How to Gain the Best ROI From Your Email Marketing

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By MJ Plaster

The reports of the death of email marketing have been grossly exaggerated! Lately, I’ve heard people talk about email as old tech or low tech and, therefore, ineffective. This is a misconception, as you’ll see. In fact, it’s one of the last best effective marketing avenues, since people have tuned out ads—physically and mentally. If you’re one of the millions of internet users who use ad blockers, then you know how easy it is nix ads from your view. If not, then you’ve probably blocked the ads mentally.

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Five Tips For Protecting Your Business From Fraud

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In today’s world, technology has made it easy to conduct business around the world. However, it has also made it much easier for criminals to commit fraud against businesses. With small businesses losing $150,000 annually due to fraud, the problem is getting bigger each year.

As a result, more businesses are turning their attention to finding ways to prevent fraud. Whether it’s credit card fraud by a customer or theft by an employee, there are many ways businesses can reduce or eliminate fraud being committed against them. Continue reading →

Five Tips For Safely Spending In Retirement

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Just about everyone from financial gurus to employers to the government will encourage workers to sock away a portion of their hard-earned cash each pay period for retirement.

While there are some studies that indicate quite clearly that many have either been unwilling or unable to do so, there are other Americans who have been able to save a nice nest egg for their golden years. Recommendations on how to spend down this stash of cash are a bit less common. Here are some tips that can help you ensure that you do not run out of cash in retirement. Continue reading →

The Beginner’s Guide To The Stock Market

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You may have heard of the Dow or even know what a stock is. However, do you know what it means to invest in the stock market?

While this may surprise you, you may already be invested in the market if you have a 401k or have company stock options or some other ownership stake. What should you know about the market before you start investing to help you make better decisions? Continue reading →

Hit “Reply to All,” Lose Your Job, Risk Your Life

Girl covered with a wind of email

By MJ Plaster

Have you made an email blooper or blunder that caused you to “die a thousand deaths”? Congrats! You have a pulse. Unfortunately, one email mistake could end your career or destroy your life. Think back to the first rule you learned when you went online: The Internet is forever—if you don’t want it broadcast on the 6 o’clock news, don’t put it out there.

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Five Options For Financing Your Startup

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Starting a new business is both exciting and challenging, and It can also be overwhelming trying to come up with financing to get the venture off the ground.

Where should you turn for the help that you need to get going?

Business Loan

Taking out a loan from a bank or a credit union is the most traditional route for obtaining funding. While banks are sometimes the source of Small Business Administration (SBA) loans, the conventional loans that banks handle may be a better option in some cases.

For starters, SBA loans are backed by the government, which means there are often stringent terms attached to the loan. Without government involvement approval time is usually faster. Continue reading →