This February, we highlighted Black businesses within our Sumo-ling community that are breaking boundaries and working to change the game for current and future generations.

Here’s to the history they’re sure to make.

Rico Glover

Can you tell us about your business?

As the co-founder of Soulcial Media Marketing, I specialize in helping small businesses grow through online branding, content marketing, and social media platforms. Additionally, I’m the host of StartupGrind Charlotte, a local monthly event aimed at connecting entrepreneurs and professionals to share ideas and successes.

What does being an entrepreneur mean to you?

Entrepreneurship is a powerful thing. It brings with it the freedom to pursue passions and ideas, opening up opportunities for both success and failure. The chance to take risks in order to make something from nothing is liberating in its own right. Being an entrepreneur can come with many obstacles, but it also provides the thrill of being able to see your ideas come alive, as well as potentially change lives. And there’s no greater feeling than watching a concept turn into reality through hard work and dedication.

How has AppSumo helped you in your business?

AppSumo is the backbone of my tech stack and saves me thousands a year through LTDs. I’ve used over 30 AppSumo deals to run my business and for clients. Some tools I’m currently using: SendFox, Wave.video, Switchy, and Sociamonials.

Dr. Michele Josey

Can you tell us about your business?

Mogul Beginnings offers a unique approach to helping businesses increase their customer lifetime value and quantifying the impact they have on their community. I’ve found that business owners often overlook their most valuable resource—data. With their data, I help business owners strategize, optimize, and scale, so they can attract more customers and increase their revenue.

What does being an entrepreneur mean to you?

Of course, entrepreneurship means that I can better dictate my time, travel, spend more time with my family, and secure my financial future. More importantly, entrepreneurship means creating freedom and opportunities for other families, too.

A business coach once told me, ‘People usually hire people that look like them. If there are fewer Black business owners, we will continue to see higher unemployment rates in our community.’ So not only do I want to provide jobs, but I also want to train the next generation of data scientists and analysts to compete in this fast-growing and high-paying field. I have always cared about generational wealth. To me, this is how I get to blend my business and desire to help other families build wealth.

Want to dive deeper into the metrics that move the needle? Check out these data-focused tools.

Johnnie Ray Kornegay III

Can you tell us about your business?

Queue Points is a podcast that drops the needle on Black music history. We came up with the idea because we saw a void in the podcasting landscape. People weren’t having meaningful, in-depth, conversations about the Black music we loved from our childhood, and we wanted to provide that outlet.

What does being an entrepreneur mean to you?

To me, being an entrepreneur means having the freedom to create the future we see for ourselves and inspire others. Entrepreneurship has reminded us that we are the people we’ve been waiting for. AppSumo products have provided us an opportunity to build robust and meaningful connections with our audience by selling tools invaluable to every budding entrepreneur.

How has AppSumo helped you in your business?

AppSumo products are key to powering the Queue Points brand. Our website is built with Subhub, our video archive is housed in VadooTV and our community is powered by UUKI—all of which were AppSumo products.

Feeling inspired to start your own podcast? Rumble Studio is a customer fave.

Anna McCoy

Can you tell us about your business?

Billionaire Brilliance is a coaching and consultant business that teaches entrepreneurs how to win in business, money, and life. Billionaire Brilliance is a way to give back to the next generation of entrepreneurs, to tap into their creative genius and intuitive knowledge, as well as to excel in business acumen and global commerce.

What does being an entrepreneur mean to you?

Entrepreneurship activates an individual’s innate need to make, co-create, or be something that matters… As an entrepreneur, I have been able to live a prosperous life, serve my clients, and care for my community and family by having more than enough time, talent, and treasures to make a difference for others.

Dejon Brooks

Can you tell us about your business?

My software, Trend Watchers, helps creators go viral with trends. I was a full-time YouTuber when I was in high school. The way to become ‘viral’ is to hop on the latest trends, but it took me forever to research what was currently trending or what would trend next. So, I decided to create software that helps creators find trending topics across 30+ different categories.

What does being an entrepreneur mean to you?

At first, I thought being an entrepreneur was all about making money until I had a job in real estate wholesaling my senior year of high school. The money was terrific, but I didn’t like taking advantage of vulnerable homeowners who needed to sell their homes (below market value). I eventually dropped this side hustle, and I made a promise to myself that every future product/service that I sold must be something I believe in and have a positive impact on everyone involved. Making a profit is nice, but helping and uplifting others is where happiness is found.

How has AppSumo helped you in your business?

AppSumo has helped me financially by listing my products. I’m working on a few new projects now that have been a direct result of getting my product Trend Watchers picked up by AppSumo two years ago.

Ramonica Gamble

Can you tell us about your business?

I am a Video and Marketing Consultant who has helped over 350 women get on camera and share their stories. I encourage my clients to believe in their gift by helping them offer digital products, launch videos, and dominate their market space… My community needs to believe, and then they will soar. This is one of my missions. To me, being an entrepreneur is the freedom to express new ideas and create solutions in real time without the red tape.

How has AppSumo helped you in your business?

I have several favorite apps that I’ve used to help me connect with my audience: One Stream has given me tons of video options to connect with my audience. Group Collector is a game changer for collecting data for my FB groups, and Loudoc has been one of the best for creative download options.

Steven Christian

What does being an entrepreneur mean to you?

As an entrepreneur, I have created opportunities for myself and others to do what we love in the art and tech industry. I go to medical school throughout the week and create books, apps, and animations on the side. Having the flexibility to make my own schedule, but also the responsibility to create work that has an impact on my community, is a great honor. I have been able to take ideas I’ve dreamed of and create products from them—whether they’re stuffed animals, stickers, cartoons, or even interactive augmented reality characters. The sky is the limit, and I have full agency to share and inspire my community to follow my lead.

How has AppSumo helped you in your business?

AppSumo has helped me scale and balance the demands of medical school with the responsibilities of running a business by giving me access to tools that save me time and make tasks easier to complete. I am a solo entrepreneur that often subsidizes my operating budget with student loans. It can be difficult to get things done when you are often not generating the revenue needed to “keep the lights on” and pay for assistance. These are tools I regularly use to help me work around those issues:

WordHero and Ocoya: copywriting and social media content

Upbase: project management

SQR QR Code Generator: links and QR codes

YouPost: Blog content generation

SUPERMACHINE: Image generation

Infusing humor into your writing is a great way to connect with people, instead of always focusing on search engines. You don’t have to write for late-night to get in some good jokes either. Here are a few tips to spice up your business writing with humor.

Gettin’ silly wit it: how to use humor in business writing

I’m Victor, a copywriter at AppSumo.

One thing I love about the AppSumo voice is that it doesn’t take itself too seriously. There’s room to accommodate a ton of cultural references and off-color jokes to keep readers engaged—which is key because, you know, I’m a writer. And we like when people actually read our sh*t.

So take a look at a few of the techniques we use to infuse the funnies into our voice while also getting our point across (we do still need to sell stuff, after all).

Plus, get a quick rundown of what to avoid in the process of aiming for knee-slappers.

4 Fast Tips to Add Humor to Your Writing Voice

1. Get weird

Normal is boring. The humor is in the specifics. Make seemingly niche references, include hot takes on popular trends, and trust that your audience will follow you. The goal isn’t to write for everyone, because everyone has a different sense of humor.

Write for your intended readers. People new to your brand will laugh that much harder because they’ll have found their place (belonging is a helluva drug).

In other words, if you think the world isn’t ready for your fixation on Furby’s and/or the All That theme song, you are absolutely wrong. Check out an example straight from our site:

2. Throw a curveball

Humor should be unexpected, like seeing your high school crush at the grocery store or getting any kind of acceptable customer service from Comcast (jk, that’s impossible). 

Try setting up a series of things and then flip the script on the last item. Or add quick jabs in parentheses to freshen up those stale sentences.

Mainly, you want to keep the reader on their toes. They’ll be more inclined to engage with your writing and read to the end if there are a few laughs as a reward sprinkled in with the standard stuff. Subvert those expectations for funny little firecrackers. We love these at AppSumo.

3. Pick a persona

If the word “persona” triggers a flashback to your unfinished save file of any of the popular Persona games, then I’m sorry. But I’m gonna need you to suck it straight up; we have writing to talk about.

You need to nail down the company persona and voice to get a bead on your best humor. Definitely don’t try to be your full, complex self during copywriting. You want the surface-level affect of a Tinder date. Think snarky twenty-something, prankster uncle, fed-up office worker, or literally just Lucille Bluth.

At AppSumo, we’re the witty coach with a soft spot for 90’s nostalgia.

Find your persona and stick to it (a.k.a. get it right, get it tight).

4. Drop the ball

Look, if LeBron James actually made every single shot, we’d all hate him (instead of just Cleveland fans). You don’t need every joke to land, and you can take the pressure off yourself by purposely throwing up an airball or two.

Make a cringeworthy pun, get carried away with an extended metaphor, or share an embarrassing personal anecdote to get a different kind of laugh. These moments of weakness work double duty to be both endearing and entertaining, so readers are more likely to stick with you, even when you miss a layup (see below).

3 key things to avoid

1. Being extra

Don’t oversaturate your writing with jokes. For business writing, the humor should be a welcome seasoning, not the whole dish.

Your first goal is to clearly convey your point and value proposition, and everything else should revolve around that. Get your purpose across succinctly, and people will appreciate you not taking up all of their time with fluff—even if it’s funny.

2. Being a d*ck

Mean isn’t endearing. Punching down isn’t classy. You don’t want to turn the reader off by being overly negative or brutally critical of others.

A well-meaning jab at a celebrity or multinational corporation is appreciated, but don’t rely on being bitter to score some cheap laughs.

3. Being basic

Remember what we said about surprising your audience? Predictability is your worst enemy. If it feels like anyone could have written the same joke, then scrap it and try another angle.

You want your punchlines to be your calling card and set you apart from the competition. So don’t go too generic or too proper with the jokes if you want them to actually land. Let the reader see the human behind the brand.

Think you’re real funny, huh?

Everybody likes to laugh, and humor is a great way to differentiate yourself from others in your space.

Whether you’re a startup just defining your voice or a side-hustler looking to attract more clients, having a solid grasp of how to infuse the funnies into your writing will add more interest from all parties. Plus, it’s your chance to show that all copy isn’t written by robots or corporate automatons (as much as Jeff Bezos wants it to be).

Throw in a few jokes and let that personality shine through for better results and better business. Because a little laughter goes a long way toward keeping both readers and writers slightly more sane.

So go ahead and take a load off while we grab you an ice-cold giveaway to ease the pain. How about a complete setup for your home office, plus software to boost your online business to new heights?

Our Build Your Online Business (BYOB) Giveaway with MarketerHire is the event you’ve been waiting for. We’re doing everything we can to help you on the path to entrepreneurship—short of giving you the business itself (we’re not Willy Wonka, sorry).

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Maybe you’re upgrading your tot’s remote classroom or trying to foster a learning environment where your teen can study something other than TikTok. Either way, expenses add up (because math).

Luckily, we’re bringing you the Class Act Giveaway, a supply-packed sweepstakes with an extra touch of class. You’ll have the chance to win school essentials like a desk, printer, headphones, webcam, and whiteboard. Best of all, for every entrant, we’ll match a dollar donation (up to $5K!) to ClearTheList, which helps teachers keep their classrooms stocked during these uncertain times. 

Let’s make LeVar Burton proud and set our students up for success.

Enter this Giveaway Now

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Or you could boss-up with all the productivity essentials Chief Sumo Noah Kagan uses to stay healthy and efficient. He’s giving away his entire setup, from ergonomic chairs and standing desks to productivity timers and personal development books.

The Noah Productivity Essentials Giveaway will have you ready and raring to make your mark on the world like an 8-figure founder — right from your home. (And yes, you’ll still have time to watch your favorite vigilante.)

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Maybe it’s your tools, maybe it’s your technique, maybe it’s not being clued-in to the latest trends. Whatever the reason, the Design on Our Dime Giveaway will give your visuals the boost they need. We’re pretty font of you, after all.

So lend us an ear, you modern Van Gogh, because we’ve got news for you. It’s a giveaway for the art history books.

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But the towering levels of influence you’ve dreamt of look more like a Lego tower (at least they’re not Mega Bloks). Content marketing is a difficult journey, and you need a kickass conversion-driven A-Team to help you along.

The Agency Booster Giveaway offers free consulting from a professional content agency, along with robust software to help you grow your brand and manage all the new business pouring in. It’s time to put the “brand” in brand new.

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You wake up tired and you find it hard to focus. You’ve transformed from playfully sarcastic to downright cynical. And if one more person adds a Zoom call to your calendar, you’re retreating to your pillow cocoon where they can’t find you. 

We get it. That’s why our Beating Burnout Giveaway is a cornucopia of uplifting products to put you back in your happy place. Cue the Lizzo, ’cause you’ll be feeling good as hell.

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Resentment towards inanimate objects aside, we all need to recharge. And if you’re not getting quality sleep, you’re not starting the next day at 100%.

If only there was a way to make sure you got the best sleep possible, regardless of your surroundings. Our Optimize Your Sleep Giveaway will have you getting some capital Z’s for the best stress-free rest. This time, you win, you snooze.

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BONUS MATERIAL: PRODUCTIVITY BOOSTED PDF

Find the best productivity strategy for you with a side-by-side comparison of top productivity frameworks. Download Now

Not every project gives you the benefit of riding solo (much to the chagrin of Jason Derulo). If you’re joining a new team, gaining more traction with freelance projects, or building a crew of your own, project timelines are a must.

One problem: How do you do that, again? Sumo-ling, we’re here to give you the scoop on how to build a project timeline, a couple of easy templates, and a quick breakdown of project management tools with a timeline function. You’re about to get way more organized.

• Why You Should Build a Project Timeline
• 4 Steps for Building a Project Timeline
• 2 Quick and Easy Project Timeline Templates
• 6 Project Management Tools with Timeline Features

Why You Should Build a Project Timeline

Source: Microsoft

What Is a Project Timeline?

Put simply, a project timeline shows which tasks take place when. So, like those history timelines you had to fill out in middle school, you’ll get a chronological view of each step in the project process.

They’re easy to look at, easy to understand, and easy to get addicted to (it happens).

Why Build a Project Timeline

Timelines will show you dependencies, bottlenecks, and the critical path for the project as a whole. You’ll be able to see where the project could hit a roadblock if things take too much time, or which tasks could be completed simultaneously.

Plus, everyone will know exactly where they stand in the project process, increasing transparency. Teams will be more informed, and project managers will know where to alter course should problems arise. From top to bottom, project timelines are a net positive for the entire team.

4 Steps for Building a Project Timeline

1. Make an Outline

Project charters are the beginning of a project outline, and they should detail the timeframe, budget, and scope. The clearer your intentions are laid out here, the less work you’ll have to do later, so make sure you’re starting off on the right foot.

Your project outline is an expanded version of the charter, except this time you’re thinking through each individual piece of the puzzle, instead of the big picture. For instance, you’re not “increasing content on the blog,” you’re “adding 10 new blog posts” and “making unique creatives for each article.”

Make a list with every step of the project spelled out, including any sub-deliverables for all steps in the process. How complex your outline is will depend highly on your project, but each item should be manageable and actionable.

You can compile this into a work breakdown structure (WBS), which defines the deliverables in a hierarchical arrangement. It’ll start with the main project, then cascade downwards for sub-deliverables. The WBS is recommended for more complex projects, so you’ll get an overview of major tasks while also viewing their component parts.

2. Evaluate the Time Required for Each Task

Now that you know what tasks you need to complete, you can estimate the time needed to complete them. Depending on the size of your team, this may entail speaking to members to get an idea of a timeline. You’ll likely want to do multiple rounds of estimations, especially as the project continues.

It’s not a bad call to calculate how much time you think a task should take, then add a couple of days as a buffer. Write out your times next to the project task, and you’re almost done with the groundwork for the project timeline!

3. Figure Dependencies and Task Sequence

These steps go hand-in-hand, and it’s one of the biggest benefits of using a project timeline.

Figuring dependencies is the process of assessing what needs to be done in order for the project to continue. You can’t make the creatives for a blog post without figuring out the topic for said post, in the same way you can’t have an educated opinion on the best Star Wars movie without watching the 1978 Holiday Special (from START TO FINISH!!).

The task sequences rely on you figuring out these dependencies, so you can evaluate which tasks can be completed simultaneously and maximize efficiency. This is also a great time to slate tasks for certain people, so you’ll be able to spot any staffing or resource risks. Here, you’ll also identify the critical path, or the least amount of time required to complete the project based on the combined times of all its tasks.

Now that you know your dependencies and assigned the individual tasks, all you’ve gotta do is make it into a timeline!

4. Create Your Timeline

You’ve got a couple of timeline maker options for actually making your project timeline. If you just want to see if you like the idea enough to continue making them in the future, then a template isn’t a bad idea (we’ve got two lined up for you below).

The other option is to find project management software with a timeline view. The PM tools are super handy because the first steps in the process are streamlined; they’re built for this type of thing, after all. Once you outline your project and assign tasks with due dates, not only is your timeline done, but your project is well on the way to being managed.

Let’s start with the templates, so you don’t have to fuss with any sign ups or credit cards.

2 Quick and Easy Project Timeline Templates

1. Microsoft Excel Template

Source: Microsoft

This four-week timeline is great for short projects, and if you already have Excel, then it’s free. Small teams or temporary assignments might be best suited for this template, but the timeline is easy to see and edit.

This is the project timeline appetizer for those who like to dabble.

2. Smartsheet

Source: Smartsheet

Smartsheet gives you several choices on the type of timeline you’d like in their free template library. You can plan weekly, monthly, and annually to suit your needs, and there are even templates for specific sectors like Event Marketing.

For bigger projects or people who need more options without any commitment, Smartsheet is the right call.

6 Project Management Tools with Timeline Features

To help you decide which tool is right for you, be sure to check out our blog post for extra info on which tool suits your situation best.

1. Plutio

Source: Plutio

Plutio is comprehensive without being overly complex, making it a great option for freelancers and agencies, especially those in the process of scaling teams or services. It’s not free, but it is affordable, especially with AppSumo’s lifetime deal.

You’ll have a project timeline with the click of a button after you make the task cards, plus hourly tracking, client collaboration, and white-labeling.

Click on tasks in the timeline to easily adjust the time taken or slide them along in the calendar. It’s all very straightforward and accessible.

2. Agiled

Agiled is an all in one work management tool which is really easy to use. It makes managing and planning your projects really easy. You can easily generate project timelines after you have added tasks for the projects, and you can adjust it easily according to your needs.

Agiled comes with a Kanban board and Gantt chart which you can share publicly with your white-labeled link.

Other than project management Agiled comes with many features like CRM, proposals, invoicing, estimates, forms, and contracts that make managing your business in one place a breeze.

3. Asana

Source: Asana

Asana might be overkill for smaller teams, but if you want all the bells and whistles to future-proof a rapidly growing company, this might be for you. There is a learning curve, but there are always videos and tutorials to get you up to speed relatively quickly.

Asana’s timeline feature is robust, with the option to link tasks in the timeline to establish dependencies. There’s also filtering and subtask counts for tasks, in case your projects tend to be more complex.

4. MeisterTask

Source: MeisterTask

The Business Plan on MeisterTask will give you access to an extensive project timeline view. While it is a bit pricey, if your team is juggling multiple projects with several clients, this might be the option for you.

The timeline is drag-and-drop from the kanban board, and you can also create tasks straight on the timeline, as well. Plus, you’ll have filters and zooming to focus on individual team members or projects. Functionality is in abundance here.

If you’re already using MeisterTask, the upgrade might be worth it for your team.

5. Ora

Source: Ora

Ora offers great bang for your buck. You’ll have access to the timeline feature and unlimited observers with their Professional plan, and it’s 8 bucks a month per user (tax included!). Freelancers and agencies with consistent work across several partners might be the best fit for Ora.

Timeline-wise there are tons of premium features, including drawing dependencies and setting the amount of time per day for team members to work on tasks. It’s a great value.

6. Trello Power-Ups

Source: Trello

Technically, you can add a timeline power-up to the free version of Trello. But you only have 1 power-up slot, and it’s certainly not enough if you plan on continuing to use the platform. However, if that’s the main feature you want to try before going for Business Class, it’s not a bad call.

Planyway is a great option for your Trello board, with all the essential timeline features, plus the option to coordinate timelines across Trello boards.

You Know What Time It Is

You’ve made it all the way here, so that means you’re serious about making a timeline.

Basically, the short-term solution is to snag a template, and the long-term solution is to invest in a project management ecosystem.

So go ahead and use the tools of your choosing to get started on that first timeline sure to make your life way easier. You’ll know what’s happening, who’s working on it, and when you can expect projects to be finished – all much faster than you would have before.

Get time back on your side. Create a project timeline.