Small Business Success Strategies

Get Outside Your Comfort Zone and Take Risks: It's the Only Way to Grow

  Part of what you signed on for when you started a small business was calculated risk-taking and moving outside your comfort zone. A client once asked when she'd get to the point where it would be easy and she could just operate her business on autopilot and just sort of float. When I told her never, she was shocked. Since change is the one constant in life, it's the same in your business.

Although the right processes and systems can make you very successful, you need to keep pushing yourself outside your comfort zone if you want to grow. Think bigger, and then act bigger. If you're not feeling just a bit of fear, you're probably operating in your safe zone. But your safe zone will soon get boring and your business will stagnate.

Read Janis's entire article Get Outside Your Comfort Zone and Take Risks: It's the Only Way to Grow

Janis Pettit, our official Small Business Strategy Coach Expert

Can Facebook Be Saved?

Remember when you were young and hip and had favorite places to hang out?

Then one day a bunch of strangers joined in and you didn't take much notice of them. Next, they began inviting their friends and before you knew it, your cool hangout was filled to the brim with a bunch of obnoxious ya-hoos. In a nutshell, that's what has happened to Facebook, but there is hope . . . you can do something about it starting right now.

Read Nancy's entire article Can Facebook Be Saved?

Nancy Marmolejo, our official Visibility Expert

Pick up the Phone to Sell More

In working with my newer clients, I notice that most of them tend to focus too much on what I call "passive" selling- email, website, business cards.

They send callers to their websites, try to drum up business through email, and generally rely on indirect methods to sell.

They do this for many reasons, none of them good.

Read Glenn's entire article Pick up the Phone to Sell More

Glenn Dietzel, our official Business Coaching Expert

The Ultimate Decision: Your Money or Your Life

In their thought-provoking bestseller, Your Money Or Your Life, authors Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin lay out their nine-step plan to help readers achieve "financial independence." The quest for financial independence should not be confused with becoming independently wealthy. Instead, being financially independent means "having an income sufficient for your basic needs and comforts from a source other than paid employment." Central to creating a more fulfilling life independent of paid employment is the recognition of the price we pay for the money we earn. The Trade Off This cost is described by the authors in terms of "life energy," meaning, the precious and limited time each of us has here on this earth. When you go to work each day, you are, in essence, trading your life energy for money. The popular pitch "buy now, pay later" takes on new meaning when you start to really assess the price of spending so much of your life energy earning money so you can buy more things. "If you spend your life energy on stuff that brings only passing fulfillment and doesn't support your values," the authors point out, "you end up with less life."

Read Valerie's entire article The Ultimate Decision: Your Money or Your Life

Valerie Young, our official Career Change Expert

30 Online and Offline Networking Resources

   If you want to take your business to the next level, you should be making time to expand your networks. Networking can create a variety of opportunities ranging from meeting potential clients to locating new business partners. You can discover new ideas, form strategic alliances or find someone you can simply commiserate with.

Ideally you should schedule time in your calendar to attend networking events either in person or online. Following are thirty networking resources that can get you on the road to networking success.

1. About.com – Link to this forum for entrepreneurs. There are also many other forums available on a variety of topics. Visit: http://entrepreneurs.about.com/mpboards.htm

Read Stephanie's entire article 30 Online and Offline Networking Resources

Stephanie Chandler, our official Small Business Growth Expert

Who’s Buying Coaching These Days?

It’s a good question. If you’ve been selling a certain type of coaching such as relationship, career, wellness, leadership, life purpose (put any word before coaching)… you must be wondering this yourself because clients may have been hard to come by.

Many coaches haven’t noticed a blip in the number of people wanting their services. In fact, their income has increased over the last few years and it’s still rising. Their clients are staying longer. What are they doing differently?

Read Rhonda's entire article Who’s Buying Coaching These Days?

Rhonda Hess, our official Coaching Business Success Expert

Automatic Online Income - Myth or Fact?

Nothing excites the mind more than receiving automatic online income, day-in, day-out for all 365 days of the year. A true marvel to behold and the perfect solution to all your money worries.

It is totally liberating.

It gives you the freedom to pursue your life's goals, no matter what they may be. It gives you the freedom of mobility; you can live anywhere in the world. Moreover, it gives you the time to do the THINGS you want to do, whether it's sailing solo around the world or staying home to raise your kids.

Read Titus' entire article Automatic Online Income - Myth or Fact?

Titus Hoskins, our official Online Fax Expert

Make Money Today Online and Quit Your Job Tomorrow!

Have you ever wondered how people make money online? Wouldn't it be great to work from the comfort of your own home? Here are some ways that you can make money today and quit your job tomorrow!

There are plenty of different opportunities to make money online. One way is to sell through online auctions. Online auctions allow people all over the world access to the product you are selling. You can sell around the house items that are no longer needed or wanted easily and for more than you would make at a garage sale! In fact, garage sales and flea markets are great places to buy items to sell at online auctions. It's amazing how much of a profit you can make!

Read Stone's entire article Make Money Today Online and Quit Your Job Tomorrow!

Stone Evans, our official Home Business Expert

Naming Strategies for Consulting Companies

For consulting firms and other start up companies, few items are more important than the company brand name itself. Without a strong and compelling brand identity, most companies get lost in a sea of sound-alike, descriptive or meaningless names. The most common mistake is simply using the owner's initials or surname (e.g. FJZ Associates or RW Jones Consulting). Not only are these names forgettable, but they create an additional obstacle if the company grows, the owner wants to take on a partner, or eventually sell the business. What new business owner wants someone else's name on the front door? No one, unless the names is E.F. Hutton, or a legacy brand that has earned its reputation over time. Most new businesses don't have the luxury of time to build their brand message. So what are some successful naming strategies for consultants? Let's take a look.

Read Phil's entire article Naming Strategies for Consulting Companies

Phil Davis, our official Branding and Naming Expert

7 Tips for Getting Glowing Testimonials that Will Increase Sales

There are many strategies you can use to increase sales, but one of the simplest and most effective is to get glowing testimonials that perspective clients can read. Testimonials establish you as an expert; they say you deliver what you promised and that you get great results. And if someone is on the fence as to whether or not to hire you or purchase your product, testimonials can actually close the sale. Yet, most small business owners don't have a system for regularly getting testimonials even when they've been in business for a while.

If you are making money it means you have happy clients, which means you have people who would probably willingly offer you a testimonial. Even if you are just starting out, you can offer your services for free or at a reduced rate to several people in return for testimonials.

Read Janis' entire article 7 Tips for Getting Glowing Testimonials that Will Increase Sales

Janis Pettit, our official Small Business Strategy Coach Expert