How easy is it to market online?

Forming a limited liability company can be the perfect strategy for a business. There’s areason that it’s been the most common business entity in the US for the past 20 years.

One of the main reasons that a business or a group of people, form LLCs is to protect personal assets. Just as it sounds, there’s limited liability for owners of the business. It’s hands-off for the property they personally own.

As with every decision made for businesses, there are many more things to consider before taking this step. Of course, paperwork is involved. There may be tax implications that are advantageous, or not. There are different types of membership structures.

You can’t think about those considerations until you’ve gathered information. That way you can make comparisons and determine what’s best for you.

You can weigh the advantages and disadvantages, and see if the pros outweigh the cons. Or vice versa. For each individual business, there’s a business structure that is right for it.

What is a Limited Liability Company?

LLC’s limit the personal liability of business owners or partners. It protects their assets. It is a business structure that can have one owner, such as a sole proprietor, or any number of members.

LLC’s are taxed in a special way. When the owners file tax returns, business income is passed through to become part of the owner’s income. You can make money or lose money. If you need expert advice, you can seek help creating an LLC by using a website like CorpNet.

The Pros of an LLC

So, what can you do with an LLC? We reached out to Nellie Akalp for expert input about LLCs as a business strategy. Akalp is the CEO and Founder of CorpNet.com.

Akalp said that there are many advantages to setting up an LLC as opposed to operating as a sole proprietorship. In many cases, an LLC is the best choice.

“The main pros, in my opinion, are protecting personal assets, tax flexibility and gaining credibility,” Akalp said. “Since an LLC is its own legal entity if someone sues the company or it gets into financial debt, the owner’s assets are generally protected.”

“To maintain that asset protection, it’s essential that the owners keep personal and business activity and finances separate, they avoid engaging in fraudulent activity, they pay their taxes and filing fees onetime and they stay up to date on all compliance formalities needed to keep their LLC in good standing,” she added.

Akalp also went into more depth about tax flexibility and business credibility.

Tax Flexibility

“By default, an LLC is considered the same tax-paying entity as its owner,” Akalp explained. “Income and losses pass through to the owner’s personal tax return and profits are subject to self-employment tax.”

“Online Sole proprietorships, LLCs, however, may elect to be treated as an S Corporation which can lead to tax savings in some situations.”

Business Credibility

“Having an LLC behind a company name may make it look more professional to prospective clients, vendors, partners and investors,” Akalp said. “Many people perceive ‘LLC’ behind a company name as having a business that is more capable or professional.”

Here is more info about the benefits of having a limited liability company:

Simplicity

Filing LLC documents or paperwork is simple with fill-in-the-blanks forms at Secretary of State websites. You need a separate bank account and credit cards.

Limited Liability Protection

Limited Liability means an owner is protected from losing personal assets.

Flexible Membership Numbers

You can form a single-member LLC or have two or more members. There is no limit to members.

Fewer State-Imposed Compliance Requirements

State requirements are clearly defined. Basically, you need Articles of Organization, an Operating Agreement, and a Registered Agent.

Tax Advantages

The LLC has pass-through taxation at the business entity level. That means that you bypass corporate income tax. The profits or losses are reported within the business owner’s personal income tax filing.

Credibility of Having a Limited Liability Company

Having the LLC as part of the business name makes a statement. It adds credibility to the business name as a business that has a formal structure.

Deductions on Healthcare

The LLC can deduct the cost of medical insurance for employees who are not members of the LLC. If the LLC is set up to run and be taxed as an S Corp, the owners can take personal income tax deductions on premiums that are paid. If you’re a single-member LLC you can deduct the cost of your individual health insurance.

Flexibility of Management Structure

The LLC can be manager-managed or member-managed. The number of LLC members is unlimited.

Revenues for Members

Revenues for members can be placed into a living trust. The living trust can be a “member” of the LLC. Remember that a trust is a legal document that establishes ownership over assets, using a grantor and trustee. If the grantor dies, the monies in the trust can be transferred to the trustees, avoiding the probate process.

Ease of Cash Distribution

Members or owners can take money from the company profit account. They can do this in lieu of having a salary.

Deduction of Losses

If the LLC loses money, the loss can be deducted as a business loss on the personal tax return. It can help you save money on taxes.

The Cons of an LLC

Is an LLC best for you? There are also downsides to creating an LLC. As a business owner, it’s time to start a list, pros, and cons LLC.

“Generally speaking, no there are no limits of protection for an LLC,” Akalp said. “However, for maximum protection one may want to consider a corporation.”

“The LLC is more of a hybrid of a corporation and sole proprietorship,” she explained, “While still offering great asset protection as long as the LLC is in compliance, the corporation does go a step further – So really it would depend on the type of business and liabilities associated with that business.”

Here’s a look at the cons:

Ongoing Costs

Annual reports must be filed, along with renewal filing fees, which can be high. The fees vary from state to state. If there are any changes to infrastructure, the entire LLC business entity may need to be refiled.

Difficulty Transferring Business Ownership

A transfer of owners may require unanimous agreement from all members. The way LLC business ownership is to be transferred is spelled out in the LLC Articles of Organization.

Separate Personal and Business Records

Profit or loss from the LLC must be reported on the owner’s or owner’s personal tax return. All business records related to the LLC must be kept separately. The business should have a separate bank account and credit cards.

Limits to LLC Protection

Although personal assets are protected, owners or members of an LLC can be held accountable for business losses. Business assets can be at risk. This can happen if a member gives a personal guarantee for a business loan or debt. Protection may be limited by the bad acts of an owner or member – such as a member who commits fraud or a crime against the LLC, or if a member personally damages an individual.

Limited Options for Investment

The only way someone can invest in the LLC is by becoming a contributing member or becoming an owner. An LLC can’t issue shares.

Exposure of Profits to Social Security and Medicare Taxes

If the LLC earns a profit, that amount will be added to the owner’s income on tax returns. Social security and Medicare taxes will be assessed.

State-Level Restrictions

An LLC is regulated by state statute.

Pros and Cons of an LLC vs Corporation Business Structure

Here’s a quick look at the advantages and disadvantages between each type, an LLC and a Corporation (Inc.) business. What’s the difference?

First, a definition of a Corporation also called a C Corporation. A C Corporation is a legal structure in which the shareholders, are taxed separately from the C corp.

C Corps are the primary kind of Corporation. There are also S corps. To learn more about an S corporation, see below.

Pros of an LLCs vs Corporation

Profits are reported on the owner’s tax returns and taxed at the owner’s tax rate (self-employment tax rate).

The management structure is set up as desired in Articles of Organization.

LLC is owned by members.

Cons of an LLCs vs Corporation

Corporation profits are subject to corporate tax rates. C corporations are subject to double taxation. The C corp is subject to corporate income taxation. The income of a C corporation is also passed through to shareholders, who are taxed. The C corp pays taxes on earnings before the earnings are distributed to shareholders as dividends. The dividends can be reinvested in the company at a lower corporate tax rate.

Corporation business structure must have a board of directors, officers, and shareholders. The board of directors is voted on by shareholders. There must be annual meetings.

The corporation is owned by shareholders.

A C corporation can also limit the liability of investors. The most an investor can be liable for if a C corporation fails is the amount the person has invested.

 

Pros and Cons of an LLCs vs S Corps

Here’s a quick look at each type, with advantages and disadvantages for small business owners. What’s the difference between an LLC and S-Corp?

First, let’s differentiate between an S Corp and a C corp. An S corp may also be called an S subchapter.

S corporations have to meet specific IRS guidelines that make them different than a C corp:

1. The S corp must be incorporated domestically.
2. S corporations can have only one kind of stock.
3. S corporations can have no more than 100 shareholders.
4. The shareholders in S corporations can NOT be partnerships, corporations or nonresident aliens.

If each of those guidelines is met, the S corporation may pass income (or losses) directly to shareholders. The S corp can pass income to shareholders without paying federal corporate taxes.

In other words, the S corporation qualification gives the business the benefits of corporation. And one of the S corporation benefits is that is enjoys exemption from federal taxes.

Shareholders of an S corp must report income or loss on individual tax return documents.

Pros of an LLCs vs S Corps

• LLCs have unlimited owners. Membership interests are important.
• LLCs have flexibility on how business is set up and run.
• LLC’s profits are taxed on an individual tax return.

Cons of an LLCs vs S Corps

• S corporation must be organized with a board of directors.
• S corporation has strict rules about required meetings and records of meetings.
• The state filing fees for S corporations are higher than LLC state filing fees.
• S corporations can have shareholders who are individuals, specific trusts or estates, or tax-exempt organizations.
• S corporation shareholders are taxed on profits received from the S corporation as part of income taxation. The S corporation earnings are taxed (double taxation).

Pros and Cons of an LLC vs Sole Proprietorship

Are LLCs a good option for a sole proprietor? What are the tax requirements? Tax liability? If you’re self-employed, should you form an LLC?

The short answer? If you need liability protection, consider an LLC. Liability protection is the number one reason for forming an LLC, whether it’s a sole owner or unlimited owners.

Here’s a quick look:

Pros of an LLC vs Sole Proprietorship

With an LLC the sole owner’s personal assets are protected.

A sole owner LLC can be taxed on LLC profit on personal tax return as taxable income, not subject to self-employment taxes.

Easier to separate business and personal accounts, since an LLC requires a dedicated bank account.

A loss from the LLC won’t affect your personal credit score.

Cons of a Single Member LLC vs Sole Proprietorship

As a sole proprietorship, you can be held responsible for liabilities.

A sole proprietorship must file a Schedule C for profit and loss and pay self-employment taxes.

Paperwork must be filed, with fees, as per state regulations. You must file Articles of Organization and Operating Agreement, along with required fees.

Is A Limited Liability Company a Good Idea?

Well, yes and no. It depends on your business goals and your preference for business structure.

You must weigh the pros and cons and decide if an LLC is the best option for you. It’s not the best option for all businesses.

But for many businesses, the choice to form an LLC is as simple as the need to protect the personal assets of an owner or owner. In those cases, forming an LLC for tax purposes is a secondary reason.

Here are the main reasons a business owner would opt to form a Limited Liability Company:

• Protect Personal Assets
• For tax purposes.
• To have flexibility in business structures.

How many owners can an LLC have?

A Limited Liability Company can have an unlimited number of members.

Should my business be a Corporation or an LLC?

You could argue that it’s easier for an individual to become part of a corporation by becoming one of its shareholders. And in that way a corporation can grow financially.

With an LLC, you can’t issue shares for shareholders. You don’t have shareholders. Instead of relying on shareholders, you need to attract outsiders who can invest in your company by becoming co-owner or contributing members.

Which one gives you the biggest break on taxes. I think we all know the answer to that one. Although it may seem that corporations or LLCs are getting breaks on taxes, you’ll pay somewhere. No business entities escape paying taxes.

For a definitive answer on which type of entity is best for you, consult a person who is an expert in taxes for businesses.

An LLC has been the most common type of business entity established in the US for the past 20 years. But the primary reason for choosing this type of entity, instead of forming corporations, is to protect assets.

Should I elect for my LLC to be taxed as an S Corp?

As you consider that option, here’s a term that will help: QBI, or qualified business income. QBI is net income, not gross income. And this is important as you consider choosing taxation as an S corp.

Since an s corp is a pass-through entity, you can deduct up to 20% of QBI. In other words, the s corp taxation guidelines allow the owner to take the 20% QBI deduction on business income.

If the LLC is taxed as an S corp, the business owner pays self-employment tax only on employment income.

Do LLCs pay more taxes than sole proprietorships?

A single-member LLC is taxed as a sole proprietorship.

A multiple-member LLC of two people is taxed as a partnership. The partnership files Form 1065 and each member of the partnership files a Schedule K-1.

LLC members are taxed based on their share of the LLC income. Each member must also pay self-employment tax.

Image: Depositphotos

This article, “Pros and Cons of an LLC” was first published on Small Business Trends

Do you know anyone that likes to shop online?

When it comes to B2B influencer marketing, it’s only natural to wonder just what an industry influencer actually looks like?

For our third season of Break Free B2B Marketing video interviews, we’re featuring conversations with leading B2B influencers, and examining the issues that each subject matter expert is influential about in their specialized industry.

For over a decade our team at TopRank Marketing has nurtured a strong community of leading influencers, developing close relationships with SMEs in many industries, and we’re delighted to share our latest episode of Break Free B2B Marketing.

2020 put a lot of things into laser focus that weren’t getting the attention they historically deserved. One of those things has been the necessity of greater diversity in the modern workplace. There’s no denying the fact that approximately 68 percent of C-level executives are white men and only some four percent are women of color. That’s no longer acceptable, and many businesses are actively seeking the advice of experts who can help them break free from outdated norms so they can move into a brighter, more creative, more diverse future.

One of the leading experts on how that can be accomplished is Minda Harts. Minda is a sought after speaker and thought leader who focuses on the topic of advancing women of color in the workplace and building diverse teams. She founded The Memo LLC, a career development company for women of color, and has published a similarly named book that gives actionable advice on this same topic. The Memo: What Women of Color Need to Know to Secure a Seat at the Table can be found at your favorite bookseller or online right now.

Minda is the sort of voice to listen to for any B2B marketer who wants to learn how to better speak to the needs and wants of a diverse population. That’s why we asked her to join us for the latest episode of our Break Free B2B Marketing Interview series.

Break Free B2B Interview with Minda Harts

If you’re interested in checking out a particular portion of our discussion, you can find a quick general outline below, as well as a few excerpts that stood out to us.

• :21 – Introduction to Minda Harts
• 2:16 – Micro and macro aggressions in the modern workplace
• 3:18 – “Can you give us an example, maybe of a courageous conversation you’ve had or guided someone to have, and what happened?”
• 8:00 – Office politics and the benefits of building a squad
• 9:50 – What can business leaders be doing now to help build a more inclusive future?
• 12:53 – “What’s been surprising or interesting about working with and counseling companies on these initiatives?”
• 15:33 – Not silencing yourself
• 17:59 – “In terms of helping women of color secure their seat, what should be burned or eliminated?”
• 19:15 – Movement forward and areas of progress
• 21:55 – “What do you hope for in the next few years? What does the workforce look like? How is it different? Better?”
• 23:00 – Companies or leaders who are making positive steps toward equity
• 26:35 – “What does it take to be a thought leader, subject matter expert, or influencer?”
• 31:38 – How to find Minda Harts online

Sue: How do you counsel and guide women of color to deal with having courageous conversations and other issues?

Minda: Even in the moment when I’ve dealt with some of those micro or macro aggressions, depending on how you see it, I wasn’t sure how to respond to it, because it takes you off guard, right, you’re not prepared. And sometimes when it’s happening — your colleagues — especially if you’re the only woman, or the only black woman, might think that it’s a joke, or that so and so doesn’t mean any harm. But those things, again — intentional or unintentional — they still land on certain communities where it is harmful. And so what I would say is, one thing that I didn’t do, which is part of why I wrote the book, is to center yourself as a woman in the workplace. If something is harmful, have those courageous conversations to let people know that this is not okay. Right. And you can do that in a way that doesn’t have to be in front of everyone, but I wish that I would have been more courageous in bringing those kinds of tough conversations to the forefront.

[bctt tweet=”“If something is harmful, have those courageous conversations to let people know that this is not okay.” — Minda Harts @MindaHarts #BreakFreeB2B ” username=”toprank”]

Minda: And that’s okay — I mean, we have to start somewhere. And that’s where I want leaders to realize this isn’t a problem that you’re going to solve in three Zoom meetings, right? This is going to take some time. But we have to start somewhere.

Sue: Right, exactly. Okay, so I love this. You say, don’t take shit from anyone. And as a woman, you know, typically working in tech companies and running my own agency, I know that being strong, and having opinions and a clear direction, and not settling, stating a vision with passion that can be perceived as maybe being kind of a bitch. And so this gets tough because sometimes I find myself feeling beat down and ashamed for being strong. And I can only imagine that this would even be harder for women of color. Can you talk about that a little bit?

Minda: They’re both true. And I think you made a really good point — that oftentimes, people will say, “Well, I’ve had it hard too,” right? And two things can be true at the same time, right? You could experience the same things, and then I can experience it, but it might be that your proximity to power is a little bit better than mine. Right? But we are experiencing these situations. And I think that the reason why I say don’t take anything from anybody else, is because for so long as women, we’ve had to silence ourselves, right? We’ve had to silence ourselves at the expense of our own well being. You’re even seeing it, regardless of what political party, in this idea of being too ambitious — what does that even mean? Because somebody wants more, or in their lives they want to do a good job — they’re trying to figure out what good looks like for them. I think because that has been a narrative that we didn’t create, that’s why it’s important that we have to dismantle these systems, because these systems would say that any woman that has a perspective or has ideas, that she needs to sit down and know her place.

Minda: But that is part of the system that never saw us at the table. Right? Those are those systems. So I think we have to call it out when we see it, and I think we have to unlearn that thinking too. Because being in these environments, we would then question ourselves, “Well, maybe I shouldn’t speak up,” or those sorts of things. I think with women of color in particular, it’s a fine line, right? Don’t be too aggressive. Don’t say too much. You know, don’t be angry —  so it’s that office politics — trying to find that right angle. I think it goes back to having a squad, because if you have relationships inside the workplace, somebody can say, “You know what, that’s not the Susan I know, actually,” and I think that when we know each other better, we can stand up for each other in those moments and really dismantle a culture that would say that about women.

[bctt tweet=”“We have to dismantle these systems, because these systems would say that any woman that has a perspective has ideas, and that she needs to sit down and know her place.” — Minda Harts @MindaHarts #BreakFreeB2B ” username=”toprank”]

Keep your eye on the TopRank Marketing Blog and subscribe to our YouTube channel for more Break Free B2B interviews. Also check out episodes from season 1 and season 2.

Take your B2B marketing to new heights by checking out out previous season 3 episodes of Break Free B2B Marketing:

• Episode 1: Kevin L. Jackson, GC GlobalNet — The Future of Cloud Computing
• Episode 2: Tim Crawford, AVOA — The New Normal
• Episode 3: Oliver Christie, PertexaHealthTech — The Future of Artificial Intelligence
• Episode 4: Liam McIvor Martin, Time Doctor — Trends in Remote Work
• Episode 5: Sarah Barnes-Humphrey, SHIPZ — The Future of Supply Chain
• Episode 6: Eric Vanberburg, TCDI — The Changing Cybersecurity Landscape
• Episode 7: Nicole Brady, SAHM Reviews — The Importance of Empathy
• Episode 8: Tamara McCleary, Thulium — Visions of the Future
• Episode 9: Dez Blanchfield, Sociaall Inc. — Joining the Conversation
• Episode 10: Keith Townsend, The CTO Advisor — Bringing Value Through Friction

The post Break Free B2B Marketing: Minda Harts of The Memo on Having Courageous Conversations appeared first on B2B Marketing Blog – TopRank®.

How easy is it to market online?

When it comes to B2B influencer marketing, it’s only natural to wonder just what an industry influencer actually looks like?

For our third season of Break Free B2B Marketing video interviews, we’re featuring conversations with leading B2B influencers, and examining the issues that each subject matter expert is influential about in their specialized industry.

For over a decade our team at TopRank Marketing has nurtured a strong community of leading influencers, developing close relationships with SMEs in many industries, and we’re delighted to share our latest episode of Break Free B2B Marketing.

2020 put a lot of things into laser focus that weren’t getting the attention they historically deserved. One of those things has been the necessity of greater diversity in the modern workplace. There’s no denying the fact that approximately 68 percent of C-level executives are white men and only some four percent are women of color. That’s no longer acceptable, and many businesses are actively seeking the advice of experts who can help them break free from outdated norms so they can move into a brighter, more creative, more diverse future.

One of the leading experts on how that can be accomplished is Minda Harts. Minda is a sought after speaker and thought leader who focuses on the topic of advancing women of color in the workplace and building diverse teams. She founded The Memo LLC, a career development company for women of color, and has published a similarly named book that gives actionable advice on this same topic. The Memo: What Women of Color Need to Know to Secure a Seat at the Table can be found at your favorite bookseller or online right now.

Minda is the sort of voice to listen to for any B2B marketer who wants to learn how to better speak to the needs and wants of a diverse population. That’s why we asked her to join us for the latest episode of our Break Free B2B Marketing Interview series.

Break Free B2B Interview with Minda Harts

If you’re interested in checking out a particular portion of our discussion, you can find a quick general outline below, as well as a few excerpts that stood out to us.

• :21 – Introduction to Minda Harts
• 2:16 – Micro and macro aggressions in the modern workplace
• 3:18 – “Can you give us an example, maybe of a courageous conversation you’ve had or guided someone to have, and what happened?”
• 8:00 – Office politics and the benefits of building a squad
• 9:50 – What can business leaders be doing now to help build a more inclusive future?
• 12:53 – “What’s been surprising or interesting about working with and counseling companies on these initiatives?”
• 15:33 – Not silencing yourself
• 17:59 – “In terms of helping women of color secure their seat, what should be burned or eliminated?”
• 19:15 – Movement forward and areas of progress
• 21:55 – “What do you hope for in the next few years? What does the workforce look like? How is it different? Better?”
• 23:00 – Companies or leaders who are making positive steps toward equity
• 26:35 – “What does it take to be a thought leader, subject matter expert, or influencer?”
• 31:38 – How to find Minda Harts online

Sue: How do you counsel and guide women of color to deal with having courageous conversations and other issues?

Minda: Even in the moment when I’ve dealt with some of those micro or macro aggressions, depending on how you see it, I wasn’t sure how to respond to it, because it takes you off guard, right, you’re not prepared. And sometimes when it’s happening — your colleagues — especially if you’re the only woman, or the only black woman, might think that it’s a joke, or that so and so doesn’t mean any harm. But those things, again — intentional or unintentional — they still land on certain communities where it is harmful. And so what I would say is, one thing that I didn’t do, which is part of why I wrote the book, is to center yourself as a woman in the workplace. If something is harmful, have those courageous conversations to let people know that this is not okay. Right. And you can do that in a way that doesn’t have to be in front of everyone, but I wish that I would have been more courageous in bringing those kinds of tough conversations to the forefront.

[bctt tweet=”“If something is harmful, have those courageous conversations to let people know that this is not okay.” — Minda Harts @MindaHarts #BreakFreeB2B ” username=”toprank”]

Minda: And that’s okay — I mean, we have to start somewhere. And that’s where I want leaders to realize this isn’t a problem that you’re going to solve in three Zoom meetings, right? This is going to take some time. But we have to start somewhere.

Sue: Right, exactly. Okay, so I love this. You say, don’t take shit from anyone. And as a woman, you know, typically working in tech companies and running my own agency, I know that being strong, and having opinions and a clear direction, and not settling, stating a vision with passion that can be perceived as maybe being kind of a bitch. And so this gets tough because sometimes I find myself feeling beat down and ashamed for being strong. And I can only imagine that this would even be harder for women of color. Can you talk about that a little bit?

Minda: They’re both true. And I think you made a really good point — that oftentimes, people will say, “Well, I’ve had it hard too,” right? And two things can be true at the same time, right? You could experience the same things, and then I can experience it, but it might be that your proximity to power is a little bit better than mine. Right? But we are experiencing these situations. And I think that the reason why I say don’t take anything from anybody else, is because for so long as women, we’ve had to silence ourselves, right? We’ve had to silence ourselves at the expense of our own well being. You’re even seeing it, regardless of what political party, in this idea of being too ambitious — what does that even mean? Because somebody wants more, or in their lives they want to do a good job — they’re trying to figure out what good looks like for them. I think because that has been a narrative that we didn’t create, that’s why it’s important that we have to dismantle these systems, because these systems would say that any woman that has a perspective or has ideas, that she needs to sit down and know her place.

Minda: But that is part of the system that never saw us at the table. Right? Those are those systems. So I think we have to call it out when we see it, and I think we have to unlearn that thinking too. Because being in these environments, we would then question ourselves, “Well, maybe I shouldn’t speak up,” or those sorts of things. I think with women of color in particular, it’s a fine line, right? Don’t be too aggressive. Don’t say too much. You know, don’t be angry —  so it’s that office politics — trying to find that right angle. I think it goes back to having a squad, because if you have relationships inside the workplace, somebody can say, “You know what, that’s not the Susan I know, actually,” and I think that when we know each other better, we can stand up for each other in those moments and really dismantle a culture that would say that about women.

[bctt tweet=”“We have to dismantle these systems, because these systems would say that any woman that has a perspective has ideas, and that she needs to sit down and know her place.” — Minda Harts @MindaHarts #BreakFreeB2B ” username=”toprank”]

Keep your eye on the TopRank Marketing Blog and subscribe to our YouTube channel for more Break Free B2B interviews. Also check out episodes from season 1 and season 2.

Take your B2B marketing to new heights by checking out out previous season 3 episodes of Break Free B2B Marketing:

• Episode 1: Kevin L. Jackson, GC GlobalNet — The Future of Cloud Computing
• Episode 2: Tim Crawford, AVOA — The New Normal
• Episode 3: Oliver Christie, PertexaHealthTech — The Future of Artificial Intelligence
• Episode 4: Liam McIvor Martin, Time Doctor — Trends in Remote Work
• Episode 5: Sarah Barnes-Humphrey, SHIPZ — The Future of Supply Chain
• Episode 6: Eric Vanberburg, TCDI — The Changing Cybersecurity Landscape
• Episode 7: Nicole Brady, SAHM Reviews — The Importance of Empathy
• Episode 8: Tamara McCleary, Thulium — Visions of the Future
• Episode 9: Dez Blanchfield, Sociaall Inc. — Joining the Conversation
• Episode 10: Keith Townsend, The CTO Advisor — Bringing Value Through Friction

The post Break Free B2B Marketing: Minda Harts of The Memo on Having Courageous Conversations appeared first on B2B Marketing Blog – TopRank®.

Did you lose your job or business in this pandemic?

As a business, you can always spruce up your presentation using 4K projectors for good effect. You can use projectors for all types of presentations, training, interactive advertising, sales pitches, and meetings. Whether they be videos, images, PowerPoint, or Excel documents, 4K projectors can help you make impactful presentations with your audience. There is nothing like having your presentations being projected on a massive screen allowing your audiences to see your presentations without squinting their eyes.

There are many 4K projectors in the market today. You can get a projector based on manufacturer, specifications, the versatility of input devices, voice assistant enabled, brightness, and of course price. Below is our list of top pick 4K projectors across brands and models to suit your needs.

Best 4K Projectors for Your Business

• Top Pick: Sony VW325ES 4K HDR Projector
• Runner Up: JVC DLA-NX5 4K D-ILA Projector
• Best Value: Optoma EH412ST Professional Projector

 

Sony VW325ES 4K HDR Projector

Top Pick: Sony’s VW325ES 4K projector X1 processor offers great image processing capabilities. It is coupled with an iris-controlled light output control delivering 4K HDR images. The full native 4K resolution on 3 SXRD imagers packs in 8.8 million pixels resolution for each image. In terms of brightness, it offers 1,500 lumens and has a standard 4K lens. This unit has a minimum throw distance of eight feet and a maximum throw of 40 feet. It comes in at 24.75 x 21.75 x 12.5 inches and weighs 39.1 pounds

Sony VW325ES 4K HDR Home Theater Projector VPL-VW325ES

Buy on Amazon

 

JVC DLA-NX5 4K D-ILA Projector

Runner Up: This JVC offers a native 4K experience with 4096 x 2160 pixels thanks to its three imaging chips and 18Gbps transmission bandwidth. With its Constant Image Height (CIH) you have the option to choose from either 16:9 or 2.4:1 widescreen image, along with a 3D option. It comes with HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2 ports for inputs and offers a dynamic contrast ratio of 400, 000:1. It comes with support for HDR10 which is the basic protocol for UHD playback as well as HLG and has an auto-tone mapping feature as well. This in return allows the tabletop projector to give you a great display while maintaining brightness. This projector comes in at 25.25 x 26.25 x 16.38 inches and weighs 45 pounds.

JVC DLA-NX5 4K D-ILA Projector

Buy on Amazon

 

Optoma EH412ST Professional Projector

Best Value: Optoma’s Professional Projector offers 4K quality images with 1080 pixels. Ideal for classrooms, meetings, and training, it comes with a 50,000:1 contrast ratio. It offers 4,000 lumens of brightness for a variety of rooms at any time of day and allows images to be enlarged up to 120″ from only inches away. This ceiling mount projector features an array of connectivity options including 2 x HDMI, VGA in and out, audio-in and out, RS232, and USB-A. It comes with a 10-watt built-in speaker and simplifies the set-up without the need for external speakers. This unit is 12.4 x 9.5 x 4.5 inches and weighs 7.69 pounds.

Optoma EH412ST Short Throw 1080P HDR Professional Projector

Buy on Amazon

 

LG Smart Dual Laser CineBeam Projector

LG’s HU810PW 4K UHD projector offers a 3840 x 2160 resolution. It provides up to 300 inches of projection screen size with lens shift, 2700 ANSI Lumens of brightness, and a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio. The unit has HDR10, HLG, and Bluetooth compatibility and offers a 1.6 x zoom capability. It offers three HDMI inputs, USB and has an onboard webOS that enables smart functionality, including app downloads and voice control via Amazon Alexa and the Google Assistant. This unit comes in at 13.3 x 16.1 x 5.7 inches and weighs 24.3 pounds.

LG HU810PW 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) Smart Dual Laser CineBeam Projector with 97% DCI-P3

Buy on Amazon

 

SAMSUNG SP-LSP9TFAXZA Projector

Samsung’s projector can cast a 130-inch image inches away from the wall in 4K. Thanks to its triple laser technology and ultra-bright 4K resolution, it delivers heightened contrast and detail with 2800 lumens. It comes with powerful 40W speakers with a 4.2.2 channel system along with front, center, and surround sound for a room-filling audio experience. This unit is 20. 14.4 x 21.7 x 5 inches and weighs 25.4 pounds.

SAMSUNG 130″ The Premiere Projector – 4K UHD HDR Smart TV 4.2Ch Sound System with Alexa Built-in

Buy on Amazon

 

ViewSonic Smart LED 4K Projector

ViewSonic’s projector features 2,900 LED lumens and offers an immersive theater-like experience in 4K UHD or 3840 x 2160 pixels. It comes with dual 20W Harman Kardon speakers for solid sound quality. This unit comes with four HDMI 2.0 / HDCP 2.2 and the flexibility to connect all your devices while streaming 4K content. It has a throw distance that ranges from 3.28 feet to 10.43 feet and comes with 16GB internal storage. This unit is 18.2 x 16.4 x 6.3 inches and weighs 16.9 pounds.

ViewSonic Smart LED 4K Projector with Dual Harman Kardon Speakers

Buy on Amazon

 

BenQ MH733 Business Projector

Benq’s projector comes with 4000 lumens and an HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. It has a 16,000:1 contrast ratio, 16:9 aspect ratio and a 1.3x zoom capability. It features split screen, multiple screens from multiple devices, meeting control, seamless mobile device or computer display, and QCast can even act as a remote for your projector if needed. It has a USB reader for documents, presentations, and pictures while being compatible with most projector control systems including Crestron, AMX, PJ-Link, and Extron Control IP Link for network control via LAN. This unit is 11.65 x 8.7 x 4.57 inches and weighs 5.51 pounds.

BenQ MH733 Business Projector – 4000 Lumens for Lights On Enjoyment

Buy on Amazon

 

What to Look for in a 4K Projector

Having a good 4k projector for your business can be an asset if you regularly make presentations. Look for the following specifications to ensure a quality projector.

• Lumens: Brightness for projectors are measured based on lumens, which is the measurement of the total amount of visible light from a lamp or light source. The higher the lumen rating the brighter the lamp will appear. Consider the lighting condition in the venues you will be presenting to select the lumen level.
• Resolution: The resolution of your projector is important if you are looking for crisp high-quality images. Low resolution images, videos, and graphics will not come out great when blown up on a large screen. Consider the size of your screen, venue, and audience when you buy your projector.
• Inputs: The more inputs your projector offers, the more options you have for adding other peripherals. You don’t want to look for adapters or use tools that are not compatible to display your content. Look for multiple inputs to ensure your microphones, additional speakers, pointers, etc. work properly.
• Audio: Audio can be an important factor if you rely heavily on videos for your presentations. One cannot ignore the importance of sound when providing video presentations as it helps to enhance the experience. Most 4K projectors come with built-in speakers. However, make sure that the unit you plan on buying comes with a built-in speaker feature. If it doesn’t, you will likely have to invest in a speaker system if you don’t already have one.  Portability: If you need a 4K projector for conferences, trade shows or you simply want to be able to move it from one place to another, then you should go for a model that is not too bulky and light weight.

Short Throw Vs. Long Throw

A projector with a short-throw lens allows placement closer to the wall – approximately 4–5 feet for a 120” image and it is installed on the wall or the ceiling closer to the wall. This is beneficial in tight spaces such as small meeting rooms or classrooms. Long-throw projectors on the other hand provide large images and are usually installed in the center of the ceiling in a large room.

Bottom Line

There are many issues to ponder before committing to buying a projector. 4K projectors are not necessarily cheap, but with digitally savvy audiences now the norm, the quality of the images you display matters. A 4K projector addresses most performance issues with price being the few drawbacks.

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Images: Amazon

This article, “Best 4K Projectors for Your Business” was first published on Small Business Trends

How easy is it to market online?

If you’re going to work with brides on their wedding day, it helps to be passionate about your work. Senada K. certainly fits that mold; she even worked with a bride on the day she went into labor.

Read on to learn more about this bridal hairstylist, her journey, and the interesting beauty tactic she uses with brides.

What the Business Does

Provides luxury bridal and celebrity hairstyling services.

Founder Senada K. Ceka told Small Business Trends, “Throughout my years in the bridal and beauty industry I have worked with countless people on one of the most important days of their lives, I’ve grown a love for the art of hairstyling and bringing my visions to life.”

Business Niche

Creating unique and personalized looks.

Ceka says, “One thing I am known for over my competitors is putting my own twist on various hairstyles, setting new trends, and truly working from the heart. You have to have a good eye for the bridal looks considering each bride is different, different faces, traditions, and different experiences overall!”

How the Business Got Started

As a side hustle.

Ceka adds, “I started working in the beauty industry when I was 20 years old, starting off in a salon while simultaneously taking house calls. I started freelance bridal work later in my career, and ever since then it has been amazing and such a blessing.”

Biggest Challenge

Navigating a pandemic.

Ceka says, “When coronavirus hit, it did have an effect on the bridal industry considering there was a big slow down for weddings due to outside circumstances. Thankfully now, everything is slowly getting back to ‘normal’, so happy to be doing my brides again!”

Biggest Risk

Working hard, even while pregnant.

Ceka says, “The night I went into labor, I had a bride that morning!”

Lesson Learned

Treasure every experience.

Ceka explains, “Everything I went through, I went through for a reason. I’m so grateful for the people I’ve met throughout this experience, the brands I’ve worked with, the moments I’ve shared, and the accomplishments I achieved along the way, were truly priceless.”

How They’d Spend an Extra $100,000

Developing products.

Ceka says, “If I had an extra $100,000 in my business, I would absolutely create products and tools for my own line!”

Fun Fact

An interesting beauty tactic.

Ceka specifies, “An interesting funny thing about my business is that I use krazy glue on my brides ears to hold them back!”

* * * * *

This article, “Spotlight: Senada K. Brings Passion and a Unique Beauty Secret to the Wedding Industry” was first published on Small Business Trends

Did you know you could market your business online at a very low cost?

GoTo’s new virtual events solution addresses a pressing need for businesses to reach a larger audience. Whether you want to reach local, national, or international audiences, GoTo can bring them together under one platform.

GoTo Virtual Events Solution

The biggest key to virtual event adoption is simplifying the technology so any business can use it. This is especially true for small businesses with limited human and capital resources. According to GoTo, its goal is to, “Bring customers a virtual events solution that removes the need for hiring an event manager or outside professional services to get your first virtual event off the ground.”

To that end, it has built a familiar and reliable platform sitting on top of its industry-leading GoToWebinar solution. This makes it possible to get a virtual event up and running in as little as five minutes. And you can manage your virtual events solution directly in the current GoTo Admin Center. And according to GoTo, the simplicity also extends to affordable and transparent pricing. There are no hidden fees with the all-inclusive feature set solution.

When it comes to attendees, they have a single page for their entire experience. From registration to recap, they can share information from panelists and network with colleagues to fully capture the entire event.

Event Management and Experience

• Create an event with a mix of live, simulated live, and on-demand sessions
• Integrations with Marketo, Zoho, Hubspot, Automate.io, and others
• Native full-service registration flow with; customer registration pages; automated emails; accept payments capabilities, and lead source tracking
• Cloud storage to save previously recorded sessions or hosting on-demand events

• Assign roles for moderator, organizer, panelist, and more
• Extend the reach of an event for free by live streaming through Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, and more

You can try the GoTo new virtual events solution this summer for free.

Virtual Events are Here to Stay

There is no doubt live events will eventually return after the pandemic. However, many businesses have come to the realization they can hold virtual events and have similar results. And depending on the topic and audience, the virtual event can deliver even better results. Moreover, when you give your attendees the option to attend a virtual event, you provide the opportunity for unlimited attendance.

This is now possible with virtual technology that is capable of delivering a more immersive virtual event experience. With the GoTo platform, you can host multi-track, multi-day, events to fully engage with your audience in real-time.

Image: Depositphotos

This article, “GoTo has a New Virtual Events Solution” was first published on Small Business Trends

How easy is it to market online?

Large scale search engine optimization projects are often viewed as a golden egg career opportunity for many SEO professionals. Big budget projects and well-known brand names can look great on a resume. Unfortunately, many search marketers quickly realize that the golden egg actually came from a large, slow moving tortoise.

Many Search Marketers are accustomed to optimization projects where the advice they are paid to give is communicated directly and for the most part, actually implemented. Those same marketers may not be prepared to adapt SEO processes to accommodate the operational and communication needs of large, complex organizations. Successful enterprise SEO projects require a unique combination of creative and mechanical SEO expertise as well as large company political savvy.

The best SEO advice in the world is not so great if it never gets implemented.

The good news is that making significant progress in a reasonable amount of time on an SEO effort for a large company is possible with the right mix of planning, communication and expertise. Once the required departments and stakeholders (and executive sponsor) are moving in the same direction, the egg laying turtle can turn into a nimble, fast moving hare.

Highly competent SEO skills from optimizing core web vitals to link building are table stakes in today’s world of enterprise company search marketing. The key to this tortoise to hare SEO transformation is to empower client side contacts responsible for work flow, approval and implementation. To that end, here are 5 tips on empowering large company SEO projects:

1. Ongoing Education – There is no substitute for an informed SEO client. It’s important that key contacts understand SEO in general as well as the business benefits to both their department and the larger organization. Continuing education will help motivate those involved to execute on the program elements, account for client staff changes and changes in the industry.

It is important to understand that one size SEO education does not fit all stakeholders at a large company. Education about the business case, operations and impact of an SEO effort need to be customized to the audience. For example, a sponsoring executive is going to be less concerned about mobile site speed than understanding the impact on revenue short and long term.

2. Energize Advocates – Client side staff that catch on quickly and are excited about the program can be leveraged to help “sell” SEO throughout the organization.  As evangelists, client side team members can be empowered with tools to spread the SEO message. Examples include: progress reports, multi department SEO scorecards, presentations or participating in meetings as a resource for departments that have been slower to implement.

3. Market Results – No matter how good the agency/client working relationship is, there is no better motivator for continued site optimization than seeing results. Enterprise SEO can take time, so it is important to share milestone results to keep individuals engaged. Show results at multiple stages in the program to keep client side staff and management motivated.

A bit part of the results conversation is expectations management. One way to structure progress communications is to communicate the program rollout in phases with associated KPIs for each. That way, when an out of loop executive chimes in at month two about where the increase in sales are, Phase 1 KPIs can referenced as well as what comes next in Phase 2.

4. Be Available – Be available to client contacts in whatever medium is comfortable for them whether it’s a Slack channel, social network DMs, text or email so when they need information about SEO, you can answer questions quickly.

This not only makes your contact an internal SEO champion, but helps pass the correct content to the organization. Understand though, that providing such access is also very demanding on the marketing agency.

5. Customize Communications for the Enterprise – Be prepared to create communications specifically for the enterprise such as formal presentations, newsletters and training sessions. Do not assume the types of reporting that work for small or medium sized companies will work for a Fortune 100 company.

Big company web site optimization projects require about as much search engine optimization knowledge as the ability to navigate the organization structure and communications of complex organizations. However, by empowering client side advocates with the right knowledge, tools and ongoing resources to promote processes and results, large SEO projects can deliver big results without being bogged down.

For more insights on winning at enterprise SEO including case studies, check out our website.

The post 5 Tips for Empowering Enterprise SEO Success appeared first on B2B Marketing Blog – TopRank®.

Do you know anyone that likes to shop online?

GoTo’s new virtual events solution addresses a pressing need for businesses to reach a larger audience. Whether you want to reach local, national, or international audiences, GoTo can bring them together under one platform.

GoTo Virtual Events Solution

The biggest key to virtual event adoption is simplifying the technology so any business can use it. This is especially true for small businesses with limited human and capital resources. According to GoTo, its goal is to, “Bring customers a virtual events solution that removes the need for hiring an event manager or outside professional services to get your first virtual event off the ground.”

To that end, it has built a familiar and reliable platform sitting on top of its industry-leading GoToWebinar solution. This makes it possible to get a virtual event up and running in as little as five minutes. And you can manage your virtual events solution directly in the current GoTo Admin Center. And according to GoTo, the simplicity also extends to affordable and transparent pricing. There are no hidden fees with the all-inclusive feature set solution.

When it comes to attendees, they have a single page for their entire experience. From registration to recap, they can share information from panelists and network with colleagues to fully capture the entire event.

Event Management and Experience

• Create an event with a mix of live, simulated live, and on-demand sessions
• Integrations with Marketo, Zoho, Hubspot, Automate.io, and others
• Native full-service registration flow with; customer registration pages; automated emails; accept payments capabilities, and lead source tracking
• Cloud storage to save previously recorded sessions or hosting on-demand events

• Assign roles for moderator, organizer, panelist, and more
• Extend the reach of an event for free by live streaming through Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, and more

You can try the GoTo new virtual events solution this summer for free.

Virtual Events are Here to Stay

There is no doubt live events will eventually return after the pandemic. However, many businesses have come to the realization they can hold virtual events and have similar results. And depending on the topic and audience, the virtual event can deliver even better results. Moreover, when you give your attendees the option to attend a virtual event, you provide the opportunity for unlimited attendance.

This is now possible with virtual technology that is capable of delivering a more immersive virtual event experience. With the GoTo platform, you can host multi-track, multi-day, events to fully engage with your audience in real-time.

Image: Depositphotos

This article, “GoTo has a New Virtual Events Solution” was first published on Small Business Trends

Do you know anyone that likes to shop online?

GoTo’s new virtual events solution addresses a pressing need for businesses to reach a larger audience. Whether you want to reach local, national, or international audiences, GoTo can bring them together under one platform.

GoTo Virtual Events Solution

The biggest key to virtual event adoption is simplifying the technology so any business can use it. This is especially true for small businesses with limited human and capital resources. According to GoTo, its goal is to, “Bring customers a virtual events solution that removes the need for hiring an event manager or outside professional services to get your first virtual event off the ground.”

To that end, it has built a familiar and reliable platform sitting on top of its industry-leading GoToWebinar solution. This makes it possible to get a virtual event up and running in as little as five minutes. And you can manage your virtual events solution directly in the current GoTo Admin Center. And according to GoTo, the simplicity also extends to affordable and transparent pricing. There are no hidden fees with the all-inclusive feature set solution.

When it comes to attendees, they have a single page for their entire experience. From registration to recap, they can share information from panelists and network with colleagues to fully capture the entire event.

Event Management and Experience

• Create an event with a mix of live, simulated live, and on-demand sessions
• Integrations with Marketo, Zoho, Hubspot, Automate.io, and others
• Native full-service registration flow with; customer registration pages; automated emails; accept payments capabilities, and lead source tracking
• Cloud storage to save previously recorded sessions or hosting on-demand events

• Assign roles for moderator, organizer, panelist, and more
• Extend the reach of an event for free by live streaming through Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, and more

You can try the GoTo new virtual events solution this summer for free.

Virtual Events are Here to Stay

There is no doubt live events will eventually return after the pandemic. However, many businesses have come to the realization they can hold virtual events and have similar results. And depending on the topic and audience, the virtual event can deliver even better results. Moreover, when you give your attendees the option to attend a virtual event, you provide the opportunity for unlimited attendance.

This is now possible with virtual technology that is capable of delivering a more immersive virtual event experience. With the GoTo platform, you can host multi-track, multi-day, events to fully engage with your audience in real-time.

Image: Depositphotos

This article, “GoTo has a New Virtual Events Solution” was first published on Small Business Trends

How easy is it to market online?

Large scale search engine optimization projects are often viewed as a golden egg career opportunity for many SEO professionals. Big budget projects and well-known brand names can look great on a resume. Unfortunately, many search marketers quickly realize that the golden egg actually came from a large, slow moving tortoise.

Many Search Marketers are accustomed to optimization projects where the advice they are paid to give is communicated directly and for the most part, actually implemented. Those same marketers may not be prepared to adapt SEO processes to accommodate the operational and communication needs of large, complex organizations. Successful enterprise SEO projects require a unique combination of creative and mechanical SEO expertise as well as large company political savvy.

The best SEO advice in the world is not so great if it never gets implemented.

The good news is that making significant progress in a reasonable amount of time on an SEO effort for a large company is possible with the right mix of planning, communication and expertise. Once the required departments and stakeholders (and executive sponsor) are moving in the same direction, the egg laying turtle can turn into a nimble, fast moving hare.

Highly competent SEO skills from optimizing core web vitals to link building are table stakes in today’s world of enterprise company search marketing. The key to this tortoise to hare SEO transformation is to empower client side contacts responsible for work flow, approval and implementation. To that end, here are 5 tips on empowering large company SEO projects:

1. Ongoing Education – There is no substitute for an informed SEO client. It’s important that key contacts understand SEO in general as well as the business benefits to both their department and the larger organization. Continuing education will help motivate those involved to execute on the program elements, account for client staff changes and changes in the industry.

It is important to understand that one size SEO education does not fit all stakeholders at a large company. Education about the business case, operations and impact of an SEO effort need to be customized to the audience. For example, a sponsoring executive is going to be less concerned about mobile site speed than understanding the impact on revenue short and long term.

2. Energize Advocates – Client side staff that catch on quickly and are excited about the program can be leveraged to help “sell” SEO throughout the organization.  As evangelists, client side team members can be empowered with tools to spread the SEO message. Examples include: progress reports, multi department SEO scorecards, presentations or participating in meetings as a resource for departments that have been slower to implement.

3. Market Results – No matter how good the agency/client working relationship is, there is no better motivator for continued site optimization than seeing results. Enterprise SEO can take time, so it is important to share milestone results to keep individuals engaged. Show results at multiple stages in the program to keep client side staff and management motivated.

A bit part of the results conversation is expectations management. One way to structure progress communications is to communicate the program rollout in phases with associated KPIs for each. That way, when an out of loop executive chimes in at month two about where the increase in sales are, Phase 1 KPIs can referenced as well as what comes next in Phase 2.

4. Be Available – Be available to client contacts in whatever medium is comfortable for them whether it’s a Slack channel, social network DMs, text or email so when they need information about SEO, you can answer questions quickly.

This not only makes your contact an internal SEO champion, but helps pass the correct content to the organization. Understand though, that providing such access is also very demanding on the marketing agency.

5. Customize Communications for the Enterprise – Be prepared to create communications specifically for the enterprise such as formal presentations, newsletters and training sessions. Do not assume the types of reporting that work for small or medium sized companies will work for a Fortune 100 company.

Big company web site optimization projects require about as much search engine optimization knowledge as the ability to navigate the organization structure and communications of complex organizations. However, by empowering client side advocates with the right knowledge, tools and ongoing resources to promote processes and results, large SEO projects can deliver big results without being bogged down.

For more insights on winning at enterprise SEO including case studies, check out our website.

The post 5 Tips for Empowering Enterprise SEO Success appeared first on B2B Marketing Blog – TopRank®.