Empowering Small Businesses to Succeed

Knew they needed new skills to expand their skincare brand in the U.S. market. "We are strong in certain areas, but there were new skills we needed to tap the entire U.S. market," Lucia said. Through Verizon Small Business Digital Ready, they learned digital marketing strategies and SEO techniques that helped drive a 10% increase in purchases from organic search. The grant they received also allowed them to hire an SEO expert to build on their progress.

"Everything was a learning experience for me—from A to Z," she said. By completing 20 courses on Verizon Small Business Digital Ready, she gained essential knowledge on finance and social media marketing. Through the program, Nakia learned how to separate business and personal finances, personalize her website, and target her audience with online ads. "With the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready program, I was able to learn how to run my business professionally," she shared.

She turned to Verizon Small Business Digital Ready, where she found valuable guidance. "One thing that I enjoyed about the program was it really encouraged you to think strategically about your business—and holistically—so that you could actually work on your business and not be enmeshed in the running of it," Webb said. The Creating Financial Projections course helped her map out expenses and better understand the costs of scaling. With the knowledge she gained, she launched her first pop-up shop in Napa, CA and expects a 20% increase in year-over-year sales.