The Coley Blog

E-books are excellent marketing tools that give your business the opportunity to stand out and highlight key differentiators. They’re incredibly valuable, but unfortunately, instead of making e-books a cornerstone of their ongoing marketing efforts, most businesses overlook them. They fail to include e-books because in all too many instances, business owners regardless of the industry or sector they operate in, simply do not understand the power that lies within this amazing marketing tool. E-books are amazing marketing tools that can help connect you with potential customers at a fraction of the costs you might otherwise incur. In addition to potential new customers, they’re also great for strengthening the ties you have with your existing customer base. If you’re on the fence and still trying to decide if e-books are right for your business or wondering where their value can be found, here are a few helpful tips that will shed light on the situation.

One of the most powerful yet underutilized weapons in the marketing arsenal of any business is the white paper. The white paper can open doors and give your potential clients insights that can ultimately lead to long-term partnerships. They’re strategic documents that give businesses the opportunity to show that they’re true thought leaders by making complex issues, plain. When this is done everyone wins. The reader wins because in you, they’ve found a partner capable of providing them with the value they seek. At the same time, your business wins because the expertise you’ve shown puts you in a position to realize exponential growth. All too often, white papers are overlooked but taking the time to develop a catalog of these strategic B2B documents can be the catalyst that takes your business to the next level.

So, you’ve finally decided the time has come to pursue your dreams of being your own boss. You’ve chosen a name, had a logo designed, scouted out office space, and all that really cool, fun stuff. With all of that out of the way, now comes the time to answer one of the most important questions you as a business owner will face … how are you going to legally structure your business? This is a crucial step in your journey and one that you shouldn’t made until you’ve given it serious thought. What are the tax ramifications of the choices you make, both now and in the coming years as your business continues to grow? What about liabilities? What type of legal structure will offer you the most protection should there ever come a day when you find yourself (and your business), in a court of law?

The United States is a country of immigrants. People from all corners of the globe help make this nation that we call home simply the greatest place on earth. With each passing year, the immigrant pool grows larger. Some come over to be with family, others come over to study, others will arrive on these shores of ours to find work … while others will come to pursue their dream of being a business owner. If you’re an immigrant looking to start a business, you’re going to need a business plan. The Coley Group is staffed by capable Immigration Business Plan writers who understand the various nuances that come with building a document of this type. It’s a little bit different than other business plans, but just like the others, it’s a necessary component of the success journey!

At the conclusion of 2021 there were over 12.3 million women-owned businesses in the United States generating an astounding $1.8 trillion dollars in revenue. A deeper look shows that 21% of all businesses operating in the country are women owned. While these numbers are impressive, there’s still so much work to do in order to level the proverbial business playing field with regards to women business owners and their male counterparts. The Women Owned Small Business (WOSB), a division of the SBA, was developed with the goal of closing the gender gap and put women in position to better compete. Government and private contracts that in years past were considered unattainable for women, become available once this certification is secured. If you’re a female business owner, understanding how to obtain the WOSB certification and the benefits it brings can help open doors to lucrative business opportunities.

At the conclusion of 2020 there were over 10 million minority-owned small businesses operating in the United States. As minorities become the majority segment of the population, their presence in the business world will also increase. Research shows that even though minority growth is moving rapidly, the ratio of population to minority small business ownership remains imbalanced. This is true even as further research shows that the fastest growing segment of small business owners … are minorities. The SBA recognizes this and while the program does not have a funding option that specifically caters to minorities, there are resources available. The 8(a) Minority Business Development Program was created with the goal of helping minority-owned businesses compete and grow. We’ve created an overview of the various components of the 8(a) program as well as a checklist to make sure your business meets their requirements.