Small Business Success Strategies

What Does a Fearless Media Plan Look Like for You?

Believe it or not, there are entrepreneurs out there (really successful, confident people) who eschew the spotlight. They think it's somehow different than other forms of marketing. "Gee," they say to me, "I'm just not ready for that."

So I usually ask them to define "that."

"Oh you know", they reply, "all that fame and attention."

For some reason they believe that media attention is going to create a negative effect in their lives.

Now this gets me to thinking: marketing is about getting noticed by your target market. People write articles, use social networking, enhance their websites, put on teleseminars, write blogs . . . all so they get noticed. What is it about media attention that suddenly turns many confident marketers into fraidy cats?

Read Nancy's entire article What Does a Fearless Media Plan Look Like for You?

Nancy Marmolejo, our official Visibility Expert

Secrets of Successful Networking: Set Your Business on Fire!

Networking isn't just for Realtors; it's a valuable tool for every savvy business leader. Meeting people in a variety of industries can lead to all kinds of alliances. Think about the people you know. How have those relationships enhanced your business?

No matter what kind of business you operate, whether you're an independent contractor, store owner, infopreneur, professional speaker or consultant, networking can cause your business soar to new heights.

Read Stephanie's entire article Secrets of Successful Networking: Set Your Business on Fire!

Stephanie Chandler, our official Entrepreneurial Expert

Branding Basics: The Top Five Warning Signs It's Time to Hire a Company Naming Consultant

It's a growing dilemma, one that business owners and marketing directors are encountering more frequently each year--the growing shortage of good company names. It used to be quite simple. You simply gathered the key decision makers (i.e. product managers, the marketing staff, and a handful of "creative" types that work for the company). Then you brainstormed some names on the white board and voted on a winner. Back then there was no need for an available domain name. There were also fewer trademarks. And the need to differentiate your product and service was probably not as critical. But now, as more and more businesses enter the market, and as the internet increases in importance, it's vital to have a unique and compelling company name with a matching .com domain name.

Read Phil's entire article Branding Basics: The Top Five Warning Signs It's Time to Hire a Company Naming Consultant

Phil Davis, our official Branding and Naming Expert

Finding Your Home Business Niche

When some folks begin to think about a business of their own, they know in that very moment what kind they are going to start. Then, there are the rest of us...

Knowing that we want to have a business of our own is not enough. Many of us have struggled with the important question of what type of enterprise we would like to start.

Franchises offer a simple pre-packaged money making idea, but the cost of a franchise often makes it a prohibitive option to most folks who contemplate going out on their own.

Read Stone's entire article Finding Your Home Business Niche

Stone Evans, our official Home Business Expert

How to Work From Home Without Feeling Isolated

If you work from home as I do, it's very easy to slip into the habit of holing up at home for days. When you first get the idea of starting a home based business, it sounds so appealing--work in your pajamas if you want to. No commuting, no interruptions from colleagues, more time freedom.

But when the reality sets in you find yourself socially isolated in a virtual world. Your world shrinks and becomes your computer and your family. Even the occasional business lunch or networking event doesn't help much.

I've battled this and found that social interaction is absolutely necessary for humans! Here are some ways to help you keep you from becoming a cloistered hermit.

Read Janis' entire article How to Work From Home Without Feeling Isolated

Janis Pettit, our official Small Business Strategy Coach Expert

When Should a Coach Hire a VA?

When Should a Coach Hire a VA?
Posted on October 19th, 2009 in Coaching Business Tips · · Print Article Print Article

In the early days of the coaching industry, coaches used to handle everything in their business themselves, from admin to marketing to developing clunky templated websites. It was the “penny wise – pound foolish” mindset of practitioners who hadn’t yet taken themselves seriously as business owners. In the long run, this approach stunted the growth of the coaching industry and coaches alike.

Now, many coaches work smarter. They build their business with the expert support of mentors, web designers and virtual assistants from the get-go. The result: coaches who invest in their business make more money faster. With their learning curves shortened and time well-leveraged, they stay off the money for time treadmill and enjoy themselves more.

Read Rhonda's entire article When Should a Coach Hire a VA?

Rhonda Hess, our official Coaching Business Expert

10lbs Slimmer Without Breaking a Sweat!

A woman stopped me in the produce section of the grocery store. Distressed and worn-out, she asked, ‘Hey, Susie… What can I do about this?’ and she grabbed a big handful of her tummy. I told her very simply to STAND UP STRAIGHT.

It’s true; my #1 exercise for women is PERFECT POSTURE. Our bodies go through some ‘balance’ changes while pregnant. Our abdominal muscles stretch, our shoulders roll forward and our big butts stick out. Our bodies become accustomed to being in this position. Then it gets worse after giving birth with the care of our babies.

Read Debbye's entire article 10lbs Slimmer Without Breaking a Sweat!

Debbye Cannon, our official BusinessMom Mentor Expert

How Much Money Are You Making From Parking Your Domain?

Domain parking has become big profit business these days. The one problem most are unaware of is the fact that when you park a domain with your registrar, usually you do not partake in the profit sharing the registrar is enjoying.

There are numerous free parking services you can use that will pay you a percentage of the click through profits from your parked domain names. So how do you know which ones are better than others?

I spent five months moving one hundred of my domains from one parking service to another every 30 days.

Read Bruce's entire article How Much Money Are You Making From Parking Your Domain?

Bruce Galle, our official Getting Started Online Expert

Marketing Mythology: Putting Lipstick on a Pig

When I first started my career as a solo entrepreneur, I hired a web designer to create my website for me. He was awesome, and I loved his work. When I received my first bill, it included a contact email address for his "support department" and "billing department". I was a little curious about who those other people were! Later I found out it was just him...he was ALL of those departments -- design, support, billing, the works! A true case of putting lipstick on the pig. Even though he attempted to "paint" his business with these additional departments, underneath it all, he was still simply a solo entrepreneur.

Read Terri's entire article Marketing Mythology: Putting Lipstick on a Pig

Terri Zwierzynski, our official Solo-Entrepreneur Expert

Are Successful People Really Luckier?

Are Successful People Really Luckier? You Bet They Are

When Stephen Fofanoff and Chris Warnock needed a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) willing to work on an equity basis to help them take their fledging design consulting business, A Designer’s Eye (ADesignersEye.com), to the next level, they came up with a novel approach – they advertised on Craig’s List (CraigsList.com). Nearly three dozen people responded. The applicant they decided to go with is a former CFO for a major corporation who left to start his own highly successful software business. With his own company in maintenance mode, the guy was just looking for a challenge.

This guy didn’t need the money.

Read Valerie's entire article Are Successful People Really Luckier?

Valerie Young, our official Career Change Expert