This article is authored by Stand Out Online Member Denisa Pop, Bitdefender

Starting your own small business can feel intimidating, especially for women. But research shows that those who've already taken the leap into entrepreneurship are significantly happier and more fulfilled, both professionally and personally, compared to those who haven't yet started their own ventures.

A recent study by Talker Research asked female entrepreneurs about their experiences running a business. The results clearly showed that business ownership brings major benefits that go beyond professional achievement.

For example, 87% of women who already own a business said they feel personally fulfilled, compared to 78% who haven't started yet. The difference is even more striking in their professional lives: 91% of current female business owners reported feeling professionally fulfilled, while only 55% of aspiring entreprene…

This article is authored by Stand Out Online Member Denisa Pop, Bitdefender

A Nigerian national has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for robbing people of their life’s savings by hacking the emails of their real estate agents and swapping bank accounts. The story offers a clear example why small firms should take cybersecurity seriously. 

33-year-old Babatunde Francis Ayeni, a citizen of Nigeria living in the United Kingdom at the time of his arrest, used a sophisticated business e-mail compromise (BEC) scheme targeting real estate transactions in the United States.

Ayeni and at least two other associates operating out of Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates would send phishing e-mails with tainted attachments and links to title companies, real estate agents, and real estate attorneys across the US.

Captured login credentials

“If an employee at a targeted real estate business clicke…

This article was authored by Stand Out Online Member Allix Rawls, Bravely Forward

Marketing shouldn’t feel like throwing spaghetti at the wall and hoping something sticks. But for so many women entrepreneurs, that’s exactly what it feels like. You’re showing up, posting like crazy, trying to do all the things—and yet, you’re still not seeing the steady stream of clients you were hoping for.

If that’s you, let me start by saying this: You’re not alone. You’re not bad at marketing. You just haven’t been given the right framework yet. The problem isn’t that you’re not working hard enough—it’s that you’re working without a clear system.

Marketing doesn’t work when it’s just a collection of random efforts. It works when it’s structured, intentional, and repeatable. So let’s break down the biggest mistakes keeping women entrepreneurs stuck and, more importantly, how to fix them.

Mistake #1: Trying to Be Eve…