Posts by Amber Clement

Your Community Is Your Best Marketing Tool Maybe you can’t afford a celebrity endorsement like Taylor Swift, but there are still plenty of lucrative opportunities to do something on a local scale. Influence marketing is changing. While businesses once chased celebrity endorsements and mega-influencers with millions of followers, smart companies are discovering that their most…

AI, Payments, and Policy: How Technology is Shaping the Future of Small Business in 2025 Small businesses are embracing AI and digital payments, but many fear unclear regulations could slow growth. By: Kaytlyn Smith , Contributor The right technology tools can drive efficiency, competitiveness, and success for small businesses — and the vast majority of American…

5 Free Online Classes for Managers These five free courses will teach you how to resolve conflicts and communicate effectively with others. By: Jamie Johnson , Contributor Managing people isn’t easy, but with the right resources, you can build skills in conflict resolution, communication, and leadership. Let’s look at five online classes you can audit or…

What Is the Required Paperwork Documentation for New Employees? Startups hiring new employees have to make sure the correct paperwork is in order. From W-4s to direct deposit forms, here’s what you need to start onboarding. By: Callie Cook , Contributor Hiring your first employees is an exciting milestone for any growing business. But before your new…

10 Tools and Strategies to Build a Brand Community Brand communities are invaluable for growing customer loyalty, and these 10 tools can help you facilitate and moderate these communities. By: Emily Heaslip , Contributor A brand community, or connected group of fans of your brand, can boost customer loyalty, improve word-of-mouth marketing, and help your brand…

Tap, Deliver, Thrive: How Small Businesses Are Growing With App-Based Platforms Small businesses can tap into app-based platforms like DoorDash, Uber, and Instacart to reach new customers, scale their operations, and thrive in a flexible economy. By: Julianna Lopez , Contributor Most consumers have heard of (and likely use) app-based platforms like Uber, Grubhub, DoorDash, and…

Talking Websites: A Game-Changer for Small Business If you’ve ever parented a teenager, you know talking back is not to be celebrated. But when it comes to your business website, talking back is the next big trend. Most websites feel like digital brochures. You scroll, you click, you squint at tiny menus—and if you can’t…

Is Your Website a Sales Tool or Just an Online Brochure? Let’s make sure your digital front door isn’t just decorative. A good website looks nice. A great website works hard. At the KANSO creative, we meet a lot of small business owners who invested in a website years ago—but haven’t touched it since. Is…

Quiz: Does Your Business Have a Smart Social Media Strategy? How does your small business’s social media strategy stack up? Take this quiz to test your knowledge of social media basics. By: Nicole Fallon , Contributor Social media can be a powerful marketing tool, but only if you use it correctly. A solid strategy helps you…

Are You Accidentally Repelling Perfect Clients? (Here’s How to Fix It) You’ve polished your website, perfected your elevator pitch, and your product or service genuinely solves real problems. Yet somehow, you keep attracting the wrong customers—the ones who haggle over every penny, make unreasonable demands, or disappear after one purchase. Meanwhile, your dream clients seem…