Many people feel that success in business is about hitting on the right idea and riding it to the moon. While the offerings of your business are, of course, very important, it can also be critical that a novice entrepreneur keep another key focus in mind — avoiding mistakes. Mistakes can be costly in the world of business and there are some common ones that I’ve seen sink entire companies before they could get off the ground. …

I’m often asked about what I believe are some of the most impactful moves a novice entrepreneur can make to help contribute to their long-term business success. I think there are quite a few great answers to this question, but I find myself returning again and again to one area in particular when prompted on this topic — the power of technology. That’s probably unsurprising, considering much of my work has relied on utilizing the internet to help connect consumers to new and useful products. …

Coming up with a viable business idea is hard. Believe me on this, I’ve spent my entire professional life creating new businesses. I’ve had a few exhilarating successes, one resulting in nine figures of total revenue, and I’ve also had my share of ideas fizzle out as well. One of the things that has always differentiated between these outcomes for me is the level of interest I hold for an idea. Since I think this concept is so important, especially for novice entrepreneurs, I’ve decided to expand on that thought a little more below.

Why interest matters

Building a business…

I’ve created a number of successful businesses over the course of my career, some with seven and eight-figure earnings. As a result, a question I’m often asked is: “How do I develop a successful business idea of my own?” While this is, of course, easier said than done, I’ve been around the block as an entrepreneur long enough that I’ve collected some insights that I think can be helpful in this pursuit. Read on for a quick look at some helpful points of consideration for those starting their own businesses.

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It’s said that those who don’t learn from the mistakes…

You likely already know that social media can play a vital role in any business. It allows you to connect with customers, build brand recognition, amplify your marketing messages, and so much more. However, while most people know that social media can be powerful, many entrepreneurs are still stuck at an introductory level with the technology, one that revolves around merely posting occasional one-off pieces of content. That’s a shame because there’s so much more that you can accomplish in this space. Read on for a brief look at what I think you can do to realize that potential.

Track market trends

Social…

I get asked for business advice a lot. It comes with the territory when you’ve created companies that have earned hundreds of millions of dollars. I’m not complaining. In fact, I do enjoy helping people out with their business ventures by imparting a bit of hard-earned wisdom. One of the things I tend to notice is that the questions I receive often miss the mark of what I think is important in business. People tend to focus on details that are only really important after you’ve found success, rather than building that success, to begin with. …

If you’ve ever had a good idea for a business, but lacked the skills, expertise, or experience to take it to the next level, you’re not alone. Transferring an idea into a fully sustainable business requires a lot of hard work. As the owner of multiple popular vehicle history websites, Jesse Willms built his business from the ground up — and it all started with an idea. As an internet entrepreneur and businessman, Jesse Willms understands that while every business plan is unique, there are some fundamental components that run through all of them. …

If you’re active on social media, watch YouTube videos, or receive targeted ads online, you’ve probably seen ‘influencer marketing’. Merging old and new marketing tools, influencer marketing uses the concept of celebrity endorsement and places it into a modern content-driven context. As a digital marketing expert who runs multiple vehicle history websites, Jesse Willms is here to explain the current role that influencers play in product promotion, including how they can build trust, improve brand awareness, and reach your target audience.

The Rise of Influencer Marketing

Jesse Willms defines influencer marketing as a type of marketing that uses endorsements and product mentions from influencers (individuals…