Small Business Success Strategies

Cheap Laptops - Are They Worth Your Money?

Remember last year when a sale featuring laptops priced at $500 caused a stampede in one store. What a difference a year makes!

Laptop prices have been steadily dropping, falling below those stampede prices in some cases. As productions costs come down and the marketplace is flooded with all makes of laptops, you can expect laptop prices to drop even further.

No news there, most products come down in price eventually, electronic products are no different. Actually, they seem to come down in prices more rapidly.

Read Titus' entire article Cheap Laptops - Are They Worth Your Money?

Titus Hoskins, our official Online Fax Expert

How You Deal with Problems Can Impact Your Success

Running a business means dealing with problems, just like any other part of your life. You'll run into problems with technology, client problems, marketing problems, problems with your outsourced help or employees and life problems that take time and energy away from your business. How you deal with those problems will have a big impact on your success.

If you let yourself be drawn into the drama that a problem seems to create you become emotionally invested in it. When a problem comes up suddenly and unexpectedly its easy to immediately become fearful or angry and go into reaction mode. Most people try to avoid problems at all costs because they disrupt our plans and daily routines.

Read Janis' entire article How You Deal with Problems Can Impact Your Success

Janis Pettit, our official Small Business Strategy Coach Expert

Believe you Can Succeed and with the Right Home Business, You Can!

The number one thing that stops many people from starting a home business is fear, according to Internet entrepreneur Chantelle Mckinley.

"If we take fear of failure away, then I firmly believe more people would have the courage to start a home business and find success," Chantelle states. "And with the right home business, I know anyone can be successful."

Chantelle recently launched www.mckinleyproductions.ws, a website that features the best home business opportunities on the ‘net.

Read Stone's entire article Believe you Can Succeed and with the Right Home Business, You Can!

Stone Evans, our official Home Business Expert

Is Cursive Writing Too Old-Fashioned?

In the United States, cursive writing is disappearing from the basic curriculum in forty-one states.  Do we really need to teach cursive writing in the new age of keyboarding, texting and video-mail?

This article shares some of the current realities about cursive writing.  Please notice the comments at the end from educators and the very practical reasons that cursive should always be taught.  Besides, a handwritten note is elegant and gracious when it is written in cursive.

We’ll never forget our third-grade report card. Accustomed to getting mostly “Es” for excellent, we were shocked to see an “N” for penmanship. As in, needs improvement.

Read Cynthia's entire article Is Cursive Writing Too Old-Fashioned?

Cynthia Lett, our official Business Etiquette Expert

The “Shotgun” Approach – Too Much Work for Too Little Payoff

Recently, I posted a free 3-part video series called How to Choose a Highly Profitable Coaching Niche. I’m so touched by all the comments from coaches who are:

    * struggling to narrow their niche
    * still giving away their services for cheap
    * or not able to find enough people who are motivated to hire them.

You’re in good company, but I know you’re tired of working so hard and are ready for easy consistent results!

Read Rhonda's entire article The “Shotgun” Approach – Too Much Work for Too Little Payoff

Rhonda Hess, our official Coaching Business Success Expert

Social Networking Mindset Tip: Be Approachable!

When you use social networking to market your business, you'll increase your love for the medium (and profitable results) when you make sure you're coming across as approachable. Whether you're outgoing or shy, your approachability quotient will make the difference in your successful connections on sites like Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, and more.

Now take a look at your social networking profiles. Are you approachable or do you project a big brick wall? Do you create the space for people to comfortably want to find out more about you . . . or are you shutting out prospects and potential JV partners?

Read Nancy's entire article Social Networking Mindset Tip: Be Approachable!

Nancy Marmolejo, our official Visibility Expert

Be More Efficient With Your Time

Make Yourself Obsolete -So You Can Be More Efficient With Your Time
We all get the very same 86,400 seconds in a day. It’s how we use them that count. I’m sure you have heard “time is money” and “I’m spending my time” comments. Maybe it is because the way we use our time has direct comparisons to money.

It’s high time that we, as BusinessMom’s took a magnifying glass to the clock and “pay” attention to where our time goes. It’s an important step toward being able to “invest” your time instead of just “spending’ it!

Read Debbye's entire article Be More Efficient With Your Time

Debbye Cannon, our official BusinessMom Mentor

How Much Do You Need to Know Before You're an Expert? Part 1 in a 2 Part Series

During a recent visit to the dentist, my hygienist Anne asked about my recent speaking tour in California. When I told Anne I'd spoken on the Impostor Syndrome to over 600 people at four universities, including Stanford, her response was, "Wow, you must be a real expert." While that term doesn't always resonate with me, I suppose I am an expert.

But what does it mean to be an "expert"? Naturally you do need to know something about the topic at hand. But how much knowledge do you actually need to consider yourself an expert?

Read Valerie's entire article How Much Do You Need to Know Before You're an Expert? Part 1 in a 2 Part Series

Valerie Young, our official Career Change Expert

Brand Strategy: Do You Have a Handle on Your Company Name?

When creating a new company, product or service, many entrepreneurs treat the naming of their business as an afterthought or final detail that needs nailing down before the big launch. With this thinking, the success of a new business hinges entirely on the business model and the plan of action, with little value placed on the actual name.

The irony is that something so insignificant can prove so crucial.

I often speak to clients who feel they shouldn't really even have to be talking to me. "I thought we could do this ourselves, but we've spent three months at it and we're getting nowhere." Or, "We didn't even include this in our budget, we didn't think it would be an issue. No one knows what to call this thing." Now, faced with an impending deadline, a trade show, a product launch, they are panicked.

Read Phil's entire article Brand Strategy: Do You Have a Handle on Your Company Name?

Phil Davis, our official Branding and Naming Expert

10 Ways to Sabotage Your Website and Send Visitors Packing

If you’re running a website or online business, your number one goal should be to build traffic. The following are ten ways to drive traffic away from your site. Make sure you aren’t making these mistakes.

1. Links Open in the Same Window: If links to other sites don’t open in a new window, then you are giving your traffic away. Don’t expect site visitors to use the “Back” button or remember where they started. Once they’re gone, they are most likely gone for good.

2. No Free Content: Sites that are pure sales pitches are missing the boat.

Read Stephanie's entire article 10 Ways to Sabotage Your Website and Send Visitors Packing

Stephanie Chandler, our official Small Business Growth Expert