Small Business Success Strategies

Rebranding Your Company: Seven Signs to Tell It's Time

Phillip Davis, our official Branding and Naming Expert

There's comes a time in the life cycle of many established businesses when the owner wonders if the original company name might be doing more harm than good. But how can one know for sure? Maybe it's just the economy, or the competition, or a change in staff? Well now there's a gage, a metric, seven surefire indicators to help determine if it's the name that's causing the problem.

Rebranding Symptom number 1: The Guessing Game (Explaining what business you are really in.)

Of all the reasons to rebrand, this is the most urgent. Worse than having a name that leads nowhere is the name that leads in the wrong direction! Think of it this way, instead of starting off in neutral with a coined name, this type of name has customers going into reverse. You actually have to arrest them, correct the misperception, and then re-explain what it is that you really do! When I've visited my physical therapist for weekend warrior issues, she has shared that her company name confuses some of her clients. The Center for Perfect Balance leads many to think she has a yoga studio or a clinic for ear/balance disorders.

Rebranding Symptom number 2: "We're More Than . . . (fill in the blank)"

Read Phillip's entire article Seven Signs It's Time to Rebrand Your Company

Marketing Mythology: It's Like Putting Lipstick on a Pig

Terri Zwierzynski, our official Solo Entrepreneur Expert

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.

You Can't Contrive Credibility It was amusing to me at the time...but now I see it for what it was: someone trying to be or look like something they aren't in a misguided attempt to add credibility. This web designer was worried that clients wouldn't take him seriously as a professional if they knew it was just him. So he created the illusion of these additional departments, presumably staffed by other employees. It wasn't what I would call dishonest, more of a stretching of the truth. He delivered on his promises and had the needed expertise; none of his clients received anything less than was promised (and he was actually quite good at over-delivering).

The Risk of Dressing Up as Something You're Not I knew this designer well enough and trusted him so it didn't really bother me much, although it was somewhat of a revelation when I discovered he was a solo entrepreneur just like me! His other clients, however, expecting a bigger enterprise, might not have been as forgiving of the pretense. They may have felt deceived, suddenly unsure if they made the right choice. Future work and referrals were put in jeopardy simply because the vendor set an expectation that wasn't exactly true.

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

How To Send Fax From A Computer?

Titus Hoskins, our official Online Fax Expert

How can I send a fax from my computer? That's a frequent question you often hear in today's computer obsessed world. Just how does one go about sending a fax from a computer or PC?

While anyone with a fax modem can send a fax from their computer, many companies and individuals have opted for an easier online solution to meet all their faxing needs. In other words, like many services connected with today's computers, they have turned to the cloud. They use "cloud computing" to handle all their faxing requirements.

One often hears the phrase "in the cloud", but what exactly does this mean?

It simply means your computer files, hosting or in our case fax services, are located on remote third-party computers far from your place of business. Companies or individuals pay a small fee in return for these services. Send Fax From Computer

Basically, this means signing up to an online fax service provider who acts as your intermediary to handle all your faxes. Your faxes are stored online (in the cloud) and you can access them from anywhere you have a web connection. Once you sign-up, you're given an online account or interface where you can log in and check your faxes.

Of course, in this age of smart phones, iPads and tablets of all kinds, many of these fax providers have an "app" or desktop application which you can download and place on your computer desktop or your favorite gadget. Then you can easily use this application to receive and send a fax from your computer.

Read Titus's entire article Online Fax - How To Send Fax From A Computer?

Business Etiquette: Should You Take Your Leftovers at a Business Lunch?

Cynthia Lett, our official Business Etiquette Expert, talks about whether you should or shouldn't take the leftovers at a business lunch.

 

Watch more of Cynthia's videos

My Aha Moment about Restraining Beliefs

Janis Pettit, our official Small Business Strategy Coach Expert

Having been on a spiritual journey for some years, and knowing that owning a successful business is also about self growth, I am very aware that what we believe determines how we think, what actions we take and the results we get. Many people call this acquiring the entrepreneurial mindset.

I certainly understand how easy it is to slip into default in our daily, busy lives and to forget to work on expanding ourselves to a new level of consciousness. It's easy to settle for where we are, even if it's not where we really want to be. I think that we all go through cycles where we do this.

I also know from working with hundreds of talented business owners, that if we stay in that place we're truly sabotaging our long term success because we're not growing, and we're not facing those hidden beliefs and fears that are holding us back and then working on changing them.

Recently I took a good, hard look at some situations in my life that were not quite as I wanted them to be. It seemed that I had achieved and received about 80 percent of the outcome I had hoped for but the other 20 percent eluded me.

Read Janis's entire article My Aha Breakthrough about Limiting Beliefs

Attention Stay At Home Moms: You Can Make Money Online

Stone Evans, our official Home Business Expert

Home business expert Joy Atkisson of http://www.FigureIncome.com is now showing other stay-at-home moms--and anyone else who wants to make money online--the information they need to launch a successful, money-making website.

Right now, Joy is offering those interested in tapping into the unlimited earning potential of the Internet a free download of the e-book, "Dotcomology: The Science of Making Money Online" by renowned marketing expert Stone Evans.

"There is nothing better than starting a successful business and then working from the comfort of home," Joy states. "The businesses I feature on my website really do allow people to have the best of both worlds."

Read Stone's entire article Stay-At-Home Mom Learns to Make Money Online

3 Tips to Stay in Business: Live By Gratitude

Nancy Marmolejo, our official PR and Media Expert

Gratitude is one of the most powerful paths to happiness there is. Look for things to be grateful for and you'll become intoxicated with a wonderful feeling that puts life and the world into perspective.

I'm very fortunate to have the business I do and owe a huge amount of thanks to all of the people who've mentored me, masterminded with me, hired me, referred business to me, invited me to speak, sent heartfelt emails, asked for advice, taken that advice, transformed their lives, transformed others' lives, and made a huge impact on the world through the work we do.

I have a secret to making gratitude come easily in your business: plan your business to revolve around your genius work.

Your genius work is the thing you do that is so easy and effortless, you sometimes feel surprised that people actually pay you to do it. You figure if it's so easy for you, it must be easy for anyone. Not true at all. In fact, the more you focus on staying in your genius work, the happier you'll be in your business and gratitude will flow.

Here are some tips on how you can structure your business so you're focused on your genius work AND able to stay in a state of gratitude because your business is just so damn cool nothing could get you down.

Read Nancy's entire article Stay in Business By Staying Grateful: 3 Tips to Live By

5 Tips for Entrepreneurs: How to Monetize Your Wild Ideas

By Nancy Marmolejo, Guest Blogger (sponsored post)

By nature, entrepreneurs are highly creative thinkers. Every aspect of a business- from filling a need, to solving a problem, to marketing, to selling, to serving customers - is an expression of creativity.

But for every great idea that gets launched, millions more go the wayside because entrepreneurs simply don't know how to take action, how to decide if something's worth pursuing, or if the time is right.

Wild ideas are GREAT for business...  and now more than ever is the time to take action. Why? Because so many people are playing it safe, the playing field is wide open for wild ideas.

This is the time to be bold and brave, to lean out instead of leaning in, to move into the unknown rather than stay in the familiar.

But how do you do that without losing your shirt? Follow these tips, inspired by real-life success stories, and see your wild ideas pay off!

Don't wait until you know everything

The time it takes to become perfect at something is a surefire way to miss an opportunity. Never stop learning, but at some point you must take action before- even before you know all the details. Entrepreneurs are fast learners- never underestimate your ability to learn on your feet while you're taking action. As Michael Port shares in "The Wild Idea That Paid Off" virtual chat series, "Be a blank piece of paper with a beginner's mind." Let the knowledge fill you as you go along.

Turn past failures into future successes

Thomas Edison took over 1000 tries to invent the lightbulb. You might fail at something too...  but that failure could be the path to your next big success. Branding expert Kim Castle turned a disastrous financial situation into multi-million dollar business by simply plucking out the lessons and spinning them into gold. (Kim shares her entire story in an interview we did). Where there's failure, there's opportunity!

Step out of the safe and familiar

Trailblazer coach Shawn Driscoll hung out mostly in the background until one day she decided to break out and fully express her talents through her business. It frightened people around her, but the bold steps have paid off. Productive Flourishing's Charlie Gilkey walked away from an established career and doctoral program to begin a business that served the needs of creative entrepreneurs.  Social media pioneer Jack Humphrey gave away an extremely valuable product for free at the risk of losing $100,000 in sales. Marketing expert Ellen Britt chose to brand her business with an unconventional, regional twist. They each were told not to take the risk but they did... and it paid off. Get out of the safe and familiar and take bold steps into the unknown. 

Live a creative life

Creative people don't just summon up their creative juices when needed. They show curiosity, try new things, and embark on new adventures. Business coach Andrea Lee views life as a  creative adventure and puts what she learns into her business and live events. Author and coach Pamela Slim is drawn to great ideas in all aspects of her business and life. The creative life is a way of seeing possibilities and taking action on them.

Make a plan

Taking risks and being spontaneous can still follow a plan, which is what 9 innovative thinkers all agreed was the key to success in these conversations on creativity and innovation.  Being able to put your creative ideas into action is what separates wild ideas that go nowhere from wild ideas that pay off. Look at the big picture. Chunk it down into action steps. Map out the details and set deadlines. Stay accountable to yourself and someone else so things get done. This is where the rubber hits the road and where the success stories are born.

There's a big difference between a wild idea that pays off  and a distracting bright shiny object. Follow these tips to turn your wild ideas into profitable paths to happiness, prosperity, and innovation.

About the Author:

Nancy Marmolejo is an award winning business owner who teaches entrepreneurs how to stand out as experts in their fields. The founder of the highly successful Viva Visibility, Nancy recently launched a free virtual chat series "The Wild Idea That Paid Off" to encourage entrepreneurs to think broadly and to encourage curiosity. With 8 forward thinkers joining her, this series is designed to give concrete steps to turning your wild ideas into profitable, lucrative payoffs. Sign up here.

Walking on a Dream: Take Baby Steps To Succeed

Dr. Valerie Young, our official Career Change Expert

Taking Baby Steps on Behalf of a Dream: What One Man's Story Can Teach You About Living the Life You Want 

In the last issue of Changing Course was the story of Angela and her dream of living in Spain. Angela's unfulfilled dream prompted this response from a very engaging fellow named Liam Hughes from Milwaukee, Wisconsin who also dreamed of living in another country.

Regardless of whether your dream is to travel internationally, start your own consulting company, or set up shop on eBay, Liam's story offers lessons to anyone who wants to turn their dreams into reality. Here is Liam's story in his own words:

For years I had been going to Ireland to visit family. Then in 1989 a cousin in Ireland told me that a cottage close to the family farm was up for sale. Although it had been empty for several years and required a lot of work, I knew I had found home. My great grandfather came from Knockahopple in the mid-1800s and I was returning. I put a bid on it and after some back and forth, I was happy to say I owned a very nice cottage on two acres.

Happy but broke. Not because I paid so much for the cottage but because at the time I wasn't in the best shape financially. I needed a car in the worst way but the prospect of owning a cottage in Ireland was so exciting that I forgot about how badly I needed a car. Money was so tight then that I wasn't able to get back to Ireland for another two years. The point is I made sacrifices. But without a doubt it was the best investment I probably will ever make. The Euro came in and my property value went through the roof.

Read Valerie's entire article Taking Baby Steps on Behalf of a Dream:

For Busy Professionals: 10 EASY Time Management Tips

Stephanie Chandler, our official Small Business Growth Expert

If you feel like your life moves faster than a Nascar race, you’re not alone. We are living in a time where dual income families and single parent homes are the norm, a sharp contrast to the happy sitcom families we grew up watching on TV.

So how do you get everything accomplished when there are only 24 hours in a day? The first step is to reprioritize. Does it really matter if you’re house is immaculate? Does your family really need a 7-course meal on the table every night? Instead of spending time preparing an elaborate meal, wouldn’t you rather use that time with your family or to catch up on some R&R for yourself?

Regardless of how your priorities are defined, we could all use some extra time in the day. The following are some time management ideas that can help increase your productivity and improve the quality of your life. Try incorporating just a few of these ideas and see how it affects your life. You will be glad you did!

1. Turn your email off. It may be hard to break away from your constant communication with the world, but if you check email twice per day instead, you will be amazed by how much time you save. Specify specific time frames during the day that you will devote to email and stick to your schedule.

One Silicon Valley company recently implemented a No Email rule on Fridays. If you need a question answered, you have to pick up the phone or walk over to the person with the answer. While this may not always be the most productive solution, it drives home the point that we rely too heavily on email for our communication. When you stop letting it rule your life, your productivity will ultimately increase.

Read Stephanie's entire article 10 Easy Time Management Tips for Busy Professionals