Are you starting your own business? Do you want to know if anyone around you is too?
Alignable is an online network that connects small business owners. It is a US-based company that went public in 2014. Now, it has more than 7 million members.
Imagine a LinkedIn but specifically, for micro and small business owners.
Here is what Alignable can help you with:
Make connections with other business owners
Alignable is meant to act as an “ice breaker” for this community by helping you make connections, post about your business, and refer others. You can announce new events or product lines to all your contacts at once.
You can also create and join groups to connect with other business owners that have similar interests. When you first join, Alignable adds you to a community that includes the businesses in your general area.
This makes it easy for other owners in your area to seek out your business and vice versa. Once you establish a connection with each other, you can continue it through Alignable.
Contribute to your local community
Alignable is great to get you in contact with business owners in your local community.
It spans about 5 to 10 towns in your area and you can personalize your connections by specifying who you want to connect with.
These might be potential customers and partners!
Here are 3 Steps to Promoting Your Business on Alignable:
Step 1: Figure out the logistics
You need your post to communicate your event or announcement clearly. What is the title of your announcement? What is the date and time of your event? Who is it for? What are you promoting?
Step 2: Create art for your post
Unique social media art is a big part of catching your audience. Make sure your message is clear and the color palette is simple. Your design should be something that you stop scrolling to take a look.
Step 3: Share your post
Below is a list of all the different functions on Alignable. You are able to click what kind of post you want to share so your potential consumers can understand your post’s purpose.
The main difference between Alignable and LinkedIn is that it’s more casual. Since it connects you from town to town, it feels close knit.
If you want to contribute to your local community and connect with other small business owners in your area, Alignable might be good for you.
Small businesses deserve the spotlight too.
See if Alignable is a good complimentary platform for you.
Jesus is a Financial Center Manager at Independent Financial, where he manages the retail side for the Austin location. He is responsible for the day-to-day operation, expanding the business of the branch and small business development.
He has been working in banking for over ten years across the state of Texas. Jesus focuses on developing deep ties in the communities he works, and helping persons reach their financial goals. He has worked on a variety of entrepreneurship programs and financial literacy classes, delivering them in person and virtual platforms.
–Jesus shares his experience as a volunteer with EGBI.
–Share a fun fact with us.
I occasionally write short stories, and give them out to my friends. Nothing major, but I enjoy writing literary fiction. Slices of life that give a glimpse of what we go through daily. They are cathartic.
“Volunteering at EGBI is a great way to help our community.” – Jesus nevarez
–How did you first get involved with EGBI?
I had just moved to the city, and I was still struggling to get acclimated. I had reached out through email to know how I could help. I had researched EGBI, and my perception was that they are a great resource to our local entrepreneurs. Monica Peña reached back, and invited me to an EGBI event. Thereafter, I asked if I could assist in some of the classes that EGBI does for entrepreneurs. Since that point, I’ve been enjoying being a volunteer for EGBI at different stages and programs.
–Why do you volunteer for EGBI?
Small business are the lifeblood of our communities, and entrepreneurship is a pathway to achieve financial security. I believe in what EGBI does, and the persons that run the organization truly have their hearts in it. I like to help persons get better, and some of the entrepreneurs and small business owners that attend EGBI just need a hand to reach the next level. I work at Independent Financial, where we try to build healthy communities. They have supported me in this endeavor.
-How has your involvement with EGBI helped you grow professionally and personally?
Professionally it has allowed to me see what the small business community needs in Austin. Understand their concerns and their aspirations. It has connected me with other persons across the city that are also looking to assist our entrepreneur community. Personally, well, just meeting new persons. Moving to a new city, with no family or professional network can be difficult. I’ve met so many persons in the classes, and accelerated my knowledge of the city and its resources.
–What was the most rewarding experience you had while volunteering for EGBI?
There was a presentation in the last quarter of 2022. They were presenting the persons that had graduated from the program. Hearing all those stories of success, allowed me to see the tremendous impact that EGBI has in our city.
– Why do you think others should volunteer or support EGBI?
Volunteering at EGBI is a great way to help our community. EGBI has a develop great systems to understand entrepreneurs at different levels of their business journey. They are in the business of helping people get better, that is something that we could all do.
EGBI provides training, coaching, and support to aspiring and existing business owners who face barriers to growing a successful business. If you would like to support our efforts, please visit our website https://egbi.org/donate/.
I am from Ecuador and am presently pursuing a career in business administration. However, my actual love is marketing, which I am very passionate about. Originally, I planned to become a Biotechnology engineer, but I am glad that I discovered my true calling in marketing and business. Despite this change, I still have an intense interest for the realm of science.
My dream is to work on effective marketing strategies that are closely related to corporate sustainability. In my spare time, I like to go hiking and weightlifting. I also enjoy experimenting with new recipes that I see on Instagram; the more challenging, the better.
Giuliana shares her experience as an EGBI volunteer.
–Share a fun fact with us.
I love creating scrapbooks with doodles and paintings, even though I’m not particularly skilled at drawing or painting. I challenge myself to improve, and occasionally, I plan out how I want it to look and then trace it from my phone. Additionally, I take pleasure in gathering mementos from outings and dates, such as tickets and tiny flowers, and incorporating them into my scrapbook.
“If you can do something for others, life brings that positivity back to you” giuliana karolina Noboa castañeda
-How did you first get involved with EGBI?
I was searching for volunteer programs near me, and EGBI looks like a promising opportunity to assist business owners. I truly appreciate their focus on the Hispanic community and the attention they give to language. This was especially meaningful to me, as I am aware of the challenges that new business owners face when they don’t speak English fluently or feel more comfortable with Spanish. Translating is a perfect way for me to contribute and provide help.
-Why do you volunteer for EGBI?
That question takes my mind back to that phrase that goes: “Nadie puede hacerlo todo, pero todos podemos hacer algo.” (Meaning: “Although no one can accomplish everything, each of us can contribute in our own way.”)
Being part of the solution and offering relief to others are fundamental aspects of community involvement. I believe EGBI offers a volunteering opportunity that helps maintain the connection between fellowship and knowledge management, as it enables people to learn from others and share their own experiences.
-How has your involvement with EGBI helped you grow professionally and personally?
Engaging in translations keeps me attuned to the demands of business owners, utilizing language that can influence rephrasing while retaining the essence to create the impactful meaning present in all the blogs. This has been a valuable learning experience. On the other hand, I have also been involved in marketing efforts recently. Observing the sharing of resources and knowledge, and exploring ways to contribute with creativity and innovation, has been a significant enrichment for me.
– What was the most rewarding experience you had while volunteering for EGBI?
Translating the interns’ blogs allows me to witness the enthusiasm and eagerness of fresh minds to contribute. The proactive approach evident in every word is truly invigorating.
– Why do you think others should volunteer or support EGBI?
If you can do something for others, life brings that positivity back to you. At EGBI, you have a wonderful reciprocal opportunity, surrounded by the perfect environment, tools, and people who are equally willing to support you.
EGBI provides training, coaching, and support to aspiring and existing business owners who face barriers to growing a successful business. If you would like to support our efforts, please visit our website https://egbi.org/donate/.
Born in Mexico and raised in Escondido, California, Patricia Correa eventually moved to Texas and has lived there for 27 years. She has owned her welding business, Cornerstone Welding, for 15 years. She has always had a entrepreneur spirit – after owning several businesses in the past like a food truck, bridal store, wedding planner/decor and even e-commerce, her welding business has been her number one priority. Patricia is married to her husband, Juan Correa, and currently run the business together. She is the mother of 6 (2 boys and 4 girls). As a family, they not only work for our family business, but also have a passion for serving in God’s ministry. Together they lead a church group in Bastrop TX. Patricia says that her purpose is helping anywhere she can be of service.
Patricia shares her experience as a client at EGBI.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself.
My story as an immigrant was issued in a book called “The Truth in our Stories”.
“The business knowledge EGBI provided helped me build a better structured business.” Patricia Correa
Tell us about your business.
My business offers mobile welding services. We have a shop in Bastrop where we fabricate and do custom work from fencing, railing, to structural steel.
I found out about EGBi through a friend who is also a EGBI client.
How did EGBI help your business? What service did you benefit from?
I took all the business courses. My business was lacking the fundamentals of business management. The business knowledge EGBI provided helped me build a better structured business. It helped me understand financial accounting and EGBI also helped me set up my own Quickbooks account. I learned about business entities which led me to create the best one for my business. This has helped me with lowering taxes.
Why should people consider supporting an organization like EGBI?
They are very informative and the instructors are very knowledgeable and helpful. They cared for my unique needs and concerns, and helped me develop the skills necessary to be even more successful. My biggest victory is an increase of 40% gross revenue and my profit margins went up at the same level. The business coaching workshops have been incredibly valuable in helping me grow as a business woman managing my business and also helped bridge my knowledge deficit. I highly recommend EGBI to any small business owner.
EGBI provides training, coaching, and support to aspiring and existing business owners who face barriers to growing a successful business. If you would like to support our efforts, please visit our website https://egbi.org/donate/.
El control efectivo de costes es esencial para mantener la rentabilidad y la ventaja competitiva de tu empresa. Al identificar y reducir los gastos innecesarios al mismo tiempo que se optimizan los procesos operativos, las empresas pueden liberar todo su potencial y lograr éxito financiero a largo plazo. En este blog, explicaremos las estrategias prácticas de control de costes para ayudarte a optimizar las operaciones, a negociar mejores acuerdos con los proveedores e implementar las medidas de ahorro de costes.
1.Realizar un Análisis Exhaustivo de Costes
El primer paso para un control efectivo de costes es entender a dónde se va tu dinero. Realiza un análisis riguroso de costes para identificar todos los gastos, tanto los principales como los secundarios. Después, categoriza estos gastos y evalúa su importancia en relación con las operaciones generales de tu empresa. A menudo, los gastos aparentemente insignificantes pueden acumularse con el tiempo, impactando tus resultados.
2.Optimizar los Procesos Operacionales
Los procesos operacionales ineficaces pueden llevarte a pérdidas de tiempo, de recursos y de dinero. Examina muy de cerca tu flujo de trabajo e identifica los embotellamientos o las tareas redundantes que obstruyen la productividad. Considera implementar procesos automatizados y adoptar soluciones tecnológicas para optimizar las operaciones.
3. Adoptar Prácticas Sostenibles
La sostenibilidad no solo beneficia al medio ambiente sino que también puede ser rentable a largo plazo. Considera adoptar prácticas ecológicas que reducen los residuos y el consumo de energía. Esto puede incluir iniciativas de reciclaje, iluminación de eficiencia energética o usar empaques de materiales sostenibles. Estos esfuerzos no solo bajarán los costes, pero también realzarán tu marca de imagen y atraerán clientes conscientes con el medio ambiente.
4. Analizar la Gestión del Inventario
El exceso de inventario inmoviliza el capital e incrementa los costes de almacenamiento, mientras que el inventario insuficiente te puede llevar a perder oportunidades de ventas y a realizar pedidos urgentes. Realiza un análisis exhaustivo del inventario para encontrar el balance adecuado. Utiliza un software de gestión de inventario para llevar un control y seguimiento de los niveles de existencias, prever la demanda y optimizar los procesos de pedidos.
5. Fomentar una Cultura Consciente de los Costes
Fomentar una cultura consciente de los costes entre tus empleados es vital para el control sostenible de costes. Educa a tu equipo sobre la importancia de la responsabilidad financiera e involucralo en identificar oportunidades de ahorro de costes. Implementando programas de premios para ideas de ahorros de costes que sean implementadas exitosamente. Cuando todos en la organización están comprometidos con el control de costes, éste se convierte en una parte integral del ADN de tu empresa.
El control eficaz de costes es un proceso continuo que requiere vigilancia, adaptabilidad y un ojo para la mejora. Al realizar un análisis exhaustivo de costes, optimizar los procesos operativos, negociar con los proveedores, adoptar la sostenibilidad, analizar la gestión del inventario y fomentar una cultura consciente de costes, tu empresa puede maximizar la eficiencia y minimizar los gastos. Las pequeñas medidas de ahorro de costes pueden acumularse con el tiempo y tener un impacto significativo en la salud financiera de tu empresa. Adopta un enfoque proactivo para el control de costes y posicionarás a tu empresa para un crecimiento sostenible y en el éxito frente a la dinámica del mercado en constante cambio.
Traducido al español por Daniela Ariza-Hernandez. Para leer el artículo en inglés, haga clic aquí.
