culture. She’s been known to forget to turn off her Seinfeld ringtone in the office. Jenn is the best person to ask about creating a professional LinkedIn headshot and profile.

Are you a morning person or a night owl? Definitely a morning person although I do find it hard to roll out of bed when I know I’ve committed myself to an Insanity workout!

What’s your favorite TV show? I have one or two trash-tv reality shows I won’t admit to watching but Seinfeld is definitely an old favorite.

How about three things you could never live without? Other than some of the obvious necessities, I’d have to say my family, friends and … ice cream!

What’s one ability you wish you had? Oh, there are lots but I’d like to be able to cure food allergies.

I’m hungry. Can you cook me anything good? I really can’t. I have to say that my husband is the cook in our family (when we met, he wrongly assumed that I would be an amazing cook since I’m half Italian and have parents who are fantastic at cooking!) I do love Italian food though.

Would you rather have a pet pig or a pet giraffe? Why? Pet pig. Pigs are really smart you know. Plus, where the heck would I house a giraffe?!

What’s your favorite candy? Given the time of year, I’d have to say Cadbury Cream Eggs. Half of you reading this are totally with me on this. And I’m sure the other half are completely grossed out.

What’s the best vacation you’ve ever been on? Such a tough question. I’ve been fortunate to enjoy many. Hawaii on my honeymoon was pretty amazing. Also, a trip Sicily to meet my Italian relatives was pretty awesome (including meeting three cousins all named “Mariella”!). And Disney with my family was a ton of fun. Okay, I’ll stop now.

Most private thing you’re willing to admit on Grasshopper’s blog Well, there is a goofy side of me that comes out every now and again.  Recently, I made a very silly 2 minute puppet video for my 4 year old niece (she made me the puppet for my birthday) and texted it in error to a complete stranger! The person replied back “I don’t know who this is but NEVER text me again.” That was a little embarrassing for me but quite hilarious to my friends who watched it!

I heard you’re new to Twitter. What’s your handle? @jenniferjoos

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This month’s customer spotlight is on Denver’s Moving Boxes, a company that rents and delivers eco-friendly, stackable, plastic boxes as an alternative to cardboard boxes. If you’ve ever had to move before you probably know how painful and expensive the whole process can be…especially when it comes to packing and let’s not forget, the dreaded, unpacking!

Unfortunately for Marla and John Ray, founders of Denver’s Moving Boxes, they know this feeling all too well, having moved more times than they care to remember. In fact, that’s exactly what inspired them to start Denver’s Moving Boxes. Denver’s Moving Boxes delivers pre-assembled, eco-friendly, plastic moving boxes to your door and then picks them up from you once you’ve unpacked.

The inspiration behind Denver’s Moving Boxes

Both Marla and John are serial entrepreneurs who’ve moved around the country quite a bit in their lifetime.  After selling their most recent business in DC and moving to Denver, this husband-wife duo started looking for their next business prospect. Having been through the process of locating cardboard boxes to pack their things in and figuring out what to do with them after the move far too many times, these two saw an opportunity.  With a 2 year old son at home, they wanted to make it their mission to do their part to protect the environment for his future and that’s just what their company does.

Why are their boxes better than cardboard boxes, you ask?

For starters, they cost on average 30% less than cardboard boxes.  Their boxes are also stackable, fold down flat when you’re done AND they have a home to go to after you’ve unpacked. And no, this home is not your attic, nor is it your garage until you figure out what to do with them.

According to their website, “if cardboard is recycled it has a lifespan of approximately 3 uses before it breaks down and can no longer be used.” Denver’s Moving Boxes’ boxes save approximately 500 used and abused cardboard boxes from being sent to the landfill thus helping them save the environment 1 eco-friendly box at a time. Pretty awesome, right?

How can you take advantage of the eco-friendly moving box movement?

Now, Denver’s Moving Boxes currently only services the Denver Metro area, but that doesn’t mean the next time you move you’ll be stuck with cardboard boxes. There are moving box rental companies available in most parts of the countries that you can use that are just as affordable, convenient and eco-friendly as Denver’s Moving Boxes.

Want to learn more about Denver’s Moving Boxes? Check out their site!

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We’re always excited to learn about new things happening in the world, which is why we’re such big fans of TEDTalks. If you haven’t checked out TED, the site shows video lecture on all sorts of topics, from entrepreneurship to genetics, to psychology, to education, and more.

Small business owners, entrepreneurs, professionals, educators and others can benefit from tuning in to what the world’s experts have to say. It can be hard to keep track of what’s new on TED, so it’s worthwhile to follow @Tedtalks on Twitter. You never know what (or who!) you’ll find.

Edith Widder, an oceanographer and inventor, shares how her team was able to get the elusive giant squid on film in “How we found the giant squid.”

Today’s #TED Talk: How we found + filmed the giant squid on.ted.com/GiantSquid HT @teamorca #TED2013

— TEDTalks Updates (@tedtalks) March 5, 2013

Shane Koyczan, a poet, performs his poem “To This Day,” which is a powerful story about bullying and growing up as a kid who is different.

Thanks to everyone for spreading the word about my Ted talk. I’m in awe of all of this kindness. Thank you.ted.com/talks/shane_ko… — Shane Koyczan (@Koyczan) March 9, 2013

Amanda Palmer, an artist and musician whose band crowdsourced their funding after a decision to leave their label, describes how powerful it can be to ask for what you need in “The art of asking”

my #TEDtalk2013 is here: bit.ly/AFPTEDTalk – and you can download my music for FREE/PWYW here bit.ly/AFPshop — Amanda Palmer (@amandapalmer) March 4, 2013

Bruce Maisonnier works at Aldebaran Robotics and choreographs dances for little robots called Naos. Watch these striking, inspiring, and human-like robots and listen to Maisonner’s insights in “Dance, tiny robots!”

Just shown at #TED2013, now front page on TED.com : Dance, tiny robots! on.ted.com/Robodance

— TEDTalks Updates (@tedtalks) February 26, 2013

Michael Dickinson, a professor of biology at the University of Washington, has been nicknamed “fly guy” for his work with drosophila, better known as the fruit fly. Here he gives a talk on “How a fly flies”

Today’s #TED: How, physically, do flies fly with such delicate wings? A look at the magic of a fly’s brain. on.ted.com/MichaelDickins…

— TEDTalks Updates (@tedtalks) February 22, 2013

Have you watched any great TEDTalks lately? Have any all-time favorites? Share in the comments below or tweet us @Grasshopper.

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This post is part of our 10th birthday celebration. Stay tuned every month for fun posts, like this one, contests and more!

In the world of tech, a decade is a heck of a long time, and that’s an understatement. In 10 years, for instance, Facebook went from a college dorm project to a massive public company. In hindsight, the transition makes total sense, but at the time, who knew?

Had you heard of Facebook back in 2003 when Mark Zuckerberg was creating the first iteration of his platform? Probably not. At the time, could you have imagined that you’d eventually be browsing Facebook on an iPad? If somebody said all of this to you, you probably would have laughed.

And now? Facebook and the iPad are core components of your everyday life, and in 10 years, social networking and tablets will probably still be your most important tools.

In honor of our 10th birthday, we’ve rounded up some fellow companies that are celebrating their first decade with us this year.

We’ve already given Facebook the honorary #1 position on this list, so here are 9 more companies to follow:

2. DocuSign This cloud-based electronic signature technology has transformed user authentication and identity management online. It’s one of the core reasons why you can get signatures on documents in minutes instead of days via snail mail. Today, the platform has support for 39 different languages and is influential in key industries including finance, healthcare, high tech, higher education, recruiting, life sciences, and real estate.

3. Delicious Delicious was one of the first social bookmarking sites on the web, and it’s still around! Today, they’re owned by AVOS Systems, which is working on getting the platform integrated with Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

4. LinkedIn LinkedIn transformed the concept of professional networking and recruiting online when they launched. What started as a big idea has now become a robust, publicly traded company with 200 million registered users in more than 200 countries and territories. Talk about an amazing success story.

5. eBuddy For the last 10 years, this mobile instant messaging solution has kept smartphone users connected. Believe it or not, the app was the result of a bet — the company’s founder was challenged to create a mobile version of MSN Messenger. He did it, and then he extended the idea to build a platform for virtually every type of instant messenger. Today, it’s still a robust company.

6. oDesk This company created one of the first online marketplaces for freelance talent. The platform allows clients to create virtual work teams with high-demand skills. As of today, the company has raised four rounds of financing and has more than 170,000 providers in its network.

7. Redbox It seems like only yesterday when those movie rental kiosks started popping up at your neighborhood supermarket. Ten years later, Redbox is still around with more than 42,000 kiosks at over 34,000 locations. In 2012, Redbox purchased former competitor Blockbuster Express (remember them?). Today, it’s one of the largest video and game rental companies on the market.

8. Skype You must be thinking ‘wow, Skype is already 10 years old?’ Believe it or not, the first release was back in 2003. Since then, the company has kept on growing. Today, the Skype platform has more than 600 million users. In May 2011, Microsoft bought Skype from eBay for $8.5 billion. In 2013, Microsoft will be phasing out its Windows Live Messenger in favor of Skype. The transition will be complete by April 30th.

9. Tesla Motors This is the company that is responsible for transforming the automotive industry. This Silicon Valley company designs, manufactures, and sells electric cars. Today, it’s a public company that earns more than $204 million in revenue. Car enthusiasts might be excited to hear that Tesla is working on a vehicle that caters to the mass market. Its starting price will be $30,000.

10. Skullcandy This Park City, Utah-based company markets headphones, ear phones, hands free devices, and other audio players. Its target consumers include outdoor sports enthusiasts, skaters, and snowboarders. You may have heard of them, but did you know that it’s a public company? With a reputation for selling ‘the world’s coolest ear buds’, Skullcandy’s revenues have passed $100 million — a huge feat to accomplish in less than 10 years.

Your Thoughts

There you have it — 10 companies celebrating their 10th birthdays along with us this year. Which ones have surprised you most?

The post Then & Now: 10 Companies Celebrating 10 Years appeared first on .

Companies can offer the best customer support, resources, and opportunities, but they still need to make money. If you’re running an early stage startup, you need to figure out how to make the jump from product to profit. That means selling, networking, and finding viable customers.

“One of the most popular questions for startups online (and even major ones like Twitter and Facebook) is ‘what is your business model?,” says Boris Veldhuijzen van Zanten at The Next Web.

A business model is the way that a company creates and distributes value, encompassing how it makes and delivers its products and services.

“The interesting thing about business models is that there is not much magic involved,” Van Zanten wrote.” Business models are pretty much set and all of you have to do is apply one of them to your business. The trick of course is to pick the right one. Or a combination of models.”

Even though business models are simple –  they are different ways to make stuff or provide a service, then get money – applications can be as creative as you’d like.

For inspiration, check out these three companies:

1. Udacity: Monetizing Education 

Stanford professor and expert computer scientist Sebastian Thrun launched Udacity with one goal in mind — to make education more accessible to the world. Since Udacity’s launch, Thrun’s company has educated hundreds of thousands of students from around the world in topics including python programming, web design, and entrepreneurship. The company provides course materials designed for the ivy leagues without the pricetag.

So, how will Udacity bring in the bucks?

First, Udacity has begun offering a series of proficiency exams in technical topic areas that require a testing fee. Second, Udacity connects top-performing students with corporate employers in exchange for a referral fee. Following this model, everyone in the cycle wins: the employer meets high-quality applicants, Udacity earns a commission, and students have easy access to learning.

2. Blank Label: Monetizing Personalization

Mens’ style is tough to get right. That’s why the founders at Blank Label have built a platform to help men personalize their own styles.

“If you’ve ever been frustrated by the lack of dress shirt options at JCrew or Brooks Brothers, Blank Label may just be the solution to your woes,” writes Lara Indvik for Mashable. “The company’s online shirt design application enables consumers to co-design their own dress shirts with a wide range of customizable options, from fabrics and lining colors to fit and stitching details.”

The company takes a new twist to a classic e-commerce challenge of personalization and getting the fit ‘just right.’ It’s a fun way for male shoppers to get exactly what they want.

How does Blank Label make money?

Blank Label earns millions of dollars in revenue by selling to an audience of professional men — the company earns a profit on every transaction.

3. BuySellAds: The Classic Online Advertising Model — Simplified

It would be an understatement to say that online advertising can be a very intricate and complex industry. From bidding algorithms to auction-based placements, it can be tough to put your brand on the map.

BuySellAds is simplifying the process by directly connecting advertisers with publishers who have available display inventory. You can handpick where you want your advertisements to appear and what brands you want your company to be associated with.

How does BuySellAds make it rain?

The idea is genius in its straightforward approach. Publishers and advertisers can work directly with each other in partnering up with BuySellAds as the ‘middle man.’ BuySellAds fosters the advertiser to publisher relationship and earns a commission on every transaction.

Business Models Aren’t Evolving — But Business Values Are

Core business models have remained unchanged for the last two decades, according to Brad McCarty. What’s changing is how companies are using them.

“The models haven’t changed, but the systems are more democratic than ever,” he wrote.

What cool business models have you recently come across? Do you think business models are changing? Share your feedback in the comments section below.

The post Three Companies With Clever and Cool Monetization Models appeared first on .

An education from a top business program can cost well into the six figures. A first year budget could run you more than $90,000! Some entrepreneurs may not have that kind of cash, especially if they’re investing in a lean business, or they may not be ready to take the plunge into a full-time program. Whether you plan on going to school in the future or believe you can get your venture off the ground without a degree, you and your business can always benefit from learning and exploration.

New online platforms like Udemy, Coursera, and Udacity are connecting prospective students with free classes taught by experts from around the world. You can complete these classes at your own pace but still take advantage of student collaboration opportunities and lectures. Some of these courses are hosted by top institutions like Stanford, MIT, University of Washington, and University of Virginia.

Looking to learn something new? Here is a collection of free classes to get you started.

1. Foundations of Business Strategy

Host Organization: University of Virginia, Darden School of Business via Coursera Instructor: Michael J. Lennox Next Session: March 2013

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Marissa Mayer, CEO of Yahoo, recently announced that the company’s employees must shut the doors to their at-home offices and bring their briefcases to the headquarters. Ever since, the ‘net has been buzzing with opinions, surveys, and questions about working from home.

We have a lot of customers, friends, and employees who work from home, and know that it’s a productive way to get the job done. We also know that working from home isn’t for everyone, and can present complications. We’ve been on the lookout for the most insightful and interesting posts from the past couple of weeks surrounding the topic.

Here are our favorites:

Reuters explains Mayer’s decision and dives into Yahoo’s original memo, helpfully outlining the work from home debate.

‘Some of the best decisions and insights come from hallway and cafeteria discussion, meeting new people, and impromptu team meetings. Speed and quality are often sacrificed when we work from home,’ said the memo attributed to Yahoo human resources head Jacqueline Reses. -Yahoo memo sparks debate on pros and cons of working at home

David Heinemeier Hansson, creator of Ruby on Rails and partner at 37signals, thinks Yahoo’s decision is a big mistake. Not only that, the choice shows that the company is in trouble.

When management has to lay it on so thick that they don’t trust you with an afternoon at home waiting for the cable guy without a stern ‘please think of the company’, you know something is horribly broken … The real message is that teams and their managers can’t be trusted to construct the most productive environments on their own. They are so mistrusted, in fact, that a ‘zero tolerance’ policy is needed to ensure their compliance. No exceptions! -No more remote work at Yahoo

Delia Lloyd, political writer and contributor to the Washington Post, explains the stark difference between work and life balance in the United States versus Europe. She says working from home isn’t the problem, but working too much is.

But let’s not kid ourselves that working at home means that we necessarily work any less or that it’s somehow more relaxing. I routinely get up at 4 a.m. and routinely work 50-hour weeks. It doesn’t matter whether I’m doing that in an office or on my sofa; I’m still exhausted. In fact, the human resources team at my company recently phoned to remind me that I was ‘in danger of not complying with company policy by taking my mandatory 28 days of annual leave.’ (I know. 28 days? What are they smoking? But this is Europe, after all….) -Dear Americans: Don’t work at home, work less

Samantha Murphy, Mashable writer, explains the results of a national survey by SurveyMonkey, indicating that workers value remote benefits, and may even quit if they are taken away.

It’s not surprising that working from home proves to be a coveted perk by many employees. There’s no commute and pajamas are acceptable attire. In fact, that’s what respondents (29%) said they would miss most from working from the confines of home: sweatpants. Employees said they would also miss the lack of interruptions (26%), ability to multi-task (work-life balance) such as washing the dishes (25%) and hanging out with their dog (8%). -Can’t Work From Home? Study Reveals Employees Might Quit

Caroline Humer of Reuters explains that Aetna Inc. has a large at-home workforce (47 percent), and plans to stick by them despite the emergence of a work from home discussion.

A nurse practitioner, Tammy Saunders works as a case manager for Hartford, Connecticut-based health insurer Aetna Inc, helping college students recovering from accidents or surgery get the follow-up services they need. The bonuses? No ironing, no commute and no need for after-school care for the kids. Also, less chatting with other employees – so fewer distractions. ‘There are days when I sit at my desk, and I don’t move all day,’ said Saunders … Of course, that also means no coffee breaks, lunches or group chats about, say, the Oscars. ‘I miss them, but not enough to go back into the office.’ -In telecommuting debate, Aetna sticks by big at-home workforce

Rachel Emma Silverman and Quentin Fottrell, contributors to the Wall Street Journal, discussed some of the cons associated with distance from the office.

Clichés about the water-cooler aside, many managers say having workers in the office makes sense, given greateremphasis on collaboration and group projects. And despite studies showing that home-based workers may be more productive than their cubicle-bound peers, remote workers must also combat the perceptions among managers and colleagues that they’re not spending the day goofing off… ‘Home workers can become forgotten workers,’ especially when it comes to bonding with senior management, said Nicholas Bloom, a professor of economics at Stanford and a co-author of a study [on remote workers]. -The Home Office in the Spotlight

People are different. Some may revel in their pajamas about how much they’re getting done at home, while others may struggle to generate ideas without daily chats by the coffee machine.

It’s up to business owners, managers, and other leaders to think about the pros and cons of working from home. What do you think about Yahoo’s decision? Do your employees work from home? Do you? What are the advantages? The disadvantages?

This article was written by Emma Siemasko.

The post The Good, Bad, and Indifferent on the ‘Work From Home’ Debate appeared first on .

If you have a new baby, a gaggle of kids, grandchildren, cute nieces and nephews, or are thinking of starting a family, it’s worth it to follow some kid-friendly companies on Twitter. Many of our customers specialize in providing products and services to parents and kids, and they’re tweeting about it. Even if you’re not on Twitter, give these family friendly companies a look.

Bish Bash Books

Bish Bash Books publishes eBooks and storybook apps for children with the aim of educating and entertaining. Bish Bash Books has a wide book selection, offers publishing opportunities to writers, and supports charities that promote children’s literacy.

Have you downloaded Bish Bash’s “My Perfect Pet” OR “Boomerang Bear”? If you have one but not the other start… fb.me/1USh6PZvi

— Bish Bash Books (@Bishbashbooks) February 28, 2013

Neon Tiki Tribe

Neon Tiki Tribe creates children books with morals to teach kids about how to be kind to one another. The company also publishes in a dyslexic-friendly font to help young readers that may have extra challenges when reading. Neon Tiki Tribe recently won a Mom’s Choice Award as one of the best in family-friendly products.

Love! RT @themfactor13: The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.~ Eleanor Roosevelt #quote

— Neon Tiki Tribe (@NeonTikiTribe) February 12, 2013

MOMables

MOMables provides weekly school lunches by subscription, helping parents to make fresh school lunches fast. MOMables helps those who are busy feed their children healthy options, no longer having to worry about creating balanced options each and every day. They plan lunches, you pack them, kids everywhere enjoy them.

Do your kids frown at the thought of eating oatmeal for breakfast?They won’t after you try our fun recipe!… fb.me/1sCV0zpjf — MOMables (@Momables) February 28, 2013

Sensible Sitters

Sensible Sitters can provide you with educated and trustworthy caregivers to watch your children while you enjoy a night on the town or a weekend at the beach. The company interviews each sitter and gives them background checks. Sensible Sitters caters to those in Manhattan, The Hamptons, Los Angeles, Palm Beach, and San Francisco and provides babysitting, weekend sitting, international sitting, and nanny placements.

So excited to have you using a #hamptons #sensiblesitter @eleanorlangston! Enjoy your night out!

— Sensible Sitters (@sensiblesitters) February 28, 2013

Dimples Shop

Dimples Shop sells unique baby clothes and gifts that make parents and children smile. You can buy baby clothes and products, diaper bags, stroller gear, and personalized accessories. Dimples believes in family, offers great customer service, and hosts a weekly story time for kids to get together.

loving this cute little outfit that just arrived from Jaxxwear. especially love the softness of the pima cotton… fb.me/2eD1ldLoJ — Dimplesshop (@Dimplesshop) February 28, 2013

Everything Happy

Everything Happy creates happy blankies, pillows, threads, and pals featuring a host of characters. The company operates under a “one to love, one to give” philosophy. When you buy, Everything Happy gives a product to a child in need in a number of destinations in the United States and around the world.

This brave, sweet boy is giving back while waiting for his next kidney transplant. We had the pleasure of meeting… fb.me/ssMqRgN5

— Everything Happy (@evrythinghappy) February 5, 2013

We’re pleased to have customers that make families smile, and hope to feature more on our blog during Twitter Tuesdays. If you’re a Grasshopper customer or a friend who wants to gain more Twitter followers, please tweet to @Grasshopper or leave your Twitter handle in the comments. We might feature you in Twitter Tuesdays!

This article was written by Emma Siemasko.

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Entrepreneur Chris Kilbourn makes running a business look so darn easy. By his early 20s, he had already run multiple successful businesses. Today, he owns and runs TOFU Marketing and TaskBullet, a virtual assistant company.

With a focus on marketing, branding, and operations, Chris became interested in entrepreneurship in high school after hearing a story about a classmate running his own vending machine business. Chris realized that he wanted control over a company as well as his career path.

“Like many entrepreneurs, my love for business started at a young age,” he told us. “Being an entrepreneur can be great if you have the right type of business. You can sleep in, have a flexible schedule, and may even generate some passive income.”

Chris’ interest in music led him to start a series of small projects, which eventually resulted Monolith Management, a band management company that provides business services to music professionals.

“Life’s too short to run a business you hate,” said Chris. Better to do what you love.

The post Top Myths About Starting A Business [Interview with Chris Kilbourn] appeared first on .

Gary’s participating in March Madness, but his cartoon needs a caption. Someone’s on the phone, but what are they saying? Fans are watching, but what are they thinking?

We can’t think of a caption for this cartoon, so we thought we’d ask our creative friends, fans, and customers. The winning caption will receive a $50 Amazon Gift Card as well as a Spring Fling Basket full of treats and surprises.

Submit your captions as a comment to this blog post by Friday, March 29. We’ll select the most creative response (it can be funny, clever, weird, or surprising), and announce the winner on April Fool’s Day, a perfect time for joking! Submit as many times as you want. We’ll notify winners by email, so be sure to provide the right one when you comment.

Play nice. By submitting a caption, you are agreeing to our House Rules. We reserve the right to reject unfriendly entries.

The post [Contest] Gary Needs a Caption appeared first on .

The highest value, best-rated phone system with the maximum number of features is still only as good as the people answering it– and those people are only as good as their greetings. First impressions are important. How calls from clients and prospects get answered sets the tone for the entire call. Here are six proven winners to help your staff start conversations off on the right foot…um…lip?

1. “ABC Company. This is XYZ. How can I help you?”

This greeting works for the same reason “said” is the best way to mark dialog in a story. It’s so common and inoffensive that it’s invisible. It zips right past the greeting and lets a caller get right down to business, making it great for professional environments. Don’t waste time by changing “How can I help you?” with something cute like “How can I exceed your expectations?” Most people don’t notice it, and it often annoys those who do.

2. “Good (morning/afternoon/evening). ABC Company. XYZ speaking.”

It’s a little less formal than asking “How can I help you?”, but this option trades formality for a casual and personal touch. It gives all the necessary information in a brief time and is a good choice for relationship-based businesses where added warmth can make clientele feel connected.

3. “It’s a great day at ABC. This is XYZ, how can I…”

This is even less formal than saying good morning, being intentionally upbeat. It’s a fun, surprising, and positive greeting, and it’s hard for customers not to smile. It only works if you sound like you’re having a good day, however, and it’s not appropriate for all business situations. If not used correctly, this greeting can sound forced. If the customer is calling a support line because they’re not having a great day, this greeting may be frustrating.

4. “ABC Company. This is XYZ, and how are you today?”

This option is tricky, but can work well for companies that bank on personalized service and friendly interactions with clients. You’d be surprised how rarely people get asked that question in the course of a day, and how much they appreciate it. Only use this if you’re willing to listen to the answer. Using it as an alternative to a more standardized greeting may come off as insincere if your curiosity isn’t real.

5. “Hi, XYZ speaking.”

It’s not great for a front-line call, but excellent if you’re answering a line that’s already been fielded by a receptionist or other teammate. In such a case, the caller already knows what company he’s speaking to, and he’s ready to speak to the right person that can answer his question or give insight into an issue. All he needs to know is that the right person is picking up the phone.

6. SMILE

Okay, this one isn’t actually a greeting, but a smile will make every greeting better. People are programmed to mimic the mental and emotional states of those around us, and we can hear whether or not the person on the other end is smiling. If you smile on the phone, you put the other party in a better mood. Who wouldn’t want a happy customer?

Readers, what’s the best greeting you’ve heard when you called into a business? What did they say, and why did you like it? Tell us about it in the comments below.

Related Posts:

• Six Tips for Great Voicemail Greetings
• Unlimited Extensions Create Personal Touch with Customers
• Create a Good First Impression with Custom Greetings
• Pick Up The Phone! Your Voice is Good for Business

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This is a guest blog post by Ruth Burr of SEOmoz.

Major search engines like Google and Bing are the way most people find what they’re looking for, whether that’s a product or service or simply some information. The potential audience reached via search engines is huge, which is why SEO is something most businesses can’t afford to ignore.

SEO isn’t about tricking the search engines into sending you bucketloads of traffic. Instead, it’s about improving and promoting your website so that more people can find it using search engines. It can be difficult for SMBs to compete in the search engines, especially when up against large national retailers such as Amazon; many SMBs simply don’t have the time or resources for a full-scale SEO campaign.

Fortunately, SMBs can still be incredibly successful in search by tailoring their SEO campaigns more closely to their locations. If your business supplies hot tubs to the greater Denver area, you don’t need to rank #1 nationwide for the term “hot tubs.” In fact, you probably wouldn’t want to, since it would mean getting a lot of leads from outside your service that would never turn into sales. You may have greater success targeting “hot tubs Denver.”

Locally-focused SEO can have a benefit even for searches that don’t include a city name. Increasingly, Google and other search engines are trying to detect whether or not it makes sense to serve up results tailored to the searcher’s location. For example, if I search for “plumbers” Google shows me results for plumbers in the Seattle area, because I probably need one to come to my house. On the other hand, if I Google “Ryan Gosling” there’s no need to tailor the results to my location (although if he is nearby, Google, could you let me know?)

Local SEO: On Site

Good local SEO starts with having good SEO, period. Nate Dame recently contributed to Grasshopper’s blog with a great post on SEO for small businesses. Having these fundamentals in place will go a long way toward your local SEO success. SEOmoz also has a comprehensive Beginner’s Guide to SEO, which is a great crash course in what we focus on when we do SEO.

Now you want to make sure your website adequately communicates your local information. The information search engines care most about is your NAP: Name, Address, and Phone number. Make sure you have a clearly labeled Contact Us page that includes this information. A PO Box won’t cut it – search engines want to see a real, physical location. You should also choose the phone number you list carefully; we want this information to be as consistent as possible across the web (more on that later), so make sure to use your main office number – the number you want your customers to call!

If you have more than one location, it’s best to have a separate page in your Contact Us section for each location to make the information easier for search engines to find and parse.

What is a Citation?

In the same way a newspaper might consult more than one source to verify if a story is true, search engines look to multiple sources to make sure your location data is accurate.

Each place that your NAP information appears online is considered a citation – an additional data point that search engines can use to confirm that you are who, and where, you say you are. For this reason it’s important that your NAP information is the same everywhere. Companies that use different phone numbers for tracking purposes should pick one to use on all local data citation sources. Companies with more than one location should create separate listings for each location. Unfortunately, PO Boxes don’t count as addresses; you’ll need a real physical address.

Where to Get Citations

First, you’ll want to make sure your business listing is verified in Google Places for Business, Bing Business Portal, and Yahoo Local Listings. Again, I can’t stress enough how important it is that your business information is as consistent as possible on the web.

Once you’ve submitted your information directly to the search engines, the next step is to verify it with big local data providers. Did you know that the vast majority of local services (such as YellowPages.com, Yelp and CitySearch) get their location data from just a few sources? Infogroup, Acxiom, and Localeze are the three main sources of online location data, and everyone from Google on down gets information from them. In fact, if you have incorrect data in one of these major data providers, it could conflict with or override your correct data elsewhere!

After that, it’s a matter of locking down your citations in as many places as make sense for your business.  That could be things like creating profiles on locally-focused sites like Yelp or Angie’s list; making sure your information is correct on directory sites, like YellowPages.com and SuperPages.com; trying to get mentioned on blogs about your neighborhood/city; and citing your NAP information where it makes sense to on your industry- and vertical-focused sites.

What Makes a Good Citation?

• Completeness. Fill out every available field on each site. Add pictures of your location, your operating hours, everything available. Not only will this build your credibility with search engines, your customers will find the information useful as well.
• (Appropriate) keyword use. Make sure you’re describing your business using the SEO keywords (like “hot tubs in Denver”) you’re targeting. Be natural when you use the terms, and only use them in designated description fields.
• Consistent NAP information. Are you getting the feeling this one’s important? Don’t add keywords to your business name – you’re just reducing the consistency of your NAP.

What About My Service Area?

Unfortunately there’s not a great way for you to add a larger service area to your local citations. Google Places for Business has an option to add a service area, but it doesn’t seem to work nearly as well for ranking for local terms as adding a physical address does. This seems a little ridiculous – whether a plumber will come to my house is way more important to me than where that plumber’s brick-and-mortar location is– but it’s the way they like it.

I know it can be tempting to add fake locations in cities that you serve but aren’t located in, but resist the temptation! You’ll be found out quickly enough and it will negatively impact your overall local performance. Instead, try to use on-page factors to rank for keywords in your other target cities.

Exercise care when you’re setting up your local profiles – incorrect data is hard to fix and can stay around for a long time.

One awesome thing about optimizing for local search is that even sites with no website at all can still take many of these steps to be found on the internet. It can be a great option for businesses that don’t have a lot of time or resources to devote to their websites, as well.

Ruth Burr is an SEO and data-driven marketer living in Seattle. She is currently the LeadSEO at SEOmoz, where she builds and executes SEO strategy for SEOmoz.org and related properties, as well as providing SEO subject-matter expertise internally and in the SEOmoz blog and community. You can reach her on twitter at @ruthburr

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Twitter Chats are a great and easy way to connect with others who are working to sell, market, and promote their startups or small businesses. They’re doing the same things you are, and they’re talking about it!

A Twitter chat happens at a scheduled time, sometimes once a week, once a month, or once a quarter. By following a hashtag, Twitter users can ask questions and share their expertise on a variety of topics. This week, we’ve done our research, and we’re bringing you a list of some of the top chats in marketing.

Need help marketing your business? Try a Twitter chat.

1. General Marketing, #mmchat

There’s a lot to get a handle when it comes to marketing, from SEO to PPC to blogging to word of mouth. Join a group of marketing enthusiasts each Monday to discuss the best ways to get your business on the map.

Who hosts it? @TheSocialCMO

When does it happen? Mondays, 8 p.m. EST

Bookmark & visit our #MMchat Master Schedule to keep up on upcoming guests & review our 133 transcripts to date! bit.ly/I0H26M

— The Social CMO (@TheSocialCMO) February 24, 2013

2. Blogging, #blogchat

Running an engaging, informative, and well-written blog isn’t easy, so writers, marketers, and business owners gather together to discuss blogging in this famed Twitter chat. Blogchat is rumored to be one of the largest Twitter chats out there.

Who hosts it? @MackCollier

When does it happen? Sundays, 9 p.m. EST

Seeing lots of “How do I get followers?” #blogchat questions.Make interesting content, network w/ others in your field. — Aaron Hockley (@ahockley) February 25, 2013

3. Social Media, #socialchat

Want more Twitter followers? Want to get Facebook Fans to like your posts? Check in with social media gurus Alan K’necht and Michelle Stinson Ross, plus their weekly guests, for a chat to discuss how you can bolster your social reputation.

Who hosts it? @aknecht and @socialmicheller

When does it happen? Mondays, 9 p.m. EST

A2a: TweetSeeker is my fav Twitter Alert tool for mentions & research. Topsy, SumAll, Postling, & NutshellMail. #socialchat

— Kevin Mullett (@kmullett) February 19, 2013

4. Content Marketing, #cmQs

Content marketing is hot, but is your business generating cool stuff? Brafton’s #cmQs Twitter chats offer expert insights on content marketing challenges. Each session, moderated by Brafton, provides answers to questions about SEO, social sharing, media formatting, and measuring results.

Who hosts it? @Brafton

When does it happen: First Wednesdays of every other month, 1:30 p.m. EST (next one is April 3)

Live Twitter chat on content marketing challenges – #cmQs brafton.com/news/live-twit… via @brafton – My tweet was a favorite! Awesome! — Susan Cabezas (@susanjane) February 6, 2013

5. SEO and Search, #seochat

If you want your site to appear in Google or Bing search results, you best pay attention to the latest trends in SEO.  Jive with Panda, link building and keywords to make sure your business gets shown when internet users make searches.

Who hosts it: @SEOmoz

When does it happen? Thursdays, 1 p.m., EST

Content toward email: RT @ashbuckles Create assets like web pages, PDFs, ebooks, videos, posts, etc. to grow your email list. #seochat — Rivka Fogel (@FogelRivka) February 21, 2013

We’re always looking for more fun and informative Twitter chats. Do you know a great one? Does your company host one? Please share in the comments, or tweet to @Grasshopper.

This article was written by Emma Siemasko.

The post Five Marketing Twitter Chats To Help Promote Your Business appeared first on .

Watch out, Ben Affleck! We’re on your tail. Today, OpenView Labs released the results of its B2B Video Content Oscars. Grasshopper’s Sh*t Entrepreneurs Say was up for a nomination… and we won!

We’re proud to announce that we took the Oscar for Best Viral Video with Sh*t Entrepreneurs Say. We were up against awesome video content from HubSpot and Instructure. Check out our winning clip, along with cool videos from the runners up.

Sh*t Entrepreneurs Say by Grasshopper

Inbound Style by HubSpot

Harlem Shake V1 (Canvas Edition) by Instructure

Nice work, everyone! Got any cool B2B videos to share? Tell us in the comments!

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Looking to work for a great company with cool perks? We pride ourselves on being a great place to work. Come work and play with us in our fun and friendly office in Needham, MA. We have two openings!

Network Operations Manager – Carrier VoIP Communications

Our new team member will be responsible for a team of 7 handling Data Center Infrastructure & Applications, DevOps, IT – Desktop and Tech Support (Customers).

Find out more about this position here.

Marketing Communications Specialist

We’re looking for a rock star marketer who will help lead marketing campaigns and build customer engagement. We have a great marketing team at Grasshopper and are looking for new blood to help create, test, and develop our efforts!

Find out more here.

If you’re smart, love startups, want to make a difference, and embody our core values, we want to talk with you.

The post Join Our Team. Grasshopper Is Hiring! appeared first on .

Technology’s ability to provide instant communication allows employees to work remotely, checking in via email and IM with bosses, colleagues, and clients. Many of our customers work from home, and so do others around the country, including a few of our team members.

Working remotely offers flexibility and the ability to decide what your workplace looks like (one person we chatted with has Samurai swords), but there are challenges, too. It’s hard to stay motivated without people around, and some have a tendency to become cave-people, hibernating in their home offices all day and night. In the winter, they don’t go outside!

We talked to a few people to get some tips on how to be both productive and happy when working from home.

Here’s what they had to say:

Jonathan Garven is an Account Manager and Sales Representative at Gurobi Optimization. He considers himself a social person and thought working from home would make him crazy. It hasn’t though, and he credits his aggressive pursuit of social activities, his methodology, as well as his love for the job.

Well, I have a methodology to my job… I have a spreadsheet, and I list out [what I have to do] in day order, and I just go through them, and I do them, and I don’t stop until they’re done…but I like what I’m doing, so actually, I’m happy doing it. It’s not a chore. I want to call these people; I want to sell them Gurobi Software. You have to enjoy what you’re doing to work from home, otherwise you’ll go crazy.

Andy Fortson co-founded a company called Co-Ed Supply that ships care packages to college students. Both Andy and his co-founder, Marissa, work from home, in part to save money before their big launch. Andy counters being alone all day with deliberate efforts to get out of his apartment.

I have to be very conscious about getting out otherwise I never leave. Thankfully, I have a dog that needs a lot of exercise so we go on twice daily trips to the park. Because my girlfriend [and co-founder] is [in business school] at Wharton, I have the opportunity to join a bunch of clubs there. I play soccer and participate in some other activities. I also try to consistently meet new people for lunch.

Steve Swartzlander is our very own software architect. He recently celebrated 5 years at Grasshopper and has been working from his home in San Antonio for 2 years. He even manages from home, and told us he loves his really good head set, one that allows him to work 300 meters away from his desk.

I avoid doing any actual housework during the work day to keep it strictly about work, so I don’t wander out and do something else. Definitely having a separate space for a home office helps. I used to play more video games, so I knew if I put my game computer in my office I would not get a lot done, so I have that on a different floor. Also, any stuff you’d normally do before going to work, get that done [before you start], even breakfast.

Matt Kostanecki is a happy Grasshopper customer, and takes care of business development and marketing for Archon Systems Inc.  Matt’s company makes inventory software to help entrepreneurs and small businesses stay organized, save time on paperwork, and free up cash flow stuck in excess inventory. Archon allows employees to work from home, believing that flexibility is an asset.

You come to the realization that working from home is a privilege and requires a level of trust. You naturally wouldn’t do anything intentionally to jeopardize that. In fact, I think working in the office can sometimes be more distracting than working from home…I also find having dedicated office space at home with a daily routine helps me stay focused.

Working from home can be challenging, which is why we do our best to provide you with tips. Stay tuned for more posts where our friends weigh in! Check out our guest blog from Brie Weiler Reynolds, director of Content and Community at FlexJobs on How To Be Productive When You Work From Home.

Do you work from home? How do you stay productive? Share how you do it in the comments!

This article was written by Emma Siemasko.

The post Work From Home? These Experts Gave Us Tips appeared first on .

2012 was a big year. Facebook went public and then acquired Instagram for $1 billion. Yammer made a $1.2 billion exit when it became a part of the Microsoft family. And just before the summer ended, Google bought Wildfire for $450 million.

All these companies started out small, but somebody had a vision, made it real, and helped it grow. Other startups are about to blossom, and their leaders will make it happen. Here are 7 of the top leaders to watch this year.

1. Dan Martell – Clarity

Dan Martell has been in the startup community for years. He co-founded Flowtown and Spheric Technologies, but now he’s willing to give back a valuable asset- good advice. Martell has built Clarity, a platform to help connect experienced entrepreneurs with newcomers. He hopes that Clarity will become the go-to platform for startup advice. And with his track record of creating successful companies and as an angel investor, he’ll make it happen.

2. Dave Garr & Darrell Benatar – UserTesting

Dave Garr and Darrell Benatar have transformed how businesses conduct user research for their websites. Their online platform, UserTesting, has made it easy and cost-effective for people to understand how well they’re doing on the ‘net. The platform helps developers and marketers understand exactly why people click away. UserTesting’s desktop testing platform has gained significant traction, and a mobile version is in the works.

3. Maren Kate Donovan – Zirtual

Maren Kate Donovan is taking the personal assistant industry by storm, and blogging about it. She’s built Zirtual, an online platform to connect industries with administrative support. Zirtual gives business owners and hiring managers a cost-effective option for finding the best administrative personnel. Previously, Donovan was an eBay PowerSeller, jewelry reseller, and social media consultant.

4. Elizabeth Yin & Jennifer Chin – LaunchBit

Elizabeth Yin and Jennifer Chin, the power duo, are building LaunchBit, one of the first ad networks to help website owners monetize their newsletters. Even better, they’re blogging about their journey creating the company. Yin and Chin discuss raising money, as well as what it means to be a non-technical co-founder. These leading ladies and the story of LaunchBit are definitely worth following.

5. Sammy James – Speak2Leads

Sammy James is leading the development of an innovative way for companies to streamline their lead response initiatives — it’s called Speak2Leads. James’ past projects have included a personalized Internet radio station, a social bookmarking site, and a song recognition application. He is an advertising industry veteran and has lead the creation of some of the first direct response marketing and telephony applications more than 20 years ago.

6. Jessica Mah – inDinero

Jessica Mah started building inDinero, a platform for businesses to easily track money, when she was just 20 years old. Impressively, Mah has raised $1 million to fund it.  She may be young, but her growing pains are ripe to learn from. She blogs about how to build a great product, hire a team, and expand the customer base.

7. Kevin Hartz – Eventbrite

Over the last few years, entrepreneur Kevin Hartz has grown Eventbrite into one of the largest and most robust online ticketing platforms. What started as a small venture has now evolved into a company of 200+ employees with $78 million in venture funding. The secret to the company’s foundation, reputation, and continued success? Stellar customer service.

Your Thoughts

There you have it — 7 strong leaders who are doing amazing things in business. Who would you add to this list? Which company leaders will you be watching in 2013? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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Twitter is a great way to follow what’s happening in your industry, especially if you’re looking for real-time information about what’s hot. Grasshopper is active on the social media site, and so are some members of our team! From now on, we’ll be holding Twitter Tuesdays so we can offer you tips on who to follow, what to Tweet, and what’s cool in 140 characters.

If you want fun updates about what we’re up to, where team members are, how we’re connecting with customers, and what we’re writing about on the blog, give @Grasshopper a follow.

Grasshopper

Follow our main account for relevant links, small business and entrepreneurial resources, job openings, and more!

Happy Valentine’s Day! Here are 3 tips to make your business loveable not just today but everyday. gras.sh/Yv

— Grasshopper (@Grasshopper) February 14, 2013

Taylor, Ambassador of Buzz

Our Ambassador of Buzz account is manned by Taylor Aldredge, and is used to connect with customers, Tweet about events we attend, and generate buzz about our services.

Are you a @grasshopper customer w/a cool story? We’d love to hear about it – grasshopper.com/tellusyourstory — Ambassador of Buzz (@GrasshopperBuzz) February 13, 2013

You should also follow Taylor’s personal account because he’s fun, cool, and pumped about Grasshopper. Taylor loves our customers.

@craneandcanopy @nicholemckinnon @rhondaabrams The best is when they share a picture of it – twitter.com/CoreyDarkZ/sta… #lovecustomers

— Taylor Aldredge (@tayloraldredge) February 14, 2013

Emma, Content Marketing Specialist

Emma Siemasko is our resident Content Marketing Specialist, who manages our blog, writes website content, and contributes to other internet writing projects. She’s a lover of Grasshopper and disseminator of content creation tips.

Pick Up The Phone! Your Voice Is Good For Business, Babies – Enough of this tweeting, email, and gchat stuff grasshopper.com/blog/2013/02/p…

— Emma Siemasko (@EmmaFayeS) February 15, 2013

Allison, Social Media and Community Manager

Allison Canty, Social Media and Community Manager, is at the wheel of our social accounts, but she’s also big on customer advocacy, and often tweets to help out customers. Allison was happy to share that she conquered LinkedIn.

After a month of duking it out w/ @linkedin, victory is mine! Word to the wise: don’t mass create social accounts w/ 80 different emails.

— Ali Canty (@AliCanty) February 1, 2013

Matt, Senior SEO Specialist

Matt Koulas drives traffic to our website, and we love him for it. He Tweets about his love for SEO and fun things happening around the office. Search results make Matt happy.

Is it healthy/normal that building SEM reports makes me feel warm inside? #notok — Matt Koulas (@mattkoulas) February 13, 2013

We want to follow you!

We want to do our very best to foster relationships with our customers and friends. If you follow the Grasshopper team on Twitter, you might get a follow, retweet, or shout-out from members of our team. Let’s connect! Be sure to leave a comment below with your Twitter handle.

This article was written by Emma Siemasko.

The post Twitter Tuesday: Follow Grasshopper and The Team! appeared first on .

At Grasshopper, we love our customers, and we want to help you and your business succeed. That’s why we do our best to help our customers get press. Sometimes, we feature them on our blog and give them shout-outs on Twitter and Facebook.

So, why is press so great?

1. Press creates excitement and awareness. People are talking about you. Suddenly, your business is in front of someone’s face. Press shows you off to new prospects and creates excitement around what you do. Gab, gab, gabbing is good for your company.

2. Press happens right now. New companies burst into the marketplace every day, so you better get your name out there as much as possible. Online press can stay on the ‘net forever, but people are going to see a blog post, tweet, or email message today. It’s in your best interest to be current.

3. It’s free! Grasshopper knows how to create excitement, but we’re not a fancy PR agency charging you big bucks. We’re happy to help our customers, and we’ll do it for free. It’s how we get people excited about our product at Grasshopper, and we want to try to do this for our customers’ services as well.

We want to hear your stories and get to know you beyond your website. We want to know your business’ best assets and what makes you unique. If you give us a little info on you, we’ll do our very best to get your business the coverage it deserves. After all, part of Grasshopper’s core purpose is to empower entrepreneurs to succeed.

Head over to our Tell Us Your Story page and share what you do and how you use Grasshopper – we’ll take it from there!

This article was written by Emma Siemasko.

The post We Love Our Customers. We Want To Hear Your Stories. appeared first on .

Sitting at a desk is terrible for your health. In the long term, it can increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and death. It can also negatively impact your state of mind by reducing electrical activity.  Not even regular exercise can effectively offset the damage.

But people do it anyway — for the job, for the money, for the social networking, for the entertainment, and for school.

Technology is, however, a double-edged sword. It’s empowering, intellectually engaging, and full of opportunity. It helps us start businesses with little to no money, saves us time, and helps us meet new people but it also, for the most part, keeps us sitting.

If any facet of life needs disruption, it’s sitting. And there are plenty of up-and-coming startups that are committed to helping you break this habit and live a vibrant, healthy, and, most importantly, mobile life.

Here are 3 startups committed to getting you moving:

1. GymPact

For those motivated by money, GymPact offers a compelling value proposition to help you work out. If you’re not motivated to go to the gym, the company will make you pay. If you skip your workout, you’ll pay too. And when you do go? You’ll get a cash reward. There’s no hiding or tricking the system because the company tracks you via GPS.

“We still have over 50 percent of the users who signed up January 12th,” cofounder Yifan Zhang said to the New York Daily News. “About 500 people having been with us for an entire year.” According to Zhang, 82 percent of these individuals have remained committed to their workout goals since they launched a little over a year ago.

Balance needs motivation, and GymPact provides a compelling incentive.

GrubWithUs

Sitting at a desk all day can be a very lonely experience — especially if you’ve taken up a new job in a new city.

“GrubWithUs launched in 2010 with a simple mission: to help introduce you to new friends (and complete strangers) over a classy meal,” wrote Rip Empson for TechCrunch. “Really, the startup considers itself a pioneer of what it calls the “in real-life movement,” in which online platforms facilitate the movement of our digital social networks offline — the goal, in GrubWithUs’ case being to get us off the couch and interacting with new people while eatin’ some good grub.”

It’s technology that helps you get up, go out, and find friends.

SkillShare

Collaborative learning is a movement that has taken off online. But what about the value of face-to-face interaction? Online learning platforms are definitely awesome, but it’s also a valuable experience to learn from people in real life.

Enter SkillShare, a collaborative learning platform that empowers subject matter experts to teach classes from anywhere. There are hybrid offline and online options available, too.

“The new ‘hybrid classes’ have both an online component where teachers orchestrate projects, resources, videos, and feedback as well as an option for students who live near each other to meet periodically,” Sarah Kessler wrote for FastCompany.

Learn stuff from anywhere by hanging out with the people around you.

Your Thoughts

There you have it, three startups that help you work out, make friends, and learn something new. What other areas are there for opportunity? What would goals you like a startup to help you achieve in your life?

The post Startups that Bring Your Life Balance appeared first on .

Technology’s grip has tightened, causing all of us to email, text, IM, and Skype. We often communicate using the written word, rather than the spoken voice, and this might be bad for business. At Grasshopper, we love technology and all it can do for us. The web is our friend, and so are our smartphones, software solutions, and cool apps. Technology helps us do our job, but it’s also brought changes that aren’t necessarily good, at least according to Harvard Business Review. 

Dan Pallotta, a social entrepreneur and contributor to the Harvard Business Review’s Blog, says that picking up the phone trumps typing an email for tons of reasons. It’s more personal, it’s less robotic, and it’s way more friendly. Pallotta warns that the quest for quick solutions shuts out the potential for deep connections. It’s also not as efficient as we think. We spend way too much time emailing about setting up a phone call. Why is it that we don’t just pick up the phone?

“It has been said that love is a function of communication. I believe that to be true. I believe, by extension, that human understanding is a function of communication,” writes Pallotta, “And the better human beings understand one another, the higher the level of functioning. The overuse of e-mail as an alternative to a call creates emotional distance.”

Friendship, understanding, and compassion can set your small business apart from big brands with a lot of bureaucracy and so-so customer service. The benefit of being small is that you can create emotional intimacy with your customers. Pallotta suggests that using the phone can make a small business better. How could your business step up your game by picking up the phone?

At Grasshopper, we like to use all that technology can offer- different forms of communications have distinct purposes. Ultimately, though, we agree with Pallotta, that communication via voice and through face-to-face contact is a great way to show you’re trustworthy. Pick up your phone, smile while you speak, and put a real human voice to the company that you love.

Do you agree with Pallotta? Should companies try to use the phone more often?

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Cupid shoots arrows into the hearts of lovers, but rumor has it he’s also out to get businesses.  This Valentine’s Day, make your company a target.  You might run a construction company, a growing startup, or be a reseller of coffee mugs.  It doesn’t matter what your product is, if you follow our tips, there may be an arrow headed your way in your future.

Every company wants to be loved by their customers, employees, and other brands. So, how can you make yours worthy of Cupid? Make your business lovable.

1. Be nice (even when life is annoying)

If you are pleasant, easy to work with, personable, kind, and understanding, you will be loved. Everyday stresses may get to you, they get to all of us sometimes. The morning traffic put you in a bad mood. A client was late to an important phone conference. Yes, life can be annoying, but adopting a short tone and bad attitude will drive your customers and employees away. No one loves a person or company who is constantly grumpy. People will notice a stressed out, bad mood and they won’t like it. If you are kind, others will take notice and be kind to you.

2. Be reliable. Communicate.

Amy, your company representative, promised Jack she’d call him on Wednesday. On Wednesday at 9:00a.m., Amy picks up the phone to call Jack like promised. It seems simple, but many people and companies make promises they don’t keep. If you say you’re going to do something, do it. If you promise a service, provide it. It’s ok if things don’t always go to plan. You may have guessed a shipment would come in this week, but it’s actually coming next week. Be honest with your customers. Pick up the phone and tell them the truth. They’ll appreciate your honesty. Don’t underestimate being reliable and transparent. If people feel they can trust you, their hearts will fill with love.

3. Be cool.

If people think your company is cool, love will start pouring in, but how can you cultivate the effortless coolness of a dreamy quarterback? Don’t worry, you don’t have to buy your employees motorcycles. Hire passionate people, play music in the office, and be sure to relax. For your customers? Sending out whacky gifts, writing out-of-the-box copy, and having a fun website are all ways to cultivate cool. A straightforward, confident, and creative attitude screams cool. Remember how the babysitter seemed so awesome when she played you her CDs?  If you’re on the cusp of technologies and trends, constantly introducing customers and employees to new things, they’ll think you’re cool.

This Valentine’s Day, don’t settle for anything less than you deserve. If you are nice, reliable, and cool, customers and employees will come running towards you, arms full of chocolates, roses, and diamond necklaces. Well, maybe not diamond necklaces- those will come with a Grammy nomination.

Spread the love all year, not just on Valentine’s Day! Know any other ways to usher in the love? Please share!

The post Cupid Is Lovin’ You: Three Ways To Make Your Business Lovable appeared first on .

Never touched a line of code? No worries — you’re still an asset to your business. Somebody needs to find customers, negotiate strategic partnerships, fuel marketing momentum, and build funding streams. That person is you.

As valuable as you are to your business, however, it’s easy to feel discouraged.

“Hackers are the magicians of the start-up world, conjuring real-world products out of hazy ideas, and they’re both highly sought after and lionized for it,” wrote Jessica Stillman in a blog post for Inc. “Think of the industry’s icons from the Google guys to Mark Zuckerberg — they’re techies all.”

It’s really overwhelming.

“All this focus on the guys behind the code can leave an aspiring non-technical co-fonder wondering how exactly she would make herself useful in the early stages of building a startup,” wrote Stillman.

And guess what? The answer isn’t as simple as picking up a book and learning how to code.

Here’s how fellow non-technical founders are navigating their roles:

1. Elizabeth Yin, Co-Founder at LaunchBit

As the non-technical co-founder of email ad network LaunchBit, Elizabeth Yin is encouraging fellow entrepreneurs to make the most out of their strengths.

“It can be easy as a non-technical co-founder to sit around and do nothing in the beginning, because no product has been built,” she wrote for Women 2.0. “But, actually, this is when you are MOST needed. When there is no product, your job as a non-technical co-founder is to somehow get customers and keep them happy.”

Without customers, you don’t have a solid business model. While your technical counterparts are building the product, you need to focus on getting your key revenue drivers in place. At the end of the day, your company needs to make money — product development alone won’t cut it.

2. Nelly Yusupova, CTO at Webgrrls and Founder at DigitalWoman

Nelly Yusopova may be a CTO, but she has a solid understanding of what her non-technical counterparts are experiencing on the other side of the table. From her perspective, the ‘growth hacker’s’ professional role is absolutely crucial. You need to validate your idea before you invest the resources in building it.

Create a prototype, she recommends — and test it. Ask lots of questions to make sure that you have a viable product and business plan.

“Your instincts might be to find a developer and get started building right away — but first, it’s important to test whether or not your customers might actually want it,” she wrote for The Daily Muse.

Once you know what you want to build, hire a dev team and well, build it.

3. Nikos Moraitakis, Co-founder and CEO at Workable HR

In his experience co-founding Workable HR, Nikos Moraitakis has found a non-technical background to be a core business asset.

“A good non-technical co-founder is not just a ‘business guy’ or ‘salesman.’ He is the person who helps create an operationally and commercially viable company around the product,” he wrote for Quora. “Doing this well can be equally important as to have a good product, or, to put it better, the product would take twice as much to develop and end up worth less if someone wasn’t taking care of all the rest.”

The non-technical co-founder’s role is crucial, he says.

“These are not mere administrativia I’m talking about. It’s parts of execution that some folks can do remarkably better than others and can make the difference between a simple tech project and a successful technology company.”

Your Thoughts

Non-technical co-founders: what core business assets have you brought to your company? What words of wisdom would you share with fellow non-technical entrepreneurs?

The post The Best Words of Advice for Non-Technical Founders appeared first on .

Are you sick of working with grumpy people? Do you dread going to work every day? Ever find yourself staring at the clock waiting for it to turn 5 so you can leave? If so, sounds like you need a change!

Lucky for you, we’re hiring!

We’re building a global brand to help entrepreneurs change the world and we’re looking for a few rock stars to help our team get there.

We are currently hiring for the following positions in Needham, MA:

IT / Network Operations Manager

Some qualifications:

• 10+ years total experience; including 5+ years in a production 24/7 high traffic web environment including web hosting, security, and experience with load balancing implementations and high availability networks.
• Experienced manager who has proven ability to lead through mentorship, collaboration and enabling team members.
• Experience with data center infrastructure and applications, and experience with DevOps and Release Automation.
• Strong understanding of maintaining IP networks, secure systems, scalable redundant web architectures, and IP Communications systems.
• Background in Telecommunications systems.
• Must be proven at creating and improving SOPs and running production environments with five 9s uptime
• Comfortable managing large volume web applications and 24/7 availability

Services cover:

• Web portals that enable customers to self-manage their accounts
• Communication services that provide virtual phone systems to entrepreneurs throughout North America
• A fully automated sign-up and billing system for Grasshopper customers.

Technologies include:

• Cisco IP Networking
• Hardware platform administration
• Virtualization environment on VMware
• Microsoft Server and Linux environments
• Software applications covering web, core services, billing, partner interfaces, etc.
• Integration with 3rd party tech partners and reseller sites.

Interested? Apply now.

Software Engineer – Core Services

Some qualifications:

• 1 + years of software engineering experience
• Exposure to C#, .NET, .net Application and API development
• The ability to write high quality code efficiently
• Understanding of modern web programming practices
• Bachelor’s degree
• Authorization to work in the United States

This role encompasses handling core services development including processes for billing, message management and delivery, number inventory, database schema and partner interfaces.

You’ll contribute immediately and your involvement will grow deeper as you learn the environment.

Interested? Apply now.

If you’re smart, love startups, want to make a difference, and embody our core values, we want to talk with you. Apply here.

The post Join the Fun at Grasshopper! appeared first on .

This post is part of our 10 Year Celebration. Stay tuned every month for fun posts, like this one, contests and more! Be sure to check out the contest at the end of this post!

UPDATE: The contest has now ended. Congratulations to Ryan Lermen! Ryan won the $25 AMEX gift card.

If you’ve visited our blog before, you’re probably used to posts that focus on strategies, tips and advice for growing your small business. But today, we’re trying something different. As part of our 10th birthday celebration, we’re flashing back to a bunch of highlights from 2003, the year Grasshopper was founded. Today’s flashback is… music. A topic we thought you’d enjoy since chances are you’re probably listening to some of your favorite tunes as you read this post!

So, enjoy this fun look back at what the world of music looked like when David & Siamak were building the first version of Grasshopper and how it compares to what we’re listening to today. And don’t forget to enter our contest at the end of this post!

Record of the Year: Love Pulls a 180

In 2003, America’s sweetheart was Vanessa Carlton — her most famous song – “A Thousand Miles” was nominated for record of the year. And today? America’s sweetheart is none other than Taylor Swift. Her nomination? “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.”

It’s hard to imagine 10 years ago, Taylor Swift was only 13 years old! What’s not hard to believe? The talented Vanessa Carlton is continuing to entertain today and recently began recording her fifth studio album.

In 2003 the radio was buzzing about passionate and relentless love. Today, it’s all about – well, a relentless breakup.

Best New Artist: Boys vs. Girls

In 2003, the ladies ruled the show. Ashanti, Norah Jones, Michelle Branch and Avril Lavigne were all Best New Artist nominees. Today it’s the boys club, with nominees like Fun, Hunter Hayes and Frank Ocean.

Imagine if there was a category for Best Old Artist? Bruce Springsteen would definitely take that award home this year. “The Boss” is holding down the fort at the Grammy’s with his nomination for Album of the Year in 2003 and 2013’s Best Rock Performance. Impressive to say the least!

True musical talent can really withstand the test of time – it will be interesting to see what technologies of today can do the same. Any predictions?

Song of the Year: Would you “Lip Dub” to that?

In 2003 the term lip dubbing hadn’t even been coined yet – in fact – it wasn’t until 2007 that Jake Lodwick, the man behind the phrase, started his video-sharing website Vimeo.

This year’s Song of the Year nominee, “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen, may have Mr. Lodwick to thank for her viral success. The music video for this song, with nearly 400 million YouTube views, had people lip dubbing like crazy. From Miss USA contestants, to soldiers deployed in Afghanistan, to just a bunch of old people – this song really took the world by storm.

Imagine people lip dubbing to 2003 Song of the Year winner “Don’t Know Why” by Norah Jones – it just doesn’t seem to have that same pizazz.

Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group: Are we breaking up?

No Doubt’s “Hey Baby” won this category back in 2003, but less than a year later the band took a hiatus to focus on solo careers. Good news for their fans –the band reunited and just released their sixth album this past fall.

2013 nominee Maroon 5, is only one year older than Grasshopper, however, the band has been performing together for nearly two decades. Previously known as Kara’s Flowers, the band was formed back in 1994 but after their first record flopped, the band decided to take a break to attend college – and judging by their success over the past decade, they must have learned something good!

Sometimes even the best teams need to take a break – but not our founders – David and Siamak are still going strong after 10 years!

Best Male Rap Solo Performance:

Hot in…So hot in herre…Apparently when you’re a Grammy winning artist, the rules of proper grammar and spelling no longer apply. Nelly’s “Hot in Herre” took this prestigious award back in 2003, but the song’s lyrics probably stuck in your head longer than this category existed at the Grammys. Introduced at the 2003 awards, by 2005 the category had been combined back into a genderless category.

Although he was nominated back in 2003, Jay-Z couldn’t compete with Nelly. This year, however, the artist is nominated twice in the same category. Being in the music business for more than a decade, Jay-Z has clearly learned a thing or two – the more times you enter, the more chances you have to win!

So What Really Changed?

It’s interesting to see how not only has music changed in the past decade, but so has its technology. In 2003 we saw the introduction of iTunes, which really rocked the music world. And today, music industry disruptor Spotify is stealing the show changing how we consume music. What do you think music will look like in 2023?

Join us in celebrating our 10th birthday with this fun contest and your chance to win a $25 Amex Gift Card! Give us your picks for who will take home the big prize in 5 Grammy nomination categories below for a chance to win.

The post Then & Now: And the Grammy Goes To… appeared first on .

We have a lot of great events lined up for the month of February. We’ll be in Tennessee for the EverywhereElse.co conference, Atlanta for BarCamp, and Boston for Boston’s Startup Weekend.  We’re also lucky enough to have a handful of free tickets to give away to our friends for the EverywhereElse.co conference and Technori Pitch LA. All you have to do is ask for one!

Here’s where you can find us next month:

EverywhereElse.co Startup Conference

In a few weeks, Taylor, our Ambassador of Buzz, will be hitting the road and heading down to Tennessee for the EverywhereElse.co Startup Conference. This conference is all about getting startups and entrepreneurs from outside Silicon Valley together to talk best practices and share experiences, tips and resources with other startups who are all in the same situation as you. You’ll have the opportunity to hear pitches, pitch your ideas, network and learn. What’s not to love? Oh, and we have some free tickets to give away.

Details:

• When: February 10-12, 2013
• Where: Memphis, TN at the Memphis Cook Convention Center.
• Website: EverywhereElse.co Startup Conference

Interested in attending for FREE? Email us at social(at)grasshopper(dot)com if you want one.

Technori Pitch LA

As they put it on their site, Technori Pitch LA is “LA’s monthly tech showcase, where geeks, veeps, and everyone in between meets.” Unfortunately, we won’t be attending this event but we do have a few tickets up for grabs if you’re interested in attending!

Details:

• When: February 12, 2013 from 6pm-10pm PT
• Where: Santa Monica, CA at The ROC Santa Monica
• Website: Technori Pitch LA

For FREE tickets to this event, email us at social(at)grasshopper(dot)com.

BarCamp Atlanta

We’re big fans of these “unconferences” here at Grasshopper. Who doesn’t love a good BarCamp? Our Word of Mouth Marketing Manager Stephanie will be heading down to the ATL for this event.  If you’re in the area, or within driving distance, this event will definitely be worth your time!

Details:

• When: February 23, 2013, 8am-4pm ET (Pre-Party on February 22nd, 7pm)
• Where: Georgia Tech ATDC
• Website: BarCamp Atlanta

For the Boston Locals…

We hope to see you all at Boston Startup Weekend on February 8th! Taylor will be attending and he’d love to meet you!

• When: February 8th, 2013
• Where: Microsoft NERD Center in Boston, MA
• Website: Boston Startup Weekend

Will you be attending any of these events? We’d love to meet you! Tweet Taylor at @TaylorAldredge or Stephanie at @SRBullis and let them know if you’ll be there.

The post Free Tickets for Fun Events in February! appeared first on .

Hopefully by now you’re familiar with the many benefits of coworking and collaborative work spaces. If not, be sure to read our post, “8 Perks of Coworking Spaces for Savvy Entrepreneurs.”  If you’re still on the fence about whether or not to join a coworking space, or if you can’t afford a full throttle membership, then at least check out some of the fun and educational events offered that will inspire you and connect you to people you want and need to meet.

1. Front Porch Conversations at Hypepotamus in Atlanta. GA

The porch is, and always will be, an integral part of Southern life; which may be why Atlanta’s Hypepotamus refers to its speaker series as Front Porch Conversations. Hypepotamus’ co-founders, Kevin Wallace and Heath Hyneman, grew up in Atlanta and are on a mission to build a collaborative community that supports start-ups and attracts more resources for them. During Front Porch Conversations, notable people from other cities share their insights and experiences.  Through its sibling series, Fireside Chats, successful Atlanta start-up leaders take center stage sharing the highs and lows of their personal journey. The most unique aspect of these events is the diversity of the audience.  College students, developers, designers, storytellers and innovators convene, which Wallace and Hyeman admit is 100% intentional.  Recent Front Porchers include Dr. Paul Judge, chief research officer at Barracuda Networks and co-founder and Chairman of Pindrop Security and David Cummings, co-founder of Pardot, which was recently acquired by ExactTarget.

2. Bounce Hours at Link Coworking in Austin, TX

They say it’s lonely at the top, and most will agree it’s also lonely on the ground floor (or garage) of any new venture.  While coworking spaces are an antidote to that lonely feeling, membership doesn’t promise attentive colleagues who will act as your sounding board.  Liz Elam, founder of Link Coworking and the Global Coworking Unconference Conference (GCUC), invented Bounce Hours to help members evaluate ideas and brainstorm solutions. Here’s how Bounce Hours work: On a Friday afternoon, members come together and form a circle.  Elam throws a beach ball to the group and whoever catches the ball first is allotted 5 minutes to bounce an idea or question off others.  Those listening provide succinct feedback and input.  When time is up, the beach ball is tossed to another member. After the group disperses, members seek out one another to continue the dialogue, making Bounce Hours a catalyst for collaboration.

3. Members Cook Lunch at Enerspace in Chicago, IL

When Enerspace owner Jamie Russo recently expanded her coworking space and added a kitchen, she had no idea members would volunteer to show off their chef skills by preparing lunch once a week. Approximately 15-30 members show up for the free Friday lunch.  But Russo believes the promise of free food is just the beginning.  While the coworker-chef peels, chops and dices, members gather around and the conversation gets cooking.   Inevitably, newly acquainted members’ initial exchanges about ingredients and favorite cuisine give rise to meatier discussions after lunch.

4. Food Truck Extravaganza at CO+HOOTS in Phoenix, AZ

There’s a new vibrancy in downtown Phoenix also known as the city’s newest entrepreneurial corridor.  Just as the name of Jenny Poon’s coworking space implies, CO+HOOTS collaborates with local businesses to entertain and enlighten its coworkers and the community.   Feeding into coworkers’ foodie culture plus knowing food trucks need hungry customers to grow their business, CO+HOOTS organizes a weekly food truck extravaganza on Wednesdays at 12pm.   Guests flock to check out the newest mobile eateries such as Hao Bao, the first Chinese food truck in Phoenix. As expected, the casual and fun format is the perfect environment for networking and introductions.

5. #Rethink Speaker Series at Grind in New York, NY

Think collaborative workspaces are just a place to park your laptop and grab a cup of joe? Think again. Benjamin Dyett, founder of Grind in New York City, feels it’s his responsibility to keep members up to date on the latest trends and technology.  Dyett personally seeks out industry disruptors to present at Grind’s monthly #Rethink speaker series.   Generally occurring on the 2nd Tuesday of each month, #Rethink begins at 8:30am with a 30-minute presentation and group discussion, followed by 30 minutes of networking before everyone heads off to work. Previous game-changing topics and speakers:  #Rethink The Interest Graph with Noah Brier, founder of Percolate, a thoughtful technology company  that helps brands create content at social scale and #Rethink Politics with Nathan Daschle, founder and CEO of Ruck.us, a second-generation social network for action.  Check out previous #Rethink events at the #Rethink Vimeo Channel.

6. Happy Hours with a Twist at NextSpace with 6 locations in California including Santa Cruz and San Francisco

It’s Friday afternoon at 3:58pm.  Do you know where your coworking friends are? Chances are they are hanging at one of NextSpace’s happy hours…with a twist.  Last week, NextSpace Santa Cruz partnered with the city’s Museum of Art and History by inviting guests to participate in a traveling Pop Up Museum.  The theme this time around was “Taking Risks.” People were encouraged to bring an object that symbolizes a risk taken or a risk on the horizon and share a story with others – kind of a grown up show-and-tell. Coming up on February 1st, NextSpace San Fran’s happy hour is brought to you by Sustainable Produce Urban Delivery (SPUD) and will feature a juicing seminar (spirits optional and highly recommended).  Plan on coming alone? No worries. The NextSpace staff will make introductions and make you feel at home.

Don’t get us wrong. Walk into any coworking space and you’ll see people working hard; sometimes into the wee hours of the night (or morning), which is probably why coworking space owners subscribe to the proverb, “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.”

Have you attended a fun event at a collaborative workspace? Tell us about it.  Do you have a great idea for a coworking space event that would combine entertainment and socializing?

The post 6 Ways Coworking Spaces Promote Community and Collaboration appeared first on .

The business world can be tough to navigate. You might be feeling lost, frustrated, or confused about new directions to pursue. That’s okay — it’s normal and there are plenty of resources out there to fuel your career advancement and help you cultivate your leadership skills.

We know what you’re thinking, that type of reading is boring though, right? No way. Today’s top blogs are as entertaining as they are insightful — they’re the mentor that you’ve always wanted but haven’t yet found.

Here are some of the web’s best career and leadership blogs that you absolutely must start following:

1. Women 2.0

This blog is geared towards the entrepreneurial, tech, and startup-minded. Read first-person accounts of career growth, venture funding experiences, and the path to CEO. Hear from high-achieving professionals just like yourself in fields such as business development, engineering, and management. This blog comes with in-person perks you should take advantage of too, like pitch conferences and monthly meet-ups in major startup cities all over the world.

2. The LearnVest Blog

You’ve managed to earn the big bucks, but what happens now? LearnVest is a free money management platform that helps women craft smarter budgets. The company’s blog transforms the topic of personal finance from a dry, convoluted topic into an emotionally compelling journey. Read about money management through a women-focused lens.

3. The Daily Muse

This online community helps women navigate the complex world of careers by covering the important topics of entrepreneurship, education, and tech. You’ll also find a dose of health and style here too. Best of all, the publisher helps to connect hiring managers with qualified job seekers. The Daily Muse is a fashion magazine, discussion portal, and job search tool — all merged together.

4. The Levo League

This website’s mission is to help you find your dream job. In support of this goal, The Levo League empowers you with three tools — an exclusive job search board with awesome opportunities, a virtual office where you can network and connect with female mentors, and a blog that is jam-packed with good old fashioned advice on topics like being your own advocate at work and identifying your strengths and weaknesses.

5. Glamour

You might be surprised to see this one on the list. The fact is, however, that women are constantly struggling with inspiration to find ideas for hair, makeup, and clothes. There’s only so much that you can do with a button-up shirt until your outfit feels drab and boring. Dress for success without sacrificing your feminine creativity — Glamour will give you a dose of inspiration.

6. Harvard Business Review

Are women better leaders than men? What are the top traits that a leader should embody? What key industry trends should make you jump? The Harvard Business Review adds an intellectual discussion to these business topics. No matter your field, this blog will give you a competitive advantage by helping you think critically.

7. Forbes Woman

From workplace confessions to awkward HR discussions and workplace-friendly fragrances, Forbes Woman has all the professional bases covered. How should you prioritize integrity vs. success? Forbes’ team of writers ventures into the most compelling topics for your career.

8. She Takes on the World

How do female entrepreneurs make time for everything from raising kids to taking a company public, and just plain relaxing? Where do you find time to go to the salon and keep looking your best? That’s exactly the point of this blog — to help you find balance.

9. Your Own Blog Blogging can help you become a top expert in your field. Why not start? Even if you only blog a couple of times a month or year, it will help you establish an online presence and expand your reach. More importantly, you’ll be able to reflect on your experiences while providing a resource for fellow women to learn from.

There you have it — a reading list to help you become a phenomenal leader, no matter your needs or style. These women-focused reads help address the business world’s missing pieces related to awkwardness, what to wear, and how to feel through the process of learning and growing.

What are some of your favorite blogs? What reads have been most influential for your career growth?

The post Round Up for Women: 9 Blogs to Grow Your Career appeared first on .

In part 1 of our “Is a Degree In Entrepreneurship Really Worth It?” series, we interviewed two alumni of university entrepreneurship programs.  We wanted to better understand how their Alma mater contributed to their success as a business owner plus uncover any regrets.  To give you some more insight into the value of university entrepreneurship programs, we interviewed two more alumni and here is what they had to say:

Dan Price, founder and CEO of Gravity Payments, attended University of Washington, Foster School of Business, Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

1. Why did you choose to apply to and attend an entrepreneurship program?

I guess you could say entrepreneurship chose me. I started my business when I was 16. So I knew I wanted to study business and entrepreneurship before applying to college.

2.Why did you choose to attend the entrepreneurship program at UW/CIE?

I kind of fell into the program.  I was taking an entrepreneurship class at a local community college and my professor told me about UW/CIE’s business plan competition.  Even though my business was up and running, my professor strongly encouraged me to enter as a means of taking my business to the next level.

3. How do you feel your Alma mater prepared you to start your own business?

Prior to tapping into UW/CIE’s resources, I really did not talk about my business a lot.  I was quiet about it and a little bit shy.  Entering the competition and attending UW/CIE forced me to get out of my shell and encouraged me to talk about my business with the community.

4. Now that you are a real-life entrepreneur (vs. learning about it in class), is there anything you wish you had paid more attention to while you were an undergrad?

I did not pay too much attention to the social and networking aspects that were right in front of me.  Looking back, I know those connections would have been very valuable.

5. What advice would you give to those considering applying to an entrepreneurship program?

Make sure you pursue entrepreneurship for the right reasons.  I’ve seen some students pursue entrepreneurship because they think it sounds cool or will lead to riches.  Instead, look at entrepreneurship as an opportunity to serve and work hard.

Lesley Stracks-Mullem, co-founder of Taste Carolina, a go-behind-the-scenes gourmet food tour company, attended UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School Center for Entrepreneurial Studies.

1. Why did you choose to apply to and attend an entrepreneurship program?

I always knew I wanted to start a business. But the numbers and finance aspects of operating a business scared me. I was an English major in college and had worked for non-profit and government organizations in D.C., but I didn’t have any business education or experience. I wanted to learn new skills and build confidence.

2. Why did you choose to attend the entrepreneurship program at UNC?

I always loved UNC, so it was natural to put it on my list. After I got accepted, I met the Dean at an event in D.C. and I asked him to help me choose between UNC and other schools.  He asked me what I wanted to do after business school. When I told him I wanted to start my own business, his face lit up as he told me about the new entrepreneurship initiatives at UNC. That conversation fired me up.

3. How do you feel your Alma mater prepared you to start your own business?

One of my friends from business school said that out of everyone in our class, she thought that the MBA experience was most transformative for me. It makes sense because I feel like I had the most to learn, since I had never taken accounting, finance, marketing or economics! I didn’t know Microsoft Excel very well, and, although I considered myself a good boss, I needed to learn how to manage up and around organizations.

4. Now that you are a real-life entrepreneur (vs. learning about it in class), is there anything you wish you had paid more attention to while you were an undergrad?

Marketing still remains a mystery to me. It can be a creative subject — more so than finance and other numbers oriented classes in many ways, but it still requires a rigorous understanding of formulas and statistics. I wish I had delved deeper into the analytical aspects of marketing.

5. What advice would you give to those considering applying to an entrepreneurship program?

Go to a program that excites you and make time to connect with professors, students and guest speakers beyond the classroom. Share ideas and ask questions.  And if you have an idea for a business, don’t be afraid to share it with others and get feedback.

Now that you’ve heard from 4 entrepreneurs, we’ll let you decide. Is a degree in entrepreneurship worth it? Did you attend a university entrepreneurship program? What advice do you have for others pursuing this type of education?

The post Part 2: Is a Degree in Entrepreneurship Really Worth It? appeared first on .

This is a guest post by Brie Weiler Reynolds, Director of Content and Community at FlexJobs.

Before I started working from home, I dreamed of the day when I could throw on my favorite pair of jeans and an old t-shirt, commute all 10 feet to my home office, and be more productive than I ever imagined. Three years after starting to work from home full-time, I’ve definitely experienced those days. But I’ve also experienced days where I can’t seem to get a single thing done, no matter how hard I try. Through trial and error, I’ve discovered some tried-and-true methods for being as productive as possible when working from home.

For anyone looking to have more productive days while working from home, here are four tips:

1) Know your natural energy and rhythms.

Not to get all touchy-feely, but every one of us has times of the day when we are most and least productive. Some people are alert, focused, and productive in the mornings, while others like afternoons, and still others like evenings or late nights. Know when you are most productive and clear those hours to focus on your work.

2) Make it clear that you really DO work.

When friends, family, and neighbors hear that I work from home, I can almost see their gut reaction in a word bubble above their heads: “Sure, you work from home.” Though it’s unfounded, lots of people assume that working from home is code for slacking off or taking a mental health day. From the get-go, set boundaries for when you’re available and not available – don’t accept every lunch invitation, don’t agree to house-sit for out-of-town neighbors, and don’t offer to babysit your friends’ kids during the workday. Talk a lot about your busy schedule, your overflowing workload, and how excited you are for all the work that is coming your way so people get the point. Working from home IS working.

3) Treat technology like your secretary.

A really good secretary knows how to stop people from interrupting his or her boss. They don’t let the phone ring, they don’t let people barge into their office, and they don’t schedule meetings at the last minute. Use technology as a secretarial barrier between you and distraction. Turn off email alerts, set your phone to go straight to voicemail or create an auto-response to text messages you receive that says something like, “In the middle of something; will get back to you later.” Block chunks of time on your calendar as “busy.” Unless your job involves life-or-death situations, everyone will manage just fine for the few hours when you’re off the grid.

4) Eliminate distractions.

A study conducted by the University of California Irvine found that office workers are only able to focus on any single task for an average three minutes and five seconds before they’re distracted. 44 percent of those distractions are internal — hunger, boredom, stress, sleep deprivation. The good news is that internal distractions are the only kind we can truly control. Know your patterns for hunger, boredom, stress, and sleepiness and plan ahead. Keep snacks at your desk so you’re not getting up and going to the kitchen every hour, mix up your to-do list by interspersing boring and interesting tasks, or take advantage of working from home and take a quick nap.

Studies by Stanford University and the University of Michigan have proven that working from home, in general, makes employees more productive than if they work in an office. But your personal productivity levels are up to you to maintain. By tapping into your daily energy high-points, letting people know that working from home is really work, using technology to your advantage, and eliminating distractions as much as possible, you’ll join the ranks of the productive at-home worker.

How do you stay productive when you work from home?

About the Author

Brie Weiler Reynolds is the Director of Content and Community at FlexJobs, the award-winning site for telecommuting and flexible job listings, and a former career advisor. At FlexJobs, Brie offers job seekers career and work-life balance advice through the FlexJobs Blog and social media. Learn more at www.FlexJobs.com.

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As the owner of a business, your company likely started as your idea. What was once a glimmer of inspiration is now a real, live business with customers and revenue. Your business is the product of you investing your time, money and energy into it.

Now, its not always rainbows and butterflies, especially when then the complaints begin. It’s tough not to take negative feedback personally. What does this random shopper know about your business? He didn’t dream this place up!

But savvy business owners know that learning what customers want is key to survival. Capitalizing on customer feedback means charging out into the abyss, finding out what patrons think and using that information to build a better business.

Where to seek out feedback

It all starts by knowing where to find the best feedback. According to Gail Goodman writing for Entrepreneur.com, Americans now provide much of their customer feedback while on the run.

“Eighty-three percent of American adults own a cell phone, and 42 percent of them own a [smartphone], according to a recent Pew Internet Project report,” Goodman writes. “Today’s apps-savvy consumers want business information delivered concisely and available for reading on the fly.”

And that’s where you should meet them. Goodman lists ways in which you can customize your business communications to foster more mobile feedback:

1. Make your emails and sales material mobile-friendly.

2. Build out your social media fan base, including location-based networks.

3. Encourage mobile reviews.

How to listen

You can’t miss an upset customer hollering at your front counter, but the Internet allows for a miffed shopper to hold it in until she gets online — and tells the world instead of you.

Customer service research company NBRI explains how important it is to actively listen to customer complaints online.

“Somewhere, in one of the many online streams, someone is talking about your brand or company,” writes the NBRI blog. ”It could be good, but knowing what we know from our customer service research, it’s more likely negative. Take, for example, the United Breaks Guitars YouTube Video. Almost 12 million people watched that video about poor service from United Airlines. Some companies are beginning to use ‘social listening’ to tune into and monitor discussions of their brand.”

Social listening companies, such as Argyle Social, help companies eavesdrop on online conversations that impact their business. Regular Google alerts and frequent social media searches can help you find some conversations on your own.

Know how to respond

The best way to respond to any customer feedback is quickly. Unless you can teleport, the only way to do this is by empowering your employees to respond, online or in person.

Jena McGregor of Fast Company explains how Trader Joe’s exemplifies the art of empowered employees.

“Talk to almost any Trader Joe’s customer,” she writes, “and you’ll hear a story of how the company has listened and responded. Marynne Aaronson was surprised at how quickly her Reno, Nevada, store started carrying a soy ice-cream cookie she’d requested… Susan F. Heywood was driving past her Phoenix Trader Joe’s early one morning when she found it bustling, even though the store’s official opening wasn’t until 9 a.m. ‘A lot of people wanted us to be open early, so we try to be as often as we can,’ the manager told her.’”

The only way Trader Joe’s could make that happen is by giving its employees in every store the power to respond to their customers. ”Employees can open any product a customer wants to taste and are encouraged both to recommend products they like and to be honest about items they don’t,” says McGregor.

Do you know what your customers are saying about you? Try searching for your business on Twitter and in each of Google’s search categories. How can you empower your staff to respond to what you find?

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Ever wanted to pick the brain of a successful entrepreneur? Well now here’s your chance. As part of our 10th birthday celebration we’re featuring a quarterly Q&A with our founders, David Hauser and Siamak Taghaddos. We’re kicking things off this quarter with some questions we created, but moving forward, we want your help!

What questions do you have for David and Siamak? Send your questions to us on Twitter, Facebook, or email us at social@grasshopper.com.  It’s not every day you get the opportunity to get your most pressing business questions answered by two successful entrepreneurs who’ve been where you are and done it all – so don’t waste this great opportunity!

When you started the company back in 2003, did you imagine that it would look like what it does today? If not, what’s different?

When we started we both thought we would be much more telecommunications focused than we are. What we have built is an amazing team of people that empower entrepreneurs to succeed every day. Of course we love our virtual phone system made for entrepreneurs but we are most passionate about our customers and helping them. What we always wanted though was a place people loved to work and could make meaningful contributions to something great.

What are you most proud of about Grasshopper?

I could say the customers we have served, the entrepreneurs we have seen grow, or  the awards we have won, but when I look back over the last 10 years what I am most proud of is our yearly company BBQ where our team gathers and brings their families for a day of fun. It is not about the number of people or the fun things we do, but the gathering of people that all have a common goal and direction via Grasshopper.

What motivates you to keep growing Grasshopper?

As entrepreneurs we always want to be growing and it is something inside of you that motivates you each day. We love what we do, love the people around us and have a lot of fun.

According to reports 3 out of 4 startups fail, what qualities do businesses need to see a 10th birthday?

An amazing team that can grow with the business, a strong executive team to lead the business and marketing that continues to change with the market.

One piece of advice for people wanting to start a business?

Just go and start, there are too many people that just talk. Talking I promise has a 100% failure rate, so by starting you are at least doing better than that.

What’s the most overrated piece of advice you think entrepreneurs should ignore?

Think outside of the box, it means nothing. We have a bunch of these little tidbits from an old marketing campaign with Gary Busey. In the current world of internet and SaaS businesses, the term pivoting is over used and silly.

If you could start over, knowing what you know today, how would you do things differently?

No idea, there is no reason to look back. What we have done is what got us here. Someone much smarter than me said, looking back gives you nothing more than a pain in your neck.

Where do you see Grasshopper 10 years from now?

Empowering entrepreneurs to succeed all around the globe.

What’s the one thing you’d never change about Grasshopper?

Our culture and core values.

Want your questions answered by David and Siamak? Our next Q&A is scheduled for early April. Submit your questions by March 18th and your question could be featured in our next founder Q&A. Questions can be submitted to us on Twitter, Facebook , by email at social@grasshopper.com or in the comments section of this post.

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This is the first of two posts dealing with entrepreneurship programs. Next week we’ll follow up with profiles of two more entrepreneurs and the programs they chose.

Over the last 10-15 years, many universities have started to offer classes in entrepreneurship, including the option to minor or major in this intriguing and risky field.  A handful of universities have even taken things a little further by establishing dedicated centers and programs to teach students how to run their own businesses from the inception of an idea through its implementation.

We interviewed graduates from some of the country’s best entrepreneurship programs.  We wanted to know why they applied to such a program in the first place and how well their Alma mater prepared them to launch their own business.  Also, because we know that hindsight is 20-20, we asked these alumni to share their regrets; things they wish they had paid more attention to while enrolled in their respective programs.

Here’s what they had to say:

James Simpson, CEO and founder of Gold Fire Studios, a new social gaming development company, attended University of Oklahoma Price College of Business.

1.  Why did you choose to apply to and attend an entrepreneurship program?

I had been developing games since I was very young, but I knew I needed to hone my business skills to take things to the next level.

2.  Why did you choose to attend the entrepreneurship program at University of Oklahoma?

It is well known that University of Oklahoma has one of the top entrepreneurship programs in the country, so it was a no-brainer.

3.  How do you feel your Alma mater prepared you to start your own business?

I gained real-world experience and connections through the university’s entrepreneurship program, something that would not have happened just taking classes anywhere.

4.  Now that you are a real-life entrepreneur (vs. learning about it in class), is there anything you wish you had paid more attention to while you were an undergrad?

Business law seemed like something you would just leave up to lawyers, but it turns out that as a business owner, it is very important to be aware of all the legal issues involved with running a company.

5.  What advice would you give to those considering applying to an entrepreneurship program?

Make sure you are interested in entrepreneurship for the right reasons and make sure you leverage the network involved with your chosen program.

Mila Golovine, founder and President of MasterWord Services, a leading global provider of industry-specific language solutions attended University of Houston (UH), Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship.

1. Why did you choose to apply to and attend an entrepreneurship program?

I grew up in the former Soviet Union and always knew I wanted to live in a country where I could be in control of my own destiny.  I originally applied to the University of Houston to study International Finance.  By senior year, I channeled my efforts into starting my own business.

2.  Why did you choose to attend the entrepreneurship program at the University of Houston?

As an undergrad, I started an English/Russian language translation and interpretation consulting practice. After conducting some market research on the language industry for a school paper, I discovered there was a big opportunity. At the time, UH was launching a new entrepreneurship program and I knew it was the perfect fit for me to take my business to the next level.

3.  How do you feel your Alma mater prepared you to start your own business?

The entrepreneurship program thoroughly prepared me and groomed me to be the businessperson I am today.  The school taught me how to develop a real-life business plan, which I still refer to often. The connections I made were priceless. I remain in touch with Bill Sherill, the Founder and Co-Chair of the Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship. I can pick up the phone and call Bill if I need to bounce an idea around.

4.  Now that you are a real-life entrepreneur (vs. learning about it in class), is there anything you wish you had paid more attention to while you were an undergrad?

I wish I had listened to everything we were told not to do. I could have avoided many mistakes, if I had just listened to the people who already learned from experience.  Examples include:

• Always have a business plan for each and every year.  You need to know where your business has been and where it’s going plus re-adjust to what’s happening in the marketplace.
• Secure a line of credit when you don’t actually need one.  If you are able to plan in advance rather than approach a bank when you’re in a cash flow crunch, it will make a world of difference.

5.  What advice would you give to those considering applying to an entrepreneurship program?

Most businesses fail in the first three years. A top entrepreneurship program gives you the tools and blueprints you need to succeed. If you attend, learn all you can before, during and after classes.  Seeking the same advice later will cost you thousands of dollars per hour in consulting fees.

Stay tuned for part 2, on Thursday, January 24th, which details the stories of two more entrepreneurs.

Did you attend a university entrepreneurship program? What advice do you have for others pursuing this type of education?

The post Part 1: Is a Degree in Entrepreneurship Really Worth It? appeared first on .

It’s an unsettling reality that most new ventures fail — 70 to 80 percent if you’re measuring success by projected return on investment, according to Harvard Business School. You jump in head first with full confidence and high hopes — and then you fall flat on your face so hard that it hurts. What’s an up and coming CEO to do?

You get right back up and try again — that’s a lesson you learned when you were five years old. Rest assured that the same principle holds true today.

Failure is responsible for stronger and smarter entrepreneurs

“But here’s the good news,” said HBS’ Carmen Nobel. “Experienced entrepreneurs know that running a company that eventually fails can actually help a career, but only if the executives are willing to view failure as a potential for improvement.”

The reality is that failure can make you a better leader — but you need to embrace, learn from, and grow from it. You need to accept and talk about it with your mentors and fellow business leaders.

Back to the drawing board: look for good advice

“Even the most successful people get stuck sometimes, and in these moments, advice makes all the difference,” wrote Dan Martell for the Clarity Blog. “From life to love, business, and health, the insight of others is invaluable.”

You don’t have to deal with failure alone. In fact, without the help of others, you may not even realize what exactly went wrong. Understanding the picture means looking beyond yourself — which means reaching out to others who’ve been there before you.

Don’t hide: embrace the pain

Failure might be normal, but it hurts, so stop pretending that you’re wearing armor. You’ll see bad moments, and you’ll see terrible moments. There’s no need to pretend like nothing happened.

“There worst moment is when you have to tell your staff,” LUXr CEO Janice Fraser said in an NPR article. “You have these people who, beyond reason, have put their trust in you. And you have to look them in the eye and say, ‘I’m sorry, this isn’t going to work.’ It’s always when the money’s running out…because you keep going until the money runs out. At the end, it’s just you and one or two other people, filing papers with the state and packing up the boxes. And that is not fun.”

Failure is painful. Failure is normal. Failure is human. It’s okay if you need a few minutes to frown — there’s no need to pretend otherwise.

Survival is priority #1

Nobody becomes an entrepreneur because they expect the worst to happen —  but sometimes it just does. And when it does, you need to do more than hold your head above water. You need to adapt. You need to keep your team motivated, healthy, and pushing towards the finish line.

“In order to survive, we must dedicate the totality of ourselves to it,” wrote business owner Craig Reiss in an article for Entrepreneur. “This is very difficult to do. Concentrating on survival instead of focusing on success runs counter to the motivations and self-confidence that led us to be entrepreneurs in the first place. Yet it takes selfless dedication to strip away accommodations we’ve made to the realities we face.”

That’s right — to bounce back and fight back, we have to sometimes operate in a way that is completely counter intuitive to our instincts.

Business owner or not, what have been some of the most valuable lessons that you’ve learned from failure?

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Content marketing was one of 2012′s biggest Internet industry trends. But what exactly is it?

“Basically, content marketing is the art of communicating with your customers and prospects without selling,” according to The Content Marketing Institute. “The essence of this content strategy is the belief that if we, as businesses, deliver consistent, ongoing valuable information to buyers, they ultimately reward us with their business and loyalty.”

Content marketing is more than just writing and blogging, however. To engage users, you need to incorporate varying forms of media — writing, pictures, and most importantly, video.

Why Video Is Important

Plain and simple, video is important for marketing because consumers love it.

“Recent forecasts from Cisco Systems suggest that the number of online video consumers will double to 1.5 billion by 2015, with total online video consumption predicted to quadruple,” according to the GoAnimate blog.

According to marketing writer Sherice Jacob, people are anywhere from 64 to 85 percent more likely to make a purchase after watching a product video.

“The great thing about online video is that people vastly prefer watching over reading,” wrote Jacob in a KISSmetrics blog post. “It spans nearly every industry and every demographic.”

So where should you start? Here is some inspiration to get your strategy off the ground.

Nordstrom: Educate Your Customers

You are probably well aware that online shoe shopping is tough to do. But how do you know if you’ve found the perfect pair? How do you know if your shoes are fitting you right?

To help alleviate these common consumer pain points, the retail giant has integrated how-to videos with its core shopping experience.

By watching the company’s Boot Fit Fundamentals video, consumers can get a two-minute education in how their shoes should fit. The video is non-salesy and demonstrates a genuine customer service effort.

As a small business or startup owner, you can leverage this same technique on your own website. Passionate about your area of focus? Interested in teaching what you know to your prospects and existing customer base? Chances are, people would really value what you have to say.

Wrappled: Bring Your Products to Life

Stop using boring text and product images to sell your amazing products. The truth is that two-dimension images and 200-word text write-ups can do your brand justice.

Take Wrappled — an online marketplace for really cool gadgets, as an example.

“Instead of developing a heavy marketing strategy, the company strives to let their high-quality products speak for themselves,” wrote Renee Warren for the Onboardly blog. “It’s a technique seen on commercials and infomercials for decades, so why aren’t more companies doing it?”

Want to convert some of your product descriptions to video? Give it a go, but make sure to watch your conversion rates too.

Dropbox: Simplify Your Homepage

Here’s an exercise to try — to those of you who are familiar with Dropbox, verbally explain what it is. Now, imagine that you’re talking to somebody who is new to the Internet.

Finding yourself at a loss for words? If so, head over to the Dropbox homepage — it has a brief, informative video prepared to explain the product. In plain and simple language, the company explains their product’s core value proposition to simplify file and data sharing. Especially in the case of Dropbox, watching a video is leaps and bounds more engaging than a text-based intro.

The Full Circle: Improve Your Customer Experience

No matter your strategy, your goal should be to make the experience on your website better. Before you jump in to really try something because it’s new, ask yourself — ‘what would my customers really value?’ Your video marketing strategy should be a means to an end of answering that question.

What are some examples of great video marketing that you’ve seen or tried?

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This is a guest post by Nate Dame founder and chief strategist at SEOperks.

For many entrepreneurs, search engine optimization (SEO) is like a mysterious black box. What do you do and where do you start? What works and what doesn’t? If you’ve been given some bad advice in the past, you might also see it as a black hole – spend money on SEO and it just goes away.

SEO is not all bad. In fact there are some huge opportunities in SEO when done right. I recently spoke to a theme park designer who won a contract with a new multi-billion dollar park (billion with a “b”) in Asia as a result of the SEO work she put into her site.

Smart entrepreneurs are benefitting from SEO every day. There are proven, reliable, safe and accepted SEO practices that search engines encourage – and even look for. When you tread carefully and invest wisely, SEO can produce a considerable return.

Below are my three top recommendations for the bootstrapped entrepreneur. If you are getting an SEO campaign off the ground, you need to think about these key areas.

If your website doesn’t look trustworthy, people won’t trust it. And if real people don’t trust your sites, search engines such as Google, Bing and Yahoo won’t either.

What does this have to do with SEO? A lot, honestly. Search engines are able to measure how users react to your website in a variety of ways. If people don’t spend a long time on your website or never share your site on social media, etc., search engines take note and this will affect your rankings negatively. However, if people love your site, spend a long time on it and quickly share it with friends, you have built a strong foundation for your SEO campaign.

Not to mention, trustworthy websites tend to generate more business. Crazy, huh?

Every day I come across websites from real companies that were clearly designed in the 2000’s (or designed by somebody still stuck in the early 2000’s). You’ve seen these sites too. Dark, unfriendly color schemes. Big photo of smiling people across the banner. Cluttered, blurry logos. And the list goes on.

When we see websites like this we all make assumptions. But a trustworthy design goes beyond the overall look of the website. Is there a “trust” seal next to where I am supposed to type in my credit card? Do you proudly display the logos of your important clients and industry associations?

If you already have a website, ask customers, colleagues and friends for their honest feedback. Ask if they would be comfortable giving their credit card number to your website. Ask if the design and layout of the website instills trust and confidence in your company. If you don’t like what you hear, commit to making changes.

Tip: Social share buttons are a great way to improve your website’s trust and social value. Make it easy for users to share content on your website by adding Twitter, Facebook and other relevant social share/like buttons. Tools like ShareThis make it easy to create these buttons. But be smart about how you add them. Many sharing buttons have counters to show how many times each page has been shared. If your site doesn’t get a lot of traffic yet, you may not want to use share buttons with counters, because users will just see a whole lot of “0’s” – and that doesn’t instill a lot of confidence.

This is when a lot of eyes start to gloss over. I’m not going to go too deep here. Stay alert and let’s get going!

Simply put, your website needs to be set up in a way that it is easy for search engines to access and understand. Logical navigation and site structure… No duplicate content… Fast server response times… Optimized Robots.txt and XML Sitemap… Minimize HTML errors… Utilize ALT text, page titles and meta descriptions…

Where’s an entrepreneur to start?

If you are on a limited budget, use WordPress. The WordPress core system plus a few key SEO plugins satisfy a lot of the basic SEO requirements. It’s not a 100% turnkey solution – nothing in SEO is press-a-button-see-results (if someone tells you it is, they’re lying). But a reliable WordPress developer that understands SEO can save you a lot of headache.

If you have a simple website with a great design that you already like, and if you want to start implementing SEO tactics, it is often more cost effective to transition your existing site to WordPress than to custom build all the SEO functionality you need. But be sure your WordPress developer really knows SEO. Some developers claim to “do SEO,” when in reality all they do is install some plugins. You want a developer that can show you case studies and a proven track record of generating business from their SEO strategies.

If you do try to go it on your own, you’ll want to learn more about coding a site search engines love. A good place to start is Google’s own SEO advice.

A strong website is bursting with thought provoking content (text, images, video, etc.). As a small business owner, you should spend a lot of time putting your knowledge and experience to work for you by writing (or hiring others to write) awesome web content.

“OK” content will not cut it. “Decent” content is not enough. Your content needs to be amazing, unique, and high quality. It needs to make people think differently, question their own opinions, and ask questions.

Use Words Your Customers Will Search – When writing content for your website, use the words that your customers use. You might sell a DXJ 5000 Photo Jet Paper Writer, but if people refer to it as a “photo printer,” then write “photo printer” (and its synonyms such as “color printer”) in the product description.

Blog About Common Questions – What do you find yourself explaining again and again? What questions does every customer ask at some point in the sales cycle? What industry myths are you always dispelling? These are the topics to blog about.

When you blog, go all out. Write detailed, in-depth resources and complete industry guides. 500 words doesn’t cut it. Create resources that others in your industry can reference as a reliable source. As people share and link to your content, you will become known as a thought leader – and search engines will take notice.

Utilize Keyword Research – Keyword research takes time to get used to, but it’s not impossible to learn. If you don’t have the budget to work with a reliable SEO firm and are ready to invest more time in your SEO and content strategies, here’s a great getting started guide.

Always remember that your website must balance the needs of your viewers with the requirements of effective SEO. With the Penguin update, Google has released an “over optimization” penalty, which essentially means that if you try too hard to “optimize” your website, you could be penalized. The perfect example is keyword stuffing – using your target keyword over and over and over in your website copy. This is unnatural and could actually hurt your rankings. Instead, use your keywords naturally. Remember, search engines love websites that people love (and search engines have a lot of ways of measuring whether people love your site or not).

You can’t talk about SEO without talking about link building.

If you want your SEO efforts to pay off, you need inbound links pointing to your site. Natural, real, high-quality inbound links from relevant, trustworthy websites pointing to your site. Links are the web’s way of voting, and the more votes search engines see pointing to your site, the more traffic you will get. By most estimates, links are the most impactful single factor of SEO.

Because so many people have abused link building in the past, search engines are very sensitive to unnatural links. If your website has too many unnatural, machine-generated, spammy or purchased links point to your site, you can be penalized in a big way. Most “link building services” are selling crummy links.

Run away from anyone who promises tons of links for cheap, no matter what they promise. One good link to your website could be all you need to get off to a rockin’ good start. But bad links will sink you.

You want natural, high-quality links pointing to your site. And it’s surprisingly easy to get started.

Start out by asking your friends, colleagues, vendors and trusted clients for a link. Don’t ask them to use your target keywords in the anchor text. Ask for a link that makes sense. For example, ask if they would link to one of your blog posts from their resources page, or add your company to their testimonials page. These requests alone are well worth your time and are an easy way to build long-lasting links that search engines will notice.

Bonus: You’re invited! My next free training webinar will be all about link building: Creating Game-Changing Link Building Campaigns, Tuesday January 15 at 2pm ET. Learn more / register now.

The reality of today’s internet economy means that you must make an investment in smart search engine optimization. But there are a lot of opportunities to waste money on what people claim is SEO.

Be careful. SEO doesn’t produce results in 24 hours and nobody can guarantee #1 placement. If you are just starting out, and especially if you are doing SEO on your own, stick to these basics, and spend a lot of time over the next 6 months writing great content. The snowball will grow as it rolls down the hill. It will pay off.

About the Author

Nate Dame is founder and chief strategist at SEOperks, a boutique search engine optimization agency based in Chicago. He has led a variety of SEO campaigns including Sketchers USA and Grasshopper.com. He is also an author, speaker, trainer and consultant, as well as an avid family man and active member of multiple non-profits. When not crafting campaigns, he enjoys relaxing with his wife and two-year-old son at their home in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

Thanks to Juliana Coutinho, Matrixizationize, Lara604 and FutUndBeidl respectively for the great images.

The post SEO for Small Business: Where to Start appeared first on .

This post is part of our 10 Year Celebration. Stay tuned every month for fun posts, like this one, contests and more!

It’s hard to believe that 2013 is already here. It seems like only yesterday that the MP3 player made its debut and Napster took the world by storm. But it wasn’t yesterday — it was more than a decade ago.

Today, we’re glued to our smartphones, social media accounts, streaming video, and tablets. Information is — literally — at our fingertips 24/7. We’re able to enjoy today’s media trends because 10 years ago, some of the top tech minds decided to build some cool inventions — and those somebodies deserve big high fives.

As part of our 10th birthday we’re taking a look back at what the world looked like in 2003 when our company was founded. Here are some of the things people were talking about in 2003.

1. Facemash

In October 2003, a young college student created a photo-based social network out of his dorm room. In its first few hours online, that network attracted hundreds of visitors and tens of thousands of pageviews. The site was shut down after a few days by the college’s administration due to breach of security, copyright violations, and privacy protection issues. But the college student didn’t stop there. He kept coding and coding and ultimately launched what is now Facebook. Ten years later, that dorm room project is a public company as the Internet’s top social network, and that young programmer is now running one of the world’s most powerful businesses.

2. Flu Shot

Well not really the flu shot itself, but in 2003 we were introduced to a great alternative to the vaccine. For those of us who might be shot adverse, FluMist, a nasal spray, was approved by the FDA in June of 2003. FluMist is still available today, although it’s not recommended for everyone and costs more than the regular shot. Need a conversation starter this flu season? Throw out the fun fact that this alternative is 10 years old and the vaccine itself has been around for over 60 years!

3. The Camera Phone

Believe it or not, 2003 was the year that camera phones took off. The trend wasn’t just a fancy way to take photographs either — they sparked a new way for people to engage with each other. Time magazine suggests that this technology invention is as profound as the Internet.

“Like the Internet before them, camera phones open up a new and surprisingly spontaneous way to communicate,” wrote Anita Hamilton for Time magazine.

Today, camera phones are more than just cell phones. They’re smartphones. You can even film high definition video captures that you can instantly upload online to share with friends and family.

4. Canon’s Digital Rebel

Canon’s Digital Rebel revolutionized the world of online photography. While the DSLR has been around since 2000, the very first Canon DSLR entered the market back in 2003. It was one of the very first to enter the consumer market with an entry level price point of under $1,000. Today’s DSLRs have evolved to feature advanced functionality including touch screens and video recording.

5. Intelligent Parking Assist

Now practically standard on almost all luxury vehicles, back in 2003, Toyota introduced the initial version of the Intelligent Parking Assist System (IPAS). The technology was originally developed for the Japanese market’s hybrid Prius but was soon after introduced to the luxury Lexus models. Cars enabled with IPAS offered drivers assistance in parking their vehicle, with an in-dash screen and controls, the car parks itself with little input from the driver. It’s scary to think, but today, with Google’s driverless car, this technology seems almost dated!

6. Friendster

If you think that Facebook was the original social network, guess again. If you think MySpace was the original social network, you’re still wrong. Believe it or not, the phenomenon started with a platform called Friendster where users could share videos, photos, messages, and comments with fellow members. In 2003, Google approached Friendster with a buyout offer that was declined. Friendster is still around today as a social gaming platform with millions of registered users in Asia and Africa.

7. The Xbox

Although it was launched in 2001, 2003 brought the real buzz with the launch of Xbox Live, which redefined how people played games together online through high-speed Internet. Xbox live enabled teenagers from all over the world to trash talk each other with no boundaries. The Xbox product family dominated the market through 2005 when its successor, Xbox 360, entered the market. Hold onto your seats, there’s rumors about a new Xbox debuting later this year.

8. The Roomba

The robotic room cleaner that we know and love made its debut in 2002 and became increasingly popular over the 2003 holiday season. Over the last decade the manufacturer, iRobot has ironed out a number of kinks and introduced a range of feature updates including a scheduler, HEPA filter, recharging dock, and longer battery life. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even hack your Roomba to make it draw a Spirograph.

9. Wikipedia

It’s hard to imagine the Internet without Wikipedia. But that’s exactly what the Internet was back in 2001. Today, Wikipedia is one of the most valuable online destinations with billions of monthly pageviews. Millions of users rely on Wikipedia and fuel the project’s momentum through open collaboration. In 2003, Wikipedia was available in 46 languages. By 2004, that number had grown by about 4 times to 161. There are more than 35 million registered users today.

10. iTunes

The iPod itself debuted in 2001, but in 2003, Apple transformed the music industry with the introduction of iTunes. Today the iTunes store hosts more than just music and offers TV shows, movies, audiobooks and more. Also, with advancements in Apple’s technology, iTunes is now available on the iPad, iTouch and iPhone, in addition to the iPod.

The Full Circle

Did we miss anything big from 2003? What technologies from the past decade are you still using today?

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Running a small business is unlike most other professions in that there’s no education required and nobody there to train you during your first months on the job. This is one of the reasons so many new businesses fail in the first year, and the main factor behind the huge success of the small business coaching industry.

Before you shell out thousands for a professional consultant to come in, check yourself for these six all-too-common small business mistakes.

1. Irregular/Incomplete Bookkeeping

Many small business owners go over their books once a year, and then only because it’s tax time. This mistake puts you at a huge disadvantage because you’re never able to know how the business is doing in time to fix a problem. It’s like driving in unfamiliar territory without a map.

Potential fixes:

* Hire a bookkeeper

* Log income and expenses daily, so you do it in small chunks

* Use automated systems to help you track as much as possible

2. Not Delegating

Whether you don’t want to ask for help, or don’t quite trust your staff, chances are you’re shouldering too much of your business’ load. Remember, your job in your business is leadership. Let somebody else handle random errands and cleaning the bathroom while you focus on your bottom line.

Potential fixes:

* Practice handing small tasks off to trusted staff

* Remove any staff member you don’t trust

* Look into cleaning services, outsourced IT and similar options that could free up your time without breaking the bank

3. Lack of Business Systems

Do you “fly by the seat of your pants” most days at the office? This can sometimes feel gratifying — especially as compared to the soulless, well-oiled machine you quit when you decided to go out on your own. Unfortunately, this approach leads to wasting time by explaining things multiple times and dropped balls as things fall through the cracks.

Potential fixes:

* Create an operations manual with step-by-step instructions for everyday tasks

* Build a monthly schedule that tells when repeating tasks need to happen

* Have staff members write a one-page description of their most vital tasks

4. Letting the Technician Run Things

A majority of small businesses are technician-run, meaning they were started and are operated by somebody with a marketable skill. A family machine shop, a karate school and a lawyer’s office are examples of this kind of business. The problem with these is that being good at a marketable skill doesn’t necessarily mean you’re good at running a business.

Potential fixes:

* Find a managing partner to provide capital and business advice

* Take some business classes at the local community college

* Hire one of those small business consulting firms

5. Inadequate Marketing Plan

If you’re not marketing, it’s hard to grow and if you’re not marketing right, you may as well not be marketing. This mistake is often a symptom of number 4, above, because technicians don’t usually know the best ways to market a product.

Potential fixes:

* Do solid market research to determine who most needs to know about what you do

* Experiment with social media, text message campaigns and direct mail marketing

* Hire a marketing consultant to get you started

6. Growing Too Fast

One of the quickest ways to kill a business is to get everybody in town to visit when you’re not ready for them. This is because everyone who shows up will judge you based on how you did that day — not on how you do when you’re not overwhelmed. Growth is good, but only when you’re ready to capitalize on the opportunities it represents.

Potential fixes:

* Plan expansion as part of your strategic and marketing plan.

* Create a second business plan for each new phase of your company’s development.

If you resemble any of the above remarks, don’t worry. Recognizing the problem is your first step toward fixing it.

What other small business management mistakes have you seen?

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The New Year is officially here, and with it comes New Year’s resolutions. By now, you probably have your market and performance goals for your business well-defined, but consider these seven meta-goals to help you reach those other benchmarks.

1. Delegate One Task Each Day

While planning your work each day this year, choose one task to assign to an employee or assistant. Most business owners fail miserably when identifying what they can and should delegate. This practice will help you learn.

2. Jettison 20% of Your Mass

Consider this weight loss for your business. Whether it’s furniture you don’t use, stock you can’t move, junk in the back room or an entire department, figure that roughly 20 percent of the stuff in your office is unnecessary and costs you money each day. Lose it.

3. Automate One System Each Month

There are no shortages of activities that can stand to be automated. Bill paying services, hiring a cleaning company and finding the perfect app are just three examples of this. At the end of the year, you’ll have twelve tasks you no longer have to think about, other than to read the email confirming it’s finished.

4. Run a Marketing Mile

There are 5,280 feet in a mile. This year, perform 5,280 acts of marketing — just under 15 a day. Record them in a journal and note how they worked from time to time. Examples include sending an SMS broadcast, calling a lapsed customer, and giving a business card to somebody you meet at the 7-11.

5. Commit to 365 Hours of Self-Time

Make time to rest and refresh every day. If one day is too busy, pay yourself back by taking two hours another day that week. Get enough sleep. Go to a movie. Spend time with your family. Exercise. The time will pay you back in dividends of energy, creativity and drive.

6. Run Your Numbers Every Night

Commit to looking at the key marketing, income and expense statistics for your company every single night, both alone and in context of historical performance. This should only take ten minutes a day, but has two enormous advantages. It keeps your books up-to-date, and it gives you up-to-the-minute updates you can use to make better decisions for your business.

7. Get Education Every Week

Every single week, learn something new and relevant you can apply to your business. Listen to a podcast, read a blog, read a book, attend a conference, go to a chamber of commerce presentation, subscribe to a magazine. Bonus points for talking about what you learned with a trusted friend or other business owner.

What goals did we miss? What are your top goals for 2013?

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10 years ago, our co-founders David Hauser and Siamak Taghaddos met as undergrads studying at Babson College. Their business partnership blossomed nearly overnight and together they developed the beginning of what is today known as Grasshopper, the Entrepreneur’s Phone System.

Over the past 10 years we’ve successfully petitioned President Obama to declare National Entrepreneurs Day and created an anthem for all the ‘New Dorks’ out there. We’ve inspired entrepreneurs to change the world and we’ve paid tribute to the woman pioneers and visionaries that have got us where we are today. Oh, and we’ve even poked fun at ourselves with our Sh*t Entrepreneurs Say video.

Throughout these years we’ve transformed our product, logo and even our name, but it’s our core values, brand promise and our commitment to empowering entrepreneurs that has held true over the past decade.

We’re committed to fulfilling our brand promise of being Ridiculously Professional, Extraordinarily Connected, Entrepreneurially Generous and Radically Easy. And we do this through exuding these fundamental core values:

Go above and Beyond – We strive to exceed the expectations of the people we work with and the entrepreneurs we serve.

Always Entrepreneurial – Being an entrepreneur means taking the initiative to find new and innovative solutions to daily challenges

Radically Passionate – Passion fuels our lives and ultimately paves the way to greatness. We create, evaluate, and innovate with pride and enthusiasm reinforcing our position as company ambassadors.

Your Team – Successful teamwork requires listening, sharing and keeping an open mind. Teamwork is achieved by leveraging individual strengths and overcoming differences to produce the optimal results.

What can you look forward to?

This year we’re excited to celebrate our 10 year anniversary. We’re so proud of the product that we’ve created and the service that we’ve delivered for the past decade.

Throughout the year we’ll be celebrating our birthday like any 10 year old would do – lots of exciting prizes, giveaways and parties! You can look forward to some great content on our blog with posts highlighting a look at how Grasshopper has evolved, lessons learned, and other secrets from a 10 year old company, as well as some throw back post reflecting on the past 10 years of technology, pop culture and sports.

We hope that you’ll join us throughout the year in celebrating this momentous occasion. Thank you for making these 10 years nothing short of amazing, we’re excited for what the next 10 have in store!

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Crowdsourcing king Kickstarter.com might not be the best bet for aspiring entrepreneurs to raise funds.

You’ve got a great, unique idea for a product and know that somewhere, there is a need. You must raise money quickly for surgery bills insurance does not cover. Maybe you lack the cash required to get that one-of-a-kind film into production.

Ordinary folks and entrepreneurs alike are flocking to crowdfunding sites to try and raise money and generate the interest that will bring their projects to life. With hard work, ingenuity, and help from crowdsourcing companies, people are donating – or not — to help decide which projects come to fruition.

All crowdfunding sites operate on a similar model. A person/group submits a project idea, complete with a written description, funding needed, deadline for donations, and pictures or a video. If accepted, they create a project webpage that is listed on the crowdfunding site. By being a part of the site’s integrated social media network, the product creator also gets back-end support. Additionally, they receive not only money, but interest, word-of-mouth advertising, and even technical assistance from their backers.

Backers, on the other hand, receive varying rewards. Sometimes they get a small gift for their financial support; other times an advisory board position; and often, just the satisfaction of knowing they helped a good cause get off the ground.

Kickstarter.com might be the most recognized name in the crowdfunding world, but it’s not the only player.  In addition to providing you with the “who, what, how,” for 6 Kickstarter competitors, we spoke with each founder personally and asked them to share their advice about selecting the right crowdfunding site for your venture.

1. Circleup.com

How it Works:  CircleUp is an online social marketplace that helps high growth small consumer and retail companies raise money directly from a community of accredited individual and institutional investors. Investors are able to review financial and marketing materials for a select group of consumer/retail companies and have the opportunity to make equity investments directly through the CircleUp’s website.

Who it Serves:

1. Retail/consumer companies (food, personal care, pet products, apparel) and retail/restaurants with a tangible good; or a retail outlet that a person can touch, taste, use, or visit. Companies served typically have $1-10 million in revenue in the current year, a track record of success, and strong leadership teams. Only a small percentage of companies applying get accepted to the site.

2. Accredited investors receive access to private investment deals that previously were difficult to find.

What it Costs: No fee to join or to make an investment.  Companies pay CircleUp a percentage of the capital raised from the online campaign.

Who’s in Charge: Ryan Caldbeck, founder and CEO; Rory Eakin, founder and COO

Advice: Make sure you have a strong understanding of the crowd funding platform’s investor base.

First CircleUp Venture: 18 Rabbits, a manufacturer and distributor of granola and granola bars made from clean, premium ingredients, raised $500,000 on CircleUp.  The bars are the bridge between health and a treat and are now available at retailers from San Francisco to NYC.

Bragging Rights: Prosperity Organic Foods, manufacturers of Rich & Creamy Melt® Organic butter alternative, raised a $1,000,000 investment round to help expand operations, and recently received an order for national distribution in Whole Foods.

2. GoFundMe.com

How it Works: A user signs up, creates a crowdfunding website with photos and video, and shares the link with friends and family. Organizers are encouraged to treat supporters as a part of their story by posting Update messages and sending thank-you notes using the site’s features.

Who it Serves: Anyone

What it Costs: Five percent of each donation

Who’s in Charge: Co-founders Brad Damphousse and Andrew Ballester

Advice: Entrepreneurs already have their hands full with their own projects – crowdfunding shouldn’t be an added burden.

First GoFundMe Venture: America’s Tallest Man, Igor Vovkovinskiy, raised over $46,000.00 for custom shoes to aid his mobility.

Bragging Rights: Clint’s Hotdog Cart, a local street vendor in Lansing, MI had his equipment destroyed by rowdy protestors. Americans are standing-up for this small business owner, raising over $30,000.00 in just over day.

3. TechMoola.com

How it Works: Inventors and entrepreneurs sign up for a TechMoola Inventor account and then complete a questionnaire about their idea/invention.  The TechMoola team reviews all questionnaires and if the project is accepted, the inventor provides campaign details including funding needs and deadlines. TechMoola also provides support to help get publicity across multiple web platforms.

Who it Serves: Projects involving energy, medical, webtech, software, electronic, communications, computer hardware, and sports/games.

What it Costs: Ten percent of raised funds for successful projects.

Who’s in Charge: Cofounders Solomon Nabatiyan and Tom Kelly

Advice: Choose a crowdfunding site with good traffic and the right target audience for your project. If there is a specialized crowdfunding site for your type of project, then you are better off with niche attention.

First TechMoola Venture: Airmote & Airnect raised $20,000 of its $25,000 goal to fund production of its gesture-based mouse with an integrated keyboard.

Bragging Rights: Cervia Diagnostic is a social entrepreneurship company that is devoted to developing a new low-cost, rapid & accurate point-of-care diagnostic for screening of cervical cancer in women of all ages at risk for the disease.

4. RocketHub.com

How it Works: Users post their project using various social media on the platform. They set their own funding goal and timeframe, and explain what they will give (goods or services) in exchange for funds.

Who it Serves: Art, science, business and social good projects

What it Costs: If goals are met, 4 percent commission, plus 4 percent credit card handling fee. If goals are not met, 8 percent commission, plus 4 percent credit card handling fee.

Who’s in Charge: Founder, Brian Meece

Advice: Pick a platform that excites you, that will support your endeavor, and will educate you on how to maximize your success with the crowdfunding model.

First RocketHub Venture: Laura Boyd Studio raised about $6,000 to launch her photography business.

Bragging Rights: Andy Krafsur raised $42,000 to launch Spira, a new line of spring powered shoes. Spira was subsequently featured in the Wall Street Journal and quickly became the 9th most searched for running shoe on the Internet.

5. RockThePost.com

How it Works: The project creator produces a draft on Rockthepost.com complete with 3 components: a short video, a personal profile with images, and a reward list. Each draft is reviewed by RockThePost’s editorial and video teams so that they are optimized for success. All ideas are welcome, but projects must have a tangible end goal.

Who it Serves: Any small business owners or entrepreneurs are welcome to create a campaign.

What it Costs: 5% fee of amount raised; 2.9% credit card processing fee; 4% flat fee for philanthropies.

Who’s in Charge: Alejandro Cremades, CEO, Tanya Prive, COO and Jonathan Block, CTO

Advice: Do your research. Each crowdfunding platform is focused on a specific group of projects, and it’s important to find the platform that fits your project.

First RockThePost Venture: Villy Custom Bicycles ran a campaign to crowd test its new line of glow in the dark bicycles before they were manufactured and successfully raised just over $10,000 in two weeks.

Bragging Rights: Abracadabrapp, launched by the Honest & Smile agency in Spain, partnered with Moleskine® to create a unique iPhone video application. They were successfully funded within a week and have been featured on Tech Crunch, PSFK and more.

6. Fundable.com

How it Works: Fundable is a platform for business-minded startups, founded by startup veterans. Companies exchange rewards and equity for funding to grow and launch their business.

For a rewards fundraise, startups create a profile providing a company and project overview, fundraising goals, and perks they are willing to provide potential backers. Backers can offer support in the form of cash pledges and receive rewards in exchange.  Rewards can be anything from a pre-order of a new product, to a T-shirt or advisory board position.

For an equity fundraise, startups create a public profile providing a company overview as well as a private profile housing their business documents and deal terms. They can then grant access to accredited investors to review their private profile. Once access is granted by the startup, investors can review the company’s deal terms and make a commitment to invest.

Who it Serves: Business-minded startups looking for early stage capital.

What it Costs: $99 per month during active fundraising; plus 3.5% credit card fee of amount raised (if fundraising goals are met)

Who’s in Charge: Wil Schroter, founder, CEO; Eric Corl, co-founder, president

Advice: Spend time assessing what you’d like to get out of a crowdfund and instead, thoroughly research a platform that meets your needs, and offers you guidance and support throughout the funding process. Also, it’s important to realize that crowdfunding isn’t a magical source of money. Even the most  passionate and hardworking entrepreneurs need support during their fundraise.

First Fundable Venture:

Elevation Training Mask surpassed their fundraise goal in 72 hours. The training masks mimic the effects of high altitudes for athletes who want to improve their endurance and performance.

Bragging Rights:

Fleksy, an app which improves iPhone typing accuracy, closed a $900,000 round to support further product development. Fleksy has been featured in Tech Crunch, Venture Beat, Fast Company among others.

7. Indiegogo.com

How it Works: Each project creator sets up a page to address the “who, what, where, when and why.”  Users are encouraged to add video, a personal storyline, plus perks for funders to make the campaign compelling.

Who it Serves: Anyone can use Indiegogo to raise funds for any idea or project, which are categorized into three areas: creative, cause-related and entrepreneurial campaigns. No application required.

What it Costs: Free to join. Fixed and flexible funding options available:

• For fixed, Indiegogo takes a 4% fee of the money raised, but only if the goal is reached. No fees are taken if the funding goal is not met.
• For flexible, Indiegogo takes a 4% fee if the goal is reached. If the goal is not met, Indiegogo takes 9%, but the campaign owner keeps what they’ve raised.

Who’s in Charge: Co-founders include Slava Rubin, Danae Ringelmann and Eric Schell.

Advice: Fund your passion.

First Indiegogo Venture:

In its pre-launch phase, IndieGoGo sought developmental feedback from a wide range of filmmakers and industry leaders. FLOW: FOR LOVE OF WATER, directed by Irena Salina and produced by Steven Starr, was selected by IndieGoGo to be its first Showcase project and was subsequently selected to World Premiere in competition at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival.

Bragging Rights:

Before 10 year old Jackie Evancho dazzled audiences on America’s Got Talent, she and her mom used IndieGogo to help power her star performance by raising money to produce her second album.

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Well, it’s that time of year again. Even if you don’t make a list of New Year’s resolutions, chances are between now and December 31st, you’ll reflect on the highs and lows of the last 12 months and you’ll think about how 2013 will be better or at least different.

Whether your goal-setting style is deliberate or helter skelter, achieving your goals next year will involve a clear definition upfront and regularly reviewing and tracking them throughout the year.

We know what you’re thinking! “Hey, is there an app for all of this?” We’re glad you asked.

It turns out a few techies accomplished their goals and developed  goal setting apps to help you achieve yours.  Take a look at these 5 apps to increase your odds of setting and reaching your goals in 2013.

1. Objectiveli

Objectiveli prides itself in helping users manage goals and objectives in real-time. Instead of managing a “things to do” list, Objectiveli’s three components (goals, objectives and milestones) help you drive outcomes that matter most to you.

Unique Features: Sharing with team members, easy-to-use web-based program, ability to view goals in list, hierarchy or map formats, add files/attachments.

Price: Free

Mobile Support: Mobile web version

2. Lifetick

Lifetick integrates personal core values into goal setting.  The founders of this app believe identifying your core values – the areas that define who you are – help you understand why a goal is important to you personally.  After considering your core values, Lifetick helps you relate each of your goals to a core value and assigning a priority level (high, medium, low).

Unique Features: Integrated calendar function, colorful and very usable interface, customizable status dashboard, charts and reporting.

Price: Free version, full version is $20 per year

Mobile Support: iOS, Android & Palm web app

3. GoalsOnTrack

GoalsOnTrack bills itself as a goals management and personal achievement software. Unlike most other apps in this list, GoalsOnTrack provides a very detailed form to help you set SMART goals; goals that are specific, manageable, attainable, relevant and time-bound.

Unique Features: Attach motivational images to each goal, sample goal templates with detailed and customizable action plans, data synching with your favorite calendar tool, such as Outlook or Google Calendar and 3D charts.

Price: $68 per year, 60-day money back

Mobile Support: Supports all major smart phone platforms: iPhones, Android, BlackBerry, and Windows Phone 7, etc.

4. 42Goals

42Goals is a simple tool for tracking daily goals and logging daily activities. Instead of thinking, counting and remembering what you did, 42Goals helps you spend all that time planning and working towards your goals.

Unique Features: Icons to customize tracking, templates for one-click goal setting, stopwatch/timer (premium version).

Price: Free or Premium version is $5 a month

Mobile Support: Mobile web version

5. StickK

StickK is backed by academic research (Yale) and is based on two well known principles of behavioral economics. 1. People don’t always do what they claim they want to do and 2. Incentives get people to do things.  By engaging users in creating “commitment contracts,” StickK motivates users to achieve their goals.

Unique Features: Designate a referee to monitor progress and confirm achievements, optional stakes (money you’re willing to risk and where you want the money to go), should you fail, specify supporters to post encouraging messages in your Commitment journal.

Price: Free, unless add a stake to your commitment(s)

Mobile Support: Mobile web version

So with only a few days left until the ball drops, how do you plan to reach your goals in 2013? What’s your secret goal-achieving weapon?

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Happy holidays and best wishes in the New Year from all of us here at Grasshopper!

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Love data? If so, you’re probably familiar with basics like pageviews, impressions, bounce rates, and shares. As interesting as these metrics are to watch, are they essential to your business?

“Vanity metrics are things like registered users, downloads, and raw pageviews,” Erick Schonfeld wrote in a TechCrunch article. “They are easily manipulated, and do not necessarily correlate to the numbers that really matter: active users, engagement, the cost of getting new customers, and ultimately revenues and profits.”

The metrics you follow should have a tangible impact on your bottom line. Data should help you make judgment calls, improve efficiency, and grow as steadily as possible.

“It is important for startups to properly instrument the data they track so that they can get a handle on the true health of their business,” Schonfeld wrote. “If they track only the vanity metrics, they can get a false sense of success.”

So what metrics should you be watching? Here are five to help you get started.

1. Churn Rate

New customer acquisition is expensive. Between advertising costs and training programs, businesses typically make substantial investments in building new relationships. The last thing that you want is to lose people — to streamline costs, your goal should be to keep connections strong for as long as possible. That’s where customer churn rates come in.

According to Steve H. Noble at the Shopify Blog, a churn rate is “the measurement of the likelihood of your customer to become an ex-customer.”

As a business, your goal should be to keep this number as low as possible. You want a customer base that’s as strong, steady, and dedicated to your brand as possible.

2. Cost of Acquisition

Are you spending too much on acquiring new customers? How far are your branding dollars taking you? What are your new customers worth?

“In simple terms, add up the cost of marketing and sales — including salaries and overhead — and divide by the number of customers you land during a specific time frame,” Jeff Haden wrote in an Inc article.

The cost of acquisition should be substantially lower than your business’s revenue yield. Keep watch on these numbers to make sure that your marketing efforts are running as efficiently as possible.

3. Long-Term Customer Value

How much are your long-term customers worth? Do they buy more up front, or do they save their expenditures for later? Do they recommend your company to fellow businesses or friends, and are they actively sharing your content?

Knowing how much a customer is worth will help you better understand how much you should spend to acquire more. By thinking in terms of how much value customers provide from their purchases and their advocacy for your business, you may find new reasons to invest a few extra dollars in that marketing campaign you’ve been questioning.

4. Goal Completion Rates

Why aren’t people completing transactions? Are they backing out, or are they confused with your website? Answering these questions are invaluable for boosting your website’s conversions.

According to a recent infographic by Milo Local Shopping, 67% of shopping carts are abandoned right before a transaction is completed. If you find that customers are wary of shipping fees, for instance, you may want to promote a coupon or discount to convince visitors to complete their purchases.

5. Depth of Engagement

How long are people spending on your site, and how much do they browse?

“Visitor engagement is important because of the potential business gains from providing customers with an engaging on-site experience,” AJ Kumar wrote in a recent Entrepreneur article.

Make sure to pay attention to the time that visitors are spending on your site as well as how many pages they’re browsing through.

Final Thoughts

Get creative. Data analysis is a discipline where art meets science, so create your own conversion-driven metrics to monitor.

What have been some of the most important metrics for your business?

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What do you know about your website’s visitors? Where do they come from? What are their key preferences? What is your website doing well, and where is it missing the mark? The answers to these questions are crucial for your business and have the potential to save you time and money.

Small business owners, entrepreneurs, and marketers all share a major challenge in creating high-tech products that their customers genuinely enjoy. Assumptions, however, can only take you so far.

“When designing a website, it’s easy to assume that everybody is like you,” said the UX Myths Blog.” However, this leads to a strong bias and often ends in an inefficient design. You evidently know a lot about your services and you’re website; you’re passionate about them. Your users, on the other hand, are likely to not care that much.”

What users ultimately want are easy-to-use resources that help them accomplish basic tasks. In your mind, you may be creating an innovative, revolutionary, and cutting-edge product. Is it likely that your customers feel this way? Not so much.

“They have different attitudes and goals, and just want to get things done on your website,” according to UX Myths.

To figure out what your customers want, you need the right tools. Here are four to help you get started:

1. UserTesting

Historically, the process of conducting usability research has been expensive and resource intensive.

“Traditional usability testing involves recruiting users, hiring a moderator, and renting a facility where users perform website tasks while being videotaped,” UserTesting Founder and CEO Darrell Benatar said in the Official Google Enterprise Blog.

This inefficiency inspired the business behind UserTesting.com, a platform that provides marketers, product designers, and business owners with recordings of people using their websites.

“Everyone talks about how important usability testing is, but 99 percent of website owners have never done it,” Benatar said. “We started UserTesting…to make it so fast and easy that no one would have an excuse not to do it.”

This service comes with a variety of options for website and app designers. Both enterprise and self-serve options are available for web-based and mobile testing solutions.

2. CrazyEgg Heatmaps

Are your website visitors clicking in the places that are most conducive to sales? Unless you run a website heatmap, you may never know the answer.

“A heatmap is an easy way to understand what users do on your site,” heatmap tool provider CrazyEgg said on its company homepage. “It’s a visual representation showing you where users click and what they do.”

The goal of a heatmap is to help businesses read between the lines to increase conversions and sales. Compare where and how users are actually scrolling and clicking to where and how they should be scrolling and clicking.

As with usability research, heatmaps have historically been expensive and out of reach for the majority of entrepreneurs and small business owners. CrazyEgg has developed an inexpensive tool to fill that gap.

3. Facebook Insights

Facebook is a goldmine for demographic data. Are you making the most of the social media resources and data points available to your business?

If you have a company Facebook page, you have access to Facebook’s free Insights tool that tells you who your fans are, where they come from, and how they are engaging with your content. You can use this information to better understand who your customers are and what peaks their interests.

Keep in mind that your Facebook fans are only a portion of your overall customer base — you can’t assume that trends among your Facebook fans will be identical to trends on your website. You can, however, leverage Facebook Insights to pinpoint general trends.

If you’re having doubts about your website design or new product feature, for instance, your Facebook community is a place to turn. Have a question? Post it as a status update, and see what responses you get.

4. UserVoice

To collect user feedback, you need expensive market research tools or a dedicated support team, right? Shouldn’t you also be a large enterprise? Otherwise, it’s just not worth it, is it? Wrong, wrong, and wrong. UserVoice is a low-cost platform that provides all-in-one feedback management.

“According to Richard White, Founder and CEO of UserVoice, the startup’s products like UserVoice Feedback, a hosted tool for gathering and prioritizing product ideas directly from a company’s customers and Helpdesk, an easy-to-use ticketing system that lets companies solve more customer service problems in less time, have led to 75,000 signups and 40 million user interactions,” Rip Empson wrote in a TechCrunch article last November.

What are your customer’s biggest pain points? By collecting consistent feedback, you’ll be able to answer that question.

Most Importantly

When researching your users, focus on your company’s most important business objectives, including sales and conversions. What problems are stopping people from buying? Would your customers recommend your product to a friend?

What are some of the most important lessons you’ve learned from customer research, and what advice would you share with fellow researchers, website administrators, and business owners?

The post Feedback Between the Lines: Creative Ways to Research Your Visitors appeared first on .

This is a guest post by Charlie Tribbett and Larry Baker, co-founders of Bolstr.

Have you ever considered crowdfunding investment capital to grow your business? You may be thinking, “But, I thought that was only legal for creative projects looking for donations?”

Sure, that used to be the case but it’s about to change in a big way. Crowdfunding has traditionally been a vehicle for individuals to pool money to fund creative projects with a social mission in mind. Over the last several years, this has proven to be a powerful method of fundraising. In fact, some donation platforms have already facilitated the raise of over $300 million.

Despite the success of crowdfunding, it has been largely inaccessible to businesses looking to raise capital from investors. It also typically consists of very low dollar amounts. Kickstarter is the largest donation based crowdfunding platform, yet 80% of successful campaigns on Kickstarter are below $10,000.

The good news is that the passage of the JOBS Act will create some very exciting opportunities. This new legislation will allow businesses to raise money by crowdfunding investment capital from people across the country. In effect, this gives individuals the opportunity to make actual investments in real businesses (i.e. the ability to earn a financial return), as opposed to crowdfunding donations for projects in exchange for perks. We believe that this new opportunity will drastically increase the amount of money small businesses are capable of sourcing and revolutionize the way in which small businesses access capital.

Unfortunately, it’s going to take a while before the SEC is able to write the specific rules around this game changing legislation. That being said there are a handful of innovative entrepreneurs who have figured out a way to bring crowdfund investing to small businesses today. We would categorize these platforms into three main groups: donation platforms, broker dealer platforms, and other investment platforms that have figured out a way to operate ahead of the change in legislation.

Donation based platforms like Kickstarter, and Indiegogo have been very successful in helping creative projects access the capital needed to get their projects funded. Though they traditionally have been focused on artists, the new crowdfunding legislation may change that for folks looking to rally large numbers of people around their business or idea. Kickstarter appears to be uninterested in participating in this new investment regime, however it looks like Indiegogo and a few others are coming up with models that will address this new opportunity with a focus on startups and small businesses.

The second category of platforms represent a group that has chosen to register their platform as a broker dealer or to partner with a registered broker dealer in order to help businesses crowdfund investments from accredited (wealthy) investors.  With the broker dealer affiliation comes many restrictions that inhibit the ability for these platforms to offer a true crowdfunding experience. For example these platforms only allow accredited investors to participate (accounting for less than 2% of the American population), and most focus on larger businesses looking to raise $100,000+. One such platform is CircleUp, which has been effective in helping medium sized consumer businesses raise investment capital from angel investors across the country.

Finally, there are a couple investment based crowdfunding platforms that are in operation today ahead of the JOBS Act implementation. These platforms enable investment crowdfunding for small businesses and include non-accredited and accredited investors. At Bolstr we have built such a model through forming a new marketplace where individuals and patrons can invest in, and support local small businesses in their neighborhoods. We believe that small businesses deserve access to capital for operations and growth. Community investment not only gives a small business access to capital, but it also creates an army of local supporters financially motivated to spread the word and promote the business throughout the community.

Whether you are an artist looking to fund a project, a startup looking to source capital from angel investors, or a small business looking to invest in your businesses growth, there is a crowdfunding solution in operation today that can help you reach your goals.

Bolstr is the first investment based crowdfunding platform that helps entrepreneurs raise capital from people in your network and community, and easily comply with the regulatory system as it stands today.

The post Crowdfunding is Here Today and It’s Perfect for Your Business appeared first on .

As 2012 comes to an end and the holidays (hopefully) provide some time to relax and reflect, it’s also the perfect time to think ahead, set goals and make changes.  No matter which format you prefer (e.g. hardcover, paperback or e-book), take a look at our list of notable books published in 2012 that we believe are worth the read.

Amp Your Ask – 7 Scripts to Get Big Names to Say Yes to You Author: Erin Giles

Synopsis: This is an eBook for entrepreneurs and change makers who have big asks to make via email and don’t know what to say or where to start. Capitalizing on her experience raising $10,000 in just 29 days for a philanthropic initiative she founded, Giles shares her secrets on how to grow a business quickly by making the right connections.

What You’ll Learn: Never again will you be at a loss for words.  Amp Your Ask includes seven copy and paste-able email scripts you can use to catch the attention of the “big guys” in any industry.  Use these scripts to land interviews with high profile big shots, raise money, secure major media coverage and more.

Ideal For: Small biz owners eager to connect with influential people.

She Takes On the World Author: Natalie MacNeil

Synopsis: Packed with powerful business and life lessons plus real-life confessions from successful women entrepreneurs, She Takes On the World provides the perfect balance of inspiration and practical business strategies.

What You’ll Learn: As the title suggests, this book teaches women how to take the world by storm. Learn how to design your personal MAP (Master Action Plan) to help you combine your passion with purpose.  Get ready to accomplish amazing things in your business and personal life.

Ideal For: Women ready to leave their mark on the world.

Breakthrough Branding: How Smart Entrepreneurs and Intrapreneurs Transform a Small Idea into a Big Brand Author: Catherine Kaputa

Synopsis: Successful companies of all shapes and sizes begin with three things: an entrepreneur, a winning idea and a brand strategy.  Branding expert, Catherine Kaputa, shares dozens of brand histories (e.g. Twitter, Red Bull, Groupon, etc.) to demonstrate what makes a brand thrive.

What You’ll Learn: Kaputa provides step-by-step exercises plus cutting edge social media and marketing techniques to help you transform your small idea into a big brand

Ideal For: Entrepreneurs interested in growing a brand, not just a company.

For Better or For Work: A Survival Guide for Entrepreneurs and Their Families Author: Meg Cadoux Hirshberg

Synopsis: Can entrepreneurs balance work and family life? Author Meg Cadoux Hirshberg, wife of Stonyfield Yogurt cofounder Gary Hirshberg, examines the impact of the entrepreneurial life on families and personal relationships.

What You’ll Learn: One word: survival. For Better or For Work will remind you that the long hours and late nights spent on your business or with the family are worth the effort, and will give you the tools for making both endeavors successful.

Ideal For: Workaholics who need to be pried away from the office.

The Startup Game: Inside the Partnership between Venture Capitalists and Entrepreneurs Author: William Draper

Synopsis: With more than 40 years of experience working in Silicon Valley, Bill Draper provides an inside look at how the world of venture capital and entrepreneurship works.  Draper’s personal stories detail a life of meaning and impact that spans venture capital, public service, and philanthropy.

What You’ll Learn: Whether you’ve experienced the highs and lows of Silicon Valley personally or just want to learn from those who have, you will learn the inner workings of the venture capital industry.

Ideal For: Anyone who wants to be the next big thing in Silicon Valley.

The Startup Owner’s Manual: The Step-By-Step Guide for Building a Great Company Author: Steve Blank

Synopsis: Simply put, this handy manual is the greatest encyclopedia for startups.  It has become the “go-to” resource for thousands of startups plus leading universities such as Stanford, U.C. Berkeley and Columbia.

What You’ll Learn: Brace yourself to learn the best practices, lessons and tips that have swept the startup world. The Startup Owner’s Manual guides you through tested and proven methods including Blank’s own Customer Development process used by startups to jumpstart success.

Ideal For: Startup newbies and veterans trying to crack the success code.

Heart, Smarts, Guts, and Luck: What It Takes to Be an Entrepreneur and Build a Great Business Authors: Anthony Tjan, Richard Harrington and Tsun-Yan Hsieh

Synopsis: What do all high-achieving entrepreneurs have in common? CEO advisors, venture capitalists and authors Tjan, Harrington, and Hsieh reveal the traits of those who “make it.” What are they? Heart, smarts, guts and luck.

What You’ll Learn: After you complete the very first Entrepreneurial Aptitude Test (E.A.T), you’ll learn which trait(s) drives you. Though no single profile for entrepreneurial success exists, this book will help you understand which attributes to “dial up” or “dial down” to realize your full potential.

Ideal For: Founders ready to learn what makes them tick.

The E-Factor: Entrepreneurship in the Social Media Age Authors: Adrie Reinders and Marion Freijsen

Synopsis: The founders of the largest online community (800,000+) for entrepreneurs in the world, efactor.com, shed light on how to use social media effectively to engage with current and potential customers.

What You’ll Learn: Reading this book will help you master and launch a powerful social media strategy. Take note of the 10 highly effective habits of social networking outlined in the book including; how to develop win-win relationships with online users, create customized campaigns for each social media channel and measure your success

Ideal For: Entrepreneurs prepared to go beyond the tried and true.

The Kickstarter Handbook: Real-Life Success Stories of Artists, Inventors, and Entrepreneurs Author: Don Steinberg

Synopsis: Business journalist Don Steinberg interviewed dozens of artists and inventors who launched their ideas and projects via Kickstarter.com – the phenomenal “crowdfunding” website launched in 2009 that brings venture capital to the masses.  Through their voices, you’ll explore the strategies of a successful Kickstarter campaign.

What You’ll Learn: The Kickstarter Handbook is an easy-to-read reference that will help anyone gain a fairly deep understanding of the world of crowdfunding.  For those eager to get started, discover the elements of a compelling Kickstarter video, innovative ways to market your project and how to get donors onboard.  You’ll also discover what to do in a best-case scenario—when your project goes viral and the cash starts flowing in.

Ideal For: Innovators who don’t mind getting a little help from their friends.

The 4 Essentials of Entrepreneurial Thinking: What Successful People Didn’t Learn in School Author: Cliff Michaels

Synopsis: Drawing on classic mentors from da Vinci and Mozart to modern moguls like Oprah and Branson, Michaels seamlessly blends timeless wisdom and new ideas.

What You’ll Learn: Michaels emphasizes that everyone needs an MBA (“Master in Basic Abilities”) to get the most out of their life and business. He also shares his dynamic system of timeless lessons anyone can follow, including rare insights from his own Diary of a Dotcom.

Ideal For: Entrepreneurs interested in benefiting from a real-life MBA.

Making Good: Finding Meaning, Money and Community in a Changing World Authors: Dev Aujla and Bill Parish

Synopsis: Is there a way to make a difference in this world and earn money at the same time? The authors of Making Good believe making money and affecting positive change are not mutually exclusive–in fact, they are very much connected. With real-life success stories and practical advice and exercises, Making Good outlines how to find opportunities to effect change and make money.

What You’ll Learn: Making Good maps out step-by-step, how you can achieve financial autonomy, capitalize on global changes to infrastructure, and learn from everyday success stories–providing the skills and insights needed to succeed while building careers and lives of consequence.

Ideal For: Change makers motivated to make the world a better place.

If you’ve read one of these books, then please share your big “aha” moment – the flash of inspiration or the invaluable lesson you will embrace in 2013.  If you recently read a book (not on this list), that changed how you conduct business or how you work, then please share it with us.

The post 11 Must-Read Books for Entrepreneurs appeared first on .

It would be great to be a startup with a business plan and $50 million in venture capital. Though they certainly make for inspirational headlines, the truth is, those Cinderella stories are few and far between. Most small businesses build capital the slow and steady way: one dollar at a time.

The startup phase can be the most challenging time to save, with so many new costs and so little revenue coming in. Fortunately, generations of resourceful entrepreneurs have proven that the challenge is surmountable — for those with the power to pinch their pennies.

Here are four money saving tips that have worked for successful business owners as they get their startups off the ground:

1. Reuse Shipping Materials

It sounds unnecessarily miserly, but as Gwen Moran writes for Entrepreneur.com, the proof was in the numbers for one Arizona-based entrepreneur.

“Even though his online garden supply retail business, Growers House, skyrocketed to $2 million in revenue in its first nine months,” Moran says, “founder Nate Lipton only spent $300 on shipping supplies.”

Now that’s “being green” in more ways than one.

2. Don’t Buy a Desk

“Not long after some entrepreneurs achieve their first business successes, they improve their workspace,” write Jon Burgstone and Bill Murphy Jr. for Inc.com. Not advisable, they say. In fact, investing in a fancy office can hinder your instinct to be an active, in-the-field business owner.

Burgstone and Murphy cite the case of Boston Beer Co. founder Jim Koch who worked out of his car for years. “I couldn’t make beer in an office,” Koch says. “I couldn’t sell beer in an office, so I didn’t need a desk. If I had to go sit somewhere it would be in a bar. It would be with the customers.”

3. Take Advantage of Freemium Services

Starting new means you need new services. You’ll need a website and marketing and accounting and credit card processing and software, just to name a few. Overwhelmed yet?

Don’t be, says Lauren Hockenson on Mashable Business. While you certainly can pay for these from the get-go, a lot of small business services have “freemium” pricing packages aimed at frugal startups. That is, they’ll give you their services for free.

“A classic example is newsletter platform MailChimp,” Hockenson writes, “which is free for a few subscribers, but as your userbase — and business — grows, so does the cost, increasing incrementally according to your number of subscribers.”

With some shopping around and reading of the fine print, she says, an incredible suite of services can be found to help jumpstart your business at little to no cost.

4. Cross-Train Employees

One busy, multi-talented employee costs a lot less than three specialists. And those savings continue as you add more cross-trained staff with your startup’s development, explains Burgstone and Murphy.

“After Jeff Platt began to train employees to fill multiple roles at his Sky Zone Indoor Trampoline Parks,” they write, “he saved more than 5 percent on payroll for the $15.7 million Los Angeles-based recreation company.”

Every dollar counts at a startup. The less you invest in unnecessary costs — no matter how small they may seem — the more capital you have to invest into things that can really impact your growth.

Take a second look at your list of upcoming expenditures. Is there anything on it you can grow without?

The post 4 Tips for Pinching Pennies While Getting Off the Ground appeared first on .

We know the holidays can be stressful with running your business, holiday travel, and even buying gifts! With so much to do, it’s hard to find time to find that perfect gift for everyone on your list, so let us help.

At Grasshopper, we’re proud to say we have some pretty cool customers, creating really awesome things. We pulled together a list of great holiday gift ideas, from our customers, that are sure to please everyone on your list! Check them out:

goodbites

goodbites is a unique take on the gift boxes you send your friends, family and co-workers for their birthdays or as a get well gift. Send these fresh gift boxes, made up of peak of season fruits, to your friends and family members near and far! They’ll be delighted and you can feel good knowing you’re sending fresh fruit from some local farmers.

The Little Book of Beer

Get this “pocket-sized tasting journal” for the beer lover on your list. This book helps beer lovers hone in on what it is they like (and don’t like) about the beers they try and keep track of it all! The Little Book of Beer makes it easier to figure out what it is about the beer that makes you want to have another, with easy to use guides and checklists for taste, flavor, and smell.

Doctor Bright’s Teeth Whitening System

Doctor Bright’s Teeth Whitening kit comes with 10 treatments to be used over 10 days and can be done from the comfort of your own home. Whiter teeth in just 10 days? What’s not to love?

This is the perfect gift for that hard to buy for person, who has everything. Honestly, who wouldn’t want whiter teeth?

Pocket Disc

This fair trade, 100% cotton disc can be thrown up to 60 yards, and is great for indoor AND outdoor use. In fact, it was developed indoors when the founder threw a doily across the kitchen and it flew straight. Get this for the kid (or adult ) who won’t stop playing ball indoors or the active outdoors person looking for a new activity to play with friends and stay active.

Rope It

Know someone who could use a little work on their golf swing? Rope It Backyard Practice Range was built to help those golfers with limited space, practice and improve their golf swing.

There’s no need for a golf net, and they’re able to practice anywhere…as long as they have 20 yards of space because that’s as far as the ball on a string will go.

Mountain Cultures

Mountain Cultures has something for every athlete, and want-to-be athlete on your list. You’re sure to find unique gifts for the skiers, snowboarders, golfers, paddle boarders and more on your list.

Mountain Cultures has everything from trampoline skis to paddleboards, golf bags, even heliski packages!

Arden Reed

When we look good, we feel good. Get that special guy on your list a custom made suit that reflects his personality.  From the jacket to the pants, buttons and fabrics – it’s all custom!

With Arden Reed, you get a perfect fitting suit, at a reasonable price, which is sure to make someone look and feel their best.

Everything Happy

Everything Happy was started by a 10 year old child with a big heart.  For every product you buy from Everything Happy, they’ll donate another to a child in need.  Not only will you be making kids happy with a Happy Blankie or Happy Pal (stuffed animal) you’ll also be giving back! ‘Tis the season.

Dimples Shop

Dimples Shop is a great place to get gifts for those of you who have children to buy for.  They have a variety of things ranging from clothes to toys to décor for children’s rooms. You can even get items personalized!

Did we mention how cute and unique their items are?

Would your product be the perfect holiday gift? Share your company, product and website in the comment section below for others to check out!

The post The Grasshopper Holiday Gift Guide appeared first on .

A virtual phone system puts all the great features of a traditional business phone system into the hands of small businesses and entrepreneurs like you, but without the high cost and maintenance.

Today, businesses are using virtual phone systems to help them sound professional and stay connected when they’re on the go. But a virtual phone system has a lot more to offer than great features and a toll free number! Did you know how flexible a virtual phone system can be?

Check out these examples of unexpected ways to make the most of your virtual phone system:

1. The Red Line

If you’ve watched political thrillers that took place during the Cold War, you probably remember the bright red phone on the President’s desk — a single, dedicated line to Russia he could use to negotiate away from nuclear annihilation. You too can use your virtual system for essentially the same thing. Create a special number to give out to your most important — or crisis-prone — clients. When that one number rings, you know to drop everything and answer.

2. The Virtual Corporation

So your “office” consists of a corner of your family room with a desk that’s as likely to have baby bottles and a teddy bear on it as any business documents. Your clients never have to know that though. Simply set up a phone tree on your virtual phone system that allows callers to press “1″ for billing and “2″ for customer service. Callers will think you’re an established company, but never know you’re the entire staff for either departments, or that working you’re working from your house in your pajamas.

3. The Stalker*

Virtual phone systems let you create unique phone numbers for a variety of purposes. This gives you have the ability use multiple numbers to call hard-to-contact leads from a different number each time. That way, when you call them 6 times in a weekend they don’t realize it’s you until you make actual contact. This trick works especially well for billing and collections.

*We don’t actually recommend you stalking your clients but you get the idea! Get creative.

4. The Virtual Blog

By creating a phone number for a specific product — such as an individual property you represent as a realtor — and leaving a recorded greeting with information, you create a resource for potential buyers that requires no extra time for you and gives them the information they need, when they want it.

Even better, your system will track the contact numbers for each caller so you can reach out to those potential clients and follow up when the time is right. A series of messages like these can become an unparalleled lead-generation resource for your business.

5. Voice-to-Text

Many virtual phone systems will send you an email with a transcribed copy of your voicemails. This is great for quickly reviewing voicemails, but did you know you can also use it as a dictation service? Say goodbye to losing important notes! Simply call your phone number and ramble away your reminders, commitments to customers and appointments. This information will then be transcribed and sent to you as an email so you’ll never lose them.

How are you making your virtual phone system work harder for you?  Are you using Grasshopper in an innovative way? We want to hear about it!

The post 5 Unique Ways to Use a Virtual Phone System appeared first on .

This is a guest post by Wendy Keller, Literary Agent & Grasshopper customer.

Looking for an inexpensive, easy way to attract and retain more customers?  The answer may be right on the tip of your tongue…or your fingers.  Entrepreneurs who leverage the power of language quickly discover that the very act of providing customers with quality written communication (or in some industries, videos) can:

• Dramatically increase new leads/prospects
• Help you retain more of the customers you serve
• Astronomically increase customer loyalty
• Boost referrals and word of mouth goodwill
• Even create a new revenue stream

The easiest and fastest communication to create is an eBook.  An eBook can be as few as 20 typed pages, or as many as 120. If you’re not a good writer or English isn’t your first language, you can easily find an editor to clean it up for you – check your local community college for the name of the English professor.  You can even delegate writing the whole thing, often for just a few hundred dollars (for a short one).  Teach your customers something they want to know about your business or industry or give them a practical written method for getting the most out of their relationship with you.

In the words of George Silverman[1], author of the classic “The Secrets of Word of Mouth Marketing” (and one of the authors we represent), “Almost every professional suffers from ‘expert blindness’.  That’s when you know everything there is to know about your product or service…except what it’s like to know nothing at all.”  You may think there’s really nothing to write about regarding dry cleaning or brick laying or divorce law.  But while the content is important, it’s the fact that you distinguish your company by branding yourself and your company’s name (and logo) on the cover that sets you apart from your competitors.

If you want something physical to hand out – or even sell – you can easily get it bound by the local print shop, or companies who can package it online inexpensively.  If you plan to mail it to your customers, there are companies that will print and ship it as a “gift” from you.  The average price you should give your creation is around $20, whether you plan to give it away or sell it.  Putting a price on it increases the perceived value of the gift.

The post Your Top Secret Marketing Weapon: Words appeared first on .

Did you know Pinterest is the fourth largest web traffic driver in the world? This September, Pinterest surpassed Yahoo organic traffic. However, Google organic traffic, direct referrals, and Facebook referral traffic are still leading the way as the top web traffic drivers.

“From May to June, Pinterest’s referral traffic grew by 43.7% and from June to July, it grew by 15.97%…and from July to August, Pinterest grew again, this time by 33.33%,” according to Sara Perez in a TechCrunch article.

For brands, Pinterest could be a substantial customer acquisition opportunity if used right.

“Using Pinterest as a marketing tool for businesses that sell products and services is a great way to boost traffic to a website and, more importantly, convert that traffic to sales,” Adam Toren wrote for Young Entrepreneur.

Regardless, startups need a clear strategy — in the Pinterest world, there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach. What works for a retail brand may completely miss the mark with a hospital or web design agency.

“Despite that potential business bonanza, the various ways of using Pinterest for business aren’t all effective to the same degree,” Toren wrote.

Focus on what your customers, stakeholders, and employees care about most.

Here’s some inspiration to help get your creative juices flowing:

Employee Recruitment

Social media tools like Pinterest are all about the people and startups need smart and passionate people to help build their businesses. However, the task of finding the right people is tough to achieve on a cash-strapped recruiting budget.

“Many companies are often looking for ways to recruit new talent,” Megan Bernstein wrote in a Memeburn blog post. “But finding the right person to suit the position, but suit the company and its corporate culture can prove to be trickier than you would imagine.”

As a virtual pin board, Pinterest is great for not only recruitment but also to give potential candidates better insight into the company and its culture.  Pinterest enables you to provide a unique lens into the skills, personality, and capabilities your company is looking for in a potential candidate. According to Bernstein, recruiters can leverage Pinterest to create job boards, share day-in-the-life stories, and promote organizational values.

See how fast food giant Taco Bell is using Pinterest for recruiting.

Philanthropy and Public Relations

Your company is full of people who are enthusiastic about volunteering and giving back to the community. In fact, philanthropy is central to your company’s core philosophy. So what? You could write about it in a press release or create a page on your company site — or leverage Pinterest to share an ongoing story.

“Pinning images of your employees giving back to the community will show followers that your company cares about the greater good,” Pamela Vaughan wrote in a Hubspot blog post.

For inspiration, check out FedEx’s Community Involvement board.

Customer Success Stories

Do your customers love your brand? Are they willing to provide a referral or testimonial? Up until recently, the most common and cost-effective way of sharing customer success stories was through blocks of quotes on a website.

Thanks to Pinterest, businesses can aggregate customer testimonials in a visual, people-friendly, and compelling form.

Enterprise cloud computing giant Salesforce has a pin board devoted to its customer success stories. The collage is a combination of videos and text-based narratives. Potential clients can easily browse through reviews while conducting product research.

Check out Salesforce’s Customer success stories board.

Get Creative.

Don’t think you’re limited to high-resolution photography and infographics. You can create a visually compelling strategy without shifting the focus of your business, you just have to think outside the box.

Have you used Pinterest to promote your startup? What techniques have you found to be most effective?

The post 3 Creative Ways to Rock Pinterest: Startup Edition appeared first on .

In today’s competitive marketplace, superlative customer service is no longer optional: It’s required. Yet how can online businesses reach all the way across cyberspace to deliver exceptional customer service?

Live chat technology provides the timely, relevant and friendly communication online customers crave and online businesses need to succeed. We spoke to four companies that offer cutting edge live chat technology to understand how live chat enhances customer service.

Anticipate Potential Problems and Frustrations

The Internet is supposed to make searching for a product or service quick and simple. Yet given the wide variety of customers seeking products to suit their specific needs, confusion and frustration are inevitable. If customers can’t find what they are looking for, then sales will be lost. Live chat allows companies to offer real-time assistance to customers, sometimes even before they ask for help.

“Live chat enables businesses to invite customers to chat if their online behavior indicates they’re having trouble,” says Erin Kang, corporate communications manager at chat software company LivePerson.

“With real-time visitor tracking capabilities, the chat rep can see exactly where the customer is on the site and can give very specific instructions without the customer having to explain their problem.” In this way, problems are often avoided and the customer proceeds to checkout instead of logging off.

Provide Immediate Access to Relevant Information

Instant gratification permeates every aspect of our lives, especially online. Today’s customers demand and expect instant access to the information they need and live chat delivers.

“When customers have questions, you need to answer them while they are still on your website,” says Sunir Shah, chief marketing director at Olark, a live chat software company. “Whether they are considering buying something or about to abandon their shopping cart, live chat gets you in front of your customers when they need you.”

Personalize the Experience

Customers want to feel special. They want attention and an experience tailored to their needs. Live chat allows online companies to provide a personal touch to each and every customer.

It’s easy to understand how live chat personalizes the customer’s online browsing and shopping experience. But did you know some companies use live chat to personalize customer service after the sale, even weeks later.

“Our technology allows a service rep to share a unique link with the customer so that the customer can later click and instantly connect with that same agent to resolve any issues,” says Kang. “This allows the agent most familiar with the customer to solve any remaining issues.”

Instill Trust Beyond the Glass Screen

Traditional brick-and-mortar stores employ salespeople who help customers find what they need, from start to finish. Without live chat, that reassuring human touch is missing from the online purchase experience.

“Immediate contact with knowledgeable professionals builds trust,” says Szymon Klimczak, CMO at LiveChat, Inc. “Adding a human touch to your website is a huge advantage over static pages without people on the other side.”

Knowing trust is a very important factor in the online buying process, the team at SnapEngage designed its live chat software to display the agent’s name and a real photo (no avatars or clipart). Chris Vieville, community caretaker at SnapEngage notes, “We have seen that adding real agent pictures has one of the biggest impacts on whether or not a visitor will actually engage with the chat software. A visitor wants to know there is a real live person there to help them.”

Put Consumers in Control

While many website-savvy visitors easily navigate sites, unfortunately, just as many feel lost at sea; ready to abandon ship. Live chat gives customers the confidence to take the helm and chart their own course.

“Nothing makes customers feel out of control more than when they are confused, doubtful, or unable to continue,” Shah says. “And nothing makes them feel more in control than instant access to a person focused on their questions and needs.”

Reduce Buyer’s Remorse

Have you ever made a purchase and then a few days later, returned the item to the store?  If you said, “yes,” you’ve experienced buyer’s remorse. And while most retailers have flexible return policies, they lose millions in annual revenue from consumers feeling regret post-purchase.

In fact, online shopping statistics show that customers who access assistance from a live chat representative are less likely to return items. It also turns out that just the sight of a live chat window can inspire customers to shop with more confidence, knowing help is available. “Post-sale, chat acts like a return-prevention device,” says Klimczak. “Thanks to chat, return rates drop by 50 percent.”

Live chat provides the missing link between faceless businesses and remote customers. For company websites, live chat is the must-have tool to deliver attentive and personalized customer service. And for online customers, live chat serves a personal support gateway; always at the ready to enhance the experience.

Does your business use live chat technology? How does live chat technology bridge the gap between your business goals and customers’ online experiences?

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To all of our customers, friends, fans and followers, we hope you all have a safe and happy holiday!

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As most of you probably know, this Saturday, November 24th, is Small Business Saturday, a day dedicated to supporting small businesses around the country.  According to American Express, founders of Small Business Saturday, this day is, “a day for everyone – from the business owners who create jobs to the customers who buy locally – to support small businesses that invigorate the economy and keep communities thriving.”

This is the 3rd year American Express is doing this and last year they had over 100 million people shop at independently-owned small businesses.   As a small business ourselves, we encourage you all to get out there and support your favorite small businesses! Help make this year the most successful yet.

Not sure which businesses near your qualify? Find out where to shop here.

To our customers, most of whom are small businesses, we thank you for choosing us and wish you great success in this year’s Small Business Saturday.

Will you be shopping small this Saturday? What’s your favorite small business to support?

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With Thanksgiving just a few days away, we’re reminded how thankful we are for all of our customers, fans, friends and readers not just this week but every week throughout the year. To show our appreciation, we thought it would be fun to do a little giveaway. Then we thought it would be even more fun to do 8 giveaways.

We know you all have turkey on the brain (we do too!) so we decided to keep it Thanksgiving themed.

Starting tomorrow at 9 AM EST, we’ll be posting Thanksgiving related questions and trivia every hour on our Facebook page. Some questions will require you to share something easy, like your favorite food at Thanksgiving. For those easy questions, we’ll randomly pick an entry at the end of the hour. Other questions might require a quick search on Google and the first person to answer the question correctly will win.

The prizes?

An awesome Grasshopper t-shirt. Seriously, these shirts are so soft and so comfortable. You’d be silly to not try and get one! There are 8 up for grabs.

Details:

When: Every hour on Tuesday, November 20th from 9-4 PM EST.

Where: the Grasshopper Facebook page.

What: Answer the hourly question on our Facebook page to be entered to win a Grasshopper t-shirt. Winners will be announced at the end of every hour. Enter as many times as you like!

Be sure to head over to our Facebook page tomorrow starting at 9 AM for all the fun!

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On Monday we announced a contest to celebrate today, National Entrepreneurs’ Day. To be entered to win the contest we asked readers to share what or who inspired them to become an entrepreneur. We randomly selected a winner from our pool of entrants and are excited to announce our contest winner is…

Tiffany Krumins, Founder, AVA the Elephant

My passion to put smiles on the faces of sick children is what inspired my product! I see the life-changing affect my brand has on children and it reminds me why I do what I do!

Congratulations and thanks for sharing your inspiration with us Tiffany!

Thank you to all those who participated in this contest and special thanks to our amazing friends over at UserVoice, Batchbook, TribeHR and BuzzStream for their generous prize donations.

Happy National Entrepreneurs’ Day everyone!

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Today, it is estimated that there are more than 8.3 million women-owned businesses in the United States. These women owned businesses are responsible for employing upwards of 7.7 million people and generating nearly $1.3 trillion in revenue, according to the State of Women-Owned Business Report.

So, what is the driving force behind all these women starting businesses today? With statistics like that, we had to know! We asked a handful of mompreneurs what motivated them to take the leap into the world of entrepreneurship.

Here’s a look at six successful mompreneurs and their motivations for launching:

Rhonda Sparks, founder of UV Skinz

I started UV Skinz after I lost my 32-year-old husband to melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. It was this experience and being left to raise our three young boys on my own that inspired me to develop a line of UV-protective products so families can have fun outdoors while protecting themselves from the sun.

Laura Fuentes, CEO of MOMables

I started MOMables after struggling with food options for my daughter, who has many food allergies. I began preparing healthy school lunches for Sofia and when moms of her classmates began asking for the recipes, MOMables was created. I’m not a trained chef. I’m just a busy parent who wants to help other moms and dads provide fresh, fast and kid-friendly school lunches.

Tiffany Krumins, founder of AVA The Elephant

My volunteer work at a local children’s hospital, plus my years of experience working with children with special needs motivated me to invent my first product. I couldn’t stand the thought of watching one more child kick and scream when nurses or doctors had to administer medicine so I designed and manufactured a talking medicine dispenser to allay kids’ fears.

Andrea Cutright and Hillary Mickell, co-founders of Foodily

We were executives at Yahoo. At the end of the day, we would often ask each other, “What are you making for dinner tonight for your family?” A couple of years later we launched Foodily (which stands for “Food I Love You”), a recipe network for friends. Our free app makes it easy to discover, collect, and share foods you love.

Karrie Gibson, President and CEO of Vintage Tech Recyclers Inc.

I’ve always been passionate about finding practical ways to reuse, donate and recycle just about anything. Prior to 2005, I was a stay-at-home mom but I yearned to have a career so I started a business that would allow me make my own schedule plus create jobs for others in my family.

Kendra Kroll, founder of PortaPocket

A personally embarrassing incident motivated me to launch my business. I accidentally dropped my spare tampon on the gym floor. It probably sat there for about 10 minutes before I even noticed. And to make matters worse, I was the only female there at the time. Although PortaPocket was inspired by my own snafu, I designed it for both men and women to use when they are wearing pocket-challenged outfits.

Mareya Ibrahim, founder of EatCleaner

About 2 1/2 years ago, my dad was diagnosed with prostate and bladder cancer. My youngest son was only weeks old and I felt as though the ground had fallen beneath me. My dad has always been my rock. But, thanks to early detection and a diet filled with clean fruit, vegetables and lean protein, he continues to inspire us all. That’s what sparked the fire. Eat Cleaner products makes food cleaner, safer and last longer.

It’s not just for the flexibility factor, moms start businesses for all sorts of reasons. What was your motivation for starting a business? Share your story with us in the comments.

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Necessity isn’t always the mother of invention, especially when it comes entrepreneurship. It used to be that people who started their own companies were motivated by the idea of being their own boss. Now-a-days, that’s not always the case. Today people start businesses for all sorts of reasons, some even accidentally.

In fact, the invention of Penicillin, the slinky, Wheaties and post-it notes were all made by accident. Not everyone plans to be an entrepreneur, but when opportunity knocks, it’s hard to ignore!

Intrigued by this idea of stumbling upon your business idea, we took to our newsletter to find out just how many of our customers are accidental entrepreneurs.

Here are a few of our accidental entrepreneurs:

Keller Media, Inc.

Wendy Keller, CEO and Senior Agent at Keller Media, Inc., has always had a passion for writing. She won her first writing contest in fourth grade and got her first paid job on a newspaper when she was 16.

Wendy stumbled upon the idea for her business when she was hired to work for a literary agent. In the words of Wendy, “I worked for a criminal, but didn’t know it for a long time. He charged people exorbitant fees to “represent” them when in reality all he was doing was stock piling their manuscripts in the backroom.”

After seeing this, Wendy went out on her own and launched Keller Media, Inc., a unique (and ethical!) literary agency that helps talented people get their books sold to publishers, book paid speaking engagements and trains them to excel at both.

Arden Reed

Mike Abadi, founder of Arden Reed, went to college in Miami to become an investment banker. During his college years, he studied abroad in Hong Kong. He was exposed to the culture and saw that instead of going to buy a suit, in Hong Kong, men got suits tailored and custom made.

After returning from Hong Kong, Mike landed himself an investment banking internship, which required him to purchase his very first suit. After his travels to Hong Kong, Mike started working with a tailor he met there to have custom suits made for him, at a very reasonable price.

Being in college, a lot of Mike’s friends were in the same situation, starting out in the investment banking world and needing an entirely new wardrobe of suits. Mike’s friends started asking him to order suits like his, custom and affordable. Mike started working with the tailor he used, doing measurements out of his dorm room, showing off fabrics and helping others with their selection, and sending in orders on behalf of his friends.

It wasn’t until he was in the investment banking world, surrounded by suits, that he saw a real opportunity to turn this into a business and he did.

Suitey

Philip Lang, along with 3 of his fellow Yale graduates (and rowers on the lightweight crew team), moved to New York City after graduating college. They found the process of searching for an apartment quite miserable, having been misled by ads from sketchy brokers for apartments that didn’t exist. With over 30,000 brokers in NYC, 80% of which don’t stay in the business more than 18 months, finding a professional, honest broker, especially one in a particular area of the city, was very challenging.

After suffering through this painful process, Philip and his new business partners saw an opportunity to create something more efficient and customer-friendly. They started Suitey, a free service for New York’s professionals who want to save time and money in their apartment searches. Suitey matches you with a vetted broker who specializes in a specific area and type of apartment. They’ve also teamed up with others so that after you buy or rent an apartment, you can easily take advantage of Suitey’s moving concierge to save on moving, furniture and cable/internet, making them the total package.

Southern Grace Bed and Breakfast

Theresa Padgett, owner of Southern Grace Bed and Breakfast, along with her husband started their bed and breakfast as a result of a major business theft that left them in a situation where they’d be forced to sell their home. This came at a time when they housing market had fallen and their home was worth less than half of what it used to be.

The Padgett’s 6000 sq. ft. home, built by their 23 year old son, is situated on a 15 acre farm and is equipped with private baths off of every room, a pool, a pond to fish in and lots of animals. Distraught over the idea of losing their house, Theresa and her husband got creative.

After growing up watching Theresa’s parents go away for long weekends to bed and breakfasts across the country, they decided to try and turn their home into a bed and breakfast. This way they could keep the home, show it off to others and make money from it. Today the Padgett’s are running a successful business that attracts guests from all over the world and has received notable acclaim from industry magazines.

P212121

Sean Seaver, founder of P212121, became a scientist to help solve problems that plague society today, doing research on everything from cancer to sustainable energy. Being a research scientist, Sean and his colleagues relied on funding to perform their research.

While working at a research lab that was running out of funding, Sean took it upon himself to, instead of re-ordering from their usual suppliers, start shopping around and researching other suppliers. This research project turned into an 80×500 spreadsheet that compared products across companies and showed how researchers could save anywhere from 3 to 10 times on a lot of items.

Word got out about this work Sean had done, and researchers who didn’t have time to do their own comparison started coming to him for help finding cheaper supplies. Sean’s research project turned into an e-commerce site and he transitioned from a researcher to distributor, creating a single location where researchers can find deals on the supplies and chemicals they use every day.

uKnow.com

Tim Woda, co-founder of uKnow.com, had worked for years at a company called buySafe, which is an Internet trust and safety company that helps protect consumers from poor online shopping experiences.

Being in the Internet safety business, Tim had a serious wakeup call when one of his children was the target of an Internet child predator. Don’t worry, the child wasn’t harmed but it did get Woda thinking about ways to prevent the new technologies of today, like text messaging and social networks, from opening kids up to such risks.

Tim created uKnow to make it easier for parents to connect to their child’s digital world. uKnow gives parents a dashboard to keep tabs on the children’s online and mobile activities without constantly looking over their shoulders thus making technology safer for kids and less intimidating for parents.

Are you an accidental entrepreneur too? What’s your story? Tell us below and be sure to include a link to your site so we can check it out!

The post From Employee to Entrepreneur: 6 Grasshopper Customers & Their Stories appeared first on .

Earlier today we announced our co-founders David and Siamak, along with the help of Amir Tehrani, were once again able to get the President to recognize National Entrepreneurs’ Day and proclaim this Friday, November 16, 2012 as this year’s National Entrepreneurs’ Day.

In celebration of this momentous occasion we’ve teamed up with our friends at Batchbook, TribeHR, Buzzstream and Uservoice to bring you the chance to win a small business toolkit, worth over $500!

Sometimes we find inspiration from someone in our lives, family members, teachers, or friends. Other times its life events or overcoming hardships that inspire us. Today, we want to know where you got your inspiration from! Share yours with us and you could win.

How to enter:

Entering is easy! Simply use this form to share what/who inspired you to start your own business.

Entries must be received between Monday, November 12th and Thursday, November 15th at 5 PM EST to be entered to win.

How to win:

To be entered to win, you must submit your story here by 5 PM EST on Thursday, November 15th.  We’ll choose one winner at random. The winner will be announced on our blog on Friday, November 16th at 9 AM EST. The winner will also be notified via email.

What you win:

• $100 Discount towards a Grasshopper virtual phone system.
• 6 months FREE of BatchBook, a social CRM which helps you build meaningful relationships with your best customers.
• 6 months FREE of TribeHR, Social HR Software for today’s business environment.
• 3 months FREE of BuzzStream, team-based software for building and managing relationships with influencers.
• FREE for life (of your business) account at UserVoice, the solution for complete customer communication.

Rules:

• One entry per person.
• No purchase necessary.
• All submissions must be received by Thursday, November 15th at 5 PM EST.
• Entries must be submitted using this form.
• Prizes are non-transferable and must be redeemed by winning entrant.

The post [Contest] Share Your Inspiration and You Could Win! appeared first on .

Earlier this month President Barack Obama issued a proclamation recognizing November 2012 as National Entrepreneurship Month.  As many of you may remember, 2 years ago our co-founders David and Siamak successfully petitioned the President for a National Entrepreneurs’ Day.

Today, we’re excited to announce that David, Siamak, and Amir Tehrani, co-founder of The Legacy Foundation, along with the help of the Kauffman Foundation and The White House, were once again able to get the President to recognize National Entrepreneurs’ Day and proclaim this Friday, November 16, 2012 as this year’s National Entrepreneurs’ Day.

How can you celebrate National Entrepreneurs’ Day?

Why not go out and hug an entrepreneur? Seriously, go hug one! Give your favorite entrepreneurs a hug to show them your appreciation for all they’re doing for our economy and future generations. Say thanks to those who’ve made an impact on this economy or who’ve helped you get where you are today. Mentor someone.  Give back. Just do something! For more ideas on how you can celebrate and the history behind National Entrepreneurs’ Day, check out EntrepreneursDay.org.

Tweet how you’ll be celebrating using the hashtag #HugAnEntrepreneur on Twitter!

How we’re celebrating:

In honor of Global Entrepreneurship Week and National Entrepreneurs’ Day, we wanted to do something to not only celebrate but also encourage entrepreneurship.

See how we’re teaming up with our friends over at Batchbook, TribeHR, Buzzstream and Uservoice to celebrate here.

Don’t forget to tell us how you’re celebrating National Entrepreneurs’ Day using the hashtag #HugAnEntrepreneur!

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Perhaps this proverb says it best: “Necessity is the mother of invention.”

Women leaving their jobs to have children and opting to start their own business is a growing trend. Don’t mistake this for a short-lived fad like leg warmers and perms.  Today, mompreneurs play a strong and definitive role in the world of entrepreneurship.

According to the 2nd annual State of Women-Owned Businesses Report, commissioned by American Express OPEN:

• The growth in the number (up 54%), employment (up 9%) and revenues (up 58%) of women-owned firms over the past 15 years exceeds the growth rates of all but the largest, publicly-traded firms.
• As of 2012, it is estimated that there are more than 8.3 million women-owned businesses in the United States, generating nearly $1.3 trillion in revenues and employing nearly 7.7 million people.

This report got us thinking and we wanted to know what motivates these real-life wonder women to launch businesses and persevere when times get tough.

Here are 4 mompreneurs and their stories:

Julie Cole, co-founder of Mabel’s Labels

Mabel’s Labels is the leading provider of children’s labels in North America; labels for the stuff kids lose. The company was started 10 years ago by four moms, who are all related, in a basement and is now a multi-million dollar, celebrity endorsed, award-winning international phenomenon.

Motivation to Launch: We were looking to leave the traditional workforce in hopes of finding more of a balance between our work and family plus we had a product idea that kept nagging at us and wouldn’t go away.

Driving Force to Succeed: Now we have 40 employees. We feel responsible to them – we want to make sure they have good jobs and good pay checks to support their families.

Overcoming Obstacles: The thought of us not succeeding was and still is devastating. Having four business partners has also been motivating – we pull each other up and out of a funk when we need to.

Sacrifices Made: The one thing I’ve given up is traditional “me time.” I don’t go to the gym or get manicures. I rarely meet girlfriends for lunch. But I don’t see this as a sacrifice. There will be plenty of time for “me” when my kids get bigger. For now, my focus is my business and my babies and THAT is having it all!

Jessica Kim, founder of Babbaco

Babbaco is a monthly delivery of enriching activities for kids ages 3-7, integrating the 4 major ways kids engage and learn: create, explore, story tell, and connect.

Motivation to Launch: As a mom of three kids, I saw so many things to buy your kids, but not a lot to help parents ENGAGE and spend quality time with their kids. And then I thought, “Who has the time to gather all of the materials and figure out what to do?”

Driving Force to Succeed: My family and kids drive me to continue what I have started. I set out to accomplish a vision and my whole family has been a part of it. I sacrificed a lot to do this and I’m not going to stop now.

Overcoming Obstacles: I overcome challenges in two ways:  1) I have inspiring mentors who offer advice, support, and provide a safe place to ask questions. 2) My positive state-of-mind is a driving force. I see this opportunity as a huge blessing given to me. Challenging moments push me; they do not overwhelm me.

Sacrifices Made:  I’m not able to drop the kids off at school or volunteer to be a homeroom parent. My kids are also in after-school care vs. ending their day at 12:30pm. But when I’m home, from dinner until bedtime, I ignore my iPhone and focus solely on my kids.

Renee Wood, founder of The Comfort Company

The mission of The Comfort Company is to simplify the difficult process of expressing sympathy by offering a meaningful selection of non-traditional gifts designed to acknowledge loss rather than to minimize it.

Motivation to Launch: After I left my job as a medical social worker to stay at home with my three daughters, I had no intention of starting a business. But then a relative lost her father and I went online to find a special gift but came up empty-handed.  So, I took matters into my own hands, literally.

Driving Force to Succeed: My kids: I have four daughters now and I know they will benefit from witnessing first-hand the power of perseverance and the ability to turn a dream into reality.

My customers: The feedback from my customers also keeps me in the game. Knowing I’ve helped so many people commemorate a loved one is an incredible feeling.

Overcoming Obstacles: I had to learn very quickly to avoid “What if?” paralysis. Initially, I believed I needed to learn everything about how to run my own business. Eventually, I realized it was more important to actually run the business instead of reading up on how to do it.

Sacrifices Made: I’ve totally let go of the idea of balance. At times, the housework has to give. Other times the business has to give.  My definition of “balance” is just to be sure everything doesn’t give at once! And I’ve also realized that most of the time, “good enough” really is good enough.

Amy Baxter, founder of Buzzy

Buzzy is a personal pain relieving device that uses cold and vibration to block pain from needles, itching, and burning medications.

Motivation to Launch: As a pediatric emergency department physician and a mom whose 4-year-old had a horrific (and completely avoidable) shot experience, I invented Buzzy to prevent millions of kids from developing a life-long phobia of needles.

Driving Force to Succeed: Empowering people, especially parents, to take care of their family’s health and in some way change how medicine is practiced.

Overcoming Obstacles: The overwhelmingly positive feedback inspires me. Hundreds of previously needle-phobic patients have written to me personally, sharing the relief and comfort Buzzy has provided. They can now tolerate insulin or fertility injections, flu shots and even donating blood.

Sacrifices Made: I quit being a member of a procedural sedation board and have virtually no social currency. Movies?  Books? Forget it. I’m the only woman I know who has yet to read, 50 Shades of Grey!

Are you a mompreneur? What motivated you to launch your business and what drives you to succeed?

The post The Rise and Necessity of Mompreneurs appeared first on .

What comes to mind when you hear the expression “online advertising?” Do you immediately think of pop-up blockers and spam folders? How about free iPod scams, click bots, and low-quality content farms that are set up to do no more than funnel traffic?

The sad truth is that the “good-old-days” of online advertising were full of scams that often left end users powerless and frustrated. It’s also true that advertising scams still happen — there are still many shady advertisers and ad networks who are out to make a quick buck and could care less about user experience. If you care at all about your online audience, these are the organizations and people from whom you should run and hide.

1. Prioritizing User Experience

Keep in mind that online advertising isn’t all bad. It’s a multi-billion dollar industry and a powerful marketing medium that connects well-intentioned advertisers with interested audiences. What advertisers need to do now is prioritize user experience.

“In general, do not have advertisements that interrupt the visitor’s time on your site,” Zach Bulygo wrote in a blog post for KISSmetrics. “They can be viewed as the equivalent of a salesman popping up out of nowhere and giving you a sales message an inch away from your face.”

While you want to create a lasting impression with your target audiences, you don’t want to create an impression for the wrong reasons. No brand wants to be associated with that annoying salesman.

2. Transforming Traditional Channels

Startups such as LaunchBit are tackling the user experience challenges of email, a historically spammy marketing channel. By connecting email newsletter publishers with brands, LaunchBit is redefining the premise behind email marketing. Instead of spamming customers with promotions, brands can unobtrusively supplement the content of existing newsletters.

“LaunchBit ads are text-based with a small image, so that they match the tone and don’t interrupt the content of the newsletter,” WebSiteMagazine’s Allison Howen wrote. “Publishers are given full control over which ads are being published, and can choose which advertisers they would like to partner with.”

Rather than promoting a zero-sum game where brands and consumers are both losing from email spam, LaunchBit creates an advertising ecosystem where the advertiser, publisher, and end-user all win.

3. Creating New Channels

Content marketing has joined forces with online advertising through content recommendation engines like Outbrain. Rather than displaying ads for products, these plugins connect end users with articles. As Mashable puts it, the model is “Sponsored but Good.”

“The concept is that as opposed to simply inserting a direct response ad like you think you might find in AdSense, you get a link to an interesting piece of content,” Mashable writer Adam Ostrow said in 2009. “For example, Palm might want to purchase a sponsored link to a favorable review of the Pre and have it display in the Outbrain widget on selected tech blogs.”

Outbrain’s advertising model is one that prioritizes high quality content, user engagement, and pageview depth. The network has pioneered a new channel that is reinventing the direct response model. The goal is to inspire end users instead of pushing them to make a click or purchase.

4. Improving Efficiency

Ad space is far from a new concept. The business practice is decades old, extending to industries apart from the Internet like televisions and magazines. The premise is simple:  work with publishers and media creators to reach target demographics.

That idea is the principle of isocket, a startup that is enabling high quality publishers to work directly with advertisers.

“It’s a self-service platform, and the publisher is emailed directly once an interested buyer chooses to purchase the ad, allowing them to accept or reject,” Rip Empson wrote in a TechCrunch post.

Isocket has combined the convenience of an ad network with the value proposition and user friendliness of a direct ad sale.

Your Turn

What has your experience been with online advertising? Are there any other trends are you’re seeing in online advertising that we didn’t talk about?

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Over the past few days many people have felt the damaging effects of Hurricane Sandy. Here at Grasshopper, we want to help. While we can’t rebuild houses or bring back possessions, we can help your businesses stay open, or at least connected during this time.

If you are a business affected by the recent hurricane, we would be happy to provide you with a free three-month Grasshopper account to help you keep your business open and connected.

You can get set up in five minutes, have incoming calls forwarded to your cell phone or to other employees’ cell phones and create custom greetings letting your customers know what’s happening. Simply update your website, email signature and social profiles with your new Grasshopper number so that customers know how to connect with you for the time-being.

Just give us a call at 1-800-820-8210 and we’d be happy to help you get set up.

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The decision of whether or not to hire remote workers is often based on two competing ideas for a small business owner. First, think of all the money you could save with fewer employees under your roof! And second, think of all the money you could lose if they end up sleeping on their couches all day!

Worry not. LifeHacker reports that remote workers tend to be more productive than office staff. Scott Edinger, founder of Edinger Consulting Group, believes this is due in part to remote workers trying harder to make up for their absence.

What can you do to ensure those remote workers continue to try harder? Here are four tips to get the most out of remote workers for the long term:

1. Pick the Right Workers

Working remotely isn’t for everyone. Employees whose eyes get heavy at the mere sight of a couch should probably be kept in house. But some signs are more subtle. Jeff Haden explains for Inc.com that the traits of a successful remote worker include being proactive, communicating almost obsessively, being results-focused and constantly seeking to learn new things.

Finding these traits in a remote worker sets up your business for success from day one.

2. Pick the Right Tools

After physical distance, lack of structure is the biggest change for remote workers. Mashable Business suggests utilizing software that provides structure, such as iDoneThis.

“iDoneThis service sends an email to each employee at the end of every day,” writes Stephanie Buck. ”Simply reply to that email, detailing the projects you’ve tackled that day so that fellow co-workers can comment on and high-five your progress. It’s a positive way to encourage you to stay on task.”

Also, encourage workers to take advantage of tools that help them stay on track, such as RescueTime or find their optimal work space and pace like Work+ and Coffee Break.

3. Connect Workers to Company Culture

“Lest you think of ‘culture’ as a luxury,” writes Chris Brogan for Entrepreneur.com, “know that it is everything to your business as an entrepreneur. Company culture acts as the DNA that helps shape your operational efforts.”

To remotely infuse company culture, Brogan recommends using technology to streamline communications, consulting remote workers on all ideas and giving them a chance to voice opinions.

Also, he says, “celebrate the non-work stuff. Culture that builds around hard-working teams often tends to forget some of the ‘fluff.’”

4. Mandate Time Off

Rather than using working from home to slack off, Time Business says the opposite is true.

“Several studies show that many remote workers put in more hours because they’re always connected, and it’s too easy to work while sitting in front of the tube with the family, or to check in long after the workday has ended,” writes Paul Shread. “This is not a boon for the employer; it’s a big, fat liability. People get sloppy and burned out, and it creates a false impression of how much work the job actually entails.”

Go ahead; live the dream. Hire the right kind of remote worker and see how it works for your small business. Just remember, remote doesn’t mean disconnected. Utilizing strategies to keep remote workers on task will help maximize their productivity, and their benefit to your bottom line.

What position at your business do you think could be handled remotely? Could one of your current employees be a good candidate?

The post 4 Steps to Keeping Remote Workers Productive appeared first on .

In Part 1 of our “Get Out and Network” series, we shared some online tools to help you identify networking events. So now that you’ve put some events on your calendar (we hope), in Part 2 we discuss how to network with flair and initiate business relationships that will last well beyond the first introduction and handshake.

BEFORE THE NETWORKING EVENT

Find Out Who’s Going

In the olden days, getting a hold of the event’s attendee list ahead of time was impossible. Today, thanks to the Internet, it’s easy to find out who plans to attend. You also can learn a person’s job title, current and past employers, how long they’ve been in the industry and their alma mater. Krista Canfield, LinkedIn’s Senior Manager of Corporate Communications and PR, encourages attendees to find out if the event sponsor or host has created a LinkedIn Event. If so you’ll be able to review the LinkedIn profiles of those planning to attend. Best of all, if an attendee’s LinkedIn profile has a photo, you’ll easily recognize them when they enter the room. Other event sites such as Eventbrite also list registered attendees.

Shift Your Focus

“All things being equal, people will do business with, and refer business to, those people they know, like and trust,” says Bob Burg, author of several best-selling books including The Go-Giver and Endless Referrals. Therefore, Burg teaches business professionals to “focus on the other person; not on yourself. Move from an “I-focus” to an “Other-focus” orientation. Don’t go [to an event] looking for a “quick hit” but rather attend to establish new relationships.” Interestingly, Burg believes that “introverts have a natural advantage for networking in that an introvert is often happier to ask good, Feel-Good, rapport-building questions and then let the other person talk about themselves. This is much more powerful in terms of establishing a relationship than simply blabbing about oneself and their product or service.”

Know More Before You Go

Sam Richter, internationally recognized sales intelligence expert and author of Take the Cold Out of Cold Calling, takes this further, turning something everyone knows – Knowledge is Power! –into reality. “When you Know More! about the people you are going to encounter, you ensure relevancy with every meeting, every time. With relevancy, you connect on a personal level, make the other person feel important, and achieve “permission” to ask meaningful, value-based questions.”

Richter’s Know More! methodology helps you discover much more than a person’s business profile and professional accomplishments. The “Invisible Web,” as Richter refers to sites on the web that search engines like Google don’t index (e.g. sites that require registration to receive information), is all you need to reveal personal information such as an individual’s sports team preferences, political contributions, association affiliations and even golf handicaps. It’s this type of information, woven casually into conversations, that creates instant meaningful connections. So before you go, do a little research on others who will be attending.

DURING THE NETWORKING EVENT

Pay Attention to Your Face and Body

When people think of networking, verbal introductions and conversations come to mind. However, nonverbal behaviors—the gestures we make, how fast or how loud we talk, how much eye contact we make—send strong messages (positive and negative) to those standing in front of us as well as to those unknowingly observing us from across the room. Joyce Layman-Blackburn, refers to herself as a Motivational Mindset Speaker and points out how posture and facial expressions communicate more than you think. “If you think it’s going to be ‘another one of those time-wasting events’ you’ll convey that in your body language and tone of voice without realizing it.” People want to engage with “happy-to-be-here” people.

Show a Genuine Interest in Others

Focusing on others, instead of blabbing about yourself (or your company) is key.  Burg suggests asking rapport-building questions that invite the other person to talk about themselves. And don’t feel the need to focus on business only. Questions related to family and hobbies make others feel important and are more effective in establishing meaningful relationships.

As for posing business related questions, Burg notes the incredible power of something he refers to as the “One Key Question,” which sounds like this. “Mary, how can I know if someone I’m speaking with would be a good prospect for you?” This “other-focused” inquiry conveys genuine interest in contributing to Mary’s future success, while providing you with insights about Mary’s business.

Think ‘Quality vs. Quantity’

If you think, that collecting the most business cards is the name of the game, think again. Instead, spend your time and energy making a handful of quality connections.  Since many of us intuitively believe the more the merrier, Layman-Blackburn offers this perspective. “Everyone you meet has an average of 200 people in their circle-of-influence.” And Burg adds, “It isn’t simply a matter of whether the person you meet might be a good prospect. In fact, it’s better to connect to someone who is a “center of influence”… one who is known, liked and trusted by many.”

Ditch Your Sales Spiel at the Door

If you’re in sales, well, it’s hard not to sell. But the most successful sales people know relationships lead to referrals which lead to future sales. One way to cultivate authentic relationships is to “focus on providing value to others, rather than focusing on what you can get from them,” says Burg and this “creates a benevolent context for success.” And Layman-Blackburn agrees. “If you only focus on ‘selling’ to other people, you’re missing out on HUGE opportunities that result from building true relationships!”

Record and Remember

What’s the best way to remember the interesting dialogues and facts you discovered about a new acquaintance? After you leave a conversation, take a few moments to jot down 2-3 interesting facts you learned as well as any commitments you made (e.g. to send an interesting article or to make a personal introduction to another colleague).  When you get home, write the event name and date on each business card to make it easier to recall 3 or 6 months later.

AFTER THE NETWORKING EVENT

Personalize Your Follow Up

While it’s tempting to pick up the phone the next day and deliver your sales pitch to your new contacts, practice the “other focus” approach in your follow up. Burg suggests these ideas to help cultivate a relationship rather than land a sale.

1. Send a personalized, handwritten note (not an email, a handwritten note) that says something like, “Hi Karen – Thank you. It was a pleasure meeting you at the __________ event. If I can ever refer business your way, I certainly will. Best regards – Dave.”
2. Send information that will be of value to her/him. This could include an article about his or her industry, hobbies, or anything else.
3. Connect that person with other good people whom you believe will add value to your contact’s business or life.

Keep the Dialogue Going

Just because the event is over, doesn’t mean the conversations need to end. Canfield encourages people to create a LinkedIn Group “so you can network after the event, keep in touch and discuss areas of common interest. Once your group has a presence on LinkedIn, you’ll be able to search and contact fellow group members.”

Richter also recommends using LinkedIn to further relationships and stresses the importance of adding a personal touch. “It’s very appropriate to reach out via LinkedIn and connect with people you just met. In your connection invitation, make sure to reference the event where you met and if there is something the other person said that you found very interesting or helpful, reference that in your note.”

Surprise and Delight

People often feel comfortable reaching out to new contacts a day or two after the event. But how can you find sincere reasons to reach out from time to time without diving into your sales pitch? Once again, keeping an “other focus” is the name of the game. “Use GoogleAlerts.com to set up alerts on the people who you met who you really want to stay in touch with,” advises Richter. “Anytime the person is featured in the news, send a handwritten note, an email, or make a call to the person congratulating him/her on his/her accomplishment.”

As you can see, there’s more to networking than handshakes and introductions. We hope our Get Out and Network series provides you with the tools and strategies to help you meet new people and make long-lasting connections.

What do you do BEFORE, DURING or AFTER a networking event to pave the way to win-win relationships?

The post Want to Grow Your Business? Get Out and Network! (Part 2) appeared first on .

At Grasshopper, our core purpose is to empower entrepreneurs to succeed. We live out this core purpose in everything we do, and here in our office, there’s no shortage of entrepreneurial juices. It’s not uncommon for an employee to leave to start their own business, like Jonathan Kay who left to launch Apptopia and Mike Arsenault who left to launch Rejoiner, a company he started with 2 other Grasshopper employees.

Today is a sad (but exciting!) day because we have yet another employee leaving us to follow their dreams. If you’re a regular reader of our blog, I’m sure you’re familiar with our culture evangelist Andy. Andy has been here for over 8 years and he’s the guy behind our manicotti Mondays, gourmet grilled cheese days, pancake breakfasts, parties and more!  Andy has always had a passion for cooking (and man, is he good at it!) so it only makes sense that he share this skill with others.

Andy will be heading out to Las Vegas, NV later this month with his family to start his very own food truck! We couldn’t be more excited for him. Las Vegas, you guys are lucky to have him!

Learn more about Andy’s new adventure in our short Q&A with him:

Where did the idea come from?

I’ve always wanted to be in food services and own my own restaurant. As they say, “I got tired of working for the man.” Just kidding David!

What are you most excited about?

Owning my own business.

What are you most nervous about?

Not nervous, just excited!

What will you miss most about Grasshopper?

The people.

Where can people learn more about your entrepreneurial adventure?

Our website is still in the works but you can find us on Facebook, Twitter, Yelp & more!

Or if you’re in the Las Vegas area, you can learn more by checking out his food truck starting November 2nd!

Good luck Andy! We’ll miss you!

The post We’ll Miss You Andy! appeared first on .

Tempting as it may be to sit in front of your computer 24/7, sales and deals don’t happen behind your desk (or kitchen table, or makeshift office space). Businesses grow via handshakes, business card exchanges, and casual encounters. Don’t know where to go? Can’t figure out where to network to meet the people who can take your business to the next level? No problem. We’ve got you covered. In fact, after you read this, you’ll be so busy attending events that you’ll need to carve out time to sit in front of your computer and get some work done.

In Part 1 of our “Get Out and Network” piece, we share a list of resources (some obvious, some not) that will help you identify the best networking events, conferences and gatherings to meet the right people and make the right connections. So clear your calendar and get ready to network.

Eventful

Eventful is often thought of as an online portal to discover local concerts, movies, and festivals. But Eventful also lists business-related events such as conferences, educational workshops, association sponsored meetings and more.

Upcoming events in Atlanta:

• October 25, 8:00 AM: Michael Tavani, Co-Founder of Scoutmob hosted by Plywood Studio
• November 9-11:  Atlanta Startup Weekend hosted by GA Tech

Eventbrite

Eventbrite makes it easy to discover networking events. In addition to a robust search function, Eventbrite provides you with a map to the event, so there’s no excuse for making a wrong turn. Eventbrite also makes it easy to share events with friends, which can make breaking the ice a little more comfortable when you know at least one other person attending. You can purchase event tickets on Eventbrite and view a list of those who have already purchased a ticket, so you will know who else is attending before you go.

Upcoming events in Dallas:

• October 23, 11:30 AM: How to Create a Business Development and Marketing Plan hosted by Society Marketing Professional Services (SMPS)
• November 9, 6:00 PM: Small Business Start-up Workshop hosted by Dallas Small Business Development Center

LinkedIn Events

LinkedIn Events helps you discover business events and even serves up personalized recommendations based upon your industry. You can search for events nearby or by industry. Once you’ve found one, make the right connections by browsing Attendees You May Want to Meet, or by filtering the attendee list by current company or industry.

Upcoming events in Seattle:

• October 18, 4:30 PM: Social Innovation Fast Pitch w/ Nathan Myhrvold, CEO of Intellectual Ventures, Seattle Center’s Fisher Pavilion
• October 29 – 30: Seattle Interactive Conference 2012 at The Conference Center at Washington State Convention Center

Meetup

Meetup is a great way to connect with like-minded people. Whatever your interests may be, you can find local groups to fit your needs and connect. Try searching for non-business events too so you can connect with people with similar interests which will break the ice to talk business. Meetup is also great to tap into when you’re traveling. Before you board the plane, search for Meetups in your final destination. A new friend in Boise could become a new client for your business back in Boston.

Upcoming events in Boston:

• October 24, 6:00 PM: Revolve Nation Boston Entrepreneurs: Networking & Discussion Group
• October 25, 8:30 AM: Entrepreneurs & VCs Face-to-Face at OpenCoffee Cambridge Weekly Meetup

Yelp

Yelp is a very popular online guide for the real word-of-mouth on local businesses. People use Yelp to search for everything from the city’s tastiest burger to the most reputable spa to the best gym. Yelpers rate and write a review of any local business, giving you the inside scoop before you decide where to dine, where to get pampered, or where to workout. Most people don’t know that Yelp also serves up local events. So now you can meet up with potential prospects, know what to order off the menu, whether credit cards are accepted, and whether or not you should sharpen your lip-reading skills so you can hear what others are saying above the loud live music.

Upcoming events in San Francisco:

• October 23, 8:00 AM: Online Marketing for Small Business Seminar hosted by Pacific Community Ventures
• October 27, 1:00 PM: Startup Saturdays: Startup Finance – Valuations

Local Chamber of Commerce

Your local Chamber of Commerce has one simple goal: To further the interests of local businesses. Local Chamber staff, members and volunteers work throughout the year to ensure businesses can thrive in its own municipality.  While each local Chamber may run differently, membership provides professional growth, networking opportunities, and the opportunity to influence local business related policies. It is probably one of the best ways to keep your finger on the pulse of the local business community.

Upcoming events in Chicago:

• November 7, 7:45 AM: Member Business Development Breakfast hosted by Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce
• November 14, 11:30 AM: Quarterly Speed Networking For Business Luncheon hosted by Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce

BNI (Business Network International)

BNI provides a positive and structured environment for the exchange of quality business referrals, helping you build personal relationships with dozens of other business professionals. Belonging to BNI is like having dozens of salespeople representing your business, and in return you are representing their businesses. If you believe in the motto, “What goes around comes around,” then BNI is for you.  (Note: Only one person from each professional specialty is accepted into each local BNI chapter. Be sure to contact your local BNI chapter to determine if your business category is open.)

Upcoming events in Phoenix/Scottsdale:

• Tuesdays, 7:00 AM: BNI Central Phoenix
• Tuesdays, 7:00 AM: BNI Business Leaders of North Scottsdale
• Tuesdays, 7:00 AM: BNI North Phoenix Business Leaders

Toastmasters International

Since 1924, Toastmasters International has helped people of all backgrounds become more confident in front of an audience. While teaching public speaking skills is at Toastmasters’ core, their meetings make it easy to network and meet new people.

Upcoming events in New Jersey:

• October 23, 7:00 PM: Brunswick Toastmasters, North Brunswick, NJ
• November 6, 7:00 PM: Camden County Toastmasters Club,  Haddonfield, NJ
• November 1, 6:45 PM: Morristown Toastmasters, Morristown, NJ

The Business Journals

The Business Journals (a division of American Business City Journals) provide comprehensive coverage of business news from a local, regional and national perspective. If you need to keep up-to-date on the latest mergers and acquisitions or newly appointed company leaders, then your local Business Journal is your go-to resource.   The Business Journal also hosts several community award events including “40 Under 40,” which recognizes 40 successful entrepreneurs under the age of 40 and “Green Business Awards,” celebrating companies that demonstrate leadership in sustainable practices.  Business Journal sponsored events are known to draw big crowds of the “right” people.  Additionally, each local Business Journal’s calendar section highlights regional networking and educational events.  But The Business Journals’ best asset is its Annual Book of Lists which provides you with listings of hundreds of the hottest area companies by industry including the names of key decision makers, their titles and contact information.

Upcoming events in Minneapolis/St. Paul:

• October 26, 8:30 AM: Small Business Conference: Idea to Market to Growth hosted by Rasmussen College School of Business
• October 30, 5:30 PM: Book Launch: Mike Paton’s Get a Grip: An Entrepreneurial Fable

We’ve Only Scratched The Surface

This list could go on and on to include industry associations such as PRSSA, The American Marketing Association, SEMPO, university-sponsored events, local newspapers and more.

So pick your favorite resource and schedule a few networking events in the next 30 days.  On October 24th, in Part 2 of our “Get Out and Network,” we’ll tell you how to network with flair and initiate business relationships that will last beyond the first introduction and handshake.

How do you find out about networking events in your area?

The post Want to Grow Your Business? Get Out and Network! (Part 1) appeared first on .

From high tech to finance, medicine, and e-commerce, women have built some exceptional companies in all industries imaginable.

“The particular qualities of women’s leadership take on a new significance and a new power in today’s world. I believe that the strengths women possess and the behaviors that set them apart will lead us forward in the coming years: collaboration, conviction, inclusiveness, creativity, and mentorship,” Alyse Nelson wrote in a Fast Company article.

Part one of this series celebrated 20 women leaders in the fields of business services, healthcare, and social good. But a list of 20 just wasn’t enough — so here are 20 more equally amazing female founders to watch!

Consumerism for Better

1. Roominate

Bettina Chen, Alice Brooks, and Jennifer Kessler are passionate about helping young girls build an interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. So, they created Roominate, a toy that teaches circuits, spatial perception, planning, self-reliance, recycling, and energy saving. The long-term goal is to bring more women into STEM fields.

2. Kiwi Crate

Kiwi Crate is a kids’ crafts subscription service. Each month, the company sends its customers a “crate filled with materials and inspiration,” according to the website. CEO (and mom) Sandra Oh Lin created the company “to celebrate kids’ natural creativity and curiosity.”

3. SaveUp

Co-founders Priya Haji and Sammy Shreibati created SaveUp to reward people for building savings and reducing debt.

4. Uscoop

Maddy Moore, Jocelyn Moore Galliot, and September Rinnier created Uscoop to bring this private sale and flash deal website to college students. The deals are based on current college trends and what’s hot now, not last year’s overstock.

5. ModCloth

High school sweethearts Susan Gregg Koger and Eric Koger followed their passion for vintage and retro clothing to create ModCloth, a fashionable and engaging e-commerce experience for young women.

6. Activity Hero

Your kids need something to do. What are the best options? To help fellow parents answer that question, Shilpa Dalmia, Chandini Ammineni, and Peggy Chang created ActivityHero, a search platform for kids’ classes and camps.

Peer Marketplaces

7. TaskRabbit

Leah Busque created TaskRabbit to help people make more of their time. Through the platform, people can outsource tasks ranging from website usability testing to errands.

8. Zirtual

Maren Kate Donovan created Zirtual to revolutionize the personal assistant industry. “We’re motivated by saving our clients’ precious time while providing jobs for unemployed and underemployed U.S. based workers,” according to the company’s website.

9. GetAround

This peer-to-peer car sharing marketplace was started by Jessica Scorpio, Elliot Kroo, and Sam Zaid to help people make more out of their underused vehicles.

10. Umba Box

Lauren Thorp created this subscription service to help connect artisans and designers with viable consumer markets.

11. EzCater

Co-founded by CEO Stefania Nappi Mallet and President Briscoe Rodgers, this Boston-based company connects independent caterers with customers.

Marketing & Advertising

12. Buddy Media

Along with husband Michael Lazerow, Kass Lazerow recently sold enterprise social media platform Buddy Media to Salesforce for $689 million.

13. LaunchBit

Co-founders Elizabeth Yin and Jennifer Chin are building a customer-driven ad network for email, targeting the B2B market.

14. Wildfire Interactive

Victoria Ransom built Wildfire into a comprehensive platform for social media marketing. Google recently bought the company for $350 million.

15. SocialPandas

Co-founders Gretchen Deknikker, Mark Trang and Jason Ouellette are building a social selling platform to help B2B companies reach customers more effectively.

16. PromoJam

Co-founded by Amanda MacNaughton and Matt MacNaughton, PromoJam helps businesses generate discussions and customer loyalty through top social media platforms.

17. BlogHer

Lisa Stone, Elisa Camahort Page, and Jory Des Jardins created BlogHer as a community for women bloggers. The media company hosts an annual conference as well as a publishing network with some of the web’s most insightful blogs.

Travel

18. Vayable

Jamie Wong, Tim Robertson, and June Lin founded Vayable to help vacationers find unique travel experiences.

19. Triptrotting

Co-founders Aigerim Shorman, Shana Zheng, and Shawn Faison launched Triptrotting to build connections between people with similar interests, all over the world.

20. MyTab

Heddi Cundle and Virender Ahluwalia created MyTab to help people save travel cash for their dream vacations. The company features a gift card platform that helps negotiate travel deals.

You Chime In

There you have it! A list of 20 female run companies that are innovating in 20 different ways. What are some of your favorite startups, and who are some of your favorite female founders? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.

The post Roundup: 20 More Rockstar Startups with Awesome Female Founders, Part 2 appeared first on .

Last week we held a giveaway for 3 PumpkinWOW party packs. To be entered to win 1 of the 3 party packs we asked readers to share a startup “trick” and we got some really great tips!

And the winners are…

• PJ – “Hire slow. Take your time hiring and don’t settle for the first person, make sure you get the RIGHT person. Taking the time up front will save you a lot of hassle in the end.”
• Justin G – “Be Social – I don’t mean social media, I mean be SOCIAL. Attend events, join local business groups, attend trade shows, etc. The old saying “it’s not what you know, but who you know” is not entirely true but it’s very close.”
• Lora – “See it, do it, teach it….”

*Winners will also be notified by email.

Thanks to all those who entered the giveaway last week! Special thanks to PumpkinWOW for the pumpkin carving tattoo giveaways!

Just because the giveaway is over, doesn’t mean you can’t still share your “tricks!” Have a “trick” that’s helped you grow and build your business? Share it with us here.

The post PumpkinWOW Giveaway Winners appeared first on .

A woman starts a business in the U.S. every 60 seconds. Just think how many women-led business ventures will launch while you read this post?

That stat comes from Dr. Tracey Wilen-Daugenti, VP/managing director of the Apollo Research Institute and author of the upcoming book Women Lead (2013). She also notes that without women, the U.S. economy would be 25% smaller than it is today.

So, are women on equal ground with men? Or are they, potentially, even more entrepreneurial than their male counterparts?

Dr. Wilen-Daugenti sees an even playing field. “Women’s business motivations do not vastly differ from men’s; those who launch new enterprises do so because they perceive market potential and room for innovation.”  But there is some data that may suggest otherwise.

A 2011 survey conducted by leadership consultants Jack Zenger and Joseph Folkman evaluated more than 7,000 company leaders in terms of their effectiveness.  The leader’s peers, direct reports and bosses evaluated their leaders on how strong he or she rates on 16 leadership effectiveness competencies previously identified by Folkman and Zenger from their 30 years of research.  The study found that women ranked higher in abilities such as taking initiative, practicing self-development, displaying high integrity, driving for results and developing and motivating others, to name a few.

“The women’s advantages were not at all confined to traditional women’s strengths,” they note. “In fact at every level, more women were rated by their peers, their bosses, their direct reports, and their other associates as better overall leaders than their male counterparts.”

That makes women better, right? Folkman and Zenger still stress that “these are fundamental behaviors that drive the success of every leader, whether a woman or a man.”

Let’s dive into some more of the inherent, inborn, and maybe even stereotypical characteristics that help women succeed. We went to the experts—entrepreneurs themselves who have motivated, mentored and assisted thousands of business owners—and asked them what traits they’ve seen that help women excel.

Women can turn passion into profit.  “Women have a remarkable ability to take what they know and love, and turn it into a profitable business.  Female entrepreneurs are creative, resourceful and certainly determined,” says Marla Tabaka, a success coach for the nationally-known Count-Me-In for Women’s Economic Independence and columnist at Inc. Magazine online.

Women are their own worst critics. “As a coach, what I love the most is that women are willing to take a close look at themselves to achieve personal growth, which allows their business to grow and flourish as well,” says Tabaka.

Many agree this critique is key. “Women are more likely to blame themselves, while men are more likely to blame others or circumstances beyond their control,” says Dave Lavinsky, co-founder of Growthink, Inc., a business planning firm that has helped over 500,000 entrepreneurs raise over $2.5 billion in growth capital and start, grow or exit their companies.  “This self-blame is a good thing for a startup. Because when starting a company, most things don’t work smoothly at first. So rather than blaming outside forces like the economy, a poorly performing employee or a late shipment, women entrepreneurs are more likely to look internally; to search for things they and their team can do differently to fix the problem.”

Women’s sixth sense is the secret. “Female intuition is the secret weapon,” a resource that’s right up there with mentors, coaches and industry experts Tabaka coaches.  “Women have a keen sense of what feels right or wrong and, when they trust and follow their instincts, they can become powerful and influential leaders.”

Women value a purpose-driven life. Women often bring personal values into their businesses, creating a positive culture of employees and customers.  Tabaka says: “They are often driven by a sense of greater purpose; wanting to make a difference and create a positive impact on causes. Not only is this passion an emotional-driver but consumers like to buy from companies that support a purpose, so it’s a revenue driver as well.”

Women stop to ask for directions. The scenario of the man refusing to stop for directions as the woman wants to ask? Some suggest it’s absolutely true.  “I think the most compelling aspect of our study is that women were much more likely to ask for and respond to feedback. That is the key to their improved leadership,” says Folkman.

“The fact is, women are more likely to ask for help,” agrees Lavinsky. “Asking for help is key in starting and growing a company. Finding and asking advisors for guidance allows enterepreneurs and business owners to make better decisions. And asking employees for help, via delegating certain tasks, frees entrepreneurs to focus on the company’s highest value tasks.”

Nobody we interviewed was willing to answer the question: Who’s more entrepreneurial, women or men? And that’s probably the safest position to take. But women definitely do have an edge on men in certain areas.

What do you think? Are women better at starting and running businesses? In what ways?

The post Are Women More Entrepreneurial than Men? appeared first on .

In honor of all the women changing the world today, we created our newest video Women Can Change the World [tweet] to not only inspire other women entrepreneurs but also to celebrate those who helped us get where we are today.

Please join us in supporting all of the past, present and future women pioneers, innovators and entrepreneurs from around the world by sharing this video with every woman you know!

The post [Video] Women Can Change the World appeared first on .

The startup scene is filled with some seriously cool business concepts that are redefining the future of tech. Women are an invaluable part of leading some of today’s coolest up-and-coming organizations, and they are driving innovation in some of the most creative ways imaginable.

In celebration of the great minds, leadership and creativity of today’s female startup leaders, here are 20 companies launched and led by women. Stay tuned for part two of this series, which will bring you even more amazing women-led startups.

Business Services

1. Onboardly

Heather Anne Ritchie and Renee Warren cofounded Onboardly, a marketing firm that helps funded startups acquire customers.

2. BizeeBee

Founded by Poornima Vijayashanker, one of the first engineers at Mint, BizeeBee provides a customer management platform for fitness studios and membership-based businesses.

3. SlideShare

Congrats to CEO Rashmi Sinha and SlideShare for the company’s recent sale to LinkedIn. SlideShare helps professionals share presentations on the Internet.

4. Eventbrite

Julia Hartz created Eventbrite with her husband, Kevin Hartz as a comprehensive platform for event planning and ticket sales.

5. InDinero

Cofounders Jessica Mah and Andy Su created InDinero to help businesses streamline their finances.

6. Moonfruit

Wendy Tan White built this platform to help businesses build a website without any coding expertise.

Health & Wellness

7. Cake Health

Rebecca Woodcock created Cake Health to help consumers track health spending from one paperless, manageable place.

8. ChickRX

Stacey Borden and Meghan Muntean created a platform to help women seek answers to their health and wellness questions in a straightforward and anonymous way.

9. CoPatient

Founded by Rebecca Palm and Katie Vahle, CoPatient helps patients compare healthcare costs, regardless of what type of insurance they have.

10. GymPact

Yifan Zhang and her cofounder Geoff Oberhofer launched GymPact to help people stay on track with their workouts. The secret? Reward gym-goers for staying on schedule, and fine them for slacking.

11. Cardiio

This company can turn a smartphone into a biosensor that helps people monitor their heart rates.

12. MedMonk

This tool helps pharmacists find discounts and funding opportunities for patients who can’t afford their medicines. “It helps patients get the drugs they need, enables pharmacies and pharmaceutical companies to reach more patients, and protects insurers against bigger claims.”

13. CellScope

Amy Sheng, along with her cofounders, launched CellScope, a startup that’s building mobile hardware and software systems for disease diagnosis to be used in developing countries.

Jobs and Money

14. The Daily Muse

Founded by Kathryn Minshew, Alex Cavoulacos, and Melissa McCreery (three former management consultants), this online magazine is connecting the dots between Glamour and Forbes, positioning itself as a career portal for driven women.

15. LearnVest

CEO Alexa von Tobel’s mission is to help women become financially empowered. That’s why she started LearnVest—a platform to help women manage their money.

16. Levo League

Caroline Ghosn and Amanda Pouchot cofounded Levo League to provide a unique support system to help women find their dream jobs.

Social Good

17. Code for America

Jennifer Pahlka created Code for America to help bring tech innovation to local government. In 2011, the program earned a $1.5 million grant from Google.

18. InVenture

Led by CEO Shivani Siroya, this organization aims to create a standardized global credit score to help entrepreneurs launch businesses all over the world.

19. Manicube

Founded by Katina Mountanos, Manicube is a mobile manicure service for women at the office. For each manicure, the company donates $1 to its microfinancing project for companies abroad.

20. Give to Get Jobs

Stacy McCoy is a social impact strategist who founded this career portal to help job seekers find meaningful employment that gives back.

There you have it, 20 companies with female founders. Stay tuned for part two, next Tuesday featuring 20 more women-led companies in the fields of consumer goods, advertising, marketing, and more.

Which of the companies on this list really stand out to you? Who are your favorite female founders? Tell us below!

The post Roundup: 20 Rockstar Startups with Awesome Female Founders, Part 1 appeared first on .

Trick or treat! With Halloween just around the corner we thought it would be fun to do a little giveaway.  This week we’ll be giving away 3 PumpkinWOW party packs (12 pumpkin tattoo patterns in each) to 3 lucky people.

Thanks to our Tell Us Your Story program, we recently met Grasshopper customer Jim Christopherson, CEO of PumpkinWOW. PumpkinWOW takes carving pumpkins to a whole new level. Gone are the days of poking holes in paper templates. With the PumpkinWOW tattoo patterns, creating amazing pumpkin carvings is easy. Simply peel the tattoo, soak it in water, apply it to the pumpkin and you’re ready to start carving.

Want to give them a try?

How to enter:

Entering is easy! Simply share one of your entrepreneurial or small business “tricks” (read: tips) in the comments below and you’ll be entered to win a “treat!”

Entries must be received between Monday, October 8th and Friday, October 12th at 5 PM EST to be entered to win.

How to win:

For every “trick” you share, you’ll receive 1 entry and we’ll pick 3 entries at random. Winners will be announced on our blog on Monday, October 15th at 9 AM EST. Winners will also be notified via email.

Rules:

• Every “trick” you share will count as one entry.
• Enter as many times as you want.
• You may only win one party pack.
• “Tricks” must be submitted in the form of a comment on this post.
• All “tricks” must be submitted between Monday, October 8th and Friday, October 12th at 5 PM EST.
• No purchase necessary.

We’ll start…

“Tricks” from our co-founder David:

• Don’t hire PR agencies, you can do better yourself.
• Spend time on core values early.

Your turn! Comment below with your “tricks” for a chance to win 1 of 3 PumpkinWOW party packs.

The post [Giveaway Alert] PumpkinWOW appeared first on .

This is a guest blog post by Innovatively Organized.

It can be hectic working on-the-go! According to Gist, the mobile workforce is growing. In fact, “32% of employees globally now rely on more than one mobile device during the typical workday.”

From processing emails on your mobile device to working out of your car to attending countless meetings, sometimes it can feel like you are wasting time instead of working efficiently. The good news? There are solutions out there to help you feel productive and not just busy.

Here are seven tips to help you save time while working on-the-go:

1. Create an “End of Day” folder in your email. When you are running between meetings throughout the day, important tasks can get buried in your email inbox. To help you prioritize what tasks must get completed by the end of the day, create an “End of Day” folder. Then make it a habit to move emails into this folder from your mobile device during the day.  Before you sign off for the day, empty that folder to ensure nothing gets pushed off too far. The same principle can be applied to an “End of Week” folder.

2. Add locations to your task list. It may sound like an unnecessary extra step, but when you’re moving from place to place it can be extremely helpful to sort your task list by where you plan on completing the task. Then, you can batch tasks together accordingly and tackle them at each location such as: home office, work office, during flight, etc. Some online to-do apps such as Toodledo and TeuxDeux even already have the location functionality built into them.

3. Ensure your mobile devices are syncing properly. The key here is to test, test and test again. It may seem like a hassle to set up when you first purchase your mobile device, but it will save you time in the long run.  Make sure your calendar, email, task list, contacts and documents are all syncing correctly.

4. Include buffer time in your schedule. The next time you schedule your day, try adding an extra 15-20 minutes between appointments to account for travel delays or longer than anticipated meetings. Apply the same concept to completing tasks. Leave buffer time for tasks so that when things do not go according to plan or you get interrupted you won’t be annoyed or scrambling to meet a deadline.

5. Store documents in the cloud for easy access. Long gone are the days of emailing attached documents to yourself or saving files on a USB drive to transport. Now, storing documents in the cloud allows busy professionals to access files from a variety of devices. Some of our favorite cloud services for document storage are Dropbox and Microsoft SkyDrive.

6. Go paperless. When you are constantly on-the-go, space is limited and piles of paper usually don’t make the cut. Invest in a portable scanner such as the ScanSnap S1300 or TurboScan for your iPhone to quickly upload notes, meeting agendas and business cards to your desktop or virtual notebook.

7. Maintain a “while you’re waiting” task list. Inevitably, you will experience awkward amounts of time when you’re waiting for your next appointment or sitting in your car. Keep an ongoing list of small tasks you can complete while you’re waiting (e.g. writing thank you notes, making phone calls, or reading an industry newsletter). Depending how much time you spend in the car, a mobile desk might be a good option for you too.

How do you stay productive when you’re on the go? What other tips do you have for busy professionals?

Innovatively Organized is a productivity consulting firm that helps over-extended executives and teams of small and medium sized businesses become more effective.

The post 7 Tips for Professionals to Stay Productive On-The-Go appeared first on .

The road of entrepreneurship can be difficult at times, to say the least. Every successful entrepreneur has asked themselves at one point or another, “Did I make a mistake? Should I even be trying to start my own business?”

Now there is a personality assessment that will tell you the answer!

Alright, just kidding. It isn’t quite that easy. But there are a number of fascinating personality tools that can help you answer that question.

Taking one of these work-style assessments can do a lot more than help you choose a career path. They can help you identify strengths and weaknesses, hire the right people, and build better teams. As you gain self-knowledge, you will have more insight into how you can perform at your best, plus how you can help others excel, too.

Want to take an assessment for free? Simply leave a comment answering the thought-provoking question at the end, and you will be entered to win 1 of 10 FREE Prevue assessments or 1 of 10 FREE PAVF assessments. That’s 20 FREE assessments up for grabs!

1. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, based on Carl Jung’s theory of personality, is one of the better-known instruments. About 1.5 million people take this tool each year, says Jennifer Selby Long of The Selby Group.  Long has administered and interpreted more than 2,000 tests in her 18-year management consulting practice and is also a past president of the Association for Psychological Type International.

“The MBTI indicates your likely patterns in gathering information, making decisions, managing your energy, and interacting with the outside world,” says Long.   “If you learn about your unconscious blind spots, energizers, and energy drainers, you can use this knowledge to gain an edge over your competitors.”

But be warned: MBTI is just one evaluative instrument. “The danger of using just one tool and getting just one opinion is that a person’s hard-wired personality is just one dimension of what a successful entrepreneur would be,” advises Malcolm Munro of Total Career Mastery. “It’s a good starting point, but without some advice around the results, it might mean some potential superstar entrepreneurs may not pursue the career, and wannabes jump in and quickly fail.” Munro’s advice? Seek a professional to help understand the 93-question MBTI assessment.

2. Prevue HR Systems

Prevue HR Systems measures abilities such as learning speed plus interests, motivations, and personality, says Nathaniel Barr, the company’s marketing coordinator. Companies such as Honda and 3M have used Prevue to find and hire employees.

When it comes to budding entrepreneurs, the Prevue assessment “can give you an idea of how you’ll respond, engage, and handle the stress of starting a business,” says Barr.  And as staffing your company becomes critical to growth, incorporating an assessment into your hiring process can lead to smarter hiring decisions.

The Prevue team also believes its assessment may just improve the odds of a startup securing venture capital.  “We’re finding that one of the biggest challenges of entrepreneurs/start-ups is getting venture capital or angel investors. Typically the area that receives the biggest scrutiny from a VC is the team. If you can prove to a VC that you have objectively evaluated your team in terms of their capabilities and fit, you’re more likely to receive funding,” Barr explains.

3. The Entrepreneur Equation

The Entrepreneur Equation is a New York Times bestselling book that provides “a bevy of exercises and assessments to help you assess your personality vis-à-vis entrepreneurship, as well as your mindset, timing and the particular opportunity,” says author Carol Roth.  She has also put together an interactive online quiz to see how your personality compares with the popular profile of today’s successful entrepreneurs.

Why are personality tests so important to an aspiring entrepreneur? “Sometimes it’s hard for someone to see the forest through the trees.  [Assessments] help individuals get in touch with what their core competencies are and how those may overlap with what’s needed to take on running a business,” says Roth.

And while personality is involved in your success, it’s not the only defining factor. Timing always plays a role, she says. “You may be averse to financial risk currently, but that’s something you may be able to overcome if you saved up enough prior to opening a business. Not all the characteristics are static.”

4. The StrengthsFinder 2.0 Assessment

The StrengthsFinder 2.0 assessment by New York Times bestselling author Tom Rath—who leads Gallup’s workplace research and leadership consulting—identifies your top five talents and provides strategies to apply your strengths. When you purchase the hardcover book, a bound envelope gives you an access code to take the assessment online.

Jason McClain, founder and CEO of McClain Concepts, has built and sold over a dozen companies. He studied the book and discovered his strengths were “spot-on.”  Turns out that McClain’s strengths include Activator, Ideation, Strategic, Command, and Positivity, which undoubtedly helped him build his companies.

Yet McClain knows that others have contributed to his success, so he uses StrengthsFinder 2.0 as part of his hiring strategy by requiring candidates to take the assessment. He believes “hiring people with different strengths creates a company with the ultimate corporate strength.”

5. The PAVF Assessment

The PAVF assessment, a proprietary personality tool administered by Career Coaching International, describes “how you are wired,” says Tim Ragan, a principal at CCI.  Each letter stands for one of four personality types or groupings; P = Producer, A = Analyzer, V= Visionary and F = Friend.  Ragan highlights the fact that PAVF results incorporate work related terminology.  “We use terms such as ’producer‘ and ’visionary,’ which most people understand. Other tests use more esoteric descriptors such as ‘sensing’ and ‘judging.’”

Another benefit of PAVF is the straightforward results: a lay person can interpret how they fit in with their co-workers. Ragan observes, “It‘s not just about your personality, but how your personality meshes with the personality of the rest of the team and company.”

Ragan also cautions against using one test to determine one’s fate.  “It’s an approximation… It’s useful for starting good conversations about how people like/want to work, and why they may be having issues with their careers, bosses, work teams.”  He reminds entrepreneurs that there isn’t one “right” personality for a small business owner.

6. Teamability

Teamability focuses on roles and measures how people will connect with others. “Team spirit is no longer a mystery,” says CEO Dr. Janice Presser, who created the product with Dr. Jack Gerber at The Gabriel Institute.

Their proprietary assessment reveals “how people will perform when working with others to solve problems, overcome obstacles, and achieve common goals,” Dr. Presser notes. “Teamability reports are positive. They will tell you the way in which you will best contribute.”

Survey-based tests don’t always directly measure what happens when someone is involved in a team activity. “This is why Teamability offers a valuable perspective on individual work style preferences, job satisfaction, and also on the structure and development of teams.  It gives specific, actionable information to managers, helping them align job responsibilities with a person’s best mode of team contribution.” The basic Teamability course is online and is free, including an individual report.

7. Professional Dynametric Programs

Professional Dynametric Programs (PDP) is the primary tool used by the strategic consultants at Vision Alignment to coach executives in leadership development, communication style and hiring practices. According to Patty Azar, chief strategy officer of Vision Alignment, “This survey not only tells them who they are, but also how they must act to drive success. It shows them the impact of not being their authentic selves and the toll it can take professionally and personally.”

Azar echoes the sentiment of the other consultants.  “No decision should be made based on only one tool.” Azar also cautions against assessments which empathize your short-comings in an effort to get you to try to overcome them. “People should build and work based upon their strengths – NOT based upon overcoming their weaknesses.”

8. The FourSight Thinking Profile

The FourSight Thinking Profile deals with your problem-solving and innovation style, says Susan Robertson, an innovation consultant and principal of Ideas To Go.  Robertson says there are 4 phases  necessary for successful problem-solving—Clarify the problem, Ideate potential solutions, Develop the chosen idea, and Implement the action– and each of us has a preference for one  or more of these phases. “Understanding your preferences will help you avoid the pitfalls of potentially spending too much time and attention on the phases you prefer and short-changing the other necessary elements that may not come naturally to you.”

Robertson stresses how best to use assessments and interpret the results. “My philosophy would be that you should use them as tools to help guide you in how you approach what you want to do, so that you do it as effectively as possible and so you’re aware when you may need to confer with someone who has different strengths. You should never let these assessments dictate what you can or cannot do.”

9. Smart Work Assessments’ Self-Employment Profile

Smart Work Assessments’ Self-Employment Profile is a personality assessment that provides insight on how your characteristics influence your success in a self-employed career, says Douglas Garner, partner at Smart Work.  It includes a complete analysis of the key characteristics that most influence entrepreneurial success and then recommends your unique self-employed career strategy.

Some of the distinguishing characteristics highly correlated with entrepreneurial success include: one’s inherent need for structure and systems, interest in learning, managing rejection, and prospecting.  The Smart Work Self-Employment Profile “recommends your unique self-employed career strategy and development plan by ranking inherent characteristics against the requirements of the four major self-employed career options: agent/representative, consulting/contract, small business and franchises.”  For example, if you are a person who craves and thrives in a structured environment, owning a franchise may be a good fit. On the other hand, if structure feels stifling and constricting to you, then operating a franchise will feel limiting and frustrating to you.

Personality assessments may not be a crystal ball, but they do provide profound insights into who you are as an entrepreneur and as a person. The results from assessments will equip you with tools to grow, strengths to develop, and direction when considering a change in your career path.  And best yet, they can even help you answer that nagging question, “Is entrepreneurship right for me?”

Don’t forget! We’re giving away a total of 20 personality assessments (valued between $10 and $200 each).  Entering is easy – all you have to do is answer this question in the comments below in the next 48 hours:

What question do you have about yourself that you would like to answer with a personality assessment?

Plus, the first 10 people to write a blog on their website in response to this post and include a link to it in a comment below will automatically win!

The post Is Entrepreneurship Right for You? 9 Professional Assessment Tools appeared first on .

Your product or service may be one of a kind, but you need the right kind of marketing message in place to ensure your customers feel the same way. Beyond just a catchy tagline, you need to brand your company and tell your story in a way that gives customers an idea of who you are and what they can expect when they work with you.

While coming up with the perfect messaging can seem like an arduous task — especially if you don’t fancy yourself a copywriter — there are some proven tactics you can take to get the creative juices flowing.

Take a look at your competitors.

It’s important to do a competitive review, however informal or formal, to make sure you know what’s going on in your industry. How are similar businesses positioning themselves? How are they speaking to customers? Going through this process can help you spot the gaps in communication and see where you fit in. What makes you different?

Talk to your customers.

Interviewing some of your own customers can be a crucial piece to figuring out how to position your business. You want to talk about your business using their words, not your jargon. Try and start conversations broadly to learn more about the customer’s background and then drill down into how he or she specifically uses your service. This will help give context to their opinions and also open the door for identifying new opportunities you might not have thought of before. How people use your products and services can define your company’s message and position.

Craft a message.

To begin to craft your message, look at your competitor and customer takeaways. Then try and answer the following questions about your business in a few concise sentences: What do you stand for? What problems do you solve? What is the thing that you do that makes you stand out? After you can comfortably answer those questions, you should be able to craft a few key messages that speak to your target audience and communicate your values, too.

Create a voice and tone that match.

How you say something is just as important as what you’re saying. After you determine your brand story, define your brand voice including the language and tone you’ll use in all communications. Having a consistent brand voice will help solidify your company’s message, and it’s a great way to stand out from the crowd. MailChimp offers a comprehensive, Voice and Tone Guide that gives you a look at how this wildly successful e-mail marketing service approaches its communications across channels. MailChimp always considers the audience’s emotions and context first and adjust its voice to delight and help as appropriate.

To help you figure out what your voice and tone should look like, you can try a card sorting exercise where you list off a bunch of adjectives across the spectrum to determine what you do and do not want to be (i.e. ‘Cutting-Edge’ versus ‘Traditional’, etc.). You can readjust your brand messages to fit this tone after it’s been defined.

Measure and tweak.

A brand message is not set in stone, and it’s even preferable it evolves from time to time to reflect the new and interesting challenges of your business. Don’t be afraid to put a message out there and gauge the reaction amongst your customers. You can readjust as necessary until you get it just right.

Remember, “people don’t buy products anymore — they buy your business’s story.”

How do you define your brand voice? What tips and tricks are helpful to you in developing your brand message?

The post Brand Messaging 101 for Small Businesses appeared first on .

Apps are the new Internet: a technology boom that is making some people a pile of money while simultaneously changing the way other people do business. While it’s true that many apps are simply new and shiny ways to do the same old thing, a few rise above the rest and improve business communication immensely.

If you haven’t already, check out these rock star business communication apps (and share your favorites in the comments!):

GoToMeeting

One of the top apps for collaborative efforts with remote participants. Different features range from a private chat room to the ability to broadcast screenshots to a range of participants.

Skype

The instant message service is useful, but it’s the free international phone and video chat that really makes this app shine. Use it to get face time with your clients and allies all over the globe.

GoogleChat

GoogleChat picks up where Skype left off by adding options for multi-party video chat, synchronized chat rooms, and combining the app with other Google tools like Drive and Google+.

CampFire

CampFire is a group collaboration tool that keeps a record of the entire conversation, no matter how long or complex. The service is great for those brainstorming sessions where nobody remembers the best idea from early on in the conversation. CampFire’s parent company, 37Signals, also produces Basecamp and Backpack to meet your other communication needs.

Yammer

The trouble with social media is that everybody can read it — even your competition and that former team-member who doesn’t take his NDA seriously. Yammer sets up a Twitter-style interface open only to team members you choose to include. You get the off-the-cuff communication of social media without the risks.

TeamBox

TeamBox combines instant messaging, file sharing and project management modes to let teams collaborate on complex projects without having to leave the interface for more information. It’s an upgrade to communication-centric apps for teams that need that extra functionality.

CodeBase

CodeBase is for coders what TeamBox is for creatives and project managers. The app combines chat and collaboration tools with a database of code so that multiple team members can simultaneously work on the same program.

Apps come and go every day and given the way things are going this post could be obsolete before the end of the year.

What apps are you using to help make your office communications faster, cheaper and better?

The post Top Communication Apps for Your Business appeared first on .

Don’t get me wrong – winning is great! But these four companies learned that it’s not all about taking home the gold.

They went through all the hard work of competing in a startup competition, but they didn’t catch the big prize. However, they did walk away with unique experiences and ideas they couldn’t find anywhere else which helped grow their business.

Their stories go to show that competitions have a lot more to offer than just the prize packages.

Please tell us about your business in 2-3 sentences. We make real wood Apple accessories focusing on sustainability, protection, and style.  We are most known for our real wood back replacements for iPhone 4/4S and have recently expanded into making full bamboo iPhone cases, iPad skins and MacBook skins.

Which startup or business plan competitions have you entered and lost? 2011, Shopify Build A Business contest

If you were to apply now to a startup competition, what would you do differently? When I entered the Shopify Build A Business contest, I had absolutely no idea what I was doing from a business standpoint. I learned quickly how important it is to make personal connections with people, and to let them know what you’re all about.  I think the only thing I would do differently would be to push myself a bit harder, get my HUSTLE on, and really take every opportunity to make personal and meaningful connections.

Even though you did not take home the big prize, what did you gain from entering? I gained so much from this competition.  When I first entered this contest I was working in a dead end job and had little hope of breaking free.  Shopify’s Build A Business contest really pushed me, and motivated me to sell, sell, sell.  Before I knew it, I was earning more money with JackBacks than I was making in my daytime job.  In October 2011, I became fed up with my job and finally took the big jump!  I quit my job and started running my life (and new business venture) on my own terms.  It’s the greatest feeling in the world.

Do you plan to enter startup competitions in the future? Yes, I intend to enter more competitions in the future. I’ve got nothing to lose. Competitions are very motivating and put me in touch with like-minded individuals. I learned so much about myself, my business and life in general.

Why do you feel you’d have a better chance of winning this time around? Practice makes perfect!  I’ve grown so much since I first started JackBacks. JackBacks has a much bigger Facebook following now too. Being able to send out a Facebook message and get an immediate response is priceless. We also have expanded into a larger a selection of wooden accessories for Apple products, whereas, when I entered Shopify’s Build A Business contest, JackBacks only offered 1-2 products.

What stage was your company in when you entered your first competition and what stage is your company in now? JackBacks was just a baby when I entered Shopify’s Build A Business contest.  I literally created my online store only a few months before the contest.  At that point, the site was only generating a couple hundred dollars a month.  Now JackBacks has a great following with thousands of fans, and the business brings in enough money to support myself plus two other employees.  We have grown and expanded our products to fit a broader audience and are very excited for the future.

Tell us about your business. Badgy provides a social loyalty platform that delivers “SEO for Social.”. We help marketers of consumer brands reward their fans to get better distribution on Twitter and Facebook and sell more product.

Which startup or business plan competitions have you entered and lost? 2011, CapVenture 2012, Startup Riot 2012, SXSW Startup America 1 Minute Pitch Competition 2012, TAG Business Launch

If you were to apply now to a startup competition, what would you do differently? I would pay even more attention to the judges and the perspectives they bring to the table. Some competitions will skewer you without financial projections, even as a pre-revenue company, others will (perhaps rightfully) laugh at you for including such projections. Different competitions dictate different details.

The other, bigger lesson I’ve learned is to view a startup pitch as a story. You can put all the pieces of a pitch together in a slide deck, but unless they tell a coherent story, you’re not going to win, and that transfers nicely to investor conversations as well.

Even though you did not take home the big prize, what did you gain from entering? These competitions provide a great opportunity to practice presenting why your startup is valuable to an audience of normal people. Quite often, your potential investors and customers are also normal people, so practicing how to communicate the value in what you’re doing can actually help you in fundraising and business development.

If you get the chance to present at the final events, it’s a great opportunity to make new connections and continue old connections. For us, some of these events led to the conversations in which our investors committed and customers approached us. Even if you’re just watching the final event, you can pick up some great presentation ideas from the finalists, plus network among the crowd.

Do you plan to enter startup competitions in the future? We’ll probably consider entering the SXSW Accelerator competition, LAUNCH, or TechCrunch Disrupt. As our company has progressed, some of the basic startup competitions are less suited to our stage of growth, but there are still plenty competitions that provide a big stage of opportunity and fantastic pitch feedback.

Why do you feel you’d have a better chance of winning this time around? We are much further along. We have investors, including our lead investor Mark Cuban, who has advised us well and has brought great strategic partners and customers to the table. The funding process guided us into a much bigger business model, focused on getting paid when we help a brand sell products or other ROI-driven activities, rather than charging the huge monthly fees of our competitors.

What stage was your company in when you entered your first competition and what stage is your company in now? At Badgy’s first funding competition, I had a strong intuition about where I wanted to take the company, but I didn’t have the right way to convey my vision to others. The coaching I’ve received from each competition and from my time at Georgia Tech’s Flashpoint Startup Accelerator prepared me quite well to make investor pitches and hire a great team. We’re now growing both in terms of team members and in customers. It’s a great time in the life of the Badgy.

Tell us about your business. OfferedLocal is focused on giving small businesses control over the distribution of their own offers and specials through social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, and Foursquare, and via email.

Which startup or business plan competitions have you entered and lost? 2011, Lean Startup Challenge

If you were to apply again to a startup competition, what would you do differently? For us the application process was pretty straightforward, so I wouldn’t have changed much with regard to that activity.  As far as the rest of the competition and the final presentation I would have done a few things differently.  I would have spent a bit more time looking at other similar competitions to see who the winners were and how they had formulated their final presentations.  Although we placed 3rd I think we could have done a bit better.  In regards to the final presentation event I would have practiced more. Our final presentation was good but it felt rushed, so more practice would have really helped.

Even though you did not take home the big prize, what did you gain from entering? Lean Startup Challenge forced us to work through a very intensive implementation of the process. We had to create marketing and product tests, test them on potential customers, adjust our marketing and product features based on the results, and do that once per week for 6 weeks, something most companies only do 1-2 times per year.  On top of that we had to prepare reports and share them with the judging committee each week to document the process. The finalists, of which we were one, were the companies that showed the most effort and success in that implementation process.  The program really forced us to implement Lean Strategies quickly and that has stayed with us as we continue to grow the business.

Do you plan to enter startup competitions in the future? Given the stage of our business we probably wouldn’t enter any further startup specific contests because we have moved out of the pure startup mode and are now focused on growing the business.

What stage was your company in when you entered your first competition and what stage is your company in now? We were a pure startup when we entered the Lean Startup Challenge.  We haven’t made any huge changes to the business itself. The basic premise is still the same but now know more about our industry and our customers.  Now we are adjusting our sales processes and marketing.

Tell us about your business. CubeVibe replaces traditional employee performance reviews, helping managers connect with their teams and improve engagement. Specifically, CubeVibe delivers on-demand tools to help managers hold effective meetings, set individual and team goals, track progress with simple metrics, and share real-time, social feedback.

As our clients use these tools to improve performance, they get a crystal clear view of engagement across the entire organization from data captured automatically by CubeVibe. We can measure engagement in real-time by how employees are feeling, performing, and contributing.

Which startup or business plan competitions have you entered and lost? 2012, StartupRiot: Selected as one of the top 5 finalists, but did not take home the prize.

2012, The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) Launch Competition: Selected as a semi-finalist but we did not move to final round.

But we’ve also had a few wins along the way: Our first “big break” was being selected as “Awesome New Technology” at the 2011 HR Technology Conference, our industry’s most important event in held in Las Vegas, NV.

CubeVibe won People’s Choice at the Enterprise 2.0 conference in 2011, in Santa Clara, CA.

TAG named CubeVibe one of the Top 40 Innovative Technology Companies in Georgia (2012).

CubeVibe was selected as “Amazing Entrepreneur” (2012) which was hosted by Gwinnett Chamber of Economic Development.

If you were to apply now to a startup competition, what would you do differently? Communicating our value proposition in a short amount of time was our biggest challenge. At StartupRiot, for example, we only had 3 minutes and a few PowerPoint slides to pitch our company. Deciding what to include in the pitch felt a bit like Sophie’s Choice. We packed too much information into our presentation. If we were to do it again, we’d drop the slides which included supporting info and focus solely on what we do and why we’re unique. We’d keep it simple enough so that anyone in the audience could explain what we do at the cocktail reception afterwards.

Even though you did not take home the big prize, what did you gain from entering? We thought carefully about each competition we entered. After all, time invested in competition is time that could be spent writing code, talking to customers, and building the business. But for each competition, we refined our pitch, improved our message, and narrowed our focus. And in the early stages, testing the message and measuring the response was extremely helpful. You’ll spend a lot of time crafting each response for the application process, but you’ll use these answers thousands of times in casual conversations, customer presentations, press interviews, etc. Your mileage may vary, but every competition has been a great experience for us and accelerated our development, regardless of the outcome.

Do you plan to enter startup competitions in the future? Pure startup competitions are probably behind us. We’ve already received some great exposure from competitions and we’ve shifted to converting that exposure into customers and revenue. At this stage in our lifecycle, we’ll gravitate towards showcase competitions to highlight our product, especially at industry-specific events. I’m looking forward to StartupRiot 2013 as an audience member. I’m going to enjoy the show and networking without all the stress of presenting.

Why do you feel you’d have a better chance of winning this time around? We’d probably have a better chance of winning because now we have answers to all of the questions judges asked us. Learning is a huge part of the startup experience. And we still have a lot to learn. That’s why I’d say any startup that participates in a competition has a better chance of succeeding in general, not just in future competitions. Why? The amount of concentrated feedback you get about your product, pitch, and pricing is invaluable.

What stage was your company in when you entered your first competition and what stage is your company in now? When we entered the StartupRiot competition, we had a number of beta clients using an early version of our product. We now have production users (and revenue), so our focus has shifted to include operations and growing revenue. It’s a better stage to be in, but it introduces new challenges. For example, at HR Tech, I was literally changing code as the audience entered the auditorium for the demo. I could do that when we were in beta. I couldn’t do that today, but that’s just fine. I’ll take paying customers over beta flexibility any day.

Ready to experience the competition action for yourself and your business? We’ve profiled dozens of startup competitions nationwide so you can find the one that’s best for you!

Have you decided what competition is right for your business? What’s holding you back from entering a startup competition?

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What’s more exhilarating than jumping feet-first into a brand-new business idea and investing every waking hour into bringing it to life? For entrepreneurs, not much. The luxury of spending all that time on a new venture, however, is something few have at the very beginning.

“Starting a business doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to lay everything on the line right now, all at once,” writes the StartupNation blog. “Many entrepreneurs figure out how to hang the Open for Business sign on a part-time basis.”

For all the benefits of launching a part-time business while still maintaining a steady income elsewhere, it is certainly far from simple. Entrepreneurs who have made it work are those who have carefully managed — or juggled, rather — their time, revenues and commitment.

Prioritize Time Management

Time management is important for all business owners, but it is especially crucial for those who wear one professional hat by day and another on the side at night. What happens if you receive an urgent call from a customer when you’re in a meeting with your boss at your day job? How many interruptions during the workday can you handle? How patient can you expect your customers to be?

Because potential customers may not understand your schedule limitations, it’s important that they feel that you’re as available to them as possible, even if you’re not. This means creating and maintaining regular hours for your customers, and being faithfully available to them during that time.

Eric Markowitz explains for Inc.com how business owner Ed Gandia’s strict scheduling — including waking up earlier and going to bed later — made all the difference in launching his copywriting business:

“On Saturdays, he’d work from 6 a.m. until 12 p.m. so that he’d have time to spend with his family,” Markowitz writes. “Without precise scheduling, he says, the business would not have become nearly as successful.”

Markowitz was able to meet deadlines and respond to clients daily because of the regular time he set aside. He also recommends time management apps like Remember the Milk or virtual answering services to help manage tasks and phone calls while you’re focused on other commitments.

Squirrel Away Profits

It’s easy to think of your part-time startup as a new source of income right away, but if launching into a full-time business is your goal, the less you touch your profits, the better.

“At some point, you will want to walk away from your job and be a full-time entrepreneur,” writes Matthew Toren for Entrepreneur.com. ”The money you save now will enable you to take that step sooner. If you don’t need it to grow the business, then save it for your future, but be prepared to put it back into your new business as needed.”

Work Part-Time, Commit Full-Time

“Just because you’re starting a business part-time doesn’t mean you can make a half-hearted commitment to your venture,” the StartupNation blog says. “What it really means is that you’ve got to become dedicated to making a full-time impact on your new business in the limited hours available.”

Gwen Whiting and Lindsey Wieber shared with the blog the level of commitment that was necessary to get their cleaning products company off the ground. When the pair launched The Laundress while working corporate day jobs, they worked most evenings and weekends for months.

“We did our business plan on Memorial Day weekend, our financial projections on the Fourth of July,” Wieber told StartupNation, ”and on Columbus Day we were looking for a manufacturer at a trade show.”

Launching a company part-time while you’re still occupied elsewhere professionally is undoubtedly a challenge, but it sure is nice to be able to pay all your bills while your startup is just getting going as well.

How could you rearrange your full-time schedule so you could finally commit to that great idea of yours and turn it into a part-time startup?

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Today we’re celebrating Khoi’s 5th anniversary here at Grasshopper. Khoi is a senior systems engineer here on our network operations team. To celebrate (besides doing fun things around the office – check our Facebook page for photos later!) we thought it would be fun to offer a discount in his honor.

For today only,  all new sign-ups can enjoy $25 off, thanks to Khoi!

How can you redeem this offer?

It’s simple just head to http://grasshopper.com/khoi and a discount will be waiting for you at checkout!

Get to know Khoi (taken from his employee spotlight):

• He’s a night owl.
• His favorite TV show growing up was Inspector Gadget.
• His favorite sport is football.
• His favorite day of the year is Christmas Eve.

Now for the good stuff, some pictures of Khoi at Grasshopper over the years:

Thanks for all your hard work over the years Khoi and here’s to 5 more!

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Interview with Clarity’s CEO and Founder, Dan Martell.

For every startup Cinderella story, there are exponentially more failures.

“Very few companies achieve their initial projections,” Shikhar Ghosh said in a quote for a Harvard Business School blog post.

That’s why mentorship is so important, says Dan Martell, a serial entrepreneur and angel investor with a portfolio of about 18 companies. These days, he’s working on building Clarity, a marketplace for up-and-coming entrepreneurs to get advice from established founders over the phone.

“The inspiration came from growing up in a small town, without having anybody else in my network and failing twice – once when I was 18 and then again when I was 20,” Martell said. “Then, when I was 24, I reached out to a former minister in a midnight email. He replied, giving me the names of three people who would eventually become my mentors. They gave me great advice, which enabled me to build Spheric.”

Martell grew Spheric Technologies to 30 employees before he sold the company in 2008. The company grew by 152 percent each year, earning a number of business awards.

Here’s what he’s learned along the way:

Believe in yourself enough to reach out – successful people want to help.

“There are three elements to it,” Martell said. “First, tell the person what you’ve done so far. Be confident in yourself. Brag a bit. Try to be as open and as honest as you can to get the mentor to respond. Show that you are a person of action and that there’s a real potential that they can affect your business. Get them to want to help you. Second, be specific about what you want to talk about. Third, if you know that there’s something that the mentor went through, mention it. Pinpoint what you have in common.”

Know what you want, and know how to ask for it. That’s the key.

Just let it out, but don’t be a drag.

“I think the best advice I would say is to be as open and honest as you can, but don’t give them three or four paragraphs. Just get a conversation going, and say what you have to say. If you can get a conversation on the phone or in person — even better,” Martell said.

Start with who you are, what your company does, and the customers you’re targeting.

“Make sure that your elevator pitch is solid,” Martell said.

Always listen, and be grateful.

“Even if you don’t agree with the advice, don’t be confrontational. Write it down, take it, and be honest,” Martell said. “Never say ‘thanks, yeah, I get what you’re saying, but that won’t work for my industry.’”

Always remember to say thank you.

“After the call or the meeting, follow-up with a short thank you. Mention key takeaways from the conversation. Ask to circle back in two or three weeks, and share what you’ve learned from the experience. You’d be surprised by how happy that makes people,” Martell said.

Final thoughts – be natural.

“You should never ask somebody to be an advisor or mentor. It’s something that happens naturally. It’s something that they ask you,” Martell said.

Just live in the moment and appreciate the advice for what it is. Make the most of what you’re learning.

Do you have a mentor? How have they helped you grow your business?

This article was written by Allison Canty.

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All businesses need secure communications. High-level corporations have secrets ranging from classified government contracts to research and development results. But, large organizations aren’t the only ones that need to be cautious of their communication strategies, even small businesses have confidential information that are for their eyes only. Whatever level you’re playing at, these 6 tips can help you keep unwanted eyes and ears off your private conversations.

Here are 6 tips to keep your communication secure:

1. Practice Cell Phone Discipline

This is especially important for the growing number of companies that are moving away from landline communication. Cellular phones are essentially radio transmitters, and can be monitored by tech-savvy interlopers. Don’t say anything on a cell phone you wouldn’t shout in your local bar.

2. Know (and Observe) the Law

Some industries, most notably healthcare and computing, are subject to federal and local regulations that determine how secure they must keep their communications. Understanding those laws not only keeps you out of trouble, but often defines best practices for securing communications in that area too.

3. Set Clear Policies

Have a written policy about how all employees are expected to handle secure communication. For best results, have that policy apply to all communication, secure or otherwise. This builds good habits and protects you when an innocuous exchange becomes a security risk. Use this to build good communication discipline, and to give you leverage in the event you need to let an employee go for poor security habits.

4. Use Encryption

Encryption is cheap or free, and relatively easy to use for email and other electronic communications. It’s not perfect security at the low-end price point, but it will certainly do its part “keeping honest people honest” by locking out those who aren’t supposed to be part of the conversation.

5. Enforce Sensible Passwords

You would be amazed by how many of your employees use “password” or other obvious words and phrases as their password. Whether you set a formal policy or code your interfaces so only strong passwords work, enforcing a password policy is crucial to secure communication. For example, requiring employees to change passwords at least once a quarter.

6. Watch the Back Door

And the front door. And any other physical aspect that can compromise communication security. This runs the gamut from locking the door to your server rooms, to storing sensitive files intelligently, to closing the door when you take a private conversation.

Communication security is serious business, but misfortune is one of the best teachers.

Do you have any stories about communication security disasters? What can we all learn from them? Share in the comments below.

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One of the hardest parts of starting a new business is getting it off the ground. Raising startup funds, learning the ropes and finding those first few customers is not easy. Success takes hard work and hustle – but if you know where to go and what to do, the process gets much easier.

Entering a startup competition can be a powerful experience for a startup or new business.  It can be a great way to build momentum for your idea during that critical first year. Winning comes with a lot of perks, but even if you don’t win, you won’t leave empty handed. If you’re looking for a competition that’s right for your business, we’ve compiled an extensive guide to startup competitions in the U.S. that’s worth reviewing (and sharing!).

Each of these competitions can help you get your business off to a flying start, or take it to the next level.

Here’s a few of the reasons you should consider entering a startup competition.

1. Gain Exposure for Your Business

Startup competitions are a great way to tell others about your business, gain exposure, and find new customers.

There are several ways you can use competitions for marketing, branding, and PR. First is the obvious: You get to brag about it! Email your past and present clients. Put together a press release and personally drop it off at local newspapers and radio stations. Email relevant bloggers and offer yourself as an interviewee. Some competitions even include community voting, so you have an opportunity to stir up your fan base by inviting them to participate. Sharing your involvement in a startup competition, no matter what the outcome, demonstrates your commitment to your company, how you are creatively growing your business and that you’re looking for ways to serve your clients better.

Second, depending on the competition, chances are that few (if any) of your direct competitors will be one of the entrants. If the competition has a final celebration event, you’ll probably find yourself surrounded by tons of new business opportunities. Be sure to bring plenty of business cards and get ready to mingle! You never know who you’ll meet.

There are a lot more ways to unearth new business and PR opportunities during startup competition events. Award ceremonies are usually crawling with press and bloggers on the prowl for an interesting story – be prepared to give them one. Of course winners receive a whole lot more attention, but entrants also have a story to share. So if you happen to win an award, brag about it and enjoy the spotlight! If you didn’t make the cut this time, you can still approach the press with an original and interesting story.  Oh, and be sure you’re ready for the new business that will be heading your way.

2. Network with Savvy People

Startup competitions are packed with ambitious guys and gals just like you.  Whether they are just getting started or have been at it for years, they all started with an idea and built it from scratch. They’ve all made plenty of mistakes, acquired knowledge and skills along the way and have endless information and perspectives to share. Rub elbows, shake hands, ask questions and take note!  Each interaction may just save you from having to learn lessons the hard way.  And remember, sometimes the biggest “aha” moments come when you’re sipping coffee with strangers.

3. Spark Your Creativity

Entering and attending startup contests will get your creative juices flowing. The actual process of entering the competition forces you to put your business on paper, organize your ideas and brainstorm the possibilities.  In some cases, application reviewers will provide you with unsolicited (and priceless) feedback.  Attending the competition events will kick your ideas into hyper drive so you can push your vision to the next level.  Listening to passionate business leaders and exposing yourself to new perspectives will inevitably spark your creative spirit.  You’ll walk away with a notepad packed with tons of to-do’s… and even some time-saving don’ts!

4. Set (and Achieve) Goals

It’s not easy to enter a startup competition – and that’s a good thing! Chances are you will need to polish up (or write the first draft of) your business plan and answer thought-provoking questions as part of the application process.  This process will force you to think critically about every aspect of your business, nail down your vision, assess the competitive landscape, define your value proposition and set short term and long term goals.  Face it, submitting an application to a startup competition forces you to focus and refocus on your overall strategy, which may be one of the most valuable aspects of entering.

5. Practice Your Elevator Pitch (over and over)

If you don’t have your elevator pitch down perfectly (or don’t know what it is), now is the time to practice!  While attending a startup competition, you will have dozens of opportunities to tell people about your business. Your elevator pitch is a 30-second summary that quickly and simply defines your business and its value proposition.  It can make the difference between a potential investor losing interest or giving you his personal email and phone number.

Be sure to practice your elevator pitch beforehand! Make it brief, unique, and memorable. Test-drive your pitch among friends and colleagues.  Watch people’s reactions as you share it. Are they intrigued? Do they want to know more, or do they walk away after you give your spiel? Don’t be afraid to test a few versions of your elevator pitch to figure out what works best. Remember, practice makes perfect.

6. Connect with Advisors and Industry Mentors

We all need a little hand-holding from time to time and startup competitions often provide the support and instruction new businesses need.  Some competitions require contestants to meet with knowledgeable business advisors as part of the application process. Others match competition winners with exclusive business coaches and investors. If you’re smart about it, you can probably find incredible mentors just walking the floor during the competition events or awards ceremony.  Bottom line, startup competitions are a great way to find tried-and-true advice.

7. But Wait, There’s More: The Prizes!

Winning comes with bragging rights, and more! Prizes for the startup competitions we profiled range from $2,500 cash to $100,000 grants, plus non-cash prizes including free business services, access to VC’s and mentors, headline exposure to business communities and numerous PR opportunities. Combined, the startup competitions listed in our guide are giving away more than $3.3 million in cash and prizes!

Every kid in little league gets a trophy. You could say the same goes for startup competitions, but you walk away with a lot more than a certificate of participation! Every startup competition has dozens of stories of businesses that took off after participating. With so many competitions to choose from, the only question left is, which one is right for you?

Are you planning to enter a startup competition? What do you hope to get out of it?

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Your online presence may have given your small business the ability to go global, but what happens when you are out and about in the world yourself? How do you do business then? Processing transactions and invoices on the go means you can operate your business at full speed whether you’re at a trade show, business lunch, airport or the farmer’s market. But with an onslaught of mobile billing options available with an array of different features, how can you know which is best for your business?

Each of the best mobile billing platforms have a particular feature that makes them stand out. Match your business’ needs to the platform with the right features, and you’re ready to hit the road.

1. Card-Swiping Capabilities

Square may not be the only mobile credit card reader out there, but it is certainly the most well known. According to its spokesperson, Square has more than a million users and processes more than $4 billion annually.

Those are some big numbers. All of those users received a free credit card reader that fits into their mobile device, and pay less than 3 percent in transaction fees when processing payments anywhere and everywhere. For small businesses that would rather pay a monthly fee, you’re in luck. Square recently debuted a monthly pricing option so now you have the luxury of choosing which option is best for you.

“The vision of Square is to simply create zero friction and complexity around payments, which is difficult to do in financial services,” says Square’s COO Keith Rabois to TechCrunch.

2. Recurring Billing

Mobile billing isn’t just for on-the-spot, one-time transactions. Chargify allows businesses to sign up for subscriptions, handles monthly billing, refunds and promotions as well as one-time charges.

Chargify handles each element of recurring billing for the Web 2.0 or SaaS based businesses, so there is no need to develop a customized billing software,” writes Farhan Niazi for The Backup List.

The platform also integrates with other software merchants may be using.

“I run a lot of my business using Wufoo forms,” says Matthew Ackerson of PetoVera to Mashable, ”and Chargify easily plugs into them so I can capture a client’s credit card information via our sales team.”

3. Customer Service

Just because you’re using a high-tech mobile billing system doesn’t mean you’re a techie yourself. Braintree allows businesses to accept online credit card payments, and they’ll also accept your call.

“Best of all is their customer service,” Aaron Schwartz of Modify Watches tells Mashable about Braintree. “While traveling, I had to charge a pretty massive order for a customer. The revenue was above our maximum allowed transaction, but Braintree reps called our banks and approved the one-time charge to go through.”

4. Seamless Transition to Mobile

PayPal isn’t new, but its credit card reader, PayPal Here, is. For merchants who have already integrated PayPal payments into their business model, adding PayPal Here is an easy way to retain all the same payment policies and methods – including PayPal itself.

PayPal announced that it signed up more than 1,000 new users per hour in its first day when PayPal Here launched in May of 2012. For merchants, the PayPal reader is a meaningful advancement.

According to Todd Ablowitz, founder of Double Diamond Group, LLC, a Colorado-based payment systems consultancy, “The entrance of PayPal shows that this is a very real market, with an increasing number of options for target merchants.”

So where do you imagine your small business getting the most use out of mobile billing? Are you already doing billing on the move? What tool do you find to be the best of the best?

This article was written by Allison Canty.

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This week’s employee spotlight is on Siamak Taghaddos. OK, so maybe he’s not technically an employee but he sure does play a big role here at Grasshopper. Siamak is the co-founder and CEO of Grasshopper. He oversees the strategic direction of the company and is our company’s brand and product visionary.

Let’s get to know Siamak…

If you could meet one person, alive or dead, who would it be?

John D. Rockefeller – I’d love to understand how someone can create such a successful business without any of the technology we take for granted today and without any formal understanding of entrepreneurship. Today we have schools like Babson and HBS to teach us, we have Steve Jobs’ videos and teachings and INC magazine to learn from, and mentors to guide us but back then to have created such an empire without any of that, fascinates me. He was also a great philanthropist and donated an enormous amount to improving human lives at a time when barely anyone else was doing so. He was a true genius and to be able to learn from him would be tremendous.

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

There was never a particular profession that excited me as a kid, but as far as I can remember nothing excited me more than traveling the world. James Bond, without the spy part.

What’s your biggest pet peeve?

Having to follow up with people. It’s the single most frustrating part of running a company.

Clarification: Having to follow up with people who were supposed to follow up with me.

What’s your favorite place you’ve visited?

Cap d’Antibes

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

To never burn bridges. My mom instilled that piece of advice in me. It’s come in handy many times and I’m glad I listened.

Fun facts – have anything interesting people should know about you?

I love space and everything it stands for. I plan to visit the VLTs in Chile soon and get involved in space tourism in the future.

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If you watch a little too much TV (we’re all guilty of it some days), you might start to think the American Dream is a luxury car, a beautifully furnished and always perfectly clean house, travelling around the world, and still having money in the bank for the latest version of every gadget Apple has to offer.

But that’s not the American Dream.

The American Dream is about building something out of nothing. It’s about taking an idea and turning that idea into reality. It’s about casting a vision to help others see what could be, and then bringing that vision into the world.

The American Dream is about rolling up our sleeves and building a business, together.

For the last 236 years, America has been known as “The Land of Opportunity.” Throughout history, people have come to America not just to get a job, but to live out their hopes and dreams.  For many, this means starting a business to make their mark on the world. We are a country filled with self-starting go-getters that don’t just want to make a name for themselves, but want to make their contribution to our future together.

Right now, the next Steve Jobs is sitting in a garage or a basement with little more than the clothes on his or her back, and an idea. An idea that could change the world.

But the next Steve Jobs isn’t guaranteed a spot in the history books. Unfortunately, too many world-changing ideas fall flat on their face. Failure can happen for all sorts of reasons. In his book, Small Business Management, Michael Ames names just a few of them:

• Lack of experience
• Insufficient capital
• Poor location
• Poor inventory management
• Over-investment in fixed assets
• Poor credit arrangements
• Personal use of business funds
• Unexpected growth

An amazing idea is not a startup’s free ride to success. It’s simply a ticket for aspiring opportunists to embark on a journey.  And if they are lucky, they will encounter the right people with the best advice and motivation, they will get the right infusion of resources from the business community, and they will find the right funding sources to give them the cash they need to build and grow.

But a startup’s success shouldn’t be based on luck. Startup competitions are powerful incubators for new businesses because they bring together motivation, resources, funding sources, and more.  They challenge every business owner (not just the winners) to put their absolute best foot forward, and to work out every possible kink from their business plan before someone else sees it. And entrepreneurs get to rub shoulders and compare notes as they get a closer look at what others are doing. It is this type of community that fosters the innovation that brings an idea into reality.

The process every startup goes through in a competition helps them grow. But winning a startup competition comes with some pretty big perks too. It gives your company significant exposure with some exciting PR opportunities. Then there’s the awards themselves. Depending on the competition, winners can receive tech goodies, trips and VIP passes to industry events, piles of cash, and access to valuable mentors and VCs (Startup Open, for example, offers mentorship with Mike Delazzer, founder of Redbox).

Need help finding the startup competition that’s right for you? We’ve got you covered!

We believe in startups, so we compiled the Ultimate Guide to Startup Competitions, including awards, eligibility details, judging criteria, entry deadlines, and more. In total, these competitions offer more than $3.3 million in opportunities for entrepreneurs (cash, investments and prizes). We included every competition we could find, but if we missed one, please email Stacey and we’ll get it added right away. The only question left for you is which competition to choose!

America is still the land of opportunity. New businesses are starting every day. More importantly, we are always working on tomorrow’s big ideas. Is your idea one of them?

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The success of your company can be directly impacted based on how well you manage your variable expenses such as the phone bill, electricity, heat and other utilities. One method for reducing those variables is to streamline your office communications. When you do this, you pare down to just what you need and use. Thus, making better use of your resources and limiting waste which is especially important when you’re just starting out.

Consider these 8 tricks for making your communications lean…and occasionally green.

1. Ditch Your Equipment

Modern offices no longer need a land line phone, fax, teletype or physical extensions to function in today’s business world. Thanks to the newest smart phones (and their apps), tablets, Internet services and virtual phone systems (like us!) your computer and phone can do all this and more for you, for much less and without the bulky equipment.

2. Review Your Bills

Avoid “service bloat” by reviewing your bills at least once a quarter. You’re likely to find a service you don’t use or need any more.  Is this service in a bundle with other services that you do need and use? Why not try to negotiate with your vendor and have it removed?  It’s at least worth a try!

3. Schedule Time for Email

Don’t treat email as a constant stream of communication. Instead, encourage your whole team to check email at most every two to three hours. Constant email back-and-forth wastes time and energy, while checking in at intervals helps keep your team on track and makes sure most communication is necessary.

4. Use Virtual Fax

Virtual fax programs allow you to send and receive faxes without the extra machine (or a separate phone number), and without printing the document. These services give you a virtual phone number that turns an incoming fax into an email, and a .pdf file into an outgoing fax.

5. Use Apps

New office communication apps hit the market every day. Two of the most popular right now are Campfire and GoToMeeting. This field changes every day, but the options all trend towards facilitating meetings, tracking tasks and making you as efficient as possible so take advantage of them wherever you can.

6. Send “Ping” Emails

When you finish a face-to-face meeting, shoot a quick note to everybody involved summarizing the content and any action items. This turns those chats into work flow, and helps everybody agree on what they were just talking about.

7. Use Voicemail

Everybody has voicemail, but not everybody uses it to their best advantage. One trick here is to let your voicemail answer your phone when it rings while you’re busy. Studies indicate you’ll lose 20 to 40 minutes of productivity just getting back on task after taking a call. Can your business afford that?

Another trick is to use brief voicemails as reminder notes to yourself. You could even set up an extension for employees to call into for a status update. That way they can check when it’s convenient for them and you’re not disrupting them when you send it.

8. Embrace the Text Message

It may feel like some new thing all the kids are doing, but text messages are perfect for communicating information succinctly. A quick reminder by phone requires a minute of small talk, two bad jokes, the information, and an awkward goodbye. Via text, it’s twenty seconds of typing — and the recipient views it when he’s ready, not when you send it.

Do you have a story about moving to 21st-century communications in your office? Or a question about how to do it best? Leave a comment below and join the conversation!

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If you want to be a successful entrepreneur, you have two options: learn from your own mistakes as you go, or take note of lessons learned by those already at the finish line.

We sat down with a few of our friends in the start-up world to glean from their sage wisdom and experience. The gist of our questions for them was: What advice would you give someone just launching their first startup? And how did you come across this advice yourself?

Grab some coffee and a notepad, sit back, and enjoy!

Paul May, Founder of BuzzStream

While you shouldn’t be afraid to pivot towards a new vision, you should be incredibly wary about pivoting towards a new target customer.

When we launched our first product, we had a very clear idea of who our target customer was and the problem it would address. But immediately, we received interest from other customer segments. Because they were excited about us, it was easy to fall into the trap of chasing after this new group in the pursuit of early revenue instead of focusing on our core customer group.

The problem is that, as a startup, you have so few resources that you need to be incredibly focused on a specific customer pain point. While it seemed like these other customer groups had the same requirements, each segment ended up having unique needs that didn’t present themselves in early conversations. So by pursuing multiple customer groups, we ended up with a less focused product. On top of that, it confused our messaging and made our promotional efforts much less effective.

Eventually we made the decision to step back and focus on our original target customer. This was scary because it put a lot of revenue at risk. We did see the revenue from the secondary customer segment dry up over time, but the revenue increase from our initial target segment grew at a rate that more than made up for it.

Eric Koester, Co-Founder of Zaarly

The key to building a successful online marketplace is providing people with a ‘well-lit’ place to do business as they do in real life.  At eBay that meant focusing on online reputation and ratings, ensuring the eBay community had places like forums to communicate and mirroring real-world behaviors as much as possible.

Meg Whitman, CEO of HP, former CEO of eBay, and a board member at Zaarly gave us that advice about meeting people where they are. We had been working to build a local online marketplace for people to discover talented people to help them with just about anything.  And Meg’s advice came just about 6 months after Zaarly had launched as she joined our board.  It was crucial advice to help give us focus and key tenets to build around: (1) making a marketplace that provided transparency into the people participating in the community, and (2) mirroring real-world behaviors.  Over the next six months, it helped us to build features and our community in that mindset.  In some ways, we knew these were important, but having it laid out very clearly with Meg’s experience at eBay helped create a much clearer path forward.

At the time we received this advice, it felt like a breath of fresh air. It was exactly what we needed to hear and the timing could not have been better.  Obviously, we were ready to embrace it immediately since it was coming from Meg Whitman, one of the most experienced people in building online marketplaces.  Today, we look at each iteration, each product feature, or each initiative through those lenses: How does this make our marketplace ‘well lit,’ and does this mirror real life?

Harley Finkelstein, Chief Platform Officer of Shopify

Build something that you yourself would use. In other words, build a restaurant you would want to dine in. Don’t just build something you like and put it out there, hoping it sells.

When Shopify first started, the original co-founders (Tobias Lütke and Scott Lake) were actually looking for a platform to sell their snowboards.  They discovered they either had to spend millions to get a custom e-commerce site or sell the snowboards on something like eBay. When they launched Snowdevil in 2004, a snowboard e-commerce site, they realized others could benefit from an easy-to-use e-commerce platform. So they pivoted their business, from selling snowboards to launching Shopify in 2006. The key for them was to have an agile model: Put something out there, let people try it, get feedback and modify it. Then do that over and over again.

This insight came about as a result of going through the process of building the type of software we needed for our own use. Years later we realized that certain things we did then naturally or organically worked out. We became more analytical. Our company is still run as a startup today. Everyone on the team is an entrepreneur. We believe “done is better than perfect” and we believe in failing fast.

This approach has been key to Shopify’s success. There are no other companies out there doing what we do. Shopify is dynamic, always improving, and always adding new apps, themes, and functionality. This has made us leaders in the industry and also competitive because we are constantly improving. We don’t wait for milestones. We change dynamically based upon feedback and new technology. Had we not done this, we probably wouldn’t be the industry leader.

We have our ear close to the ground. We understand our customers and the industry. It’s a perpetual dynamic process in both tech and business development – we call it “agile” (some call it “Biz Dev 2.0”). We don’t spend months negotiating a business agreement for a 3rd party to build something for our merchants. If you want to build something for Shopify, you simply have access to our API! Then you can put it into the app store and you’re off!

Mike Raab, VP of Sales at CopperEgg

When CopperEgg first launched RevealCloud for server-monitoring in July 2011, we focused primarily on the product, not the marketing. We didn’t even think about tracking and profiling our first customers in order to learn how to have a bigger reach in the future.  We had no idea how they found our site or where they learned about our product. We had to do quite a bit of backtracking to figure out how to reach our target market in order to grow the company.

About a month after we launched our product, we began doing some SEO research and it was clear  we had no understanding of the origin of our sign-ups.  After conducting research and talking to our customers, we knew we needed the right tools and processes in place to track how signups arrived at our virtual doorstep (website) so we could acquire new customers and grow the business.

At the time, it almost seemed like an insurmountable task.  We started from zero and built up our knowledge, tools and processes from the ground up, and we incorporated the advice of many consultants.

One of the things we do differently now is we refine our marketing tactics and programs on a daily basis.  We have a variety of tools to tell us exactly where our sign-ups are coming from and how they came to know about CopperEgg. We utilize these to optimize the mix of marketing that we conduct.  The mix includes all manner of social media, an SEO optimized website, as well as targeted programs and advertising.

There was a lot of trial and error at the beginning, and it took months to develop. Now we could not live without the marketing visibility we have on a real-time basis, and it allows us to make better marketing investment decisions every day.

Damon Ramsey, Founder of Healthism

I think the most fantastic piece of startup advice I’ve received is “build half a product, not a half built product.”

When we first started Healthism (and later on branched out to our SaaS based product), we were utter perfectionists on a grand mission to build the most feature-complete health platform on the web. We didn’t want to build half of a product which could run the risk of being inherently inadequate. Later we learned that leaving out features and modifying our product organically, based on client feedback, is the golden path to success. Trying to cram unlimited features into our own product without customer feedback  is a great way to get lost in a no man’s land.

I would hear about this whole minimalist approach to software every once in a while from various sources. But I only really understood what it meant when I read, “Getting Real” by the very intelligent folks at 37Signals. At that point, Healthism had already been in business for six months.

We had spent too much time building features without any objective measure of their utility. In reality, we harmed ourselves and wasted resources by delaying our own progress building pipe dreams, as opposed to client-driven features.

I had always wholeheartedly agreed with the lean startup model in principle, but in reality I was a feature monger when it came to assigning tasks to my development team. It was only after we had gone really far down the rabbit hole that I realized the value of this advice. So “Getting Real,” sang to me loud and clear. Now we are seeing the impact every day. I try to make conscious decisions to reject almost everything I personally want in our product, only letting features come to the drawing board when our consumers ask for them. Things are a lot saner for the team now, and our product is much more effective because of it.

What piece of advice did you find most helpful? What lessons did you learn early on that you would give as advice to a new entrepreneur? Please comment below!

Special thanks to each of our contributors!

• Paul May – as a cofounder of BuzzStream, Paul helps other businesses track their “buzz” through tools for social media marketing, PR, and link building. Because of his expertise, he offers a unique perspective ways for businesses to increase traffic to many websites by helping them find ways to be found online.
• Eric Koester – this “reformed startup lawyer” launched Zaarly in February of 2011 after he met a group of interested investors (that included actor Ashton Kutcher) at LA Startup Weekend. Koester and his team won the competition that weekend and soon found success with Zaarly, a platform that connects local, reliable, friendly people to get the things you need.
• Harley Finkelstein – You can say Harley is a professional entrepreneur (he launched his first company at the age of 17!). He brings plenty of expertise to his role as Chief Platform Officer at Shopify. This powerful e-commerce solution includes everything you need to create an online store on their easy-to-use platform.
• Mike Raab – this “regular guy who loves technology”  has a passion for his customers at Copperegg, doing whatever is needed to help deliver high quality products and solutions. At the same time he is a technology sales powerhouse who practically invented consultative sales – he brings a level of sincerity to his work ethic as the VP of Sales at Copperegg.
• Damon Ramsey – as a health technology expert, Dr. Ramsey has a vendetta against poorly designed health applications and a deep passion against disease.  This eventually led to the development to Healthism, a platform for preventative and family medicine and health technology.

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With today’s growing mobile workforce more and more people are working from untraditional workspaces such as their kitchen or coffee shops. Here in Boston we’ve even seen people working from rafts in the Fort Point Channel.

In an effort to help fuel this mobile workforce of independent workers, freelancers, startups and entrepreneurs and increase awareness of the availability of co-working spaces, we’ve teamed up with Deskwanted, a global network of coworking spaces and shared offices offering their desks to independent workers, and Gidsy, an online skills and experience sharing platform, for an exciting (and super easy) photo competition.

What do I have to do?

1. Take a photo of yourself or a friend (you need consent…) working in a ridiculous situation.

2. Tweet the photo to @Deskwanted on Twitter with the hashtag #NeedABetterPlace

3. That’s it! All photos submitted will be put in a Facebook album, to be laughed at for many months to come, with due credit given to the entrant.

What will I win?

One lucky winner will receive a complimentary placement to the value of $100 for an activity listed on Gidsy, in any city they choose. Art and culture tour of NYC? Turkish food class in Istanbul? It’s up to you.

All entrants will also go into a drawing to win a lifetime account to Grasshopper. The top ten best entries will receive a $100 discount on all Grasshopper services. Yup, you read that correctly.

In addition, the very best 12 photos that are submitted will be included in a coworking calendar, hung in coworking spaces around the world. Awesome, right?

For more of the details, head over to the Deskwanted blog.

You have until September 30th to get your pictures in. Good luck!

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This week’s employee spotlight is on Stephanie Bullis. Stephanie is our word of mouth marketing manager. She runs our buzz department here at Grasshopper and is responsible for generating “buzz” about Grasshopper through press, events and other fun things that get people talking. The goal of Stephanie’s job is to make sure our customers have a good experience with our brand and want to tell their friends about it.

Let’s get to know Stephanie…

Who did you first see live in concert? (and when if you remember)

Technically, my first concert was in 1988 when I saw Sharon Lois & Bram, the brilliant minds behind the theme song of The Elephant Show and the ever so popular tune “Skinnamarink”. Looking back on it now, it’s quite terrifying. The first concert I actually remember seeing was 10 years later, in 1998 when my mom reluctantly took me and my best friend to see 98 Degrees (I’m not ashamed).

When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up?

In the 5th grade I wrote a paper about how when I grew up I wanted to be the first female NFL referee. Unfortunately my dreams didn’t come true, however, I was very excited when I heard that this season the NFL had it’s very first lady on the field.

What is your biggest fear?

In no particular order, my three biggest fears are bridges, clowns and home invasions. The thought of a clown breaking into my house and leaving me on a bridge is probably one of the scariest things I can imagine.

What’s the first thing you would save in a fire?

Definitely my jewelry box. I’ve got some old family jewelry with a lot of sentimental value that can’t be replaced. Although, it’s easy to answer this now since I’m not staring at flames and scared for my life – but in the heat of the moment, I really hope I’d make this same choice.

If you had a theme song, what would it be?

Martina McBride, Happy Girl. I’m a big fan of country music and like to look at life with the glass half full.

Fun facts – have anything interesting people should know about you?

I used to be allergic to the cold – living in New England this made winter’s very difficult.

Connect with Stephanie on Twitter at @srbullis.

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As a business owner, time is one of your most valuable assets. You need to make the most of every minute. If you don’t, you risk doing serious detriment to your company’s momentum.

Every saved hour translates into a serious cost reduction, thus improving your bottom line. Imagine if every single employee were able to accomplish more in fewer hours – day after day, the cost savings would be invaluable.

According to  one infographic by Current , the average person wastes three hours out of every eight hour workday. The top culprit? Web surfing. It’s not that people are lazy, however.

From the employee to CEO levels alike, people get so caught up in working hard that it’s difficult to see that there is, in fact, a shorter path from point A to B. Instead of taking healthy breaks, they skip lunch and drive themselves into a perpetual state of burnout. It may sound counter-intuitive, but people need to embrace the art of staying mentally healthy by doing less.

Instead of falling into the all-too-common time traps, set your organization up for success. If you feel like you need a break, get up from your computer and take one. Take an hour to browse social media, but resist the 3-hour Facebook brain-drain and kick procrastination to the curb by prioritizing and delegating.

Here’s how to avoid the six worst ways to waste your valuable time:

1. Perfectionism

“By definition, no human or any business is perfect, so achieving perfection is unrealistic and doomed to failure,” business writer Martin Zwilling wrote in Forbes with inspiration from Dr. Jan Yager, a recognized time management expert. “The aim for excellence is laudable, but if translated to perfectionism, it becomes self-defeating and non-productive.”

More often than not, good enough is a job well-done. Aim for top-tier results, but don’t let your high standards hold you back from achieving results now.

2. Hoarding Work

With a work-hard mentality, you’re ready to do all the work. You take on more and more until finally, you’re spread so thin that none of your projects are moving forward.

“If you’ve spent three hours reconciling a bank statement, you’re making poor use of your time,” wrote Jane Porter in an Entrepreneur article. “Too often, small-business owners waste time on tasks they don’t like or aren’t even good at.”

Stop trying to wear every single hat in your business. Delegate.

3. Going Guerrilla

When you’re time-strapped, you may think that the best thing to do is to just dive right into your piles and piles of work. Bad idea.

Before tackling your toughest problems, outline a roadmap. Planning ahead will actually save you time down the road.

“One of the top productivity killers is disorganization and wasting time trying to find something,” according to Zwilling.

Instead of scrambling, start with your goal and work backwards.

4. Redundancy

As a business owner, you need to keep your eyes open for unnecessary, repetitive work. Beyond yourself, develop an eye for company-wide, operational redundancy or inefficiencies. Try to set up systems to automate the repetitive work as much as you can.

Create contact databases and email templates. Design and implement structured processes, wherever and whenever possible. You’d be amazed at how much time you can save by making some of these simple changes.

5. Communication Flops

“Don’t try to figure out what someone meant in a confusing email; go straight to the source and ask,” Ann Mehl wrote in an article for Entrepreneur. “This saves on time, energy, and mistakes. Asking for, and giving, clear communication is key.”

Stop sending back-and-forth memos. Set an example, and make a personal effort to get up and talk to people. It’s the most efficient way to work through a problem and exchange information.

6. Brain Drain

If you’re constantly moving at full force, you’ll eventually burn out. Instead of working in perpetual turbo-mode, map out a healthy pace. Relax. Rest your mind and body because you absolutely deserve and need it.

“Power naps (<30 minutes) improve mood, promote job satisfaction, and will increase your productivity towards the tail end of each day,” writer Shawn Graham said in a blog post for Shopify.

Not in the mood to nap? Go for a walk, get on a treadmill, and exercise instead.

Most Importantly

Delegate. Give your toughest programming tasks to your best programmer, and give your complex writing assignments to your best writer. Of course, give people opportunities to learn more, take on challenges,and become more well-rounded, but make sure that from an organizational standpoint, the division of labor makes sense.

How do you make the most of your time? What tips can you share?

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Pinterest is all the rage among small businesses, and for good reason. The image-based social networking site offers something substantially different to brands. In addition to the obvious way small businesses are using Pinterest — communicating with customers in a new way – some clever entrepreneurs have found the platform to be a great way to communicate inside the office as well.

Here are 3 ways you could be using Pinterest around the office:

Vision Boarding

Sitting your staff down to gather feedback on project vision can be a rather harried experience. Lists are made, brainstorming happens, items are voted on and circled, but there is usually something missing: a visual path to the idea. Using Pinterest boards to gather and track ideas helps close that gap by allowing employees to actually see the ideas come together.

“Unlike a business plan that gathers dust in a drawer,” writes Nadia Goodman for Entrepreneur.com, ”this collage of photos is meant to be looked at daily. Though vision boards are nothing new, Pinterest allows you to take them to a whole new level. Not only do you have access to millions of photos, you can engage followers, store useful links, and drum up public support.”

Staff Engagement

There’s nothing like getting the staff involved in major decisions to inspire their buy-in for the workplace. Stephanie Buck explains for Mashable Business how one expanding business used Pinterest to make their employees a meaningful part of their growth.

“Marketing and communications agency Red Door Interactive recently launched a Pinterest project that encourages staff members to contribute ideas and inspiration for its new office,” Buck writes. “The board, titled ‘San Diego Office Inspiration,’ encourages 63 staff member contributors to pin interior design, architectural and decor ideas for the new office, which they’ll be relocating to October 2012.”

By the time those employees move into their new digs, it’s bound to feel like home already. How’s that for employee morale?

Internal Communications

Meetings and memos; memos and meetings. These time-honored methods of spreading the word around the office about projects, events and policies are just plain boring. But we have the solution. Enter Pinterest.

“Pinterest is a great way to communicate with members of your team,” writes Debbie Hemley for the Social Media Examiner. ”At Pinterest headquarters for example, the team has a board entitled, ‘Office Grub Shopping List’ which is described as, ‘Go to Costco.com => click Business delivery.’ Multiple people at the corporate headquarters pin to the board to keep track of shopping wants and needs.”

Now, that’s more fun than a pile of Post-It notes in the break room. And when simple communication techniques are more engaging, you can be sure that a greater number of people will join in and participate.

So often we think of social media as a tool for looking out at our external audience, and it certainly does a good job of that. In fact, even when creating boards for internal communications, be sure to let your staff know everything on Pinterest is public. Though general browsers may not be overly interested in your company shopping list, they can see it, and it can serve as a fun and controlled way let your fans peep into the inner workings of your office. The biggest benefit, however, is harnessing the ease, accessibility and fun of social media for engaging with staff internally. After all, they’re probably already pinning on their lunch breaks anyway, right?

Have you started using Pinterest for your business yet? How have you been utilizing it?

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This week’s employee spotlight is on Sean Valiente. Sean is our staff accountant. According to Sean, he’s the “the super accountant here at Grasshopper. This basically means I keep track of the money, pay the bills and play with spreadsheets all day. Yay spreadsheets!” Thanks to Sean, we all get paid every week.

Let’s get to know Sean…

How do you introduce yourself to new people?

Hi, my name is Sean, but you can call me Dragon.

If you were reincarnated as an animal/drink/ice cream flavor, what would it be?

Tapioca Pudding. This is probably the most accurate representation of me as a food.

If you were an animal, which one would you be?

Does Velociraptor count? But I’d be one of those nice Velociraptors, just minding my own business, doing my thing. “Oh hey little dinosaur I’m going to eat you. You think you can hide inside? Maybe you forgot, but I can open doors.”

If you had a theme song, what would it be?

Baby Got Back by Sir Mix- a- Lot. It really just speaks to me.

What is something you learned in the last week?

You can pick your friends and you can pick your nose, but you can’t pick your friends nose. True facts.

If someone made a movie of your life, what movie star would you want to play you?

NOT Shia LaBeouf. He’s just a horrible actor.

Fun facts – have anything interesting people should know about you?

I tan beautifully, a God-like bronze if you will. And sometimes I get mistaken for Batman.

Connect with Sean on Twitter at @seanvaliente007.

Stay tuned for next week’s employee spotlight!

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Is your Facebook business page getting you down?

Once upon a time, when you posted a status to your small business’ Facebook page, your fans actually saw it. Now, that’s not necessarily the case.

“The new changes to subscribing, timelines and friend lists mean that business pages are barely showing up in user’s feeds anymore,” writes Niall Harbison in his social media blog, Simply Zesty. “Have a look yourself at your Facebook profile and scroll down and you will notice all the brands and businesses are gone.”

Harbison says he received complaints from clients and readers all over the world about their engagement numbers taking a nosedive. But while impressions don’t come about as easily as they once did, that doesn’t mean you can’t still get them.

Here are four simple types of posts that’ll encourage greater engagement with your fans:

1. Fill in the Blanks

Complete this sentence: “I want my Facebook page to generate more ______.”

You know how to finish that sentence. If you prompt your Facebook audience with a line like that, they’re likely to fill it in as well. Fill-in-the-blanks work because they’re fun, quick and don’t require too much thought on your fans’ part.

“Fill-in-the-blank posts are great at sparking engagement,” writes Aaron Lee for Mashable Business. ”The blanks are essentially ‘platforms’ for people to share their creativity. These types of posts often garner fun and short comments, which then encourage your audience to react and interact.”

2. Be Funny

It’s no surprise that people like humor, but it may come as a shock just how effective it can be as a tool to generate interactions.

“People on Facebook like funny,” says Erik Sherman on Inc.com. “Get a laugh and your post gets 50 percent more likes than the average post and five times as many shares.”

3. Photos and Captions

Scroll down your own Facebook newsfeed. Where does your eye tend to stop? On the photos, of course. Pictures are fun and attention-getting, and when they’re the right photos, they also inspire interaction.

“When it comes to brands, a familiar image is also key,” Lee continues. ”Familiarity in an image is as simple as including your company logo or a face that’s tied to your brand. Including a shortened link for readers to click on, is also useful when it comes to engagement.”

Similar to fill in the blank posts, asking fans to make up a caption for a great photo gives them even more reason to interact with the post. Lee uses National Geographic as an example of just how popular caption requests can be. The organization asked their fans to write a caption for a photo of a baby orangutan. The post received more than 27,800 likes, 11,700 shares and 3,700 comments. That’s some serious engagement!

4. Really Engaging Questions

A question is the purest call to action for Facebook fans, but when is a question a good question?

“If you pose questions and get only silence, you might be asking the wrong ones,” write Amy Porterfield for Entrepreneur.com. “Before posting a question, put yourself in your fans’ shoes: ‘”Would I really take the time to answer this?’”

In order to answer “Yes” to this question, you’d probably want the question to either mean something to you or take up very little of your time. Porterfield lists the following as questions that tend to elicit more responses for those reasons:

• Yes/no questions
• Emotion-based questions
• Requests for feedback
• Either/or questions

What these four techniques have in common is that they’re all fun. Fun is, after all, why most people are on Facebook to begin with.

How much fun is your Facebook wall? Is there a photo in your business’ archive that could spice thing up with a call for captions? What type of Facebook post have you seen the best results with?

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Like beets and Justin Bieber, negotiating is something people either love or hate. But no matter how you feel about it, it’s an unavoidable part of being a small business owner.

The good news, writes experienced negotiator and founder of The Trademark Company, Matthew Swyers of Inc.com, is that you get practice negotiating all the time.

“Have you ever said to your spouse, ‘I’ll take out the trash. Can you load the dishwasher?’” Swyers asks. “Negotiation. When you ask for a raise? Negotiation. Who’s driving? Negotiation.”

It doesn’t always feel as natural when it comes to business negotiating, however. These four steps will help you feel more prepared next time the haggling begins.

1. Know Thy Self

Loving or hating negotiating likely impacts how you do it; who you are does as well. Deanna Brown explains for Entrepreneur.com that studies have shown women negotiate differently than men. Here’s how:

• Men focus on issues and outcomes; women are often focused on the overall relationship of the parties.
• Women more often pick up on nonverbal communication.
• Women are more subject to being perceived negatively when negotiating aggressively than male negotiators.

These factors don’t make either gender better negotiators, just different ones. Knowing your style and that of the other party can help you plan your strategy, as well as anticipate theirs.

2. Actively Listen

We often enter into negotiations assuming we know what the other party wants. Careful listening, says Swyers, can reveal much more.

“Every word has a purpose,” he writes. “Every statement a hidden tell. If you listen carefully…you will be able to hear and understand what your opponent in the negotiation truly wants.”

And this information can work for you.

“If you can…understand that which truly motivates the other party,” Swyers writes, “you will gain a decided advantage in the negotiation of the deal.”

3. Look for Leverage on the Spot

Negotiations take twists and turns all the time. When new factors arise that could give you an advantage, be prepared to jump. A small business owner recounts for  Businessweek.com how she won out in her credit card fee negotiations after capitalizing on the poor customer service she received.

“I was able to negotiate a significantly lower rate on my interchange fees,” she writes. “It was painfully time consuming, and I was dealing with a customer service agent who was fairly green, but due to their own mistakes and lack of knowledge of the process, I was able to get several different fees waived, as well as lower rates for all three tiers of transaction types.”

4. Be Willing to Walk Away

The one who is willing to walk away will have the ultimate leverage in a negotiation. Swyers recounts how this was demonstrated before his eyes when he was helping his friend negotiate with a car dealer. When Swyers attempted to walk away, his friend stayed put — and lost all of his leverage to the salesperson.

“At that point, any chance of continuing to negotiate a better deal evaporated like a puddle on a hot Southern summer afternoon,” he wrote. “If he would have stood [up] and walked, we would have never made it to the door before that item was taken off the cost. But by not being willing to walk away, we gave the other side a critical advantage: He knew we would not walk.”

Negotiations are often as simple or as complex as the involved parties are willing to make them. Being the more prepared negotiator gives you the advantage from the start, and makes an otherwise intimidating activity a simpler one for you.

What was the toughest negotiation you’ve had to face? How could it have gone better? Did you learn anything that the rest of us could benefit from?

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Realtors are a super competitive bunch. They compete over properties, zip codes, and buyers. The stakes are high — it’s relatively easy to become a realtor, but hard to succeed. Those who succeed can make millions of dollars. The others die a slow and painful (business) death.

Entrepreneurs face similar competitive dynamics. Developing products and services is the easy part. Getting people to pay for them is a whole other story. It turns out, small businesses can learn a lot from the way realtors prospect.

What Rainmaking Realtors Have to Teach Us about Lead Generation For years, realtors have been using a lead generation technique to build their businesses that hasn’t seen a lot of use elsewhere and it’s a shame. It’s called free recorded messages.

Simply it works like this:

1. Record a voice message (systems like Grasshopper make this very easy).
2. Distribute your message’s phone number to your prospects.
3. Capture lead information from prospects who call before they listen to your message.

Realtors frequently use these messages to record information about their current properties for sale. In their messages, these sales powerhouses include a lot more descriptive information about their listings than they can in print. The good ones even provide educational advice in the message — all in an effort to capture the caller’s details at the end.

TIP: With our unlimited extensions, you could use a different extension for every listing, that way your prospects won’t have to waste time listening to messages they don’t care about and it’s a lot easier for them to remember an extension over another phone number.

3 Reasons Why Free Recorded Messages Capture Leads

This type of low-stress marketing resonates with a lot of buyers. It does so because:

1. It’s not threatening: If the prospect is listening to a recorded message, chances are they feel safe; they’re not getting the hard sell. Instead, they’re receiving a free service to use at their convenience. The psychology is important here.
2. Businesses own the message: The recording is a monologue, so businesses have a lot of flexibility in how they market themselves and how they define their value proposition. By owning the message, people using this technique build credibility and expertise, which helps to funnel the prospect into further action.
3. Weed out the lurkers: The free recorded message may be easily accessed, but it still requires work on the customer’s end. They have to pick up the phone and dial and if they’re interested, leave their name and number when asked to do so at the end of the message. The prospects that make it through this gauntlet are primed to buy.

Tips to get leads by using recorded messages

• Give something valuable away: Like any good marketing, successful techniques move the prospect closer to buying in successive steps. By providing a valuable service in the message — maybe a buying guide or tips to purchase a product, or common pitfalls in the buying process– prospects are more inclined to listen. They’re in learning mode, the stage leading up to a purchase. The recorded message helps inch them closer to opening their wallets.
• Mention that it’s recorded: In your sales literature or marketing copy, give out your toll free number. But also make sure that people who see it know it’s automated. Knowing that no hard-nosed salesman is going to pick up their call lowers the barrier to picking up the phone.
• Use it anywhere: Marketer Joe Polish mentioned that he’s advised carpet cleaning companies to place a magnet on their customers’ vacuum cleaners with a toll free number to call in case of carpet emergencies (egads, a spill!). That’s awesome automated customer service. How can you take advantage of something like this too?
• Hyper-target interested buyers: If you get a phone system with multiple extensions, you could bring your listeners through successive hoops to gauge their interest (e.g. if you want to spend $x, press 3). The ones who make it through could be connected directly with you or given another phone number to reach the business directly. Rest assured that anyone who gets through that process will be eager to buy.

In a world of instant gratification and real time media, businesses run the risk of getting swept up in online marketing. But some simple offline marketing techniques combined with basic technology tools (like a virtual phone system), still work to bring home the bacon.

How else could you be making your virtual phone system work harder and better for you?

The post How to Use Your Virtual Phone System as a Lead Generation Machine appeared first on .

Few business owners start off with a sleek corporate office and a full bank account (dreams don’t count). For most entrepreneurs, every hour is dedicated to growing their company and every dollar earned is reinvested. To survive, there’s no room for wasted time or expensive resources. That’s why small business owners everywhere are turning to virtual phone systems in order to stay relevant in today’s hyper-competitive marketplace.

Here are six ways a virtual phone system will make your life easier:

1. Productivity on the move.

With a virtual phone system, you can work from anywhere. There’s no need to wait at your desk for that important phone call or fax. Calls are instantly routed to your mobile phone; voicemails are delivered to your inbox as an MP3 or text; and faxes are forwarded to your e-mail as PDF attachments. This unsurpassed flexibility allows you to go on sales calls or meet with vendors, while still being connected to your business.

2. Easily redirect calls.

Call screening keeps you from being bombarded with calls when you are out of the office. Simply answer the phone and choose one of the screening prompts: answer the call, send the caller to voicemail, or hear the caller’s phone number. This feature allows you to avoid the pressure of a lengthy conversation when you can’t afford it. Callers remain on hold and won’t know the difference when they end up in your voicemail.

If you do receive an important phone call, Grasshopper’s phone system provides immediate and seamless call transfers. Critical conversations don’t have to wait. You can directly connect the caller to one of your employees and take care of business right away.

When you absolutely cannot be bothered, use the away greeting feature. Callers will be notified that you can’t answer, and they will be given alternate ways of contacting your business. This can’t-miss feature works for specified times each day, like a lunch hour, or for longer time periods, such as a vacation or holiday break.

3. Providing a professional appearance.

Start-up companies and small businesses can be chaotic. Business operations aren’t always flawless (yet), but you don’t want your customers to know that. Grasshopper is the perfect solution for entrepreneurs working out of non-traditional offices spaces because it gives you a professional image, regardless of whether you’re working from a desk or the kitchen table. With Grasshopper you get full access to toll-free numbers, vanity numbers, and local numbers. You also have the capability to set a customizable main greeting. Record your business’ greeting yourself or use our voice studio to create a professional-sounding introduction for your callers. After the greeting, you can give callers the option to search a company-wide name directory. You can even set music or custom commercials to play while customers are on hold.

4. Growing with your business.

You’re starting your business with the goal of big-time success, so why be limited by your phone system? As your business grows, so should your phone system. With Grasshopper you can have unlimited extensions so if you need another extension, simply add it to your account. It’s that easy! Each employee can also customize his or her own call forwarding, voicemail, and message delivery settings.

5. Superior service for employees and clients.

Business revenue relies on employee productivity and customer service. Virtual phone systems, like Grasshopper, serve both of these purposes with first-class connectivity. Employees can work anytime, anywhere because they always have access to business and customer calls. If  you want to join all your employees together, use the built-in conference calling features.

To keep customer service at its best, Grasshopper also provides unlimited call handling. This means callers will never hear a busy signal. No matter how many people call, they can all be on hold and transferred when an employee becomes available.

LessAccounting.com experienced this benefit first hand when they added one of our 800 numbers in November.   “We purchased the phone number from Grasshopper.com, a virtual pbx application. [Before using Grasshopper,] I personally did all the phone support for the past three months which ranged from five to twenty calls a day. [With Grasshopper,] all calls went straight to voicemail, and I’d call them back at either 10am or 3pm. I could even return the missed calls… Plus, having a phone number on our site raised our conversions +1.8%.”  For customers who only need basic information about your company, you can set up an informational extension. You can load this message with store directions, product descriptions, or your hours of operation. Callers don’t have to wait, and they still get the details they need.

6. Maximizing cost savings.

The most remarkable feature of a virtual phone system is that it conserves your most precious resources: time and money. Something we can all appreciate! With Grasshopper, everything you need is all online and in the cloud. There’s no expensive hardware or software to purchase and your capital expenses are zero. You’ll sound like a fortune 500 company but for much, much less than they pay! What’s not to love?

Carolyn Appleton is a volunteer with Nonprofit Technology Network (NTEN) and helps other nonprofits improve their efficiency. She discovered the incredible cost savings on a recent project while organizing a private dinner for a donor.

“While event logistics were fairly easy to arrange, I quickly realized that taking RSVPs from some 500 potential guests would be a daunting task for a ‘one person’ shop like mine. So, I took to the Internet, and happily discovered Grasshopper. I secured a toll-free response line that anyone could call, 24-7 from any location, free of charge (very convenient for our potential guests, who lived all over the state). At that time, this ended up costing the organization approximately $100, from start to finish. Considering what we gained from using Grasshopper, that was an incredibly reasonable price.”

Technology offers great resources for entrepreneurs, so why not take advantage of them? Grasshopper’s virtual phone system is easy to integrate with the way you work and could truly transform how you communicate with business partners and customers. With so many benefits at such a low cost, making the switch to a virtual phone system could be just what you need to put your new business on the path to success.

Time to fess up: How do these benefits compare with your current phone system?

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This week’s employee spotlight is on Scott Lanning. Scott is a front-end developer on the UX team.  It’s Scott’s job to maintain the front-end code (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) for all of Grasshopper’s web properties. He also helps develop the user experience portions of our customer facing applications.

Let’s get to know Scott…

What’s your favorite isle in the grocery store?

My favorite isle definitely has to be the snack food isle. There are so many tasty things in that isle. I’m a big fan of chips and other snacks foods like gold fish and pretzels (even if they aren’t so good for you).

What’s your biggest pet peeve?

My biggest pet peeve has to be messy cars. I’m pretty particular when it comes to my car so when I get into someone else’s car and they have trash or things everywhere it really bugs me.

What’s an ability you wish you had?

I would definitely like to be able to live forever. I’m a big history fan so I would just love to see humanity progress and see what happens in the future. Plus, I think it would be so cool to have no expiration date. It would be a pretty big weight off of one’s shoulders, don’t you think?

What’s your go to website to waste time on?

When I’m at home wasting time, I usually browse Reddit or Facebook.

If you could do any job in the world for one day, what would it be?

I know its cliché, but I think it would be cool to be president for a day. I’d like to know some of the top secret information that isn’t shared with the public. Plus, it would be cool to be in control of one of the most powerful nations for a day.

Fun facts – have anything interesting people should know about you?

Not too much interesting about myself. I’m pretty big into hockey, cars, and wine. Oh, and I’m also allergic to peanuts.

Stay tuned for next week’s employee spotlight!

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With the election just a few months away and the unemployment rate remaining unchanged last month; job creation is a hot topic right now. In fact, according to a recent Gallup poll, Americans named job creation as the top priority for the election this year.  Despite the differing opinions between parties on how best to address the major issues, one thing both seem to agree on is the need for and prioritization of job creation for America.

But the question remains, who is going to be the one to provide a solution to the shortage of jobs around the country? Is it our presidential candidates? Local politicians? Or could it be entrepreneurs?

Last week the Seed-DB, which is a database of seed accelerators and their companies, caught our eye and got us thinking even more about job creation. The Seed-DB has pulled in information, mostly from CrunchBase data, for about 119 accelerator programs world-wide and compiled it all into an easily digestible format. Take a look for yourself. You can use this data to analyze the successes and failures of accelerators, see how the accelerated companies fared and even get a feel for the economic impact of the accelerators across the board.

We found the impact of the seed accelerators most intriguing given the current economic state of the country, especially in regards to job creation. Here’s Seed-DB’s breakdown of overall impact these accelerators have had world-wide*:

• 1436 companies accelerated
• 69 exits for $ 979,458,100
• $ 1,176,787,411 funding
• 3389 jobs created

For our own curiosity, we decided to take an even deeper look at these companies. We analyzed the current job openings and locations for all of the 1436 accelerated companies. Although the data wasn’t necessarily surprising, it was interesting to see how many jobs these startups have created, where they’re located and where in the country there’s still a lot of opportunity for improvement.

Take a look:

One thing that really caught our attention is that, unlike current job creation plans, these jobs haven’t really cost much to create.

• The accelerated companies received $1,176,787,411 in funding.
• $979,458,100 was earned back as a result of acquisitions.

Thus, the successes of these companies have resulted in the creation of even more jobs at little to no cost.

After sorting through all this data, it makes us wonder, are small business owners and entrepreneurs the solution to the jobs shortage? What do you think? At the very least, we think they could certainly play a big role in it.

Despite the data being far from complete, as a number of the fields rely on companies to update their own CrunchBase data, the economic effect of seed accelerators is clear. We expect to see an even greater economic impact as companies update their information, giving us greater insight into the true economic effect seed accelerators have and their companies’ role in job creation.

What do you think? Is your company helping to create jobs for America? Tell us how and share a link to your openings!

The post Seed Accelerators Have Created Nearly 3,500 Jobs appeared first on .

This week’s customer spotlight is on Klury, a company started by father-daughter duo, Mandy and Bob Russell. Klury makes luxury, designer fashion items available to everyone, even those on the tightest of budgets. Since it’s April launch, Klury has been disrupting the consignment industry with their innovative approach to buying and selling your designer items.

With traditional consignment stores, it can take upwards of three months or more to sell your items and get paid for them.  Klury on the other hand makes sellers an offer upfront and if accepted, sellers receive payment for their item(s) within two business days. Three months compared to two days, now that’s a big difference!

Where did the idea for Klury come from?

While doing her annual closet cleaning, Mandy was left with a pile full of hardly used clothing and as a college student, she had limited resources to replenish her closet. So, what’s one to do? Her options were limited. She could either sell them on eBay, or bring them into a consignment shop. Both required time and patience – two things Mandy did not have. Neither of these options were ideal and that’s where the idea for Klury came from.

After graduating college and being in the same boat as a lot of recent graduates, Mandy found herself looking for jobs that unfortunately, just weren’t there.  With a passion for fashion, and degrees in both marketing and design, Mandy decided to take the leap into entrepreneurship. With the help of her father, they set out to create a business based on the idea of a revolving designer closet on a budget.

How does it work?

Klury helps you replenish your designer wardrobe quickly, easily and on a budget all-the-while eliminating the uncertainty that comes along with buying pre-owned luxury items from consignment stores or on eBay.

Here’s how it works:

Pretty easy, right? Also, if you don’t like the offer they propose you can simply reject it and the only thing you’ve lost is the few minutes it took you to submit your item for consideration. Much better than the time you would waste lugging your stuff to the consignment store or listing your items on eBay.

One of the big issues with that comes with designer consignment is authenticity. For Klury, it’s extremely important to make sure that they maintain the integrity of the brands they’re selling so they have a team of experts on hand to help ensure that all items they receive are 100% authentic before they sell them.  This way they’re covered and buyers have nothing to worry about. You can feel confident that what you’re buying is real and that you’re getting a great deal!

What makes Klury different?

If you haven’t noticed yet, Klury is out to change the way the consignment industry works.  They pride themselves on doing things differently (and better!). For starters, they pay you for your clothing up front, do it in a timely manner and selling your clothes to them is simple. What’s not to love about them?

Simply put, Klury makes selling your pre-owned designer clothing completely painless. Be sure to check them out today! Don’t forget to follow them on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook, too!

Want the chance to be featured as a customer spotlight on our blog too? Tell us your story!

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This week’s employee spotlight is on Nick Johnson. Nick is the user experience lead on our design team.  Ever wondered who designed our site? Well, that’s Nick and his team! They’ve designed everything from our website to our banner ads and even the user interface you all log into every day. Nick helps ensure that everything they create is easy to use, intuitive and of course nice to look at.

Let’s get to know Nick…

What website do you spend the most time on?

Grasshopper.com – oh wait, away from work? Probably Amazon.com – I’m a “Prime” member and I am addicted to buying things with free shipping. I do most of my shopping on Amazon now. But as a UX guy, I spend a lot of time on a lot of sites so I should probably throw in TechCrunch, Lifehacker, TUAW, Smashing Magazine, Uncrate, Apartment Therapy, swissmiss, Hacker News, etc.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

For obvious reasons, I’d have the ability to plant and successfully grow money trees in my backyard. I feel like this would solve many of life’s challenges.

What’s your biggest pet peeve?

When companies create websites that suck just so they can say they have a website. You should at least buy a $20 template that has been designed by a professional (hit me up on twitter at @nickux if you need some direction on this) and for the love of god, do not use MS Word to make your website!

What’s the weirdest food you’ve ever eaten?

Donkey. Also, while I was traveling in Vietnam, I ate some meat (off a buffet) that the server at the restaurant didn’t know what it was… so maybe that was the weirdest thing I have ever eaten? I have no idea.

What’s one thing on your bucket list?

In the spirit of honesty, and perhaps the expense of outrage, I’ve always wanted to go bow hunting.

Fun facts – have anything interesting people should know about you?

I lived in China for 2 years with my wife and 2 kids. I’m a redneck who loves big trucks and other redneck-type things. I have an amazing wife who somehow, for some crazy reason, loves me… and I love her back.

Stay tuned for next week’s employee spotlight!

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When you get sick, you go to a doctor. But when you get sick of how much it costs you to go to a doctor, where do you go?

There’s no doubt that affordable health care continues to be one of the major political and economic issues in this country for families and small businesses alike. Major changes are already afoot since the Affordable Care Act was signed in March of 2010, and after the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold this act last month, even bigger changes are set to take effect in 2014.

The changes and complexities can feel onerous and incredibly overwhelming, especially for some small businesses. However, they’re certainly worth looking into if you hope to get good coverage at an affordable price (and even save some!) for your employees.

Here are four ways that may help you secure more affordable healthcare coverage for your small business:

1. High Deductible Health Plans Combined With a Health Savings Account (HSA) or a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA)

With a high deductible health care plan, employees are incentivized to think more cautiously about health spending. To balance out this greater out of pocket spending, some small businesses offer HSAs which allow employees to use pretax dollars to pay for uncovered medical costs. Any unused funds in their HSAs can be carried over to the next year, and can be funded by the employee, employer or both.

An alternative to HSA’s, HRA’s are funds which an employer sets aside in order to reimburse an employee’s deductible or out of pocket expense up to a certain limit. Unused funds, which technically still belong to the employer, can also be carried over to the next year.

2. Increased Bargaining Power

Small companies can also join together to purchase health coverage through cooperatives, which can increase their bargaining power with insurance companies. Results vary by region and cooperative, and while there’s no guarantee that open market rates will be more expensive, this can sometimes be a useful strategy.

3. Using an Insurance Broker

Since most small business owners barely have time to breathe, insurance brokers can take the stress off of doing all the research yourself.

Brokers can help compare plans by explaining the differences, advantages, disadvantages and costs between policies, and can even act as an advocate for your company if you run into problems. Best of all, broker services are free to consumers since they make commissions from the agencies they work for.

4. It’s Still a Market After All

In an interview with the New York Times, Dr. Jeffrey Kullgren gives a few tips on how to get (financially) personal with your doctor in order to negotiate a better price and determine an affordable health care regimen.

Since nobody enjoys dealing with insurance companies, doctors and hospitals are, more often than not, fairly open to negotiating directly with patients. Speaking with a hospital’s billing department or a doctor’s office manager before an appointment is always a good way to see how open they are to negotiating. You never know!

Need some more information to help decide what route is best for your small business? Check out the Small Business Administration’s Health Care & Health Care Reform section for a slew of resources and articles to get you started.

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On Saturday, August 18th from 2 AM to 6 AM EST we will be performing maintenance on our systems.  This maintenance will help ensure the continued reliability of our service and better prepare us for future growth.  As a customer, you can feel secure that we’re committed for the long-term and are doing everything we can to safeguard your business.

What does this mean for you?

During this maintenance window we will go into Update Mode. All of your calls and voicemails will be forwarded to the backup phone number and email address listed in your Update Mode settings.

If someone calls your Grasshopper number while Update Mode is live, they’ll hear a ringing tone while we attempt to reach you at the backup number on your account. If you can’t be reached, your callers will be asked to leave a voicemail. Any voicemails received during Update Mode will be forwarded to the backup email address on file.

Details:

• When: Saturday, August 18th
• Maintenance window: 2 AM to 6 AM EST
• Who is affected: All accounts. During this time there will also be a short period of time where you will be unable to log into your account online and make changes.

Please make sure to check your Update Mode settings to ensure we have the correct backup number and email address on file. Check your Update Mode settings now >>

What’s Update Mode? You can learn more about our backup feature here.

Have a question? Give us a call at 800-820-8210 or shoot us an email to support@grasshopper.com. You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter, too!

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Today, many freelancers, entrepreneurs, and start-up companies are building their businesses from their “home offices” — also known as their basement, kitchen table or garage.  However, being a small company doesn’t mean you have to stay cooped up in your home (or even the local coffee shop) until you can afford to pay office rent. Coworking spaces are a relatively new and innovative solution for those who want a professional workspace, without the high price tag.

Not familiar with coworking spaces? No worries. Smart furniture solutions company, Turnstone (a division of Steelcase), has been studying the coworking movement for a few years and put together a pretty sweet highlight video.

We spoke with coworking space owners all over the country to better understand how coworking benefits the up-and-coming entrepreneur.  It turns out coworking spaces do a lot more for you than keep your rent cheap while providing you with a professional appearance.

1.  NETWORKING, NETWORKING, NETWORKING – Startups, entrepreneurs, and even established businesses all benefit from the networking opportunities that are a byproduct of coworking spaces. Communal offices mesh several companies together, so there are numerous professionals right around the corner to consult, talk, and interact with.

Realizing the tremendous impact of networking opportunities, Craig McAnsh named his Asheville, NC coworking space Mojo Coworking, “with the idea that everyone (soloists, freelancers, remote employees and entrepreneurs) needs to get their dose of creative, social and entrepreneurial energy. The collaboration and creative spirit of Mojo is what most communities need to foster small business acceleration.”

Networking connections can be useful for any company, especially those in their infancy. For instance, if your company is a tech startup and you belong to the same coworking space as a seasoned accountant, you may have just found your go-to-person for accounting questions. If you’re seeking new clients, Jay Catalan suggests joining a coworking group right away! As the cofounder of The Network Hub in Vancouver, Canada, he has personally witnessed hundreds of new relationships materialize right in front of him. “Quite a number of consulting gigs and projects have resulted from people exchanging business cards with coworking members sitting next to them.”

2.  COLLABORATION YIELDS RESULTS - Need to bounce ideas off a person, not just a wall? A communal workspace lets you use your officemates as sounding boards for ideas. Craig Baute agrees. “Coworking brings smart people together to share ideas … versus people just sitting at home and rarely sharing ideas with someone and inadvertently being forgotten.” He believes in the concept of “accelerated serendipity” so much that he named his Denver, Colorado coworking space Creative Density.

In some cases, relationships formed at these spaces can even lead to starting a new business venture. When Paul O’Brien left Silicon Valley and moved to Austin, TX, he didn’t have a job or a plan. He immediately joined Cospace to connect with like-minded people and to figure out the next chapter in his career. Fast forward 18 months, and Paul along with the 2 original cofounders of Cospace (Kitrus Dixon and James Weddle), launched Group Charger, an integrated social networking platform. The trio consequently developed Cospace’s BUILD program to help other Cospace members strategically accelerate the growth of ideas into sound businesses.

Collaboration can also come in the form of conducting research among peers.  Morris Levy, owner of The Yard, in Brooklyn, NY, shared how members of his coworking space collaborate to conduct web site beta tests among programmers who provide genuine and timely responses before launch.

3.  A CARING & SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT – Coworking spaces also provide a supportive environment. If a potential client rejects you or your sales leads have dried up, you’re not alone. Those next to you feel your pain… because they’ve been there, too!