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Is AI worth paying four times as much for a Canva subscription?

Design software service Canva is increasing membership prices for users globally, with some U.S. users reporting on X that the cost of five-person team subscriptions has gone up from $120 per year to $500 per year. Canva reportedly told users in an email that it would discount the higher price by 40% for the next year, bringing it down to $300 — still a $180 increase.

The company is worth $26 billion, has 185 million global monthly users, and may be preparing to go public.

Canva is justifying the price hikes by touting its new AI features.

“Our suite of products has grown significantly in the last couple of years with the launch of new offerings like the Visual Suite and Magic Studio,” a Canva spokesperson said in a statement.

Visual Suite includes features like AI-powered writing, slideshows from a prompt, and AI turning documents into websites; Magic Studio uses AI to turn written concepts into social posts, videos, and slideshows.

Related: From Bailing on College to Billionaire: 5 Entrepreneurial Lessons From Canva Co-Founder Melanie Perkins

Even if the new features got an AI, subscribers took to social media to express frustration over the price increase. One user on X noted that small businesses could feel the impact of the pricing change the most.

Canva renewed a multi-year partnership last month to give its customers access to Getty images and videos and also acquired AI startup Leonardo.ai in July to bolster its AI offerings. Leonardo’s full 120-person team joined Canva’s 4,000-person workforce as part of the acquisition.

“With every single AI feature that we introduced into Canva, we really think it’s helping to cut down that time between A and B of getting the idea into an actual product,” Canva CEO Melanie Perkins said in July.

^{Canva CEO Melanie Perkins. Credit: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images}

Incorporating AI into a business isn’t cheap and comes with a significant environmental cost, too.

AI models currently cost over $100 million to develop, with the price tag only expected to rise over the next couple of years. AI researchers also estimate that it takes 30 times as much energy to have AI generate text instead of taking it directly from the source.

Related: New Google Report Reveals the Hidden Cost of AI

With more than 1 billion users in 200 countries worldwide, LinkedIn is currently the largest professional networking platform. So, whether for professional networking or job search purposes, it’s more important than ever to customize and optimize your LinkedIn profile. Similar to advertising, visitors to your profile page will likely spend just a few precious seconds to form an opinion, so it’s imperative that everything is clear, concise and on-message. Fortunately, LinkedIn has a robust feature set that enables a lot of customization. Unfortunately, many on the platform overlook key parts of their profile, in some cases not including them at all and often not optimizing what’s there.

As you craft your LinkedIn profile, the fundamental objective to keep in mind is that you want to clearly articulate four things in a concise and quick-to-digest manner: who you are, what you are doing professionally, what you have done and what you are looking for — especially for those who are job hunting. You should remove anything that does not contribute to any of these points.

Related: Learn How to Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile and Score Your Dream Job

Below are six key considerations and configurations in terms of optimizing your LinkedIn profile:

1. Your profile image

When you see a person’s profile on LinkedIn, at the very top is a background cover image. It’s shocking how often that critical piece of real estate is left blank. It’s easy to customize, so be sure to upload a cover. Anything is better than nothing, but I strongly encourage you to make the most of that space; don’t simply put a solid image or pattern there. Take advantage of that key spot by selecting an image that provides some sense of understanding and, ideally, even validation for you (check out mine, for example, showing an interview taking place) or, at the very least, conveys some kind of feeling about something important to you.

2. Get a verified checkmark

Below the cover photo, you want a verification check next to your name. This is a free service from LinkedIn and ensures potential employers and partners (as well as recruiters for those job hunting) that you are who you say you are. Fraudulent profiles are frequently created, so this verification gives your visitors additional confidence that your profile is legitimate. If you don’t currently have your profile verified, find a way to verify if possible (or the next time you can, do it; it’s important for the future, even if you cannot have it now). Understandably, you may have privacy concerns, and those same privacy concerns are, in reality, relevant to everything you do online via your desktop and mobile phone. Just keep in mind this is a vital verification for your career.

3. Craft your headline

Almost everyone on the platform has a headline entered. Many of them badly need improvement. This is a small amount of space to communicate some highly critical information. Avoid any extra words that don’t contribute to your definition. Avoid using lots of symbols. Avoid using broad, general language. Be concise, be specific and use this spot to clearly convey what you are, do, and/or want.

4. Showcase your work on your “personal billboard”

LinkedIn has a featured section you can add, yet many people don’t use it at all. Featured items can include posts, newsletters, articles, links, media or spotlighted content from your profile. You also can sort the list, which is essential as visitors will typically only see the first two to four of your featured items (depending on the viewing platform) without scrolling.

5. List your skills — and endorse your colleagues’ skills

LinkedIn allows you to list your top skills, and others can endorse you for those individual skills. Often, people have 50-plus skills associated with their profile and endorsements on some number of them. Are you aware that visitors to your profile page only see the top two in the list (unless they click to see more, which most don’t)? And, did you know that you have the ability to sort the list? Be sure to sort your skills so that the top two reflect the most important things a business partner or potential employer would want to see.

Related: Learn How to Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile and Score Your Dream Job

6. Showcase your experiences

Of vital importance is your experiences section, where you list out each of the companies you have worked for. The first mistake people make is using the description to describe the company. Think of this page as your CV; this space is where you should describe your role at the company. A line or two about the company is fine, of course, but consider also using bullets to highlight critical functions and accomplishments you’ve made while working there. This is especially important for your most recent experience or last couple if the most recent is a short duration. Often overlooked is that you can associate skills with each experience definition. You can also add media, such as press releases, white papers, interviews or other media related to your involvement with that company.

Incidentally, if you happen to subscribe to LinkedIn Sales Navigator, there is a tool available on the platform called the “Social Selling Index,” which measures your social selling efforts. This tool assesses your overall brand, relationships, people and insights. The brand portion of your index relates to your profile.

Some say LinkedIn is the CV replacement. I wouldn’t necessarily go that far, but it is unquestionably a vital professional tool for networking and worthwhile your time to configure and optimize. In some cases, it literally is used in place of a resume. In some cases, you’ll never make it to even being asked for your resume unless your LinkedIn page tells the right story up front. I encourage you to explore every section, try every configuration, arrange each arrangeable list to highlight what’s most important and be thoughtful with the images you use.

You have to be reachable while running your business. Staying connected is non-negotiable for everyone, whether you’re hopping from one meeting to the next or navigating through airports. But with all the hustle, the last thing you need is to be weighed down by bulky gadgets.

Meet the NanoPhone, a credit-card-sized smartphone that’s all about simplifying your travel experience while keeping your digital life fully functional. It is designed for those of us who want to take a step back from all the devices we carry but still stay connected to home, work, and all of our favorite apps—and it’s on sale for just $109.99 (reg. $199).

It’s equipped with dual SIM support, allowing you to manage personal and business calls on one device or easily switch between two numbers while traveling. With 4G and Wi-Fi connectivity, you can browse the web, stream content, and stay in touch with colleagues and clients via apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, and YouTube—all from the palm of your hand. However, the SIM card and data plan are not included.

Traveling with a smartphone doesn’t have to mean carrying around a cumbersome device. The NanoPhone offers a streamlined solution that focuses on what truly matters: staying connected and productive on the go.

Whether you’re attending a conference, a wedding, exploring a new city, or just need a reliable backup phone, the NanoPhone is your go-to tool for simplifying your tech while keeping all the essential features you rely on. It even has built-in cameras (front and back) to capture your important moments.

Downsizing your smartphone doesn’t mean downsizing your capabilities. The NanoPhone is the perfect example of how less can truly be more—offering all the essential functions you need in a portable, easy-to-carry design.

Get the NanoPhone miniaturized smartphone for just $109.99 (reg. $199) for a limited time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

For entrepreneurs and design professionals who are looking to elevate their projects, Ashampoo 3D CAD Professional 11 offers a powerful yet user-friendly solution that combines precision, versatility, and an extensive object library—all for just $39.99 (reg. $330).

Whether you’re a seasoned architect or a DIY enthusiast, this software offers a seamless blend of simplicity and sophistication. Its intuitive interface guides you through every step of the design process, from sketching floor plans to visualizing your space in stunning 3D.

This Windows-only software is designed to make your workflow more efficient and your designs more precise. It has a host of powerful tools and features that simplify complex tasks. For instance, the program offers dedicated input modes for walls, windows, and doors, allowing you to quickly and accurately define key elements of your project. Additionally, numerical editing tools provide even greater precision, ensuring that every measurement and modification is spot on.

Ashampoo 3D CAD Professional 11 has auto-save functionality and reminders to save your work manually, so you never have to worry about losing progress. The context menu supports cut, copy, and paste functions, making it easier to manage different elements of your design. With powerful floor plan analysis and correction features, you can quickly identify and address any issues before they become problems.

It has extensive object catalogs that provide a wide range of 3D objects and more than 250 ready-to-use object groups. From pre-designed garages and kitchen lines to garden houses and saunas, these objects make adding detail and realism to your projects easy. You can also create your own catalog directories and use them directly in the software, customizing your designs to fit your unique vision.

With more than 20 million users, this software provides all the tools you need to help bring your vision to life.

Get a lifetime license to Ashampoo 3D CAD Professional 11 now and pay just $39.99 (reg. $330) for a limited time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Every entrepreneur’s journey is unique — there’s no one-size-fits-all path to success. There is, however, a proven sequence of steps that can turn your idea into a thriving business. I’ve seen this process unfold firsthand, launching my first business at age 14, and currently as an angel investor advising numerous startups. Let’s dive into these essential steps.

1. Pick a lane

Every entrepreneur dreams of success, but defining what that means for you is the key to making it a reality. This step is crucial as it empowers you to take control of your entrepreneurial journey. Reflect on what success looks like for you, considering your goals, risk tolerance, market dynamics, competition and more. Assess your passions, skills, limitations and resources — and then follow a course that makes sense. Will this be your supplementary or primary source of income? How big do you want to grow? Are you seeking profits, impact or something else? Answering these questions thoroughly and honestly will allow you to lay a strong foundation for success.

Related: 4 Steps to Moving Beyond the ‘Lightbulb Moment’ and Turning Your Idea into a Thriving Business

2. Identify an unmet need

The most successful startups solve problems that haven’t been addressed yet, often by being disruptive or pioneering a new category. If your idea doesn’t solve an apparent problem, it’s time to return to the drawing board. Identifying a need goes beyond casual observations or gut feelings; extensive market research like interviews, focus groups and audience development is essential to uncover your potential customers’ needs, desires and pain points. Combine this research with networking and deep conversations with industry experts and investors to further validate your ideas. Only after thoroughly understanding your audience should you start building a proof of concept or minimum viable product (MVP) that brings your idea to life.

A prime example is Julia Haart, serial entrepreneur, fashion icon, author and Netflix reality star who founded +Body, a body-positive, technologically advanced shapewear brand in 2023, with a second collection debuting this Fall. A disruptor at her core, Julia revamped the first collection after conducting extensive market research and gave customers what they wanted — a lower price point, four levels of compression and “ready to wear” shapewear staples like t-shirts, tank tops and bodysuits. She continually welcomes feedback to refine her products and stay connected with customers.

3. Develop your product

Impatient and unseasoned entrepreneurs often rush to this step, but success requires a solid foundation and clear understanding of the need before moving forward. When it’s time to build, follow these vital steps to bring your idea to life:

• Select a name: Don’t rely on hunches. Draw on market research and focus on options that are short, memorable and SEO-friendly. For inspiration, consider using tools like ChatGPT or other generative tools.

• Choose a structure: Picking the proper business structure is critical, as it impacts everything from taxes to liability to daily operations. The four most common structures are sole proprietorships, Limited Liability Companies (LLC), corporations and partnerships. The simplest and most common is a sole proprietorship, where one person owns the business but is personally liable for its debts. An LLC offers more flexibility with liability protection and pass-through taxation. A corporation is a more complex structure where the business is a separate entity from its owners. S-corporations provide pass-through taxation with a cap of 100 shareholders, whereas C-corporations allow unlimited shareholders but face double taxation. A traditional corporation offers limited liability protection and the ability to raise capital through stock and bonds, but like C-Corps, it is also subject to double taxation. Lastly, partnerships involve two or more individuals sharing ownership and responsibilities, with options for general or limited partnerships.

• Protect your brand: Make sure you’re buttoned up: Compliance with all relevant federal and state laws, regulations and industry standards is essential. Obtain licenses and permits, study local labor laws, and prioritize data privacy. Safeguard your intellectual property through trademarks, patents and copyrights, and strongly consider using nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) to maintain confidentiality.

• Build the plan: A detailed business plan is indispensable for establishing structure, attracting investors and setting the stage for success. Carefully outline your topline goals and strategies to specific operational structures and financial projections. HR considerations like staffing, compensation and benefits are also integral to a business plan. And remember: Marketing and communications should never be an afterthought. These elements are vital to business success. If you are new to writing business plans, resources like SCORE and HubSpot offer excellent templates.

• Network like crazy: Building strong relationships is as important as having a solid product and business plan. A broader network opens doors to more resources, opportunities and support. Make it a priority to connect with mentors, peers and investors daily, both online and in person. Joining professional groups like Entrepreneurs’ Organization or Young Entrepreneur Council are great places to start.

Related: How to Design and Produce Products from Scratch — A Step-by-Step Guide for Entrepreneurs

4. Blast off

The moment has arrived to introduce your idea to the world. Now is the time to roll out your sales and PR strategies and acquire customers. Implement competitive yet profitable pricing, and establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to track progress. Ensure you’re also cultivating a positive company culture by prioritizing values like collaboration, innovation and a customer-centric mindset. And don’t forget to celebrate! Host a grand opening event, and invite business leaders and local dignitaries to mark the occasion in style.

5. Focus on profitability

A steady cash flow is the lifeblood of any successful business, but it doesn’t come automatically. Start with ample cash reserves, and pursue profits to avoid relying on short-term loans. When I launched my marketing agency, my first hire was a bookkeeper to ensure financial health. I highly recommend bringing in an accountant or bookkeeper from day one to help manage your finances and keep your business in the black.

Every entrepreneur’s journey is unique, and there’s no way to anticipate each challenge or opportunity. The above steps are relevant across the board — so take note, invest all the necessary time and energy, and prepare to turn that idea into an empire.

Related: Why Being Profitable is a Business Strategy in Itself

Every year, thousands of new tech products are vying for consumers’ and businesses’ attention. Only 5% of them manage to launch successfully and attract loyal, long-term clients with a chance of becoming household brand names.

Having an effective launch strategy, including a minimum viable product, can make the difference between a product not finding its market and a showstopping launch.

Understanding the importance of an MVP

A minimum viable product (MVP) is a simple version of a new product that allows a team of creators to assess its viability with potential customers. MVPs can validate product ideas with minimal risks and resources. They can generally be launched faster than full products and may save the development team valuable time and money.

Think of Amazon, for example. Founder Jeff Bezos started by selling books from a garage before growing the company to sell most types of products consumers want and launch a leading eBook reader.

MVPs cut down on the time it takes to bring a product to market and allow developers to integrate early user feedback and test their assumptions about the target audience. As a result, the full-scale product is far more refined when it is launched. The messaging app Slack used this approach to test viability before releasing the full version.

The key to launching a successful MVP is to identify one specific audience pain point that the product can solve and focus on offering the best possible solution to address that issue. Later, the full product can have a wider focus and address additional pain points.

Related: 5 Ways to Make Your Next Product Launch a Success

Developing a go-to-market strategy

Once your team has analyzed the performance of the MVP, you need to develop a go-to-market strategy for the full version of your product.

The three critical components of that strategy are identifying your target market, crafting a unique value proposition (UVP) and developing a launch timeline. Market research can help you narrow down the most promising audience segments and define your ideal customer profile. If your team is developing a SaaS product, for example, small and medium-sized businesses looking for affordable, scalable solutions might be a good fit.

Your unique value proposition needs to be clear and compelling and differentiate your product from competitors. The strongest UVPs focus on addressing specific customer pain points.

Your launch timeline needs to include development, product testing, marketing and sales efforts. Be realistic when setting deadlines, and ensure that every department is aligned and ready for the launch. It’s generally better to plan more time from the start than to delay the launch later.

Building pre-launch buzz

Remember Game of Thrones? Weeks, if not months before every new season launched, the production company began to build buzz around that season. By the time the first episode was ready to stream, millions of viewers were ready.

When you’re building a pre-launch buzz for your product, you’re replicating this approach. Content marketing is highly effective at educating and exciting your target audience. Consider blog posts, case studies from your MVP, videos and other types of content that talk about the challenges your product will address.

Reach out to early adopters, influencers and industry experts to help spread the word about your product. Offer exclusive previews, beta version access or discounts to incentivize early engagement and feedback.

Your social media channels are ideal for creating buzz by sharing teasers and countdowns to launch. As you’re building pre-launch buzz, you should also start building an email list to keep potential customers informed.

Related: How to Nail a Successful Product Launch

Launching the product

As you’re getting closer to your launch date, make sure all relevant teams and contributors are ready for a smooth and coordinated launch. If you’re launching a physical product, availability is critical. Marketing and sales efforts also need to be synchronized to allow them to amplify each other.

Set up systems to capture and analyze customer feedback during and after the launch, and prepare to make fast adjustments to rectify issues or address customer concerns.

Notify and engage with industry publications and journalists to secure public relations and media coverage. A compelling press release with testimonials from beta users can effectively start this process.

Post-launch strategies

Define the key performance indicators (KPIs) such as sales, user acquisition, engagement and customer satisfaction ahead of your launch date, so you can measure and analyze them. Most digital marketing channels give you access to these metrics through a dashboard.

Understanding your product’s performance through KPIs and user feedback helps you refine and enhance your product. Don’t hesitate to release updates that introduce new features and address user needs.

Think about how your product can reach a broader audience. Entering into strategic partnerships, utilizing additional marketing channels and expanding your sales efforts can all open up new markets for your product.

Long-term product management

With the initial launch completed, you need to start thinking about maintaining and strengthening customer relationships. Excellent customer service and ongoing engagement are cornerstones of successful relationship building. Use CRM tools to support customer interactions, and remember to personalize communications. You could also consider creating a loyalty program that offers exclusive perks.

Leading tech entrepreneurs continue to innovate and improve their products consistently. In 2023 alone, Google launched or updated 23 products, demonstrating its culture of continuous improvement.

Enabling structured feedback through quarterly customer feedback sessions or surveys ensures that user feedback is always taken into account and integrated into product development.

Related: 4 Launch Strategies for Startup Success and Longevity

Follow these strategies to launch your tech product successfully from MVP to market with confidence. The most successful product launches are planned beyond the initial release. Create a sustainable product lifecycle that continues to deliver value to your customers. Remain open to adaptations and iterations, listen to your audience, and keep innovating to ensure your product remains relevant and competitive in the tech industry.

Many ecommerce brands spend huge budgets on paid advertising to generate leads. They invest time and money into pay-per-click campaigns, but once the ad spend stops, so does the traffic.

What they’re missing is a sustainable strategy that continues to drive traffic and sales without ongoing ad costs.

That’s where SEO comes in. When you optimize your website for search engines, you can attract a steady stream of potential customers who actively search for what you offer.

In this article, I’ll show you the best SEO tips to double your ecommerce organic traffic and increase revenue without relying on expensive ads.

Related: 5 Simple SEO Strategies to Improve Your Rankings

Why is SEO important for ecommerce businesses?

There are more than 26.5 million ecommerce websites worldwide, which makes it incredibly hard to get yours noticed. With the right SEO strategy, however, you can boost your online presence, attract targeted traffic and drive more sales.

When you rank well for certain keywords in search results, it makes it easier for potential customers to find you when they look up relevant products. These people are actively searching for your products, which means they are more likely to become your customers.

High rankings also boost your brand’s credibility and authority because consumers perceive top-ranking websites as more trustworthy.

So, let’s see how you can use SEO to get these benefits for your small business.

5 steps for doubling your ecommerce organic traffic

Doubling your organic traffic may seem daunting, but with a clear SEO strategy and consistent effort, you can achieve it quicker than you think. The trick is to master the basics, which are often overlooked while chasing for some secret formula that gives instant results.

That’s why you should:

1. Do more extensive keyword research

Keyword research is crucial for ecommerce businesses, as it helps identify keywords potential customers use when searching for products. To do it right though, you need to go deeper than traditional metrics like search volume and difficulty.

Instead, focus on understanding the search intent behind each keyword. Some people are looking to learn more about a topic, while others may be more interested in buying a product.

You should focus on keywords with clear purchasing intent, which are more likely to drive sales. For example, if you have a beauty products store, you may initially target a high-volume keyword like “best skincare routine.” However, people searching for this term are typically seeking information, not necessarily looking to buy.

Targeting keywords like “best price for anti-aging cream” can increase sales, as people searching for these terms are ready to make a purchase.

Related: Trying to Rank for a Keyword on Google? Don’t Fall for These 3 Myths.

2. Optimize product pages

Well-optimized product pages can significantly increase conversion rates, boost user experience and improve search engine rankings.

Here are a few actionable tips on how to optimize your product pages:

• Create clear and keyword-rich URLs for your product pages.

• Use power phrases like “X% off” or “Lowest price” to get people to click on your page.

• Provide detailed product descriptions that include key features, benefits and specifications.

• Incorporate relevant keywords naturally into your product descriptions.

• Use high-quality images and videos to show your product’s features.

• Display customer reviews and ratings to build trust.

• Place clear and engaging CTAs, such as “Add to cart” or “Buy now” across the page.

• Use schema markup to help search engines understand your product information better.

• Ensure your product pages are mobile-friendly, as most online shoppers use smartphones.

3. Optimize category pages

Optimizing category pages is a crucial SEO tip for improving user experience, boosting rankings and driving more sales. In the beauty products industry, for example, well-structured category pages like “Skincare,” “Makeup” and “Hair Care” can attract users searching for these terms and guide them to specific products.

Further optimize your category pages by using relevant keywords in titles and descriptions, writing unique content that focuses on product benefits and ensuring a clean layout with high-quality images.

You should also implement schema markup for rich snippets and add internal links to related categories to improve navigation.

4. Increase content velocity

Your competitors are likely publishing a lot of SEO content. So, to stay competitive, you need to publish even more.

If you only publish two blog posts per month, you won’t be able to rank effectively and might risk falling behind. Increasing content velocity is an essential part of SEO writing that helps you cover more topics, target more keywords and reach a wider audience. As a result, you can improve your website’s visibility and get an influx of fresh organic traffic.

However, to engage potential customers and drive more conversions, it’s essential that each piece of content is relevant to your audience’s interests and matches the unique user intent for each keyword.

5. Build high-quality backlinks

Building high-quality backlinks improves your search engine rankings and domain authority, which makes it easier for customers to find you.

The key to effective link-building is to focus on quality and relevance. One high-quality backlink is worth more than a dozen links from link farms. Similarly, a backlink from a relevant source can boost your rankings more than numerous irrelevant links.

For example, a beauty products store can benefit from backlinks on reputable beauty blogs, skincare forums or collaborations with industry influencers. These backlinks improve SEO and drive targeted traffic from audiences already interested in beauty products, which supports your visibility and credibility.

Related: 7 Link-Building Tactics You Need to Know to Skyrocket Your Website’s Rankings

Consistent effort and strategic SEO practices can help you stand out in a crowded market and achieve sustainable growth. The key is to focus on deep keyword research, optimize product and category pages, increase content velocity and build high-quality backlinks.

Follow these simple ecommerce SEO tips to double your website traffic and get ahead of your competitors.

Leases are a crucial part of being a landlord. You need a written agreement between you and your tenants dictating what each party is responsible for and expected to carry out. With paper leases, you must be present to sign a lease alongside your renter or mail it to them, then inspect it for errors. This process can be tedious and time-consuming.

While written leases have been the norm for many rental managers, online property management software has started to take over and revolutionize not only the lease-signing process but the entire rental management sphere. Don’t worry if you aren’t particularly tech-savvy — these software companies have made e-signing a breeze. And if you or your tenants are still having trouble, be sure to reach out to your software provider’s customer support team. They’re there to help.

What are the pros of signing leases online, and how can it increase your revenue as a landlord? Here are a few reasons why you and your business will benefit from the switch.

Related: How This New and Innovative Technology Is Disrupting the Real Estate Industry

Improves occupancy

Vacancies are a revenue-killer for landlords. Empty units equal stagnant income, so improving occupancy rates should be top of mind for any property manager.

Signing leases online expedites the lease-signing process. The faster you get leases signed, the faster you can get tenants into your units and start collecting rent payments. Also, without having to set up a physical lease-signing meeting with your tenant and coordinate complicated and busy schedules, you have time to write other listings, screen potential applicants for other vacancies and do other tasks that may need your attention.

Saves money

The more money you can save on operating expenses, the more profit you experience. Signing online leases eliminates the necessity of physical lease copies and mailing fees. It also reduces the likelihood of human error — missing signatures and initials are very common with physical lease signing. With a lease on paper, you would have to mail back the lease and wait for their correction. Online leases do not allow tenants to move on without signing all required fields, cutting back on tedious mailing and shipping rates.

You also don’t have to account for the risk of losing a physical lease when you sign it online. Losing your lease could mean you are vulnerable to legal action since you’re without your contract. With online leases, the document is always readily available. There is no need to dig through your filing cabinet or desk drawers to find it. With a physical lease, you could lose it and be without your signed written rental agreement.

Related: How to Get the Most Out of Your Rental Property Investments

Automated renewals

Tenants who renew their leases are fantastic for landlords — there is no interruption in rental income, and landlords don’t have to spend time and money marketing to and screening the unit’s new renters.

When you have a renter who is willing to re-sign, online leases make it exceptionally easy. You can make modifications to the term dates, rental fees and any other changes with a simple click. Tenants will only have to electronically sign to start their new lease.

Quicker, easier lease renewals give you more time to focus on the other aspects of your business. It also makes it so re-signing with you much easier for the tenant than it would be to sign a lease elsewhere, encouraging the renter to stay put for another lease term and not forcing you to deal with the vacancy.

Better security

Paper copies are a security risk. Tenants must give you personal information like bank account information, social security numbers and other sensitive details that must not be shared. When you keep paper copies in an office, it’s possible for that information to be seen by the wrong people.

When leases are stored online, they are protected by encryption and audit trails, which makes them legally enforceable and secure. Electronic signatures are fully recognized by the U.S. government, so you don’t have to worry about electronically signed documents not being valid.

Modernized renting experience

These days, renters want the convenience and efficiency of online leases and rental technology. They can pay the way they want, whether by credit, debit card or bank payments. Offering to sign leases online shows that you know how to stay up to date with the market and are willing to change to fit the shifting rental landscape.

With the ability to instate automatic late fees, give tenants rent reminders and many other benefits when signing a lease agreement online, you can boost your revenue while providing your tenants with a modernized, convenient rental experience.

Related: 6 Reasons Why the Real Estate Industry Needs to Start Embracing Technology

It’s time to ditch the outdated paper leases. They’re less secure, slower and more tedious than switching to a modern online property management system. Save yourself the time, effort and hassle. Research online property management software today, and see how your schedule — and overstuffed filing cabinets — free up.

Want to rank at the top of search engines? Sometimes, you need to pay to play. Search Engine Marketing (SEM) is the practice of running paid ads in search engines — namely, Google — to attract more online traffic and customers.

But as a small retail business owner, you might not have the funds or technical know-how to run expensive, complicated paid ads. That’s why it’s essential to optimize the budget you do have and implement tried-and-trusted strategies to get the best return on your ad spend.

In this guide, I share innovative and cost-effective techniques for more lucrative SEM campaigns, driving better results for your small retail business.

Related: Smart Tips for Doing Search Engine Marketing Right

1. Implement geo-specific targeting

The effectiveness of your SEM campaigns is largely dependent on targeting — whether your ads reach the right prospective customers in the right geographic area. Implementing geo-specific targeting allows you to focus your advertising efforts on people who are most likely to convert into real customers.

First, determine the locations you wish to target. These should be areas where your prospective customers are most likely to be. These may include certain neighborhoods, cities or regions, whether close to your physical store or in areas where you offer delivery services.

Next, log into your ads account and select the campaign you want to target geographically. In Google Ads, you can navigate to the “Settings” tab and view the “Locations” section. This is where you can add specific locations to target, such as by city name, ZIP code or radius to your store address.

Use the targeted locations as keywords in your ad copy. For example, if you are targeting Denver, Colorado, you might use terms like “Denver boutique” or “Women’s Clothing Downtown Denver” in your ad headline or description. Monitor your ad analytics to assess the number of clicks, calls or conversions generated by your targeted ads, then refine your strategy accordingly.

2. Reduce ad spend by adding negative keywords

Negative keywords are used to prevent your ads from appearing in the search results for terms that are irrelevant to your business. For example, if you own a small retail store that sells luxury home decor, you might add “DIY” or “budget” as negative keywords to avoid attracting bargain shoppers or DIY-ers.

To identify negative keywords, review past campaigns to see if any irrelevant keywords triggered your ads. Further, brainstorm any common terms that don’t align with your products or business.

Here’s how to add negative keywords to a Google Ad campaign:

1. Log in to your Google Ads account.

2. Choose the campaign or ad group where you want to add negative keywords.

3. In the left-hand menu, click “Keywords,” and then select “Negative Keywords.”

4. Click the “+” button to add new negative keywords. You can enter individual keywords or upload a list.

5. Once you’ve added the desired negative keywords, click “Save” to apply them to your campaign.

Negative keywords filter out low-intent or non-converting traffic. This leads to a higher conversion rate and better ROI.

Related: Struggling to Attract Local Customers to Your Business? Use These Digital Marketing Strategies to Increase Your Visibility.

3. Increase relevance with clustering and ad groups

In SEM, clustering and grouping involve organizing your keywords, ads and landing pages into groups based on similar themes, products or services. This ensures that your ads are very closely aligned with the interests (i.e., search queries) of your target audience. Clustering and grouping can reduce your ad costs, improve your ad Quality Score and boost conversion rates.

Start by identifying keywords that are closely related to each other. For example, if you own a dress boutique, you might create separate clusters for “formal dresses,” “casual dresses,” “summer dresses,” etc. Each cluster should contain keywords that are specific to that category.

Ad groups can then be used to house clusters of related keywords and the ads that target them. Using the same example as above, you might create separate ad groups for Dresses, Skirts or Formal Wear, respectively. For each ad group, you’ll write tailored ad copy that specifically addresses the keywords in that group.

Clustering ensures that your ads are matched with the most relevant search queries and the right types of customers, based on their interests. Grouping increases ad relevance, which can reduce your cost-per-click (CPC) and increase your ROI.

4. Increase online sales with Google Shopping ads

Google Shopping ads are unique ads that are created using the product data directly from your Google Merchant Center account. They display your products directly in search results, leading to more online sales, as well as local traffic and in-store sales.

Here’s how to set up Google Shopping ads:

1. Create a Google Merchant Center account. You will need to provide your business details, verify your website and set up tax and shipping information.

2. Set up your product feed. This involves adding detailed information about your products, including titles, descriptions, prices, images and availability.

3. Upload your product feed to Google Merchant Center. You can do this manually or through automated methods like scheduled fetches or API.

4. Link your Google Merchant Center and Google Ads accounts. In the Google Merchant Center, navigate to the “Account Linking” section.

5. Sign in to your Google Ads account and create a new campaign. Click on the “+ New Campaign” button, select “Sales” or “Leads” as your campaign goal, and then choose “Shopping” as the campaign type.

6. Create your ad groups, designate the products you want to promote, and update your campaign settings (campaign name, budget, bidding strategy, keywords, target locations, etc.)

Shopping ads can appear in the paid Google results, Google Play, Google Maps and the Shopping tab, allowing you to get discovered by more customers in more places!

Related: How to Strategically Generate Search Engine Traffic

With some creativity and refinement, you can generate more business for your small retail store with SEM. Adopt these innovative strategies to enhance visibility, optimize ad spend and drive more targeted traffic.

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