Small Business Success Strategies

Organic Naming -- Creating Company and Product Names with Deep Roots

When Cingular decided to create a cellular phone for young children, they needed a name that would resonate with both them and their parents. The result was Firefly – a name that not only fits the product (it lights up when in use) but also one that has deep meaning. Many parents can fondly recall summer nights spent chasing the elusive lights as they danced across a fresh cut lawn or meadow.

When a technology company needed a name for their new PDA a few years ago, they could have used Pocket Link (the code name for the device while it was in development). Instead they went with a much more appetizing name… The Blackberry.

Read Phil's entire article Organic Naming -- Creating Company and Product Names with Deep Roots

Phil Davis, our official Branding and Naming Expert

The Enormous Power of Past Success

I was checking my voice mail yesterday and received a message that was short and sweet. It said: "My name is Ken Shapiro. I'm the writer, director, producer and star of the motion picture 'The Groove Tube'. Please call me back at ..."

Interesting. The writer, director, producer and star of a motion picture?

My curiosity was aroused so I went to Google and looked up "The Groove Tube". I discovered that Ken Shapiro was indeed all of the things he said he was and that Chevy Chase, a very famous American actor, had is debut film appearance in the movie. My mind determined that Ken Shapiro was a force to be reckoned with so I gave him a call.

Read Stone's entire article The Enormous Power of Past Success

Stone Evans, our official Home Business Expert

Five Ways You Could be Wasting Your Time

They always say that the teacher teaches what they most need to learn. Lately I've had a number of my coaching clients who are struggling with using time effectively. As a result they feel the frustration of not moving forward as quickly as they could.

I've certainly struggled with using time ineffectively myself and each time I introduce them to a Time Effectiveness Model I teach that will catapult their business to a whole new level, it reminds me to stay on track with my time.

Yes, I used to fall into the time trap and end up feeling like I was spinning my wheels. Have you been there? What I've learned is that treating time like your most precious possession, like gold, like a million bucks, will make the difference between struggling and succeeding beyond your wildest dreams.

Read Janis' entire article Five Ways You Could be Wasting Your Time

Janis Pettit, our official Small Business Strategy Coach Expert

Overcoming Overwhelm SMARTcuts(TM)

Here are some of my SMARTcut(TM) tips for overcoming overwhelm:

1. Stop - Instead of creating a mile long "to do" list, start putting these tasks directly into a planner on a specific day and time. You are much more likely to accomplish your goal once you have decided WHEN you can do it. Even if you change your mind (always write in pencil) you'll at least have something to shoot for.

2. Eliminate - The 80 percent/20 percent rule applies to so much more than business. It's about life (and clutter). Most people only use about 20 percent of what we own. So whether it's clothes, kitchen appliances or boxes stored in the garage, start with a goal of downsizing just 10 percent of "stuff". You'll have more time and energy to use and enjoy the rest.

Read Debbye's entire article Overcoming Overwhelm SMARTcuts(TM)

Debbye Cannon, our official BusinessMom Mentor Expert

Small Business Marketing - Online Survival Tips

Marketing strategies to make your small business stand out and compete with fortune 500 companies without the extreme overhead incurred by larger companies.

If you successfully use good marketing practices for your small business now, you will have not only a much greater chance of surviving these hard economic times but also come out of this a much stronger company. In fact, many highly successful businesses are actually started during hard economic times, permitting them to flourish once the times change for the better!

Read Bruce's entire article Small Business Marketing - Online Survival Tips

Bruce Galle, our official Domain Expert

Got website visitors? 5 Steps to Get Them to Subscribe

You've put a lot of investment into your website, and perhaps even more into various marketing activities to drive traffic to your site. And it's working -- your traffic numbers are up. You are halfway there -- now you need to turn those visitors into subscribers. Building a list of potential clients who are interested in what you have to offer is the only way you are going to make money from your online efforts! The secret? Put yourself in your visitor's shoes. Here are five steps that helped me increase my own visitor/subscriber conversion rate from 2.61% to 4.44% in just eight months:

   1. Get the right visitors. Seems basic, but it's one of the most important ingredients to building a responsive list; it's also the most time-intensive task. Extra effort spent on this step will also pay off handsomely.

Read Terri's entire article Got website visitors? 5 Steps to Get Them to Subscribe

Terri Zwierzynski, our official Solo-Entrepreneur Expert

Business Planning 101: When it Comes to Business Advice – Consider the Source

Whether you get your business information from the Internet, from networking with other small business owners, from books or magazines, or indeed from this very newsletter -- when it comes to business advice, consider the source. This warning even applies to programs specifically designed to assist start up and existing businesses.

If you are looking to do business with the federal government for example, the Small Business Administration (SBA.gov) has some excellent information on the ins and outs of landing government contracts. Years ago I got some great advice from a marketing dynamo and SBA counselor named Diane Doherty. And if you need to borrow money to start your business and can't get a bank loan, the SBA has several loan guarantee programs designed to help small businesses secure funding.

Read Valerie's entire article Business Planning 101: When it Comes to Business Advice – Consider the Source

Valerie Young, our official Career Change Expert

Over the Road Trucking - Is it Worth It?

As someone who may be considering over the road truck driving as a career, there are many questions you should ask yourself before jumping in head first. Thousands of new, inexperienced drivers tackle the obstacle of long haul trucking each year, only to discover it was not what they expected. This is mainly due to the fact that they are missing one key aspect for this trade: over the road trucking is not just a job or career . . . it is a lifestyle.

The large majority of the population enjoys a typical 9-5 job, or at the least, home every evening to enjoy their family and hobbies. Not so with OTR trucking. Many put in their 5-day work week and are eager to cherish the enjoyment of the weekend. Not so with OTR trucking.

Read Allen's entire article Over the Road Trucking - Is it Worth It?

Allen Smith, our official Trucking/Truck Driver Training Expert

7 Tips to Stay Visible Using Other People's Content

In the game of staying visible in business, the pressure to produce new content seems to never let up. There is a way you can stay visible, share valuable content with your followers, and score mega-Brownie points in the process. How? By using OPC, aka, Other People's Content.

This is not the same as randomly picking up an article from an online directory. What you want to do is strategically select a person whose work you want to highlight as part of your relationship building plan and visibility strategy. You're not just running an article that someone else has written, you're using the exchange as a way to deepen a relationship that holds potential for both parties.

Read Nancy's entire article 7 Tips to Stay Visible Using Other People's Content

Nancy Marmolejo, our official Visibility Expert

Why a Target Market Beats a Coaching Niche Every Time

In a nutshell, coaches who target a market do more of what they love, are paid better, and have no limits on their income. Whereas, coaches who try to market their coaching niche generally have difficulty getting enough clients, keeping them for the long term, and charging enough to maintain a sustainable business.

When it comes to attracting clients, most coaches focus on the what – what topic they want to coach around – and try to sell that. Business savvy coaches instead focus on a who – a group of people who share unique challenges and goals, like bookstore owners or virtual assistants – a target market.

Read Rhonda's entire article Why a Target Market Beats a Coaching Niche Every Time

Rhonda Hess, our official Coaching Business Expert