Small business

Search results: How to spot organic vs. sponsored

Search results: How to spot organic vs. sponsored

Navigating the internet has become an integral part of our daily lives, especially when searching for products or services. Online search results are so prevalent and normalized that we barely pay attention to the different types of search results that pop up on our…

How to find the right investors for your small business

How to find the right investors for your small business

There may be times when your business needs an influx of money. Perhaps demand for your services is growing so fast you can hardly keep up. Maybe you even want to move your restaurant to a more centralized location to attract more customers. In order to expand your…

7 best practices for selling your small business

7 best practices for selling your small business

The decision to sell your small business can change the course of your entire life. To ensure the process is as smooth and successful as possible, you’ll need to meticulously prepare — years in advance, if possible. The complicated multi-step process of selling your…

Finding the best online marketplace for your small business

Finding the best online marketplace for your small business

If you run an online retail store—or even if you plan to open one in the future—chances are you’ve considered Amazon Marketplace as a platform to get your products into the hands of your customers. Whether you’re hand-crafting items in your garage or mass-producing…

Is now the right time for your small business to buy real estate?

Is now the right time for your small business to buy real estate?

During the pandemic, commercial property interest rates dropped to historic lows. However, they’ve made a swift recovery and have nearly roared back to pre-COVID-19 levels. This raises an interesting question. Before the commercial real estate market recovers…

5 top resources for LGBTQ+ small businesses

5 top resources for LGBTQ+ small businesses

Diversity and inclusion are at the forefront of everyone’s mind in the business world today, especially during Pride Month. But surprisingly, venture capital, grants, and networking opportunities aimed specifically at LGBTQ+ small business owners and entrepreneurs can…

Small Business Spotlight: One Colorado

Small Business Spotlight: One Colorado

Here at CenturyLink, we think small is big. Small businesses and nonprofits make a real difference in our communities. To celebrate them, we invited small businesses throughout the United States to participate in a sweepstakes with a chance to win one of five $1,000…

How to throw a Resident Appreciation Day for tenants

How to throw a Resident Appreciation Day for tenants

Resident Appreciation Day is a day in which that leasing staff or a property management group can celebrate their tenants and say thanks for their residency and business. While there isn’t a specific date nationwide for Resident Appreciation Day, there’s no reason why…

Small business spotlight: Montini & Co Tax Advisory Group

Small business spotlight: Montini & Co Tax Advisory Group

Here at CenturyLink, we think small is big. Small businesses and nonprofits make a real difference in our communities. To celebrate them, we invited small businesses throughout the United States to participate in a sweepstakes with a chance to win one of five $1,000…

Where women entrepreneurs can find funding for their businesses 

Where women entrepreneurs can find funding for their businesses 

Today, women are bursting with entrepreneurial spirit—recent reports suggest they are starting businesses at twice the rate of men. If we were to follow them on their journeys to building their ventures, what would we witness?   Let’s start with the good news. In…

Evelyn Garcia: Small Business Spotlight

Evelyn Garcia: Small Business Spotlight

Here at CenturyLink, we think small is big. Small businesses and nonprofits make a real difference in our communities. To celebrate them, we invited small businesses throughout the United States to participate in a sweepstakes with a chance to win one of five $1,000…

Small Business Spotlight: American Transplant Foundation

Small Business Spotlight: American Transplant Foundation

Here at CenturyLink, we think small is big. Small businesses and nonprofits make a real difference in our communities. To celebrate that along with National Small Business Week in 2021, we invited small businesses throughout the United States to participate in a…

Why your small business should offer omnichannel customer support

Why your small business should offer omnichannel customer support

Your small business connects with your customers in three distinct stages. Before the sale, your marketing person oversees pre-sales communications: ads, emails, buying keywords, and other activities that entice people to purchase your product or service. Your sales…

How to know when it’s time to rethink your business model

How to know when it’s time to rethink your business model

Is it time to rethink your business model? At a high level, your business model describes the type of business you operate. It includes how and where it’s operated, your target customer base and how you generate revenue. It also describes how your organization brings…

Planning your small business marketing strategy

Planning your small business marketing strategy

Small business owners are no strangers to planning. From business plans to scaling to making a big office move, it’s important to start with planning. Marketing is no different. Your marketing strategy is your roadmap to ensure you reach your business goals. Using a…

Number porting for small businesses

Number porting for small businesses

Your small business’s phone number is one of the most important lines of communication between you and your customers or clients. Loyal customers often save business numbers on their phone, so changing your number could lead to confusion or even lost business. You may…

How to respond to a customer complaint

How to respond to a customer complaint

Good customer service is essential for successful businesses. However, it can be difficult to keep every customer happy, every time. When frustrated customers feel like their concerns have not been resolved, they often turn to online review sites, like Google, to…

Pros and cons of coworking offices for small businesses

Pros and cons of coworking offices for small businesses

Coworking spaces are a popular choice for remote workers, self-employed people and small business owners looking for an affordable and flexible workspace. Unlike traditional offices, people working in coworking offices don’t all work for the same employer. With…

How (and why) to shop small businesses

How (and why) to shop small businesses

Small businesses are the backbone of towns and cities and the economy at large. They contribute 44 percent of the economic activity in the U.S. and create two-thirds of new jobs. And small business owners are often innovators, offering new products and services that…

Small business compliance checklist

Small business compliance checklist

Whether you’re working with a team to create a robust e-commerce website or build a stronger social media presence, running a small business means managing many moving parts. As a small business owner not only do you have to ensure the business is continuing to grow,…

How to protect your small business from identity theft

How to protect your small business from identity theft

Identity theft isn’t only a threat to your personal finances – in 2020, there were almost 100,000 reports of business identity theft. Usually, this type of theft happens when someone misuses private information to impersonate a business. Business identity thieves…

The best free online business courses to learn new skills

The best free online business courses to learn new skills

Are you trying to take your business to the next level? Or are you ready to take on something new? Learn new skills by taking free online business courses. Whether you need to understand how to operate a business, want to improve your financial literacy, or want to…

Tips for online business success

Tips for online business success

Success for an online business may look different than it does for a brick-and-mortar retail store. That’s because the business model is fundamentally different. There are some major benefits to starting an online business. First, the upfront costs are usually much…

Celebrating women in small business: Teisha Jones

Celebrating women in small business: Teisha Jones

October is National Women’s Small Business Month. To celebrate, the CenturyLink Small Business team sat down with Teisha Jones to talk about her experience owning Stevie’s Healing Arts and Spa. As a small business owner, Teisha has overcome a lot of challenges…

Your guide to a small business office move

Your guide to a small business office move

Moving can be an exciting milestone for any small business owner, especially if the office move is to encourage growth. You may be moving give your employees access to better amenities or situate the business in a better location for more foot traffic. No matter the…

Overcoming cybersecurity challenges for small businesses

Overcoming cybersecurity challenges for small businesses

While you may think cybersecurity is only a concern for large companies, an estimated 40% of cyberattacks target small businesses. That’s because small businesses face unique cybersecurity challenges. Because they typically have fewer and less robust…

How to register as a woman-owned business

How to register as a woman-owned business

Women are thriving in the small business arena. According to a 2019 study by American Express, 42 percent of all U.S. businesses are women-owned. When combined, woman-owned businesses generate over $1.9 trillion a year, or 10% of our national economy. As a female…

4 common cyberattacks on small businesses

4 common cyberattacks on small businesses

As a small business owner, you might see yourself as less susceptible to cyberattacks. After all, doesn’t it make sense for hackers to go after bigger fish? Those targets are certainly attractive, but cybercriminals are also aware that small businesses lack the…