There are a lot of different types of businesses out there. And over the years, the vast majority of them have shifted a large part of their marketing and human interaction online. The audience you can reach virtually is seemingly endless and the results of a well targeted social media ad can provide quite the bump in engagement and sales.

But, regardless of the industry you’re in, there are several physical marketing pieces that you shouldn’t go without even in the digital age. Here are four items every business owner should use weekly and some simple ways you can make them game-changing for your business.

As the saying goes, we all have to start somewhere. Wherever that was for you, odds are there are plenty of things you would do differently if you were to start your business all over again.

Today we’ll take a look at five of the biggest mistakes I made when I first started out and how I’d change them. Do some of these sound familiar?

Whether it's through your brick and mortar or on an online platform, building a sense of community for your customers and followers is a powerful thing. Everyone wants to feel like they belong to something, and becoming that something for people serves not only them, but also does amazing things to build your company.

If you've ever thought about refreshing your logo, one of the hardest things to figure out is timing. "How do I know if my logo isn't as effective as it once was?" "Should I wait until my company is more established before I invest in a new logo?" "People already know our logo; can we really change it?"

Today we'll take a look at the 5 most popular signs it's time to refresh your brand. Does one of these sound a bit too familiar?

Several years ago, when I first considered working for myself, I really didn't know what to expect. You hear those people talking about all the glittering benefits that come with going on your own: sleeping in late, taking vacations whenever you want, working from the beach, making tons of money and the list goes on...

I remember the first time I saw a smartphone in person. I was in high school and a friend of mine had just bought the very first iPhone. I definitely was NOT what you'd call an early adopter. I remember thinking there was no way this whole "smartphone fad" would catch on.

But, I'm happy to admit – just like Steve Harvey announcing the Miss Universe winner – I was very wrong. Today, people can do just about anything from that little pocket computer, including run a more efficient and professional business.

I'm going to give you a glimpse behind the curtain to see some of the apps I rely on everyday to keep things running as smoothly as possible.

If you're like me (and like a lot of other business owners), the concept of "nurturing leads" sounds exhausting. It can feel like a lot of work for the far off hope that someday it might result in a sale. Or maybe for you, just the idea of "sales" makes you sick. You got into business to follow your passion, not to beg for money. You're definitely not alone! No one wants to come across like that pushy used-car salesman, constantly begging people to "BUY NOW." But, the truth is, if you don't ask for the sale at some point, it won't come.

My wife loves to sing. I can't tell you how many times we've been driving somewhere and a song comes on the radio that she just has to belt out. Whether it's jamming to a Carrie Underwood song or a throwback from the 90's, there's just something about a great song that draws her in...

From "spamming" a business with actual cans of spam to hiding real diamonds in products to over-the-top uses of bathroom humor, there are quite literally countless ways to market yourself and your business these days. But, strangely enough, even with all the creative approaches out there, there is one very common marketing technique that still out performs all the rest.

When I first started out in business, I would go to networking events and have people ask the typical questions of who I am and what I do, and my answers were never very well thought out. It usually went something like this:

Have you ever looked at the Apple on the back of your phone or the Coca-Cola script logo and wondered what it is that makes them stand apart as globally recognized brands? Today, we're taking a look at five iconic brands and and a little behind the logos we know today.