Here's how you can navigate the risks and rewards of entrepreneurship in today's media landscape.

I started my entrepreneurial journey almost two decades back. I believe the same tenets apply even now: 1. Acknowledge that you have to consistently learn and reinvent yourself to stay relevant 2. Adopt technology changes as that's going to be the enabler that makes you stay competitive 3. Crystal ball gazing and innovating for the future. 4. Relationships and thorough mastery of your domain - Competition is going to keep getting more and more intense. Only your relationships and through mastery of the domain you are working in can keep you in the reckoning.

Navigating entrepreneurship in media means constantly assessing risks. The media landscape is volatile; audience preferences shift rapidly, and technology evolves continuously. Flexibility is key—your business model must adapt to these changes. Evaluate financial risks carefully and diversify your revenue streams to avoid relying on a single source. Be prepared for regulatory changes that can impact your operations, and always have a crisis management plan in place. By acknowledging and planning for these risks, you’re more likely to steer your venture through turbulent times. It’s like being a seasoned captain; by anticipating storms and preparing your ship, you ensure your journey stays on course despite the challenges.

Risk is not to be avoided. It should be embraced. Nothing worth doing is without risk, and the thrill of achievement should drive you. I disagree with most experts on a business's core strategy. You should NOT seek to beat your competitors but to compete with yourself. Get better each day and run the race facing forward. Focus on the customer, product, and service and earn the business by being the best. Embrace the challenges and follow your own path. Your competitor is not your enemy, and business is not war. If someone else has to fail for you to succeed, fix your plan and change your path.

Wise words as ever, Mark. When’s the book getting published? I would immediately adopt it for all my entrepreneurship students at @westminsterbusinessschool

We were having some pretty stable business work months and Boom! Amazon hits our top selling product category. Impact? Required CPC doubled, storage costs surged. With our limited budget, we only had one way left to survive: Streamline everything and make it as efficient as it can be. A few months in, some of our SMB competitors stopped competing. The only ones on the top page were the whales, and us. Why did we not go under? We had an exceptionally good team, and a team leader who stayed on top of all the trends and market changes. We scrutinized our strategy & KPIs, to a high extent. We had to increase our budget, but our sales did too. We didn't have the all-time highest profits , but we still sold the most number of products in a year

One can ride the wave of successes for an extended period, and team spirits may soar. However, a sudden trough can hit hard. During these challenging times, it is crucial to pull together as a team, not to lean excessively on co-founders or colleagues, but to huddle and collaboratively work through the issues. The chemistry and trust developed in these moments will fortify the team’s resolve. A tough 24 hours can feel disheartening, but it will pass if you BELIEVE in better outcomes, in finding solutions, and in each other. Change is constant; we must be prepared and dynamic in response. Support each other in the moment. Expect problems, but expect to handle them together.

The media world is a wild ride! Trends shift faster than you can say "hashtag," but that's what keeps it exciting as a media entrepreneur. Here's the key: change is your BFF. But hold on, there are two types of capabilities you gotta master. Your core skills are your superpower - maybe it's storytelling, design, or video editing. These are the things you do best, and you shouldn't abandon them. But the media landscape is a living beast, so you also gotta adapt your approach. New platforms? Learn them! Shifting audience preferences? Experiment with fresh content. By keeping your core skills sharp and molding your delivery to fit the changing scene, you can win business and stay true to yourself. how do you adapt while keeping your edge?

New platforms? Learn 'em! Shifting audience trends? Experiment with fresh content! Here's How! Tap into Your Tribe: Build a network of fellow media mavericks! Attend conferences, join online forums, and connect with industry leaders. They'll share the latest trends and keep you in the know. Follow the Insiders: Subscribe to industry publications and blogs written by media experts. They'll dish on what's hot (and what's not) in the ever-evolving media landscape. Embrace Social Listening: Use social media to listen to what your audience and competitors are buzzing about. This can spark fresh content ideas and keep you finger on the pulse of what's trending.

I cannot stress enough the RIGHT way to build your network. Interesting enough, it is not about you sharing. It's about you listening. It's so important to tune into the conversation & participate. You have to be PRESENT. It shows people you are with them, right now...and they are important. People who feel this way share their needs. And when you can key into that, it is a natural progression to see how you really "hook up" with them. . . or help them. It works every time. People pass along how helpful you are, practically selling you or the work you do. It's a no- brainer. And, it avoids the dreaded person who is constantly "on for the sale". You have a representation of sincerity...welcome to "Networking".

As a Digital Marketing Entrepreneur who has made upwards of $50M for my clients on Amazon alone. Here are 3 of my sure-fire ways to know your targeted audience and increase sales: 1. The Obvious: Target the customers searching for your product by conducting thorough keyword research - advertise on a mix of long tail, high search volume, mid search volume and easy to rank, niche keywords. 2. Campaign Range: Your campaigns should always be launched with a purpose - Rank on top of SERP, acquire market share, take the floor after the competitor runs out of budget, Infiltrate competitors' listings 3. Reports: Never overlook these, this is the best place to find actionable insights catered to your business. Cliché is cliché because it works!

As a writer and person who shares people's stories and prepares them for face to face interactions to help them attain employment... this is a big one! When you prepare your speech for an interview or sale, absent understanding your audience you are only talking AT people. When you research to whom you are speaking (or writing), you can follow the desired needs. You can interact on a basis that is meaningful. Engagement has to be meaningful. Tailor content as is appropriate.

Ese es el gran problema de algunas empresas y medios de comunicación. Intentan emprender valorando lo que el equipo directivo piensa que es mejor para la audiencia, pero sin saber realmente cuáles son las tendencias del cliente. El objetivo del éxito es: 1. Escuchar al target. 2. Valorar las ideas recibidas. 3. Desarrollar la estrategia empresarial acorde con los objetivos. 4. Comunicar de la forma que quiere el cliente. 5. Cambiar la estructura de la empresa y trabajadores para adaptarla al nuevo cambio. Hay que ser consciente de que un medio de comunicación no vende información, vende comunicar...

You can never underestimate the power of a Google search. With 8.5 billion searches being made daily there is no better place for any business to be than in the midst of those searches. Navigating the intricacies of the strategy to land amongst those searches enables your business to help the searcher find what they are looking for and create a great user experience for them. If these objectives are met your business will surely thrive.

In response to the need for diversifying revenue streams, our experience during the lockdowns serves as a pertinent example. Selling digital advertising when it was nearly impossible to even visit an office let alone sell one demanded innovation and business diversification. When faced with such pressure, we adapted by exploring alternative revenue avenues, such as advertising, sponsored content, virtual events, and merchandise. This diversification not only cushioned us against market fluctuations but also opened up new growth opportunities.

Qué es innovar en periodismo? Innovar es simplemente escuchar. Nuestra audiencia está constantemente indicándonos qué quiere escuchar y cómo quiere escucharlo, simplemente tenemos que dejarnos llevar por las necesidades que tienen en cada momento. Cómo escuchamos? Leyendo foros, comentarios y participando. Hace poco leí un artículo en un periódico digital muy bien ilustrado con infografías sobre el avispón asiático. Por primera vez en mi vida, vi que los comentarios no trataban sobre el artículo, los lectores felicitaban a la periodista por la publicación, por lo bien que estaba desarrollado y, especialmente, agradecían que llevara imágenes animadas para explicarlo. Estamos en la era digital y quieren imagen. No hay otro camino

Entrepreneurship has always been and always will be about weathering the harsh storms and coming out the other end shining ever more brightly. So, find what works for you to stick with your ultimate vision even when you face Roadblocks. Stay focused and do not let failure overpower your sanity or belief in yourself. If one way gets blocked, find another - seek guidance, educate yourself more, connect with the right people. In the end it is who you believe in more who will be the victor - Your Obstacle to stop you or your belief in yourself to breakthrough. "When you know what you want, and want it bad enough, you will find a way to get it." Jim Rohn

Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart. Know that from the beginning. Those amazing "once in a lifetime stories" are seldom once in a lifetime. Often times, when you research those amazing stories... It may take many, many years and failures to land whatever it is. Keep steady on your goals. Re-evaluate progress or non-progress, adjust, seek people who are experts for advice, and listen more than you talk. Lastly, remember to rest. A tired mind is not the key to your success. Strive for balance.