5 Ways The UPS Store Helps Solopreneurs Do Business

Launching a company on your own may be a daunting challenge, but most solopreneurs would not have it any other way. The independence—both financial and personal—waiting on the other side of success is simply too attractive to ignore. However, getting there is rarely a quick and bump-free ride, and common mistakes are well documented.

Fortunately, you do not have to embark on this new adventure alone, even if you are the sole proprietor. Here are five ways The UPS Store can help you succeed:

1. Print services

Whoever said "print is dead" did not foresee the current slate of printing options available. While Internet clutter multiplies exponentially by the day, small business owners who use the printed word effectively are finding an opportunity with new and past clients. Well-designed catalogs, fliers, business cards and brochures stand out in a world of websites and advertising on social media feeds. Of course, it takes more than a slick piece of paper to land a customer or make a repeat sale, but the idea behind print is that it is still a very effective business tool.

In terms of 3D printing, The UPS Store has the technology of the future available to small business owners at 62 locations nationwide. Companies who need to produce a prototype can bring a CAD file to a 3D print location and have a print expert guide you through the process. Before you buy a 3D printer, test out the process and determine whether it is worth the investment and the maintenance required. And if you just need to use a 3D printer periodically, you now have a convenient way to access this cutting-edge technology at your local UPS Store.

2. Marketing

If the Internet is your primary place of business, then online marketing efforts are the key to separating your company from the pack. A strong website, great ads on social media, and engaging e-mail campaigns are crucial to finding your audience. Whether you need to make your site mobile friendly or need a total redesign, you can find graphic design and tech help through small business solutions from The UPS Store. Solopreneurs can take advantage of these marketing resources and get a discount on email marketing, social media campaigns and web design by visiting The UPS Store marketing solutions.

3. Packing and shipping

Your local The UPS Store is an incredibly useful hub for packing and shipping goods domestically and overseas. Whether you deal with fine art, sports equipment, delicate antiques, or electronics, there are shipping and fulfillment solutions available. Small business owners have to decide at some point whether they want to handle this busy work or outsource it to the experts. If you would rather leave the scaling headache to a company that is equipped to handle the job, head to your local The UPS Store.

4. Business mailboxes

Office space is often limited—if not nonexistent—for entrepreneurs. This makes it difficult to store packages as they come and go. Likewise, business owners who are constantly on the go may have trouble receiving shipments. Having business mail sent to your home address or leaving packages unattended on your doorstep is not ideal. Luckily, business mailboxes eliminate these issues along with giving your business a real street address. Similar to a concierge service, when you are unavailable to take a package, the store takes it and notifies you electronically. This solution also gives you 24/7 access to your mail.

5. Accounting and financing

Solopreneurs often have a single focus on the idea behind a company, and that is how businesses are founded. However, there are serious consequences to neglecting bookkeeping in the early stages of a company's life. Tax issues, payroll problems, and returned checks become expensive mistakes. While you are getting off the ground and cannot afford a full-time accountant, The UPS Store small business resources can provide these services on a freelance basis. Alternative financing is also available when your growing business needs it.

The UPS Store can serve as a one-stop shop for small business owners. Start by checking out these options, and then explore the other valuable services available to you.

Is the Next Wave of Social Media Apps Right for Your Small Business?

Launching a successful small business requires a lot of planning on your end. After all, you need to establish capital and develop the right product for the right market. A solid business plan should lay out each piece of the puzzle. On the marketing end, you need to establish ways to connect with your audience and determine whether or not your current business strategy is working. In order to accomplish this task, you must explore the various different social media networks that are currently available. By learning more about the latest social media apps, you can decide which tools and platforms will work best for your business.

Why are you using social media?

Too many small business owners create accounts on various different social media sites without establishing a specific purpose. While it is crucial for all companies to explore new ways to connect with their customers, you need to make sure your investment—in time and money—bears fruit. In order to make your effort count, you should only create a new social media account if you are sure that it will be valuable to your desired audience. You should learn how each platform works (and how your company can profit from it) before you work to grow your social media presence. Once you have that information, you can look into different networks and tools to determine which options would work best for your business.

Social media apps to explore

Here are some new social apps that you may want to consider investing in:

Buffer

If you are handling social media management with a small team, Buffer should be on your radar. This app allows you to schedule posts on Facebook, Twitter, and other networks so that you can optimize your publishing cadence for your audience. Once you determine the time of day when your customers are most active on social media, you can use Buffer to set up your publishing schedule accordingly.

ManageFlitter

ManageFlitter provides you with a variety of different tools to help you optimize your Twitter account usage. This app allows you to sort your followers by a range of criteria, track who unfollowed you, and find new relevant accounts that you should be following in order to stay engaged in your community.

Commun.it

While ManageFlitter is the key to follower management, Commun.it is an essential app for Twitter interaction. When you are trying to grow your social media presence, it is important to remember that followers or readers who are retweeting, liking, and commenting on your posts deserve your attention. Commun.it provides you with Twitter analytics that allow you to identify the most valuable members of your community. You can then use these insights to show your appreciation and interact with your most engaged followers. These insights also allow you to quickly and easily measure your social media efforts.

Agorapulse

Once you build up a roster of social apps, you need to establish a way to manage them on a daily basis. Agorapulse does the heavy lifting on that front. This app provides you with the tools you need to create campaigns, grow your lead database, and get to know your followers. You can even use this platform to run promotions, quizzes, and contests. Meanwhile, Agorapulse provides you with insights that allow you to determine how you stack up against your competitors.

When analyzing the latest wave of social media apps, it is important to remember that these platforms may not necessarily be useful for every business. Once you develop a thorough understanding of your social media mission and audience, you can invest in the apps and tools that will make it easier for you and your team members to reach your goals.

National Small Business Week Celebrates The American Entrepreneurial Spirit

What creates two out of three net new American jobs; produces close to half of our nation’s goods and services (nonfarm private GDP); and can be found, coast to coast, in every small town, big city and rural enclave?

The 28 million small businesses that propel our economy forward and define our national entrepreneurial spirit.

To be American is to have the freedom to innovate, take risks, create, transform and put in the hard work that has led to the successes – and failures – that define human progress. From May 1-6, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will recognize and honor the critical and life altering contributions of America’s moms and pops, manufacturing enterprises, Main Street retailers and entrepreneurs during National Small Business Week.

Every year since 1963, the President of the United States has issued a proclamation setting aside one week to “recommit to advancing these vital enterprises, and celebrate their contributions to our collective American story.” As Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said, it was small businesses that powered our recovery after the Great Recession.

This year’s National Small Business Week, themed “SBA: Dream Big, Start Small,” will include special events in Atlanta, New York, Denver, Phoenix, San Jose, Oakland and Washington, D.C.

America is one of the few countries that gives entrepreneurs a seat at the President’s cabinet table. This allows the SBA to provide an amplified voice for small businesses and represent their divergent interests.

The SBA also offers an extensive national network of small business lenders and counselors that is unmatched anywhere in the world. Many innovators with great ideas and great potential do not begin with great wealth, so they need a great government partner to support their success.

The SBA offers the “three Cs” to help aspiring entrepreneurs start up and scale up by making counseling available, providing more choices and chances to secure capital, and by helping them seize market opportunities to commercialize their ideas. These risk takers will help make our lives more productive, safer, healthier and benefit society overall.

Capital: SBA fills gaps in the commercial lending marketplace so success in the small business sector is based on merit, not family wealth.

Counseling: SBA provides free consultation and advice to help Main Street succee.

Contracts: SBA levels the playing field with big business by helping small businesses capture new revenue and new customers by winning government contracts, joining corporate supply chains, and exporting beyond our borders.

This year, during National Small Business Week, we recommit ourselves to those fearless entrepreneurs who plan well, work hard, and dream big. Every business starts small. Many of today’s most recognized brands were once small businesses until they found an SBA counselor, lender or investor.

I came to this country as a 5-year old immigrant who didn’t speak a word of English. Today, I serve in the cabinet of the President of the United States. My story is possible only because of America's promise and its entrepreneurial spirit. I'm proud to lead an incredibly talented team assembled from across the country ready to serve you.

Success in business comes one small step at a time. So dream big, take that next small step today, because the next great American success story could be staring back at you in the mirror.