3 cold-email strategies from small-business founders who used them to show off their work, land clients, and grow company profits

Tech Insider
Headshot of Erin Derby in front of a computer looking to the left, wearing a black top and gold earrings.
Erin Derby, a commercial photographer.

Erin Derby

5 critical steps entrepreneurs can't afford to skip when starting a business

Tech Insider
woman shipping packages using computer

Getty Images

When looking to start a business, don't overlook the value of solid planning. Great strategy and execution are what set successful businesses apart and give them a competitive edge.

Here are five key steps to bringing your business idea to life and set up for success:

SMS marketing may cost more to set up than email, but 2 small-business founders say it's worth it

Tech Insider
Headshot of Bryan Clayton, left, wearing a navy shirt and wristwatch and a headshot of Barbara Casey, right, wearing an ivory blouse and navy blazer.
Bryan Clayton, left, a cofounder and the CEO of GreenPal, and Barbara Casey, the CEO of Mobile High 5.

GreenPal

Modeling the clothes I sell on Poshmark helped me make over $100,000 in sales last year

Tech Insider
Sandra Wyer poses on the floor with packages stacked beside and behind her
Sandra Wyer started selling on Poshmark as a side hustle.

Sandra Wyer

3 small-business owners share the unconventional ways they funded their companies, from credit cards to tax credits

Tech Insider
Headshot of Elizabeth Gore sitting behind a desk with pencils and a computer in the background
Elizabeth Gore, president and cofounder of Hello Alice.

Cayce Clifford

3 ChatGPT tips that have helped small-business owners nail their marketing copy — and still keep the 'human touch'

Tech Insider
Headshot of Haley Spade wearing a pink blouse and a gold necklace
Haley Slade, the founder and CEO of Slade Copy House.

Eastern Ray Collective

2 female small-business founders share how they cracked the code on successful lead magnets — a win-win for your customers and company profits

Tech Insider
Headshots of Ashley Louise wearing a blue blazer against a pink background and Jenn Robbins wearing a pink and purple floral shirt and glasses
Ashley Louise, left, a cofounder and the CEO of Ladies Get Paid, and Jenn Robbins, the founder of The Flexible Funnel Studio.

KT

3 smart strategies a small-business owner uses to manage 20 employees in 7 time zones

Tech Insider
Headshot of Cynthia Watson, executive chair at Virtira, in a long-sleeve black shirt
Cynthia Watson, executive chair at Virtira.

Photo courtesy of Cynthia Watson

This tailor is in high demand for Oktoberfest — there's a 6-month wait for his authentic leather lederhosen, which can cost nearly $2,000

Tech Insider
Klaus Bensmann, a man with a long white beard, glasses and a tape measure hanging around his neck stands in his tailor shop.
Klaus Bensmann has been making authentic lederhosen since 1985 with the help of his wife and two women, who help with stitching.

AP Photo/Matthias Schrader

A former biology teacher who bought a small-town bookstore explains how she made the business profitable and competes with behemoths like Amazon

Tech Insider
adah fitzgerald msb
Adah Fitzgerald bought Main Street Books in Davidson, North Carolina in 2015.

Courtesy of Main Street Books

Subscribe to Small Business