Author: Joshua Gordon

The Best Website Builders (In-Depth Review)

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There is one decision in life that you simply cannot get wrong.

And no, it’s not choosing the right partner or career. 

That life-changing decision comes down to what website builder you decide to use. 

Whether you are setting up a small non-profit or are itching to take over the world with your handmade jewelry, the quality of your site will be a key factor in your success. 

And to build a great site, you need a great web builder. Assuming of course you are like the vast majority of people with no technical skills. If you do have skills, what are you doing here? Get building!

But fret not. We’ve done the hard work and this article will guide you through the otherwise arduous process of finding the best website builder.

The Top 4 Best Website Builders

  1. Wix
  2. Weebly 
  3. Shopify
  4. WordPress

The Different Types of Website Builders

When choosing a website builder, your first consideration should be what your actual needs are. There are a multitude of reasons to want to start a website and they will affect the services and features you will need. 

For instance, is your goal to set up shop as an eCommerce entrepreneur, dropshipping items from abroad? 

Do you want to start a simple blog documenting your travel adventures?

Or perhaps you work in marketing and are looking for ways to test and optimize your sales funnels. 

Regardless of your goals, the idea of “knowing thyself” applies here. Think deeply about what you want now, but also your roadmap for the future. Once you commit to a particular website builder, it can be difficult to change later on. 

After getting a clear idea of your needs, you will then need to consider the different types of web builders available. 

Keep in mind that many website builders fit multiple categories, serving each need to a different extent. 

General-purpose website builders

There are thousands of reasons to create a website, and nowadays, it seems like every person and organization has one. 

To service such great demand, some website builders have taken a holistic approach in terms of appeal and their tools.

For example, these sites typically have a lot of features that other types of website builders have, such as the ability to blog.

However, as they are multi-purpose in nature, you cannot expect these features to not be as in-depth and robust as more specialist platforms. 

Some use cases for general website builders include:

  • Information websites – If your goal is to simply host information online, these general website builders can be quite useful. For instance, you may have a kitchen renovation company and want to start reaching potential customers online. 
  • Personal branding – Managing your personal brand is becoming more important every day. It is particularly important for independent workers and entrepreneurs as well as for employees applying for jobs.

An example of an information website. 

Content management platforms 

Content is what drives the web, and one of the oldest yet still most relevant forms of content is the blog post. 

Considering blogging is such a crucial part of the web, some website builders have been designed with a content management system in mind.

In the case that you want to get your thoughts out there; ideally, in a serious and sustained way, a blog website builder may be the right option for you. Use cases include:

  • Professional writing – This goes without saying, but if you want to be a writer, you actually have to write. Typically, you need a place where you can showcase your talent. Whether you are a business writer or journalist, maintaining a personal blog is important.
  • Thought leadership – In many industries, it is useful for people of prominence to share their unique insights on a public platform. Setting up a blog with a strong content management system helps to get ideas out in a sustained way. 

An example of a content-centric website.

Essentially, blog website builders are a good choice if you plan on writing long term and it is one of the things you focus on. 

eCommerce platforms 

Another type of website builder are eCommerce platforms. These platforms allow you to build and manage online stores through the ability to list goods, fulfill orders, and take payments. 

These website builders are useful for:

  • Side hustles – Perhaps you are interested in selling some goods in addition to your day job and don’t have the time to dedicate to the operational side of things. These website builders are great to solve this problem, as they handle the backend of your business. 
  • Digitizing your store – Maybe you already have a brick and mortar store and are looking to make your stock available online. In this situation, this type of website builder will take all the technical complications out of setting up online.

An example of an eCommerce website.

How to Choose The Best Website Builder For You 

Now it is time to take a closer look at some of the specific features to consider when evaluating a website builder.

Remember that although some website builders may fall into the same category, each may suit your needs differently.

For instance, you may be setting up an online shop and your primary consideration may be a low learning curve, whereas somebody else may be thinking about a platform that can allow them to scale easily. 

Here are some features you should consider.

Ease of use 

Things to consider:

  • Intuitiveness – Some website builders are easy to use and have simple interfaces with drag and drop functionality. This is useful as you won’t have to Google changes you want to make with the tool.
  • Learning curve – If you are not great with technology, it is unlikely you will want to spend hours learning how to set up a website. Some website builders are much easier than others.
  • Setup time – Similarly, you may want to get your site up and running immediately, particularly if it is an event you want to promote. 
  • Ongoing management – Needing external help to manage your site defeats the purpose of a website builder. It must be easy to manage in terms of updates. 

If you are new to setting up online or are time-constrained, how easy it is to get started will likely be your primary concern. 

Scalability 

Things to consider:

  • Custom code – Website builders use standardized code, which are the building blocks of a website. These allow you to easily create a site with various features. In some cases, however, you may need your own custom features and the ability to write your own code.
  • Migration – At some point, you may want to host your website yourself. However, not all website builders allow you to easily make this move. In some cases, you may have to redevelop your site from scratch.
  • Integrations – You will probably create new goals as your website grows, such as running ads or embedding social feeds. Some website builders are more compatible with other platforms and are easier to integrate.

You should think strongly about scalability if you are already an established business looking to create an online presence. This is particularly true if you are already selling products at scale in the real world. 

Startups in the fundraising process and are looking to scale fast or even change core features of their product should also take caution here. 

Support 

Things to consider: 

  • Support channels – You will need to consider the different ways you can get in touch with support teams such as live chat, email, and phone. In-depth FAQ’s (frequently asked questions) are also important.
  • Responsiveness – If your site breaks at 5 PM eastern time, but their support only works European hours, then you are in trouble. Some teams may also respond much quicker than others. 
  • Engagement – Unfortunately, some support teams are useless. Maybe they are being paid very little so they do not care, or they are overworked. Either way, you need support that can actually solve your problems.

If you plan on running a site with a lot of visitors and it happens to go down, the last thing you want is an unresponsive support team. This is especially true if you plan on driving a lot of traffic at a given time.

A website builder with a strong support team is also useful if you are just getting started online, considering you may still get stuck, even with simple interfaces. 

Price 

Things to consider: 

  • Cost – Some website builders can be more costly, with some reaching upwards of $299 a month (for landing pages, for instance). Others are permanently free with the option to upgrade for a small monthly fee. 
  • Trial – Before you commit, it can be useful to take advantage of a trial offer to play around with the tools. You will likely find that some are a better fit than others.
  • Hosting & domain – Most website builders will host your website on the web, which is typically included in the price. Some may also offer a domain as part of the package. Otherwise, you would have to purchase these yourself. 

If you plan on making money from your website, either by selling products directly or to capture leads, then price should not be a key consideration for you. Make an investment in the best service for your needs. 

However, if you just want to set up a small information site, then you could do with the cheapest options. 

Generally, website builders that have feature depth are typically more expensive as they solve more specific problems. 

Features 

Things to consider: 

  • eCommerce shop – If you plan to sell things online, you need a website builder that allows you to do so. Consider sub-features such as payment processing and product catalogs.
  • SEO – Some website builders have tools that allow you to rank better in Google searches.
  • Marketing tools – You may also need other marketing tools, such as forms, pop-ups, and chat boxes.  
  • Community – In some cases, you may want to expand your website into a community where people can communicate and network (otherwise known as a forum).
  • Analytic tools – Website builders may also offer analytic tools that help track traffic on your website or at least integrate with other tools that do.
  • Niche features – Perhaps there are some special features you are looking for such as the ability to set up a crowdfunding campaign in addition to having a standard website.

The features of a website builder are the main thing to consider when deciding which route to follow. This is because they will have the most impact on your specific goals.

For instance, if you want to set up a landing page for a specific product, trying to optimize with a generic site builder will be a pain. It will probably lack the in-depth analytic tools that a dedicated landing page builder would have. 

Also keep in mind that there are some features that you may not need now, but you could need in the future, such as if you plan on running paid ads to your blog posts. 

Design 

Things to consider: 

  • Themes and templates – Website builders allow you to start with a predesigned website that is customizable to various extents. Some themes serve different purposes in terms of branding and utility. 
  • Mobile-friendliness – You will need to ensure that your website builder automatically makes your website easy for mobile users, typically with responsive design.
  • Customization – It is likely you will want to make some changes to your template. You will need to consider the various customization tools available. 

Regardless of your goal, you should always be concerned with providing a great user experience to the people who are visiting your site. It simply makes logical sense – if your site is hard to navigate, people won’t get the most out of it.

The actual design and branding are important too. For instance, some designs are more corporate while others are more welcoming. There may be a design template that really suits your particular brand.

And if you are selling something, you need to ensure that the design is optimized to increase conversions.

Now that you have a good understanding of the types of website builders and the features to look out for, it is time to take a look at some of the best website builders on the market. 

#1 – Wix / Website Builder — The Best For General Use 

If there is one website builder that you have likely heard of, it is probably Wix. The effort that Wix puts into their marketing is phenomenal. Wix is so successful, in fact, that they have featured high profile celebrities like Jason Stratham in some of their campaigns. 

Not only that, but Wix has results to show for it too, with over 160 million websites hosted by the company. 

Wix is the best website builder if you don’t have a specific need in mind. Even in the opposite case, this is true, such as if you have broad needs and are aiming for different functionality. 

Wix is truly the “jack of all trades” in the sense that it does everything well, but nothing is truly exceptional. However, it serves its purpose for the average person looking to set up a website.

Pros of Wix 

Here are the best things about Wix:

  • Powerful app market – Wix has an enormous amount of add on features that you can access through their app market. Want to book meetings directly on your site? They have got you covered. Want a live chat pop up box? Simply click and install it on your site.
  • Covers every need – Wix covers most of the needs of people looking to set up a website. This includes setting up an eCommerce store, blog, or even just a simple information website.
  • Lots of templates – Wix has a wide variety of templates that you can choose from to get your website up and running quickly. Their templates are well designed and take the user experience into consideration. 

Cons of Wix 

Here are the weaker parts about Wix:

  • The user interface can be difficult – Although Wix is aimed at the mass market, the user interface can be quite tricky especially if you want to customize your site. You will often find yourself having to Google how to complete certain tasks. .
  • No migration – A huge downside with Wix is that you’re locked in, so you cannot take the code of your website somewhere else later on. This can cause problems if you quickly need to scale your business. 
  • Jack of all trades, master of none – Wix’s main strength is also its weakness. Although it has many features, it cannot compete with the quality of niche website builders.

Who should use Wix?

  • Small businesses – If you are offering a service such as legal advice or marketing, Wix is a solid website builder that will handle all of your needs. If your focus is selling products online, avoid Wix. 
  • Freelancers and professionals – In a similar manner, Wix is great for professionals who want to showcase their personal brand. It will allow you to cover all the potential bases of highlighting your portfolio, such as taking meetings and even blogging.

#2 – Weebly / Website Builder — The Easiest To Use 

Next, we have Weebly, which is a drag and drop website builder that prides itself on its ease of use. Weebly currently powers over 50 million websites and has been around since 2006, which is a huge achievement and testament to how effective the platform is. 

So, what has caused Weebly to be consistently favored among users? It comes down to the simple user experience and short learning curve. Weebly does not bombard you with features or a complicated interface.

Instead, it does not scare you away and allows you to get straight to the point of setting up your website.

Pros of Weebly

Here are the best things about Weebly:

  • Simple and easy to use – Weebly has a simple interface with drag and drop mechanics that just work. Everything feels natural and intuitive. It also helps that they have an onboarding mechanic with email and popup explanations when you get started.
  • Migration – If you decide you want to host your own website, Weebly makes it easy for you to take your site off their platform. 
  • Affordable – Compared to other generalist website builders, Weebly has one of the most affordable pricing structures. 
  • Great customer support – Weebly has a powerful customer support team who are active every day of the week. They typically reply within 1 day by email or even quicker via their live chat or phone lines.

Cons 

Here are the weaker parts about Weebly

  • Lacks diversity of function – The tradeoff of using Weebly is that it is not as powerful as Wix. For example, there are fewer features. In addition, some features such as their content management system and analytic tools are much weaker than competitors. 
  • Limited customization – As Weebly uses a drop and drop interface and themes, the customization can be quite limited. Wix also has this problem, but they have more tools at their disposal to solve this issue.
  • Scaling problems – Weebly is simply not a great platform if you have plans to grow your website in a significant way: it is just a simple website builder for day to day users. 

Who should use Weebly?

  • People who need simple websites – As a rule, you should use Weebly if you are not very tech-savvy and want to set up a simple website quickly. One category of users would be associations or clubs who want to set up an information site about their group.

#3 – Shopify / Website builder — The Best For Online Stores

If you plan on selling any type of product online – from jewelry to electric scooters – then your best bet will be to use a dedicated eCommerce platform and website builder. 

Without a doubt, the number one in this category is Shopify. The platform powers over 1 million merchants in 175 different countries, and is the third-largest online retailer in the US, trailing behind only Amazon and eBay. 

The Shopify software represents a complete end to end platform that allows you to set up, manage, and promote a store online. You can easily list your goods for sale, take payments, and fulfill orders – all under one roof. 

Pros 

Here are the best things about Shopify:

  • eCommerce specialty – The main draw of Shopify is that it is a niche website builder focused on setting up an eCommerce store. This means that all their features and processes are geared toward that end, resulting in a powerful platform that can help maximize sales. 
  • Security – If you are going to be handling transactions, you need ways to keep your site safe and customer data secure. Shopify stores have strong cybersecurity measures in place which a self-hosted website would typically lack. 
  • Integrated sales channels – Shopify has strong integrations with other platforms, such as Facebook and Amazon. This allows you to streamline your sales by managing your catalog on each platform under one roof. 

Cons 

Here are the weaker aspects of Shopify:

  • Niche focus on eCommerce – Because the focus is on eCommerce, Shopify lacks some of the features and finesse of other website builders. For instance, their content management system is very limited compared to WordPress.
  • Transaction fees + monthly fees – With each sale you make on Shopify, there is a transaction fee that ranges from 2.4% – 2.6%. Combined with payment provider fees, this can eat into your margin. 

Who should use Shopify?

  • Brick and mortar stores – If you have an in-person store and are looking to sell your products online, Shopify will offer you a solid footing into the digital world.
  • eCommerce startups – Entrepreneurs that are starting new brands or drop shipping will also benefit from the quick end to end set up that Shopify offers.

#4 – WordPress / Website builder — The Best For Content Management

One of the oldest and most reliable website builders is WordPress. The platform has come a long way since it launched in 2003 and is the most popular content management system on the web today.

In fact, WordPress powers a whopping 37.6% of all websites. 

As WordPress was around during the earlier days of the web, its focus revolved around content, which was the most prominent form of website at the time. 

It maintains that focus to this day, with WordPress having arguably the best content management system out of all the different website builders.

An important caveat is that WordPress is divided into platforms:

  • WordPress.org – This is the open-source (free version) of WordPress that comes with greater flexibility, but is harder for non-technical users.
  • WordPress.com – This is the paid version. You can get help with the installation of themes and management but is generally less customizable.

Pros 

Here are the best things about WordPress:

  • You have full control – Unlike other website builders, WordPress is fully customizable as the site is developed directly with code, as opposed to drag and drop interfaces. This means that you have much more flexibility in terms of design and function.
  • Robust blogging and CMS – WordPress is built front the ground up with content in mind. It has some of the best tools for publishing and managing content including team management, advanced scheduling, and categorizations. 
  • Lots of plugins – There are over 52,000 plugins available for WordPress. You can measure and boost your SEO with plugins such as YoastSEO, or you could even add a new function such as a shopping cart. 

Cons 

Here are the weaker aspects of WordPress:

  • You may need help – As your WordPress site is developed with code, you will likely need help to install and update your WordPress theme. This can come with a hefty cost, particularly if you want ongoing changes.
  • Learning curve – If you want to manage and update your site yourself, it can take some time to learn how to do so. Managing and scheduling posts are relatively easy, but updating how your site looks or installing a plugin is much more difficult.
  • Security issues – As your WordPress site is self-hosted, you are more vulnerable to cybersecurity issues. Some of the plugins for WordPress also can act as a risk as well. 

Who should use it

  • Bloggers – If writing is your main focus, then WordPress is a great choice. The platform is designed for bloggers, optimizing content management, and SEO. WordPress will allow you to scale and get the most out of your content.
  • Content centric businesses – Likewise, if you are building a business that is content-heavy, such as a new website, WordPress will help you to manage the operational side of content production much easier. 

Think about your goals

An important thing to keep in mind is that the website builders listed above can serve multiple functions, so this article has provided an overview for you, you will need to look into the details of each platform. 

The best choice for you will come down to both your needs at the moment and where you plan on taking your website in the future. 

After reading reviews like this one, make sure you take a step back and put your particular needs at the forefront of the decision before you commit. 

The post The Best Website Builders (In-Depth Review) appeared first on Neil Patel.

Alternatives to Traditional Start Up Business Loans

Start up business loans are the age-old solution for funding a new business.  Since the beginning of capitalism, entrepreneurs have used a combination of investors and business loans to fund a startup.  But what happens when the traditional routes don’t work?  What happens when you can’t get a start up business loan, for whatever reason? 

What are The Best Alternatives to Standard Start Up Business Loans?

Today, entrepreneurs have more options for start up funding than ever before.  In addition to traditional investors, you have SBA loan programs.  Dig deeper and you’ll find angel investors, crowdfunding, online lenders with alternative eligibility criteria, and hybrid options that most don’t even know about. Let’s dive into what’s out there so you can have a better idea of which options will work best for you. 

Start Up Business Loans: SBA Loans

SBA loans are the most like standard start up business loans. In fact, they are exactly the same, except that they come with a government guarantee.  That means lenders can relax their standards a little when making approvals. 

That’s not to say they are easy to get.  Due to the government guarantee, there is a ton of red tape involved.  However, once you cut through it, it is easier to qualify for SBA loans than regular start up loans.  Here are a couple of SBA loan programs that work well as start up business loans. 

7(a) Loans

This is the Small Business Administration’s most popular program. It offers federally funded term loans that go up to $5 million. The money can fund expansion, purchasing equipment, working capital and even start ups. Lenders partner with the SBA to process these loans and disburse the cash.

The minimum credit score to qualify is 680, and there is also a required down payment of at least 10% for the purchase of a business, commercial real estate, or equipment. You have to be in business for at least 2 years. However, business experience equivalent to two years will meet this requirement if you are a start up.

504 Loans

You can get up to $5 million from the 504 program as well.  You can use the money to buy machinery, facilities, or land. Generally, they are for expansion.  Private sector lenders or nonprofits process and disburse the funds. They work especially well for commercial real estate purchases.

Terms for 504 Loans range from 10 to 20 years, and funding can take from 30 to 90 days. They require a minimum credit score of 680.  The asset that is being financed has to be used as collateral. There is also a down payment requirement of 10%, which can increase to 15% for a new business.

Like 7(a) loans, to qualify you must be in business at least 2 years, or management must have equivalent experience if the business is a startup.

start up business loans Credit Suite

Credit Line Hybrid Financing: Get up to $150,000 in financing so your business can thrive.

Microloans 

The microloan program offers funds up to $50,000. You can use the money to start a business, purchase equipment, buy inventory, or for working capital. Unlike most other SBA loan programs, this financing comes directly through the SBA.

SBA Express Loans 

You can get up to $350,000 through the express loan program.  To qualify, your credit score must be above 680, and you must have a debt to service ratio of 1.1 or higher. If the loan is greater than $25,000, collateral may be necessary depending on the lender.

These loans have a much faster turnaround.  In fact, the SBA takes 36 hours or less to give a decision. Necessary paperwork for application is less also.  Consequently, express loans are a great option for working capital, among other things, if you qualify.

Start Up Business Loans: Private Lenders

What do you do if you do not qualify for an SBA loan?  You can try a private lender.  The lenders operate largely online.  They draw is that they rely on things other than credit score to determine whether a borrower qualifies for a loan.  Most still do a credit check, but they do not require as high of a score as traditional loans and SBA loans. 

Yet, you do have to be careful.  There are a lot of scammers when it comes to online lenders.  Do your research so you know exactly what you are getting into.  Here are a few to get you started. 

BlueVine 

You will find with most any online lender, they often offer options more similar to invoice factoring and lines of credit.  This is because these present fewer risks than straight term loans.  You can find out more in our Bluevine review.

Upstart

Upstart is an online lender that uses a completely innovative platform for loans.  The company itself questions the ability of financial information and FICO on their own to truly determine the risk of lending to a specific borrower.  They choose to use a combination of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to gather alternative data instead.  They then use this data to help them make credit decisions.

This alternative data can include such things as mobile phone bills, rent, deposits, withdrawals, and even other information less directly tied to finances.  The software they use learns and improves on its own. You can use their online quote tool to play with different amounts and terms to see the various interest rate possibilities.  

To be eligible for a loan with Upstart, you must meet the following qualifications:

  • Credit score of 620+
  • No bankruptcies or negative public records
  • No delinquent accounts
  • Meet debt to income standards (they only note they will check this ratio, not what their standards are.)
  • Have fewer than 6 inquiries in the past 6 months on your credit report, not including those related to student loans, vehicle loans, or mortgages

These are the requirements they list on their website.  One independent review said that the requirement for the debt to income ratio is a maximum of 45%. It also says that the minimum annual income has to be at least $12,000.  For more information visit our Upstart review. 

Fora Financial 

Founded in 2008 by college roommates, online lender Fora Financial now funds more than $1.3 million in working capital around the United States. There is no minimum credit score, and there is an early repayment discount if you qualify.

The minimum loan amount is $5,000 and the maximum is $500,000. The business must be at least 6 months in operation and the monthly revenue has to be $12,000 or more. There can be no open bankruptcies.

OnDeck 

Obtaining financing from OnDeck is quick and easy. First, you apply online and receive your decision once application processing is complete. If you receive approval, your loan funds will go directly to your bank account. The minimum loan amount is $5,000 and the maximum is $500,000.

Just like any other online lender, they do have certain requirements to qualify for a loan.  For example, a personal credit score of 600 or more.  Also, you must be in business for at least 3 years. Annual revenue must be at or exceed $100,000. In addition, there can be no bankruptcy on file in the past 2 years and no unresolved liens or judgements.

It’s important to remember that, as with all lenders, the details of interest, minimum and maximums, and eligibility requirements can change without notice. Be sure to check all information with the specific lender for the most current information.

start up business loans Credit Suite

Credit Line Hybrid Financing: Get up to $150,000 in financing so your business can thrive.

Start Up Business Loans: Credit Line Hybrid

This is an option that most entrepreneurs do not know about.  It allows you to fund your business without putting up collateral, and you only pay back what you use.  

To qualify on your own, your personal credit score should be at least 685.  In addition, you can’t have any liens, judgments, bankruptcies or late payments.  Furthermore, in the past 6 months you should have less than 5 credit inquiries, and you should have less than a 45% balance on all business and personal credit cards.  It’s also preferred that you have established business credit as well as personal credit.

However, if you do not meet all of the requirements, you can take on a credit partner that does.  Many business owners work with a friend or relative to fund their business.  If a relative or a friend meets all of these requirements, they can partner with you to allow you to tap into their credit to access funding. 

What are the Benefits of a Credit Line Hybrid? 

There are many benefits to using a credit line hybrid.  First, it is unsecured, meaning you do not have to have any collateral to put up.  Next, the funding is “no-doc.”  This means you do not have to provide any bank statements or financials.  

Even better, typical approval is up to 5x that of the highest credit limit on the personal credit report. Additionally, you can often get interest rates as low as 0% for the first few months.  This will allow you to put that savings back into your business. 

The process is pretty quick, especially with a qualified expert to walk you through it.  Also, with the approval for multiple credit cards, competition is created.  This makes it easier, and likely even if you handle the credit responsibly, that you can get interest rates lowered and limits raised every few months. 

Start Up Business Loans: Debt Free Alternatives

It is rare to run a business completely debt free.  However, you can definitely raise some funds that you do not have to repay.  Any little bit helps.  

Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding is a way to get lots of micro investors at one time.  You advertise your business on a crowdfunding platform, and pretty much anyone who wants can give you money.  Rewards based crowdfunding allows donations as low as $5, and backers receive some non-equity gift for their generosity. 

There is also a such thing as equity crowdfunding which works virtually the same way, but investors actually receive equity in the company for their outlay.  Usually these amounts have to be at least $500. 

Grants

Grants are another debt free option to help supplement start up business loans.  There are not a ton of them out there, and the competition is fierce, but it’s worth the hassle for free money.  If you are a business owner that is a minority, a woman, a veteran, or if you run a business in a low -income area, there are more grant options available. 

Start Building Business Credit

The best time to start building business credit is in the startup phase. It takes time, but with expert help to guide you through the process, it can go much more smoothly.  This will allow you to access funding for your business, as it grows, on the merits of the business itself rather than your own credit.  

Why is the start up phase the best time to begin the business credit building process?  Because the entire process hinges on how your business is set up.  It’s much easier to set it up to build credit for itself in the beginning than to try and back track after the fact. 

start up business loans Credit Suite

Credit Line Hybrid Financing: Get up to $150,000 in financing so your business can thrive.

Start Up Business Loans: What’s Best for Your Business?

Usually, some combination of a number of different funding options is necessary if you do not qualify for traditional start up business loans.  Sometimes, this is necessary even if you do qualify for traditional financing.  The options you choose will depend on what you have available to you.  

If you can get SBA loans, that’s great.  If you want to get short term lower interest rates with no security, a credit line hybrid can be an amazing solution.  Of course, private lenders are there to help you out if you need them, but keep in mind they use higher interest rates to help reduce risk since they do not put as much weight on credit scores. 

In the end, you have to weigh what you are eligible to get against what makes the most business sense.  It helps to have an expert walk you through it.  For more about expert help and alternatives to traditional start up business loans, check out these options.

The post Alternatives to Traditional Start Up Business Loans appeared first on Credit Suite.

MixRank (YC S11) Is Hiring Full Stack Engineers and Data Engineers

MixRank processes petabytes of data every month from web crawls, Google Play Store, Apple AppStore, and dozens of other sources.

DATA ENGINEER

We’re looking for remote engineers to help with data mining, machine learning/data science, data transformation/ETL, data modeling, database scaling, and more.

PostgreSQL experience is highly desired (administration, optimization, DDL, etc). Also looking for experience with Python, Linux, Nix, and data mining.

FULL-STACK / PRODUCT ENGINEER

We’re looking for remote engineers to build web applications and APIs. The ideal candidate is looking to grow into position of technical leadership in product development.

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The Art and Science of Social Storytelling –10 Brilliant Business Tips of the Week

The Hottest and Most Brilliant Business Tips for YOU – Start Social Storytelling  and More

Our research ninjas at Credit Suite smuggled out ten amazing business tips for you! Be fierce and score in business with the best tips around the web. You can use them today and see fast results. You can take that to the bank – these are foolproof! Wow your customers and prospects with social storytelling, and more.

Stop making stupid decisions and start powering up your business. Demolish your business nightmares and start celebrating as your business fulfills its promise.

And these brilliant business tips are all here for free! So settle in and scoop up these tantalizing goodies before your competition does!

#10. Don’t Forget the Videos!

Our first jaw-dropping tip is all about adding videos to your marketing strategy. The Self-Employed says video is compelling and persuasive and boy do we ever agree!

Tell Your Brand's Story with Compelling Email Marketing and More Credit SuiteOne of our favorite points in this article is all about retention of information. It seems we remember about 95% of what we view. And about 10% of what we read. Sorry, books.

This means it makes a ton of sense to add video to your bag of tricks. Video is a particularly persuasive marketing tool on mobile.

This article also has a ton of excellent tips for how to best optimize your video. After all, YouTube is the second-largest search engine, second only to Google. It makes sense to do everything in your power to make your video content discoverable.

We recommend reading the entire article. Yes, it’s that good.

#9. Set Up Your Field Sales Team for Success

The next awesome tip is about aligning the planets for your field sales team so they’ll be more successful. Open View Partners notes face to face requests are some 34 times more effective than emails.  So send your sales team into the field. But don’t send them without preparation.

Their two great tips were to arm your sales people with data. And give them good mobile tools. Don’t make them squint at too-tiny screens.

Pro tip – this works in a lot of other areas. The asking in person bit, that is. So if you ever have to argue a mistake on a bill, go to the place where the bill came from, if you can. Be nice, of course. Don’t look like some loon who they’re only too eager to call the cops on.

Be there, and be reasonable. You will be hard to say no to.

If you are as passionate about succeeding in business as we are, please help us spread the word about how to take the plunge and save time and money – and your sanity! Learn the art and science of social storytelling.

#8. Get More Social Media Sales

Our following life-changing tip concerns selling on social media.  LinkedIn points out it’s a great source for B2B social media leads – to the tune of 80%!

As we have seen elsewhere, one terrific strategy is to showcase your expertise. In all seriousness, who wants to read about someone who’s fumbling along? Of course, they can have compelling stories. But anyone without expertise needs a ‘happy ending’ of gaining expertise. Without that, they don’t belong in the B2B marketing space, now, do they?

But we also liked the idea to help the overwhelmed decision makers among us. When there are 111 choices out there, so many of us are tempted to close our eyes and point. Guiding such people is another form of value. In truth, it’s a lot like the strategy to showcase expertise.

Helping people. Whooda thunk?

#7. Give Your Email Marketing a Boost

For our next sensational tip, we looked at best practices for email marketing. Sumo lays it all out for us. Our fave tip was to clean house! For so many email marketers, their lists have black hole-style addresses. These are people who never respond. But the email may or may not bounce. If you have an email address you only use for one thing, then you know what we mean.

Let’s say you have 1,000 bad email addresses, and you send two messages per week. Then in month, you’re sending 8,000 emails to the void. Pay a penny per email? Then you’re wasting a good $1,000 per year on the dead weight.

And there’s another thing, which the article didn’t get into. There are any number of email service providers which will ding your company if you get too many bounces. After all, bounces clog up their servers and make everything go slower.

So clean house and send re-engagement emails to stale subscribers on a regular basis. Maybe  once a quarter? No response? Then sayonara; it’s been nice knowing you.

#6. Improve Your Emails

This tip is so cool, and it works! Science of People has us covered. Speaking of emailing, this article hit home in all sorts of unexpected ways.

Two tips which stood out to us were to not bury the lede (yes, that’s the spelling: you could look it up), and to not ramble on and on. Oh boy, do we love those!

But the one tip which we suspect will save both working relationships and social ones was #6. Add the address last.

This is vital. Trust us.

And check out their bonus. Someone should sew it on a sampler and hang it on a wall!

#5. Specialize in Social Storytelling

Grab this mind-blowing tip while it’s hot!

Tell Your Brand's Story with Compelling Email Marketing and More Credit Suite It’s time to wow your customers and prospects with social storytelling. Sales Hacker says it’s a way to buck the automation trend. That is, we still don’t have AI which can write a story and keep it compelling.

So, that reminds your intrepid blog post writer of a tale. See, social storytelling is everywhere! In fact it’s here most Fridays.

Social Storytelling and the Author

Now, I can’t honestly recall if I have mentioned this before. But I am an author. You know, published and everything. But of course life wasn’t always this way.

Good writing comes with training. And some of my best education came in, of all places, high school.

My 12th grade English teacher was big on creative writing. So she gave us the formula, which I will now pass onto you.

Characters. Conflict. Crisis. Change.

That is, your story must have all four. The setting, by the way, is a form of character. And conflict can also be seen as purpose or the desired end result.

Think of your favorite stories. In The Wizard of Oz, the characters are obvious, including the title character. The conflict (desired end result) is to get Dorothy back home to Kansas. The crisis is when the team has to battle the Wicked Witch of the West. And the change is Dorothy gets to go home. While at the same time, her companions realize they had the power within them all along.

Bringing it All Back to Social Storytelling

So there’s a point to this little side junket. It’s like the tips in the article. We are talking about super-short social storytelling. As in, 20 to 30 seconds. How do you make a compelling character? Give him or her a struggle. What’s an interesting conflict or desired outcome or purpose? Something like what your customers and prospects want. What about the crisis? Where are things coming to head. When does it become do or die? And what’s the change? Where’s the happy ending?

For example – in your social storytelling, you might have a customer who’s tried everything but not been able to succeed. They want to, of course. And then things turn dire. They may realize they’re not getting any younger. Or a new baby or a house or the like means financial needs are more pressing. They need to succeed yesterday. The change, as you may have guessed, is how your product or service gets them there.

Human beings are storytellers. Social storytelling probably goes back to when we lived in caves and were first developing language. Homer told the stories of the Iliad and the Odyssey to his fellow Greeks, many of whom could neither read nor write.

Social storytelling is in our DNA. And it is powerful.

If you are as passionate about succeeding in business as we are, please help us spread the word about how to take the plunge and save time and money – and your sanity! Learn the art and science of social storytelling.

#4. Social Storytelling and Social Proof in Email Marketing

Check out this spectacular tip. It’s all about using social proof in your email marketing campaigns. Sleek Note says there are lots of compelling ways to use social proof in email marketing.

We loved their examples of showing authority. You can earn it, with great reviews from your customers. Or you can borrow it, through an association with another company or organization. You can polish it up with celebrity endorsements. And you can make it newsworthy with media endorsements.

But what if you have none of these? Then it’s time to build your brand and encourage reviews, to start. Why not show a short (yes, short, as in no more than three questions) survey upon checkout? Give away a small token of your appreciation for filling it out. Maybe a 10% discount on their next shopping trip?

Then you’ll start to get some social proof.

#3. Get Down on One Knee

It’s not your imagination: this winning tip can increase engagement on Facebook. BuzzSumo gives us the lowdown. They have four daily tasks to help you increase engagement.

We were so happy that these are all data-type tasks! One was to figure out when’s the best time to post on FB. Companies and their customers differ; this is not ‘one size fits all’. Your prospects might check FB at lunch. Or the morning or the evening could be their time to socialize online.

The weekend might be the right time. You’ll never know unless you keep tabs.

And you’ll also never know which content does best unless you measure. That’s their second task. What content works? What falls flat?

Do more of the former, and less of the latter.

We also loved the third task, to schedule your FB posts for the week. This is with a tool like Hootsuite or Buffer. After all, if your customers are on Facebook at 3 AM on a Tuesday, you have every right to want to sleep then!

Their fourth task was more measuring. Check your content and see if it works. For the second task, you’re looking at individual content. Here, you’re looking at the bigger picture. If quizzes do better than slideshows, then guess what you should post more often?

#2. Grow Network, Grow!

Our second to last unbeatable tip can give you a new perspective on how to grow your network. Entrepreneur notes we don’t start networking by sending strangers random calls. We don’t press our business cards into the hands of everyone on the bus.

At least, your intrepid blog writer hasn’t done that. In a while.

(Note: that was a joke)

So start with the people you know. Classmates. Friends. Neighbors. Colleagues, both current and past. Family. They know you! And they know you’re dependable, smart, etc.

And then the second tip makes even more sense – help others before you get them to help you. Yes, you’re creating an expectation of a quid pro quo. You’re also, you know, doing the right thing.

For the third tip, we encourage you to read this article in its entirety!

#1. Stand Out in an Overcrowded Voice-Assisted World

We saved the best for last. For our favorite remarkable tip, we focused on standing out as a brand while your customers and prospects shop with voice assistants. You know, Siri and Alexa and the like. The Harvard Business Review says there are a few strategies which should work.

Consider that this hasn’t quite happened yet. So the HBR could change their minds later. But there was one tip which made a lot of sense to us. And it can work, in some ways, even for other types of marketing and sales.

It’s to bundle the stuff you sell. Or, at least, to suggest the similar stuff. So if you sell, say, dog treats, there’s a good chance your customers will also take an interest in dog toys. They called this affinities. Then they took this from beyond the realm of Amazon’s recommendation engine.

That is, they suggest putting together different types of customers. And cater to their particular affinities. Your young mom groceries customers might be more interested in convenience. But your hipsters who want to cook something new.

Yet again, there’s a suggestion to treat customers like individuals. You know, like people.

What a concept.

So which one of our brilliant business tips was your favorite? And which one will you be implementing now?

If you are as passionate about succeeding in business as we are, please help us spread the word about how to take the plunge and save time and money – and your sanity! Learn the art and science of social storytelling.

The post The Art and Science of Social Storytelling –10 Brilliant Business Tips of the Week appeared first on Credit Suite.