As a marketing consultant for small businesses, I've watched too many owners get trapped by website companies that promise the world and deliver a prison.

When you’re running a small business, every decision carries weight,  especially the ones that involve time, money, or both. Whether you’re setting up a website, trying to stay on top of customer follow-ups, or just keeping your content organized, it can be hard to know where to start.

Last summer, the thought of networking made me want to hide. Yet over the past six months, it has transformed my career and my life. It has reframed how I see my professional value and ultimately it has led me to launch my own consulting business. My transformation didn’t happen overnight, but with time and practice, I went from dreading networking to embracing it.