There’s a lot to learn when you’re an entrepreneur who is getting your business off the ground. Fortunately, there’s a breadth of websites available to provide useful insights on the various aspects of starting, running, and growing a business. Here are a few in particular that all entrepreneurs should bookmark:
Quora
As you run your business, you’re bound to have a host of questions that Google just can’t answer. That’s where Quora comes in. Here you can ask your questions to a community of experts and engage in a dialogue. You’ll see the full names and backgrounds of respondents, so you aren’t left guessing about the credibility of those providing answers. If you’re still in the research phase, Quora has an extensive archive you could peruse. You may discover your potential client-base is asking about the problem you’re about to solve with your business, so you’ll gain customer insights by reading their comments.
Lynda
As you get your business up and running, you’ll probably be taking on a lot of different roles, from putting together pitches for potential clients to writing web content. You likely aren’t well versed in every avenue of running a business, and until you are more established and can build out your team, you can rely on Lynda to help. For a small monthly fee, you can take short courses on an array of business topics, like Understanding Copyright and Excel for Beginners.
Reddit: Startups
For entrepreneurs used to the well-meaning encouragement of friends and family, the bluntness Redditors are known for can be a breath of fresh air. The Startups subreddit is a great place to communicate informally with fellow entrepreneurs, sharing advice and ideas. Use this as a research tool for what people are saying about the industry you’re looking to break into and, once you’re up and running, a place to get insight on possible new products or services. Just make sure you aren’t oversharing your ideas so they get picked up by someone else.
Internet Speed Assessment Tool
It’s rare to have a business now that doesn’t have an online presence. To maintain your site, as well as do any work online, you need to make sure your business has the right amount of Internet speed. HighSpeedInternet provides a valuable interactive tool for finding out exactly how much speed you need with a few short questions about your team’s Internet usage habits. This is a great tool to come back to every few months. By using it, you may find your sluggish connection could use an upgrade or that you’re paying too much for a premium service you don’t really need.
Startup Lawyer
Unless you went to law school, the legalities of running a business may be something you aren’t too familiar with. Startup Lawyer, written by attorney Ryan Roberts, can help. Posts here focus mainly on legal issues, but occasionally cover other areas of interest to startups, like keeping controlling investors at bay and the importance of buying a good scanner.
For Entrepreneurs
You’ve come up with the great idea for your business, but now what? Turn to For Entrepreneurs. You’ll find information on every step of the process, from getting funding to turning your startup into a successful enterprise. David Skok, the author of the blog, calls himself a “five time serial entrepreneur” so who better to learn from than someone who has already done what you’re doing–five times, no less.
ProBlogger
Publishing blog articles is an effective way to engage with your digital customers and drum up interest in your business. ProBlogger offers advice on how to maintain your company blog without wasting valuable time. Founder Darren Rowse offers insight on how to come up with topics for your blog, draw in readers, keep them engaged, and, ultimately, monetize the work that you do.
Bplans
If you’re just starting out with your business idea, you’ve probably heard about how important developing a well-researched business plan is. Putting something like this together can be daunting, but Bplans can help. This site offers a range of resources to help you conceptualize, write, and format your business plan. You can look at examples from various industries for inspiration and find advice on business planning and strategy from Tim Berry, the founder of Bplan.
No matter what stage you’re in with your business, the web is a great resource for helping your business flourish. By using the tools and tips you’ll find on the websites above, you’ll be well on your way down your path to success.
