Small Business Success Strategies

Five Skills Students Need To Be Successful In Business

For a while I have been interested in how to teach students before they reach high school the skills they will need to be successful in their social and work lives. This article by Heather Wolpert-Gawron who teaches middle school language arts and coaches speech and debate in California’s San Gabriel Unified School District, caught my eye and I thought it would be interesting to you too. ( She blogs at TweenTeacher and is a member of the Teacher Leaders Network.

Read Cynthia's entire article Five Skills Students Need To Be Successful In Business

Cynthia Lett, our official Business Etiquette Expert

26 Ways to Establish Yourself as an Expert

No matter what kind of business you're in, you are an expert in something. One powerful way to grow your business is to become known for what you do best. Because experts are the go-to people for services and products, establishing yourself as an expert gives you an edge over the competition, generates interest from prospects and builds loyalty with clients.

Following are strategies that you can use to elevate your expert status.

ESTABLISH THE FOUNDATION

Own it: First, believe you are an expert. Second, claim it. Get over any fears that you don't have all the answers because nobody does. Give yourself the title of "XYZ Expert" or "XYZ Specialist." When you believe it, others will too.

Read Stephanie's entire article 26 Ways to Establish Yourself as an Expert

Stephanie Chandler, our official Small Business Growth Expert

The Costs of Being Stuck

I was speaking with an inner circle client last week and we were talking about being stuck.

This client has a great idea, and is steadily working on her positioning within her target market. She's focused on educating them, selling them, and on creating unique positioning for herself and her company.

In short, she's doing everything she needs to be doing to build momentum.

But, as sometimes happens, you're going along really well, and then, all of a sudden, you get stuck.

Read Glenn's entire article The Costs of Being Stuck

Glenn Dietzel, our official Business Coaching 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.

For those who do not have a million dollars to buy a McDonalds franchise, we must look to other ideas for our own business.

Read Stone's entire article Finding Your Home Business Niche

Stone Evans, our official Home Business Expert

Nine Resolutions To Build Your Brand and Your Business

After the wild ride that was '08, many business owners are asking themselves just where to invest their time, energy and money in the new year. From dealing with hundreds of business owners each year, here are a few suggestions . . .

1. Listen More.

For many businesses and industries, this past year was more than a bump in the road -- it represented a fundamental shift in the way their goods and services were bought and sold. Your customers are looking for the same things you are, ways to operate more effectively and efficiently. When was the last time you called your best client and asked what he or she needed most? How about a survey on your web site which asks the visitor what information and products were most helpful and which were least? The one constant in business is change, so make yourself a student of change. Be there for your customers and they will be there for you.

Read Phil's entire article Nine Resolutions To Build Your Brand and Your Business

Phil Davis, our official Branding and Naming Expert

8 Quick Ways To Instantly Build Your Online Credibility

Regardless of what type of website or business you're pursuing on the web, you and your site must be seen as "credible" in the eyes of your visitors or it's "game over" before you even get started. Visitors must believe you are someone who "knows their stuff" and is worth their time.

Therefore, instantly establishing this credibility is vital to your site's success, especially online where people are still very distrustful of what they see and read. And if you're selling something this "distrust meter" takes a giant leap of faith.

So here are some eight quick ways to instantly build trust with your site's visitors and remember you only have a few nanoseconds to accomplish this difficult task.

Read Titus' entire article 8 Quick Ways To Instantly Build Your Online Credibility

Titus Hoskins, our official Online Fax Expert

The Profits Are NOT In the Numbers: How to Go Micro With Social Media

Forget about being the biggest dog on Twitter, and no need to keep approving anyone and everyone who wants to friend you on Facebook.

If you're one who has followed that line of advice, you're probably staring down a whole bunch of strangers who leave an endless stream of meaningless spam in your inbox.

Take my advice and ignore the numbers. Instead focus on what really counts this year: GOING MICRO.

Read Nancy's entire article The Profits Are NOT In the Numbers: How to Go Micro With Social Media

Nancy Marmolejo, our official Visibility Expert

Real Life Entrepreneurs Steal the Show:

Real Life Entrepreneurs Steal the Show: Two New Reality Shows Depict Entrepreneurs Going After Their Dreams

One reason for the rise of an entire new television genre known as "reality TV" is that the people in the shows are one of us. There are no trained actors, no scripts. There are just regular people rising and falling, triumphing and struggling, winning and losing. Two new series – one on television and one online - follow the true life stories of aspiring entrepreneurs.

In a recent piece on National Public Radio about ABC's new reality show American Inventor, the commentator posed the question "Can it do for geeks what American Idol did for pop singers?" Given that one of the shows' producers is infamous American Idol judge Simon Cowell, it just might.

Read Valerie's entire article Real Life Entrepreneurs Steal the Show:

Valerie Young, our official Career Change Expert

Timely Tips That Can Catapult Your Coaching Biz to the Next Level Fast

Are you working too hard to promote your coaching, but still wondering where your next client will come from? Maybe you’ve been wondering how you can keep this up if you don’t get more income…

If so, you’re not alone — most coaches deal with these same problems in their coaching businesses, especially in the first five years or so. But there are coaches who have plenty of high paying clients. They get great referrals and have long term clients that pay them well. Those coaches must know some marketing tricks that make all the difference.

Read Rhonda's entire article Timely Tips That Can Catapult Your Coaching Biz to the Next Level Fast

Rhonda Hess, our official Coaching Business Success Expert

Are you hiding behind your computer? Three Offline Marketing Strategies that Work

I know how easy it is for days to pass by and you've hardly spent a minute away from your computer. It's easy to get caught up and even mesmerized by the onslaught of emails, information, requests, research, social media and even product creation and to forget that offline marketing is crucial.

The problem is that after a while you become isolated from people--you know--the ones that might really like to hire you. Sometimes we dig into a project and just find time flying by, but more often I see business owners who don't feel confident stepping away from the computer and really connecting with people face-to-face. Or they just don't know where to begin to pursue an offline marketing strategy.

Read Janis' entire article Are you hiding behind your computer? Three Offline Marketing Strategies that Work

Janis Pettit, our official Small Business Strategy Coach Expert