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So they funded a private mail service to bring back dispatches from reporters in Texas, sharing both the content and the cost. Thus was born the Associated Press—and content syndication.","squaredImage":{"altText":"Content Syndication: Definition, Benefits, and How It Works","localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"fullWidth","backgroundColor":"#a878d8","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/9103d9b2b2f0966090918b695ecf39db/b956e/content_20syndication.webp","srcSet":"/static/9103d9b2b2f0966090918b695ecf39db/d1fa5/content_20syndication.webp 750w,\n/static/9103d9b2b2f0966090918b695ecf39db/b956e/content_20syndication.webp 1024w","sizes":"100vw"},"sources":[]},"width":1,"height":0.4228515625}}}},"metaData":{"title":null,"description":"Learn about content syndication and how it can help maximize your content's reach in a cost-efficient way. Discover what it is, how it works, and the benefits it offers. Find out how to create a syndication strategy and choose between free and paid options for syndicating your content"},"banner":{"title":"Content Syndication: Definition, Benefits, and How It Works","showTitle":true,"image":{"altText":"Content Syndication: Definition, Benefits, and How It Works","localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"fullWidth","backgroundColor":"#a878d8","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/9103d9b2b2f0966090918b695ecf39db/b956e/content_20syndication.webp","srcSet":"/static/9103d9b2b2f0966090918b695ecf39db/d1fa5/content_20syndication.webp 750w,\n/static/9103d9b2b2f0966090918b695ecf39db/b956e/content_20syndication.webp 1024w","sizes":"100vw"},"sources":[]},"width":1,"height":0.4228515625}}}}},"timeToRead":null,"sections":[{"fieldGroupName":"post_Acfpost_Sections_ArticleRichTextContent","content":"<p>In 1846, a group (or syndicate) of five New York City newspapers found covering the Mexican-American war too expensive and too slow to do individually. So they funded a private mail service to bring back dispatches from reporters in Texas, sharing both the content and the cost. Thus was born the Associated Press—and content syndication.</p>\n<p>Today, content syndication is still a tactic many businesses use to maximize their content’s reach in a cost-efficient way. Sharing one piece of content across multiple publications can help you make the most of the content you work hard to create by disseminating it to a wider audience. Here’s what content syndication is and how you can get started doing it.</p>\n<div class=\"marketing-block marketing-block--light marketing-block--padded\">\n<p class=\"heading--2\">Table of Contents</p>\n<ul>\n<li>What is content syndication?</li>\n<li>How does content syndication work?</li>\n<li>Free vs. paid content syndication</li>\n<li>Benefits of content syndication</li>\n<li>How to create a syndication strategy</li>\n</ul>\n</div>\n<h2 id=\"1\">What is content syndication?</h2>\n<p>Content syndication is the practice of republishing web content, including blog posts, videos, audio content and podcasts, and graphics, on other websites—with permission, of course. The main reason businesses engage in content syndication is to reach a broader audience than they otherwise would have publishing on their website alone.</p>\n<p>When you repurpose content originally published on your site to other sites, that grows your audience, improves brand recognition, and drives traffic back to you, without damaging your SEO performance. As such, it’s considered a form of content marketing.</p>\n<p>Take BestSelf Co., for example. Via content syndication, it was able to build an audience large enough (more than 3,000 subscribers in three weeks) to launch a Kickstarter that ultimately raised over $300,000.</p>\n<h2 id=\"2\">How does content syndication work?</h2>\n<p>Syndicated content is clearly marked and always links back to where it originally appeared. The content being syndicated can appear in full or in part on other sites; sometimes it may only appear with a headline and a link. Syndicating content to a partner website can also be reciprocal: you might also agree to republish content from their blog, which gives your own blog additional content.</p>\n<p>When it comes to search engine optimization (SEO<a href=\"https://www.shopify.com/blog/seo-checklist-online-store\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">)</a>, Google’s algorithm punishes duplicate content, but syndicated content isn’t considered duplicate when it’s correctly attributed. That means syndicated content should be clearly labeled as having appeared somewhere else first and should link back to where you originally published it on your website.</p>\n<div class=\"responsive-video-wrapper gutter-bottom\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/x8kSE70o_qE\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"></iframe></div>\n<h2 id=\"3\">Free vs. paid content syndication</h2>\n<p>Like most business marketing strategies, content syndication entails free and paid options. When choosing where to syndicate content, take a look at your budget as well as the target audience of the outlet, making sure it matches or complements your own.</p>\n<p>Free content syndication involves republishing content that appears on your website on another platform or publication. A content creator could do this on:</p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>A free, public website. </strong>Anyone can freely repost content that has originally been published elsewhere (with credit, of course) on a website such as Medium or LinkedIn. These websites can host entire articles, rather than just an excerpt or link like social media platforms do.</li>\n<li><strong>Industry or special-interest blogs. </strong>Industry and special interest blogs will often be open to running your relevant content, as long as they believe it fits the needs and interests of their audience. An industry blog about shoes, for instance, might be interested in your shoe business’s blog post about the benefits of running in barefoot sneakers.</li>\n<li><strong>A large media outlet. </strong>Perhaps the holy grail of content syndication is if a media outlet like HuffPost or <em>Forbes</em> approaches you directly, asking to repost your content. This isn’t easy to do, since media companies have their own journalistic standards about what they publish. Your content has to be good enough to attract their attention organically.</li>\n</ul>\n<p>Other free platforms include community-specific forums like Reddit and niche Facebook groups. Allen Brouwer and Cathryn Lavery, co-founders of BestSelf Co<a href=\"https://www.shopify.com/blog/bestself-co-content-syndication\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">.</a>, tried both. During a podcast conversation these co-founders shared their opinions on:</p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Facebook groups:</strong> “We’d go into Facebook groups and we’d write a specific post targeted to that Facebook group that isn’t spamming, it’s there to provide value. If you go into Facebook groups and start copying and pasting into a hundred different groups, it’s not going to work out well for you. It’s a very manual process, but it works, it has worked for us. The problem is not many people do it because it does take effort. You need to go in, you need to create a post that’s specific to that group that talks the language inside that group.”</li>\n<li><strong>Reddit:</strong> “Another example is Reddit. If you’re not speaking Reddit’s language you are going to get destroyed. I recommend going into Reddit and actually participating there before you start syndicating. Just so you can understand the lingo, understand how it works, understand how you format a written post in there. A lot of subreddits don’t even let you post until you’ve been vetted almost. It’s getting in there and understanding that target market and understanding how they talk, how they communicate, and communicating to them via value. Then they’ll reciprocate, come to your site. Hopefully if you’ve done everything correctly they’ll opt in and you’ll grow that list.”</li>\n</ul>\n<p>Paid content syndication is, as its name suggests, syndication you pay for. It generally refers to two distinct forms of distribution:</p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Wire services. </strong>Services such as PR Newswire and GlobeNewswire distribute content, usually press releases, publicly. The press releases, which range from a new product announcement to how a major car manufacturer is observing Earth Day, first appear on a company’s website, and the syndicate content appears on these third-party sites. These syndication services can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars per release, so it’s usually medium to large companies that pay for them.</li>\n<li><strong>Native advertising services.</strong> These content syndication platforms, also called “content discovery services” include companies such as Taboola and Outbrain. They function more similarly to Google Ads in that a company pays them to distribute articles at the bottom of the page of third-party sites. The articles you see are targeted to you based on your browsing history. Notably, while marketers do consider native advertising to be paid syndication, it works differently than other types of content syndication because the article does not appear in full on another website. Instead, just the headline and image are posted on the third-party website, and the link directs traffic back to the original site. Both Taboola and Outbrain use a pay-per-click model.</li>\n</ul>\n<h2 id=\"4\">Benefits of content syndication</h2>\n<p>The goal of content syndication is to increase how often your brand appears online and how many people see your content. The benefits of coming up with a content syndication strategy can include:</p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Higher</strong> <strong>brand awareness.</strong> The more often your name appears online attached to a piece of content, and the more people consuming it, the more those readers will be thinking about and (hopefully) talking about your brand.</li>\n<li><strong>Better website presence.</strong> Since publishing your article on other sites links back to your website, it can increase traffic to your website as users follow those links. The backlinks on third-party sites may also improve your site’s SEO.</li>\n<li><strong>More sales.</strong> Content syndication can increase the amount of people who see your brand, which may encourage them to take a look at your product offerings and maybe even (one day down the line) make a purchase.</li>\n</ul>\n<div class=\"responsive-video-wrapper gutter-bottom\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/X4lXu4TaS-A\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"></iframe></div>\n<h2 id=\"5\">How to create a syndication strategy</h2>\n<p>Whether your site is large or small, identifying the right syndication strategy will ensure your valuable content doesn’t go to waste.</p>\n<ol>\n<li>Set goals</li>\n<li>Set a budget</li>\n<li>Create engaging content</li>\n<li>Set your site up for success</li>\n<li>Target relevant partners</li>\n<li>Evaluate the results</li>\n</ol>\n<h3 id=\"11\">1. Set goals</h3>\n<p>What you are trying to accomplish with content syndication will call for different tactics, so it’s important to identify what you want to get out of it. A goal could be to increase brand awareness or generate new leads. An online craft store might want to get more knitting fans to sign up for its newsletter, so it would repurpose its how-to knit blog posts on Medium.</p>\n<h3 id=\"12\">2. Set a budget</h3>\n<p>Next, decide if you want to pursue paid or stick to free syndication. If your budget is zero, you can use the free options listed above. If you have a budget, content discovery services such as Taboola can be effective for driving leads, as they refer directly to your site. Wire services can help drive investor interest, improve brand recognition, or even support organic media coverage.</p>\n<h3 id=\"13\">3. Create engaging content</h3>\n<p>Your most valuable tool in content syndication is creating content that people want to consume. Audiences tend to connect with specific, personal stories. Make sure to edit any articles you write thoroughly so it’s clear and free of typos and other errors. If your idea lends itself to a graphic, those can also help make your article more engaging.</p>\n<h3 id=\"14\">4. Set your site up for success</h3>\n<p>Before your content is syndicated, it needs to be housed on your website. Make sure you optimize your website for syndication. Your blog needs to use the “rel=canonical” tag for original content. This tag, located in the html code of your site, ensures that Google and other search engines identify your site as the original location of the content, which will push your site higher in the search rankings. Whether you use WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, or another website builder, you should be able to find a how-to on including this piece of code in the right place.</p>\n<h3 id=\"15\">5. Target relevant partners</h3>\n<p>For free content syndication, look for similarly sized or larger outlets that have a similar target audience as you. Approach them with a highly customized outreach message about why your content is a good match for their audience. Persistence is key, so don’t be afraid to reach out multiple times.</p>\n<p>For paid content syndication platforms, research your options and find a reputable partner who works with sites that are already serving your target audience.</p>\n<h3 id=\"16\">6. Evaluate the results</h3>\n<p>Track your content’s performance against the goals you set in the beginning. Did you drive the amount of web traffic, social media follows, or leads that you set out to? Analyze what you achieved and compare it to the money (and time) you spent on it to determine if the syndication effort had a positive return on investment.</p>\n<div class=\"marketing-block marketing-block--light marketing-block--padded\">\n<div>\n<h2>Content syndication FAQ</h2>\n<div>\n<h3>Can syndicating my content hurt my website&#8217;s SEO?</h3>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>Content syndication can hurt your site’s SEO, but it doesn’t have to. In fact, valuable backlinks and consistent traffic from syndication can even help boost your SEO. Google’s algorithm punishes duplicate content, but syndicated content—when correctly attributed—isn’t considered duplicate. Content syndicated on your partners’ sites should be labeled as having appeared somewhere else first (on your site) and should link back to where you originally published it.</p>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div>\n<h3>How do I ensure that my syndicated content is properly attributed to me?</h3>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>Well-established, reputable media outlets do not run unattributed content—so pick syndication partners carefully. It’s also important that you do the work to send the appropriate links to the original piece of content and attribution information. If you find your content on another site unattributed, that’s not content syndication, that’s content duplication, or may even be plagiarism.</p>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div>\n<h3>What is an example of syndication?</h3>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>Anything that has been published before and is being reposted or rebroadcast by a new outlet is in syndication. Classic ’90s sitcoms appear on Netflix via syndication. An AP article in The New York Times has been syndicated, as has a shoe company’s blog post that is republished on Medium.</p>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div>\n<h3>Is content syndication the same as guest blogging?</h3>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>Content syndication is not the same as guest blogging. Guest blog posts are original content created by someone outside the blog where they are published. If you have an idea for a guest blog post for a site like Forbes or Business Insider, you can pitch those publications directly. Keep in mind, though, the article must be original.</p>\n<p>https://www.shopify.com/blog/content-syndication</p>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n"}]},"page_header":{"background":null,"backgroundOpacity":100,"color":null,"fieldGroupName":"page_header","title":"Content Syndication 2023","opacity":100,"position":"on","size":{"desktop":64,"tablet":null,"mobile":null},"spaces":{"top":null,"bottom":null,"leftright":null,"units":"em"}},"link":"/blog/content-syndication-definition-benefits-and-how-it-works"},{"id":"cG9zdDo1Mzc1","title":"Articles of Organization: Definition, Templates & Examples (2023)","date":"24.05.2023","slug":"articles-of-organization-definition-templates-examples-2023","categories":{"nodes":[{"id":"dGVybTox","name":"General Articles"}]},"levels":{"nodes":[]},"acfPost":{"fieldGroupName":"acfPost","excerpt":"If you’re looking to start a new business, you may opt to form an LLC, or limited liability company, which is one of the more common options for a small company. In order to establish an LLC, you’ll need to file articles of organization.\r\nArticles of organization are foundational legal documents for establishing a business entity in the form of an LLC in any given state in the US.","squaredImage":{"altText":"Articles of Organization: Definition, Templates & Examples (2023)","localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"fullWidth","backgroundColor":"#f8c8c8","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/42bc6e64d2014aeba0436b1d903aed77/b956e/articles_20of_20organization.webp","srcSet":"/static/42bc6e64d2014aeba0436b1d903aed77/d1fa5/articles_20of_20organization.webp 750w,\n/static/42bc6e64d2014aeba0436b1d903aed77/b956e/articles_20of_20organization.webp 1024w","sizes":"100vw"},"sources":[]},"width":1,"height":0.4228515625}}}},"metaData":{"title":null,"description":"Learn how to start a new business by forming an LLC through the filing of articles of organization. This comprehensive guide explains what articles of organization are, why they are necessary, and provides step-by-step instructions on how to file and structure them. Find templates, examples, and state-specific information to help you navigate the process and establish your LLC successfully"},"banner":{"title":"Articles of Organization: Definition, Templates & Examples (2023)","showTitle":true,"image":{"altText":"Articles of Organization: Definition, Templates & Examples (2023)","localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"fullWidth","backgroundColor":"#f8c8c8","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/42bc6e64d2014aeba0436b1d903aed77/b956e/articles_20of_20organization.webp","srcSet":"/static/42bc6e64d2014aeba0436b1d903aed77/d1fa5/articles_20of_20organization.webp 750w,\n/static/42bc6e64d2014aeba0436b1d903aed77/b956e/articles_20of_20organization.webp 1024w","sizes":"100vw"},"sources":[]},"width":1,"height":0.4228515625}}}}},"timeToRead":null,"sections":[{"fieldGroupName":"post_Acfpost_Sections_ArticleRichTextContent","content":"<p>If you’re looking to start a new business, you may opt to form an LLC, or limited liability company, which is one of the more common options for a small company. In order to establish an LLC, you’ll need to file articles of organization.</p>\n<p>Articles of organization are foundational legal documents for establishing a business entity in the form of an LLC in any given state in the US.</p>\n<p>In this article, you’ll learn more about what articles of organization are, why you need to submit them, and how to get started filing them to create your LLC and new business.</p>\n<div class=\"marketing-block marketing-block--light marketing-block--padded\">\n<p class=\"heading--2\">Table of Contents</p>\n<ul>\n<li>What are articles of organization?</li>\n<li>Why are articles of organization needed?</li>\n<li>How to file and structure your LLC’s articles of organization</li>\n<li>LLC articles of organization templates and examples</li>\n<li>Articles of organization FAQ</li>\n</ul>\n</div>\n<h2 id=\"1\">What are articles of organization?</h2>\n<p>Articles of organization are legal documents involved with setting up an LLC within a US state. They set out legal rights, capabilities, fiduciary duties, potential liabilities, and other official aspects of the relationship between each member of an LLC, as well as between members and the LLC itself.</p>\n<p>Articles of organization also include the operating agreement and the corporate statutes in the state where they are filed.</p>\n<p>You file articles of organization with your state government. An LLC must meet specific requirements set forth by the individual state authority in the area where it will do business. The state also typically requires businesses to pay a fee when filing articles of organization. Some states may refer to these as a certificate of formation or certificate of organization instead.</p>\n<p>Articles of organization are LLC-specific, but are very similar to the articles of incorporation that are filed when setting up a corporation.</p>\n<h2 id=\"2\">Why are articles of organization needed?</h2>\n<p>Without articles of organization, your limited liability company doesn’t legally exist.</p>\n<p>The document helps to create a public record of your business information and existence, including the business name, your name and contact information, and other information about where to send lawsuits and legal notices.</p>\n<p>If you’re running your business from home and don’t want your personal address to be listed publicly as a place to send official notices, you can work with a registered agent.</p>\n<p>A registered agent provides their address for this type of communication. Some companies exist solely to provide registered agent services; however, small-business lawyers often offer their offices as your registered agent for an annual fee.</p>\n<p>If you choose to work with a small business lawyer to help set up your LLC or file your articles of organization, check to see if they can serve as your registered agent as well.</p>\n<h2 id=\"3\">How to file and structure your LLC&#8217;s articles of organization</h2>\n<p>When you’re ready to get your LLC going, follow these four steps to properly file and structure your articles of organization. As the guide goes into, the details required can be vastly different state by state.</p>\n<h3>1. Go to your state’s filing website</h3>\n<p>Start by going to your state’s filing website—typically the secretary of state website. Learn more about where to find and file your state’s articles of organization forms below:</p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Alabama</td>\n<td>Alaska</td>\n<td>Arizona</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Arkansas</td>\n<td>California</td>\n<td>Colorado</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Connecticut</td>\n<td>Delaware</td>\n<td>Florida</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Georgia</td>\n<td>Hawaii</td>\n<td>Idaho</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Illinois</td>\n<td>Indiana</td>\n<td>Iowa</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Kansas</td>\n<td>Kentucky</td>\n<td>Louisiana</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Maine</td>\n<td>Maryland</td>\n<td>Massachusetts</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Michigan</td>\n<td>Minnesota</td>\n<td>Mississippi</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Missouri</td>\n<td>Montana</td>\n<td>Nebraska</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Nevada</td>\n<td>New Hampshire</td>\n<td>New Jersey</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>New Mexico</td>\n<td>New York</td>\n<td>North Carolina</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>North Dakota</td>\n<td>Ohio</td>\n<td>Oklahoma</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Oregon</td>\n<td>Pennsylvania</td>\n<td>Rhode Island</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>South Carolina</td>\n<td>South Dakota</td>\n<td>Tennessee</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Texas</td>\n<td>Utah</td>\n<td>Vermont</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Virginia</td>\n<td>Washington</td>\n<td>West Virginia</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Wisconsin</td>\n<td>Wyoming</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody>\n</table>\n<p>Pay attention to whether your state calls them articles of organization, certificate of formation, or certificate of organization so you know how to find your document.</p>\n<p>Each article above tells you where to find your articles of organization document, how to file it (i.e., by mail, or if you can submit it online), what the filing fee is (anywhere from $50 to $200), and any additional information you need.</p>\n<h3>2. Gather the information needed by your state</h3>\n<p>Next, gather the information you’re going to need to file your articles of organization and fully form your LLC. Again, pay attention to the specific requirements of your state. The form will be reviewed by the filing state’s secretary of state or corporate registrar, so it’s important to stick to your state’s guidelines.</p>\n<p>Here are a few examples of just how particular state authorities can get, highlighting why it’s important you carefully review your local rules before filing:</p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Naming.</strong> In most states, the company name must indicate that it is an LLC—but there are state-by-state distinctions. In Oklahoma, for example, the LLC identifier can be abbreviated (“LLC” at the end of the name); in Kentucky, it must be fully spelled out (“Limited Liability Company”).</li>\n<li><strong>Periodic reports.</strong> Most states require LLCs to file periodic reports with the appropriate regulatory agency. But requirements vary by location. California, Iowa, and Indiana require biennial reporting, for example; Pennsylvania requires a report only once per decade.</li>\n<li><strong>Filing fee.</strong> Some states require special fees, in addition to overall filing fees, paid to certain agencies when filing articles of organization. For example, in California, you must pay the franchise tax fee; in West Virginia, you must pay the state tax department; Connecticut LLCs must pay a biennial business entity tax in years ending with an odd number.</li>\n<li><strong>Management.</strong> Who will manage your LLC? Some states require you to clarify in your filing whether your LLC is “member managed” (managed by all or some of the LLC members) or “manager managed” (managed by a third party hired by the members). Rhode Island and New Mexico are two such states. In most states, LLCs are designated member-managed by default.</li>\n<li><strong>Notice.</strong> A little pomp and circumstance is sometimes necessary. In Nebraska, filers of articles of organization must publish a “notice of formation” in one newspaper for three consecutive weeks.</li>\n<li><strong>Certification.</strong> Some states—like Massachusetts, New Jersey, Iowa, and Mississippi—require that you file a “certificate of organization” prior to or in lieu of filing articles of organization.</li>\n<li><strong>Operating agreements.</strong> New Hampshire, North Carolina, Idaho, and South Dakota do not require you to create an operating agreement—a document reflecting the functional and financial operations of the company—with your articles. States that require filing an operating agreement include New York, California, and Missouri.</li>\n</ul>\n<h3>3. Fill out the form with the proper structure</h3>\n<p>Once you have the information you need in order to fill out your form, it’s time to input the proper information. Here’s a sample form from South Carolina:</p>\n<div>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" lazyloaded\" src=\"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0070/7032/files/Articles_of_Org1.png?format=webp&amp;v=1683157500\" alt=\"Example of South Carolina's Article of Organization\" data-src=\"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0070/7032/files/Articles_of_Org1.png?format=webp&amp;v=1683157500\" /><figcaption><em>South Carolina Secretary of State</em></figcaption></figure>\n<p>The information you need to fill out on your form will vary from state to state. Some of the fields you could expect to see on your own articles of organization form include:</p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Business/LLC name.</strong> Input the name of your business, along with one of the “LLC” notations behind it. This is also the point where you decide whether you want to have a comma between your business name and LLC or not. Make sure your business name is available and not in use by another company or your form may be rejected.</li>\n</ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>LLC address.</strong> This will need to be the street address of either your home office or place of business. A P.O. box is typically not accepted for this particular need.</li>\n</ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Mailing address.</strong> If this is different from the street address (i.e., a P.O. box), you can fill this field out.</li>\n</ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>State date.</strong> The date you’re starting your business. This is often the date that you file your articles of organization. However, you can choose a date in the future if you don’t plan to start business operations yet.</li>\n</ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Business/LLC purpose.</strong> You can list anything from “business services” to a more specific “ecommerce craft store” for your business’s purpose.</li>\n</ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>LLC members/managers.</strong> This relates back to who is managing the LLC—members or managers. You’ll need to list all of the members if member-managed or the management company/manager if manager-managed.</li>\n</ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Registered agent.</strong> The registered agent (also called resident agent or statutory agent in some states) is in charge of receiving legal paperwork for your business. You can act as your own registered agent in some states, or you can hire an entity to act as your registered agent for you. You’ll input their information here.</li>\n</ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Period of duration.</strong> You can choose to have a perpetual LLC, which means it will continue to exist until manually dissolved. Or you can choose a time period for your LLC to be active.</li>\n</ul>\n<h3>4. File your articles of organization</h3>\n<p>Once you’ve filled out the fields in your articles of organization form, it’s time to file them. These requirements will also vary state by state.</p>\n<p>In some states, you can simply submit your form and filing fee online. Others require you to mail it in alongside a check. Look into your state’s requirements so you can get your form submitted and be on your way to forming your LLC.</p>\n<h2 id=\"4\">LLC articles of organization templates and examples</h2>\n<p>To make the process easier on you, here are some articles of organization templates and examples.</p>\n<h3>Free articles of organization template</h3>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" lazyloaded\" src=\"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0070/7032/files/aoo2.png?format=webp&amp;v=1683157747\" alt=\"An article of organization template\" data-src=\"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0070/7032/files/aoo2.png?format=webp&amp;v=1683157747\" /><figcaption><em>North West Registered Agent</em></figcaption></figure>\n<p>The above template is available as a free articles of organization template that includes most of the information your state will need. You can fill this out and file it if your state allows. However, you may need to download your state’s specific form.</p>\n<h3>California articles of organization example</h3>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<figure><strong><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" lazyloaded\" src=\"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0070/7032/files/aoo3.png?format=webp&amp;v=1683157739\" alt=\"Example of an article of organization from California\" data-src=\"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0070/7032/files/aoo3.png?format=webp&amp;v=1683157739\" /></strong><figcaption>Suzie Q works on Shopify Scripts from her New Zealand office. <em>California Secretary of State</em></figcaption></figure>\n<p>Here’s an example of California’s articles of organization form. This state allows online filing, making it easy to fill out and submit within minutes. It’s a simple one-page form that requires information like your business name, designated office address, mailing address (if different), purpose statement, and more.</p>\n<h3>New York articles of organization example</h3>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" lazyloaded\" src=\"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0070/7032/files/aoo4.png?format=webp&amp;v=1683157799\" alt=\"Example of an article of organization from New York\" data-src=\"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0070/7032/files/aoo4.png?format=webp&amp;v=1683157799\" /></figure>\n<figure><figcaption><em>New York Department of State</em></figcaption></figure>\n<p>New York state also allows articles of organization to be filed completely online, but you can still download the form above to fill out and mail if you choose. Input your LLC’s name, county, and more to fulfill the requirements and get your New York business up and running.</p>\n<h2>File your articles of organization based on your state requirements</h2>\n<p>If you’re ready to file your articles of organization, there are a few final details to note. First, while it’s not required to retain an attorney to file your articles, an attorney licensed in your place of business will have a good understanding of any unique requirements.</p>\n<p>Keep in mind that articles of organization do not suffice as a business license, and you will need to apply for this separately. Finally, articles of organization are public record in all states. Be aware of this, and don’t include anything in your filing that you don’t wish to be public knowledge.Articles of organization FAQ</p>\n<div class=\"marketing-block marketing-block--light marketing-block--padded\">\n<div>\n<h3>What do articles of organization do?</h3>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>Articles of organization create a public record of your business information with your state’s officials.</p>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div>\n<h3>How do you write articles of organization?</h3>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>Articles of organization are a document that is used to form a limited liability company (LLC) in the United States. It must be filed with the state government in order to legally form the LLC. The document includes information about the LLC, such as its name, purpose, and members. The article of organization also includes the name and address of the LLC’s registered agent and must be written in accordance with the laws of the state in which the LLC is being formed.</p>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div>\n<h3>Do I need articles of organization?</h3>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>If you plan to form an LLC within your state, yes, you need articles of organization, or your state’s equivalent, on file.</p>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div>\n<h3>Can my articles of organization be rejected?</h3>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>Yes, your articles of organization can be rejected. This can be due to not following the proper filing process, information being filled out incorrectly, or your business name already being taken.</p>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div>\n<h3>What happens after I file my articles of organization?</h3>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>If approved, your business will be established as a separate legal entity. This is a key part in legally forming your LLC. Make sure to complete the other forms and requirements to finalize your LLC before you can begin business operations. These other tasks include:</p>\n<p>&#8211; Creating your operating agreement<br />\n&#8211; Getting an EIN (employer identification number)<br />\n&#8211; Opening a business bank account<br />\n&#8211; Getting a business license</p>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div>\n<h3>Where do you file articles of organization?</h3>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>Most states require you to file articles of organization with your secretary of state. You can do this either online or by mail, depending on your state’s requirements.</p>\n<p>https://www.shopify.com/blog/articles-of-organization</p>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n"}]},"page_header":{"background":null,"backgroundOpacity":100,"color":null,"fieldGroupName":"page_header","title":"Articles of Organization 2023","opacity":100,"position":"on","size":{"desktop":64,"tablet":null,"mobile":null},"spaces":{"top":null,"bottom":null,"leftright":null,"units":"em"}},"link":"/blog/articles-of-organization-definition-templates-examples-2023"},{"id":"cG9zdDo1MzY5","title":"How To Make a Website To Sell Your Products","date":"24.05.2023","slug":"how-to-make-a-website-to-sell-your-products","categories":{"nodes":[{"id":"dGVybTox","name":"General Articles"}]},"levels":{"nodes":[]},"acfPost":{"fieldGroupName":"acfPost","excerpt":"Building your own website gets easier every year, but building an ecommerce store for your online business takes a bit more planning and effort. An ecommerce website should include features like a custom domain name, an intuitive user interface (UI), an appealing website design, a frictionless shopping cart and checkout flow, and search engine optimization.","squaredImage":{"altText":"How To Make a Website To Sell Your Products","localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"fullWidth","backgroundColor":"#b8c8d8","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/2323ca2ed6c12f0466804d2e4c0b7210/b956e/how_20to_20make_20a_20website_20to_20sell.webp","srcSet":"/static/2323ca2ed6c12f0466804d2e4c0b7210/d1fa5/how_20to_20make_20a_20website_20to_20sell.webp 750w,\n/static/2323ca2ed6c12f0466804d2e4c0b7210/b956e/how_20to_20make_20a_20website_20to_20sell.webp 1024w","sizes":"100vw"},"sources":[]},"width":1,"height":0.4228515625}}}},"metaData":{"title":null,"description":"Learn how to build your own ecommerce store and start selling products online. This step-by-step guide covers everything from determining your target audience and choosing a domain name to designing your website, optimizing it for search engines, and marketing your online store. Take your small business to the next level and establish a successful online presence"},"banner":{"title":"How To Make a Website To Sell Your Products","showTitle":true,"image":{"altText":"How To Make a Website To Sell Your Products","localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"fullWidth","backgroundColor":"#b8c8d8","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/2323ca2ed6c12f0466804d2e4c0b7210/b956e/how_20to_20make_20a_20website_20to_20sell.webp","srcSet":"/static/2323ca2ed6c12f0466804d2e4c0b7210/d1fa5/how_20to_20make_20a_20website_20to_20sell.webp 750w,\n/static/2323ca2ed6c12f0466804d2e4c0b7210/b956e/how_20to_20make_20a_20website_20to_20sell.webp 1024w","sizes":"100vw"},"sources":[]},"width":1,"height":0.4228515625}}}}},"timeToRead":null,"sections":[{"fieldGroupName":"post_Acfpost_Sections_ArticleRichTextContent","content":"<p>Building your own website gets easier every year, but building an ecommerce store for your online business takes a bit more planning and effort. An ecommerce website should include features like a custom domain name, an intuitive user interface (UI), an appealing website design, a frictionless shopping cart and checkout flow, and search engine optimization.</p>\n<p>As a small-business owner, you have many ecommerce website builders to choose from. No matter what ecommerce platform you choose for your website, you’ll follow similar steps to get your online store up and running. Here’s a step-by-step rundown.</p>\n<div class=\"marketing-block marketing-block--light marketing-block--padded\">\n<p class=\"heading--2\">How to make a website to sell</p>\n<ol>\n<li>Determine the purpose and target audience of your website</li>\n<li>Choose a domain name and web hosting service</li>\n<li>Design and develop your website</li>\n<li>Optimize your website for search engines</li>\n<li>Launch and market your website</li>\n<li>Monitor and improve your website</li>\n</ol>\n</div>\n<p>Starting a successful online store has much in common with establishing a brick-and-mortar store: You identify a target audience and make efforts to connect with them, invite them to shop, then close the deal with a smooth, positive retail experience. Here are strategies for tackling each of these six steps so you can get your business online and start selling.</p>\n<h2 id=\"1\">1. Determine the purpose and target audience of your website</h2>\n<p>The success of your ecommerce business hinges on your ability to connect with the types of online shoppers who would sincerely like to buy your products. Before you start selling online, take time to do the following:</p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Determine your target audience.</strong> Your target audience consists of the people most likely to buy the physical products, software, or services you offer. Research the common behaviors, pain points, goals, personality traits, and demographic information among your target market, and create a buyer persona to guide the rest of your decisions.</li>\n<li><strong>Analyze your competition.</strong> Find out who else is competing for your customers’ online shopping dollars. Run a competitive analysis and an overall market analysis, then use the results to stake out a market niche for yourself.</li>\n<li><strong>Analyze yourself.</strong> Consider what your company is uniquely primed to offer potential customers. You can assess your ecommerce business idea by running a SWOT analysis (which looks at your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) and determining your unique selling proposition.</li>\n</ol>\n<div class=\"marketing-block marketing-block--light marketing-block--padded\">\n<p class=\"heading--4\">Get your free brand positioning template</p>\n<p>Stand out from the competition and make your brand the go-to choice for customers with our brand positioning analysis.</p>\n<p>Grab your copy</p>\n</div>\n<h2 id=\"2\">2. Choose a domain name and web hosting service</h2>\n<p>It’s common for small business owners to launch an ecommerce site using a professional website builder. You’ll likely want to choose a platform with a built-in online store builder, which lets you list and sell products on specific pages of your website. Here are the key steps that go into launching your ecommerce site:</p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Choose a custom domain name.</strong> Your website’s domain name is your online digital address. The best domain names tend to be short, brandable, and memorable. Once you’ve picked an available domain name, buy and register it.</li>\n<li><strong>Choose a website builder. </strong>Research the best ecommerce website builder for your business’s needs. Whether you go with a Shopify site, a Squarespace site, a WordPress site, or something else, you’ll want a platform with built-in ecommerce software. A Shopify website is a strong choice for people who want to house all their ecommerce operations—from web hosting to inventory to checkout—in one place.</li>\n<li><strong>Purchase web hosting capabilities.</strong> Web hosting is the operation of internet-facing hardware and software that provides web services to end users. Websites live on computer servers, and to host yours you’ll rent server space via monthly or yearly subscriptions. The cost of a web host varies depending on your business’s needs, but it’s safe to assume that you’ll spend somewhere between $5 and $50 in monthly fees.</li>\n</ol>\n<div class=\"responsive-video-wrapper gutter-bottom\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/u-Qfdn44rB4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"></iframe></div>\n<h2 id=\"3\">3. Design and develop your website</h2>\n<p>Website builders like Shopify, Wix, Weebly, and Squarespace offer content management systems (CMS) that let you design the custom look of your site. Here are a few components of website design:</p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Design for your target audience.</strong> Good website design for small businesses involves selecting a clear and consistent visual language (including color schemes, icons, fonts, and graphics) with your target audience’s preferences in mind. You can find inspiration from ecommerce site design ideas or use an ecommerce template that comes with your CMS.</li>\n<li><strong>Build a clean, intuitive user interface.</strong> User interface (UI) is the layout, design, and interactivity of a digital product (in this case, ecommerce platforms). Your customers interact with your site’s UI on their computers, tablets, and smartphones. A site-building platform like Shopify offers ecommerce website templates that send customers on a seamless customer journey from browsing to checkout.</li>\n<li><strong>Create content for your site.</strong> Content on an ecommerce site includes product descriptions, images, and perhaps a blog or audio-visual content to help educate consumers about your products or services. You can also give customers the option to review your products. Ecommerce reviews offer social proof to other prospective buyers.</li>\n</ol>\n<div class=\"marketing-block marketing-block--light marketing-block--padded\">\n<p class=\"heading--4\">Shopify Themes—built for commerce</p>\n<p>Take your store from launch to scale with themes that make selling easy. Check out Shopify themes to review a collection of templates ideal for small business websites.</p>\n</div>\n<h2 id=\"4\">4. Optimize your website for search engines</h2>\n<p>SEO stands for search engine optimization. You can reach far more customers with an online store built for search engine visibility. Here are some strategies to improve your SEO rankings:</p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Learn the basics of website SEO.</strong> Website SEO is a type of digital marketing that aims to make your website appear higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). Ramping up your SEO content writing, improving your on-page SEO, and adding backlinks to other pages on your site are all ways you can help your site show up at the top of more SERPs.</li>\n<li><strong>Do keyword research.</strong> A keyword is a single word or phrase that internet users type into search engines. Using keyword research tools, you can find out what phrases people are looking for that are relevant to your business; then create SEO content designed to show up in those users’ search results.</li>\n<li><strong>Set up Google Analytics.</strong> Google Analytics is a free tool that helps you monitor incoming web traffic and visitor behavior on your website. It can help you chart key performance indicators (KPIs) such as time spent on certain pages, the devices your audiences use to browse your website, and the source of your inbound links (such as search engines, social media, or backlinks from other sites).</li>\n</ol>\n<div class=\"responsive-video-wrapper gutter-bottom\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/7epUGFEdrP8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"></iframe></div>\n<h2 id=\"5\">5. Launch and market your website</h2>\n<p>With your website built and optimized for search, you’re ready to launch it and sell products online. Here are some ways to market your new ecommerce store:</p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Pick your sales channels.</strong> A sales channel is the route you take to reach your customers. For instance, you could focus on the business-to-consumer (B2C) market, the business-to-business (B2B) market, the wholesale market, or modern marketplaces like Google Shopping, which refers web searchers to your site. Choose multiple sales channels to have multiple potential streams of revenue.</li>\n<li><strong>Promote yourself on social media.</strong> Social media marketing can help you drive traffic to your ecommerce store, build brand awareness, and connect directly with potential customers. By posting regularly and replying to user comments, you can build rapport with the billions of people who use social media. Social media management tools can help you in these efforts.</li>\n<li><strong>Solicit customer reviews.</strong> Positive reviews can help potential customers feel more confident about purchasing products from your site, while negative reviews can provide you with valuable feedback. Distribute customer satisfaction surveys via email or ask your existing customers to leave feedback on product pages after they’ve made a purchase. When surveyed, 84% of shoppers reported that they trust online reviews as much as personal referrals.</li>\n</ol>\n<div class=\"marketing-block marketing-block--light marketing-block--padded\">\n<p class=\"heading--4\">Free marketing plan template</p>\n<p>Calibrate your strategy and create a content roadmap for paid and organic channels to earn new customers and keep the ones you&#8217;ve got with our marketing strategy template.6. Monitor and improve your website</p>\n</div>\n<p>You can continue to improve your website after it’s launched. Here are three strategies for doing so:</p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Install </strong><strong>ecommerce plug-ins</strong><strong>.</strong> An ecommerce-focused website builder like Shopify lets you install ecommerce plug-ins to augment your site’s functionality. For instance, if you need shipping services for your store, you can search the Shopify App Store for shipping apps that let you estimate shipping costs or print shipping labels.</li>\n<li><strong>Keep adding new content.</strong> Keep your site fresh by adding content on a regular basis, whether that’s a blog post, video, or new product listing. High-quality, helpful content can inform purchasing decisions and improve your site’s SEO value.</li>\n<li><strong>Introduce customer-friendly perks.</strong> Keep shoppers coming back to your site through various promotions. This could include loyalty programs, discount codes sent via email newsletters, or a buy now, pay later plan (like Shopify’s Shop Pay) that lets customers pay for purchases over time.</li>\n</ol>\n<p><strong>Continue to monitor site traffic and trends.</strong> Using tools like Google Analytics and your site builder’s analytics tools, monitor the ways customers interact with your ecommerce store. Use this information to plan marketing campaigns, guide new product development, and optimize your site for better search engine visibility.</p>\n<div class=\"marketing-block marketing-block--light marketing-block--padded\">\n<div>\n<h2>How to make a website to sell FAQ</h2>\n<div>\n<h3>Can I create a website to sell products without any coding experience?</h3>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>Yes, thanks to modern website-building software, you can build a website without any prior coding experience. You can choose from popular web builders like WordPress, Squarespace, Weebly, and Wix‚ among others. You can also opt for a website builder that’s designed for ecommerce, such as Shopify.</p>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div>\n<h3>How do I make sure my website is mobile-friendly?</h3>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>The best way to ensure your website is mobile-friendly is to use a website builder that automatically codes with a mobile-responsive design. Today, all of the major website-building platforms—including Shopify—use mobile-friendly designs. Given that over 60% of all web traffic comes via mobile devices, mobile responsiveness is essential.</p>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div>\n<h3>How can I track website metrics to measure the success of my website?</h3>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>You can track website traffic and engagement metrics using free tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console, alongside paid tools like Ahrefs and Semrush. If you have a Shopify merchant account, you gain access to a wide variety of reports and analytics that help you track and analyze online store conversions, inventory, sales attribution, customer behavior, and much more data.</p>\n<p>https://www.shopify.com/blog/how-to-make-a-website-to-sell</p>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n"}]},"page_header":{"background":null,"backgroundOpacity":100,"color":null,"fieldGroupName":"page_header","title":"Make a Website to Sell","opacity":100,"position":"on","size":{"desktop":64,"tablet":null,"mobile":null},"spaces":{"top":null,"bottom":null,"leftright":null,"units":"em"}},"link":"/blog/how-to-make-a-website-to-sell-your-products"},{"id":"cG9zdDo1MzYz","title":"How To Create and Optimize a Facebook Business Page","date":"24.05.2023","slug":"how-to-create-and-optimize-a-facebook-business-page","categories":{"nodes":[{"id":"dGVybTox","name":"General Articles"}]},"levels":{"nodes":[]},"acfPost":{"fieldGroupName":"acfPost","excerpt":"You just started your ecommerce business and want to grow and get new customers. Spreading the word about your small business to a large audience, such as the approximately two billion people on Facebook every day, is a good place to start. On it, you can promote your company and Facebook’s services, and let potential customers know exactly where to find you.","squaredImage":{"altText":"How To Create and Optimize a Facebook Business Page","localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"fullWidth","backgroundColor":"#5848e8","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/3e73ecc2cc535f86c473decf640f57ed/b956e/create_20facebook_20business_20page.webp","srcSet":"/static/3e73ecc2cc535f86c473decf640f57ed/d1fa5/create_20facebook_20business_20page.webp 750w,\n/static/3e73ecc2cc535f86c473decf640f57ed/b956e/create_20facebook_20business_20page.webp 1024w","sizes":"100vw"},"sources":[]},"width":1,"height":0.4228515625}}}},"metaData":{"title":null,"description":"Discover how to create and optimize a Facebook business page to grow your ecommerce business. Learn how to set up your page, add engaging content, and measure its success. Reach billions of potential customers on Facebook and maximize your online presence"},"banner":{"title":"How To Create and Optimize a Facebook Business Page","showTitle":true,"image":{"altText":"How To Create and Optimize a Facebook Business Page","localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"fullWidth","backgroundColor":"#5848e8","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/3e73ecc2cc535f86c473decf640f57ed/b956e/create_20facebook_20business_20page.webp","srcSet":"/static/3e73ecc2cc535f86c473decf640f57ed/d1fa5/create_20facebook_20business_20page.webp 750w,\n/static/3e73ecc2cc535f86c473decf640f57ed/b956e/create_20facebook_20business_20page.webp 1024w","sizes":"100vw"},"sources":[]},"width":1,"height":0.4228515625}}}}},"timeToRead":null,"sections":[{"fieldGroupName":"post_Acfpost_Sections_ArticleRichTextContent","content":"<p>You just started your ecommerce business and want to grow and get new customers. Spreading the word about your small business to a large audience, such as the approximately two billion people on Facebook every day, is a good place to start. On it, you can promote your company and Facebook’s services, and let potential customers know exactly where to find you.</p>\n<p>But first, you need to create a Facebook business page and use it to its best advantage.</p>\n<div class=\"marketing-block marketing-block--light marketing-block--padded\">\n<p class=\"heading--2\">Table of Contents</p>\n<ul>\n<li>What is a Facebook business page?</li>\n<li>How to create a Facebook business page</li>\n<li>How to optimize your Facebook business page</li>\n<li>How to measure the success of your Facebook business page</li>\n<li>Creating a Facebook business page FAQ</li>\n</ul>\n</div>\n<h2 id=\"1\">What is a Facebook business page?</h2>\n<p>A Facebook business page is a public Facebook account that includes pertinent details about your business (hours, location, etc.) and allows you to market your business and interact with your followers on Facebook through posts, videos, images, and advertisements.</p>\n<p>A Facebook business page allows your business to access Facebook’s advertising platform and Facebook Shops, where you can sell directly to customers without them having to leave the site or app. Facebook also offers the free Audience Insights tool, where you can get business page analytics to see impressions and shares on specific posts, as well as follower demographic information.</p>\n<p>Creating a Facebook page for your business as part of a larger social media marketing strategy can expose your product or service to new audiences, and increase clicks to your website and visits to your online store.</p>\n<h2 id=\"2\">How to create a Facebook business page</h2>\n<p>Here is a step-by-step guide to setting up a new Facebook business page so you can start marketing, selling, or gathering data.</p>\n<ol>\n<li>Create a new page from your personal Facebook account</li>\n<li>Add photos or video</li>\n<li>Customize your page information</li>\n<li>Post content</li>\n</ol>\n<h3 id=\"6\">1. Create a new page from your personal Facebook account</h3>\n<p>Creating a business page requires a personal Facebook account, so if you don’t have one of those, be sure to set one up first. Once you’re logged in to your personal account, navigate to the menu on the left side and click Pages then Create New Page.</p>\n<p>A window will pop up asking you for some basic business information—your business name, your category or industry, and a brief bio. Input these and then click Create Page and your business profile will go live on Facebook.</p>\n<h3 id=\"7\">2. Add photos or video</h3>\n<p>The next step is to add a profile photo and a cover photo or video to your Facebook business page. The profile picture is typically the logo for your business and will be cropped into a circle. The Facebook cover image, which acts as a header on your main page, must be at least 400 by 150 pixels. This could be a picture of your store or something playful and fun related to your business, such as a photo of your staff or a product in action. If you’re using a photo, be sure that any text on it is centered so it doesn’t get cut off.</p>\n<p>Facebook also has the option to upload a video to the header that will play on a loop. Videos have to be between 20 and 90 seconds and a maximum of 1080 pixels in .mov or .mp4 format. Because it loops, be sure that the video has content that will make sense when repeated. Once you’ve uploaded your photos or video, click the Save button.</p>\n<h3 id=\"8\">3. Customize your page information</h3>\n<p>Near the top of your Facebook business page, click the Manage button, then navigate to the Set Your Page up for Success section. Here, Facebook asks you to fill in important details about your business, such as your website, address, business hours, and more.</p>\n<p>You can also take this opportunity to add action buttons to your page, which allow Facebook users to do things like message you through WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger, book an appointment, order from you, or visit your Facebook Shop.</p>\n<h3 id=\"9\">4. Post content</h3>\n<p>Once your page has been built, your photos uploaded, and your information filled in, it’s time to start populating your profile with content. Your first post should be an introduction of some kind welcoming followers to your page, explaining your business and the types of content you plan to post in the future.</p>\n<p>Behind-the-scenes photos or videos of your business, product launches or other events, or links to longer written content on your website all can be engaging and perform well, depending on your business and audience. A florist, for example, might post a photo of the new bouquets they just assembled for the start of spring; a drone company might share footage captured using their drones.</p>\n<h2 id=\"3\">How to optimize your Facebook business page</h2>\n<p>Creating a page for your business is just the first step. Here are a few ways to create an engaging Facebook business page once it’s up and running.</p>\n<ol>\n<li>Finish your profile</li>\n<li>Choose a URL</li>\n<li>Allow reviews</li>\n<li>Add more page tabs</li>\n<li>Update content regularly</li>\n</ol>\n<h3 id=\"10\">1. Finish your profile</h3>\n<p>This might seem obvious, but make sure you have all the relevant and up-to-date information listed on your page. Nothing is more frustrating for followers than being unable to find a business address, website, or phone number for a business they want to contact.</p>\n<h3 id=\"11\">2. Choose a URL</h3>\n<p>You can choose a custom username for your profile, which can help your page stand out in search results and make it easier for customers to type directly into their browser. To do so, click Settings and Privacy, then Settings in the drop down menu at the top right hand corner of the screen on your Facebook business page. In the username section, click Edit to choose a custom username for your profile.</p>\n<h3 id=\"12\">3. Allow reviews</h3>\n<p>Reviews are a convenient way to get feedback from customers, as well as communicate to potential customers that you are a trusted and respected business. To enable reviews on your page, from your account menu, click the Settings button. From there, click on the Templates and Tabs section and toggle the Reviews option on.</p>\n<h3 id=\"13\">4. Add more page tabs</h3>\n<p>Tabs are like tabs in your website browser but within the Facebook page itself. They help your audience navigate your business page. To enable tabs, navigate to Template and Tabs and scroll to the list of current and available tabs. These include Offers, which you can use to highlight ongoing sales or promotions, as well as Events, which show what’s happening next at your business.</p>\n<h3 id=\"14\">5. Update content regularly</h3>\n<p>Demonstrate your business is healthy and thriving by consistently adding new content to your business page. Fresh posts keep your business relevant in their minds and keep followers returning to your business page since your posts will pop up in their feeds. They can also draw in potential customers, since the more content you post, the higher the chance that it gets shared widely to new audiences. New photos, explainer videos, promotion shoutouts, even memes and jokes can be great ways to engage people on your Facebook business page.</p>\n<h2 id=\"4\">How to measure the success of your Facebook business page</h2>\n<p>Meta Business Suite offers Facebook page insights, a free service that provides the performance analytics of your business page. From your business page profile, click the Insights tab to get to a professional dashboard that displays metrics like your page views and followers. Facebook Insights gives you the option to zoom in on specific posts to see how they’re performing in terms of views, likes, shares, and negative feedback such as users that opted to hide your post or unfollow your page.</p>\n<p>Insights also allows you to discover when your followers are most active on Facebook to know when to schedule posts for maximum impact. Having this information can help shape your social media content strategy so you can drive more audience engagement.</p>\n<div class=\"marketing-block marketing-block--light marketing-block--padded\">\n<div>\n<h2 id=\"5\">Creating a Facebook business page FAQ</h2>\n<div>\n<h3>Does a Facebook business page have to be linked to a personal account?</h3>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>Yes. However, none of the information on your personal profile will ever be shared on your Facebook business page or vice versa unless you choose to do so.</p>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div>\n<h3>Can you separate your Facebook business page from your personal account?</h3>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>No. Once you create a Facebook business page through your personal account, there is no way to unlink the two except to delete one or the other.</p>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div>\n<h3>Are there any fees associated with creating a Facebook business page?</h3>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>Building a Facebook business page is free. However, if you want to utilize services such as launching Facebook Ads through your business page, that will cost money.</p>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div>\n<h3>Can you add other people to manage your business page?</h3>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>Yes. In the Facebook page settings, click People, which will show you a list of your Facebook friends, then select the person you want to give access to. Next, click on Add Assets, and select the business page you’d like to grant them access to. Finally, click Save Changes.</p>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div>\n<h3>Can you connect your Facebook business page with other social media channels?</h3>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>Yes, Facebook allows you to connect your Facebook business page to your Instagram account. Under settings, click on Instagram and select Connect Account, and then enter your Instagram handle.</p>\n<p>https://www.shopify.com/blog/create-facebook-business-page</p>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n"}]},"page_header":{"background":null,"backgroundOpacity":100,"color":null,"fieldGroupName":"page_header","title":"Optimize Facebook Business Page","opacity":100,"position":"on","size":{"desktop":64,"tablet":null,"mobile":null},"spaces":{"top":null,"bottom":null,"leftright":null,"units":"em"}},"link":"/blog/how-to-create-and-optimize-a-facebook-business-page"},{"id":"cG9zdDo1MzU3","title":"General Business Credit (GBC): Definition and What It Includes","date":"24.05.2023","slug":"general-business-credit-gbc-definition-and-what-it-includes","categories":{"nodes":[{"id":"dGVybTox","name":"General Articles"}]},"levels":{"nodes":[]},"acfPost":{"fieldGroupName":"acfPost","excerpt":"One of the keys to survival for any small-business owner is planning for taxes. It can make the difference between receiving a big, unexpected tax bill—which can put a painful or even fatal dent in a new business—or going on to future success and prosperity.","squaredImage":{"altText":"General Business Credit (GBC): Definition and What It Includes","localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"fullWidth","backgroundColor":"#388868","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/e3a2f51ac50e2a0cb48835a0ed0aa53b/b956e/general_20business_20credit.webp","srcSet":"/static/e3a2f51ac50e2a0cb48835a0ed0aa53b/d1fa5/general_20business_20credit.webp 750w,\n/static/e3a2f51ac50e2a0cb48835a0ed0aa53b/b956e/general_20business_20credit.webp 1024w","sizes":"100vw"},"sources":[]},"width":1,"height":0.4228515625}}}},"metaData":{"title":null,"description":"Learn about the general business credit (GBC) and how it can help small-business owners reduce their tax liability. Discover the various tax credits included in the GBC and their limitations. Find out how to file the GBC and ensure you take advantage of available credits. Plan for taxes and secure the financial success of your small business"},"banner":{"title":"General Business Credit (GBC): Definition and What It Includes","showTitle":true,"image":{"altText":"General Business Credit (GBC): Definition and What It Includes","localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"fullWidth","backgroundColor":"#388868","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/e3a2f51ac50e2a0cb48835a0ed0aa53b/b956e/general_20business_20credit.webp","srcSet":"/static/e3a2f51ac50e2a0cb48835a0ed0aa53b/d1fa5/general_20business_20credit.webp 750w,\n/static/e3a2f51ac50e2a0cb48835a0ed0aa53b/b956e/general_20business_20credit.webp 1024w","sizes":"100vw"},"sources":[]},"width":1,"height":0.4228515625}}}}},"timeToRead":null,"sections":[{"fieldGroupName":"post_Acfpost_Sections_ArticleRichTextContent","content":"<p>One of the keys to survival for any small-business owner is planning for taxes. It can make the difference between receiving a big, unexpected tax bill—which can put a painful or even fatal dent in a new business—or going on to future success and prosperity.</p>\n<p>The US federal government provides for a variety of tax deductions and credits that can reduce the bite taxes take out of your small business. One of the most important things for any small-business owner to understand is the general business credit.</p>\n<div class=\"marketing-block marketing-block--light marketing-block--padded\">\n<p class=\"heading--2\">Shortcuts</p>\n<ul>\n<li>What is the general business credit?</li>\n<li>Which tax credits does the general business credit include?</li>\n<li>Limitations of the general business credit</li>\n<li>How to file the general business credit</li>\n</ul>\n</div>\n<h2 id=\"1\">What is the general business credit?</h2>\n<p>The general business credit (GBC) isn’t actually any one single tax credit. Instead, it’s the combined value of all the individual tax credits the owner(s) of a business claims during the current tax year—which can range from where you choose to do business to whom you decide to hire.</p>\n<p>It’s important to note that the GBC is a credit, not a deduction. A deduction reduces the amount of income subject to taxation, while a credit reduces the tax owed, even after deductions are taken. The GBC is a nonrefundable tax credit, meaning it can only go so far to reduce your tax bill. Once your tax bill hits zero, any credit in excess is forfeited, meaning you won’t get a tax refund from Uncle Sam.</p>\n<div class=\"responsive-video-wrapper gutter-bottom\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/Cl5CVJacqXs\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"></iframe></div>\n<h2 id=\"2\">Which tax credits does the general business credit include?</h2>\n<p>The US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recognizes more than 30 individual general business tax credits. Some of the more popular credits include:</p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Investment credit (Form 3468). </strong>This is for businesses that own real estate and make upgrades to increase energy efficiency and reduce emissions.</li>\n<li><strong>Work opportunity credit (Form 5884-C).</strong> The work opportunity credit is available to businesses that hire individuals from groups that face significant barriers to employment, such as veterans, former prisoners, or those who receive government financial assistance.</li>\n<li><strong>Small employer health insurance premiums credit (Form 8941).</strong> This credit is available to small businesses that provide health insurance to employees.</li>\n<li><strong>Employer credit for paid family and medical leave (Form 8994).</strong> This credit is available to businesses that offer employees paid leave for family or medical issues.</li>\n<li><strong>Disabled access credit (Form 8826).</strong> This credit is for businesses that incur expenses for providing access to employees or customers with disabilities, such as installing a wheelchair ramp.</li>\n<li><strong>Employer-provided child care facilities and services credit (Form 8882).</strong> This credit is for businesses that provide on-site child care for employees, or fund in whole or in part employee off-site child care services.</li>\n<li><strong>Employer credit for Social Security and Medicare taxes paid on employee tips (Form 8846).</strong> This credit is mainly available to food and beverage service businesses that pay federal taxes on server tips.</li>\n<li><strong>Empowerment zone employment credit (Form 8844).</strong> This credit is available to businesses located in an IRS empowerment zone (usually economically distressed communities) that hire employees residing in the same zone.</li>\n</ul>\n<h2 id=\"3\">Limitations of the general business credit</h2>\n<p>The benefits of the general business credits are not endless. If you manage to reduce your tax liability to zero using the GBC, you won’t receive any tax refund. Likewise, there’s a limit to the total general business credit that can apply to your business in a given tax year, although this varies from one business to another.</p>\n<p>The other rules governing how the GBC works are complex, and the help of a tax professional often is needed. According to the US tax code, the GBC for any given taxpayer can’t be more than the excess of net income tax liability, or whichever is greater: (1) the tentative minimum tax for that tax year, or (2) 25% of the taxpayer’s net regular tax liability in excess of $25,000.</p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Net income</strong><strong> tax</strong> is the sum of a business owner’s regular tax liability, plus alternative minimum tax (AMT), minus most allowable credits other than the GBC.</li>\n<li><strong>Net regular tax liability</strong> is your regular tax liability minus the sum of most allowable credits other than the GBC.</li>\n</ul>\n<p>It’s important to note that GBC-eligible credits are reported and applied in a specific order, which means you should be careful about which credits you use in a given tax year, and which you’ll carry forward. The order of use is:</p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Carryforwards from past years.</strong> These are credits you didn’t use in previous tax years in which your business was up and running—whether by choice or because you reached the maximum number of credits allowable for your income bracket. Although limits vary depending on the credit in question, some can be carried forward as many as 20 years.</li>\n<li><strong>General business credit earned during the current tax year.</strong> These credits are available for use at tax time.</li>\n<li><strong>Carrybacks from future years.</strong> These are credits you’ll be eligible to use in future tax years. Restrictions on carrybacks are a bit more limiting than on carryforwards, and most can only be carried back one year, although some may be carried back as many as five.</li>\n</ol>\n<div class=\"marketing-block marketing-block--light marketing-block--padded\">\n<p class=\"heading--4\">Manage your money where you make it with Shopify Balance</p>\n<p>Shopify Balance is a free financial account that lets you manage your business’ money from Shopify admin. Pay no monthly fees, get payouts up to 4 days earlier, and earn cashback on eligible purchases.</p>\n</div>\n<h2 id=\"4\">How to file the general business credit</h2>\n<p>To claim the GBC, you can fill out tax forms associated with each individual credit you plan to claim (including carryforwards and carrybacks). Next, report the total value of these credits on Form 3800, General Business Credit, which is then filed with the IRS. If approved, you should see the credits applied to your income tax bill for the year in which you filed.</p>\n<div class=\"responsive-video-wrapper gutter-bottom\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/cCwF1lp4xX0\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"></iframe></div>\n<div class=\"marketing-block marketing-block--light marketing-block--padded\">\n<div>\n<h2>General business credit FAQ</h2>\n<div>\n<h3>How does a business qualify for a general business credit?</h3>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>According to the IRS, an eligible small business for the general business credit (GBC) is any of the following:</p>\n<ul>\n<li>A non-publicly traded limited liability company (LLC), a closely held corporation, or an S corporation</li>\n<li>A partnership</li>\n<li>A sole proprietorship</li>\n<li>Any of the above that do not exceed $50 million in average annual gross receipts for a period of three tax years prior to filing. Once you’ve set up an eligible business entity, you can begin taking advantage of the GBC in your first tax year of operation by identifying which individual business credits you plan to claim and complete the respective IRS forms.</li>\n</ul>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div>\n<h3>Is there a deadline for claiming the general business credit?</h3>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>For corporations, LLCs, and sole proprietorships, the deadline to file Form 3800 for the most recent tax year usually is April 15. For partnerships and S corporations, the deadline is March 15. However, take note: Specific deadlines apply to the various credits that make up the GBC.</p>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div>\n<h3>Can a general business tax credit be carried forward or carried back?</h3>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>Yes, the GBC can be both carried forward (applied to a future tax year) and carried back (applied in the current tax year, instead of a future tax year). Carryforward and carryback rules vary depending on the credit in question, but most unused credits can be carried forward a maximum of 20 years. Most GBC-eligible credits can be carried back one year, but some can be carried back as many as five.</p>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div>\n<h3>How long do you have to be in business to qualify for a general business credit?</h3>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>Eligibility requirements for GBC-eligible credits will vary, but in general, the amount of time your business has been in operation will not affect your eligibility for the GBC.</p>\n<p>https://www.shopify.com/blog/general-business-credit</p>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n"}]},"page_header":{"background":null,"backgroundOpacity":100,"color":null,"fieldGroupName":"page_header","title":"General Business Credit 2023","opacity":100,"position":"on","size":{"desktop":64,"tablet":null,"mobile":null},"spaces":{"top":null,"bottom":null,"leftright":null,"units":"em"}},"link":"/blog/general-business-credit-gbc-definition-and-what-it-includes"},{"id":"cG9zdDo1MzUw","title":"The Importance of Supplier Relationships in Building a Food Brand","date":"24.05.2023","slug":"the-importance-of-supplier-relationships-in-building-a-food-brand","categories":{"nodes":[{"id":"dGVybTox","name":"General Articles"}]},"levels":{"nodes":[]},"acfPost":{"fieldGroupName":"acfPost","excerpt":"Sometimes popping a hot, buttery bag of popcorn is all you need to complete the perfect night in. But what if your favorite snack is hard on your stomach? \r\nFor Jen Martin, finding alternative heirloom popcorn kernels was her saving grace. Not only were they easier to digest, but they tasted better too.","squaredImage":{"altText":"The Importance of Supplier Relationships in Building a Food Brand","localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"fullWidth","backgroundColor":"#284898","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/78b1aea4643f8fa5a3c83c82c89091c5/98549/Masters_PipcornHeairloomSnacks02_2.webp","srcSet":"/static/78b1aea4643f8fa5a3c83c82c89091c5/2b35b/Masters_PipcornHeairloomSnacks02_2.webp 750w,\n/static/78b1aea4643f8fa5a3c83c82c89091c5/98549/Masters_PipcornHeairloomSnacks02_2.webp 1024w","sizes":"100vw"},"sources":[]},"width":1,"height":0.423828125}}}},"metaData":{"title":null,"description":"Discover how Pipcorn, a successful food brand, established meaningful supplier relationships to fuel their growth. Learn how forging family-like bonds, communicating expectations, and leveraging supplier networks contributed to Pipcorn's success. Explore their story on the Shopify Masters podcast and gain insights into building a thriving food brand"},"banner":{"title":"The Importance of Supplier Relationships in Building a Food Brand","showTitle":true,"image":{"altText":"The Importance of Supplier Relationships in Building a Food Brand","localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"fullWidth","backgroundColor":"#284898","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/78b1aea4643f8fa5a3c83c82c89091c5/98549/Masters_PipcornHeairloomSnacks02_2.webp","srcSet":"/static/78b1aea4643f8fa5a3c83c82c89091c5/2b35b/Masters_PipcornHeairloomSnacks02_2.webp 750w,\n/static/78b1aea4643f8fa5a3c83c82c89091c5/98549/Masters_PipcornHeairloomSnacks02_2.webp 1024w","sizes":"100vw"},"sources":[]},"width":1,"height":0.423828125}}}}},"timeToRead":null,"sections":[{"fieldGroupName":"post_Acfpost_Sections_ArticleRichTextContent","content":"<header class=\"article__header\">\n<h1 class=\"article__title\">The Importance of Supplier Relationships in Building a Food Brand</h1>\n<div class=\"grid grid--vertically-centered\">\n<div class=\"grid__item grid__item--tablet-up-two-thirds\">\n<ul class=\"article__meta gutter-bottom--reset\">\n<li>by Gogo Zoger</li>\n<li>Podcasts</li>\n</ul>\n<ul class=\"article__meta\">\n<li><time datetime=\"2023-05-04T03:30:01Z\">May 4, 2023</time></li>\n<li>3 minute read</li>\n</ul>\n</div>\n<div class=\"grid__item grid__item--tablet-up-third\">\n<ul class=\"social-shares\" role=\"list\">\n<li class=\"social-shares_list-item\"><span class=\"visuallyhidden\">Email</span></li>\n<li class=\"social-shares_list-item\"><span class=\"visuallyhidden\">Pinterest</span></li>\n<li class=\"social-shares_list-item\"><span class=\"visuallyhidden\">Facebook</span></li>\n<li class=\"social-shares_list-item\"><span class=\"visuallyhidden\">Twitter</span></li>\n<li class=\"social-shares_list-item\"><span class=\"visuallyhidden\">LinkedIn</span></li>\n</ul>\n</div>\n</div>\n</header>\n<figure class=\"article__image--featured\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0070/7032/files/Masters_PipcornHeairloomSnacks02_2.jpg?v=1683133523&amp;width=1024\" alt=\"The Importance of Supplier Relationships in Building a Food Brand\" width=\"924\" height=\"485\" /></figure>\n<div class=\"article__content long-form-content\">\n<p>Sometimes popping a hot, buttery bag of popcorn is all you need to complete the perfect night in. But what if your favorite snack is hard on your stomach?</p>\n<p>For Jen Martin, finding alternative heirloom popcorn kernels was her saving grace. Not only were they easier to digest, but they tasted better too.</p>\n<p>Jen, her brother Jeff, and Jeff’s wife, Teresa, launched Pipcorn in 2012 and found immediate success. The brand was included in Oprah’s Favorite Things, the founders pitched on <em>Shark Tank</em>, and in 2019, they raised more than $6 million in VC funding.</p>\n<p>Jen sat down on the <em>Shopify Masters</em> podcast to explain how Pipcorn established meaningful relationships with suppliers in order to grow the brand and create opportunities for the business.</p>\n<h2>Forging family-like bonds with suppliers</h2>\n<p>Establishing deeper relationships with the farmers who supplied Pipcorn’s raw ingredients was important for the founders. “We flew out to our farm really early on, played basketball with the kids, and had lunch and dinner with the whole family,” Jen says.</p>\n<p>Jen has always chosen to work with family farms, because they can deeply relate to her experiences of being in business with family. These bonding moments helped Pipcorn establish strong relationships and get to a place where their partners wanted to help them early on.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" lazyloaded\" src=\"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0070/7032/files/IMG_6092_1.jpg?v=1683133633\" alt=\"A bowl of Pipcorn sea salt popcorn next to a full bag rests on top of a red and white checkered tablecloth, with fruit and cheese laying around it. \" data-src=\"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0070/7032/files/IMG_6092_1.jpg?v=1683133633\" /><figcaption>Pipcorn’s first snack was its staple product, its heirloom popcorn, which it offers in sea salt, spicy cheddar, and truffle.  <em>Pipcorn</em></figcaption></figure>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<h2>Communicating expectations every step of the way</h2>\n<p>Once Jen and her co-founders saw the traction Pipcorn was having, they went back to the farm to order larger quantities to keep up with demand. They were always upfront and honest about their needs, which made it easier for the farm to plan and support the demand.</p>\n<p>“We could ask to buy a lot [of heirloom kernels] and scale really, really quickly,” Jen says. Having open communication helped the farming team plan for future orders. And, the Pipcorn team was able to map out clear timelines and requirements for new retail opportunities.</p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" lazyloaded\" src=\"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0070/7032/files/IMG_6090.jpg?v=1683133804\" alt=\"A handful of Pipcorn cheese balls pictured over a bag of Pipcorn cheese balls, a bowl of blueberries, a bag of oranges, a soda, and sunglasses, all resting on a picnic blanket. \" data-src=\"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0070/7032/files/IMG_6090.jpg?v=1683133804\" /><figcaption>Pipcorn launched more than a dozen new snack flavors over the past seven years. <em>Pipcorn</em></figcaption></figure>\n<h2>Leaning into supplier networks to expand reach</h2>\n<p>“I met one farmer who had a large community of farmers around them. As we grew and they couldn’t grow anymore in their farm, they would work with their neighbors, friends, or family, Jen says. Once she started working with one farmer who grew her heirloom ingredients, the doors to other growers and relationships opened up too.</p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://player.simplecast.com/a43c598a-94a6-4e37-8941-2a5dbfad9240?dark=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"200px\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"></iframe></p>\n<div><strong>Don&#8217;t miss an episode! Subscribe to Shopify Masters.</strong></div>\n<p>Jen says it’s key for business owners to find a partner that will understand how special your product is, so when it comes time to expand product offerings, they support the growth of your business, and introduce you to new partners or possibilities.</p>\n<p>With the help of these advantageous relationships, Pipcorn has been able to develop 12 new snack flavors, including cheese balls, corn dippers, and twists, as well as grow into an established brand with a strong social following.</p>\n<p>Tune in to the full <em>Shopify Masters</em> episode to learn more about Pipcorn’s approach to farming, the team’s time on <em>Shark Tank</em>, and how they raised more than $6 million in VC funding.</p>\n<p>https://www.shopify.com/blog/pipcorn-heirloom-snacks-farming-relationships-shark-tank</p>\n</div>\n"}]},"page_header":{"background":null,"backgroundOpacity":100,"color":null,"fieldGroupName":"page_header","title":"Supplier Relationships in Food Branding","opacity":100,"position":"on","size":{"desktop":64,"tablet":null,"mobile":null},"spaces":{"top":null,"bottom":null,"leftright":null,"units":"em"}},"link":"/blog/the-importance-of-supplier-relationships-in-building-a-food-brand"}],"totalCount":138,"currentCategorySlug":"","pageTitle":"Blog"}},
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