Eleanor Hecks

First Name
Eleanor
Last Name
Hecks

Member for

5 years 2 months
About

Eleanor is the founder and managing editor of Designerly Magazine with a passion for sharing business leadership and branding strategies. She’s also a web design consultant with a focus on customer experience and user interface.

Latest Posts

8 Types of Tax Deductions You Didn't Know Your Small Business Could Make

Many small business owners may focus on common deductions, such as office supplies or equipment. However, several overlooked expenses may also qualify for deductions. Understanding these lesser-known deductions can help reduce taxable income and improve your financial outcomes.

1. Continuing Education and Development

Learning new skills is often a necessary business investment that qualifies you for tax deductions. You can often deduct education expenses if they help you maintain or improve skills related to your current business.

Do Motivational Speeches Still Work in 2026?

In 2026, the corporate world has evolved into a complex landscape. With hybrid work environments, AI integration and a workforce increasingly skeptical of hollow inspiration, creating and maintaining a cohesive and motivated workforce is becoming increasingly challenging. 

Business leaders must assess whether hosting an hour-long keynote for their team is still a worthwhile investment. While the immediate sense of inspiration that these events can often bring is genuinely measurable, their long-term effectiveness depends entirely on the speaker’s ability to close the gap between motivation and practical application. 

The Strategic Role of Music in Creating the Optimal Retail Environment

Overhead music in brick-and-mortar stores is so common today that many people don’t think twice about it. There’s a reason why it’s become an unofficial industry standard — music has a powerful psychological effect on shoppers.

The best marketing is the kind that customers don’t even perceive as such. In-store music can fall comfortably into that category if you use it correctly. Once you know how your song choice can influence customers, you can use it to your advantage.

10 Ways to Adapt Your Business Practices to an Aging Workforce

The workforce is evolving, with a noticeable demographic shift toward an aging population. Businesses must recognize the value of these experienced workers as life expectancy rises and people remain active in their careers longer.

Adapting company practices to support and retain older employees is a strategic move that enhances productivity and ensures valuable knowledge stays within the company. Fostering an inclusive environment where older workers feel valued enables businesses to reduce turnover, maintain a diverse and skilled workforce and thrive in a competitive market.

What Retirement Account Options Are Available for Tech Businesses and Their Employees?

Tech businesses and employees should have retirement account options that fit their needs. While they could stick with the traditional 401(k) plan, many other types offer more significant tax benefits and fewer restrictions.

Why Does the Tech Industry Need Special Accounts?

Tech workers’ incomes hit a record high in 2021. The average salary reached over $104,500, with many jobs seeing more than 10%-20% growth in earnings from 2020. Even though this increase is fantastic, it made some of the most popular retirement plans inaccessible.

Next Gen LED Is Paving the Way and Leaving Conventional Lighting in the Dust

LED lights have been a money- and energy-saving staple for businesses and households. They are a convenient, simplistic switch to a greener lifestyle with long-term benefits. These bulbs have been burning bright since their popularity in the late 2000s, but it is time for a structural overhaul. Recent research proves there is still a long way to go before they are the ideal light source, so what does the path look like for the next gen LED lights?

How to Create a STEM Scholarship

Does your tech company need to establish a STEM scholarship program?

A scholarship fund has numerous benefits for your organization and students in need. First, it’s tax-deductible, which allows your business to save money during tax time. Just be sure you’re eligible by following the IRS guidelines, requiring you to work with an organization to help award the scholarship. Furthermore, it shows that your company is forwarding social responsibility — which is excellent for your brand’s reputation and business growth.