Please visit Marketing Land for the full article.
from Marketing Land - Internet Marketing News, Strategies & Tips https://ift.tt/3sXswUk
via IFTTT
Tuesday, April 27, 2021
Advanced. Actionable. Virtual. See the SMX Advanced agenda now!
Super Early Bird rates expire next Saturday, May 8!
Please visit Marketing Land for the full article.
from Marketing Land - Internet Marketing News, Strategies & Tips https://ift.tt/3sXswUk
via IFTTT
Please visit Marketing Land for the full article.
from Marketing Land - Internet Marketing News, Strategies & Tips https://ift.tt/3sXswUk
via IFTTT
B2B marketers rely on marketing automation: Tuesday’s daily brief
Please visit Marketing Land for the full article.
from Marketing Land - Internet Marketing News, Strategies & Tips https://ift.tt/3gNZZOV
via IFTTT
Most marketers expect to attend in-person conferences by early 2022
But as employers once again allow staff to travel, professionals are also growing fonder of virtual events.
Please visit Marketing Land for the full article.
from Marketing Land - Internet Marketing News, Strategies & Tips https://ift.tt/3sUWlVL
via IFTTT
Please visit Marketing Land for the full article.
from Marketing Land - Internet Marketing News, Strategies & Tips https://ift.tt/3sUWlVL
via IFTTT
21 Social Media Post Ideas
Social media has changed the way we live.
As marketers, we need to recognize how our current and prospective customers are utilizing these platforms and use that knowledge to our advantage. Ultimately, you want to be able to convert your social media followers into customers.
But this is much easier said than done.
Sure, you were able to get people to follow your profiles initially. That’s a great first step.
However, if you can’t post engaging content, your followers will get bored and won’t convert.
They may even decide to unfollow your accounts.
In fact, a study from Sprout Social suggests that 41% of people unfollow a brand on social media because they feel the information isn’t relevant to them. And 46% of users unfollow a brand because it posts too much, while 18% of people unfollow a brand because it doesn’t post enough.
You don’t want to fall into any of these categories.
Recognize how people use social media. With so much content to consume, your followers won’t engage with your posts if the content is boring.
If you’ve been posting the same thing over and over again on all your platforms, your content has already grown stale.
Some of you may not be posting anything at all, simply because you don’t know what to post.
No matter what your situation is, you can benefit from reading this guide. I’ll show you how to effectively market your small business on social media with the top 21 ideas for your upcoming posts.
1. Your latest blog post
Once you publish a new blog post, you should share it with your social media followers.
There are lots of benefits to posting this type of content.
In addition to giving you something new to post, it will also drive more traffic to your website. Right now, it’s unlikely your customers are visiting your site on a daily basis.
They may not even know you published a new blog post unless you tell them.
Posting it on social media also exposes your blog to a wider audience. Now people who are friends with your followers can see this post and potentially navigate to your profile or website.
It’s a great opportunity for you to scale your lead generation through blogging.
2. Poll your followers
Create a poll.
Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram all have options for you to poll your followers.
A poll invites your followers to engage. They’ll share their opinions and spend more time on your profile.
There are lots of ways for you to leverage these polls.
You can use them to gain insightful information about your followers, get their opinions about a new idea, or just have some fun.
Check out this example from The Muse on Twitter:
What will they do with the results of this poll?
Who knows? But 223 people already voted!
If you’re looking for something new to post that will drive engagement, a poll is definitely a top option for you to consider.
3. Use emojis
No matter what platform you’re posting on, you should be using emojis in your posts. That’s because emojis can help you improve your click-through rates.
In fact, 92% of people online use emojis.
A recent study from AdEspresso showed that Facebook headlines with emojis generated 241% more clicks than those without one.
Emojis will improve your engagement metrics.
4. Photos of your employees
Share photos of the people who make your business possible. Without your employees, you wouldn’t be able to operate.
Sharing this type of content helps humanize your brand.
Your followers will see the faces behind the company. They’ll see exactly who is creating the products they’re consuming and learn what goes on behind the scenes.
Sharing photos of your employees will also boost your engagement. That’s because pictures with faces get 38% more likes:
Sure, you could post pictures with your face as well. But that will get stale after a while too.
Depending on the size of your business, some of you may have dozens of employees.
This gives you lots of chances to post new content with a new face every time.
5. Video promos
You need to post videos on social media.
More than half of marketers across the globe say video is the type of content that delivers the highest return on investment.
Further, 64% of consumers make a purchase after watching a branded video on social media.
Social media videos generate more than 1,200% more shares than images and text combined.
Take a look at how Thule used this strategy on one of its recent Facebook posts:
Notice that the caption is related to the promotion.
“Explore the city. With your family.”
The video shows a mother and father going for a walk with their baby in one of Thule’s strollers.
Video content is a great way to mix up your posts because the options are nearly endless.
6. New products
You’re in business to make money.
Use your social media posts as a way to build hype for a new product launch.
This is a great chance for you to expose your products to your followers even before the products officially get released.
Once the product is available for purchase, you can take advantage of features such as Instagram shoppable posts to drive sales.
7. User-generated content (UGC)
When you’re running out of ideas of what to post on social media, you can always turn to UGC for ideas.
Look through your mentions, direct messages, and hashtags related to your brand.
Find posts of real people using your products, and share them with your followers.
User-generated content will ultimately build trust between you and your customers.
Posting UGC will also encourage the rest of your followers to share content related to your brand in the future. They’ll do this with the hopes you’ll use their content the next time you share a user post.
8. High quality photos
Earlier I mentioned that video content delivered higher engagement metrics than images. That said, you can’t just post videos and nothing else.
Posting nothing but videos will get stale. That’s why you need to mix in photos as well.
But you don’t want to use just any photo.
Unless you’re using UGC, the images should be original and high quality. Don’t use stock images, unless you can find expertly shot and unique stock photos.
But you’re not a photographer, so how can you find the right photos?
It’s easy to take these pictures yourself. Review my guide on how to take and edit photos without hiring a professional, and you’ll learn how to post quality images on social media.
9. Customer case studies
Show your social media followers how you helped one of your clients do something.
For example, let’s say you’re a personal trainer. You can share a post explaining how you helped one of your clients lose 10 pounds in 10 days.
Or maybe you have a platform that helps everyday people build hybrid mobile apps. You could show a case study outlining how much money they saved by using your platform instead of going through standard development.
The examples here are endless.
No matter what type of business you have, you can come up with a way to create a case study based on the experience of one of your customers.
10. Company accomplishments
Has your company recently achieved something?
Did you win an award? Were you featured in a positive news article?
Whatever the case may be, you can use these company accomplishments to increase your credibility. Share this news with your social media followers.
Here’s an example of how CoSchedule used this strategy on Twitter:
It was featured on a list of America’s fastest growing businesses—something to be proud of.
By the looks of this, it appears the team celebrated this accomplishment.
Everyone in the office got together to create this GIF. This also relates to one of the strategies I mentioned above: sharing photos of your employees.
11. Bring life to old content
As you’ve gone through the list so far, you may have gotten ideas for new posts.
For example, maybe you weren’t previously sharing your blog posts on social media. But now you’re bummed out because you feel you missed a chance to share some of your best writing.
That’s not true.
You can still share an old blog post on social media if it’s still relevant and performed well for you in the past.
Or maybe you posted a photo on Twitter a couple of years ago that got a high number of likes and retweets. You could share that old image on Instagram today.
Do you have an old video promotion you uploaded to YouTube earlier this year?
Share it on Facebook.
As you can see, there are many ways to breathe life into your old content by repurposing it on social media.
12. Infographics
If you created infographics for your website or blog posts, you can use those on social media as well.
To show you how powerful this type of content can be, here’s an infographic about infographics:
Using an infographic as a visual aid can help you persuade your followers to take an action.
Plus, images jump off the page at people more than text. We know 90% of information transmitted to the brain is visual.
If you have infographics, use them. If not, you can find great ones online or create new ones yourself.
13. Inspirational quotes
Running out of ideas to post?
Well, there is never a shortage of inspirational quotes. Simply run a Google search for inspirational quotes and find one that’s relevant to your brand, industry, or marketing strategy.
Or use anything that will appeal to your audience.
If you’re a good writer, come up with your own inspirational quotes.
14. Insightful research
Has your company done a recent study on something interesting?
Share your findings with your social media followers.
Post statistics you found while conducting research, or talk about someone else’s findings.
Here’s one thing you should keep in mind when using this type of content: always cite your sources.
If you’re posting a statistic, give credit to whomever conducted the research. They deserve it, and it also makes your content more credible. Your audience will know you’re not pulling numbers out of thin air.
15. Upcoming event information
I’m sure your business will host or attend some type of event throughout the year.
Even if it doesn’t happen often, it’s worth talking about on social media.
Check out this example from Tim Ferriss:
He shared this event promotion with his audience on Facebook.
As you can see from the information he gave, this is clearly a local event. Unless people live in Texas, or more specifically the Dallas area, they probably won’t be attending.
That’s OK.
It’s still worth sharing. This gives your followers an idea of what you’re doing and maybe builds some anticipation for any events you’ll be hosting or attending in their area in the future.
16. Giveaways
Social media is the perfect platform for running a giveaway. That’s because all the content posted will be exposed to many people.
These giveaways and contests are especially effective if they encourage user-generated content, which I previously discussed.
Plus, everyone wants an opportunity to get something free.
If you start running contests and giveaways on social media, I’m sure you’ll see your engagement metrics spike for those posts.
17. Your recent podcasts
Do you have a podcast?
Make sure you give your social media followers updates about your latest episodes. Post direct links to them on your social sites.
Don’t rely on people finding your podcasts organically.
While you may get some listeners that way, it’s much better to target people familiar with your brand and already following you on social media.
18. Customer reviews
When you think of customer reviews, you may not necessarily associate them with your social media marketing strategy. But why not?
Showcasing reviews on social media will add credibility to your brand name.
Plus, 64% of consumers say they actively look for reviews before buying something. And 35% of people are less likely to make a purchase if they can’t find reviews.
Make this as easy as possible for your followers.
When they see other customers had a positive experience with your brand, they’ll be more likely to buy as well.
But I wouldn’t recommend flooding your social platforms with reviews.
Just like everything else, too much of one type of content will get stale. But it’s still a good idea to mix this into your content strategy.
19. “How to” posts
So you’re releasing a new product.
Depending on the type of product and the industry you’re in, using the product may not be straightforward.
This is a great opportunity for you to share a demonstration video.
If you’re already posting too much video content and you want to change your strategy, you could also post a “how to” list.
Explain a step-by-step process of how to use your product, and share it on social media.
20. Testimonials
Just like customer reviews, testimonials add credibility to your website.
This is especially true if those testimonials are coming from an authoritative source.
Look at how Olivers Apparel used this tactic in a recent Instagram post:
The post shows a high quality picture of one of its products. Simple, right?
But now look at the caption. It features a testimonial from Men’s Journal, showcasing the company’s product in a positive light.
If the brand itself wrote those exact same words in the caption without the testimonial, it wouldn’t be as impactful.
21. Throwback photos
If you’re running out of photos to post and don’t have time to take more yourself, you can always look through your archives.
#tbt
I know you’ve seen this hashtag used before. You may have even used it yourself.
Throwback Thursday gained popularity in February 2012, according to Google Trends.
This is a chance for you to post an old picture of your first storefront, old delivery truck, or something like that. You could even share a picture from your childhood, unrelated to your business. But for the most part, it’s better to stay on-brand at all times.
For example, I could post a throwback picture of me while I still had my hair, but it’s not related to my brand. But I’m sure some of you would get a kick out of it.
Conclusion
There is no excuse to let your social media content go stale.
If you refer to the list above, you’ll never utter the words I don’t know what to post on social media again.
With these 21 ideas, you’ll be able to post different content in a variety of ways for a long time. If you use the throwback photo idea, that’s one post per week, every week, forever.
You can generate a month’s worth of content by using less than half of the suggestions on this list.
Next time you think there’s nothing for you to post, think again. Keep this list bookmarked so you always have it as a quick reference.
To make things even easier for you, I’ve decided to create another quick cheat sheet you can use when trying to create the perfect social media post.
A lot of the information within the infographic may seem basic, but chances are you aren’t following all the rules.
From using hashtags to keeping your posts under a certain length, it’s the little things that can make a big difference.
from Quick Sprout https://ift.tt/3jYRM9x
via IFTTT
Monday, April 26, 2021
Squarespace Review
You’ve started your business, and you have things to share, sell, and promote. But you don’t have a website yet. You also don’t have the budget to pay a web designer or developer the big bucks to make you one.
Enter Squarespace, an all-in-one solution suitable for just about anyone looking to create a beautiful and professional website without the hefty price tag.
In our book, Squarespace stands up extremely well against its competitors. It offers tons of templates, a drag-and-drop website editor, and it’s very cost-effective when you consider the website you get in return.
But, that doesn’t mean that it’s the perfect solution for everyone.
So, let’s get stuck into looking at where Squarespace thrives and where it lags in comparison to its competitors to see if it’s the one for you!
Squarespace Pros and Cons
Pros
- Drag-and-drop website builder
- 100+ templates to choose from
- Simple editing process
- Provides everything you need for a website (host, domain, etc.)
- Extensive online help guide
- 24/7 customer support
Cons
- Lack of customization options
- Limited SEO capabilities
- Slightly pricier than other top website builders
Compare The Best Website Builders
We reviewed dozens of website builders and narrowed them down to the best options.
See Top Picks
How Squarespace Compares to Top Website Builders
For anyone who doesn’t have experience with building beautiful websites or the budget to outsource the build, Squarespace is a top choice. With over 100 different templates to choose from and a drag-and-drop build process, just about anyone can DIY a stunning website.
Where Squarespace falls slightly against its competitors is the clunky, somewhat hard-to-understand interface and the lack of customization capabilities.
When it comes to easy design and usability, Wix is a clear winner. With the assistance of artificial intelligence and answering a few simple questions, Wix will create a custom website for you that’s bound to match your vision. You can link your website to any existing online presence you may have, and it will automatically use the same color palette, font, and branding.
Alternatively, if you’re looking for a website builder that allows you complete freedom and flexibility with customization, WordPress is the pick of the list. Sure, the learning curve is a bit steeper, but the reward is so worth it. And because WordPress is so widely used, there are tons of developers out there creating customizable themes and plugins for you to use, should you wish to avoid a complicated from-scratch website build.
Want to know more about the best website builders out there? Be sure to check out the post where we review the top six options to learn more.
Squarespace Ease of Use
When you are looking to DIY a website build, you want to make sure that you’re not going to get caught out with a lack of technical proficiency, right? Ideally, there should be no need for a designer or a developer and no need to pull your hair out in frustration throughout the process.
Can Squarespace offer you all of the above?
Yes, for the most part. When it comes to building a beautiful website, Squarespace wins hands down. You can create an impressive website right out of the box and then manipulate it to your liking in the drag-and-drop editing interface.
However, my issue with Squarespace lies in the lack of intuition said interface provides. It can be glitchy at times and hard to get some website elements to sit exactly where you want them.
And although the user interface is quite minimalistic and seemingly easy to use, if you have a website with lots of different elements, it can be hard to figure out where you are or where you need to be to make the applicable edits (for example, in the live or demo version).
With all this in mind, would I recommend Squarespace for beginner website builders?
If they want a simple website that will look beautiful and require little customization, definitely. But, if users want endless customization capabilities and are willing to fight a steeper learning curve for the first little while, then I’d have to steer them in the direction of WordPress.
Squarespace Quality of Final Product
Have you ever discovered a new business or product, loved what they’re about, and then been completely turned off by their clunky and out-of-date website? Yeah, me too.
We’re living in a world where professionalism in the online space has never been more important. So, having a professional, well-designed website that accurately reflects your business is essential.
Well, when it comes to the quality of the final product, Squarespace takes the cake. With over 100 templates to choose from, you’re bound to find one that fits your style.
These templates are designed to automatically adapt to tablets and mobile devices, so you won’t need to worry about things looking askew on different devices. In my opinion, this is a huge advantage of Squarespace as too many other website builders do not automatically do this, and a beginner web developer is not going to have the know-how to fix it.
The only thing to be mindful of here is that the photos included in each Squarespace template are specifically designed to be a certain size and style. So, when you’re updating the template with your photos, you’ll need to be careful that you don’t disrupt the entire website’s look and feel.
Squarespace Customer Support
When it comes to technology, having a knowledgeable and friendly customer support team at your fingertips is vital to maintaining your sanity. No matter how great you are with computers, there are just some things that only an expert can work out.
Squarespace extends customer support via live chat and email only. Emails are answered 24/7, while the live chat team is available from Monday to Friday during extended business hours only.
In my research, I found that although the customer support team was very friendly and reply quickly, they tend only to be effective when dealing with pretty simple issues. When you want to start changing the website’s design or functionality with code and run into issues, you’re unlikely to get the resolution from a Squarespace customer support team.
However, there is an extensive knowledge base and online community that may help solve your issue when the support team cannot.
If you’re looking for the best provider of hands-on customer support, it has to be Wix. Their callback service is available in English 24/7 and eight other languages during business hours. But, if you prefer to resolve the issue on your own, they have an insane online knowledge base covering just about any topic you could possibly think of. You really can’t argue with that!
Squarespace Pricing
When it comes to pricing, most of our top contenders, such as Wix, Squarespace, and GoDaddy, all sit around the same price point and offer similar inclusions at each of their price points.
However, the important thing to note here is that all pricing listed on each provider’s website is applicable when the user pays annually. Wix and GoDaddy don’t make it easy for you to determine the price of their plans when you pay month to month.
Why does this matter?
Well, when you consider Squarespace’s monthly price, billed annually, it’s competitive with other top contenders. But, when you pay monthly, billed monthly, it skyrockets the monthly price by 30%, which is huge!
I’m not saying that the other guys aren’t doing the same thing.
My point is that the 30% hike in price may discourage those who find it easier on their budget to pay month to month from using Squarespace at all. Especially when they’re going to be paying significantly more for their website over the course of the year.
At the end of the day, Squarespace is still an affordable option for those wanting to DIY a stunning website. Just be mindful of the significant advantage of paying annually.
Squarespace Website Builder
The bread and butter of Squarespace’s product offerings is, hands down, their all-in-one website builder. You can create any website, such as a portfolio, a blog, an online store, a personal or creative CV, promote creative services, or simply advertise your small business.
The opportunities are almost endless, with tons of award-winning web designs at your fingertips. The aesthetically pleasing templates are perfect for visual-based businesses such as artists, photographers, videographers, and designers.
Once you master the drag-and-drop editor, you’ve essentially worked out how the entire website works.
Some of the things your Squarespace website builder offers are:
- Built-in SEO tools
- Provide in-depth analytic tracking
- Integrate with popular apps such as OpenTable, Dropbox, Xero, and Unsplash
- Manage your website via mobile app (including editing)
As I’ve mentioned earlier, the interface can be somewhat confusing and sometimes glitchy. But what technological product isn’t?
In my opinion, for the price point and the standard of the finished product, using Squarespace to build your website is never a bad choice for a beginner wanting a polished, stress-free website.
Squarespace Ecommerce
If you’re looking to combine premium website design with a well-managed online store, Squarespace is the one for you. Sure, many other website builders include ecommerce capabilities nowadays. But the ability to present your products and services in such an attractive way is not as common.
Squarespace’s ecommerce platform allows you to sell physical products and services, accept and manage your appointment schedule, and you can even sell subscriptions and digital content. In a nutshell, anything you can dream of selling, you can sell with Squarespace.
Some other features of the eCommerce platform include:
- Use easily customized eCommerce specific templates
- Connect your existing booking system with Squarespace for simplified reservation management
- Sell in person while managing your inventory using Squarespace
- Provide flexible payment options
- Stay on top of your taxes with built-in tax tools
Like I said, just about every website builder offers ecommerce solutions these days. But in my opinion, Squarespace is one of the most aesthetically pleasing and easy to navigate from a customer perspective. These are important aspects for the buyer. If the website is hard to use and doesn’t present the products or service in an attractive and digestible way, you’re likely to lose the sale.
Squarespace Marketing Tools
One of the key aspects that makes Squarespace an all-in-one solution is the business and marketing tools included in your plan. We’re talking more than the standard analytics tools that most website builders have.
We’re talking about the ability to market your business by running email and social media campaigns from your Squarespace site.
Email campaigns will draw your existing products, blog posts, and logos to ensure your messaging is consistent and effective. This is a huge time saver for anyone creating and managing email campaigns through a third-party service such as MailChimp.
You’ll also spend less time designing and planning out social media content by creating professional-looking social content with the Unfold app, which includes tons of layouts, filters, fonts, and stickers to add to your content to match your brand.
In a time when content marketing is consistently labeled as king, these two features are clear advantages of creating your website with Squarespace, especially for the time-poor.
You’ll also be able to:
- Measure your success with powerful analytics
- Check analytics from anywhere with Squarespace’s dedicated analytics app
- Add banners and promotions as pop-up’s on your homepage
- Maximize searchability with built-in SEO tools
Squarespace Domains
Purchasing a domain through a third-party and then pointing it to your new website or host can sometimes be a complete nightmare. It’s technically not a hard thing to do, but I’ve never met a beginner DIY website builder who could successfully manage the process on their own (myself included).
With this in mind, it’s fantastic that Squarespace also offers you the opportunity to purchase and manage your domain through them. You are even eligible for a free domain for one year when you choose annual billing.
Some features you can expect from your Squarespace domain include:
- Low initial cost (if any) and domain renewal at the same rate
- SSL certificate included, so users know your website is secure
- WHOIS privacy included
- Easy DNS management
- Spam-free holding pages for your domain while you work on your site vision
Already got a domain? You can easily transfer your existing domain to Squarespace. You’ll keep the time remaining on your current registration and be able to extend your registration by one year without additional transaction fees.
Although this product offering is not a deal-breaker when choosing your preferred website builder, it certainly adds extra value to your plan and takes the hassle out of managing different aspects of your website in different places.
Summary
Compare The Best Website Builders
We reviewed dozens of website builders and narrowed them down to the best options.
See Top Picks So, would I recommend Squarespace as a suitable website builder for most? Definitely.
Squarespace is an excellent all-in-one website builder for those who want to DIY and want a beautiful and professional-looking website. The ideal user is not fussed about customization and doesn’t mind a little learning curve when it comes to the website build.
However, if you’re looking for a provider with more customization opportunities to build an in-depth website, WordPress is my top recommendation. Alternatively, if you like the idea of a drag-and-drop builder but prefer a little AI assistance with the design side, Wix could be the one for you.
And, if you’re still not too sure about which of the above website builders you prefer, be sure to read our in-depth post on the top six website builders out there today to help further your decision-making.
from Quick Sprout https://ift.tt/3dSK3sE
via IFTTT
Best Credit Cards for Startups in 2021
Want to jump straight to the answer? The best business credit card for most startups is definitely the Chase Ink Business Cash.
A good business credit card is essential for startups.
From daily purchases like ink or paper to flights, hotels, and your phone subscription, charging a credit card is your best option.
That’s because the best business credit cards offer exceptional benefits like cash back, rewards points, and travel miles.
Some company credit cards can provide purchase insurance as well as supplementary coverage for car rentals. You can even use a low-interest credit card to finance purchases if struggling to qualify for a small business loan.
With so many business credit cards to choose from, it can be tough to find the best option for your startup, which is what inspired me to create this guide.
The 8 Best Credit Cards For Startups in 2021
In a market flooded with hundreds of business credit cards, there are eight that I would recommend for startup companies.
- Chase Ink Business Cash
- Chase Ink Business Unlimited
- American Express Blue Business Plus
- American Express Blue Business Cash
- Capital One Spark Cash Select
- Capital One Spark Miles
- Capital One Spark Classic
- US Bank Business Platinum
I’ll highlight the top benefits, introductory offers, costs, and notable terms for each one as we continue below.
Best Startup Business Credit Card Reviews
Chase Ink Business Cash
Chase Ink Business Cash is the best overall credit card for startup companies. It has exceptional rewards, benefits, and an enticing sign up bonus.
- No annual fee
- $500 sign up bonus after spending $3,000 in first the three months
Chase Ink Business Cash card gives you cash back for common startup expenses—which is fantastic.
That includes 5% cash back each year on office supplies, internet, phone services, and cable on the first $25,000 spent in those categories. You’ll also get 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on the first $25,000 in combined spending each year.
All other purchases earn 1% cash back with no limit.
Additional features and benefits of the Chase Ink Business Cash card include:
- Fraud protection
- Free employee cards with individual spending limits
- Travel and emergency assistance services
- Extended warranty protection
- Zero liability for unauthorized charges
- Purchase protection (covers new purchases against theft or damage for 120 days)
- Auto rental collision waiver
Between these benefits, the cash back program, sign up bonus, and no annual fee, Chase Ink Business Cash should be a top consideration for any startup company.
*Terms apply – Learn how to apply online
Chase Ink Business Unlimited
Chase Ink Business Unlimited is nearly identical to the Ink Business Cash card.
The card offers the exact same benefits from fraud protection to the auto rental collision waiver in the bullet list above.
- No annual fee
- $500 sign up bonus after spending $3,000 in the first three months
If it’s the same, why include it in the list then? Simple: The rewards structure.
Instead of offering cash back percentages for different categories, Chase Ink Business Unlimited gives you 1.5% cash on everything.
This is a better option for those of you who don’t want limitations or restrictions on the amount of cash back you can earn.
That depends on the type of business you have.
For example, let’s say you’re planning to use a credit card to purchase things like inventory or other expenses that don’t fall into the Ink Business Cash rewards categories. In this scenario, Chase Ink Business Unlimited would be a better option for you.
*Terms apply – Learn how to apply online
American Express Blue Business Plus
American Express has one of the best reputations in the credit card industry.
Why? Their customer service is arguably the best out there.
If you’re launching a startup, your company should consider the American Express Blue Business Plus card as a top option.
The Amex Blue Business Plus card is great for those of you who want to earn rewards points, as opposed to cash back or travel miles.
You’ll get 2x membership rewards points on purchases in any category for your first $50,000 spent each year. After that, you can earn unlimited 1x points.
Amex gives you expanded buying power, with the ability to make business purchases above your spending limits without a penalty, although restrictions apply.
The card comes with account alerts, online statements, a detailed year-end summary, free employee cards, and one of the best business credit card mobile apps on the market today.
American Express customer service and dispute resolution are second to none. So if you prioritize great customer support, this card is perfect for you.
*Terms apply – Learn how to apply online
American Express Blue Business Cash
If you prefer cash back instead of reward points, the American Express Blue Business Cash is your credit card.
The card terms are basically identical to the Amex Blue Business Plus card. The rewards structure is the biggest difference between the two cards.
With the Amex Blue Business Cash card, you can earn 2% cash back on your first $50,000 in purchases per year. That’s an amazing deal. After that, you’ll still receive unlimited 1% cash back on everything else.
Other top benefits include:
- Expanded buying power
- Car rental loss and damage insurance
- Global hotline assistance
- Free employee cards
- Account manager access
- Amex Business mobile app
- Account alerts
- Vender pay via Bill.com
- Extended warranty protection for eligible purchases
- Purchase protection for eligible purchases
Overall, the American Express Blue Business Cash card is arguably the best free cash back business credit card on the market today.
*Terms apply – Learn how to apply online
Capital One Spark Cash Select
Capital One Spark Cash Select offers unlimited 1.5% cash back on everything you buy.
They also have no annual fee. You get a $200 sign up bonus after spending $3,000 in the first three months too.
The card is very similar to the Chase Ink Business Unlimited credit card. Chase does offer a better sign up bonus ($200 vs. $500) for spending the same amount in three months.
With that said, the Capital One Spark Cash Select card has its fair share of great features.
- Dedicated business customer support
- Fraud alerts
- Free employee cards
- Payment flexibility (pick your monthly due date)
- Transaction details
- Itemized year-end summary
- Download purchase records into formats for QuickBooks and Quicken
As a general rule, I always lean toward no annual fee. There’s no good reason for banks to nickel-and-dime you like that. But if you want more than 1.5% cash back, consider applying for the Capital One Spark Cash card instead. This gives you unlimited 2% cash back, but comes with a $95 annual fee (waived the first year).
Startups charging less money on their cards will be fine with the Spark Cash Select card.
*Terms apply – Learn how to apply online
Capital One Spark Miles
This is a great card if you want to earn travel rewards. So if you’ll be traveling frequently for your startup company, Capital One Spark Miles is a top credit card to consider.
- $95 annual fee (waived the first year)
- 50,000 mile sign up bonus after spending $4,500 in first three months
As I mentioned earlier, I normally don’t recommend cards with annual fees to startup companies. But this one is easy to justify if you travel often.
50,000 miles is equal to $500 in travel. Considering that the annual fee is waived the first year, the sign up bonus alone makes up for the first six years using the card.
You’ll also earn unlimited 2x miles on all purchases. There are no blackout dates, seat restrictions, or minimums for redemption.
Other top benefits of the Capital One Spark Miles Card include:
- $100 credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry
- Earn 5x miles on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel
- $0 fraud liability
- No foreign transaction fees
- Card lock
If you’re launching a startup that requires lots of business travel, this is the best card for you.
*Terms apply – Learn how to apply online
Capital One Spark Classic
We get it: Sometimes you just don’t have a very good credit score.
If you have a low credit score but still want access to credit card rewards, the Capital One Spark Classic will be your best option. This card offers the best rewards and benefits that you can get with low credit.
- No annual fee
- Unlimited 1% cash back on all purchases
While the card doesn’t come with a sign up bonus or low interest rates, you’ll still have access to some of Capital One’s top card benefits.
- No foreign transaction fees
- Download purchase records to Quicken and QuickBooks formats
- Auto rental damage waiver
- Extended purchase protection (90 days for eligible items)
- Fraud coverage and alerts
- Free employee cards
Overall, this is a no-frills business credit card. But it’s a great way to build your credit by using the card responsibly. Plus, you’ll still get 1% cash back on everything.
I’d apply for the Capital One Spark Classic if you can’t get approved for other business credit cards.
*Terms apply – Learn how to apply online
US Bank Business Platinum
Credit card financing can be a creative way to get around small business loan restrictions around what you can spend funds on.
But to consider this, you’ll need to find a card with low-interest rates.
That’s when the US Bank Business Platinum card comes in handy.
The card definitely lacks quality rewards benefits. So I’d only consider it as an alternative financing method.
*Terms apply – Learn how to apply online
How to Choose the Best Credit Card For Your Startup Business
Still not sure how to choose the best credit card? Though each business is different and will look for different things, we believe there are some commonalities when it comes to the most important elements to consider.
This is the methodology that we used to come up with this guide. Use it for your own research.
Annual Fee
Most startup companies should look for credit cards with no annual fee. It’s crucial to save money everywhere possible when you’re first starting a business.
Seven of the eight cards on the list above are free. The only one you have to pay for is the Capital One Spark Miles card. But the fee is just $95 per year, waived in year one, and easy to justify for frequent travelers.
Exclusive business credit card fees can range above $500. While you may consider those down the road, I’d steer clear of them in the early stages of your business.
Interest Rates
You should always aim to pay your credit card balance in-full each month. But sometimes cash is tight for startups, so you might have to finance a few purchases.
Look for a credit card offering 0% APR for purchases in your first year. Aim to pay those off before you start incurring additional interest fees.
A low-interest credit card might have cheaper rates than certain business loans. So take that into consideration before making large purchases.
Credit Score
When launching a startup, your personal credit score will be used when you apply for a credit card. That’s because new businesses don’t have any credit records on file.
A high score will give you access to better cards with lower interest rates and top rewards.
However, not everyone falls into this category. If your credit score is below average, there are certain cards that you should be applying for instead. The Capital One Spark Classic is a great example.
Rewards
Credit card rewards usually come in one of the following three formats:
- Cash back
- Membership points
- Miles
I’d recommend cash back rewards cards for most startup companies. The cards on this list range from 1% to 5%. Some have restrictions on how much cash back you can earn, while others are unlimited for all purchases.
A rewards program with miles is ideal if you need to travel often for business purposes. Otherwise, cash back is just fine.
Benefits
Every credit card has a wide range of perks and benefits.
From a sign up bonus to purchase protection and fraud alerts, the list varies by card type and card company. You’ll just have to figure out which benefits are best for your spending habits.
For example, no foreign transaction fees and auto rental waiver insurance shouldn’t win you over if you never rent a car and don’t make purchases in foreign currencies.
Conclusion
Startup companies have unique needs compared to well-established businesses. There are certain credit cards that are ideal for newer small businesses.
Here’s a recap of the top eight that I’d recommend.
- Chase Ink Business Cash
- Chase Ink Business Unlimited
- American Express Blue Business Plus
- American Express Blue Business Cash
- Capital One Spark Cash Select
- Capital One Spark Miles
- Capital One Spark Classic
- US Bank Business Platinum
All of these cards come with a wide range of benefits for different startup types and spending habits. I’m confident that you can find exactly what you’re looking for on this list.
from Quick Sprout https://ift.tt/3cgYVOJ
via IFTTT
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)