Tariffs are barriers to international trade. Paid by the importer, tariffs are fees assessed on the value of imported products, including freight and insurance, which increases the cost of importing goods. We provide five strategies businesses can employ to weather tariff policy uncertainty in the U.S.

Podcasting is a powerful tool for building brand authority, connecting with audiences, and generating new business opportunities. To maximize its benefits, small business owners and podcasters must start by choosing the best host, which has strategic implications for a brand’s website design.

If you’re a business owner or marketer, you’ve probably heard the phrase “Content is King” (or, in our case, Queen 👑). And it’s true—now more than ever. We provide six ways well-crafted content marketing can elevate your business.

For marketers and business owners with an innate sense of their target market and audience, pinpointing their ideal customer isn’t always straightforward. To simplify the process, they should examine their existing customer base and answer the basic questions: who, what, when, where, why, and how.

Any customer-facing role is at risk of landing a toxic client. Business leaders and marketers must evaluate prospective customers as they would prospective employees during the hiring process. They should assess the individual for cultural fit and identify undesirable personality traits and mannerisms contradicting their organization’s values and growth objectives.

Our experiences shape and inform our perspectives, opinions, and strategies. Adaptability and willingness to embrace change are essential for individual and enterprise growth. Humility in learning can also give you an edge and reveal opportunities before others recognize one exists.

When equipping your business with the right software, the decision to build a custom solution or buy an off-the-shelf product can feel like a high-stakes choice. Owners must evaluate critical factors — budget, timelines, technical expertise, and long-term goals — to navigate this pivotal decision and ensure their software strategy aligns with business objectives.

Remembering heroes from our childhood stories can provide a sense of continuity in uncertain times and remind us that we have the power to overcome challenges and achieve our goals. One such character is Roald Dahl’s Matilda, whose determination and resilience remind us that it’s critically important to believe in yourself.

On a liveaboard scuba diving trip to the Bahamas, Captain Tim explained the standard two-way radio protocols he encouraged his crew to utilize. Radio communication etiquette has application in any professional land- or sea-based setting.

Sub-par performance chasing spiny lobster for dinner in the Florida Keys prompted further introspection on growth and strategy. Lobsters are a salient reminder that growth happens when you leave your comfort zone.

For most entrepreneurs, few things are as exciting as taking a great product or service idea and turning it into a profitable business. But while it can be exciting to conceptualize starting a new company, there are many necessary steps to achieve sustainable success.

Establishing a Google Business Profile is critical to your company website’s local search engine optimization (SEO) strategy. An up-to-date Business Profile with a steady stream of highly rated reviews delivers a boost to your website’s ranking in local search results.

Inspired by Daniel James Brown’s true story about “The Boys in the Boat” and the leadership traits required for a team to exceed all expectations, I interviewed a former competitive crew coxswain, Briana Gallo, to compare her experience with that of the Olympic team in 1936.

Who knew that paid advertising could make us unhappy? Or that only 50% of the people surveyed trusted the advertisements they saw, read, or heard? Business owners should focus on earned and shared media as a cost-effective, long-term marketing strategy that builds trust and makes their audience happier.

Business owners are faced with a decision whether to allow ‘AI bots’ to crawl their website data. Because websites are a valuable digital asset that can enhance company value, businesses should carefully consider the opportunities and risks of exposing their data to AI bots.

Making reversible, "two-way" door decisions with quick outcomes increases the likelihood of any failure providing opportunities for personal growth, creativity, and innovation.

We’re approaching that often daunting time of year for setting annual goals. Whether it’s a financial forecast or a New Year’s resolution, it is important to set achievable, yet challenging, goals and milestones. Get SMARTER in your goal-setting process by anticipating roadblocks and detours on your path to achievement. 

Negotiation is an activity that everyone performs, sometimes daily. Two or more parties negotiate because there is a conflict of interest (or interdependent goals) - and the parties believe they can get a better deal negotiating than by simply taking what the other side will give them. We provide five strategies to achieve a win-win outcome in any negotiation.

Humor can be useful in crisis communications - but only in certain situations. In the Journal of Interactive Marketing, researchers defined two types of negative events: defensible and indefensible. The researchers found that humor is only an effective tool in the context of defensible crises.

Both small businesses and nonprofits alike should be leveraging their websites as a passive source of income. Your website represents one of your less costly annual expenses - and it provides an opportunity to generate a high return on investment. Learn how your retail-based business can optimize your Squarespace e-store - and keep your inventory in sync with your physical storefront.