Tag Archives: small-business

5 Best Practices for Business Blogs

Posted on July 22, 2019 by Hosting

The post 5 Best Practices for Business Blogs appeared first on HostGator Blog . Blogging can be good for your business, if you start with a plan. A blog can boost your website’s SEO, build relationships with prospective customers, and position your company as a trustworthy source of expertise. Sounds good, right? So, what are the best practices for starting your business blog ? Let’s dig in. 1. Blog for Your Customers, Not You What should you write about on your business blog? The big difference between business blogging and personal blogging is this: Business blogging is all about your audience, not all about you or your business. What that means is you’ll need to stick to topics of interest to your potential customers. Write for your customer personas , include keywords they search for, that you want to rank well for, and try to answer customer and reader questions with your posts. For example, does your business sell custom replacement windows? Use your posts to answer the questions customers ask you about energy efficiency, design, durability, energy rebates, and more. Remember that a blog is supposed to be a casual conversation. Readers come to you because they’re looking for information. You build trust and authority with them by giving them the information they want. That means don’t get too salesy on your blog. Yes, you can post about new products and sales, and share user-generated content like customer photos of their new windows. But don’t turn every post into a full-volume sales pitch. A call to action at the end of each post is enough. Vary the format from time to time. Maybe throw in an interview with a customer or supplier, use Canva to make some infographics with facts and stats your customers can use, shoot some tutorial videos, or make a slide deck with PowerPoint that your readers can download and share. 2. Include an Image with Every Blog Post Why? It’s simple. People love pictures. Pictures pull your visitors into your story before they read a single word. Look at the home page for Gardener’s Supply’s blog. For gardeners, these pictures are catnip, because they show what’s possible—and they show what the company’s customers want for themselves. Images also make social media posts more engaging. Tweets with images get 34% more RTs than tweets with only text, according to social media scheduling service Postcron. And Instagram posts without images? Just not happening. So take the time to create original photos or graphics for each posts. 3. Decide on Your Posting Schedule Hamster wheel or lazy river? How often should you post? Business blogs that turn out a post or more each day, like HostGator, have teams of writers and editors dedicated to creating that content. But as a small business owner, you wear many hats, and your most important one is running your business, not cranking out blog posts. If you must choose between fewer high-quality posts and more low-quality ones, go with less frequent, better-written posts. You can get good results from a slower posting schedule, if your content gives readers and prospective customers information they want. The key is to use the search terms your audience is looking for and the questions they are asking. To make an infrequent posting schedule go farther is to promote the heck out of each blog post on your business’s social media channels . If you’ve done your persona homework, you already know where your target audience hangs out online. Meet them there with your posts. 4. Keep Your Posts Fresh with Regular Blog Updates Every post you create is a resource you can edit and update as your business grows and your customer base evolves. When you update an old post, save that update in WordPress or update the publication data so that Google knows it’s been freshened up with new information. It’s a good idea to build regular updates into your content schedule. Changing out quarterly or yearly updates of statistics is an easy way to freshen up old content. Adding new feedback from customers to product-focused posts, or updates on new features, can also extend the life of your posts. For more tips, follow our step-by-step guide to running a content audit . 5. Get Organized with Blog Categories and Tags Keep your business blog categories simple and limited. Here’s how HostGator does it. Give your categories names that are search keywords, when possible. HostGator’s customers search for phrases like web hosting tips and marketing tips and tricks. Your business may have very different categories. Whatever they are, they should line up with what your market wants. For example, let’s say you’re in the dog training business. You might have categories on dog behavior, obedience training for dogs, socialization for dogs, and exercise with your dog. This keeps your blog focused on the stuff your customers are interested in. It also makes it easier for readers to home in on the information they need. You can tag your posts, too. This is different from assigning a post to a category. Maybe you write a series of posts on socializing and behavior training for rescue dogs, and another on senior dog behavior and exercise. The categories for these are clear—socializing and behavior. But you can tag them with “rescue dog” or “senior dog” so your readers can search your whole blog, not just individual categories, for content that matches their situation. Like with your category names, tag with phrases your readers search for. Here’s what the category and tag control panels look like in WordPress. Be sure to fill out the slug and description for each of your blog’s categories and tags. That information helps search engine crawlers understand what your post is about. Tags and categories can also help you when it’s time to update your content. Is there new research about senior dog health you want to add to your old posts? Call up the “senior dog” tag and you can rework all the relevant posts in a snap. Build Your Business Blog with HostGator Ready to get started? You can set up your business blog today with a WordPress hosting plan . Add on HostGator Domain Privacy to shield your personal domain registration information from public view to protect your business from spam. Not familiar with WordPress? You can still get started today, too. Gator Website Builder gives you drag-and-drop tools to help you snap together your business blog in minutes, with lots of mobile-friendly templates to make it look great. Find the post on the HostGator Blog Continue reading →

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How To Convert Organic Traffic Into Loyal Customers

Posted on June 6, 2019 by Hosting

The post How To Convert Organic Traffic Into Loyal Customers appeared first on HostGator Blog . You’re getting quality traffic to your e-commerce store. Now what? As a small business owner, you’re tasked with turning those visitors into customers. It’s up to you to woo consumers into purchasing your latest products. While it may sound difficult, don’t panic. Matt Ackerson , founder of AutoGrow, offers sage advice: “Once you understand that traffic is just like energy or water and you just need to create pathways to direct it where you want it to go, the rest is easy. Don’t make the mistake of over complicating it though. So many business people think success has to be complicated when it doesn’t.” Let’s make the process simple for you and the consumer. Here are five ways to convert your traffic into loyal customers. 1. Write Creative Product Descriptions When it comes to selling products online , storytelling really does matter. It only takes one click for a consumer to exit your site and visit a competitor. You can keep your customers’ attention and sell more items by crafting creative product descriptions. Descriptive text is an opportunity to highlight your products and showcase your brand’s personality. You want the product description to breathe life into the item. To achieve this objective, set the scene for the buyer. You want the shopper to imagine themselves using the product. It’s also helpful to skip the corporate jargon. Aim to use the everyday language of the typical consumer. Online women’s clothing retailer ModCloth uses expressive words to persuade its consumers into purchasing their inventory. Each product description digs into the emotional state of the shopper’s mind. Not only do you learn about the product’s physical dimensions, but you also understand how it will make you feel. When writing product descriptions, focus on turning features into benefits. How will the item improve consumers’ lives? What will the product help them achieve? Dig deep and touch their pain points. Stand out from the competition with unique product descriptions. You’ll appeal to your audience’s imagination and increase their desire for your products.   2. Create a Sense of Urgency With a jam-packed schedule of work assignments and family responsibilities, it’s easy for your consumers to delay buying products at this very moment. That’s why your team must nudge them to the checkout cart sooner than later. Creating a sense of urgency isn’t about causing a state of panic for your audience. Instead, you want to help them make a speedy decision about the products they already want. “Urgency can be blocked by your customers’ minds if you don’t give them specific instructions on how to solve the problem. Rather than giving vague instructions, tell people exactly what to do when the time comes and don’t be afraid to drive them toward specific actions,” says Gregory Ciotti , former senior content marketing manager at Help Scout. A few urgency tactics include adding a countdown clock to your sales page, showing the limited number of items in stock, and offering discounts on abandoned cart items.   You may want to spotlight product demand, too. For instance, you can show how many people have already purchased a particular item— using FOMO as a marketing strategy . A small dose of urgency is helpful for getting your customers across the purchasing threshold. Product value mixed with persistence means more sales for your business.   3. Offer Top-Notch Customer Support Research shows that “on average happy customers tell nine people about their experiences with a company.” If you’re delivering superb customer support, that’s an opportunity to generate more revenue for your e-commerce store. While online support varies from the traditional in-person experience, some of the same principles apply. Your purpose is to offer immediate, accurate help with a touch of kindness ( live chat is excellent for this). When speaking with your support reps, consumers should feel special. Begin with a warm-hearted, concerned tone when talking to customers. Your team will want to approach each conversation as if the consumer is talking to a friend, not stranger. Also, it’s important to train your support reps to solve customers’ concerns as quickly as possible. Shoppers respect business efficiency because it doesn’t waste their precious time. BaubleBar values its shoppers and makes offering customer service a priority. The accessories retailer allows customers to email and call their staff members. Plus, the company posts their availability along with the normal response time. And don’t be afraid to apologize to your customers. If you make a mistake, acknowledge your error and continue to provide high-caliber service. Quality service is the key to ensuring casual shoppers turn into loyal customers . Give your audience different support channels to connect with your team.   4. Build an Exclusive Community The desire to belong is part of your consumer’s humanity. In one way or another, we’re all seeking a chance to be part of a specific group, team, or club. Your e-commerce store can satisfy that consumer need by establishing a brand community. “We have an inherent need to be a part of a social community and to feel connected to others. It not only makes us feel secure and comfortable, it inspires us to take action to achieve our desired results as well,” writes entrepreneur Akshay Nanavati . Brand communities take many shapes and forms. There’s the VIP rewards programs with die-hard fans seeking exclusive perks. Or you can develop an advisory panel where consumers can give you insight on their interests and tastes. Fostering a community requires time and patience. You’ll want to create rules and expectations for your consumers. That way, you’re building trust early in the relationship. Go beyond the usual benefits of a community. Ask your brand advocates for their honest feedback in exchange for unique product discounts. And be mindful not to bog down your loyal members with excessive emails and push notifications. Communities ensure regular contact between your business and buyers. Elevate your e-commerce store with brand advocates championing your mission.   5. Present an Irresistible Exit Pop-Up Offer Believe it or not, your consumers aren’t excited to buy your products every time they land on your site. They may visit your store to just do price comparisons, or they might have a few minutes to spare during lunch and occupy their time by browsing your website. While consumer intent may concentrate on another purpose, your goal is to reel shoppers in and persuade them to purchase. And one of the best ways to do so is with exit pop-up offers. An exit popup is a message that appears when a visitor tries to leave your site. It helps your team refocus the consumer’s attention back to your store. This popup is a prime location for you to give visitors a special deal, offer an instant promotion, or add them to a particular email newsletter. Behappy.me knows how to capture the attention of visitors attempting to leave its site. The store offers first-time buyers an extra 10% discount to influence their buying decision. There’s always one last chance to entice your consumers. With exit pop-up offers, you can grab hesitant shoppers who need extra motivation to buy your products.   Turning Traffic Into Trust Persuading visitors to become customers isn’t an easy task. However, with a sound strategy and patience, you can get shoppers to the checkout cart. Start with drafting creative product descriptions to get visitors excited about your items. Then, create a sense of urgency with limited-time sales. And always offer five-star customer support to show consumers you truly care. Build trust to convert your traffic into loyal customers. Find the post on the HostGator Blog Continue reading →

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5 Ways to Drive Leads to Your Website

Posted on June 5, 2019 by Hosting

The post 5 Ways to Drive Leads to Your Website appeared first on HostGator Blog . Lead generation is an important part of business operations. As a freelancer or small business owner, you want interested buyers to visit your site and learn about your services. It all begins with attracting qualified traffic to your website. It’s not a complicated task, but you will need to invest your time and some resources. Here are five ways to get leads to your site. 1. Boost Organic Search Results Search engines have become the gateway to learning everything you need to know. For consumers, it’s a tool to do quick research on a brand, find a coupon code, or just casually shop for clothes on lunch breaks. Juno reports that 81% of people perform some type of online research before making a large purchase. Therefore, it’s imperative for your business to rank in search results. If not, you risk the competition swiping your leads. Search engine optimization (SEO) centers around knowing the intent of your ideal visitor. What words do they use? What questions do they ask? Google’s Keyword Planner is a valuable resource for conducting your keyword research. You can discover new phrases that match your services and narrow your keyword list to the ones that really matter. Once you’ve nailed down your keywords, you’re ready to write content. Use on-page SEO best practices , like adding the keyword in the header, to earn more leads. Then, tailor your content to keep visitors engaged. 2. Develop Partner Campaigns Partnerships are key to growing your small business. When you connect with partners, you get access to their resources and audience. In return, you can leverage those assets to influence people to check out your site. Co-marketing campaigns help partners bring their expertise to the partnership and gain a mutual benefit. Jyoti Mali , head of digital marketing at TIS India, agrees: “You can set up partnerships with reputed companies to start your co-marketing campaign. This will help the users to know more about your products and services because they will get a wider platform for exploring your offers.” Your campaign doesn’t have to be super complex. You might partner with a business to create a social media video or run an exclusive promotion. If you got the time, you could host an intimate VIP event in your local area, too. Whatever you decide, stick to your goal of driving leads to your business. Make sure all promotional signage includes your website. It’s also a clever idea to capture people’s email addresses to send them future updates. 3. Advertise on Social Media Small businesses operate on tight budgets. You don’t have the luxury to throw money at every marketing idea. Totally understandable. However, most small businesses suffer when they don’t want to spend any money. They constrain their budgets to where there isn’t any room to execute on sound strategies. If you’re willing to step into a growth mindset, your business should consider testing social media advertising. It’ll drive more leads to your site, in addition to spreading brand awareness. Start with the social media platform that your typical buyer uses. Then, determine your weekly or monthly budget. It can be a few hundred dollars. Next, follow the on-screen directions on the platform. For example, Twitter helps you build your ad from start-to-finish with helpful tips along the way. Make sure your ad uses an eye-appealing image and concise copy. Look at how Walmart crafted their Facebook ad below. The graphic is colorful with the logo prominently displayed, and the copy talks directly to the consumer with a coupon. Don’t be afraid to spend your marketing budget. Social media advertising can be effective for your company. 4. Participate in Online Communities The online world serves as a home for people with different interests, ideas, and beliefs. You can literally find a community for anything, from Star Wars’ fan clubs to dog lovers’ support groups. You can tap into these online communities to drive more leads to your site. Megan Biondi , former social media marketing specialist at Blue Fountain Media, highlights the benefits: “Participating in these conversations increases your exposure as well as the odds of engaging with other group members. If you’re focusing on a select few groups to participate in, it’s the most time efficient to participate in groups that get a lot of views, discussions, and traffic.” Before you go spamming everyone with your marketing messages, it’s critical that you join these communities with a genuine interest to bring value to its members. So, don’t talk about your services every time you engage the group. Plus, you’ll want to join communities that fit your business’s purpose. For instance, it’s not cool to push your floral arrangement businesses in a group focused on college basketball. 5. Send Creative Emails Email marketing is one of the hidden gems of small business. Companies usually get bogged down with executing so many other tactics that they forget about their email subscribers. The first step is to continue building your email list . You can add pop-ups to your homepage prompting visitors to give their email addresses in exchange for a discount. Or you can encourage your social media followers to sign up for your weekly newsletter. Next, focus on sending emails with worthwhile content. The message should entice leads to click to learn more. For instance, if you’re a boxing gym owner, you may send a list of the top five tips on how to be a better boxer. You would include two of those tips in the email and have the subscriber go to your website to get the additional three strategies. Blue Apron is creative in their approach to getting leads to their website. In the email below, they offer their subscribers a $40 off coupon and simple instructions on how to get started with their service. Your subscribers are eager to hear from your business. So, dust off your email list to generate more leads. Get More Customers to Your Site Now is the time to craft your lead generation strategy. Bring more leads to your website through organic search, social media advertising, and email marketing. Customers are waiting to buy from your business. Find the post on the HostGator Blog Continue reading →

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How to Create a Style Guide for Your Website in 5 Steps

Posted on May 24, 2019 by Hosting

The post How to Create a Style Guide for Your Website in 5 Steps appeared first on HostGator Blog . Websites are online storefronts for small businesses. Because they play a pivotal role in the customer experience, your team must make it a priority. A style guide helps your small business develop a cohesive look for your website. Without a clear branding style, customers will disengage and leave your site. Style guides also ensure there aren’t any discrepancies in your branding strategy. Let’s streamline your online presence. Here are 5 elements to consider in your website style guide. 1. Brand Voice Branding is the overall perception of your small business. It’s how you differentiate your products and services from others in the market. Brand voice is part of building your website. You get to show visitors your brand personality and unique qualities. Voice can range from casual and calm to vibrant and risky. In the  chart below , each voice characteristic corresponds with suggested actions (and inactions) for businesses. For instance, a company aiming for an authentic voice should portray honesty and ownership of mistakes and stay away from marketing jargon. A description of your brand voice isn’t always enough. When developing your style guide, you also should include explicit examples for your team to follow. This tactic eliminates any uncertainty when posting copy to your site. Web design affects many internal departments. Your sales team needs to know the appropriate messaging to secure customers. The finance team is interested in the actual costs, and human resources wants to attract new employees. Therefore, it’s helpful to get input from your entire team when making key brand decisions. Choose a brand voice that inspires your customers. Then, you can start developing a website that represents your brand story.   2. Navigation Laying out your website is just as critical as selecting the right words and images. When visitors land on your site, they should easily tell where to go next. It’s vital that your team craft a straightforward roadmap for their visit. For starters, keep your main heading options under six. Too many choices can overwhelm visitors and can cause them to take no action at all. Drop-down  menus also can offer structure, giving visitors access to additional pages without multiple clicks. When mapping out your navigation, conduct customer research and examine data from conversion optimization tools like heatmaps. You’ll want to begin with what’s important. Andy Crestodina , the co-founder and CMO of Orbit Media, provides his perspective: “In website navigation, just like any list, items at the beginning and the end are most effective, because this is where attention and retention are highest. Always seek to put the things that are most important to visitors in the most visually prominent places.” Effective navigation helps customers buy your products. So, streamline the navigation bar to increase engagement.   3. Colors Red, blue, purple, yellow. The colors on your website matter to your visitors. They can either spark an invitation to stay or ignite a reaction to leave your site immediately. Colors influence consumers’ perceptions of your brand. While each color represents something different for every individual, humans do recognize specific colors to represent different emotions. Yet, studies recommend that companies select colors that support the brand personality they want to portray, instead of aligning with stereotypical color associations. Your team then can add meaning to the chosen colors through other branding aspects. The  diagram below shows the connection between a color and a meaning. For example, lime green can translate into competence with a brand personality of reliability and intelligence. Colors relay an essential message your customers. Don’t force your brand to adhere to the traditional norms of what a color embodies. Find the right palette for your small business.   4. Fonts Fonts are usually the last thing on a small business owner’s mind. However, fonts help communicate your brand’s voice. Script fonts can portray a young, playful company, while a slab font can mean a bold, established brand. Google Fonts is an interactive library of more than 900 fonts. It’s an easy-to-use tool to experiment with fonts and compare your top choices. Avoid fonts that aren’t legible or clear. Consumers shouldn’t have to squint their eyes to read your text or take a second look just to be certain. Jill Chongva , a WordPress website designer, says: “It’s best to use fonts that complement each other and work together without being jarring for the reader. This usually means choosing a combination of a serif font and a sans serif font that don’t fight for the reader’s attention.” It’s also wise to not select fonts similar to well-known brands, like Coca-Cola or Nike. You want a distinct font that separates your small business from the competition. What font expresses your brand? Do your research and select one that will grab your consumers’ attention.   5. Images Images impact how consumers see your small business. With a couple of pictures, buyers can quickly determine whether they can see themselves with your product. In your style guide, outline the type of images that are acceptable for brand promotion. Specify the recommended file format and display size. You also may want to limit the number of images per page—leaving some white space. That way, your visitors don’t get bombarded with too many visuals at once. Invest in quality product photography . You want images that display the fine details of your product. For example, if you sell purses, consumers should see every pattern design. The image should give them a sense of how the product would look and feel in real life. Customers can become accustomed to the same old stock photos. For your website to stand out, you may want to shoot your own photos. Most smartphones are capable of taking high-quality pictures. So, encourage your team to share their photos from the last company retreat or team-building outing. Choose your images carefully. The image specifications make a huge difference for your website.   Your Website’s Style Guide Websites are open invitations for customers to learn about your small business. Style guides create a roadmap to establish your brand. With the right elements, your team can build a better customer experience. Find the post on the HostGator Blog Continue reading →

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5 Steps to Improve Your Chances of Getting a Good Online SMB Loan

Posted on May 7, 2019 by Hosting

The post 5 Steps to Improve Your Chances of Getting a Good Online SMB Loan appeared first on HostGator Blog . For eCommerce businesses , the costs to startup may be small compared to a brick-and-mortar ventures. But the costs to achieve real growth can hinder them just the same. Funding new initiatives—a site redesign, an expansive digital marketing campaign, a bulk order on inventory—is difficult without outside capital. And to achieve that capital, most businesses (particularly small eCommerce firms) won’t get venture capital funding. They’ll need to use debt financing instead. Debt financing (usually in the form of a business loan, line of credit, or other financing that requires paying back the principal plus interest) is a risk, but it’s also how business owners maintain full control of their business while accessing funds that wouldn’t be available to them otherwise. These days, eCommerce business owners may choose from a variety of loan options. Not all of these funding options will sound good to you—especially if you’re a new business, or if you’ve struggled with credit in the past. Whether you’ve already applied for a small business loan and come away disappointed with the offers, or you’re gearing up to apply with either your local bank or an online lender, there are some important steps you can take to improve your chances of getting a quality, low-interest business loan offer and moving ahead with your plans. Consider taking some or all of the following five steps: 1. Build your business credit Just as you have a personal credit score (more on that below), you have a business credit score that reflects the creditworthiness of your business history. Your business credit score—which typically ranges from 1-100—is financial shorthand for whether lenders or vendors should feel comfortable extending you credit, as well as for how much and on what terms. Generally speaking, many of the main factors that determine your score are universal. Knowing what they are is the first step in knowing how to work on them or otherwise improve their standing in the eyes of credit bureaus. In order to build up your business credit, focus on the following tactics: Dispute errors and inquiries Get into the habit of checking your business credit report regularly. Credit bureaus are far from perfect, and sometimes they will report charges, pulls, or other dings to your record that aren’t accurate. If you see an inaccuracy in your report, don’t wait for the record to correct itself: Contact the bureau and dispute it. Even a few points off your score can affect your application.  Decrease your credit utilization ratio Your credit utilization ratio is the amount of credit available to you compared to how much of that credit you’ve used. If you have a business credit card and a line of credit, and both of them are maxed out, that tells lenders that you already have a fair amount of outstanding debt to pay back. Pay off your credit balances and keep them as low as possible, particularly ahead of a loan application. Pay your bills on time It’s crucially important to pay all of your bills and debts on time. Whether it’s your utility company or a vendor, falling behind on your payments can negatively impact your score. Form responsible credit habits If you haven’t been paying much attention to your business credit score, or carry a low score because of a prior venture gone bad, it’s time to start building up a positive credit history. Obtain a good business credit card and start using it while making regular repayments. Even this simple process can help rebuild your score over time while instilling positive spending habits. Add trade references to your credit report If you have a good relationship with a vendor or supplier, see if you can create a credit account with them. Assuming you make consistent on-time payments on that account, you can add them manually as a “trade reference” to your credit report (assuming they don’t already share payment data with a credit reporting agency). These references demonstrate your fiscal responsibility and history with vendors or providers like wholesalers and attorneys. 2. Improve your personal credit score It’s true: Lenders want to make sure that you’re just as responsible a spender in your personal life as you are in business. Remember, your personal credit score ranges from 300 to 850, with 850 being a “perfect score.” Here’s a general breakdown of credit score tiers : Exceptional: 800-850 Very Good: 740-799 Good: 670-739 Fair: 580-669 Bad: 300-579 You won’t even be considered for certain loan products if your score is below the “good” tier, and you’ll be more likely to get a low interest rate if your score is in the “very good” to “exceptional” range. So, how do you bump up your personal credit in advance of a small business loan application? Many of the same guidelines that apply to business credit apply to your personal credit practices. That means you should pay your bills on time, reduce your credit utilization, dispute errors on your report, and so on. You’ll also want a diverse “credit mix” of different products, such as a credit card and a personal or student loan. 3. Wait it out: Increase your “time in business” This factor plays a role in improving your business score, but it’s important enough that it deserves special consideration. Quite simply, your business is going to need to be around for awhile before lenders consider you for a good small business loan. For example, though there is no “official” time in business qualification for an SBA loan —considered the gold standard of small business loans—you’ll need to be in business for at least two years to be considered.   Your business staying solvent and profitable for several years shows lenders that your business model is working and you’re a good bet to stick around for the long haul. And unfortunately, nothing can prove your longevity like longevity itself. Of course, if your funding need is pressing, this isn’t an option. But if you’re looking for a small business loan for a project that isn’t imminent, you’re better off waiting and improving your time in business in order to get the best loan offer possible. 4. Boost your revenue and cash flow This step, of course, is easier said than done. But your annual revenue and monthly cash flow will both likely be reviewed by lenders, which means you’ll strengthen your case by making more money. Some of the best loans on the market, such as SBA loans or high-quality business lines of credit, will look for businesses that produce at least $100,000 in annual revenue. Other affordable loan products require at least $50,000 in annual revenue. Start thinking about what steps you can take to boost your revenue over the next six-12 months. Will a new marketing campaign help boost sales? Can you add a new product or service to your line to pull in new, related business? Additionally, improving your monthly cash flow is also an important step. Find ways to get paid faster by clients and customers, such as tightening your net payment windows, or manage your expenses by reducing spending on inventory in slow months. 5. Gather and prepare important documents Most business loan applications will require you to submit certain documents, such as bank statements, tax returns, proof of ownership, and a driver’s license. For the best small business loans, however, you’ll likely have to go a bit further. SBA loans require that you submit a business plan, business debt schedule, profit and loss statement, and balance sheet as well. Writing up a business plan ahead of funding is good practice whether or not it’s technically required by a lender. By creating a business plan, you’ll outline your business objectives and goals, get a handle on current finances and future projections, and create a more persuasive case for investment or lending. Take the time to gather up all the important information, documents, and forms you need ahead of your loan application. Otherwise, you’ll have a lot of back and forth with your lender that can drag on for weeks or months. The faster you go through the process—and receive your outcome, good or bad—the sooner you’ll know what your options are, and whether you’ll need to make improvements.   *** Taking on a small business loan to finance your new eCommerce projects or initiatives is always a risk. By strengthening your case for a quality loan, however, you reduce that risk and improve your chances for success over the long run. Follow these steps and you’ll soon see better options from lenders. Find the post on the HostGator Blog Continue reading →

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