Alyssa Gregory Introduction An entrepreneur, writer, and marketer with 20 years of experience in the business worldShe is the founder of the Small Business Bonfire, a community for entrepreneursAuthored more than 2,500 articles for The Balance and other popular small business websites Experience Alyssa's career as an entrepreneur started in 1999, when she launched her first business: AMA Web Design, a web and graphic design company. Despite her best efforts, the business failed. But she took the lessons learned and launched avertua, a virtual assistant business that provided administrative, operational, and marketing assistance to small business owners worldwide. Through avertua, Alyssa helped more than 150 small business owners become more productive, efficient, focused and profitable.After more than a decade with avertua, Alyssa streamlined her business model to provide marketing consulting services to small and micro businesses. She now partners with business owners to create and execute customized marketing strategies that build strong, memorable and successful brands.In 2011, Alyssa leveraged her passion for supporting small businesses and founded the Small Business Bonfire, a social, educational, and collaborative community for entrepreneurs that provides actionable tips and tools through a daily small business blog, a weekly newsletter and a free online community.Alyssa has also held a variety of design and marketing positions with different organizations, including a Fortune 500 technology company, a financial startup, a prestigious boarding school, and one of the largest telecommunications companies in the world. Her business expertise and insights have been featured in Forbes, The New York Times, Newsday, Fox Business, Martha Stewart Living Radio, MSNBC, Inc., and others. Education In 1999, Alyssa earned her bachelor's degree in Corporate Communications with an emphasis on business from Susquehanna University. Always focused on keeping her skills current and expanding her expertise, Alyssa returned to school several years later and received her master's degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from West Virginia University in 2015. LiveAbout and Dotdash Meredith LiveAbout, a Dotdash Meredith brand, is a reference site focused on entertainment, activities, and hobbies. Learn more about us and our editorial guidelines. Read more from Alyssa Gregory How to Generate Sales Leads in Your Small Business Mistakes Small Business Owners Make When Filing Taxes 5 Ways to Effectively Determine Employee Strengths and Weaknesses How to Evaluate a Business Idea Before Taking the Plunge 101 New Ideas to Inspire You to Start a Business 17 Small Businesses You Can Start for Under $100 Tools to Help Set, Track, and Achieve Your Goals Practical and Affordable Gifts for Entrepreneurs How to Create a Cloth Diaper Service Small Business The Benefits and Challenges of a Focus Group in Business Analysis Avoidable Marketing Mistakes Small Business Owners Make 7 Email Management Tips to Rapidly Boost Productivity Small Business Saturday and What It Means for You 4 Techniques for Overcoming Common Sales Objections 11 Email Messages You Can Send to Your List Besides Newsletters 10 Questions You Need to Answer to Create a Powerful Marketing Plan 5 Ways Set the Stage for Successful Goal Setting and Achievement The Pros and Cons of Starting a Professional Organizer Business The Pros and Cons of Starting a Consulting Business 5 Ways to Keep Employees Motivated and Challenged 7 Tips for More Effective Time Management Seven Ways to Increase Communication in Your Small Business The Pros and Cons of Starting a Medical Transcription Business What Motivates You in Your Small Business?