Big data’s role in sales and marketing

Big data has become tremendously important for every company, be it a big-sized multinational corporation or a small start-up. Big data has become more than just a buzzword for most firms. It is one of the most important technologies that can help businesses gain an extra advantage over their competitors.

The role of big data for marketing teams is huge. When developing a campaign, it is critical that every marketing specialist first understands a number of variables, like the target audience, your opponents’ strategies, etc. And, this is exactly what big data helps them do.

The benefits of using big data

Better understanding your target audience

Understanding your target audience and customers are critical for every marketing expert. At the end of the day, the main goal of marketing experts is to catch the attention and onboard more and more customers. Therefore, your strategies must be developed specifically with your target audience in mind. The intention should be to turn every lead into a valuable customer for the company.

Competition is really fierce today. Every company has to put extra effort into attracting its target audience through its marketing initiatives By analyzing big data, marketing experts can get a treasure trove of useful insights related to their target audience. These insights help marketers to curate more powerful campaigns for their target audience.

Better understanding the competition

In order to become successful, companies have to gain an extra edge over their opponents. This is exactly where the role of big data analytics services and solutions comes into play. Data related to the competition can be collected and analyzed in a way that helps marketers gain valuable insights about their opponents.

These insights can be related to competitors’ new product or service launch. These insights can even be related to the marketing campaigns of the opponents. Marketers can find out what the competition is doing to attract their audience, and whether their strategies are working. Marketers can get a lot of new ideas about marketing strategies with the help of big data analytics.

A better understanding of industry conditions and the company’s past

Marketing experts can understand the market or industry conditions through big data analysis. They can gain more knowledge about industry trends and future prospects. This information can turn out to be quite useful while devising new marketing strategies. At the same time, they can also use big data to learn about their company’s past.

Big data analysis helps marketing experts in many ways. The first step is for marketers to define what they want to get from their big data analysis. Then, they can churn out valuable insights based on their needs and requirements. An intelligent big data strategy will definitely help marketing experts make more effective plans.

There’s a reason why WordPress is so popular: it’s relatively easy to use, offers a lot of functionality, and gives you many customization options. And it can be great for SEO, too.

If you know what you’re doing, you can use it for structuring, managing, and publishing content in a way that generates traffic.

It’s a sort of a one-stop shop for blogging, content management, ecommerce, and website building. And maybe best of all – it’s free.

But, running your own WordPress site isn’t without its drawbacks.

For one thing, you’re responsible for your own updates, security, and backups. Click the wrong box in the settings section, and you could be vulnerable to hackers.

And you will be dealing with frequent updates because it relies so heavily on plugins to provide the functionality you want.

It can also be problematic for web developers. If you have a high degree of skill in creating websites, you may find WordPress’ templated approach restricting.

On the other end of the spectrum, you may struggle without drag and drop functionality if you don’t know how to code.

Finally, WordPress is a jack-of-all-trades type of platform. It does many things well but is not exceptional in any area. This means you may want more functionality in an area that’s important to you.

In this piece, we’ll look at 25 SEO-friendly WordPress alternatives separated by primary functionality and provide you a quick rundown of each, so you can make the best choice for your needs.

Ready to get started?

Web Design Platforms

1. Wix

If you’re looking for an easy, all-in-one, fully customizable platform that doesn’t require third-party sites and plugins, look no further than Wix.

This option houses everything you need within the Wix platform, from hosting to handling structured data. Their step-by-step guide helps beginners create a beautiful website without any prior experience.

Key Features:

• Full hosting solution.
• No software to self-install.
• Drag-and-drop visual builder.
• Extensions are available.
• Optimized for mobile.
• Blog module.
• Ecommerce store.
• Social media tools.

Pros:

• All-in-one website builder and platform.
• Free version available.
• Premade designs and templates.
• Free subdomain available for all plans.
• Free custom domain available with paid plans.
• Customer support.

Cons:

• No option to retain full control of your site as you can with WordPress.
• No access to source code.

2. Squarespace

This all-in-one option allows you to easily create a website on Squarespace’s fully hosted platform. You do not need prior experience to use this intuitive site builder.

Squarespace hosts all its features in-house, meaning you can’t install third-party extensions or use custom coding.

It’s a great solution for hobbyists and small businesses to build a professional site themselves, although it can be an expensive solution if all you’re doing is running a basic website.

Key Features:

• Full hosting solution (including video).
• No software to self-install.
• Drag-and-drop visual builder.
• Extensions are available.
• Optimized for mobile.
• Blog module.
• Ecommerce store.
• Social media tools.

Pros:

• All-in-one website builder and platform.
• Free version available.
• Premade designs and templates.
• Free subdomain available for all plans.
• Free custom domain available with an annual subscription.
• Customer support.

Cons:

• No option to retain full control of your site as you can with WordPress.
• No custom coding.
• No access to source code.
• No third-party extensions.

3. Weebly

If you’re looking for simple and affordable, Weebly might be up your alley.

This site builder takes an all-in-one approach to make website creation accessible for everyone, not just programmers and web developers.

Weebly is revered for being user and SEO-friendly, but if you’re on the free plan, your website will be limited to only five pages.

Key Features:

• Full hosting solution.
• No software to self-install.
• Drag-and-drop visual builder.
• Extensions are available.
• Optimized for mobile.
• Blog module.
• Ecommerce store.
• Social media tools.

Pros:

• All-in-one website builder and platform.
• Free version available.
• Premade designs and templates.
• Free subdomain available.
• Inexpensive premium plans are as low as $6.00 per month.
• Free custom domain available with premium plans.
• Customer support.

Cons:

• No option to retain full control of your site as you can with WordPress.
• No access to source code.
• The free version restricts you to a maximum of five pages.

4. Google Sites

Google’s webpage and wiki creation tool, Google Sites is a free and easy way to build a website.

Because it was developed by the search engine giant, it integrates smoothly with all other Google products, including Gmail, YouTube, and Fitbit.

It is free to build, host, and maintain with a Google account, with no web hosting fees.

However, if you want to link your site with Google Apps, it costs $50 per user per year.

Key Features:

• Creator has full control over page access and permissions.
• Tools can be accessed anywhere.
• It can be used as a basic project management program.
• Plenty of web development and deployment options.
• Real-time editing.
• Uses website speed optimization tools to minimize loading times.

Pros:

• Fast to get started and easy to use.
• Free to use.
• Integrated with other Google products.

Cons:

• Limited functionality compared to other website builders.
• It may not work with non-Google apps.
• Limited customization options.
• No SEO tools and you can’t edit metadata.
• It cannot integrate Facebook pixels.

5. Jekyll

Jekyll was designed to be a lightweight alternative to other website creation platforms, including only necessary components so you can run your website without database access or other additional software.

It’s an open-source platform that allows you to quickly create and launch a website.

Key Features:

• No programming involved.
• SEO is built-in.
• GitHub manages redirects.
• Easy setup of custom domains.

Pros:

• No server maintenance.
• Very fast.
• Secure.
• Free hosting.
• Free SSL certificate.
• Works with GitHub as CMS.

Cons:

• It can’t create contact forms.
• No dynamic content options.
• Posts cannot be scheduled.
• Does not include image manipulation functionality.

6. Hugo

Billing itself as “the world’s fastest framework for building websites,” Hugo is an open-source platform for creating static sites.

It can generate most webpages in under one millisecond, with new pages built every time you create or update content.

Its goal is to provide an optimal viewing experience for users and authors.

Key Features:

• Can build most websites in seconds.
• Cross-platform with easy installation.
• Allows you to host your site anywhere.
• Customizable URLs.
• “Minutes to Read” and “WordCount” functionality.
• Integrated Google Analytics and Disqus comment support.

Pros:

• It easily integrates with Google Calendar and other apps.
• Easy to use with responsive customer service.
• Multilingual capabilities built-in.
• Extendable as needed.

Cons:

• It can’t create one-off tasks.
• It can be confusing upon initial use, particularly in templating syntax.
• No plugins are available.
• Limited text formatting features.

7. Webflow

Webflow is a responsive tool for web design that lets you create websites without the required coding knowledge.

It includes a visual designer, which lets you see the changes you’re making in real-time and includes significant versatility.

You can create nearly any website you need, including ecommerce, blogs, and business sites.

Key Features:

• More than 100 templates to choose from.
• Design is prioritized, with animation, interaction, and parallax scrolling options.
• Offers automatically generated sitemaps and customizable 301 redirects.
• Multiple payment options for ecommerce sites and automatic tax calculation.

Pros:

• Affordable, with plans ranging from free to $235 for top-tier ecommerce plans.
• Free starter plan.
• Numerous learning and help resources.
• Good range of templates.
• Good security.

Cons:

• Steep learning curve.
• Integration with social media can be frustrating.
• Advanced capabilities aren’t built-in and require integration.

Content Management Systems (CMS)

8. Joomla

Like WordPress, Joomla is an open-source content management system (CMS).

Joomla is free, but you have to pay for your web hosting.

Joomla’s appeal is its broad range of functionality that allows you to run any type of website – blogs, ecommerce, portfolios, informational websites, and more.

The downside to Joomla is that it isn’t ideal for beginners, so it’s best if you have some experience.

Key Features:

• Almost 6,000 extensions are available.
• Traditional content editing (no drag-and-drop visual editor).
• Optimized for mobile (depending on the template).
• Blog module.
• Ecommerce store.
• Social media tools.

Pros:

• Free, open-source software.
• Premade designs and templates.
• Access to source code.

Cons:

• No free subdomains or custom domains are available.
• No customer support.
• Requires a PHP-enable server to run.
• Fewer templates and extensions than WordPress.

9. Drupal

Like WordPress and Joomla, Drupal is a CMS platform. The software is free, although you’ll have web hosting fees.

Drupal is one of the most technical and powerful CMS options on the market, but it requires more skills to tap into Drupal’s full potential.

This site-building option is best suited for advanced users.

Key Features:

• Content Management System (CMS).
• Over 47,000 modules are available.
• Traditional content editing (no drag-and-drop visual editor).
• Optimized for mobile (depending on the theme you choose).
• Blog module.
• Ecommerce store.
• Social media tools.

Pros:

• Free, open-source software.
• Premade designs and templates.
• Access to source code.
• Strong security and data encryption.

Cons:

• No free subdomains.
• No customer support.
• Requires a PHP-enabled server to run.

10. DataLife Engine

DataLife Engine, often referred to as DLE, is a multifunctional CMS. Primarily designed for mass media websites and blogs, it allows you to manage news, articles, and users. 

Flexible and customizable, it can be used to create websites that can handle high levels of visitors with minimal load on your servers.

DLE emphasizes SEO and security, which has led to its adoption by more than 100,000 organizations.

Key Features:

• Content Management System (CMS).
• Designed for multiple users.
• SEO-focused.
• Tracks statistics.
• Automatically filters words in comments.
• It supports an unlimited number of categories.
• Low server load.
• Allows plugins.

Pros:

• Stores data using MySQL.
• Excellent user experience
• Websites load quickly, even on low-end servers.
• Excellent for publishing news and blog posts.

Cons:

• No free version licenses vary from $79 for basic to $199 for unlimited.
• English users are a secondary focus.
• A limited number of plugins and themes.
• The lowest license doesn’t include customer support.

11. Sitefinity

Progress’ Sitefinity is a CMS and digital experience platform that allows you to create multi-channel marketing experiences.

Sitefinity allows you to create, store, manage, and publish content on your website. It lets you operate across departments, units, locations, and brands from one platform.

Key Features:

• Manage multiple sites from one location.
• Sync assets across pages and sites.
• It makes personalization simpler.
• Integrated analytics and optimization.
• Four versions include basic, marketing-focused, PaaS, and ecommerce.
• Multilingual capabilities.

Pros:

• Low-cost license compared to other CMS.
• No setup fee.
• Minimal coding is required for integration.
• Flexible deployment time shortens time to market.
• Options for marketing automation.

Cons:

• Free trial, but no free version.
• Setup and administration can be challenging.
• No mobile interface.

12. Hubspot CMS

Hubspot is one of the biggest names in marketing software, so it should be no surprise that they also have a CMS tool.

Combining website creation with a customer relationship management (CRM) tool lets you cover the entire buying journey from one place.

And because it was built for cross-departmental use, it doesn’t require extensive development knowledge.

Key Features:

• Cloud-based.
• Includes SEO recommendations.
• Includes numerous themes and responsive templates.
• Fully integrated CRM.
• Drag-and-drop webpage editor.
• Built-in security.

Pros:

• Adaptive A/B testing helps you identify the best page layout.
• All-in-one publishing tools.
• Built-in SEO tools.
• Supports smart content with personalized rules.
• Mobile pages supported with Google AMP.

Cons:

• Steep learning curve.
• Does not support ecommerce.
• No automatic backup and recovery.

13. Contentful

Contentful is a backend-only CMS. Intended to allow users to create content at scale, it integrates various tools, giving you the freedom to publish across channels.

A cloud-native platform, it has a clean interface and was designed to be API-first, which provides serious flexibility.

Features:

• RESTful API gives you full control over assets, translations, and versions.
• Customizable interface and framework that works across third-party component providers.
• It provides regional autonomy, so pieces in multiple languages and time zones can be published globally.
• Content modeling allows you to structure content by channel.
• Single sign-on and secure access.

Pros:

• Focus on integration simplifies the technology stack.
• User-friendly with a clean interface.
• Free version for up to five users.
• Good scalability.

Cons:

• Expensive for an upgraded version ($489/month).
• Poor internal search tools.
• Modeling content can be tricky.

14. Adobe Experience Manager

Combining the functionality of a CMS with a digital asset management (DAM) platform, Adobe Experience Manager is intended to be an all-in-one platform for building websites, managing marketing content, and overseeing media libraries.

It offers cloud integration and plays well with other programs, including its own flagship creative suite.

Key Features:

• Comprehensive marketing platform.
• End-to-end digital document solution.
• Enterprise-level security.
• Analytics included.
• Intelligent search.
• Scalable to your needs.

Pros:

• Streamlines workflows by keeping everything on one platform.
• Authoring and publishing can be handled by individual marketers.
• Easy authorization of workflow.
• Can handle massive content loads.
• Can manage multiple sites at once.

Cons:

• Steep learning curve.
• Requires different sign-ins to access different areas.
• Doesn’t integrate well with external DAMs.
• Not ideal for communities and forums.

Ecommerce Platforms

15. BigCommerce

If you’re looking for scalability in an SEO-friendly WordPress alternative, BigCommerce might be the right option for you.

It features strong SEO support and smooth multi-channel integration, and there are no platform fees or commissions.

However, customer reviews weren’t overly favorable regarding setup, and this ecommerce-targeted platform isn’t the best for small businesses or stores with tight margins.

Key Features:

• Full hosting solution.
• No software to self-install.
• Drag-and-drop visual builder.
• Extensions are available.
• Optimized for mobile.
• Blog module.
• Ecommerce store.
• Social media tools.

Pros:

• High level of customization options.
• Over 100 themes to choose from (including some free).
• No platform commission fees.
• Free subdomain available.
• Customer support.

Cons:

• No free version is available.
• No access to source code.
• Pricing is based on revenue, which isn’t great if you have tight margins.

16. Shopify

One of the most popular ecommerce platforms on the market, Shopify, is designed to help you sell products.

That gives this option a major edge in the post-COVID digital shopping era, especially if your Shopify site is optimized for SEO.

Although Shopify can handle blogging and other niches, it isn’t the best solution for anything outside of ecommerce needs.

Key Features:

• Full hosting solution.
• No software to self-install.
• Drag-and-drop visual builder.
• Extensions are available.
• Optimized for mobile.
• Blog module.
• Ecommerce store.
• Social media tools.

Pros:

• All-in-one website builder and platform.
• Premade designs and templates.
• Free subdomain available.
• Customer support.

Cons:

• No free version is available.
• No access to source code.
• Platform commission fees.

17. Magento

Magento is an ecommerce-based platform with more bells and whistles than Shopify.

And while it offers a ton of business features especially suited to large-scale enterprises, it’s not the easiest platform to use.

Magento specializes in ecommerce and not much else. If you want a website that capitalizes on different features, your investment in Magento probably isn’t worth your time.

Key Features:

• Option to pay for Magento Commerce for a full hosting platform or get the free, open-source software to install on your own web server.
• Drag-and-drop visual builder.
• Extensions are available.
• Optimized for mobile.
• Ecommerce store.
• Social media tools.

Pros:

• All-in-one ecommerce platform or open-source ecommerce software package.
• Free version available.
• Designed for large-scale ecommerce.
• Premade designs and templates.
• Free subdomain available (mainly for setup and testing purposes).
• Customer support (paid version only).
• Access to source code with the downloadable version.

Cons:

• No blog module, although you can add it as an extension.
• Not optimized for web projects or website purposes outside of ecommerce.
• The steep learning curve for inexperienced users.
• A large investment for small-scale ecommerce.

18. Prestashop

Prestashop is a freemium open-source ecommerce platform that allows you to set up stores on your host or via the cloud. 

Available in 65 languages, it offers a powerful interface that is responsive to mobile users.

Prestashop has a variety of add-on features and provides a reliable online shopping solution.

Key Features:

• Customizable to your needs, including themes and features.
• Includes backend tools like payments, shipping and data.
• Community of translators for multilanguage digital stores.
• Secure payment modules.
• Scalable.
• Includes demographic assistance.

Pros:

• Free version available.
• Open source, so you can customize your site to your needs.
• 5,000+ themes, modules, and services are available with the premium plan.
• Excellent user experience.

Cons:

• Limited scalability.
• No support team.
• Initial setup requires some programming knowledge.

19. OpenCart

A PHP-based ecommerce solution, OpenCart is free to use. Flexible and customizable, it comes with access to a dedicated community to help you troubleshoot.

Because it’s open source, there are extensive add-ons and modules for just about anything.

Features:

• The administrator dashboard gives you information at a glance.
• User management allows you to assign permissions and separate access.
• Allows you to run multiple stores from one dashboard.
• Customizable variables let you include options for sizes, colors, or anything else.

Pros:

• The platform is completely free, as are many add-ons.
• Extensive metrics and reports provided.
• Works with your current payment gateway.
• Comes with dedicated technical support.
• Flexible.

Cons:

• Often creates duplicate pages, which can cause SEO problems.
• Not all extensions, modules, plug-ins, and add-ons work well together.
• Checkout can be slow, particularly if you have numerous plug-ins.
• Can be difficult to import a list of inventory.
• Requires some degree of technical ability for optimal use.

Blogging Platforms

20. Medium

Rather than joining the others on this list as a site builder or web software, Medium stands alone as a publishing platform with its own community and user base.

This is a great solution if you’re a blogger looking for an inexpensive way to publish content.

But remember that you don’t have customization options, meaning you can’t brand your own website.

If you need a unique website with design control, Medium isn’t going to suit your requirements.

Key Features:

• Full hosting solution.
• No software to self-install.
• Optimized for mobile.
• Blog module.
• Limited social media tools.

Pros:

• A community site for blogs.
• Free version available.
• Medium Partner Program to earn revenue.
• Customer support.

Cons:

• No extensions.
• No ecommerce stores.
• No premade designs or themes.
• No free subdomains.
• No third-party extensions.
• No access to source code.

21. Ghost

This platform is a WordPress contender for blogging, but Ghost’s capabilities are limited for anything more.

Ghost is a simple and straightforward platform to suit your needs if you’re in the right niche.

But if you know your website might grow, remember that Ghost isn’t designed to scale a blog up into a business website or complex project.

Key Features:

• Option to subscribe through Ghost’s hosting platform or get the free open source software to install on your own web server.
• Basic drag-and-drop visual builder.
• Extensions are available through integrations with other tools.
• Optimized for mobile.
• Blog module.
• Ecommerce store (subscription only).
• Social media tools.

Pros:

• All-in-one website builder and platform.
• Free version available.
• Premade designs and templates.
• Free subdomain available with the paid version.
• Customer support.
• Access to source code.

Cons:

• Not compatible with all third-party web hosts.
• Highly specialized with limited capabilities beyond blogging.
• Not built to scale up into a business site or complex website.

22. Tumblr

Tumblr is a unique blend of social media and microblogging.

Like a traditional social media platform, it allows you to post status updates and share images, as well as re-blog posts your audience may find relevant.

Customizable to your needs, it has a unique tagging system that helps you accurately target an audience and build a community.

Key Features:

• Features strong social media functionality.
• Customizable.
• Google Analytics Integration.
• Unlimited storage.
• Ad-free blog themes.
• Free SSL certification.

Pros:

• Free to use; no upgrades are required to access all features.
• Free web hosting.
• User-friendly and easy to set up.
• No storage limits.
• Can post audio, video, images, gifs, and more.

Cons:

• Daily posting limit (250/day).
• Files must be under 10 MB.
• No plugins.
• Safety and security leave something to be desired.
• Unsuited to long-form content.

23. Bluehost

After Typepad stopped accepting new signups in 2020, EIG began directing people to Bluehost for their web hosting needs.

Bluehost supports over 80 open-source projects beyond WordPress, including Drupal, Joomla, and phpBB. It’s currently used by more than 2 million websites.

Key Features:

• Domain names can be purchased through Bluehost.
• Versatile hosting options let you choose what works best for you.
• Dedicated servers and virtual private servers are available.
• A variety of plans are available based on your needs.
• Comes with customer service chat options.

Pros:

• The first term is inexpensive.
• Lots of storage and unlimited bandwidth.
• Good uptime.
• Free SSL certificates.

Cons:

• Extra features come with added costs, which can get pricey.
• High renewal rates.
• Speed could be better.
• All servers are U.S.-based.

24. Blogger

If you’re going to name your company “Blogger,” you better be good at blog hosting; it shouldn’t be surprising that Blogger delivers.

Acquired by Google in 2003, Blogger is more than just one of the oldest blogging platforms; it’s also a CMS.

Free to use, it lets you publish everything in your own personal space, whether it’s a business blog or a series of posts about your favorite Harry Potter characters.

Your site can be hosted at yourname.blogspot.com or your own domain.

Features:

• Clear analytics.
• Included layout/themes.
• Monetization options, including Google Adsense integration.
• Uses Google security.
• Unlimited storage.

Pros:

• Free to use.
• Extremely user-friendly.
• Free SSL security.
• Good uptime.

Cons:

• You don’t own your website.
• Fewer options and control over design.
• Limited support.
• Hard to port to a different platform.

Community Management

25. vBulletin

If your site’s primary purpose is to create a community and host forums and message boards, vBulletin may be the right choice for you.

Easily installed on any web hosting service or run from vBulletin’s cloud, its primary focus is on community websites, though it does include tools for content discovery and site management.

It comes with various templates, graphics, and styles, so you can customize your forum to your brand.

Key Features:

• Built-in SEO and security.
• Includes a chat app.
• Easy to get started.
• Built-in applications.
• Optimized for mobile users.
• Blogging functionality.
• Fully customizable.

Pros:

• Frequent patches and bug fixes.
• Customer support.
• Easy to install and get started.
• Designed to host forums.
• Includes templates.

Cons:

• No free option.
• Limited features compared to some other platforms.
• Requires some tech skills to take full advantage of the functionality.
• It can’t customize code for the cloud-based version.

Which One Is Right For You?

Including WordPress, you have 26 options for building your website.

So, how do you know which one is right for you? It comes down to your needs and what you want your website to accomplish.

If you’re looking to create a website that is ecommerce-first, you’d be well served to pick from one of the options listed in that section.

On the other hand, if you’re primarily interested in blogging, you’ll want a platform that focuses on that.

And if you want one that does everything, well, there are a few on the list.

Hopefully, by practicing this, you’ve gained a little insight into which platform will work best for you.

More Resources:

Featured Image: GaudiLab/Shutterstock

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Our client, a retail giant, is looking for a Magento Developer to join them at their offices in Cape Town. You would be responsible for building and maintaining their eCommerce websites which includes but is not limited to liaising with the design team, setting up Magento and sites, building modules and customizing extensions, testing the performance of each site, and maintaining security and feature updates after the installation is complete.

Responsibilities

• Be the Magento Subject matter expert in our E-commerce product team.
• Architect and Design Magento modules to satisfy business requirements
• Define and implement coding standards and best practices relevant to Magento
• Mentoring and skilling up junior Magento developers
• Implement unit tests to ensure adequate code coverage
• Load and stress testing.
• Investigate, debug and solve production incidents
• Keep Magento appropriately updated and patched

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related field
• Magento Certification(s)
• 8 years Magento experience (4 years Magento 2)
• Advanced knowledge of Magento, JavaScript, HTML, PHP, CSS, and MySQL.
• Experience with complete eCommerce lifecycle development.
• Understanding of modern UI/UX trends.
• Knowledge of Google Tag Manager, SEO, Google Analytics, and A/B Testing.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Experience with Google Cloud Platform implementations
• Solid experience using GraphQL, JSON, XML, Node.js

Desired Skills:

• Magento
• Developer
• Javascript

Learn more/Apply for this position

(Ad) When it comes to finding the best web hosting provider for your business or online presence, there is no shortage of website hosting options to choose from. From shared hosting to VPS hosting and cloud hosting, the options are limitless. 

Business owners of all sizes and stages can benefit from mentorship to help them navigate the path of entrepreneurship. For Black, Hispanic, and Latino entrepreneurs, in particular, access to a mentor can make the difference between success and failure given the unique set of obstacles they often face when it comes to raising capital, acquiring resources, education, and even finding the right networking opportunities. 

More than half of the 2 million new businesses started in the United States over the last decade are minority-owned. Yet, few have access to a mentor who can help them grow, both personally and professionally. It's why Chase for Business created a mentorship program to offer minority small business owners free one-on-one coaching, banking and credit solutions, community resources, and year-round educational training. Since its 2020 launch, the initiative has created an opportunity for 1,500 entrepreneurs in more than 20 US cities while reaching over 30,000 diverse business owners through targeted education events, community workshops, and local networks. This effort is part of a firmwide, multi-year $30 billion commitment to help businesses, families, and local economies that have traditionally been shut out from opportunities to create and sustain generational wealth.

In celebration of Black Business Month, we caught up with Mikal Quarles, managing director and head of Chase for Business Racial Equity Strategies, to learn more about how Chase is supporting minority entrepreneurs and their communities.

How do racial inequities in the US affect minority small businesses and their potential to experience business growth?

Quarles: Structural barriers in the US have created racial inequities that were made even worse by COVID. In fact, Black business ownership declined more than 40% over the first three months of the pandemic — the largest drop of any ethnic group. While there are a number of factors that contribute to the decline, the history of structural barriers experienced in minority communities created a complex challenge. Oftentimes minority entrepreneurs may not have had the best relationship with a bank or may not have had a parent or close individual to seek guidance from related to entrepreneurship — the list goes on.

Based on what we're seeing now, the pandemic and resulting economic pressures continue to underscore the value of a business mentor to help Black business owners navigate existing and new challenges, such as managing debt, raising capital, disruptions to the supply chain, record-high inflation, and the ongoing labor shortage. Our Chase Small Business Survey found that majority (70%) of small business owners are interested in mentorship; however, less than half (48%) feel they have someone they can look to for business advice.

How is Chase's new program helping minority small business owners navigate these challenges?

Quarles: We are building the necessary infrastructure to help more minority-owned businesses grow and recover through new programs, products, and hiring. We started with a free small business mentorship program in 13 US cities with larger Black, Hispanic and Latin populations. Through this initiative, entrepreneurs work with certified Chase senior business consultants to access capital, education, and resources to grow and sustain.

Today, we have over 40 senior business consultants in 21 US cities whose job is to mentor and coach around 50 small business owners at any one time so they can better run their business. The vast majority of small businesses that enroll in the program identify business development, understanding working capital, operational support as their top needs to become more efficient. Our focus is to build trust, deepen relationships with these business owners, help them on a specific issue and then graduate them out in three to six months with the goal of getting them to become clients. And the great thing is they remain part of this expanded network even after graduation.

The goal of this program is to fill a knowledge and education gap for Black and Latino small business owners that will fuel sustainable success and lead to generational wealth in predominantly Black and Latino communities.

Our long-term success is intrinsically linked to the success of the businesses we're supporting. In just two years, we have impacted the lives of 1,500 minority small business owners across 21 cities, helped to Boost their operations, plan for financial growth, and access networking opportunities to help them grow their business. We have helped these entrepreneurs to not only dream big but ensure they have the resources to achieve bigger.

What are some specific examples of ways this program has helped Black-and Hispanic-owned small businesses?

Quarles: We have seen and heard from some truly remarkable business owners in the first two years of this program, and we have been amazed by the success that we can achieve together — regardless of size, stage, or industry.

We have helped businesses, like KINEMECHA based in Los Angeles, obtain its Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) certification, which provides them with greater access to private and government contract opportunities. We have supported businesses, like Pretty Brown Girl in Detroit and Multi Print USA in Houston, with back-office support and financial management. And we've helped businesses, like GoLogic Solutions in Chicago, diversify revenue streams and pivot during the pandemic.

In short, we have seen firsthand businesses go from $100,000 to $3 million in revenue in 18 months with goals of hitting $10 million in year three. The business owners will be the first to tell you their success would not be possible without the incredible support of the senior business consultants who continue to provide their guidance and expertise in a challenging economic landscape.

August is Black Business Month. How can people learn more about the ways Chase is supporting Black business owners?

Quarles: We have a number of programs and initiatives that directly engage the Black community, including the Chase mentorship program, Advancing Black Pathways, and the Entrepreneurs of Color Fund. In honor of Black Business Month, we have also curated a list of Black-owned businesses for consumers to consider shopping and supporting this month and beyond.

Click here to learn more about all the ways Chase supports minority small business owners. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.

This post was created by Chase Business with Insider Studios. 

Our client, a retail giant, is looking for a Magento Developer to join them at their offices in Cape Town. You would be responsible for building and maintaining their eCommerce websites which includes but is not limited to liaising with the design team, setting up Magento and sites, building modules and customizing extensions, testing the performance of each site, and maintaining security and feature updates after the installation is complete.

Responsibilities

• Be the Magento Subject matter expert in our E-commerce product team.
• Architect and Design Magento modules to satisfy business requirements
• Define and implement coding standards and best practices relevant to Magento
• Mentoring and skilling up junior Magento developers
• Implement unit tests to ensure adequate code coverage
• Load and stress testing.
• Investigate, debug and solve production incidents
• Keep Magento appropriately updated and patched

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related field
• Magento Certification(s)
• 8 years Magento experience (4 years Magento 2)
• Advanced knowledge of Magento, JavaScript, HTML, PHP, CSS, and MySQL.
• Experience with complete eCommerce lifecycle development.
• Understanding of modern UI/UX trends.
• Knowledge of Google Tag Manager, SEO, Google Analytics, and A/B Testing.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Experience with Google Cloud Platform implementations
• Solid experience using GraphQL, JSON, XML, Node.js

Desired Skills:

• Magento
• Developer
• Javascript

Learn more/Apply for this position

HOPE/TEXARKANA – The University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana will offer a new Certificate of Proficiency (CP) in Cybersecurity and a new CP in IT Technician beginning this fall. The certificates are designed to lead to an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Information Technology.

The CP in Cybersecurity is a partnership in the CyberLearn Network consortium led by the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. The consortium will allow sharing of curriculum and instructional resources to provide cybersecurity programs across the state. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), cybersecurity is expected to see a 33% industry projection over the next decade, and the expected starting salary is $50,000.

The CP in IT Technician will prepare students to take the CompTIA A+ certification exam. This certification is the industry standard for establishing a career in IT and is the preferred qualifying credential for technical support and IT operational roles. According to CompTIA, it is the only industry-recognized credential with performance-based skills to prove competency. The BLS projects the overall employment of computer support specialists to grow 9% from 2020 to 2030, and the expected starting salary is $30,000 to $40,000.

Courses in the programs include:

• Computer Maintenance I and II
• Ethics in Technology
• Principles of Information Security
• Networking Essentials
• And more!

To register for classes, contact the Purtle Advising Center at 870-722-8124 or email pac@uaht.edu.

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

There was a time when working from home was a pipe dream, but recently, there's been a surge of jobs you can do from your own place.

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Whether that’s working remotely for a company or starting your own business, there’s no shortage of work-from-home opportunities. Here are 50 options, many of which can generate annual earnings that equate to more than the average American salary. 

1. Affiliate Marketer

For those unfamiliar with affiliate marketing, it’s simply referral marketing where you earn a commission. Let’s say that you have a website and refer a book on Amazon. When the visitor clicks the affiliate link and buys the book, Amazon will pay you a percentage of the sale. People love affiliate marketing because they can start earning money passively with few startup costs.

Related: 5 Ways to Ensure Remote Employees Feel Part of the Team

2. Animator

Are you an artistic and creative individual who is able to create animation and visual effects for television, movies, video games and other types of media? Then you can work at home as freelance animator. (Personally, I’ve seen animators make between $25 to $106 an hour on sites like Upwork.)

3. Baker/Caterer/Chef

If you have a knack for baking or cooking, then turn your passion into a side business. From your own kitchen, you could start a catering business or become a personal chef. If you’re a baker, you could sell you goods to friends, neighbors, online or at local farmer’s markets.

4. Blogger

Blogging is inexpensive and easy to start doing. It could be as simple as you just writing about your favorite music or food, and eventually, you can start generating money from your site. Just keep in mind that you need to pay patient when it comes to cashing in on your blog. If this is something you want to pursue, check out this guide.

5. Bookkeeper

Believe it or not, you don’t have to be a CPA to start bookkeeping. Just sign up for a bookkeeping course at a community college or even online (such as this course from The Accounting Coach). Once you complete a course, you can start earning, and the median salary is reportedly $34,000. (Some stay-at-home bookkeepers I've spoken with personally make more than $70,000.)

6. Child Caregiver

Whether if it’s just for a couple of hours or for the entire day, running a childcare business from your home can be lucrative. Just make sure that you obtain the correct licenses and permits.

7. Clinical Research Coordinator

Clinical research coordinators help manage operations for clinical trials. You could make more than $48,000 with this job, and you don't need a bachelor's degree.

Related: Bashing the Stereotypes: What You Need to Know About Gen Z

8. Consulting

If you have experience and knowledge in a specific area, then consider sharing it with others. For example, if you’re an accountant or lawyer, then you can provide advice to small businesses for a pretty penny. You could also consult businesses on how to use a new software program or how to become more environmentally friendly. (If you're interested, my company offers a consulting guide to get started.)

9. Customer Service Representative

Do you possess excellent communication skills? Do you also have a landline and reliable internet? Then you can earn between $8 and $15 per hour as a customer service representative.

10. Data Entry

Inputting data for businesses isn’t the most of exciting of jobs. However, you don’t need any previous experience, and you can start at $10 per hour.

11. Copy Writing

You can write copy for businesses from your home and, in some cases, earn up to six figures. Try Fiverr or Upwork to find gigs. 

12. E-commerce Store Owner

There are five types of e-commerce business models: dropshipping, wholesaling, manufacturing, white-labeling and subscriptions. Thanks to sites like Shopify, Magento and WooCommerce, you can quickly launch your own ecommerce store.

13. Editing and Proofreading

Companies like Book in a Box pay around $20 per hour to editors, book jacket designers and proofreaders.

14. Event Planner

Whether if it’s planning a wedding, birthday party or corporate event, people are looking for organized individuals to do most of the event planning for them.

Related: Learn the 4 Principles That Helped This Virtual Company Become One of the Best Cultures in America

15. Film and Post Instructional Videos

Are you really good at something? Try creating a YouTube account and filming yourself instructing others on how to do what you're skilled at. To start earning some cash, enroll in YouTube’s partner program so that you can make $1 to $2 per 1,000 views.

16. Grant Writer

Universities, hospitals, and nonprofit organizations often need to apply for grant money. Since these applications can be difficult to write, these businesses often turn to talented grant writers. As a grant writer, you can make between $40,300 and $67,000 per year.

17. Graphic Designer

Many businesses are in need of someone to design their logos, websites or visual ads. If you have a degree or certification in this area, you can make a comfortable salary annually (reportedly $45,000 and up). The more skilled you are, the more clients you'll likely get through word of mouth. Here's a guide on how to build a website that can help you get started.

18. Handmade Crafter

Do you make handmade products like jewelry or furniture? If so, try setting up an Etsy shop and selling your handmade crafts online.

19. Instructor

Do you know how to play a musical instrument? Can you get people into shape? Whatever your knowledge or experience, some people will pay you to share that information with them, whether in person or online.

20. Internet Security Specialist

As an internet security specialist, you monitor networks for security threats and implement security standards. You may also install data protection systems as well. Given the attention that online security has been receiving, this job is expected to grow steadily over the next several years.

Related: How to Stay Motivated Working From Home

21. Online Juror

When attorneys prepare for a trial, they often seek feedback on their case. Depending on the mock jury website you choose, you can make between $5 to $150 for your opinion.

22. Online Teacher

Are you a teacher who's looking for a more flexible schedule? Then consider teaching via Skype or via a pre-recorded session through organizations like K12 and Connections Academy.

23. Patent or Intellectual Property Lawyer

Applying for a patent or protecting intellectual property are both areas where expert advice is needed. As such, if this is your area of the law, you could reportedly make between $112 and $121 per hour.

24. Peer-to-Peer Lender

Thanks to sites like Lending Club and Prosper, you can easily lend money to a business or individual. As an investor, you'd make money on the paid interest of the note.

25. Pet Groomer

Do you love being around animals? Are you also patient enough to clean and style pets? If so, this could be a great home-based business.

Related: The Biggest Do's and Don'ts of Video Conferencing

26. Photographer/Videographer

Even though everyone has a camera on their phone these days, there’s still a need for these types of professionals like for events like weddings. You can also sell your images on sites like Foap.

27. Product Reviewer

You can make a decent living (reportedly between $20,000 and $95,000) just by reviewing the products that you use daily.

28. Programmer

Learn a programming language, such as Ruby, and you could end up making around $61 per hour for programming. If you’re interested, here’s a handy programmer guide to get you on your way.

29. Realtor

While you can run a reality business from your home, as long as you have your state’s real estate license, you still need to show potential buyers the home. But don’t forget that you also have to prepare the home for showing. Thanks to technology, you can become a virtual realtor where you can show a property without having to be there in person.

30. Renter 

Do you have an extra bedroom? How about a car you don’t drive everyday? Are there household items laying around collecting dust? If so, try renting them out to people who could use them. (I personally made over $50,000 renting out my basement in 2017.)

31. Repairer

If you have a knack for fixing things, like bicycles, cars or computers, then consider launching your own repair business. It probably doesn’t cost more than a little marketing to get started since you probably already have the tools and resources.

Related: 3 Ways to Keep Employees Productive at Home

32. Short Tasks

A short task is a job or assignment that can be completed quickly. Examples include writing a review, taking a survey, or watching a video. They may not pay much, but it’s a fast and easy way to make money from home. Here’s a list of short task sites you can check out if interested.

33. Social Media Manager

There are a lot of organizations who need someone to manage their social media accounts, and some may even want you to completely develop a social media strategy for them.

34. Stylist

If you love fashion and want to work from home, then you can become an online stylist. Some reportedly make up to $15 an hour. 

35. Survey Taker

This won’t make you a millionaire, but you can be paid between $1 and $50 each time you take an opinion poll, answer questions about your shopping habits or review a product. You’re usually paid by check, PayPal or points that can later be redeemed for gift cards.

36. Tax Preparer

Even though this is a seasonal gig, you can make a salary of over $30,000. Don’t forget to register with the IRS before you start this home-based business.

37. Become an Expert

Nowadays, people are going online to find experts at things they themselves may be struglging with. A growing trend is hiring an expert versus hiring a large company to come in and help fix problems. One resource is Catalant, which hires out experts from $15 an hour to $280 an hour. That's one option if you're looking to help others with your knowledge.

Related: How This Mom Grew Multiple 6-Figure Businesses From Home

38. Telephone Nurse

If you’re a registered nurse, then you could work for health insurers or health management companies like Humana, Aetna and UnitedHealth Group. They hire nurses remotely to handle case management, treatment authorization and patient education.

39. Transcriber/Transcriptionist

This job essentially means listening to audio files, such as lectures or doctors' medical dictations, and then typing out what you hear. It’s an entry-level gig that can pay up to $25 an hour.

40. Translator

Are you fluent in another language? Start earning a living off of this skill by translating documents or becoming an interpreter.

41. Travel Agent

Despite the fact that there are numerous travel sites that make planning a trip a breeze, it can still be time-consuming. What’s more, there may be certain travel conditions that you are not aware of. That’s why there’s still a market for travel agents to scour the web for the best deals, share advice or plan itineraries.

42. Virtual Assistant

If you’re organized and can handle office duties like replying to emails, calendar management, entering data and assisting with social media, then this job is perfect for you. And you can make between $10 and $15 per hour.

Related: 4 Reasons Not to Be a Stiff About Employees Working From Home

43. Virtual Public Relations Representative

Some small- to medium-sized businesses don’t have the budget for a dedicated chief marketing officer, a vice president of marketing or even a public relations firm. But they may have the funds to hire a virtual public relations representative to take care of duties like promoting a business or managing a crisis.

44. Virtual Recruiter

This is pretty much the same position as an in-house recruiter except you get to work wherever you want. The other major difference is that you search the web to find the right employee for the right position. You’re also responsible for screening the applicant and being a part of the interviewing and negotiation process. Some recruiters are paid upward of $125 an hour for building resume templates.

45. Virtual Tutor

If you have extensive knowledge in a specific area, then you could earn between $12 to $35 per hour by tutoring students either over the phone or on Skype.

46. Voice Acting

If you have a golden voice, you can make somewhere between $56 and $72 per hour.

47. Web Developer

Depending on the specific job, as well as your expertise, you could bring in between $55,000 and $175,000 per year building websites from scratch.

Related: The Legal Implications of Expecting Employees to Work After Hours

48. Web Search Evaluator

In order to deliver the most accurate service to customers, search engines pay individuals to analyze search results. You don’t need to have much experience, and you can haul in $12 to $15 an hour.

49. Website Tester

Businesses want to make sure that their websites are intuitive and easy to navigate. As such, they’ll assign instructions for people to follow to check out their site. Each test usually takes around 15 to 20 minutes. In return, you’ll often be paid $10 to $15 per test.

50. Writing Gigs

Businesses of all sizes need written content, like blog posts, website copy or eBooks. As a result, there are thousands of writing gigs available that pay anywhere between $10 to $100 per hour.

Looking to delve deeper into the world of entrepreneurship? Visit our newly relaunched Entrepreneur Bookstore. 

Yoav Kutner, co-founder and CEO of Oro, Inc., the pioneering ecommerce leader behind OroCommerce, the No.1 open source B2B digital commerce platform, recently discussed B2B eCommerce before and after COVID. Read the feature article in Manufacturing Tomorrow magazine.

According to Kutner, before COVID business-to-business commerce for many companies comprised shuttling paper, faxes, and spreadsheets between sales and finance departments. Since the pandemic, those companies either moved to online ordering or planned to build tech stacks to get there. Those that made progress before businesses temporarily shuttered in 2020 experienced growth, while those that failed to do so struggled and either went out of business or are playing catch-up now.

Kutner noted, “When used properly, eCommerce does not replace sales representatives, rather it is a B2B sales enablement tool that empowers sales teams to do a better job. Sales enablement is the iterative process of providing your sales team with the resources they need to close more deals. These resources may include content, tools, knowledge, and information to effectively sell your product or service to customers.”

Manufacturing Tomorrow is an online trade magazine featuring products, companies, news, articles, and events for the advanced manufacturing, factory automation, and 3D printing industries.

About Oro, Inc.:  

Oro Inc. builds customer-driven, powerful, and flexible software for B2B digital transformation. The groundbreaking flexibility of their digital solutions coupled with a robust set of B2B features available out of the box, ensures Oro’s B2B eCommerce and B2B marketplace management platforms are specifically designed for manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, and multi-channel brands. Powerful core capabilities of the products, ease of customization and implementation, and the availability of a strong and knowledgeable technology ecosystem of solution integrators ensure best-in-class efficiency and time to market.

This integrated technology solution provides a diverse range of B2B features and capabilities including:

• Personalization
• Localization
• Built-in multi-channel CRM
• Powerful workflows
• Pricing engine
• Multi-website and multi-warehouse support

Oro, Inc. was launched in 2012 by former Magento co-founders including Yoav Kutner, Chief Executive Officer, named a Supply & Demand Chain Executive Pros to Know recipient.

The Oro team and partners, celebrate the company’s 10-year anniversary, remotely delivering innovative solutions for dynamic companies embarking on digital transformation. OroCommerce was recognized as a strong player in the eCommerce vendors’ market by all major analyst firms including IDC, Gartner, and Forrester. Follow on Twitter @OroCommerce or call at (323) 591-1514.

Media Contact
Company Name: Oro, Inc.
Contact Person: Anna Korolekh, Marketing Director
Email: Send Email
Phone: (323) 591-1514
Address:1901 Avenue of the Stars Suite 1900
City: Los Angeles
State: CA
Country: United States
Website: https://oroinc.com/