Hamlin’s coaches, friends and current and former teammates paint a consistent picture of a man relentlessly committed to giving back.
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Presidential historian Jon Meacham compared President Biden to Abraham Lincoln Tuesday, arguing the upcoming midterm elections will be the most important choice that America has made since the lead up to the Civil War.
Appearing on “CNN Tonight” to promote his new book about Lincoln, he was asked by CNN co-host Alisyn Camerota to “tell us why you think that this is the most important election since 1850.”
Meacham responded that the upcoming elections are about a lot more than just particular policies.
“Well, I think it’s the most important election easily since that period because we are facing a stress test for the rule of law and democracies run not just on policies, not just about what a particular policy or tax rate is, it’s about an overall context of our mutual respect for each other as fellow citizens and a sanctity of law and custom that means that people who win elections legitimately get to serve in office,” Meacham said.
Meacham, who spoke at the 2020 Democratic National Convention, went on to mock former President George W. Bush while criticizing the Republican Party.
“When you deplete the trust in the system, which is what is unfolding today around the country, and I will confess, as George W. Bush might say, I misunderestimated the power of the ‘big lie’ here, but it’s burrowed in and democracies do not long endure if everything becomes about power at the expense of winning humbly and losing graciously,” Meacham said.
Co-host Laura Coates brought up the Confederacy and slavery before the Civil War and how Meacham compared them to Republicans who question the 2020 presidential election, noting how he wrote that both Lincoln and Biden had to deal with their own versions of the big lie, with Lincoln’s being that “slavery was a justifiable institution.”
She said there were moments where, if Lincoln had succumbed to pressure to placate the Confederacy, history would have turned out much differently and told Meacham, “You draw these analogies in a way, I think is not always so obvious but it’s fascinating to think of how and where we are today.”
Meacham said the main question we must answer “for the continuation of the constitutional experiment” is “do we put our own interests above everything else?”
“If we go entirely political, if it’s entirely – every moment is this battle where it is cataclysmic – then the system doesn’t endure,” he said, reiterating that Lincoln could have chosen a different path. But because he prioritized democracy over his political future, “Abraham Lincoln, flawed, fallen, and fallible, said no. And he said no, because he believed fundamentally that slavery had to die and the union had to endure.”
Republicans are gaining ground in the crucial midterm elections, with Republicans focusing on the economy and rising crime while Democrats have sought to make the campaign about abortion and a “threat to democracy.”
A credit plan for 2022—or for any year, is a way to better organize a necessary task, which is building business credit. A plan will help you save time and money. And you’ll avoid the frustrations of denials and delays.
It’s not one size fits all. There are measurable, qualitative differences between startups and seasoned businesses. And there are differences between businesses with just a year in business, and those with five years or more. We call these phases. Your options for credit and financing differ depending on phase.
You could conceivably just apply for credit willy-nilly. And you could hope that you’re doing it right. But a plan helps you bypass unnecessary delays. And it keeps you focused. Your eyes stay on the prize.
Every business begins as a Startup, phase 1. Your business might be just barely squeaking by. Once you’re past the startup stage and making money, you swing into Development, AKA phase 2. Now you’re making some money steadily. The Growth segment of your business’s life is phase 3, where you make more steady money and can afford to look past the next quarter or year.
Phase 4 is Maturity, where your business makes good, predictable money, hiring people, and expanding with ease. In this phase, you’re way past hanging by a thread. The final phase is 5, Exit. Here, you look to pass your business on, whether through sales or willing it to your heirs.
Where do you see your business in, say, a half a decade, or more?
All these scenarios require funding! Even going concerns with stable, steady revenue can experience emergencies, or need to seize a business opportunity quickly and before they have the funds. All businesses can use business credit to achieve their aims. Even if you’ve already been through some phases, checking out earlier phases could help you see if you missed anything. And if you’re just starting out, reviewing later phases could show you your business’s future so you can be prepared.
Setting up a business is a lot more than just saying you’re in business. The way the business is set up can directly affect the ability of your business to succeed. This first phase covers your first six to twelve months or so of existence. Let’s start with your brand new startup’s fundability
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Fundability is a business’s ability to get funding. Much of the power to get business money is in your hands. A business starts with no credit profile. But nearly half of all companies fail in their first 5 years, and about 2/3 in the first 10. This means that new businesses don’t seem fundable to lenders. You can change that by building for fundability from the jump.
Let’s start with your business name. Always check with your Secretary of State—the name may have to be unique. Make sure your SOS has all necessary, up to date, and correct information for your company. Make sure that you are in good standing with them, and your entity is active. You have to file annual reports and pay an annual fee to stay active.
Keep the name of a high-risk or restricted industry out of your business name. Your business can be Amy’s rather than Amy’s Cannabis Dispensary. There is nothing underhanded about this. It is completely legitimate and honest.
A common reason for loan and credit card application denials is the lender can’t easily locate a business offline or online. So make it easy for lenders and credit providers to find your business. Make sure the business name is identical on corporation papers, licenses, utility statements, and bank statements. Also make sure the business name and all other information is the same on every online listing you can find. Keep it identical on all offline listings as well.
Your business must be a real brick and mortar building, a deliverable physical address. Hence it can never be a UPS box or a PO Box. Some lenders do not approve and fund unless this criterion is met. A virtual address can also be a good idea if you need to hold a meeting or an interview, as it’s a lot more professional than using your kitchen table. We like Regus, Davinci, and Alliance Virtual Offices. But keep in mind there are credit providers that do not accept virtual addresses.
Get a free EIN for your business and choose your business entity at IRS.gov. To truly separate business credit from personal credit your business must be a separate legal entity, not a sole proprietor or partnership. Only incorporating creates a new and separate entity. By default, this reduces your personal liability. Other entities (like partnerships) don’t. File with the Secretary of State for your state. Set up your entity in the same state as your business address.
The IRS website is also where you choose the NAICS code for your business. NAICS codes help the government collect, analyze, and publish statistical data on the business economy. For example, per the NAICS, the 484230 code covers Specialized Freight (except Used Goods) Trucking, Long-Distance. The 484110 code covers General Freight Trucking, Local. A trucking company which performs both functions could technically go with either code.
Neither 484230 nor 484110 is on the NAICS list of high risk and cash-intensive businesses. But that list is from 2014. According to the NAICS, they don’t have any current plans to update the list. High risk NAICS codes can affect your ability to get traditional loans, but other providers may be able to look beyond them.
It’s easy and inexpensive to set up a virtual local phone number or a toll free 800 number. A cell or home phone number as your main business line could make your business less fundable—but a VOIP is fine. And if you don’t want customers calling you on the road all day, do not use a personal cell phone as the business phone number. It also helps with fundability to have a dedicated business phone number. Your number needs a listing with 411 for most credit issuers and lenders to approve you. Check for your record to see if you’re listed and your information is accurate. No record? Then use ListYourself.net to get a listing.
Lenders and credit providers research your corporation on the internet. It is best if they learned everything directly from your corporate website. Because not having a professional website can hurt your chances of getting corporate credit. A Facebook page or a listing on Yelp is no substitute for an actual company website. You can buy web hosting from a hosting company like GoDaddy or HostGator.
Try to make your domain the same as your business name. Add a company email address on the same domain as your website. This often comes from a website domain provider, and may even be free with your hosting package. This is not just professional; it also greatly helps your chances of getting approval from a credit provider. Do not use Yahoo, AOL, Gmail, Hotmail, or similar kinds of email.
Contact state, county, and city government offices to see if there are any required licenses and permits to operate your business. Licensing requirements differ depending on state, town, and industry. Being fully licensed builds credibility in your business, and that can help you get more customers. Not being licensed can mean fines, and maybe even jail time. Don’t risk it and get your licensing!
You must have a bank account devoted strictly to your business. The IRS does not want you commingling funds. Make accounting easier and reduce the risk of audit at tax time. Keep personal and business funds separate. Having a business-only bank account makes that easy. Many vendors require that you open a business-only bank account. Use your EIN to open a bank account and to build a business credit profile. And while you’re at it, get a merchant account so you can accept credit cards from your customers.
Start with Dun & Bradstreet because they are—by far—the largest business CRA. Run a search for your business on D&B’s website. If you can’t find it, then you’ll need to get a free D-U-N-S number on the D&B site. A D-U-N-S number plus 3 payment experiences leads to a PAYDEX score. So you need a D-U-N-S number to start building business credit, plus it is another common vendor requirement. Once you are in D&B’s system, search Experian and Equifax’s sites for your business.
You get the most favorable funding by paying all bills on time, which means:
For Experian, historical behavior (payment history) is 5—10% of the total score. So make paying your company’s bills on time a cornerstone of your business credit building efforts.
Start with vendor accounts, a proven way to start building business credit. Vendor credit is generally not attached to a bank. So under federal law a Social Security number is not required. This is unlike bank loans and bank cards. So you can legitimately leave the SSN field blank, to force them to pull your business credit under your EIN.
Check out three of our favorite starter vendors for any industry:
All three report positive payment experiences with your company.
Reports to Equifax and Credit Safe. They had been reporting to D&B up till December 2020 but stated that they are working to restore that. Get low price electronic, and quality custom design and branding services. With The CEO Creative, you can create your own logo, business cards, business accessories, etc.
Membership fee includes access to all their products, and member discounts. Get access to web printing and graphic design at a discounted rate. You must pay an annual fee to run your business credit report and maintain monthly reporting. Membership fee is not reported to credit bureaus. Minimum order of $40 to report. Remember: reporting to D&B is on hold right now.
Your corporate entity must be in good standing with the applicable Secretary of State, and you must have an established business credit history. You also need:
You must pay a yearly membership fee of $69.00. Apply online or over the phone. Terms are Net 30.
They sell hardware, power tools, and more. And they also do fleet maintenance. They report to Dun and Bradstreet. In addition to their standard qualifications, if a business doesn’t have established credit, they want to see additional documents like accounts payable, income statement, balance sheets, etc. Terms for Grainger Industrial Supply are Net 30, Net 45, Net 60, or Net 90.
Your business entity must be in good standing with Secretary of State. You also need:
Your business must be registered to Secretary of State (SOS) for at least 60 days. Apply online or over the phone.
They sell shipping, packing and industrial supplies. Uline reports to Dun & Bradstreet and Experian. You MUST create an account with them before starting to build business credit with them. Terms are Net 30.
Your business entity must be in good standing with the Secretary of State. You also need:
Application may be approved for net 30 at time of order. Upon final review, Credit Department may change to a few prepaid orders before granting Net 30.
The idea is to help you qualify for business credit with cards that you will use. As you continue building, more time in business helps. But to get started, you may need to give a personal guarantee. That’s okay; that’s a part of the strategy.
When you provide a personal guarantee, you are adding your Social Security number to the application. So expect a hard inquiry. You’re also adding the details of your personal income to the application.
If you already have good personal credit, then you’re all set. But if not, you can work with a credit partner or guarantor. And never stop improving your personal credit, no matter what your FICO score is.
This is a form of unsecured funding. Our credit line hybrid has an even better interest rate than a secured loan. Get some of the highest loan amounts and credit lines for businesses. You can get 0% business credit cards with stated income. These report to business CRAs so you can build business credit at the same time. This gets you access to even more cash with no personal guarantee. You need a FICO credit score of at least 680 or a guarantor with good credit to get an approval. No financials are necessary.
This is not a loan. You do not have to pay an early withdrawal fee or a tax penalty. You put the money back by contributing, just like with any 401(k) program so you won’t lose your retirement funds. The IRS calls this a Rollover for Business Startups (ROBS), which is a separate entity with its own set of requirements. The plan, through its company stock investments, rather than the individual owns the trade or business.
This financing isn’t a loan against, your 401(k), so there’s no interest to pay and does not use the 401(k) or stocks as collateral. Instead, this is simply a movement or change of custodian. Your 401(k) must have over $35,000 in it and cannot be from a business where you are currently employed. You can get 401(k) financing even with severely challenged personal credit.
Some lenders make loans using securities (like stocks and bonds) as collateral. Securities-based lending provides ready access to capital. The only restrictions to this kind of lending are other securities-based transactions, like buying shares or repaying a margin loan. You continue to earn interest on stocks pledged as collateral. But you will have challenged personal credit.
Your business and its potential are assets. Selling off some business equity can take a few different forms. This depends on how much control you’re comfortable with ceding.
So talk to people you know about angel investing. Angels buy a smallish stake in your company. They usually don’t expect as big a return as venture capitalists do. VCs might also buy a stake, but they generally just want paradigm-changing businesses. Most straightforward industries won’t fill the bill unless your take on the industry is utterly unique. Another way to sell part of your equity is to take on another founder or partner.
Crowdfunding success isn’t guaranteed. And crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter take a percentage of any money you raise. But it can still be a way to get a cash infusion without giving up equity. If you’re exceptionally good online and have a compelling service and story, then you’re more likely to succeed than most people. Since crowdfunding campaigns are time-consuming, don’t start one unless your realistic chances of success are better than half.
Grants can come from the government or private businesses. So expect a lot of competition, difficult entry requirements, and not a lot of money. But it’s another way to get some cash without selling a chunk of your business. You may find there are few grants for your industry. But you still may be able to score grants based on the kind of entrepreneur you are, e. g. female, disabled, LGBTQ+, etc.
Right now, you have minimal Growth Monthly Revenue (GMR). So this is a fast paced growth plan. Throw it against the wall and take what you can get right now. Look at some short sighted daily and weekly goals for quick cash and growth. During this phase, your focus is on the essentials to create a viable business. Your goal is to build your consistent revenue to $10,000 per month and continue to improve your personal credit. Let’s move onto phase 2.
In Phase 2, start developing marketing. Currently, you’re at an aggressive sales pace adding nurture and longer sales cycles. Use medium term monthly growth planning (campaign to campaign). So it’s time for software implementation and system development. You’re building the blocks of how your business is going to be, now and in the future. This phase should run somewhere between the first 6—24 months from launch.
Your credit options multiply once you get to Phase 2, including:
As you continue to build exceptional business credit and pay your bills on time, credit providers trust you more. So you can get higher limits and better terms. And you can start to get business credit cards with no PG.
With no PG financing, you can continue building exceptional business credit and pay your bills on time. In general, any of the following eliminate the need to provide a personal guarantee:
Much like with any other kind of business borrowing, the more assurances you can give the lender, the better.
There are many vendors who do not report to the business credit reporting agencies unless you default. But they’re still a good idea, because credit can help you beyond business credit building. Not having to put up 100% of the costs of equipment or a building or anything else can help with budgeting. Credit can sometimes be the only way to take advantage of a limited time opportunity if you don’t have cash right now. And if your business credit cards offer rewards, cash back, or points, then using them is to your advantage
Vehicle financing can be a great way to get a business vehicle without having to wait until you can just pay cash for it. Note: business owners may be required to personally guarantee vehicle loans. And if you are a co-borrower, the loan most likely reports to your personal credit report. Some loans have a prepayment penalty. It is a good idea to have a loan proposal, detailing your business, loan needs, and financial statements. Here are a couple of vehicle financing choices from us.
Ford offers several commercial vehicle financing options. These include loans, lines, and leases to actual business entities and not sole proprietorships. Get a loan or a lease. Ford may ask for a PG if you are not approved on the merit of your application. Apply at the dealership. Ford reports to D&B, Experian, and Equifax.
Your business entity must be in good standing with the applicable Secretary of State. You also need:
Ally provides personal financing, but they also report to business credit bureaus. If your business qualifies for financing without the owner’s guarantee, you can get financing in the business name only. Ally reports to D&B, Experian, and Equifax.
Your business entity must be in good standing with your Secretary of State. You also need:
If you provide a PG, Ally does not report to the personal credit bureaus unless the account defaults.
Get a lease or a loan. You need most of the same things as you need for an Ally Commercial Line of Credit, except for a bank reference and fleet financing references. There is no minimum time in business requirement. Apply in person only; dealer will advise if approved or PG needed.
There are several tools that can help streamline managing small business finances. Options like Brex, Divvy, Expensify, Lola, and more are growing in popularity.
Brex and Divvy are business money management systems that integrate with your accounting software. You can track expenses and, depending on the level of service you choose, they also help with paying bills and controlling spending. Brex has a partnership with the FDIC and your funds are secure. Everyone that opens a Brex cash account gets a corporate card. Brex reports any payments to Dun & Bradstreet. Divvy reports to the Small Business Finance Exchange, which in turn provides data to all SBFE partners, including business credit bureaus.
In Phase 2, your funding options also increase, to:
An MCA technically isn’t a loan; it’s a cash advance based on the credit card sales of a business. A small business can apply for an MCA and have an advance deposited into its account quickly. So you can offer Net 30 terms but not have to wait a month to get paid. With an MCA you get funding based strictly on cash flow as verifiable per business bank statements. A lender mainly just wants to see consistent deposits.
You can technically qualify with only one year in business. But the annual revenue requirement is high enough that phase 2 should make more sense. You can raise capital from investors who get a percentage of the enterprise’s ongoing gross revenues in exchange for money invested until a predetermined amount is paid. Often this amount is between 3—5 times the original amount invested. Monthly payments fluctuate with revenue highs and lows and continue until you’ve paid back the loan in full.
Fundbox connects directly to your online accounting software when deciding to fund your business. You can get revolving line of credit for up to $100,000. Fundbox auto debits your weekly payment from your bank account. You don’t need to show a minimum personal credit score or a minimum time in business. But ideally Fundbox prefers 6 months in business or more.
Use a loan or lease to purchase or borrow hard assets for your business, equipment like a truck or a laptop. Pay predictable amounts every month. You can build business credit on a program like this.
Or you can lease equipment, rather than buy it outright. You often put down less money than if you were buying the equipment. You may be able to negotiate flexible terms with an equipment lease, and it’s easy to upgrade equipment after your lease ends. This is helpful if your equipment is something like a computer which quickly becomes obsolete.
If you already own your equipment free and clear, did you know that you can use that as collateral for financing? Sell the equipment to a lender for cash. And then lease it back from them. You can unlock Section 179 tax savings and depreciate your entire equipment purchase in the first year. You need at least one larger piece of higher value equipment to qualify.
If you have open invoices and extend credit to customers in some form, then you can get paid faster with factoring. Often this involves invoices with net terms, like net 30, 60, or 90. To be paid faster, turn those invoices over to a factoring company. They immediately give you an agreed upon percentage of the total of the invoices, like 80%. When your customer pays, the factoring company keeps their fee. Then they send you the rest. But never forget—factoring only works if your customers pay.
Goal #1 should be strong business credit (10—12 accounts) and good personal credit. You also want to build consistent revenue to $10,000 or more a month. Always develop business connections in your community and with potential lenders. Let’s move onto phase 3.
Now you’re in a time of successful growth…what you’re doing is working! It’s time to start optimizing systems and operations. You’ll undergo massive team and infrastructure development. Plus long term growth and planning for a semi-annual to annual focus on lifetime customer value. You need to make some high level strategic hires (Managers, VP’s, Essential C levels). This phase happens at about 24 months or more from launch.
Your Phase 3 credit options put your Phase 1 and Phase 2 options on steroids, with:
Phase 3 opens your funding options up to:
This can often mean online lending. For certain industries, it is one of the only ways to get money. Before you dip into your savings, investigate business lending for your industry. Because lenders that specialize in lending to your industry are out there.
More time in business also makes SBA loans a real possibility for your business. It’s easier to get an SBA loan in Phase 3 versus earlier. This is because you can more readily show your business is established and making money. Demonstrated profitability and responsible credit and bank account management improve your chances of getting an approval for an SBA loan. SBA loans have great terms, which is why you should be striving to be eligible for one.
Big banks only sign off on about 25% of the small business loan applications they see. Term loans often have lower interest rates than many other funding options, and also tend to be for higher loan amounts. Most likely, you must undergo a personal credit check and/or provide collateral.
In Phase 3, you take your business to the next financial level, so your goals are:
You can get retail credit comes from major retailers. Retailers check if your business information is uniform everywhere, and if your business is properly and thoroughly licensed. Terms can be revolving. You need at least 3 accounts reporting to the business CRAs.
Use fleet credit to:
These tend to be gas credit cards. There may be a minimal time in business requirement.
Business credit cards are more universal-type credit cards, like MasterCard. So you can use them pretty much anywhere. These cards may even have rewards programs. Terms can be revolving. Often you need to have at least 14 accounts reporting to the business CRAs. There can be longer time in business requirements. Let’s move onto phase 4.
So consistent growth is key. Now you’re aiming for long term consistent and stable growth and moving toward market domination. This can include competitor buyouts and acquisitions. Product development and expansion becomes critical for longevity. Now it’s time for the big hire. You get to fill out C Level, Directors, and middle management. Yes, your business can become this big! This phase can happen at around four to five years from launch.
So now, the sky is pretty much the limit! You should be able to get:
And you should be able to leverage reports for specific vendors. This includes asking for a credit line.
In addition to everything we’ve already talked about, your business can take full advantage of:
You might even sell shares in your corporation or go public!
So now you’re playing the long game. Your mission is to look to the future and help your business for decades to come. Therefore, you must:
So you should maximize and leverage of cash flow with vendors and business credit. Let’s move ahead to phase 5.
By now, your business should be very well established. Hence it’s time to cash in on all the work you have invested. Now your funding and credit has the long game return. A business credit portfolio is transferable and increases the value of your business.
Now your proven track record with merchant cash advances or revenue lending pays off big time, as it can keep your business cash flow moving through any difficulties. And a proven track record with the SBA, and a profitable banking relationship, also improves the value of your business. People want to buy something they can lend against if necessary.
Selling can mean you’re retiring, or maybe trading one form of entrepreneurship for another. Or you may want to change industries yet remain an entrepreneur. In Phase 5, you can:
In essence, you should be ready to sign for your own buyout. A profitable, seasoned business can be an exceptionally valuable legacy.
Your successful business will go through several phases throughout its lifetime. These phases dictate how you can best finance your business, and the kinds of credit you’re most likely to qualify for. Follow the steps in order and reap the rewards. Contact us today for a free consultation to see where you are in your journey, and what you qualify for.
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Rep. Kat Cammack, the Florida Republican, criticized Xavier Becerra, the Health and Human Services secretary, Monday night during an appearance on “The Ingraham Angle,” saying he has been nowhere to be found on any of the major issues that either directly or indirectly impact his office.
Do business credit cards affect personal credit? They can, and in fact most do. But, they don’t have to. There are steps you can take to make sure they don’t. The key is to build your business credit score, and choose the right business credit cards.
If you are asking yourself “Do business credit cards affect personal credit?” you are obviously trying to fund a business. And yes, most high limit business credit cards report to your consumer credit report. In fact, some report to both your personal credit and your consumer credit. There are even some business cards that will report negative payment information, but will not report anything if the account is in good standing. If you are trying to keep your business accounts from affecting your personal credit score, you need cards that will not report to personal credit bureaus.
Yes, it matters. Here’s why. You know that if an account, business or personal, is not in good standing, it can be detrimental to your personal credit if reported. Yet, did you know that even if an account is in good standing, it is possible that it may still damage personal credit.
Check out how our reliable process will help your business get the best business credit cards.
This is due to one of the fundamental differences in business credit vs. personal credit. Your personal credit score is affected by your debt-to-credit ratio. That’s a measure of how much debt you have, relative to how much credit you have available. A high debt-to-credit ratio can negatively impact your personal credit score. This is further complicated by the fact that many business credit cards stay at or near their limit, even if you are making regular payments. It is a function of the fact that business expenses are typically much higher than personal expenses.
As a result, if those accounts are on your personal report, they can bring your credit score down even if they are not delinquent. The question then becomes, how do you make sure this doesn’t happen? There are two key parts to this.
First, if you are getting business credit cards with a personal guarantee, you have to make sure they will not report to your personal credit report. There are a handful that will not, even though they do ask for a personal guarantee. It is important to note that a personal guarantee means there will be a personal credit check. That will create an inquiry that may affect your personal credit for a bit. However, if the account does not report payment information to your personal credit report, the impact will be minimal.
If you have bad personal credit, the Wells Fargo Business Secured Credit Card is a good option.
You can get approved with a credit score as low as 580 currently, but that can change of course.
You do have to make at least a $500 deposit. Also, they do not report to consumer credit agencies, but they DO report to Dun & Bradstreet. That is, assuming you have your D-U-N-S number.
That means it can help you build business credit even with a bad personal credit score. They also report to the Small Business Finance Exchange. While the SBFE does not issue credit reports, they do share information with certain lenders, vendors, and credit agencies.
Wells Fargo will review your account periodically, and they may move you up to an unsecured account if you are eligible, based on a number of factors, including FICO.
If you have good credit, you have even more options for credit cards that will not report to personal credit. A few include:
CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Mastercard®
Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card (have to be a Costco member)
Wells Fargo Business Platinum Credit Card
Remember, even though these cards do not report to your personal credit report, they do require a personal guarantee. That means they will do a personal credit check, and that inquiry will affect your score for a bit.
Using a personal guarantee to begin building your credit portfolio is okay to start with. The goal, however, is to get as much as you can without a personal guarantee. To do this, you need to lay the groundwork before you apply for any cards. After all, they cannot report to your business credit profile if there is not one to report to.
Check out how our reliable process will help your business get the best business credit cards.
In contrast to a personal credit profile, you have to intentionally build a business credit profile. While a personal credit builds passively, business credit scores do not. With consumer credit, all you have to do is get credit accounts and they almost all end up on your consumer credit report.
First, you have your business up to be fundable. This includes a number of factors, some of which include:
You can get your EIN on the IRS website for free, and apply for the D-U-N-S number on the Dun & Bradstreet website, also for free. This is vital, because if you do not have that D-U-N-S number, accounts will not be able to report your payments to Dun & Bradstreet, because you will not have a profile there for them to report to.
The EIN is what you will use when you apply for business credit instead of your social security number. You may have to provide your SSN for identification purposes, but it will not be used to determine approval. This is one way you ensure your business credit accounts are not reporting to your personal credit report.
Once your business is set up in the right way so that you have a business credit profile, you need accounts that report to that profile. However, if you start applying for high limit credit cards using your business credit profile right away, you are going to get denied.
You have to find accounts that will extend credit to your business without any sort of credit check. You don’t yet have a business credit score, and you are trying to avoid personal credit all together. To do this, you start with starter vendors.
These are accounts that will extend net terms and report payments, but they will approve you based on factors other than your credit score. These factors may include time in business, revenue, average balance in your business bank account, or other factors.
The trick is, these types of vendors are not easy to find. They do not advertise themselves as “starter vendors.” They do not make it easy to find out whether or not they report payments to business credit profiles. Business owners need help finding this information.
Here are a few options to get you started:
Grainger
Uline
Marathon
Still, you need more accounts than this reporting before you can build a strong enough business credit score to apply for higher limit accounts.
Check out how our reliable process will help your business get the best business credit cards.
The secret to building a strong business credit profile as fast as possible and with minimal effect on your personal credit, is to work with a business credit expert. A business credit expert makes this whole process faster and easier.
They can help ensure you have your business set up the right way, and guide you toward those starter vendor accounts that will help you initially build your business credit score. They will help you know when you have enough accounts reporting to start applying for higher limit accounts and be approved.
In addition, our business credit experts have the knowledge and expertise to help you find the best accounts to flesh out your business credit portfolio. There is more to this than just building strong business credit with accounts that report. An expert can guide you toward the best vendor accounts for your specific business, whether they report or not.
The best way to start this process with no risk is to have a free consultation with a business credit expert. They can help you figure out where you stand now, and where you need to start so that you can build your business credit portfolio in the most effective and efficient way possible.
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While not every company needs to have business licenses and permits, it’s still vitally important to check. Make sure because there are consequences to not having licensing.
Check out why business licenses and permits matter. And along the way, get specifics on licensure in North Carolina, Massachusetts, Florida, and Washington State.
According to LegalZoom, “A business license is a government document that certifies a business is safe for the public. Exactly which kinds of licenses you require depends upon the kind of business you operate and where you operate it.”
Licensing is also a form of revenue for states, cities, and counties. But no matter how much profit a jurisdiction may get from providing licenses, licensure is still rooted in public safety.
According to Chron, “Business permits regulate safety, structure and appearance of the business community. They act as proof that your business follows certain laws and ordinances. Requirements vary by jurisdiction, and failure to comply often results in fines or even having your business shut down.”
Permits can be related to tax collections. They can also be related to zoning laws, which can be for public safety. For example, you probably can’t open a cattle feedlot or a chemical processing plant in a residential area
If you cannot, or do not want to, comply with a local ordinance, you can petition for a special permit called a variance. A variance essentially gives you permission to violate an ordinance. These are rarely granted and can be expensive due to legal fees. So make sure you need one before you request it.
So if a license is required, then get one. If you don’t, you could be forced to close. You may have to pay a fine. Your business could have to go through a probationary period before being allowed to reopen. The licensing authority (city, state, etc.) could refuse to grant you a license. Or your business could experience any combination of these.
If you don’t have a license, you could be sued for fraud. This is because it’s a misrepresentation if you open your doors without a license. After all, the public is reasonably expected to believe you have all necessary permits and licenses.
Your business reputation could take a tumble. Because customers may feel if you won’t follow the law, you won’t follow their directions, either. You could scare off prospects. As they might see your business as being fly by night.
So is it really worth it to not have licenses and permits? You should already know the answer to that.
These all need renewal on a regular basis, so keep track of those dates. Keep a copy of all applications and forms in your business records. Make sure you follow all rules for displaying licenses and permits.
Most places require you to display the license prominently for your customers. Check to see if you need additional licenses before expanding your building, launching a new product, or offering a new service.
When we talk about fundability, one of the areas we stress is keeping consistent records. Hence in addition to keeping track of renewal dates, you should also make sure all licenses, permits, etc. have the exact same business name, address, phone number, etc. And if any of these basics change, be sure to update all of these documents.
Learn more here and get started with building business credit with your company’s EIN and not your SSN.
If a federal agency regulates your business activities, you will need a federal license. According to the Small Business Administration, businesses in the following industries will need a federal license:
These industries are also included on the list of industries that must have federal licenses:
Local business licenses come from your state or city. They are determined by local laws. Federal licenses pertain to certain kinds of business activities. But a local business license means adhering to your state’s specific business regulations. To set up your business license, you often have to have a commercial address that must be a licensed business as well. You increase your chances of rejection if you use a non-licensed business as your address.
States have various requirements. As a result, the rules for one will not necessarily apply to another. Here are a few example states to give you an idea of what’s needed, and where to get licensing.
North Carolina does not have a generalized license to cover all bases. You’ll need to check your specific industry. The North Carolina Department of Commerce keeps the North Carolina Business & Occupational License Database. There are hundreds of business, occupational, and privilege licenses issued in North Carolina.
Some sample occupations that require licensing include:
Cities have their own licensing requirements. For example, in Charlotte, you will need to visit Charlotte Business Resources. The Licensing and Permitting page has a wealth of information on getting licenses not just in Charlotte, but also Mecklenburg County. The page answers basic questions on taxes and other topics of interests to business owners.
Learn more here and get started with building business credit with your company’s EIN and not your SSN.
In the Bay State, the Division of Professional Licensure (“DPL”) is an agency within the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation.
Collectively, DPL boards and offices license and regulate over 150 trades and professions in Massachusetts.
From the Massachusetts government website page on the DPL, you’ll need to click on the board governing the appropriate industry to get more information on the licensing you’ll need.
There is also a topic page on the Massachusetts government website all about professional licenses and permits. From that page, you can learn about licensing requirements and laws governing basic professional categories such as:
In the city of Boston, the city’s website has a section on small business development. The Licensing Board issues and regulates licenses for alcohol, food, and lodging in Boston. The Consumer Affairs and Licensing Division licenses entertainment for restaurants and nightclubs. When it comes to liquor licenses, in some instances you will have to meet with the Neighborhood Association before a Board can proceed.
On the My Florida License website, you can click on the names of several industries to learn all about their licensing requirements. These industries include:
Many Florida cities have licensing requirements. For a list of Florida cities that links directly to their official websites, go to the Cities page at the State of Florida website. That website also has a Permits and Licenses page.
For example, the Tampa government website shows how to get construction permits in the city. Permits are required for, among other activities:
Florida counties have their own licensing requirements. For a list of Florida counties that links directly to their official websites, go to the Counties page at the State of Florida website. On that page, you can choose a county by name.
For example, for licensing information in Hillsborough County, go to the county website’s Apply page, then choose the Businesses tab. There you will find links to permits for activities such as:
Learn more here and get started with building business credit with your company’s EIN and not your SSN.
On the Washington State government website, go to the Department of Revenue page, and then to Open a Business, then to Apply for a Business License. You will need to register with the Department of Revenue and get a business license if you meet any of the following conditions:
You will also need to register with the Department of Revenue and get a business license if you meet any of the following conditions:
For city licensing, go to the Washington State government website and look under Manage a Business, then City License Endorsements. There is a list of many of the cities and larger towns in Washington. However, it does not include all cities and towns.
To be thorough, Google the name of the appropriate city or town if it isn’t listed. Check their government website directly, just to be sure.
For example, if you click on the SeaTac link, there is information on a general business license. The City of SeaTac requires a license for all businesses located within city limits or conducting business within city limits.
If you are not sure if you will do business within the city limits, contact the city directly before you apply. Costs depend on the total number of full-time equivalent employees at your business.
Business licenses and permits can be easy to overlook in your initial excitement at getting your business off the ground. But don’t ignore them! Failing to properly license a business can result in fines and other penalties. It can also cost you in business from customers and prospects.
Always check state, county, and city/town websites when it comes to licensing. Or call the appropriate government offices to be sure your business is fully and properly licensed.
For more help with setting up a business and making it the best it can be, make sure to contact us. And find out just what our Business Credit Builder has to offer.
The post 3 Surprising Reasons Why It’s So Important to Get Business Permits and Licenses appeared first on Credit Suite.
Business Licenses and Permits – Are They Really Necessary? While not every company needs to have business licenses and permits, it’s still vitally important to check. Make sure because there are consequences to not having licensing. Check out why business licenses and permits matter. And along the way, get specifics on licensure in North Carolina, … Continue reading 3 Surprising Reasons Why It’s So Important to Get Business Permits and Licenses
What does it take to be a successful marketer? Turns out we don’t have to guess because someone’s already done the research. Fractl used IBM’s Watson Personality Insights API from 2019 to pick out the key traits and characteristics of 20 of the world’s most prominent marketing leaders (I even made the list!). According to … Continue reading Why Presentation Skills Are Important in Marketing
What does it take to be a successful marketer?
Turns out we don’t have to guess because someone’s already done the research. Fractl used IBM’s Watson Personality Insights API from 2019 to pick out the key traits and characteristics of 20 of the world’s most prominent marketing leaders (I even made the list!).
According to the study, the No. 1 trait shared by marketing leaders is adventurousness, followed by high energy levels, assertiveness, and intelligence.
One interesting thing about this is that you’d also find a lot of those traits in people with exceptional presentation skills.
To put yourself out there and present to a room full of people, you need to be at least a little adventurous. If you’re not a high-energy person, you’ll find it hard to keep people engaged. If you’re not assertive, you’ll struggle to communicate your points effectively. The list goes on.
That’s not a coincidence. To make it as a marketer, excellent presentation skills are pretty much nonnegotiable.
In a way, marketing is one big presentation. When we write a blog post or appear on a podcast, we’re presenting. When we research our audience, we’re trying to understand better what they want to see and learn from our presentations.
In other words, strong presentation skills underlie pretty much every aspect of marketing. If you can deliver an incredible presentation, you can:
What makes people trust brands? According to a global survey from PR and marketing consultancy Edelman, it boils down to three key factors:
However, an even more crucial point underpins all of this. Without strong presentation skills, potential customers aren’t going to know about any of those things!
If you don’t tout the quality of your product, or highlight your superb reviews and testimonials, or demonstrate your commitment to making the world a better place, how will anyone know whether they can trust you?
Ever wondered why personal social media accounts get better engagement than brand accounts? Because it’s easier to sell a person than a brand.
That’s why speaking at conferences, networking meetups, and other events can be such a useful tool for building brand awareness. It puts a human face on your brand, which instantly makes you more recognizable, relatable, and memorable. That’s why for many of us, when we hear the words Apple, Microsoft, or Tesla, we immediately think of Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, or Elon Musk.
Your presentation skills can be one of the biggest weapons in your armory when it comes to selling your product.
According to a study from Chief Marketer, live events are the second-biggest source of B2B leads, and also generate the second-highest ROI of any sales channel.
Granted, not all those respondents would have been guest speakers at those events, but to generate leads, they would have absolutely been speaking to prospects at their display stands, during networking sessions, and even while queuing to buy a hot dog or coffee. Their one-on-one presentation skills were crucial to breaking the ice with those leads.
By this point, you hopefully agree with me that presentation skills are essential for modern marketers. Now, let’s take a look at how to hone those skills to meet your marketing objectives.
If I told you to write me a blog right now, you’d likely find it pretty tough. After all, I’ve not given you any information. You don’t have a theme, or a title, or even an audience. In short, there’s no way of knowing what I’m looking for, so you can’t gauge what success looks like.
Alternatively, if I told you to write a blog about this year’s biggest trends in SEO, aimed at marketing leaders for SaaS startups, you’d have a much clearer idea of how to proceed.
The same thing is true for developing your presentation skills. Start by defining exactly what you want to achieve, such as:
Also, give yourself a deadline. Rather than generally building up your presentation skills, commit to improving your public speaking in time for a specific conference or networking event. Sign up as a speaker early; that way, you’re completely accountable for following through with your plans.
As well as simply “doing more of it,” there’s another extremely effective way to help you feel more confident about speaking in front of an audience: Do your research.
When you think about it, imposter syndrome is another big reason people shy away from public speaking. We worry we’ll be exposed as frauds and charlatans who don’t know what we’re talking about.
Thoroughly researching your audience will help guard against that feeling. When you know exactly who you’re talking to, it becomes much simpler to build an effective presentation.
If I’m speaking to a room of NASA engineers, I’m not going to tell them how to build a better rocket. I can’t tell them anything they don’t already know (and most of what I say would likely be wildly inaccurate).
However, I almost certainly know more about marketing than them. Maybe I’d tell them how, by sharing snippets of their work through their personal social profiles, they can build awareness and interest in what they do, which in turn, might persuade politicians that increased federal funding for NASA would be a real vote-winner. With that increased funding, they can go away and build better rockets.
With that in mind, before you start working on your next presentation, ask yourself the following questions about your audience:
The idea here is to identify the “thing” you know that’s of most value to your audience. The more you can niche down, the better. If you can’t answer some of those questions, speak to the event organizers; they should be able to help.
Throughout human history, storytelling has been one of our most effective tools for influencing, inspiring, and teaching one another.
Paul Smith, author of “Lead With a Story: A Guide to Crafting Business Narratives That Captivate, Convince, and Inspire,” put it better than me when he wrote:
In any group, roughly 40 percent will be predominantly visual learners who learn best from videos, diagrams, or illustrations. Another 40 percent will be auditory, learning best through lectures and discussions. The remaining 20 percent are kinesthetic learners, who learn best by doing, experiencing, or feeling.
Storytelling has aspects that work for all three types. Visual learners appreciate the mental pictures storytelling evokes. Auditory learners focus on the words and the storyteller’s voice. Kinesthetic learners remember the emotional connections and feelings from the story.
With that in mind, another key way to improve your presentation skills is to work on your storytelling. Don’t just tell your audience how a certain tactic can get them more sales; give them specific, real-world examples that help them relate your advice to their own circumstances.
Also, don’t overlook the power of humor to engage an audience. As the British comedian John Cleese said:
If I can get you to laugh with me, you like me better, which makes you more open to my ideas. And if I can persuade you to laugh at the particular point I make, by laughing at it you acknowledge its truth.
I’m not suggesting you go away and write a 30-minute standup set, but if you can drop a couple one-liners here and there, it can go a long way to getting your audience on your side.
Glossophobia, or fear of public speaking, is a common complaint. One much-quoted (and very old) Gallup survey claims it’s the second-most prevalent fear in Americans, affecting 40 percent of respondents.
Clearly, it’s not the “speaking” element that puts us on edge. It’s the idea of doing it in front of an audience. What if we make fools of ourselves, or say the wrong thing and get booed off stage?
Painful as it might sound, in my experience, the best way to overcome this is to seek out opportunities to speak in front of an audience. This can be in your professional or personal lives. It can be as simple as saying a few words at family gatherings or giving small presentations to your team at work.
You’ve set goals for improving your presentation skills, done your research, crafted a handful of engaging anecdotes, and practiced in front of an audience. Now, it’s time to weave all those things together to create a killer marketing presentation. Bear these five tips in mind while you’re doing it:
According to one study, you’ve only got 30 seconds before your audience’s attention starts to lapse. That means you need a strong start to persuade them you’re worth listening to. Lead with your most eye-catching statistic, your best joke, or your punchiest anecdote, and keep it short. On average, we speak at up to 130 words per minute, so that only gives you a maximum of 65 words to play with.
Presentation skills aren’t just about what you say. They’re also about how people perceive you.
A study at California State University, Northridge, found students followed instructions far more accurately when those instructions were given by someone who was dressed casually rather than professionally.
Why did this happen? One interpretation from the study’s authors is that the students responded better to someone dressed similarly to them:
Perhaps the participants in our study felt that they were better able to relate to the experimenter in the casual-dress condition, thereby lowering their anxiety and increasing their ability to follow directions correctly.
In short, there’s no such thing as a right or wrong way to look or dress for a presentation. Rather, we should reflect our audience.
Don’t kid yourself it’ll “be alright on the night.” If you don’t prepare properly, it won’t!
Figure out what works best for you by running through your presentation multiple times. Do you find it easiest to work off cue cards? Do you need visual aids? Or is it better for you to run lines until you’ve memorized your presentation word for word?
There’s no better way to guarantee people are paying attention than to ask regular questions throughout your speech!
This isn’t about putting people on the spot. Instead, it’s about turning your presentation from a one-way narrative to a two-way conversation.
Say you’re giving advice on tackling a specific problem. Ask how many people had experienced that problem, when they first noticed it, and why they’re so keen to fix it.
There are very few instances in which you shouldn’t be supporting your claims with real evidence. Even if you’re giving your personal opinion on a topic, those opinions should be backed with actual data from reputable sources.
If I’m telling you that Facebook is the best platform to grow your business, you likely wouldn’t just take my word for it. You’d want to hear evidence about Facebook’s audience, the effectiveness of advertising on the platform, and how much it’ll cost.
No one is born with incredible presentation skills; not even Steve Jobs.
Sure, some of us are more confident than others at talking to an audience and getting our points across effectively. However, it takes work; and if honing your presentation skills is taking you away from other important work, like content marketing or SEO, our agency is here to help.
The good news is the harder you work at it, the more confident you’ll feel, and the better your presentation skills will become. It’s a virtuous circle!
What tips have you used to level up your marketing presentation skills?
Every new generation brings new customs, behaviors, and cultural phenomena that shape the world as we know it.
Baby boomers brought significant economic influence.
Millennials taught us new ways of viewing our socio-political world.
Generation Z showed us what the intersection of technology and humanity looks like.
Now, we have Generation Alpha, a demographic of tech-savvy, racially diverse, and unapologetically influential children who will start entering adulthood at the end of the 2020s.
But, they’re children. They aren’t our buyers. Why should marketers care about them right now?
Studies have shown children under 12 can influence parental purchases of $130 to $670 billion a year. And, it won’t be long before they are the buyers.
It’s never too early to prepare. In fact, since the oldest kids in this generation are starting to hit middle school, we may even be cutting it close.
Let’s take a look at the climate shaping this upcoming generation and what we can expect from them in the future.
Generation Alpha covers those born between 2010 and 2024. Most of their parents are Millennials.
Every nine minutes, a new member of Generation Alpha is born in the United States. By 2025, this group will reach a worldwide population of more than two billion.
Although some Gen Alpha babies haven’t been born yet, there are a few things we can predict about them.
For starters, Generation Alpha will be the most technologically advanced generation to date, growing up with mobile devices, AI, social media, advanced healthcare, and robotics as parts of their everyday lives.
They will be digitally literate and adept multi-taskers as a result.
Gen Alpha also stands to be the most materially endowed generation of all time. This means they could end up being able to spend more on nonessentials than previous generations.
They also stand to be the most globally informed group so far, and they will have the longest life spans.
As Generation Alpha evolves, so will their familiar technology.
We’ve already seen the effects of exponential technological growth on current generations, and these effects will continue to grow.
It’s expected that AI and robotics will be completely integrated into modern life by 2025. We can also expect machine learning, natural language processing, and smart devices to change, improve, and further connect us in the coming years.
Gen Alpha may find themselves interacting with robots just as frequently as with humans.
For marketers, this means speaking to an astute audience that may know the ideal product better than we do.
Similarly, we can expect Gen Alpha to reject traditional forms of marketing, much like their Millennial parents did not long ago. An increasing interest in personalization, humanized messaging, and social shopping should be assumed.
Generation Alpha stands to be the most educated generation to date.
Access to education is at an all-time high, with most countries reporting twelve or more years of schooling for every individual citizen.
According to UNESCO, each additional year of education increases a person’s earnings by roughly 10%.
With improving digital resources and the increasing availability of technology, Gen Alpha will have better access to long-term education than any previous generation.
That said, the way they view education will likely be different. There may be less emphasis on formal degrees and, instead, a focus on skills.
The Eduniversal Evaluation Agency (EEA) put it this way:
In an age where every other tech CEO and startup founder dropped out of college and now rakes in millions, it’s hard to argue that moving forward, a degree will remain an absolute prerequisite for success.
In addition to these trends, we’ll see the continuation of highly personalized instructional content.
A generation used to instant access to information is unlikely to succeed in three-hour-long lectures. Instead, we can expect an increase in online learning, especially tutorials, which will further the technological proficiency of Gen Alpha.
Young people are increasingly drawn to social media. With the introduction of social media e-commerce, social media has become one of the most essential tools for marketers in the modern age.
One survey found 49% of 16- to 24-year-olds look to social media for purchase inspiration. This is higher than older generations—their parents may only do this 20% of the time, for instance.
As more Gen Alpha kids grow up immersed in social media, we can predict social media usage will become an increasingly inextricable part of their lives.
Gen Alpha already uses social media differently than their parents. They’re less likely to be on Facebook or Twitter, favoring Instagram and TikTok. Brands that stay on top of the newest technology stand to see greater success with this burgeoning generation.
Gen Alpha may be warier of providing or allowing access to their data to social media giants, search engines, ad agencies, and so on. We’re already seeing this trend today, with more and more countries instituting data privacy laws such as the GDPR.
By the time Generation Alpha reaches maturity, they’ll probably have a deep understanding of their data and how it’s used. This could lead to higher levels of criticism and questioning when consenting to data usage—they might read that fine print.
Companies looking to leverage consumer data should consider what they give back in return. Often, an equal exchange is enough to encourage consumer consent.
Brands doing this incorrectly risk losing their rising audience.
Much like their millennial parents, Gen Alpha will likely spend more time finding medical information online. Self-service and convenience will continue to be driving factors for Gen Alpha’s healthcare.
In addition, younger generations are increasingly aware of mental health and are more likely to seek help for challenges with theirs when needed. They’ll likely expect their workplaces to offer mental health coverage and resources.
On the brand side, this means staying compassionate and aware of mental health can greatly improve overall brand integrity.
The Bell Let’s Talk movement is a strong example of a brand doing this right.
Gen Alpha will have the best media literacy of any generation. They’ll be able to separate fact from fiction and more likely to identify conspiracy theories or fake news circulating on the internet.
For marketers, this means speaking to a well-informed audience that isn’t likely to be persuaded by traditional marketing tactics.
It also means engaging Gen Alpha in the arenas they prefer. Podcasting, video content, and gamification will become increasingly important when delivering information.
Additionally, personalization in marketing will continue to grow in popularity. For Gen Alpha, it won’t be enough to simply push a sale. Marketers will need to connect with this generation in an ongoing way.
The US is becoming more diverse, and younger generations are increasingly aware and accepting of challenges based on race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
Gen Alpha’s patience for inequality will almost surely continue to decrease as they grow up.
Children of this generation are unlikely to work for a company that doesn’t reflect their values. In the same way, they won’t buy from brands that go against what they believe in.
Brands championing diversity and social issues while embracing widespread change will flourish. Brands that don’t evolve will be left behind.
Generation Alpha first came into being during an economically tumultuous time as the world recovered from the Great Recession.
They’ve gone through some pretty interesting ups and downs since then, and significant political and social issues will continue to affect their economic standing.
We can be reasonably sure that they’ll be largely invested in the experience economy, including live entertainment, amusement parks, spectator sports, and tours.
This economy has largely been fueled by social media and technology, as people share the fun they’re having and others want to have adventures as well.
Additionally, Gen Alpha is predicted to be the longest-living generation of humans so far. Because of this, they’ll likely stay in the workforce longer, meaning more money over their working years.
As marketers, we need to plan for all of this. Our consumers face a bit of a question mark in terms of the economy. But, we know what they want—experiences—and that they’ll be educated and in the workforce for a long time. Catering to a changing climate and meeting their needs and desires throughout their lifetimes is essential.
Generation Alpha represents a fascinating, technologically advanced evolution of the human species.
People in this generation are digital natives growing up with smartphones, social media, and AI. They’re entering a genuinely advanced world where automation and innovation rule.
Additionally, their purchasing influence is already present, and they’re influencing their parents buying decisions even now.
Marketers who pay attention to this generation now will be better prepared to out-market big competitors in the coming years.
We can expect to see a well-educated, digitally fluent, socially-conscious generation. We need to keep up.
What predictions do you have for Gen Alpha?
The post Who is Generation Alpha, and Why Are They Important to Marketers? appeared first on Neil Patel.