In the age of modern technology, the use of social media is essential for small business owners. Social media reaches consumers far and wide, which helps to expand the success of your company on a massive scale. The world of social media can be overwhelming, as there are so many different platforms that currently exist. Below are some tips on how to navigate the topfour most important sites for your business.
FACEBOOK: One of the first social media platforms to become big, Facebook attracts around 2.6 billion active users daily. Posting to Facebook once to twice a day can boost one’s business exponentially.
Creating a Facebook page that showcases your business; posting links to your website or blog can draw people into your vision
Using discussion boards within a Facebook page can engage users with one another, which helps to create community around your business
Facebook has features which can reward consumers with special offers or exclusive deals on your page. In other words, posting promotions on your Facebook page can encourage viewers to get involved in your business
TWITTER: Twitter, which has approximately 192 million daily active users, is one of the easiest social media sites to directly engage with consumers. Twitter is quick, easy to use, and adds a personal touch to one’s business model.
While using twitter it is important to maximize engagement. This involves creating an account with a relevant name, following other associated businesses, and engaging with other businesses
Posting consistently is the most effective way to grow your presence on twitter. Posting tweets that offer advice and helpful links is a good way to start developing strong engagement
Replying to consumers encourages maximum involvement. Remember to reply to followers who comment on your page, retweet your posts, or send you a direct message
INSTAGRAM: Instagram is one of the largest growing social media platforms, with around 1 billion active users. Instagram is one of the most visual platforms that exist, which increases engagement between businesses and consumers.
To begin, one should create a public account to promote your small business, signing up with a business profile rather than a regular public account. Along with this comes creating a good bio, which is the first thing users see when they view your account. Your bio should be precise and straightforward, including a link to your website
It is important to use hashtags on your posts! Hashtags are essentially virtually connectors that allow users to view posts that all fall under a given category. If you are a small business owner of a bakery, posting a picture of your product with the hashtag
“#freshpastery” allows users to view your picture with thousands of other bakery items across Instagram
Don’t skim on the content – the more someone posts on Instagram, the more relevant their account becomes. Consistently taking professional and aesthetic photos will help to build up your presence
LINKEDIN: Known as the world’s most professional social media network to this day, LinkedIn is a technological powerhouse. Small businesses can utilize LinkedIn to connect with others in various industries to advance their career and business goals.
Optimizing your profile on LinkedIn is the most important way to grab others attention. This includes: uploading a professional image of yourself, writing a bio that defines your company in a concise manner, and adding links to other social media platforms such as twitter
Posting regular status updates to your profile is important to let consumers know what your business has accomplished. Informing your audience and refreshing your status frequently is the best way to do so
Joining Connected LinkedIn Groups helps to build interaction with other users within a specified network. For example, if your company builds floral arrangements, you can join a network of all the florist in your area. Posting and responding to questions is a great way to interact within these groups, which helps you to be recognized as a trusted professional
When you create a business page for your small business on Linkedin, it is important to understand how to manage which individuals have access to this page. Each page will have an admin to manage various roles for your business page. Learn below how to navigate this process.
DIFFERENT ADMIN ROLES: First and foremost, it is important to understand the different types of admin roles within Linkedin …
Super Admin = access to every page under admin permission, including adding and removing other admins to the main page, editing page information, and deactivating the page itself. It is essential that the owner of the business has the role of Super Admin.
Content Admin = permission to create and manage page content.
Curator = permission to view Content Suggestions, and create recommended content.
Analyst = access to monitor the page’s performance through the analytics tool.
ADDING A NEW ADMIN:
Access the “Page Super” admin view (this can only be accessed if you are a super admin)
Click “Admin Tools” which is a dropdown at the top of the page
Select “Manage Admins”
Click the “+, Add Admin” option
Begin typing he name of the member or associated employee that you’d like to add in the “Search for Member” box
Click on the correct member’s name from the options that appear
Then select the correct Admin role that you would like to give access to Only one page admin role can be assigned per-member
To save your changes, click the “Save” button
EDIT AN ADMIN’S ROLE:
Access the “Page Super” admin view (this can only be accessed if you are a super admin)
Click “Admin Tools” which is a dropdown at the top of the page
Select “Manage Admins”
Click the “Page Admins” or “Paid Media Admins” tab
Press on the “Edit” icon which is displayed to the right of the admin’s name
Select the new role from the dropdown menu that you would like
To save your changes, click the “Save” button
REMOVE AN ADMIN:
Access the “Page Super” admin view (this can only be accessed if you are a super admin)
Click “Admin Tools” which is a dropdown at the top of the page
Select “Manage Admins”
Click the “Delete” icon which is displayed to the right of the admin’s name
To finalize your changes, click the “Remove” button
When you create a business page for your small business on Facebook, it is important to understand how to manage which individuals have access to this page. Each page will have an admin to manage various roles for your business page. Learn below how to navigate this process.
DIFFERENT ADMIN ROLES: First and foremost, it is important to understand the different types of admin roles within Facebook …
Admin = Allows total and complete access to making changes on a page. It is essential that the owner of the business has the role of Admin.
Editor = This role allows access to everything on the page excluding managing the page roles and settings.
Moderator = Permission to send messages and respond to them as comments on the page.
Jobs manager = Ability to post job openings and manage received applications through the page.
Advertiser = Permission to create ads and view insights of these ads through analytics.
Analyst = This role can only see insights and who has published posts on a page through the analytics setting.
TO GIVE SOMEONE A ROLE: If you are already an admin …
Click “Pages” in the left menu – if you don’t see “Pages”, click “See More” first
Go to your desired Page, and click “Settings” in the left-hand menu
Click “Page Roles”
Under this page, click “Assign a New Page Role”, and type in the name or email in the box that you want to be the new admin. Once you begin typing the name or email, select the person from the list that will appear. If you are not already facebook friends with the person you are trying to add, they will have to accept your invite before they can be changed to admin
Click “Editor” and select the role you want from the dropdown menu.
Then click “Add” and enter your Facebook password to confirm the change
REMOVE SOMEONE WHO HAS A ROLE: If you are already an admin …
Click “Pages” in the left menu – if you don’t see “Pages”, click “See More” first
Go to your desired Page, and click “Settings” in the left-hand menu
Click “Page Roles”
Press on “Edit” next to the person you want to remove access to, and then click “Remove”
By hitting “Confirm”, you will be prompted to enter your Facebook password to confirm the change
CHANGING SOMEONE’S ROLE:
If you are already an admin …
Click “Pages” in the left menu – if you don’t see “Pages”, click “See More” first
Go to your desired Page, and click “Settings” in the left-hand menu
Click “Page Roles”
Press on “Edit” next to the name of the person whose role you want to change
Once pressing on this person’s name, a dropdown menu will appear where you have the option to select a new role from a dropdown menu
Click “Save”, you will be prompted to enter your Facebook password to confirm the change
Keep in mind, if you are a new admin, you may need to wait up to seven days before you can make additional changes to admin access.
Being a small business owner is hard; sometimes taking advice from others is necessary for personal success. Podcasts are a great resource to turn to for words of wisdom. When you’re taking a walk, cooking dinner, or picking up the kids from school, these podcasts are enlightening and informative. All of the podcasts below are available through Apple Podcasts, or can be streamed online for free if searched on Google.
StartUp StartUp was created by Alex Blumberg, who is the former producer of NPR’s This American Life and Planet Money. The podcast goes through the highs and lows of being a new business owner, explaining in length the struggles that come along with it. Each of the two seasons feature a different company: Gimlet Media in the first season, and an online dating start-up in the second. Listen to StartUp for an amusing and unique outlook on being a business owner.
Marketplace As a business owner, it is essential to understand what is happening in the current economy. While the economy can be confusing, resources such as Marketplace help us understand what is truly going on. Each day when Marketplace releases a new episode, the current state of the U.S. economy is analyzed. Additionally, real-life stories are thrown in the podcast to explain how the economy affects business owners on a daily basis.
HBR IdeaCast The Harvard Business Review is a critically acclaimed, reliable podcast that throws out advice for any professional within the world of business. Listening to this podcast will provide you with strategy, growth and leadership skills, as well as business philosophies. The HBR IdeaCast is a great resource for not only business owners, but for any individual who is looking to grow in the business world.
How I Built This Guy Raz’s infamous show, How I Built This, examines the stories behind some of the world’s most well-known companies. Episodes featuring everyone from Whitney Wolfe of Bumble to Curt Jones of Dippin’ Dots, How I Built This proves to Americans that success in business can be found anywhere. This inspirational podcast does not disappoint.
$100 MBA The $100 MBA is a great podcast for those who are looking to learn more about the practicalities of business. Each episode is very short, although topics range all the way from business fundamentals to social media advertising. If you are looking to refresh your knowledge on anything business related, this podcast is for you.
The COVID-19 Pandemic has changed life as we know it … especially in terms of how we work. It can be hard to stay motivated when working from home or being a business owner. Below are some tips on how to effectively work when self-employed:
Stick to a routine Routines are the golden answer to staying productive. By creating a routine, not only are you holding yourself accountable, but you are creating a schedule to help you organize your day. Try buying a calendar, planner, or white-board to write down your routine in the beginning stages of this process.
Take regular breaks Oftentimes, we like to burn ourselves out. While working on your business, there can be many distractions. Taking scheduled and regulated breaks are essential. A simple 15-minute rest time to take a walk, or 30-minute break to prepare lunch helps to clear your mind and stay energized throughout the day.
Create a designated workspace When working from home or for yourself, it can be hard to create boundaries between work and leisure. Creating a designated workspace helps to create a foundation for strong focus through purposeful separation. Especially with children or other distractions in the equation, specified work spaces within a work from home environment are essential for success. If it is too difficult to work from home, you may want to consider renting a space that will allow you to focus more.
Set boundaries While the growth of technology allows us to work from virtually anywhere, setting boundaries in your work day is needed to create a healthy mindset. Just because one works from home does not mean a work day should be twelve hours long. Creating boundaries is important because without them, it can be difficult to separate work life from a personal one. Making an effort to shut your computer at a certain time, or only working specific days of the week, can help to solidify these parameters.
By Estella Galan Licensed Mortgage Advisor NMLS 896325 Licensed in TX
If you’re a new business owner, you must open a business credit file for your company**. Even though you might understand how personal credit works, building solid business credit scores that can help your company thrive and grow is different. It takes time to build and maintain a good business credit report. Here are some things you should know about business scoring.
Pay on time — or in advance: It is very important to remain current on all payments.
Keep your business and personal finances separate: By maintaining separation, you can protect your personal credit profile should your company encounter financial difficulties.
Work with vendors that report payments to the business credit bureaus: Open accounts with companies who report your payment history to the credit reporting agencies and ask anyone who has extended credit to your business to report your payment history to the three major commercial credit bureaus.
Ask for terms: Vendor credit is a kind of short-term credit your company may receive from suppliers or service providers, allowing your company to buy now and pay later for the things it needs to stay in business. .
Don’t use too much credit: The more credit you take on, the more debt you have. So, try not to use more than 30% of your credit limit consistently. It will demonstrate responsible borrowing and help build relationships with lenders.
Check on your scores regularly: You should always be aware of what’s in your business credit report and know your business credit score.
Fix errors on your business credit report: Errors won’t correct themselves so make sure that you pay attention to any old information and have it corrected.
When you put the time and effort necessary into establishing, building and maintaining a good business credit report and score, you’ll enhance your company’s business’ reputation and position it for success.
**Establish business credit: First, you must file your business with your state by forming a corporation or LLC to operate your business. You should also obtain all necessary licenses to meet state and federal requirements for your business. And, establish accounts under your business name, such as a business checking account, utilities, leases and loans. Finally, find companies who will grant credit to your business without a personal guarantee. And while it is important to have one, don’t rely solely on small business credit cards for access to credit. Your business credit profile should be broader than that.
For those who enjoy taking photos, one’s camera roll can get a bit overwhelming at times. Taking pictures regularly requires organization, in order to efficiently find the photos you have on your phone. As a small business owner, it is essential to have fast access to photos to add to various marketing channels. With access to pictures that are sorted productively, social media marketing is easy to manage on a daily basis. Below are some tips on making this possible.
To create a photo album
This lets you quickly access specific groups of photos so you don’t have to sort through your entire gallery to find what you’re looking for. Steps to creating an empty album: ● Open Photos, then tap the “Albums” tab located at the top of your screen. ● Tap the Plus Sign located in the top left corner, then the “New Album” button. ● Type in an album name, tap Save, and then select the photos you want to include. ● Tap Done. ● Now, your album will appear under the given name that you just created.
To create an album from existing photos:
● Open Photos, then open the “ All Photos” Album or tap the “All Photos” Tab. ● Tap Select, then pick all photos you want to add to the new album. An infinite amount of photos can be selected to create the new album. ● Tap the Share button, which looks like a box with an arrow pointing up. Then tap “Add To”, and select “New Album”.
CREATING A PHOTO ALBUM ON AN ANDROID
● Start by opening the Google Photos app. ● Touch and hold on a photo, and then select as many photos as you desire to be in your new album. ● At the top of your screen, tap the “plus” button “+” ● Select “Album”, then follow the prompts to add a title to your new album ● Tap “done” or “”
Fulfilling a dream while providing livable wages is the driving force behind Christina Paz, owner of Siller Preferred Services. Growing up in South Texas with her six siblings, Paz watched her mom struggle to meet her monthly obligations as a migrant worker, often relying on social services and government assistance. Wanting to break the cycle of poverty, Paz dreamed of a future of stability. While living in Minnesota, she worked for an employment agency. Working her way up from receptionist to regional manager, she realized how she could help individuals, like her mother, provide for their families with honest work. Moving back to Texas prompted Paz to open her employment agency in 2014. Today, Siller provides over 200 individuals throughout Austin with livable wages. A mom of three, Paz stresses the importance of hard work and giving back to your community. She is an active member of her church and enjoys Pilates.
Christina Paz shares her experience as a client and supporter of EGBI.
To get started, would you mind telling us a fun fact about yourself? Within the EGBI community, I am known as the person who kicked Al Lopez, the previous Executive Director of EGBI, out of his office.
Why do you support EGBI? I met Al Lopez and Barbra Boeta in 2014 when I had just opened my business. My attorney Ana is the one who introduced me, and that is where everything started.
EGBI cultivates a culture where entrepreneurs are built up with attention to detail. The services that I received are not easy to find, and when something is very rare you take care of it and protect it. For all of these reasons, I chose to support, as a way to give back and contribute to others.
Why is it important to support EGBI? As an individual who took courses through EGBI, I created a relationship with the staff that was incredibly unique. The one-on-one guidance given to me by mentors helped me understand topics I did not have experience with as a business owner. Nobody made me feel unintelligent just because I didn’t know something, everyone was very understanding through the process.
Why did you decide to support EGBI for Celebrating Success? Similar to above, I chose to support this organization because of the amazing experience that I have with it. I have witnessed the passion that is ingrained into what EGBI offers. There is still a relationship where people will check-up on me, there are areas that I still don’t have knowledge in and they do. I continue supporting because of the support that I was given as an entrepreneur.
How has EGBI helped you and your business? I think that one of the most important things I learned at EGBI were the organizational parts of opening a business. EGBI teaches you everything you need to know from business partner etiquette, agreements, and contracts. Above all else, EGBI gave me the support I needed during hard times which I don’t think I would’ve gotten anywhere else.
In 2021, EGBI supporters like Christina help EGBI pursue their mission of training, coaching, and supporting aspiring and existing business owners who face barriers to growing a successful business.
Want to get involved too? Contact us to find out how you can volunteer or donate.
I am, Margrita Foss, an expert in the management and control of personal emotions and the building and maintaining of positive self-esteem. I am born Colombian, living in Austin, Texas, a happy wife and mother of two incredible children, Jaime and Daniela. I have now dedicated my life to guiding Hispanic women who may have already achieved success, started a family, and feel that they “have it all”, but inside, their thoughts do not allow them to be happy, feeling unable to overcome an unpleasant past. I help Latinas who have done so much for others that they have forgotten themselves; reaching a point in their lives where they say: “Now it’s my turn!”. Step by step, I help them become mentally strong women in control of their emotions; obtaining a more productive, fulfilling and happy life.
From the point in my earlier life when I personally suffered emotional abuse, I have worked diligently to rise above the pain and sadness. Learning English provided me with the ability to learn from many of the experts in the areas of mental self-improvement, emotional healing, and spiritual development. I studied, listened to podcasts, attended seminars and workshops, obtained certifications and accreditations and custom built a profession that takes all that I have learned and adapted and tailored it for the Hispanic women community. Recently I have created The Empowered Latina Academy (ELA), an online program that teaches that living without emotional burden can make you a happier and inspired woman, living a more productive and abundant life.
Margarita Foss shares her experience as an EGBI client.
Do you mind telling us a fun fact about yourself? Since even before becoming a Dentist more than 25 years ago in Colombia, I have hated to give presentations. I hated to speak in public. I disliked getting in front of my classmates. I would get extremely nervous and it would make me sick to my stomach. But somehow I always seemed to do a pretty good job of it. In fact, I was invited several times to teach oral health on local radio stations in my home city and also in small rural villages in Colombia. As time went by, I moved to the States 17 years ago, I went to Dental Hygienist School and again I found myself giving presentations to my classmates in the school. After graduating, every single job I have had in Dental Offices has required me to inform and educate people, individually and in groups on oral health and hygiene. I present to my patients, in schools, nursing homes and more. The last several years in my dental career I ended up teaching Oral Hygiene in the orientation for new employees for an institution with patients with special needs. But still, public speaking and now in English, was something that I didn’t enjoy at all. However, one day I noticed that people were staying after classes to ask questions, and THAT was the moment I realized that teaching was something that I’m pretty good at, and I started falling in love with public speaking.
How did you first get involved with EGBI? A couple years ago I was searching for an organization that could help me learn how to start my new business, Life Coaching for Latinas. I found EGBI and had the opportunity to take one of the workshops offered at that time. Later, as a coordinator of Miercoles Professional Amhiga Hispana (Nonprofit Organization), I had the opportunity to connect with Monica Peña and she told me more about the organization. I feel that we, as women-owned small businesses, are so blessed to have the opportunity to work with EGBI and learn the skills that are necessary to succeed.
Why is it important to support organizations such as EGBI? As a Latina entrepreneur I know first hand the struggles involved in setting up a business and honestly, unless you have the guidance of experts like the ones I found at EGBI, it can take you years to succeed. So, why try to build something from scratch in an area where you have no clue, no experience, and waste the time, money and effort when you can count on expert assistance like EGBI. As the African proverb says “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Saying this, the support of organizations like EGBI is so important for business owners who are struggling to build a successful business. Together we will go far together!
How has your involvement with EGBI helped you grow professionally and personally? Day one, EGBI started helping me to become more organized, to use my time more productively, and most importantly to build my own power of staying focused on the important parts of building the business. They provided me with the organizational “tools” indispensable for any business. Working with EGBI I have had the opportunity to meet incredible people that bring to my life the experience and knowledge of building a small business, something I value immensely.
There is no doubt that my business is moving to the next level much faster than if I wouldn’t have had the support of EGBI.
In 2021, EGBI volunteers put in more than 130 hours to help EGBI support and serve over 400 small businesses. Volunteers help EGBI pursue their mission of training, coaching, and supporting aspiring and existing business owners who face barriers to growing a successful business.
Want to get involved too? Contact us to find out how you can volunteer or donate.
Establishing your brand is one of the most important aspects of your business foundation. In fact, having a consistent brand image will allow you to increase your business’ recognition amongst potential customers.
To begin building your brand, consider the following factors:
Company Logo
Your company logo should be recognizable and portray your brand “identity”. It can represent your product or service; or even qualities of your company that make it unique.
For example, take a look at the Beats by Dre logo:
Not only is the logo minimalistic, much like the Beats headphones, but the logo itself represents a circular head wearing the “b” symbol as headphones.
Creating a successful logo, however, is only one of three ways to make your company stand out.
2. Company Colors
Another branding strategy for unification is through your company colors. This palette should once again convey your brand identity and be used in all company materials, such as the website, email signature, and promotional material. This not only creates a company aesthetic, but improves brand recognition and association.
Check out these colors:
What company comes to mind?
You probably answered McDonald’s, and this choice isn’t random. The bright red and yellow McDonald’s uses have scientific backing—yellow is associated with positivity, while red induces feelings of excitement, making them memorable. Additionally, these colors are used consistently throughout their marketing materials, from the shirt colors of actors in advertisements to the text colors.
Your color choice and usage will help identify your company with customers.
3. Company Content
The last step to building your business’ brand is through your marketing content. This may include posts on social media, newsletters, blogs, videos, and more—anything that is created by your company and represents your image. Your content should show your company’s values and help craft its identity. For example, your company may value sustainability. Consider launching a community campaign, such as funding a garden or trash pick-up event, and promote these projects through a variety of channels.
There is no limit to the content you can produce. The end goal is to communicate your company vision and values with consumers.
