The one thing that every Smart Hustler knows is that learning is the key to growing a business. Our Smart Business articles are designed to provide the best information in every aspect of business – marketing, finance, social media and more.

How to Rule the World of Online Shopping

Video Tip: How to Rule the World of Online Shopping

Running an online retail store comes with a variety of challenges. With over 275,000 online retail businesses operating in over 150 countries, the competition is immense. So how does an eCommerce business rise above the noise to reach customers who are doing some online shopping and increase online sales? Brennan Loh, Director of Business Development...

pitch competition

Give a Better Sales Pitch by Improving Your Body Language

As a business owner, you give sales pitches on a regular basis and most likely spend a considerable amount of time editing, tailoring, and perfecting your content for each prospect. But how much time do you spend editing, tailoring, and perfecting your physical presence and non-verbal communication? Studies reveal that roughly 55% of the success...

How a Michigan Company is Using Insightly CRM to Increase Communications and Sales

How a Michigan Company is Using Insightly CRM to Increase Communications and Sales

This article is published in partnership with Insightly, providing CRM and project management solutions for small business owners. Customer Relationship Management, or CRM, is an integral part of any small business looking to optimize their ability to manage prospects or leads through a sales funnel to becoming a customer. A strong well-managed CRM then allows...

How to Do International Business Right: Tips from a Paypal Executive

How to Do International Business Right: Tips from a PayPal Executive

Melissa O’Malley, PayPal’s Director of Global Initiatives, recently sat down to talk with me about the complicated business of selling internationally, and how, with the right tools and partners, it doesn’t have to be such a complicated matter. From the troublesome business of taxes and duties to the role freight forwarders play in all this,...

Government Contracting - Should Your Business Try It?

Government Contracting: Should Your Business Give It a Try? American Express Expert Shares Tips

Lourdes Martin-Rosa walks the talk in her role as an American Express OPEN Advisor on government contracting. A small business owner herself, she founded the professional services firm Government Business Solutions (GBS), which provides expert programs in landing a government contract. I recently sat down with Lourdes to discuss the reasons why a small business...

Jamie Domenici - Salesforce Exec

Salesforce VP Shares 3 Pillars of Sales and Marketing Success: Find, Win, Keep Customers

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Jamie Domenici, VP of Product and SMB Marketing for Salesforce, as she relayed to me the three important pillars of sales and marketing and how it relates to their software. When I asked her what defines a company as "winning," she had this to add: “The...

5 Reasons Why You Might Not Be Winning New Business

5 Reasons Why You Might Not Be Winning New Business

Your revenues are flat, the sales pipeline has closed, and as for new business meetings, well, the calendar is completely empty. To make matters worse, a few clients have pulled the plug. Hate to admit it, but times are definitely getting tough. Can you relate? How does this happen? What precipitates this change in fortune? Many...