Posts by Amber Clement

Small Business Confidence Rises as Uncertainty Lingers By: Thaddeus Swanek, Author The Q2 2025 Small Business Index rose slightly but was accompanied by lingering economic uncertainties about the future. The MetLife & U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Index for Q2 2025 rose slightly to 65.2 this quarter, up from 62.3 in Q1. While this uptick reflects…

NC sees 2nd-highest month ever for new business startups CNBC ranked North Carolina the No.1 state in the U.S. to do business in 2025. Gov. Josh Stein said $17 billion in investments have been announced this year alone. Picture: Courtesy of Josh Stein. May was North Carolina’s second-busiest month on record for new business starts,…

7 Effective Budgeting Strategies for Small Businesses These expert-approved strategies can help small business owners create a smart and financially healthy budget. By: Kaytlyn Smith, Contributor Creating a budget is vital for the financial health and longevity of your small business. However, it can also be a daunting task. From monthly budgets to vendor choices, there…

Does Starting a Business Based on a Hobby Make You Happier? Here’s What Research Says. A decade-long study reveals that turning your passion into a career can lead to fulfillment, but it also comes with trade-offs like financial instability and burnout. By: Erica Sweeney, Contributor Have you ever dreamed of starting a business based on your favorite…

Christmas in July: How You Can Sleigh Summer Sales Christmas in July: How You Can Sleigh Summer Sales It may be extraordinarily hot and sunny (at least it is in most parts of the country right now), but it’s also the perfect time to jingle your way to more sales with a Christmas in July…

Reels and Groups: What People Are Talking About Facebook continues to be one of the most powerful platforms for businesses to connect with customers, build brand awareness, and drive sales. With over 2 billion users and tools that support everything from video marketing to community building, it remains a key part of many business marketing…

6 Questions Every Smart Small Business Owner Asks (Your success may depend on how honestly you answer these) When you want to get to know someone better and have a great conversation, what do you do? You ask them questions, of course. Questions get the conversation started and they show you have an interest in…

How to Build Business Connections (Even If You Hate Networking) Even though being part of the chamber is one of the easiest ways to increase your network, we understand that some business pros can’t make it to networking events. But networking is incredibly important because people want to do business with those they know, like,…

Elements of a Viral Marketing Campaign and How to Create One Learn about viral marketing and the elements of a successful viral marketing campaign to integrate into your content strategy.   By: Sydney Kerelo, Contributor Viral marketing campaigns can catapult brands into the spotlight, fuel massive engagement, and turn casual viewers into loyal customers. Here, we’ll break…

5 Genius Ways AI Can Stretch Your Existing Content Who isn’t feeling the pain of being stretched too thin these days? If you’ve dabbled with AI, you may have cut the time it takes you to do administrative tasks by as much as 26 minutes a day (at least according to a recent survey in…