Latest news with #ConvertKit
Entrepreneur
28-07-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
The One Real Problem You Must Solve to Make Your Startup Succeed
Some of the most successful startups didn't start with a business plan. They started with a problem. More specifically — a personal pain point. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Dropbox was born because Drew Houston was sick of emailing himself files. ConvertKit came from a blogger who was tired of clunky email automations. Notion grew out of the chaos of managing scattered notes and documents. These weren't random startup ideas pulled from a pitch deck. They were solutions to personal problems. And that's what made them powerful. When you build what you need, you shortcut months of guesswork. You skip the focus groups, the theoretical personas and the assumptions. You already understand the problem deeply because you live it. Related: Got a Startup Idea? Here's What It Really Takes to Make It Work Start with friction, not vision The first step to building a meaningful product isn't to identify a trendy niche or chase a hot market. It's to pay attention to the moments in your day that feel harder than they should. The tasks you procrastinate. The tools you silently curse. That friction is your opportunity. Forget disruption. Forget scale. The best early-stage products come from irritation, not inspiration. What's broken in your workflow? What are you duct-taping together every week just to get by? Start there. That's where urgency and empathy already live. Talk to people like you Once you spot a problem, skip the massive surveys. Talk to a handful of people who share your situation. If you're a freelancer, speak with freelancers. If you're a working parent with a side hustle, speak with others juggling the same chaos. The more overlap between you and your early users, the faster you'll know if this is a real pain or just a minor inconvenience. What you're looking for is emotional signal — frustration, not politeness. You want someone to say, "I'd pay for that today." Build the painkiller, not the platform You don't need to launch a polished product. In fact, polish is usually a waste early on. Your first version can be a spreadsheet, a Notion template, a Zapier automation — whatever works. The goal is to prove the fix, not win design awards. Don't aim for elegance. Aim for utility. If it works, users won't care that it's scrappy. Test willingness to pay as soon as possible This is where most people hesitate. But if your product solves a real problem, people will pay — even if it's ugly. Even if it's early. Real payment is the difference between "interesting idea" and "actual business." And it doesn't have to be much. Charge a small onboarding fee or ask for a credit card to reserve early access. You're not trying to trick anyone. You're testing commitment. Too many founders wait until everything is perfect before asking for money. By then, they've burned time, budget and momentum. Pricing is feedback. So get it early. Narrate the build, don't just build While you're creating your product, share the journey. Post what you're building, what you're stuck on and what you're learning. Whether it's Twitter, LinkedIn or a Substack, showing your process builds trust. You're not selling — you're storytelling. And that attracts the right people: others who feel the same pain you're solving. Make your first users successful Don't rush to scale. If you're still explaining what your product does, you're not ready to grow. Focus instead on helping your early users get results. Support them. Follow up. Ask who else they know who needs this. Word-of-mouth isn't a viral fluke — it's the byproduct of usefulness. Related: The One Simple Task That Will Help Your Startup Succeed Build from conviction, not theory When you build for yourself, you don't need to fake insight. You don't have to invent personas. You already understand the stakes. That shows up in the product, the copy and the customer experience. And most importantly, it builds trust. You're not a startup guessing at what might matter—you're a person solving something that already does. Drew Houston didn't plan on building a billion-dollar company. He just wanted a faster way to move his files. That pain became Dropbox — and millions of others felt it too. You don't need permission. You don't need a grand strategy. You need to notice the problem that keeps nagging at you — and build the thing you wish already existed. That's where real businesses begin. Ready to break through your revenue ceiling? Join us at Level Up, a conference for ambitious business leaders to unlock new growth opportunities.
Time Business News
16-07-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
Best Email Marketing Platforms for Startups and Small Businesses in 2025
Email marketing remains one of the most powerful tools for startups and small businesses to reach customers directly, build brand loyalty, and drive conversions. With the landscape constantly evolving, choosing the right platform in 2025 means finding a balance between features, affordability, and scalability. In this blog, we break down the top email marketing platforms for startups and small businesses, with a focus on usability, automation, pricing, and integrations. 1. Mailchimp – Best All-in-One Solution for Beginners Why it stands out: Mailchimp remains the go-to for startups looking for an intuitive platform. In 2025, it offers enhanced automation, smart segmentation, and predictive analytics all in one dashboard. Key Features: Drag-and-drop builder, audience segmentation, A/B testing, AI-driven insights Drag-and-drop builder, audience segmentation, A/B testing, AI-driven insights Free Plan: Up to 500 contacts Up to 500 contacts Best For: Startups needing a user-friendly, all-in-one tool Why it stands out: Brevo is perfect for cost-conscious teams that still want powerful automation. It offers unlimited contacts and pay-as-you-go email volume, making it highly scalable. Key Features: Email & SMS campaigns, automation workflows, CRM features Email & SMS campaigns, automation workflows, CRM features Free Plan: Up to 300 emails/day Up to 300 emails/day Best For: Small businesses wanting value and automation without high costs Why it stands out: MailerLite is designed for ease of use, offering a minimalist interface with robust tools like automation, landing pages, and A/B testing. Key Features: Drag-and-drop editor, automation, website builder, eCommerce integrations Drag-and-drop editor, automation, website builder, eCommerce integrations Free Plan: Up to 1,000 subscribers, 12,000 emails/month Up to 1,000 subscribers, 12,000 emails/month Best For: Solo founders and small teams who prioritize clean UI and UX Why it stands out: Moosend offers deep eCommerce integrations and powerful automation at a competitive price. Its personalization and behavioral tracking are ideal for online stores. Key Features: AI recommendations, cart abandonment emails, product recommendations AI recommendations, cart abandonment emails, product recommendations Free Trial: 30-day free trial 30-day free trial Best For: Small eCommerce brands scaling quickly Why it stands out: Constant Contact shines in event-based marketing and local business promotions. Its templates and event management tools are ideal for community-focused startups. Key Features: Event invitations, surveys, real-time reporting Event invitations, surveys, real-time reporting Starting Price: $12/month $12/month Best For: Local service providers, nonprofits, and event-driven businesses Why it stands out: ConvertKit focuses on creators – bloggers, coaches, and podcasters – offering tailored tools like visual automation and creator-focused templates. Key Features: Visual automation builder, tagging system, creator-focused templates Visual automation builder, tagging system, creator-focused templates Free Plan: Up to 1,000 subscribers Up to 1,000 subscribers Best For: Solopreneurs, coaches, and content creators Why it stands out: If your startup uses Zoho CRM or Zoho One, Zoho Campaigns is the natural fit. Seamless integration with other Zoho tools makes campaign management effortless. Key Features: CRM integration, automation, dynamic content CRM integration, automation, dynamic content Free Plan: Up to 2,000 contacts Up to 2,000 contacts Best For: Businesses already using Zoho ecosystem Conclusion: In 2025, email marketing platforms are smarter, more affordable, and more tailored than ever before. Whether you're a startup founder managing marketing solo or a growing team needing automation, there's a solution that fits your stage and budget. Start with a free plan or trial, test the features, and choose a platform that scales with your business needs. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Time Business News
19-06-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
The Complete Guide to Email Marketing: Types, Techniques & Untapped Methods
Email marketing is old fashioned—or so they say. But here's the truth: email continues to outperform most digital marketing channels when used smartly. Whether you're a small business owner, a beginner looking to build your first campaign, or even a seasoned marketer searching for that next winning tactic, this guide is for you. Email marketing is the practice of sending targeted messages via email to promote products, build relationships, drive engagement, or nurture leads. It's cost-effective, measurable, and ideal for long-term growth. These are sent to promote sales, special offers, or limited-time deals. Think of your favorite online store sending a weekend discount—this is it. Ideal for building relationships. Newsletters share updates, tips, blog posts, or product info in a non-salesy format. First impressions matter. Welcome emails are triggered when someone subscribes to your list, introducing your brand and offering value right away. These are automated messages like order confirmations, shipping updates, and receipts. Often overlooked, but they have a very high open rate. Trying to win back inactive users? Re-engagement emails remind subscribers of your value and invite them to reconnect. Grouping your audience based on behavior, location, or preferences ensures messages are more personalized—and effective. Test different subject lines, send times, or CTAs to see what works best. It's a scientific way to improve performance. Automated emails sent in a specific sequence—like onboarding series or course delivery. Saves time while staying consistent. Over 60% of emails are opened on mobile. Use short subject lines, readable fonts, and responsive design. Every email should have one clear goal—whether that's a product purchase, webinar signup, or link click. Even expert marketers sometimes overlook these powerful strategies: While most emails are highly designed, plain-text emails feel more personal and authentic—leading to higher replies and engagement. Instead of pushing a product, use storytelling. Share customer success stories, founder journeys, or real-life scenarios tied to your offer. Send emails based on the recipient's local time zone rather than your own. Increases open rates significantly. Send two versions of the same email where only invisible elements (like sender name or pre-header) are different to track psychological impact. Add elements like quizzes, scratch cards, or mini-games. These are engaging and can drastically improve click-through rates. Choose the right tool : Platforms like Mailchimp, ConvertKit, or Brevo are great for starters. : Platforms like Mailchimp, ConvertKit, or Brevo are great for starters. Build a clean email list : Never buy lists. Grow your own via opt-in forms and lead magnets. : Never buy lists. Grow your own via opt-in forms and lead magnets. Respect privacy : Always follow GDPR/anti-spam laws. Add unsubscribe links and respect user preferences. : Always follow GDPR/anti-spam laws. Add unsubscribe links and respect user preferences. Measure and adapt: Monitor open rates, click-throughs, and unsubscribe rates. Use this data to improve. Email marketing isn't dead—it's evolving. Whether you're just dipping your toes in or scaling your strategy, the key lies in testing, personalizing, and always providing value. Email marketing is old fashioned, but only if you treat it that way. Done right, it's one of the most powerful tools in your digital toolkit. 🔹 Author Bio – Jamshaid Ali is passionate about helping businesses succeed online. He brings deep experience in SEO, guest posting, and link-building, sharing valuable knowledge to help brands grow traffic and authority in a competitive market. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Time Business News
18-06-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
10 Clever Ways to Sell Digital Products Online (Fast!)
In the modern online marketplace, countless business owners earn a respectable income by offering digital products- e-books, video courses, planning templates, or guided journals. Whether you think of yourself as a creator, educator, coach, or designer, achievement almost always rests on a well-defined strategy and the right place to sell. Digital Global Marketplace aims to be that place, furnishing a clean online center where people trade quality digital goods without the mess of stock and shipping. If you are prepared to launch or seek to expand, the following ten straightforward tips will help you move your digital products quickly and meaningfully: Instead of wrestling for visibility on massive, general sites, place your offerings where they belong: Digital Global Marketplace. The community there actively seeks planners, courses, journals, and similar downloads, so your work reaches interested eyes and avoids unrelated distractions. Elevate a single purchase by grouping complementary items into a bundle. Pair an eBook with a short video lesson or link a guided journal to a brief productivity workshop; buyers tend to perceive these packages as more valuable and are thus willing to spend more. Offer Limited-Time Discounts Spark quick decisions by issuing time-limited deals. A flash sale or introductory price not only incentivizes hesitant shoppers to click Buy Now, it also generates immediate traffic and momentum for your listings. Post a chapter of your e-book or a brief how-to video and ask visitors for their email. You can later use this list to announce new releases and stay in touch with would-be buyers. Snappy demos that highlight your product's perks can spread quickly on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts. These bite-sized clips turn casual viewers into curious visitors almost overnight. Nothing builds trust faster than the voices of satisfied customers. Collect honest testimonials and feature them on your site or in social posts; their approval makes new shoppers feel secure. Work with Micro-Influencers Look for bloggers or small creators whose interests match your offer. Because their followers already share that passion, their mention can spark sales that a broad ad might miss. Host free webinars where your product solves real problems. A marketing trainer, for instance, can explain daily habits and invite attendees to buy her fillable planner from Digital Global Marketplace. Install a simple sequence in Mailchimp or ConvertKit that begins with your free offer. After a few helpful notes, gently present the paid item so readers can take every step toward the buy button. Identify keywords that shoppers use and weave them into your product titles and descriptions. For example, instead of generic labels, include phrases like best productivity course 2025 or downloadable time-management training so search engines tie your listing to popular queries. Ready to start selling smarter? Sign up at and take your digital products global today! TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Time of India
13-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Billion-dollar soloists!
Aditi Maheshwari is a freelance writer, and has been a student of Economics, Advertising, Marketing, Psychology and also of the Institute Of Company Secretaries Of India. She is a contributor to several magazines. LESS ... MORE Once considered a fantastical oxymoron, the one-person unicorn has emerged as a provocative symbol of the AI era—a startup with a valuation of $1 billion or more, built and run (at least on the surface) by a single founder. Thanks to rapid advances in generative AI, automation tools, and decentralized workflows, the barrier to entry for entrepreneurship has never been lower—and the ceiling, never higher. But beneath the headlines lies a far more complex—and revealing—reality. What is a one-person Unicorn? A one-person unicorn is a venture that achieves billion-dollar valuation with only a single visible founder or operator, often empowered by AI and digital platforms to execute what used to require entire teams. In 2024–25, the median AI startup achieved unicorn status with just 203 employees, down from 414 for non-AI unicorns, according to a Dacxi Research report (2025). Several went even further—reaching massive valuations with fewer than 20 employees. Notable examples: Safe Superintelligence (SSI): Co-founded by Ilya Sutskever, valued at $32 billion with ~20 employees. Anysphere (creator of Cursor, an AI coding assistant): $100 million in annual revenue with <50 staff. ConvertKit: Solo-founder Nathan Barry built this email platform to $29 million/year in revenue. Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has predicted the rise of fully operational one-person companies reaching unicorn valuations, calling it one of the most profound shifts in the entrepreneurial economy. Business models driving solo-scale success One-person unicorns follow a specific formula that trades human scale for system scale: 1. Product-led growth (PLG): Self-serve SaaS or platforms where users onboard, adopt, and pay—without sales teams. 2. AI-first infrastructure: From marketing to customer service to content generation, most core tasks are handled by AI agents like Claude, or Synthesia, etc. 3. Global digital distribution: Zero inventory, zero warehouses. Distribution happens through code, cloud, and community platforms—YouTube, Discord, Substack, etc. 4. Revenue multipliers: Freemium models, premium subscriptions, and embedded payments drive high margins with minimal ops. Case in point: 'Devin,' the AI software engineer by Cognition Labs, is already executing full-stack development tasks, opening the door for solo founders to build complex products without teams. Source: Cherubic Capital, 2025 The missing layers: What the hype doesn't ashow While the above paints a thrilling picture, the reality is far more nuanced. Several foundational updates are often missing from the mainstream 'solo billionaire' narrative. 1. The 'one-person' illusion: Hidden human layers Most so-called one-person ventures are powered by fractional workforces—freelancers, micro-agencies, and contract advisors. 56% of AI-led startups use fractional experts regularly Source: Deel Workforce Trends Report, Q1 2025 Solo founders may not have full-time staff, but they build modular 'pop-up teams' on-demand—marketers for launches, legal consultants for compliance, or designers for UX upgrades. Insight: The one-person unicorn is less a lone wolf and more a conductor of invisible orchestras. 2. AI overdependence: Stack centralization risks Most solo founders depend on the same few AI tools—OpenAI, Notion AI, Zapier, etc. While efficient, this introduces vulnerability. 72% of solo-run startups rely on just 2–3 AI platforms for over 80% of operations. Source: Center for Responsible Tech, April 2025 If pricing, policy, or access changes—so does the business. 3. Burnout and founder load syndrome AI doesn't replace human decision-making stress. Founders often bear everything—vision, execution, finance, content, product. 68% of solo-founders experience weekly burnout Source: Wellness Index, 2025 Translation: AI reduces the need for co-workers, not cortisol. 4. The babysitting problem: AI quality management Solo entrepreneurs often spend more time correcting AI errors than saving time. Solo operators spend 14–20 hours weekly fixing AI-generated outputs. Source: OpenAgent Research Lab, 2025 Instead of delegation, it becomes micromanagement of machines. 5. Valuation ≠ Cash flow Billion-dollar headlines often mask poor cash fundamentals. Only 1 in 7 AI unicorns with <10 employees are cash-positive. Source: Crunchbase Intelligence, May 2025. These ventures raise high on VC optimism and AI FOMO, but many lack sustainable, monetized user bases. 6. Regulatory whiplash incoming AI-powered solopreneurs are flying into a storm of emerging regulation: India's AI Code of Ethics (2025) mandates algorithm transparency and audit trails. EU AI Act (2025) enforces documentation of bias mitigation, explainability, and data consent. In the EU alone, 41% of solo-AI startups failed initial compliance checks in Q1 2025. Source: DataGov Lab Europe Bottom Line: You can't automate legal liability. 7. The next frontier: Zero-person unicorns Pilot projects like AgentCorp in UAE and AutoMaCo in Singapore are testing fully autonomous businesses, launched and run entirely by AI agents—with no founder, no team. What began with solo founders is evolving into founder less ventures—a revolution in ownership and agency. What 2025 has added to the solo unicorn playbook? 1. AI co-founders gaining legal recognition In 2025, jurisdictions like Singapore and Estonia have started exploring frameworks where AI agents could be granted partial co-founder status under supervised accountability structures. This is reshaping the legal definition of entrepreneurship and opening new conversations around IP ownership and liability in founder less ventures. 2. Surge in one-person VC deals According to the Q2 2025 Sequoia Pulse report, 19% of early-stage funding rounds in AI startups went to solo founders. Notably, most of these pitches leveraged interactive AI prototypes built entirely without engineering teams—further validating investor confidence in solo-led, AI-built MVPs. 3. India's DPIIT fast-track for solo founders In March 2025, India's DPIIT introduced a fast-track registration and compliance lane specifically for AI-first solo ventures, including tax benefits for those with <$1M in human payroll costs but over ₹10 crore in digital revenue. This aims to boost high-output solo innovation in the Indian startup ecosystem. 4. AI Co-pilot wars intensify The competitive landscape for solo entrepreneurs is being redefined by AI copilots. OpenAI's new StartUp GPT, Anthropic's Claude Pro Builder, and Google's Gemini Ops Suite have launched dedicated platforms in 2025 that allow solopreneurs to ideate, build, market, and sell—all via voice or prompt interfaces. These platforms now come bundled with startup insurance and basic compliance templates. 5. Creator-SaaS crossovers redefining solopreneurship As of May 2025, over 31% of successful solopreneurs are creator-founders monetizing SaaS tools built atop their content base—e.g., YouTubers launching niche automation tools, or Substack writers turning newsletters into full-stack education startups. This hybrid model now earns over $500 million quarterly across platforms like Gumroad, Podia, and Kajabi. 6. Escalating AI ethics audits by VCs Top-tier venture capital firms like a16z and Lightspeed now mandate AI ethics audits before disbursing funds to solo-run ventures. These audits include hallucination tracking, dataset provenance checks, and algorithmic bias mapping—making ethical transparency a new barrier to funding in 2025. 7. Mental health tech for solo founders on the rise In response to increasing burnout rates, new 2025 platforms like FounderWell, SoloSanity, and MindLoop have emerged. These offer AI-based therapy bots trained on solo-founder stressors, peer networks, and burnout-prevention routines—indicating that mental health is becoming as scalable as code. The Paradox of Power and Precarity One-person unicorns represent the outer edge of what AI, ambition, and automation can achieve. They are symbols of radical efficiency—but also of quiet fragility. They are lean but not light. Autonomous but not independent. Brilliant, yet brittle. The solo founder is not just a builder. They are a platform, a publisher, a programmer, a policy negotiator—and above all, a bet on their own bandwidth. The future may well belong to the lone genius who leverages AI. But behind every unicorn, solo or not, is a system—and that system is more crowded, more complex, and more human than it first appears. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
