Featuring the Best in Career Advice, Digital Marketing and Franchising

Editor's Note: This post was originally published in September 2018 and has been updated with new content that highlights the importance of proper business planning in 2021's economy.

What is a business plan? For people who are just starting out and forming their own company, whether it's a small freelance business at home or a new venture with an office and a starting pool of employees, there's a lot of importance to a business plan. It is a road map, an outline, a document that explains what your business is, what the goals of the enterprise are, and how exactly it will set about achieving those goals. So beyond being a document that identifies your business, what else does such a plan do for you?

As the President of WSI and having joined the company 22 years ago, Valerie Brown-Dufour knows a thing or two about digital marketing franchising, and she has seen how the demand for digital solutions has skyrocketed in recent years. And it's thanks to that expertise that Franchise Journal featured her on their latest issue, where she talks about the relevance of the WSI business model during COVID lockdowns and how continuous knowledge sharing among franchisees strengthens the WSI Network.

WSI is proud of Bob Rogers – one of our digital marketing franchisees who was featured in Franchise Journal’s November Veterans issue.

One of the things that most businesses will agree is important but incredibly difficult to maintain is good marketing. Marketing is an art and a craft all unto itself, and with successful marketing, a quality product or service can enjoy considerable gains in business and popularity.

Are you a mother who runs her own business, or wants to? Have you ever wondered how to become a successful working mother?

These days there are plenty of “mompreneurs” doing their own thing and having a blast doing it. Not only is this an incredibly rewarding opportunity, but it’s also extremely empowering.

The digital marketing industry is predicted to reach $285 billion in spending by 2020, reports Marketing Tech News, and it doesn't look like the pace is slowing down anytime soon. More companies realize that they need strong digital marketing strategies to succeed in a globalized and highly connected world. Now is the perfect time to get into this field, especially with these exciting developments. 

Are you burnt out, frustrated, or unfulfilled in your career? Do you feel like you need a change of pace? Are you wondering how to reinvent yourself professionally?

Most of us have felt this way at some point or another in our professional lives – so don’t worry, you’re not alone! Still, whether it’s our employer laying us off or us making a solid plan to leave our current situations, usually the idea of making such a big change feels daunting, confusing and uncomfortable. In short, it can feel like a challenge, even when we know it’s the right decision in the long run.

Are you a busy mom who’s always dreamed of running your own business, or even been tempted to start up something fun and small on the side? Today there’s a variety of options available so you can find the best jobs for stay at home moms.

If so, you’re not alone – in fact, there are so many moms out there doing their own thing that it’s hard to keep track of all the amazing businesses out there!

Is it too late to change careers after 40? What about a career change after 50 or even 60 years old? You may think that changing careers late in life would come with considerable sacrifices, like making less money, spending years in school or starting from the “bottom” of the ladder. The truth is that today there are more options than ever for people to change careers at any age without having it suck up too much of your precious time or hard-earned cash.

Millennials get a bad rap in the workplace.

They are accused of being lazy, overly-sensitive, or unable to follow orders. But is it true?

Maybe not!

This is a generation that has the potential to make incredible contributions to the workforce. Only, they may work on slightly different terms as compared to the generations that have come before them. 

Here’s why – and how – we need to embrace and support millennials expectations in the workplace and get the best out of this highly talented generation.