Women business entrepreneurs: find your opportunity and take it

Today, women entrepreneurs from all walks of life are starting businesses that more closely align with their own personal values, affording them greater freedom and flexibility. Whether you're a student, a mother, returning to the workforce after raising children, or a retiree, you can seamlessly transition into starting a business or embarking on a new career. It all starts with finding, then choosing to follow, your passion.

By the numbers

According to the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), women currently own 9.1 million businesses, which translates to a 29.8-percent share of existing firms. These account for 6.2 percent of the workforce in the United States. In addition, women's businesses generate over $1.4 trillion in sales, a 3.9-percent share of total revenue generated by the entire U.S. business community. The majority of women-owned businesses exist in service sectors such as health care, social assistance, and education, followed by retail, finance, and construction.

The top sources of capital for women-owned enterprises are informal investors, such as family and friends, followed by individual angel investors, corporate investors, and, lastly, venture capital firms. Seed funding averages $10,000, with only 8 percent using $50,000 or more to start their businesses.

First things first

It may be helpful to research how others have succeeded with their business ideas. Go online and find stories that chronicle successful women in business and other fields. Their backgrounds and career paths will inspire and motivate you so you can better anticipate obstacles and how to overcome them. Further, conduct research on those who have paved the way in your particular field to give you an idea of a typical career path.

You'll also likely need a healthy dose of specialized knowledge related to the business you are launching. Consider taking some refresher courses in business management and strategy, and determine what your best business practices will be. Also consider joining a professional organization where you can interact with and learn from other women in business, such as the National Association of Professional Women, or one related to your field of choice, like Young Women in Digital or Women in Healthcare Management.

Become a "mompreneur"

If you're a mom, you probably already have many of the skills required to successfully start a business. Your experience running a household and juggling multiple tasks throughout the day gives you that edge you need to be an entrepreneur.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 26 percent of working women with children under the age of 18 have flexible schedules, compared to 14 percent reported in 1991. Additionally, 75 percent of the almost 10 million women-owned businesses in America report "zero employees". These are sometimes referred to as mompreneur-owned businesses. This new type of businessperson is ringing in a new era of stay-at-home "hybrid mom" entrepreneurship, where there is a less rigid divide between personal and professional life.

Ideally, your entrepreneurial spirit will be driven by your lifestyle. Many women will be looking for freedom, flexibility, and control when starting a business. Other reasons may be supplemental, reflecting your lifestyle, including creativity, fulfillment, and passion. No matter your reason, becoming a mompreneur might just be your ticket to freedom and success as a businesswoman.

It's never too early — or too late

If you're young, employed, but feel stuck, know that you have options. Although you may not have the experience required to start a business in your early 20s, you certainly have the drive, along with the time and energy to Carefully plan your idea and see it to fruition.

If, however, you are an aspiring "late-bloomer entrepreneur," you should already have the life and work experience required to propel yourself toward business autonomy. You should not be held back by your current situation or allow yourself to be defined by your age. According to an infographic assembled by Funders and Founders, Robin Chase became the co-founder of the now-ubiquitous Zipcar brand at the age of 42. If you create a plan of action for yourself and pursue your passion, your business could become the next Zipcar.

Once you find your passion, you can successfully join the ranks of other women business entrepreneurs — regardless of your stage in life. All you need is confidence, persistence, and balance.

Guest Post: What Lovers of Vintage Wrist Watches Should Consider

Today, you can see some of the most amazing creations of science and technology. Who in his wildest dream would have thought about shopping without having to go out of home? Today, it is possible and you can do it using the internet, as everything is available in online stores, with better quality and price. It is due to a change in technology that you see different products with new features and looks. For instance, it is possible to see some of the most innovatively designed watches with features that were only a dream a decade ago.

Although it is true that buying a latest watch is the best idea, you will also find some people who just love the idea of buying and collecting vintage wrist watches. There are a number of reasons why people go for these vintage watches. For some, the old look of these watches work as a driving factor. For others, the history associated with these watches inspires them to spend thousands of dollars. Whatever it is, the good thing is that now everyone can shop for some of the most uniquely designed vintage watches without having to go through any hassle whatsoever.

Many different sites are available online, and they offer a variety of options for lovers of vintage wrist watches. For instance, some of these sites offer newly manufactured watches which are actually designed according to some vintage masterpieces. Buying these watches is a good idea, especially for those who just want to enjoy the look and style of these old watches. However, you will also come across some of those people who don't mind spending top dollar on getting authentic vintage watches. These folks are more interested in collecting these watches rather than wearing them to show off.

For someone interested in collecting wrist watches, it is important to determine his lifestyle and priorities before going any further. Different people may have their interest in different types of vintage watches. Some love the style of moon phase watches, whereas others opt for stop watches or old retrograde watches.

The thing you need to understand is that whether you go for the first option of wearing a watch or you choose the second option of collecting authentic wrist watches, you will have to spend a lot of money. Considering this, it is important that you take your time and perform some research before buying a vintage watch from a seller. The best thing is to go online and check some informative resources to understand the difference between the authentic and fake vintage watches. Moreover, you should consider spending some time in forums, as here you will find people talking about different issues they faced when buying these vintage wrist watches.

The crux of the matter is that collecting vintage wrist watches is something more than a hobby for many people. But it doesn't matter if you are buying these watches to adopt the same old style or want to add some good and authentic ones in your collection, you should consider above mentioned things to make perfect buying decisions.

How to design a scalable marketing plan

When your business begins gaining momentum, you will need a way to expand the scope of operations without impacting productivity. Expansion involves taking on new employees as well as adding space and equipment to accommodate the larger scale of operations.

Your business's marketing effort will need its own expansion, too, which will require putting a scalable marketing plan in place. Here are some suggestions to set your business up for success on any level when you launch your earliest marketing efforts.

Identifying areas requiring scalability. Entrepreneurs ought to consider scalability in every aspect of a business. After all, the goal is to create a business model that will not be sidetracked by progress. In marketing efforts, search engine optimization (SEO) is essential to any well-run business, as is management of web content, social media, and email promotions. Such Internet-based channels are the principal means through which customers discover and engage with businesses these days.

Finding a scalable approach to marketing also involves finding ways to outsource jobs and increase their regularity as your marketing budget grows. To make this leap without hiring full-time employees, you can use freelance providers such as Vionic — which is available through UPS Small Business Services. In general, there is part-time help whenever you need it.

The nuts and bolts of a scalable marketing plan

When considering scalability, entrepreneurs must think of an increase in target audience, in the wealth of data on the table, in the number of people handling marketing efforts for the company, and, eventually, the number of people involved in company ownership. The blueprint of a scalable marketing effort will include these core elements:

Seeing the potential audience for your business: Even if your clientele resides in a small geographic area, initially, it can still grow to encompass entire regions of the country — if not the whole nation. Search marketing efforts should have a blueprint that is scalable to an audience of any size. Other considerations may apply if you choose to market your products and services to overseas customers.
Grappling with the data market analytics provide: To create effective marketing plans, you will need to identify what is working and what is not. This process involves analyzing data to see which Facebook posts are attracting engagement, which landing pages are leading to sales, and other quantifiable aspects of your business. The secret to properly managing this data is establishing an effective system before the volume of data multiplies.
Paying for services as your budget allows: Apart from the techniques you choose to employ in marketing efforts, you will need to consider budgeting and staffing. It is unlikely you will have the means to hire a marketing team full-time while your business is in its early stages. Outsourcing the work to professionals specializing in contract projects will offer you flexibility as your company grows.

Delegating is crucial

Whether you are outsourcing social media marketing, leaving advertising in a creative agency's hands, or directing a tech-savvy employee to handle SEO efforts, putting a scalable marketing plan into action requires a willingness to delegate responsibilities in your business. This will allow you to remain focused on the bigger picture while your trusted employees manage what may ultimately become a time-consuming aspect of the company.

Expanding your company is good news no matter when it happens, and you should consider marketing concerns a top priority before and after launch.