Alyssa Ast

Since 2004, Facebook has transformed our lives. It provided us with a platform to connect with anyone in the world at any time. Long lost friendships were rekindled, and distant family members became just a simple search away. For marketers and business owners, it created a new playing field to reach customers and to turn profits at an astounding rate based on audience connections. While Facebook has remained front and center for more than 14 years, all good things must come to an end. You can only reign king for so long before someone else swoops in to take your place. Although there have been many social media outlets to compete against the giant over the last decade, the demise of Facebook will be their own doing.

April 29 th to May 5 th , 2018 is National Small Business Week. Every year, a week is dedicated to over 50% of Americans who own or work for a small business. As the very backbone to our country, small businesses account for more than 99.7% of U.S. businesses according to SBA Gov. While 52% of those are home-based, they contribute to more than 55% of all new jobs. That’s roughly 56.8 million employees. As part of the infrastructure for a thriving economy, our country relies on the small business success rate.   Will My Business Survive? If you are among those who own a business, it is more than just a company to you. It is your livelihood. It is your dream that you have turned into a tangible vision. Your success is critical, not just to you, but to your loved ones as well. If it fails, there are homes, college funds, and retirement plans on the line. Despite 75% of small business owners feeling confident in their achievement, only 50% will survive for 5 years or more....