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	<title>Small Business Archives - Host Calc</title>
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	<title>Small Business Archives - Host Calc</title>
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	<item>
		<title>Top Ecommerce Trends on Products to Sell Online in 2021</title>
		<link>https://hostcalc.com/top-ecommerce-trends-on-products-to-sell-online-in-2021/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[publisher]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 02 Jan 2021 17:23:24 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Small Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[2021]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[covid 19]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ecommerce]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ecommerce trends]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[online sales]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[trends]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://hostcalc.com/?p=1384</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>The end of 2020 came with a sigh of relief from many people who found the year to be extremely &#8230; </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://hostcalc.com/top-ecommerce-trends-on-products-to-sell-online-in-2021/">Top Ecommerce Trends on Products to Sell Online in 2021</a> appeared first on <a href="https://hostcalc.com">Host Calc</a>.</p>
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<p>The end of 2020 came with a sigh of relief from many people who found the year to be extremely stressful. Yet, many things will remain the same in 2021. COVID-19 lockdowns, mask mandates, and other government interventions that negatively affect people&#8217;s mental health—and livelihoods, are likely to continue at least through flu season. While it is important to consider the physical health of ourselves and our neighbors, this war on the pandemic has created seismic shifts in the way that people shop. Most small businesses and retail shops are considered &#8220;non-essential&#8221; and many have run out of cash and have had no choice but to shut down, while department stores and other large corporate entities are able to remain open. Small business owners, and the people who lost their jobs when those businesses went under therefore have two choices. They can reinvent themselves by capitalizing on the valuable information found at <a href="https://hostcalc.com/top-tutorial-websites-for-small-businesses-and-startups/">online tutorial websites</a>. Or, they can <a href="https://hostcalc.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-start-a-website/">start a website</a> and sell products online. With that in mind, it&#8217;s important to know the top ecommerce trends in 2021. Armed with this knowledge, you can make smart decisions about the kinds of businesses that are most likely to succeed.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Home Spa and Self Care Products</h2>



<p>We&#8217;ve all see the aftermath of <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/2020/04/23/haircut-how-shape-your-own-hair-during-coronavirus-shutdown/5143897002/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">at-home COVID haircuts</a>. People are reluctant to take the risk of spending an hour in a salon, out of fear that they will contract the deadly virus. It&#8217;s true that people with pre-existing conditions, and older people are at risk of serious health issues and death. It&#8217;s also true that there are circumstances where <a href="https://nypost.com/2020/12/30/at-home-haircut-led-to-covid-19-deaths-of-chicago-couple/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">people have died</a> from in home haircuts. This fear has led to a surge in purchasing products for at home spa treatments and other self care products. People aren&#8217;t going to the barber, or the nail salon. Instead, they&#8217;re buying <a href="https://amzn.to/3pIFEeO" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow">peel-off face masks</a>, <a href="https://amzn.to/3n92MBJ" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow">nail polish</a> and <a href="https://amzn.to/3pGi3LL" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow">mani pedi sets</a>, and <a href="https://amzn.to/3rNFJA0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow">hair stylist kits</a> complete with clippers, sheers, and blow dryers.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">At Home Workout Gear and Equipment</h2>



<p>Although <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7534876/#:~:text=Therefore%2C%20it%20can%20be%20concluded,contaminated%20with%20other%20body%20liquids." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">COVID does not appear to be transmitted through sweat</a>, gyms have been shut down by many states and localities. Even where they&#8217;re open, people are still afraid of going to the gym. Fitness centers have therefore begun to promote <a href="https://www.1and1life.com/digital-products/workout-plan/at-home/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">virtual workout programs online</a>, and other workarounds to keep their customers engaged. Online retailers are also pushing <a href="https://amzn.to/2X2YwJd" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow">exercise bikes</a>, <a href="https://amzn.to/353hbco" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow">fitness bands</a>, <a href="https://amzn.to/3rN4k7R" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow">yoga mats</a>, and other at home workout gear and equipment. Plus, Lululemon <a href="https://amzn.to/38RJ34l" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow">leggings</a> and other fitness apparel and athleisure is still flying off the shelves.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Anxiety Relief, CBD, and Health Supplements</h2>



<p>Cannabidiol is not considered a supplement, sellers may not advertise it as an anti-anxiety treatment, and it is not approved by the FDA. Yet, there are countless <a href="https://grownselection.com/product-category/cbd/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CBD stores online</a> that are successful because people believe in the product. Consumers are hungry for self-care treatments and natural ways to avoid trips to the doctor and heavy prescription medications. They&#8217;re also concerned about their health amid a global pandemic. Consequently, they&#8217;re buying up vitamins, minerals, and nutritional <a href="https://www.1and1life.com/product/1and1-shield-elite-immune-support/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">supplements that may support the immune system</a> like Vitamin D, <a href="https://amzn.to/354lUKW" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow">Vitamin C</a>, and <a href="https://amzn.to/3pKMcdc" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow">Zinc</a>. They&#8217;re also buying <a href="https://amzn.to/3oa9vwm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow">multivitamins for men</a> and <a href="https://amzn.to/3b0RTzm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow">women</a>, and nootropics like <a href="https://amzn.to/3rKqAzb" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow">Onnit Alpha Brain</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How to Survive 2021 as an Online Retailer</h2>



<p>These are just some of the products that will do well in 2021. There are plenty of other products and services that will surge in ecommerce sales this year, too. The key is in understanding the underlying factors of the trend that&#8217;s right in front of us. Understand that shopping behavior is changing, possibly permanently, as a result of the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020 and 2021. Apply that to your business analytics, and make intelligent decisions, and you might just survive in 2021 as an online retailer. If you&#8217;re not already online, it might be time to get started with a <a href="https://hostcalc.com/wordpress-hosting-plans/">WordPress hosting plan</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://hostcalc.com/top-ecommerce-trends-on-products-to-sell-online-in-2021/">Top Ecommerce Trends on Products to Sell Online in 2021</a> appeared first on <a href="https://hostcalc.com">Host Calc</a>.</p>
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		<item>
		<title>Top Tutorial Websites for Small Businesses and Startups</title>
		<link>https://hostcalc.com/top-tutorial-websites-for-small-businesses-and-startups/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[publisher]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 07 Dec 2020 00:46:30 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Small Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[elearning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[forums]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[online learning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[small business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[smb]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://hostcalc.com/?p=1378</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>It&#8217;s not easy to start a small business, or an ecommerce start-up. Most people can get started by choosing an &#8230; </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://hostcalc.com/top-tutorial-websites-for-small-businesses-and-startups/">Top Tutorial Websites for Small Businesses and Startups</a> appeared first on <a href="https://hostcalc.com">Host Calc</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>It&#8217;s not easy to start a small business, or an ecommerce start-up. Most people can get started by choosing an affordable <a href="https://hostcalc.com/shared-web-hosting/">shared hosting plan</a> and installing a WordPress website. But then, things get complicated. How will you make your business profitable? How do you choose the right products and services to sell? How do you know when to hire help? Twenty years ago, these questions would have required a formal education in business administration, or countless trips to the library. But today, there&#8217;s a wealth of information at your fingertips, thanks to the internet. Some of these </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">QuickMBA</h2>



<p>If you want to have access to the fundamentals of an MBA program, then <a href="http://www.quickmba.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">QuickMBA.com</a> is a great place to start. This website is an oldie, but goodie. In fact, it&#8217;s so old that you&#8217;re going to need a desktop computer to view it. But once you do, you&#8217;ll have access to all sorts of MBA program materials, for free. Categories include accounting, business law, economics, entrepreneurship, finance,  management, marketing, operations, statistics, and strategy.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Udemy</h2>



<p>If you don&#8217;t mind spending a few bucks to learn valuable skills, then try <a href="https://www.udemy.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Udemy.com</a>. The great thing about Udemy is that courses are in video format, so that you don&#8217;t have to spend time reading lengthy pages of information. Many courses also have workbooks to help you with the lessons. And, you can usually sample a few lessons before deciding to spend money on a course. Pro tip: when you find a course that you like, wait for a sale before purchasing it. For example, if you want to buy this great <a href="https://www.udemy.com/course/sales-training-business-development-larry-sharpe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">course on sales training</a>, you&#8217;ll see that it&#8217;s priced at $94.99. But if it&#8217;s not already on sale, wait a week, and the price will usually drop to below $20.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">LinkedIn Learning (Formerly Lynda.com)</h2>



<p>If you&#8217;re a business professional, then it&#8217;s very likely that you&#8217;ve already got a profile on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/learning/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LinkedIn.com</a>. But did you know that they have a full suite of e-learning materials available right on their website? Back in 2015, they <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/linkedin-buys-lyndacom-for-15-billion-2015-4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">acquired Lynda.com for $1.5 billion</a>, and folded the coursework into their own platform. In addition, there are plenty of networking groups where you can learn from others in your industry.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Small Business Forums</h2>



<p>Oddly, many amazing small business resources live on old-school platforms, and <a href="https://www.smallbusinessforums.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SmallBusinessForums.org</a> is no exception. As with Quick MBA, you&#8217;re going to need to view this website on a desktop device, but it&#8217;s worth it. You&#8217;ll get access to a wealth of knowledge in old forum posts, and you&#8217;ll have access to other professionals who can answer your questions. Just be sure not to annoy people with questions that have already been answered in the past. Spend five minutes to do a search before posting a question, and lurk a bit to get a feel for the culture of this forum. It&#8217;ll make people more receptive to you, and they&#8217;ll be more helpful, which translates into more dollars in your pocket.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Warrior Forum</h2>



<p>If you want access to a great forum full of small business owners and entrepreneurs, plus free learning materials, then <a href="https://www.warriorforum.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">WarriorForum.com</a> may be for you. Plus, the owners of Warrior Forum took the time to upgrade their platform so that it&#8217;s easily readable on mobile devices. They&#8217;ve also got a strong focus on digital marketing, including branding, search engine optimization, and social media marketing.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Facebook Groups</h2>



<p>Believe it or not, Facebook isn&#8217;t just for socializing. You can explore <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Facebook groups</a> to find business-minded people to connect with. If you don&#8217;t want to mix your business and personal posts, then you can do one of two things. First, you can choose to only join <em>private</em> groups, so that your posts and comments only appear for other members of the group, rather than annoying your friends and family. Second, you could create a business page for your company. Believe it or not, you can actually join some groups under your business name, rather than your personal profile. This is often a good approach if you want to promote your company. Just keep in mind that it&#8217;ll be harder to network with people on a personal level.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Up and Coming Websites for Small Businesses and Startups</h2>



<p>This list of websites is far from exhaustive. There are lots of online destinations where you can get an education in building your business. And, there are some up and coming websites to keep your eyes on.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Snackable Solutions</h3>



<p>As the name suggests, <a href="https://snackablesolutions.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Snackable Solutions</a> is all about giving you bite-sized solutions to common business problems. Sometimes, we don&#8217;t have hours to spend on learning information that we barely use. Instead, you can watch a five-minute video on this website or its accompanying <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCYiDuHAyEq2EcKhI1pNpPQ" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Youtube channel</a>. Just keep in mind that this website is very new, and it will be a while before they&#8217;ve got a full library of snackable videos to help you get your business off of the ground.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://hostcalc.com/top-tutorial-websites-for-small-businesses-and-startups/">Top Tutorial Websites for Small Businesses and Startups</a> appeared first on <a href="https://hostcalc.com">Host Calc</a>.</p>
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