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Complacency - A Business Killer!
Complacency is a known problem and must be clearly recognized as a causal factor in killing sales and business success. It can kill entire organizations. Complacency makes people fear the unknown, mistrust the untried, and abhor the new; especially the new. In the face of complacency, Business Owners and employees resist change.

Now is the Time to Plan for 2010!

I am totally blown away by the many business owners who do not actually have a business plan. We know the quote "Those who fail to plan, plan to fail." However, with every client that I coach and consult with one of the first things I ask them is what goals do they have for their business. The business strategy plan is the tool that will help you stay on tasks. It is basically your compass to make sure that you are reaching your goals.

Why do we put off the really important things?

You're busy all the time, too busy. And yet, there are many really important things you never seem to have time to get around to. I'm a NY Business Coach and entrepreneurs and business owners use me regularly to: organize their business, help them manage their time efficiently, make better decisions, and, yes, make much more money. Have a look at my article and see if you, like so many of the rest of us, often fall into the "Not Urgent, But Important" trap.

Fico Score - What is it and How Does it Affect Me?

Your Fico Score, a.k.a. Credit Score, is important and there are many simple ways to improve it. We'll cover those in a minute but first, what is a good credit score? Do you know what your credit score is? Why does the finance company look at your personal credit but they tell you the financing will be in the business name? These are some common questions that business owners ask when it comes to understanding their Fico Scores.

Discovering A Work At Home Career
A growing number of successful entrepreneurs are busy developing work at home careers into the lifestyle of choice. Aided by the use of the internet, the potential to maintain a successful full time home business has become reality for people around the world from all walks of life.

Mortgages for Self Employed – Finding Viable Options

About one out of every five income earners in Canada are self employed. This is a fairly large demographic, and the statistics suggest it is continuing to grow. This promotes any self employed person to ask why it is so challenging to obtain mortgages for self employed workers through charter banks. The reason is because business owners who work for themselves subtract expenses from extra income, which is not something many banks recognize. What you need if you are looking for mortgages for self employed workers is a lender that will look at your credit history rather than a combination of your business finances and taxes.

Successful Executives Take Inspired Action and Ship
Seth Godin outlines a winning formula for artists, that can also be applied to executives, entrepreneurs, and business owners, about how to accomplish goals and realize dreams

Outsourcing Online Marketing: When and Why?
Outsourcing online marketing activities becomes easier every week, it seems, as freelance services and marketing companies rush to profit from the flood of new online business owners. Does easy access to outsourcing mean that it is necessary for your business? The answer is...

Closing Your Business? Out Of Business? Start Over With a New Internet Business Model.

Business owners faced with closing their doors, liquidating their inventory and going out of business may be confused about what their next venture will be. As traditional business models and out-dated marketing methods are failing to produce profits in this troubled economy, a new internet business model has emerged. I faced many challenges and eventually closed my small chain of home decor shops. In this article I share the solution I found.

Advice for New Entrepreneurs And Business Owners
Thinking of being an entrepreneur? Starting a new home business? Here's a bit of advice from Bruce Wood, an entrepreneur who has launched many businesses.

What Do Quarterbacks and Business Owners Have In Common?

It's that time of year when there is a lot of football on TV. Everything from college bowl games to professional playoffs. No matter which games you watch, it quickly becomes evident which team's quarterback (i.e. "QB") is better than the other, and usually that is the team that wins the game. How are you doing as the QB of your team (i.e. your company)? How do you measure up against all those other QBs (i.e. business owners)?

Why Is It OK To Plan A Vacation But Not Your Business?

I had two people tell me this week that they were taking a day to pack for a vacation. I mean, they were only going away for a long weekend, or maybe even a week. And they spent the entire day packing. They probably spent some time prior to this planning the trip as well. Why is it that we'll easily spend several hours (and sometimes even days or weeks) planning for a vacation or for a wedding, yet when the word planning is mentioned in business, business owners usually have an extremely adverse reaction?

FAQ’s of Social Marketing Answered
There are many questions new online business owners ask when it comes to Social Marketing. Here are a few of the questions I get asked most frequently.

Three Steps to Business Survival . . .a 4Q 09 Action Plan
It's all about timing. As business owners and managers, we find ourselves in scary times. This article gives you three clear steps to take in the 4th quarter 2009 to prepare to survive and thrive in 2010.

Marter Your Game: Put a Shine on Your Leadership

As business owners, leaders and managers, we play a huge role in the collective health and wealth not only of our business, but of society. The quality of our leadership directly impacts the people in our organization and ultimately the financial results. The more successful we are personally, the more successful our organizations will be, increasing our ability to create greater abundance in society. Each of us has a choice about our ability to make a difference.

How do I sell my business

How do I sell my business is often asked by business owners and can be answered by using the following check-list: 1. Price it right - do NOT over value your business. This might be an obvious point to make and just like selling a house with business sales, if the price is set too high you will probably not even get any viewings and will certainly not sell. Valuing a business to sell is not as easy as valuing a house and the only true value is where you end up with a willing buyer and a willing seller. However, having said that you will need to have it valued and to do so you will probably use a business broker - which leads nicely onto my next advice.

Involve your employees in your business

You may be saying - but I do involve my employees in my business...but do you? Of course your employees to do the work of the business and the employees, with the right direction, make any business great as it expands, but there are not many business owners that involve their employees in helping with important decisions. I would suggest that you ask them their opinion on various expansion ideas or where you are looking at introducing new products or services get their input on this. Also, ask them how to improve on customer service, especially those employees that are on the front line, as it were...as these are the ones that are dealing with the customers directly and are therefore likely to give you some of the best feedback.

Learn how to delegate tasks in your business

In order to have a good business you need to learn how to delegate tasks to your employees. Delegation is one of the hardest things for business owners to do - the thought of relinquishing control and allowing someone to do your work is out of the questions - surely? In fact it is not hard at all and is one of the best things you can do in business. There is a saying that even if your employees do things at least 80% as good as you do then this is better than you doing it 100% right. Take a look at your work for the following week and decide on which day you want to take off every week and then stick to that. Then take a look at the tasks you would need to delegate from your work load so that things will not fall behind because you are now only there for 4 days instead of 5 (don't tell me you work 7 days or even 6 days)...

Make it easy for your customers to buy!

If you want your customers to spend with you why not make it easy? This may seem obvious to you, but it is not always obvious to most business owners and I would like to get you thinking a bit here. Let me explain by example... I have just got back from a break myself and the guy that owned the apartments also owned the small supermarket down the road. The apartments were self catering so it would be good for the owner if the people staying there were to cook food and purchased from his shop. When we arrived he took time to mention his shop so that we would visit, which we duly did and I am sure you are waiting for the but here...and there is and not just one the way I see it.

A positive work-out for your brain for business owners and would-be business owners alike

There are many of us that go to the gym to give our bodies a work-out, but how many of you give you mind a work-out too? I would hazard a guess that not many people give their brain a physical work-out; there are those of you that have bought the "Nintendo Brain Tease", which is said to help our brains and our memory. However, this is not many people that even do this and what I have in mind is to change your thinking to a positive mode of thinking, so here goes my idea for a brain work out: 1. Each day you wake up make sure you "Think in a positive way". Begin your day with a big smile and take your mind off to a lovely place, a special place you would love to be. This could be a Caribbean Island or by your favourite lake, it does not matter, all that matters is that when you think about this place it makes you feel really good.

Surviving the recession

There is no doubt that the recession is hitting everyone and as a result there are not many businesses that have not been affected so far. This is the time for the "Survival of the Fittest" and if you want to survive the recession you need to take action. Most businesses are stuck with the idea that the only way to increase profits is to increase prices and some think that the only other way is to increase their customer numbers. Both of these two actions will increase your business profits if they are done in the right way, however, they are by no means the only ways in which to grow your business. In fact I have listed that there are actually 7 Ways to Grow Your Business. When I have spoken to most business owners they usually say "We can't possibly increase our prices!" "We will lose our customers!".

The Ever Enticing Direct Marketing Opportunity
The direct marketing opportunity continues to be the number one choice for marketing entrepreneurs because of the lucrative immediate profits as well as residual income. While the direct marketing opportunity provides the best income potential for marketing professionals it also produces an unparalleled educational experience.

2007 Online Retail Expansion Tips

This year may see some new expansion in online retail and more business on the net as people are more comfortable due to past experience and the ability to save time in purchases they have researched rather than wasting time in a store or maybe gaining misinformation. The expansion of online retail will go beyond, books, CD's, information to more hard goods this year because more technologies are accessible and a wider variety of solutions are available to online business owners.

One Minute Quiz for Business Owner's Only
This One Minute Quiz for Business Owners Only will provide answers and insight into the most important question every business owner must answer in order to maximize and obtain the wealth locked in their business.

You Can’t Be Fired But Neither Can You Quit

Facing the issue of succession or the sale of one’s business is very much akin to addressing the need for life insurance. Neither subject is addressed with much enthusiasm by the average person. The prudent address the inevitable and prepare. Although only one eventuality exists for us as individuals, three exist for our business: Transfer to family, sell to outsider, or close down. This article is meant to shed light on the contrast betwenn business owner's expectations regarding the transfer of their business and the reality of what really happens.

Improve chances of success when buying or selling a business

Business owners and buyers chances of success appear to be about 2% if acting on their own without proper preparation or education. Chances of success improve with level of preparation and understanding buyers and sellers have of the unique environment surrounding private company sales. § Business owners and buyers do not understand how to buy or sell a business and we had to show them how § Rate of success increased in direct proportion to the preparation and guidance we provided both buyer and seller § Successful brokers/intermediaries are educators first and salespeople second § Buying a business does not follow the usual buying/selling protocol § The process of Buying/selling a business is unique yet straight forward

Tips for More Effective Networking
Business Owners and job seekers often avoid attending networking events because they find them overwhelming and they are not quite sure what to do. Since networking is often a big part of a marketing plan, it is important for the job seeker or business owner to get comfortable with this marketing activity. Here are some tips to make your networking more effective.

10 Tips For More Effective Networking
Networking is important to both business people and job seekers. Networking takes time. You will want to do it effectively to maximize the contacts you do make. Here are some tips to make sure you are networking efficiently and effectively.

Growing Your Business - 7 Tips to Gracefully Manage the Awkward Stage
Although growing a business is not for the faint of heart, you can still enjoy the process. This article gives you 7 tips for gracefully moving through the awkwardness of financial uncertainty and personal vulnerability which business owners typically face. If you like dancing or sports, this is for you!

Work At Home Dads
Work at home dads with the right online business opportunity can earn extra income or become full time entrepreneurs capable of generating substantial wealth. The career path once made famous by stay at home moms is serving up lifestyle transformations for the entire family.

Too Busy Being Busy

Have you ever been so busy, being busy that you never got anything done? Come on, be honest, we all have. As a Professional Business Coach, the number one issue that I continually help business owners and executives alike with is time management issues, and it is a big issue and much too complex to tackle here. But here are 6 tips that can get you started on the right track and if you're in the mood to really make a difference in your life in a big way; if you think you really are capable of having strength and discipline...then this simple idea could make the difference in a so-so life to a life of success and wealth.

5 Steps to Writing a Compelling Article
Here are 5 Easy steps to take the anxiety out of article writing!

Celebrate The Opportunity

As entrepreneurs and business owners, itâ€™s incredibly important for us to stay attune to the worldâ€™s financial news. The recognition of trends, niche opportunities and the anticipation of economic movements are nothing short of necessities. However I personally, and Iâ€™m sure this resonates with the majority of you reading this, have grown tired of the incessant negativity that is spoon fed the masses daily.

Learn Positives from your Negatives
So how did he turn that disorder into a positive. He shored up his weaknesses by learning how to rely on others. Building a team is something you are forced to learn how to do out of necessity. Many would be business owners fail to that well. They are very self sufficient in their area of expertise that they forget the team aspect.

Take Control and Increase Growth – Article 3

The purpose of this article is to help business owners understand the key daily decisions that influence dependence on external funding and either limit or expand the growth potential of a business. There are essentially 4 decisions: 1. cash; 2. people; 3. strategy; and 4. execution. This article (#3) addresses strategy, which is the primary driver of growth. If you are not growing in the top tier of your industry segment you have a strategy problem. In this article are ideas to help you develop your strategy.

Business Networking Strategies: Are Memberships and Dues Worth It?
Many business owners and leaders spend a significant amount of money, time, and resources on memberships to various organizations and continually wonder if it’s worth it. This article is going to discuss ways to make sure you are investing your networking time and money wisely.

Take Control and Increase Growth - Article 1 of 4
The purpose of this article is to help business owners understand the key daily decisions that influence dependence on external funding and either limit or expand the growth potential of a business. There are essentially 4 decisions: 1. cash; 2. people; 3. strategy; and 4. execution. Article 1 of 4 will focus on cash.

Take Control and Increase Growth Article 2 of 4

The purpose of this article is to help business owners understand the key daily decisions that influence dependence on external funding and either limit or expand the growth potential of a business. There are essentially 4 decisions: 1) cash; 2) people; 3) strategy; and 4) execution. This article (#2) addresses how your decisions about people affect growth and identifies 6 ideas for growing your business.

HOW DO I BUILD A VALUABLE BUSINESS

If you would like to learn how to build a valuable business and get top dollar for your efforts, read further. Many business owners spend years building and working in their business with little or no thought about their value creation. One of my responsibilities at a Fortune 500 company was building one of its divisions through acquisition. While we successfully grew the division from $400 million to $600 million in revenue, I am most proud of the fact that we received almost $1 billion when selling it. This price was 38% higher than anything imagined internally or by investment banks we hired to explore alternatives. This had everything to do with how value was created.

My Give a Damn’s Busted!
Is it possible that your employees are singing “My Give a Damn is Busted”? A common complaint of many business owners is that their employees lack motivation. However, the real problem is that employees are under-engaged, and there is plenty of research to support this.

7 Things Small Business Owners Should Know About Payroll Tax Problems
Learn how to avoid severe IRS penalties, huge tax debt and federal criminal investigation!

Biggest Mistakes Small Businesses Make When Faced with Delinquent Payroll Taxes and IRS Penalties

Payroll tax problems can close a business overnight and lead to criminal sanctions including prison time. As the IRS grows increasingly aggressive in their collection attempts for past due payroll taxes, struggling business owners with delinquent payroll taxes need to know how to protect the future of their businesses. Don't let the IRS levy your funds and take control of your cash flow - find out how you can resolve payroll tax penalties and avoid the long-term devastation they can cause your company.

It's All About Value
Cost plus pricing, the method of pricing where a business adds on a specific amount over the cost of their products and services to give themselves a profit margin and to ensure all costs are covered. It is easy to implement and the most used method of pricing in the business world today. It is also a hugely flawed methodology

Profit Crisis Exposed Report Released...Can it Help You?

The Profit Crisis Exposed Report is the result of my working with, and helping, business owners around the world grow their businesses and increase their profits. Through my first company David Flannery Consulting and now its successor the greatly expanded Profit Growth Dynamics International I have worked with and continue to work with a great number of business owners in Australia, Ireland,The United Kingdom and the United States.

How to Deal with Financial Pressure in Your Business
Most business owners go through some type of financial pressure. After working with several thousand clients, I’ve found out that most can’t handle money stresses during payroll time, paying their vendors and covering overhead costs when they are due.

The Power to Influence Your Employees
I am honored to be a business coach for over 10 years, working with different companies, small business, mid size, and fortune 500 companies. The most common denominator I have found with countless sessions with business owners and employees is the power of influence

Attracting Your Target Audience
Business owners should always be following the best techniques to outsource for new clients and there is no better way than to use the internet. It allows businesses to easily reach out to their targeted consumer base allowing for a profitable success. This is mainly due to the number of people who will have access to your company's online marketing objectives.

Power of Positivity Online
The tough economic times can effect companies not only from a profit perspective, but the negativity in the air can also make business owners lose their sense of focus. The idea is to follow some of the simple steps to maintain a positive mindset because it will give your business the boost to succeed.

Secure Your Financial Future

Currently in this economy many businesses are struggling to stay afloat and increase their profits. Online business owners, on the other hand, are at an advantage during these times. There is reasoning behind the way online business entrepreneurs are able to strengthen and secure their finances for the future. Any entrepreneur should consider an online business modification that will assure a positive and profitable future for the business.

Twitter for Traffic

The current phenomenon of social networking is Twitter. Its creation has sparked a revolutionary way to communicate a message to a large targeted audience. Online business owners are especially at an advantage as not only does their company exposure increase, but so does their website traffic. The number of people that can be directed to your website is immense if you know how to correctly use Twitter to your business' advantage. Three easy techniques below will give you the knowledge to hit those website numbers through this free online marketing tool.

Web 2.0 Tools Drive Traffic
The term 'Web 2.0' has been around for quite some time now, but it is not often clearly defined and there are still many online business owners who are yet to take advantage of its many marketing tools and gadgets.

Buyer's Remorse: What is it? And How Do You Avoid It?
Buyer's remorse is a phenomenon that occurs more often then business owners would like. It is the cause of about 35% of all returns to a business. Buyer's remorse occurs when a customer is sold something they do not need, go home with the product, and then after a couple of days thinking about it actually feel remorse even anger that they were sold the item, and return it.

5 tips on achieving better work-life balance

The success of the new generation of entrepreneurs, self-employed professionals and business owners implies 24/7 accessibility, especially for those in the service and competitive sectors (and who isn't these days). The line between "Not now I'm working honey" and "I'll be right there after I send this last email" gets blurrier and blurrier at home and affects the quality of lives of millions hooked up to perma-technology. In this article, you will find useful, simple and affordable tips to make the best of both worlds and gain a sense of control over your business; why not enjoy yourself more and be fun to deal with! Remember the rested,organized and satisfied mind is a productive, creative and profit generating mind!

Kentucky Fried Wisdom
His friends often ask when he plans to retire, and his response is “retire to what?” These older business owners are proving that age and accomplishment does have its privileges, challenges and rewards!

To Blog or Not to Blog? The Business Owner’s Zillion Dollar Question! (Part 1)
At a recent business coaching gig for the KBN Ashgrove Network I talked about blogging. So many business owners think they ‘should’ blog but in truth have no idea of where to start, why they are doing it or how to have their blog generate results.

The Business Owner's Challenge: Manager or Practitioner?
One of the most common challenges I see with practitioners and technicians who own a business is that they actually love being the practitioner! All of the beautiful advice from the e-Myth stands completely at odds with their greatest strengths and desires. So what to do?

Creating a Long Term Marketing Action Plan
Many entrepreneurs and business owners think of marketing as an extra, an afterthought, something to focus on when there is extra money to spend on incidentals. The truth is that for a company to be successful (first and foremost) marketing matters. It is a business essential. The question should never be if a company should market, but how.

Why Should I Incorporate My Business?

Many business owners wonder why they should bother incorporating their business. They believe that it is just a waste of money and time and/or their business has been running smoothly despite not being incorporated. What business owners need to know is that incorporating their business has many perks and is an investment in their business that could, among other things, protect them and their families down the road.

Small Business Coach - Do Your Pricing Strategies Maximize Your Profits?

Pricing strategies are often the last marketing mix tactic that most business owners consider important, but the first to get attention the moment sales decrease! Maybe you've never considered how your pricing strategies can maximize your profits. This is the first of a series of articles on using pricing strategically to maximize your marketing results. So, we'll start with some basics - here's seven pricing options you can consider when initially setting your prices.

Is Your Business Delivering The Lifestyle You Desire?
A recent survey of almost 2000 small to medium Australian businesses by Quest Newspapers has highlighted that 71% of business owners are in business because of lifestyle factors such as following their passion, creating better work/life balance and being their own boss.

How to File an Insurance Claim for Business Losses

Do you know how to file an insurance claim if your business experiences a disaster? Unfortunately most business owners don’t think about their insurance coverage until a loss occurs and they need to file a claim. However, the time to analyze your insurance is before you need to file a claim: Preview is always nicer than review. According to Ron Reitz, President of San Diego-based Quality Claims Management Corporation, "If you do suffer an insured loss, you need to be very familiar with certain aspects of your claim. Here are the three areas that cause the biggest business insurance disputes with insurers."

Small business success

Small business success is all about taking the right action and following some simple steps to increase your business profits! Small businesses are the backbone to most world economies and anyone that has run or is running a business will know that it is not always easy and when presented with additional challenges, such as a credit crunch, business owners need some help. Often times people think that the only way to increase profits is to either increase prices or to get new clients, whereas this is just not the truth. Another aspect of your business to consider is its "USP" or "Unique Selling Proposition" and it is not always to a good thing to have this as "your prices are cheaper" or put another way that you are offer the best prices compared to the competition.

Creating a Business Plan Includes Creating a Marketing Plan
Creating a business plan includes creating a marketing plan because without first looking at our business from the customer’s perspective we’ll never reach them.

Live Consultant Thinking: Looking at Honest, Confidence and Integrity
We talk about things like honesty, respect, confidence and integrity. You and I are enough alike. Yet, with our individual minds, we see nothing precisely the same. It is important to business owners and their managers that everyone see the big picture, to better understand the business goals. I think it is equally important to question the big picture, to question and study what we are seeing.

5 Reasons Why a Small Business Should Hire a Photographer

Many small business owners don't realize the importance and value of having photography that best represents their company brand. Images, in the form of still shots or made into videos or slide shows, can be extremely effective in showcasing a company, particularly in these days of social media and online marketing. This is the first of two articles in this series so please check out the second article for continuing tips, whether you're a franchise owner, a manufacturer's dealer or a stand-alone small business. In the meantime, make your own list of reasons why your company should have an image bank. You'll be surprised at all the benefits and how having available photography that represents your brand can help your business gain visibility and grow substantially.

Delegating Diligently
Are you enjoying running your business or is your business running you? Too many business owners and other leaders try to control work outcomes by doing everything themselves. Burnout and personal and staff ineffectiveness is the result. This article outlines the proven benefits of being proactive by delegating diligently. Read on to learn about 8 tips you can use for delegating effectively.

Four Key Principles for Small Business Success
Someone asked me recently, “if you were talking to a group of small business owners today, what would you say to them about finding success in this economy”? I thought through a range of responses, but the one thing I keep coming back to is this, be smart! Hidden in that simple response are four key principles of small business success.

People Are Your Greatest Asset

People are your greatest asset. This is always true, but it is even more important during times of economic stress. The right people doing the right jobs can make the difference between success and failure. I think most business owners already understand this principle, but finding the right people, keeping the right people, and getting people to perform at their highest levels are constant concerns for business owners at all levels.

Five things you should do right now to keep your small business growing

This has been one tough year for business. The economic storms have hit virtually every industry and every market and taken a heavy toll. But still, there are plenty of businesses who are doing well, and some are going strong. What is it that makes those businesses so successful in trying times like these? Certainly there are many factors, but here are five common factors that you are likely to find in every one of those standout businesses. Learn these five and your chances for success will go up.

Leasing Equipment versus Outright Purchase - New 2010 Example
This article covers the changes in the tax allowances that are now available to business owners in the United Kingdom. Significant changes recently came into force regarding how much can be offset against pre-tax profits,

Typical Flowchart Explaining How a Vendor Finance Deal Works for a UK Supplier - From Start To Finish

This is a behind the scenes flowchart designed to let you as the UK business owner better understand the typical processes involved when writing a finance deal via your vendor finance scheme. It will be useful for any business owner who has not yet considered offering finance options to their customers because they didn't understand the process involved, or for those business owners currently considering offering finance options but wanting a better understanding of how things would work.

Financing a Subway Franchise in the United Kingdom

A guide to securing franchise finance in the UK. The guide discusses the benefits of franchise finance in the United Kingdom for one of the most popular franchises currently out there - The Subway Franchise. Subway is growing at an extremely fast rate in the United Kingdom, and many business owners choose to fund their Subway restaurant via a competitive franchise finance package, allowing them to keep their much-needed capital at the bank during the early start-up phases of their new franchise. Al Shea discusses the benefits of franchise finance in general, as well as Subway Franchises.

Working Capital Financing Canada – Canadian cash flow solutions
Information on working capital financing solutions in Canada from a short term and long term perspective - What solutions are available and how can Canadian business owners assess which solution best meets their needs .

Step-by-Step Process to STOP Wasting Money On Your Online Marketing

So it's been a touch over two months since I posted my rant on the "posers" in the online marketing world. Believe it or not I am still fired up over the "hacks" that swindle business owners out of their money for services they are less than qualified to provide. I am quite sure I'll continue to be irritated because this type of junk will never stop. Rather than go off on another tangent, I want to provide some value and equip you with a step-by-step process I promised to post if enough of you asked for it. Well, I received several requests and although it's been awhile ... here you go!

Simple Systems That Can Set You Free
Would you like to see your business running like clockwork while you’re off vacationing at the beach, the mountains, or overseas?

Seven Reasons Why Everyone Needs a Website
According to Cisco Innovators Forum guest blogger Audra Hajj, the selling world today has turned upside down. How can you broaden your exposure as business owners and take your business to the next level? Here are the top 7 reasons why you need a website:

Lost in the Jungle
How can a business coach help in a moment of a business owner's dilemma over falling profits and demoralised team? Using a Question & Answer (Q&A) approach, here's Michael's analysis of the situation and coaching direction for the client.

10 Inexpensive Ways to Market Your Business and or Yourself
Marketing does not have to be expensive to be effective. A business owners just want to be memorable so that the potential customer or referrer will remember them when they or someone they know has a need for the product or service the business owner offers. Here are 10 ways to market that are relatively cost free.

Ten Ways to Make Achievable Goals
Business owner need to have a set of goals that they are working on. Those goals help them to make the business to grow. Ask business owners about their goals and you are likely to find that they are in their heads but not in their heart. Business owners need to be connected in their bodies to the goals they wish to achieve. How is this done?

Using Social Networking Websites to Promote Your Business
There are ways to promote your business for free. Do you know there are online social networking websites that focus on friendships and then there are sites that are designed for business owners? Promoting your business using both venues can be worthwhile.

How to Avoid or Resolve a Tax Audit and Protect the Future of Your Business
With IRS audits on the rise, knowing how to avoid or resolve tax problems could save you money and protect your financial future. For anyone planning to start and/or grow your business, it is more important than ever to know what triggers an audit, how to avoid being audited and how to get tax help if the IRS is after you.

The Demand for Ethical Behavior
Surveys indicate that business owners are not well respected. We must fix that preception and following ethicals standards is a must in achieving our better reputation.

Are You Incorporating Your Business in the Wrong State?
For small businesses, three major factors should impact your choice for the state of your business incorporation formation...

Should You Hire Family Members?
There are many business owners who hire their spouse, children or other family members to work in the business. Often, this works out very well. Other times, it causes problems. Let's look at the pros and cons.

Tax Tips for Professionals and Business Owners

As an entrepreneur, dealing with the day to day operation of your business, not to mention trying to plan for the future, consumes a lot of your time. Paying less tax, although important, may not always be top of mind. There’s no time like the present to ensure you are taking full advantage of all the tax minimization strategies available to you. As you review these key tips consider how you may be able to apply one or more to you and your business...

Fuzziness is Rampant
I’m going to intend that this article nips part of a problem in the bud. I’ve been talking to many business owners and solopreneurs over the last several weeks to identify next steps for them to up level their profits and make it fun.

News Angles that Attract Media Attention
One of the biggest challenges that new businesses face is standing out from the crowd. Business owners often don't know how to attract media attention because they don't know what makes news. This applies to print, online and broadcast media.

Advice for Buying an Established Small Business – Does your business due diligence checklist confirm the business sellers’ financial claims?

When buying an established small business, it is imperative to have a business due diligence checklist to ensure the sellers' financial claims are accurate. Remember to take your time and do not be persuaded to rush through any part of your due diligence checklist. This is a big decision and your future financial situation is at stake. If you have covered absolutely everything at every stage of the process there will be far less room for mistakes or even regrets. Educate yourself on buying an established small business by talking to other business owners and professionals who have had years experience and can offer sound, honest information to help you make an informed decision about your future.

BlackBerry Jones No More
When we hire employees to interact with the public, we’re entrusting our image to them. The guidance, direction and even nurturing of our employees is often the best investment business owners can make.

Where And When To Begin Marketing
Guerrillas are never stopped by analysis paralysis. Don’t let it stop you.

How Long Till Marketing Works?
Whatever you do, don’t hold your breath while waiting for marketing to take affect. Instead, hold your horses because it’s not gonna happen instantly.

Follow-Up or Fall on Your Face

Guerrilla marketing preaches to the skies the importance of customer follow-up and prospect follow-up if you have even the vaguest notion of succeeding in business. Why do most businesses lose customers? Poor service? Nope. Poor quality? Nope. Well, then why? Apathy after the sale. Most businesses lose customers by ignoring them to death. A numbing 68% of all business lost in America is lost due to apathy after the sale.

The Entrepreneur As Dreamer
I have written so many words on this subject, but it never seems enough. How to describe in a way that you can feel it, what it means to dream an enterprise into existence?

360 Degree Marketing
Here's the problem: Your prospects and customers have short attention spans and millions of businesses attempting to attract their attention.

Guerrilla Caring
All business owners care about their customers, but guerrilla marketers prove they care. Here are twenty ways that they prove it.

Life time value, now there’s a number I love
I’m a marketing guy, so, like many marketing guys, I’m not so much a numbers person. I know I should be, but, there you have it.

What Are You Afraid Of?
Fear is the most basic of human elements and plays a major role in business success and failure.

Guerrilla Persuasion
Marketing is persuasion at its core. You must persuade individuals or groups to part with one of their most prized possessions: -- their money.

Ten Things You Didn't Know About Facebook
Jesse Stay is a social media guru. He is the co-author of I'm on Facebook--Now What???: How to Get Personal, Business, and Professional Value from Facebook with Jason Alba. This book helps individuals and business owners better manage their lives through Facebook The-New-Faces-at-Facebook . I asked him to provide ten Facebook power tips:

What a Business Makes
I’ve owned my business now for over twenty years, I love it, wouldn’t have it any other way. I’ve worked very hard to make my business what it is, but I’ve finally come to the conclusion that, after years of hard work in this endeavor - you don’t only make a business in this process; a business makes you.

Answer Questions Get Search Traffic
Keyword research tool Wordtracker recently added a cool free tool called Keyword Questions. I think this has some great SEO potential for small business marketers.

Graphic Design Goal
Graphic design is based on objective goals, not subjective opinions like "I like red!" The design of your ads, brochures, newsletters, proposals, and web site should be determined by the image you want to communicate.

Is Your Purpose Patent Still Pending?

Lots of business owners sit around the office tinkering with the notion of that one great innovation to be patented on the road to riches. Well, I think we’ve all got a patent in us but, for many, that patent remains forever pending. The patent I’m referring to is the “purpose patent” – your personal connection to work the serves a deeper purpose. That patent doesn’t need approval from the USPTO, it only needs approval from you.

Receivable Factoring – The Two Things You Need to Know !
Information on how business owners and financial managers in Canada can focus on separating myths and fallacies about factoring and receivable financing . How To Pick the right Factoring and Receivable Financing partner

The Art of Delegation for Business Owners
There will come a time in your business (for most business owners, this comes sooner rather than later) when you feel overwhelmed. You may find that you have too many tasks to accomplish without enough time to get them done. It is when you come to the realization that delegating the small or low-priority tasks to an assistant would make your life a whole lot easier, that it is time to do it.

Whether you want to Buy a Business or Sell Your Business - Let me ask you, have you ever wondered how to value a business?

Have you ever wondered how to value a business? Business valuation methods vary depending on whom you ask. Many business brokers use the common multiple method. For those who are searching for a business to buy or business owners looking to sell their business, valuing a business can be somewhat confusing. To gain a better understanding how business brokers value a business, I have provided an example. See why there is so much confusion and how you can overcome it yourself.

Are Your Eggs All In One Basket?
From a business perspective, diversification stems from spreading sales across multiple product lines with several suppliers, and marketing to varying geographies. Small business owners whose net worth is concentrated in operations that consist of a small basket of product offerings or regional exposure must also prudently manage risk.

Motivating Staff – (Empty) Words Are Not Enough!

In the course of my somewhat chequered career in marketing and sales, I worked for a range of small – medium businesses. One of the oft quoted platitudes from business owners was “we’re family here” – mostly said to entice employees to work enormous hours for no extra cash, to make unreasonable demands rather than requests and to create a general sense of guilt – as in: ‘we gave you a job…you owe us everything’ . This approach is often coupled with vague promises of future rewards.

What is Internet Branding?

What is Internet Branding? Internet branding is one strategy that business owners can employ to establishing their position in the marketplace. Even well-established companies are investing on creating an online brand reputation since internet branding strategies have also produced massive impact on a brand's effort to expand. This is most important these days wherein the internet has taken on a significant role in the everyday lives of the consumers. Hence, you need to utilize it as one of the means that you can communicate your message to them.

Are You Shortening Yourself on Your Invoice

If you sell services, you may be working for free. When I’m working with self employed business owners who sell services, I nearly always find that they are not billing for some part of their work. That is, their invoices are missing what they could get paid. These lost billings can be the difference between making a living and having money for business and family security, expansion, and retirement.

Email Marketing: The Importance To Small Business

An offline business should consider email marketing as one of the key foundations for its marketing campaign. Many business owners are wary of using email to market to prospects due to the SPAM legislations that exist and the perception that email marketing may leave with prospects. These are, indeed, very valid concerns however, by approaching email marketing in the correct way, it is possible to increase business and improve customer retention. This article provides valuable tips on how an offline business can create an email distribution list to begin with and ensure that the email marketing campaign creates the right perception with the customers.

Small Business: Creating Life Long Customers

When sales and marketing people talk about the sales funnel, they are really talking about the number of prospects they have that MAY convert to sales. This is a pretty common term in these circles and there is a fairly well defined process of qualification that moves suspects to prospects to qualified buyers to lifelong customers. It's important for all business owners to understand this process - even if they aren't involved in the sales process directly - as they will be able to better support their sales professionals in acquiring new business.

Why Should I Care About the SBA? - Mash Bonigala

Most business owners know that SBA stands for Small Business Administration, but I wonder how many of us know more than that. The SBA mission statement is to “to maintain and strengthen the nation's economy by enabling the establishment and viability of small businesses and by assisting in the economic recovery of communities after disasters." Well, that sounds all fine and good but how do they accomplish that goal and how can they help me overcome my business challenges? The SBA is organized into many different offices and each of those offices has the directive to complete the mission of the SBA as a whole. Here is a list of the different SBA offices:

Three Common Marketing Mistakes
All businesses make marketing mistakes. By identifying some of the most common mistakes, you will be more likely to avoid these mistakes in your business.

60-Second Commercial
At some point during a networking event, you will have a chance to talk about your business - whether it's a formal part of the event where you speak in front of everyone or it's during informal one-on-one conversations. You need to have a 60-second commercial prepared and memorized before attending the event so that you can easily, calmly, and succinctly talk about your business.

Appreciating Your Team
Recognizing your team members for their contributions is an important part of leadership. When people are properly recognized, they are likely to continue engaging in business with you.

Are You Building Bridges of Influences?
There is a good chance that you already know who your target market is and that you are already attending networking events to find that target market. Though, many business owners who I work with fail to pay attention to events where they will find people who can be their Bridges of Influence.

ARE YOU GUILTY OF THESE 7 BIG TIME KILLERS? by Ed Abel
There are plenty of ways to fritter away the day, that’s for sure. And after years of experience building my own businesses and then helping others build theirs, I found the following seven suspects guilty of killing time.

Collect Your (Good) Marbles
When two companies are similar, it's the little things that differentiate them. If your company is similar to your competitors, things such as smiles, warm greetings, or eye contact might just tip the balance in your favor.

Confessions of an Accidental Entrepreneur

I'm going to tell you a story about an Accidental Entrepreneur. The accidental entrepreneur was a highly skilled intravenous nurse who thought he could do a better job administering Intravenous Therapy services than the organization he worked for. So he borrowed $5,000 and started his own business providing intravenous services to patients in their homes. Because he took the risk of starting a business, he believed he was an "entrepreneur."AE

Customer Loyalty and Chinese Food
A little story about customer service.

From Complaint to Raving Fans
One of the hallmarks of world-class customer service is how your company manages customer service failures. When a customer speaks up with a complaint, it's time to listen. Think of the complaint as a gift, and you will see it as an opportunity to learn rather than something to avoid or resist.

Getting Your Horse (Customers) to Drink Water
You may have heard the old adage of marketing and sales. Marketing is leading your horse to water. Sales is getting your horse to drink. The question we all want to know is how to get your horse to drink.

How Does Your Service/Product Benefit Your Client?

In order to be successful with your marketing and sales efforts, you must be clear and confident in knowing, discussing, and delivering the benefits of your services or product. Many sales people and business owners know their facts and features very well. Unfortunately, those alone will not always lead to a sale. To ensure more sales, you must also be able to communicate the benefit of the product or service.

Knowing Your Products and Services

Your products or services are the heart and soul of your business; without them, your business cannot exist. Much like the human body, a healthy heart is imperative to a healthy body. Although there are other organs and appendages that carry out the bodyâ€™s functions, none of those can be completed without a functional, intact heart. As the business owner, you must become in tune with every facet of your business. Letâ€™s apply this to your business:

Product Differentiation: "A Success Story"
Just how did Howard Schultz pull of selling a cup of coffee for $3 to millions and millions of people?

Run Your Business; Don't Let it Run You
One of the most important principles of being a business owner is to run your business; don't let it run you. To run your business is to create a vision of what is possible - a vision that's bigger than doing the day-to-day work associated with your skill or trade.

Seven Fundamental Marketing Principles
Marketing is defined as a suite of principles and strategies you use in your business to persuade your target market to contact your business. Marketing is beneficial to your business because it:

Summer is Ending...Are You on Target to Boost Sales?

How are your summer sales? Are you moving forward or have you become a victim of summertime sales slowdown? Sure, customers and clients go on vacation, you go on vacation, and life in general slows down during the summer. But to boost sales this fall, you need to do some work nowï¿½even if your sales are up. (You want to increase sales, donï¿½t you?) Here's the one thing small business owners must do before summer ends...

Taking Aim with your Business
At the start of a new year, it's a good idea to take stock of your business by reviewing your Vision, Mission, and your Main Business Goals.

The 5 Practices of Wildly Successful Entrepreneurs by Ed Abel
It's Time to Face the Truth. Are you an "Entrepreneur" or a "Skillpreneur"?

THE 5 REASONS SUPERSTAR ATHLETES' HAVE A SECRET WEAPON-AND WHY YOU SHOULD TOO!

Question: What is the one thing Superstar Athletes have in common? Answer: A COACH ! Actually, they have a number of coaches, as well as advisors, to handle the different aspects of their personal and professional lives. Can you image Derek Jeter doing his taxes, negotiating his contract, or acting as his own financial expert? I'm not saying Jeter's not informed, what I am saying is that he hires experts, so he can focus on and practice what he does best: play baseball. If you want to play in the "big leagues" and build a superstar business, do what professional athletes do: get coached. Professional athlete or small business owner, here's what a coach can do for you:

The Evolution of Your Business
Your business has evolved, and it will continue to evolve, as long as you let it. It is part of the evolution of who you are and what you are becoming. It is part of the evolution of your skills, knowledge, experience, beliefs, purpose, and dreams.

The Keys to Business Success
Dun & Bradstreet reports that "businesses with fewer than 20 employees have only a 37% chance of surviving four years (of business) and only a 9% chance of surviving 10 years." The Lessons in this article, The Six P's of Success, are dedicated to helping you thrive, not just survive in your business.

What You Need to Know About Marketing!
If you're like most small business owners, you have a basic understanding of marketing and why you need to do it. However, most small business owners these days are forgetting the basic goal that effective marketing will archive and are reducing their marketing efforts because of an "economic downturn."

Money Mindset for the Small Business Owner
Making money is probably a big part of why you are in business. In business, as in life, money matters. With it, you can make a difference; without it, youâ€™re limited in what you can do.

How to close the deal with an effective Sales Conversation
Sales are a key component to building a thriving business. However, many people who start businesses are not natural sales people. If you find yourself in this category, try following the below step-by-step sales process. Though you'll need to adjust it for your particular business, it will provide you with a framework to closing more sales.

Keeping Customers when Things Go Wrong - Five keys to turning upset customers into fans

When attempting to resolve customer complaints, most business owners and managers believe the myth that money back guarantees and/or exchange policies will fix the problem. In reality, money back guarantees and exchanges may fix the problem, but they do nothing to fix the relationship. Policies don't fix relationships -- people do. To create true customer loyalty then, front-line employees need to be equipped with tools for repairing both the problem and the relationship.

Risky Business - How repeat customers may jeopardize your future

When I speak at conferences and corporate meetings about customer service I often hear managers reminding their team members about the importance of repeat business. The assumption is that if customers keep spending their money with you, they must like you. But is that really true? Many business owners and managers are unaware of the harsh reality that some folks who spend their money with your organization may not enjoy doing business with you at all. The consequences of this can be staggering. Consider the example of my local video store...

Asking For Marketing and Networking Help

Whether you are looking for a new job or in business for yourself, being comfortable asking for help is essential. Job seekers and career changers need to ask friends, relatives, co-workers and anyone else who can help if they know people to help them with their search. Business owners, career changers and solo professionals must be comfortable asking family, friends and colleagues for networking and marketing help.

Top Ten Ways to Market Your Business By Doing What You Love To Do

Most business owners get so involved in the work of the business that there never seems to be enough time to do the necessary marketing. Even when business is good the owner must continue marketing because if he/she stops, the business eventually will stop too. Marketing your business simply means to nurture good relationships with your customers and potential customers so that they will buy from you again or they will refer you to others. Think about the kinds of things you enjoy doing and then use those activities in your marketing efforts. It is a great way to leverage your time.

Think Like a Leader
As most of you already know, my mission is "transforming business owners into business leaders". As the economy moves into the next phase of recovery, it will be those who think and function as leaders who will be the winners. Leaders will have identified pertinent opportunities and prepared themselves for advantage as things improve. Are you thinking like a leader? Let's see.

The Power of Questions to Attract Ideal Clients
Business owners realize that some clients are easier to work with than others. It is possible to have a practice or business full of clients or customers that are perfect for you. Asking the right questions before you ask for the business will help you do that.

Ten Ways to Manage a Rapidly Growing Business
While some new business owners face the issue of not enough customers, others face the issue of too many customers/clients. Both are serious issues and must be dealt with carefully. There are many lists on how to find new customers/clients. Here is a list of 10 ways to deal with a rapid influx of new customers. The goal is a steady flow of just the right customers/clients.

Believe in Yourself
The key to success is in oneself and what you have to offer. This is extremely important in business and lack of self-confidence can make or break a business. Having faith in who you are and what you have to offer is a key trait for business owners. If you don’t have faith then how can you expect clients or employees to believe in you?

How to Connect With Your Leads
Connecting with your online business leads is fantastic way to build momentum that will lead to sales. If you do it in the correct manner, you will have customers who buy more than once over the years.

How to Start a New Business Without Going Broke
It is the American dream to own your own business, to be your own boss. Many people have tried it, some very successfully. Many people in the future will be starting their own business. Unfortunately the majority of business owners will fail or close their doors within a 5 year time frame. How do you avoid being this statistic?

Startup Financing for Small Businesses

It is never been very easy to obtain financing for small businesses. The credit crunch that began with the mortgages has now spread to consumer and small business loans. It should be no surprise to small business operators that banks have tightened up their lending requirements. Small business owners now have to become more creative in obtaining financing for their business venture. They now have to look for alternatives.

The Art of Making and Keeping Friends
There is an art to making and keeping friends that all business owners should master. Becoming an expert at this art form will lead to more sales in your online pipeline.

Do You Delegate To Attract Into Your Life What You Desire?
Do you delegate or try to do everything yourself? I find that many business owners think they have to do it all themselves or that only they can do it right so they can’t give it away.

Is your business protected?
The saying goes that in business, no one is indispensable. But business owners are often the exception to this rule. So, it's worth taking a moment to think about whether your business and family are protected from a worst-case scenario.

Why Should I Care About the SBA?

Is your business ready for the next move?
The recession, from which we now appear to be emerging, has been unlike anything we've seen before. The drivers of the classic entrepreneurial business - easily available bank lending, steadily increasing sales, burgeoning M&A activity, a buoyant stock exchange and low taxes on exit - have all been severely undermined.

Cashing out, but staying in

We see a lot of business owners wanting to take cash out of their business, but without selling up or losing control. At the moment there are many owners who had planned on selling their businesses by now, but as a consequence of the recent difficult times, it just hasn't happened - the clocks have been forcefully turned back. So, instead of selling, they may want some liquidity to provide security for themselves and their family. Another scenario where cash may need to be taken out is when, for example, there are two shareholders and one of them is retiring. Unless personal funds are available, the shareholder who is staying in may not want to be left with burdensome debts when his partner is safely out, so may also like some cash.

Using Entrepreneurs
Using the right entrepreneurs is the key for a successful business. Know the qualities of an entrepreneur that business owners are looking for.

Sustainability Coaching: How to Realize Long Term Productivity Gains in Business
Business owners and company executives want an optimized company, which means that productivity is at its peak. To achieve these, failure proofing by addressing these three factors is key. Productivity gains are sustained through simple but effective project planning, incorporating benchmark change management strategies and being passionate about the productivity goal and following through.

Five Strategies to Help you Break Free of What is Standing Between You and Your Success
Mindset traps plague many business owners, but there are strategies to break free of them. Over the course of the next several articles, you will learn five strategies to help you break free of whatever stands between you and your desired success.

Unleashing the Expert Within...
This isn’t kindergarten any more kids! Are you at the stage of business development where you can step up as an expert and really shine? After coaching hundreds of people, I have identified some of the stages that business owners move through. See if you can identify where you are.

A Virtual Assistant Can Help You Write and Publish Your E-book
Most business owners have way too much on their plates. Their to-do lists are endless and oftentimes frustrating. And frankly, launching an e-book, even if the draft is ready, is no small task. But do you know that you can outsource much of the e-book creation and distribution to your Virtual Assistant?

One Great Way to Increase Email Productivity and Social Networking Connectivity

Many people struggle with spending too much time in email and not enough time working on meaningful projects or income-producing work. Complicating the issue is the integration of social networking sites and increasingly making connections there that will eventually pay off for sales or other purposes. Many sales and marketing professionals and business owners are looking for ways to increase productivity without sacrificing time that could be better spent elsewhere. We've found that Microsoft Outlook and Blackberry users can increase productivity and save time by using an add-on tool called Xobni. The functionality of Xobni goes beyond saving time but actually helps to make connections and communicate with people in the way that they prefer, whether on Facebook, Skype, LinkedIn or Twitter.

A Recipe for Gravity Suck and Staying Stuck
You hear a lot of advice from the so called experts. Defy Gravity! Be forward thinking! Be innovative! But what if you don’t want to? What if you like things just the way they are right now, and have no desire to make stratospheric leaps in your business or increase your results?

Entrepreneurs OpportunityFranchise Ownership
Are Entrepreneurs missing out on the exploding franchise industry?

Sources of Funding For Your New Business
You have decided to start a business, but require some form of financing. What are those sources. Where can you go to obtain funds. This article identifies the most common sources of funds for new business owners.

Financial Analysis: A Tool that Each Business Owner Needs to Use
Did you know that there are several tools you can use for financial analysis? These tools can help business owners and their executives! Whether they are a small or large firm, these tools allow these individuals to identify where his money went.

Three Must-Follow Rules to a Successful Blog
In the current age of Web 2.0 marketing strategies, business owners must be available to their customers. Gone are the days of the untouchable CEO, especially if you’re trying to do business online. You’ve probably heard it before, but here it is again: People do business with people they like.

Tweet Yourself to Success – Why Twitter is Valuable to your Business Marketing Plan
In order to achieve success with Twitter, it is important to learn different ways this site can be used. After all, the site doesn’t attract millions of successful business owners and celebrities for no reason. It is no doubt that this social networking tool’s tweet is bigger than a lot of people may realize.

Why Small Business Owners Are Valuing Their Own Business and Avoiding Business Brokers

Selling your small business for its true value and at the very best price is definitely challenging, however surprisingly straight forward. More small business owners are becoming aware of just how simple it is to sell their own business without having to share the profits with a business broker. Small business owners should keep track of the true and realistic value of their business periodically, if possible from the day they open their doors for business, so that when the inevitable time to sell comes, they are not caught unawares. Here are 5 reasons why small business owners are valuing their own business and selling fast without a business broker!

It’s an Economic Recession! Have you called your VA Today?
Whether or not we’re in an economic recession, a Virtual Assistant can prove to be an asset to business owners and solo entrepreneurs alike. By providing service on an as needed basis, a Virtual Assistant will save on the costs, time and valuable office space often associated with hiring onsite staff.

Social Media Small Business Crash Course: Part 1

The trouble is that although most business owners and entrepreneurs know that blogging and social media are essential marketing tools, thatâ€™s often where things stop. In this and upcoming articles, Iâ€™ll be doing a quick overview of points to consider when implementing a social media campaign. The first thing to keep in mind is that any social media campaign is greatly enhanced with the addition of a strategic, well targeted public relations effort. Appearing in the media gives you, your business, and/or your product and validation and credibility of being featured in the news, and gives you interesting topics to post, Tweet and share. Each site is different and has a unique focus and audience. For now letâ€™s look at Twitter.

The Secret to Sales Success and 5 Key Reasons Why This IS So Important
Are you wondering why your promotional and marketing materials don’t pack the punch you had hoped they would? Keep reading to learn the secret to sales success.

How Planning the Work (and then Working The Plan) Can Catapult Your Marketing Success
A marketing plan is vital to the success of your business. Without a plan, even the best intentions may never be realized. You must plan the work and then work the plan, or your goals will not be accomplished. They key is to not only have a plan but to implement that plan. Here’s how.

Branding and Business Identity - Image is Everything!
How the public perceives your brand and the experience they have with you all comes down to what your image is comprised of.

Audio & Video Visibility to Support Your Brand Integrity
Are you using audio and video to build relationships, increase sales and support your brand integrity?

Are You Selling What Your Customers Want to Buy?
How to make sure your customers know you have what they need.

Advertising Keeps Commerce Alive
A first-hand look at the inner workings of an advertising agency.

How To Make 2011 Your Best Year Yet
So what are you going to do to make 2011 better than 2010? What plans or goals did you have in 2010 that you thought would make it better than 2009? Did you stick with them? Did they work? What are you going to do differently in 2011?

3 Steps to Better Protection of Your Online Income Business
Have you ever thought about the outside factors that could destroy your online income business? When getting started with a business online was still a pretty new concept, there were some gray areas that allowed business owners some room to maneuver how they could control the outside variables.

Create the Mindset for Business Growth
Opportunities to expand are dependent on your focus, whether present, past or future. Consider your goals imagining how you would be different, how your business would change and how your life will be affected. Allow yourself to step into that vision now, as if it had already happened. Notice how you are feeling as you are doing this. Tune into the details. What you see and feel is important.

Use Facebook Pages to Market Your Online Income Opportunities
At the last count Facebook had something like 500 Million users worldwide the majority of whom live in the USA. This social site is rapidly becoming Google’s biggest rival with Facebook advertising getting ready to take a lot of business away from Google Adwords. Because of this Facebook has become too big for any serious online business marketer to ignore.

The Ignorance Factor and Achieving Your Company's Revenue Goals
What do the 12 sales consultants and trainers and 4 new clients have in common with Michael Oher? They are ignorant too. Not about life or business as Oher was, but about sales forces.

Home Based Business Opportunity Can be the Best Decision for you in Tough Economic Times
A home based business opportunity during difficult economic times is the best option as opposed to a traditional job. This article provides general information to get you started. Read more...

When Bad Things Happen to Good Business Owners and Entrepreneurs
Stuff happens. As a business owner and entrepreneur, the more successful you become, the more you open yourself up to criticism, negative feedback or just plain being attacked. Here are 4 ways to help you deal with it.

Article Marketing - A Highly Effective Marketing Tool
Article Marketing is a highly effective marketing tool that all business owners should be taking advantage of. It positions you as an expert in your field and builds one way links to your website which is why it is one of the top marketing methods used today.

Is it Really Possible to Make Money At Home?
Is it really possible to make money at home? What does it take make money from home? Can I really earn money from home? What is involved? Here are some answers to your questions about making money from home.

How to reform from MLM lead stalker to Professional Attraction Marketer

I want to tell you a true story about my former MLM life. I am a reformed MLM lead stalker. I have to admit, it didn't last more than a year. I absolutely hated it. The truth is, it just wasn't me. After doing some research, like you, I stumbled onto new information about how I could generate my own leads, and have the internet work for me 24/7. This system was like a gold mine, and I haven't looked back.

Transform Your Small Business Marketing
I regularly interview small and solo business owners who call my coaching company looking for help. After getting a sense of what their business is all about, what their biggest goals are, and what lifestyle they are trying to create, I ask them what their biggest challenges are. Nine times out of ten, it’s getting more clients and the problem is marketing.

Business Opportunity - Computer Safeguards

Business Opportunity Owners need to take special precautions to safeguard their business data on their computers. Establishing your Business Opportunity requires more than just taking measures to grow and maximize profits. After you have maximized your business for profit and efficiency, your work is not over. Potential cyber attacks require you to also safeguard and protect yourself and your business opportunity.

Transitioning From an Employee Mindset to a Business Owner Mindset

"Most of my 30 years as an employee in the corporate job culture was spent helping business owners run and build their businesses. In corporate America, you work hard and do your best for your entire career. You commute, work long hours, ignore your family, acquire excess stress, work to ensure that you keep your job AND that you save for the future of your family and your retirement. All of a sudden you find yourself asking - what am I doing here? And how can I build a better life financially for myself and my family?"

Marketing Rx
The biggest marketing mistake small businesses make is using hunches to improve their business without first diagnosing their problems.

Watch who you let near your mind

With the Sub-prime market issue in the US and its effects on countries and the world’s stock markets featuring as a daily major news item at present who can blame people for getting a bit nervous and worried about the future. You can see it with the panic selling of shares and so forth. However if we let this and other issues get to us and allow ourselves to blow things out of all proportion we can, in turn, create our own demise. Whilst it is critical for business owners and sales people to keep abreast of market changes and challenges we can let real and, more often than not, perceived threats get the better of us.

Sustainability – the new criteria

What is your position on SUSTAINABILITY? What community improvement activities is your company involved with? These are questions, among many others, that my team and I are responding to for a Request For Proposal (RFP) document for a sales training project with a large Australian Corporation. This is the first time we have been asked to respond to these questions in a formal manner and legitimise our position on ‘sustainability’. As sales people and as business owners, not only are we being asked to legitimise our product offering, our service standards, etc. we are now required to articulate our stand on ‘sustainability’.

How to Compete with Discounters

If you manage a small to medium-sized business, chances are you encounter pricing pressures from some version of a large discounter. Large competitors may have more money to spend to attract new customers, more buying-power to undercut your prices, and more resources to outlast you in a price war. If they’re from overseas, they may also have cheaper labour. That’s why when chambers of commerce and associations bring me in to speak to business owners on competing with price discounters, my advice: “Don’t be better – be different.” In other words, don’t even try to beat their prices. Instead, be different in these three areas…

Locating Prospects

In the sea of information that is the internet and the ever growing networked communities we live in, you could essentially get a sales lead from anywhere. In principal this sound great. You always have someone to call on or prospect too. However having too many choices can often lead to feelings of being overwhelmed by too much information. And when you have too much information this can lead to indecision and subsequently inaction. And inaction is the NUMBER 1 killer of any sales prospecting strategy.

Why An Internet Marketing Business for Entrepreneurs Makes
The internet as a marketing medium offers several advantages to business owners over the traditional business. In this article, we will look at some of the ways business owners can benefit from using the internet as a marketing medium.

START YOUR BUSINESS CORRECTLY AND CONTINUE IT FOR YEARS

Start your business in the correct manner and you will be able to make money for years once it is up and running. It is smart to not only have goals, but also a well-laid out plan of action that you will be able to follow. As a matter of fact, running your business and your life in this manner will allow you to prosper in each of these areas. Simply put, if you know where you want to finish, you will be able to arrive at that location with less issues. It is no different from driving. If we want to drive to a given place, it makes sense to have the directions before we leave or we will end up getting lost. In the same way, online business owners without a plan will fail because they do not know where they are headed and have no direction.

Quash Your “Employee” Mindset To Propel Business Growth

Is your employee mind restricting your business’ growth? Learn how to overthrow your employee mentality, step into your CEO shoes and enjoy a surge in your development! Many small (and large) business owners find themselves in a difficult position when transitioning from seeing themselves as the craftsman or solopreneur to a owner of a business capable of generating more than six figures, and that is that you just can't seem to crush that "employee" mindset when approaching your business.

Firing a Client: Two Different Types of Female Entrepreneurs and How They Handle Breaking it Off
When it comes time for a business owner to break ties with a client, different types of business owners will handle the situation in different ways. Nobody likes to reach a breaking point, but handling it well can provide insights and improvements for the future.

Creative Ways to Market Your Business…
Marketing your business has become more important more than ever in this tough economic climate. I constantly hear business owners cutting costs to operate on a tighter budget. One of the biggest mistakes is cost cutting marketing costs. Marketing helps bring revenues in the door and this is the last area to cut. Below are some traditional and creative ways to market your business.

Home Based Business - Lateral Thinking
Lateral thinking is a systematic approach to thinking. It teaches you to think out of the box or expand your horizons and to think creatively. Thinking laterally is a critical skill for all business owners, especially Home Based Business Owners.

Practical Tips to Turn Around A Failing Business
I have witnessed numerous companies go belly up. But what should have prevented them from being a ruin.

Five Steps to Finding the Right Keywords For Your Website - Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Keywords and phrases are the foundation of search engine optimization. To find out which keywords will be most important for your service business in Denver, ask one powerful question: What do people type in the search box when they look for companies like yours? It doesn't look that powerful when written on paper. In fact, it's a very simple concept to skip over, but as you drill down to what people really put in that little box, you'll see all kinds of things pop out at you that you may not expect.

9 Components of Good SEO - How to Help People Find Your Service Business on the Internet
Millions of people search for service businesses every month. When they conduct those searches, they aren't looking in newspapers or ads in the hard-copy Yellow Pages. Over the last fifteen years, the Internet has become the dominant technology for local service business searches.

Improving Customer Experiences - Is It Still Important Or Is Price The Only Thing That Matters?
Many have questioned the importance of the overarching customer experience... Has the economic downturn minimized its importance?

Women Entrepreneurs And Their Greatest Starting Lineups: How To Hire a Champion Team
As a business owner, hiring a team can mean several different things. It can mean delegating. It can mean sharing. It can mean expanding. But it also can mean balancing several personalities, keeping tabs on what everybody’s up to and making sure things get done without micromanaging. So how do women entrepreneurs do it?

How You Can Sell A Business Yourself - No Help Needed
What you need to know to sell your business - The decision is made and you are keen to put your business on the market. What is the next step? What do you need to know about selling a business successfully? Here are some general tips to help you gain a better understanding of the process of selling your own business:

10 Ways to Combat Stress and Increase Your Energy
One thing we do as entrepreneurs is work hard, follow our passions and keep on going even when we’re tired. We often push ourselves and can easily lose momentum because we’re not taking the best care of ourselves; even the most seasoned business owners who swear by exercise, diet and rest can fall off the treadmill. Find out what you can do to protect your most precious asset - YOU!

How To Effectively Research So You Can Write Powerful Sales Copy
One of the biggest mistakes many business owners make is to focus more on their product than their marketing. The greatest product in the world will not sell without great marketing. Marketing is a major requirement in the success formula of a business and a huge part of that is copywriting. Therefore, you cannot run a successful business online without good copywriting.

Website Domains: 7 Things Your Web Marketer or Designer Might Not Tell You

Most businesses who hire a web marketing company or designer to put up a website are more interested in results than process. Take the time to understand the steps your consultant or designer wish to take, and speak up if something just doesn’t seem right. Know what will and will not be attached to your name, your business and your reputation when the transaction is complete. You are still your best advocate for the welfare and protection of your business’ web operation, and reputation.

Detect and Respond: the new business reality
Speed and agility are the name of the game if you want to beat your competitors or stay out front. The key to instilling speed and agility into an organization lies with its leaders. How do they make decisions?

10 Ways for Managers to Prepare for Interviewing a Job Candidate
Many business owners start interviewing people for a job without clearly understanding what kind of person would best fit into the organization. Hiring is done out of urgent need. Good hiring decisions are made with planning. Here are some ways to prepare before you start to interview.

Expectations or Incentives
"I've tried every incentive program imaginable and the only thing I've accomplished is creating divisiveness in my organization." Business Owner

Best Online Home Businesses - 4 Models To Follow
The best online home businesses need to offer more than everybody else. Rather than look at specific business opportunities we will talk about four business models that you can follow to create an online income for yourself.

Free Advertising Techniques For The Internet Home Business
Besides Optimization, advertising techniques are quite excellent in increasing the production sales. For business owners who run their own business domain, they can capitalize on the free advertisement being offered. Here are some of them.

Free Online Advertising Techniques
Conceptualizing your advertising techniques is a skill that only few business owners have mastered. The advertising campaign is an integral part of your marketing strategy. There are many ideas to advertise your business.

Spiritual Marketing For The Business Atheist
You are losing your mind! You want to commit but where's the guarantee??? All you know is you can't spend another year promoting ineffective strategies.

4 Steps To Hypnotize Your Business Prospects

As business owners, our fantasy is to be able to cause our prospective customers to do exactly what we tell them, when we tell them: buy our products, refer more business to us, increase the frequency of orders, blog about their experience with our company, etc. Many people are constantly searching for the magic system that will easily bring piles of riches to your door easily, regularly, and automatically. We love hearing about the latest get-rich-quick guru success stories and dream that maybe this guru has our missing piece of knowledge. We are ready, willing, and able to be hypnotized by their promises. Why not use this same skill to improve your own business?

Easing out of Recession not so Easy for Small Service Companies
Very recently, several of my clients have begun sharing that their sales have turned up over the last couple months. Yeah, finally! Since I talk to business owners every day, and no one has expressed that sales are getting worse, this constitutes a trend, albeit an unscientific one. But, hey, any good news brings a sigh of relief at this point.

OFFLINE BUSINESSES NEED YOU MORE THAN YOU KNOW

Are you in a bind right now in your career or personal life? Are you so broke that you can't even pay attention to the words that you are reading? If either of those statements describes the state of your current existence, it is time that you put on your online battle gear. I am referring to the type of armor that will enable you to fight your way out of the difficult situation that you are facing. A fast way to earn money by using the skills that you have as an internet marketer is by calling those people who own a business in your city or town. Often times, we take for granted the words that we have learned over the years as online experts and business owners.

The Different Types of Advertising Techniques
Advertising has become an integral part of every corporate and business. Owners and executives spend a considerable amount of money to promote their products and services. Through different advertising techniques, the consumers are informed of the nature’s products and services including the benefits they can gain.

Online Business Opportunities And How To Promote Them Using Autoresponders
If you are looking for an efficient way to promote online business opportunities an autoresponder may be the answer. The reason why many business owners do not get the maximum benefit out of them is because they simply do not know the best ways to use autoresponders to generate sales and attract customers and clients to their business.

Billable Hours - Strong Business Credit Options
BILLABLE HOURS While the term "billable hours" is most commonly associated with law professions, this concept should be used by all business owners. It's important to set the minimal hourly rate you want to earn as a bottom line.

Maximizing Home Values and Appearances- How Home-Improvement Franchises Answer the Call

As the crisp fall air hints at the colder weather that’s to come, many people’s thoughts turn to preparing their homes for winter’s return and completing any last-minute home improvement projects. In addition to safeguarding their homes’ against winter’s wrath, growing concerns over a tumultuous stock market have led many homeowners to look for ways to preserve, protect and increase the value of their most significant asset- their homes. From landscaping concepts, to building and remodeling businesses, a wide-range of trusted home services franchises are answering the call- and providing aspiring business owners with the chance to become part of the in-demand home improvement industry.

My commitment to win the "Free SEO Networker mastermind scholarships"
In 8 days, yes 8 days "SEO Networker is giving away 2 mastermind scholarships" to 2 lucky business owners. If you have been wondering how you can get your business in front of the millions of people searching for internet business opportunities everyday,then here is your answer.

Here’s 5 Immediate Solutions for working capital financing for your cash flow business needs!
Information for business owners on 5 different methods of achieving working capital financing for cash flow business needs . One or all of these solutions can be effective in your cash flow needs .

Can You Walk the Walk if You Can’t Talk the Talk? Improve Your Financial Vocabulary

Accounting is the language of business. Getting more information from your accountant than just pages of numbers in the form of monthly reports requires that you know the language. For many owners, that means acquiring a new vocabulary complete with terms like “gross margin,” “key performance ratio,” and “break-even analysis.” Unfortunately, many business owners are intimidated by the language or choose to ignore it altogether. They ignore the financial performance of their company, delegate it to an employee, or outsource it. Understanding the fundamental financial concepts gives owners a much better chance of prospering in today’s challenging economic environment.

Complete Contact Page Goes a Long Way In Credibility
Establish string credibility with new visitors to your web site.

3 Reasons Sales Training Doesn’t Work
The fact sales training doesn’t work isn’t exactly a news flash. Neil Rackham uncovered this fact years ago. Yet sales people and business owners continue to invest millions of dollars a year on sales training in the hopes...

How directors can prevent themselves being liable for their company’s debts

The reason most start up business owners decide to form a company is to protect themselves in the event that their business goes belly up. The so called “limited liability” protection offered by the company structure may psychologically persuade us to take more business risks than if we were trading on our own account. However, in times of hardship, limited liability may not be all its cracked up to be and business owners could end up being personally liable for their company’s debts if they fail out to carry their duties as a director properly.

How to Stop Your Overheads Killing Your Profits
Many business owners falsely believe that the more work they have, the more money they make. Because they are ‘busy’ and get more help to manage the workload they think they must be making more money which is not necessarily true.

Improve Yourself, Improve Your Business
For your business to be better, you need to be better, and you don’t get better by doing nothing! To do this you may have to get right out of your comfort zone and join a coaching program, go along to seminars where you meet other like-minded people or those playing at a higher level of business than you.

Lifting the Hood of Your Small Business Engine: An Introduction to the Business Diamond Framework

Entrepreneurs need to understand their small businesses in order to fix problems and optimize their companies for greater profitability. However, when most business owners view the engine of their business, they see a complicated mess of moving parts. In this article, you will learn about the Business Diamond Framework, a strategic tool for small business success that helps business owners understand their business.

Start A Business - Out Of The Comfort Of Your Own Home

Everyone dreams of starting their own business, but surprisingly few people actually go through with it. This is uncalled for, because it is now easier than ever before to start a business and live the lifestyle that you have always dreamed of. With the internet offering more opportunities than ever before to start earning the money that will exceed many expectations, giving people the chance to have more free time, travel, and set their own hours without the demands of a boss or manager. This greatly increases one's quality of life and leads to a decrease in stress.

Online Business Opportunities - Information Products
When it comes to online businesses that are profitable I like ones that offer information products. There are numerous reasons why selling information is a great way to develop an online income.

Ooooh! Another Bright Shiny Object!
If you are someone who has a business, you can be, rather you ARE, inundated with mail, email, Facebook and Twitter announcements, etc. about the “best,” the “newest,” and the “be-all-end-all” programs that will answer all your business needs. There always is a new bright shiny object dangling in front of you.

The Gift That Keeps On Giving!
What will be your company year end gift? What about teachers gifts? Try the girt that keeps on giving.

Internet Marketing Home Based Business and the Importance of Patience and Persistence
Impatience and a lack of persistence are serious problems for a lot of new internet marketing business owners. Sometimes it is exacerbated by extraordinary claims of earning potentiality and speed of achievement by companies which use very hypey sales techniques. Perseverance is the make or break factor in internet business.

Why Web Content is King
Many business owners feel that it's good enough for their company's web site to use a great design and well written content to inform visitors about the company and its products. Having an effective web site is important, but it is wasted if your customers can't find the site when they search for your company on the internet. That's where web content comes in.

Practical Solutions to Help Business Owners Solve Their 5 Biggest Challenges Part 1

Leverage Your Time - Leveraging time seems to be the top challenge with most business owners. We have identified resources that will make it easy for you to put in place some simple systems that will help you free up time, reduce your stress level and get your business working harder for you. Business owners work 50 percent more than employees of large companies. The average business owner holds five "jobs" within his or her own company and many entrepreneurs must invest their time as "sweat equity" because they are funding their own business. Successful owners have created leverage and found more time to do the things that were most important to them by:

How To UN-Frustrate Your Steps To A New Home Based Business
Are you frustrated with finding the right Internet business, or trying to understand the business model you are currently associated with? I would like to share a very simple process that will help you understand Internet business from a new and different point of view.

How building a Website helps in Internet Marketing
Without your own website, Internet Marketing would be a naught. In a world where almost everybody uses the virtual world to do almost anything, making your business available for online internet marketing reaps lucrative fruitage.

Social Media: Should you or shouldn't you for your business?
After speaking at a recent Womenâ€™s Network Australia event in Brisbane, and watching everyone take lots of notes, I decided to put some of my talk down into a paper. There is a lot to cover in this sphere, so here are some points to help people utilise social media more effectively.

Internet Business Opportunities: What’s Hot and What’s Not - Don’t Get Taken In
Goggle for internet business opportunity and you will come across all sorts of businesses. Many people have been taken for a ride with various online ventures due to their lack of knowledge or their desire to get rich quick. What should you look for?

Franchising And the Art of Selling Change

I recently got onto a plane, settled in with my computer case at hand, my ipod Touch at the ready - my Bose headset set up and my computer in my pre-planned position to swipe it out of said aforementioned case. Then came the flight attendant. He looked at me, grinned and asked if I would "be so kind" to switch seats with a husband who was needed by his wife so the two of them could keep their baby from exploding onto the passengers in and around where she was currently seated. Now, here I am. I am comfortable. I have perfected my environment. And this clown disrupts my mental zen. Further it will require some deliberate focus and nurturing to get me back on track once I have settled into my new digs.

Closing the Sale: Assume the Close, But Never the Reason
There are certainly many techniques and approaches involved in completing a sale, but closing is not a stand-alone activity. Even worse, a seller who attempts to "close the sale" too aggressively without properly executing the entire selling process can do more harm than good. This mistake is often due to one dangerous assumption...

Group Coaching For The Business Professional
Group Coaching Programs are topic specific, goals oriented, and totally focused on providing the client, tangible and sustainable results.

Online Webinars - Events Worth Putting on Your Calendar
Online webinars are internet based events. Events in and of themselves have advantages for the business owners that promote them. An event like a webinar has a set schedule. Anything with a set schedule is more likely to draw in people with a higher level of commitment.

Got Team?

As an entrepreneur, you wear a lot of hats in your business, don't you! You're smart. You know you need to have the right help so you can be super productive and profitable in your business and you are probably already outsourcing certain tasks and responsibilities. That's a great start. But let me ask you, how well is it working for you? Do you have an ideal team in place? Is it easy and almost effortless for you to work with your team and together create awesome results? Here's what I've discovered. Most entrepreneurs and business owners aren't having ideal experiences with creating their own strong team".

5 Good Reasons to Not Go to a Seminar
There's a plethora of great seminars out there. How do you decide if you should sign-up? Here's 5 ways to help you make the best decision.

Types of Home Based Businesses: Which One Is Right For You?

With the ups and downs of the economy the past few years, more people are exploring their entrepreneurial possibilities. With the explosion of the internet, these possibilities have become real, lucrative home business opportunities that can be implemented right from the home office, or even the kitchen table. Home based businesses come in many shapes and sizes and with the advent of the “google” era you can find both legitimate as well as questionable opportunities offered to you online. So which idea might fit your needs? How do you decide?

Gaining Market Leverage
Whether you have an established business or are developing a home based business in your spare time the ability to market and sell your product or service is the key to profitability and growth.

Where do you live on the net? The importance of a good address.
So many times, we see a small business with an email address that leads to hotmail and the like, or the free ones that come with your Internet connection provider so the hosts name is involved e.g. "yourname@hostname.com." This makes you look like an amateur or a business that's not serious.

Incorporating Outsource Staff into the Routine of your Office

Incorporating Outsource Staff into the Routine of your Office Business owners who grow their businesses with outsource staff (including freelancers, consultants, and virtual assistants) enjoy many benefits to this arrangement but face one critical challenge: Businesses run better when everyone gets along and collaborates with good rapport. So, how do you build that among virtual staff when they are separated by many miles?

Is Your Disorganisation Destroying Your Health, Your Business and Your Relationships?
Did you know that 60-90% of all doctor visits are for stress-related illnesses? Stress is costly in terms of your health, relationships and performance.When you're affected by too much stress your body wears down and you get sick. Highly disorganized people seem to be more susceptible to sickness as they are always under extreme pressure, running from one disaster to another.

Get More Done with On-Call Help

Get More Done with On-Call Help - How do you successfully grow your business out of the "one-person-show" mode? Hiring employees can be a costly risk, even if it seems to be the right answer. However, there is another answer – an intermediate step – that business owners can use as an opportunity to scale up their business without blowing their budgets. In this article, you will read about that intermediate step and why it is advantageous to you.

Profitable Online Business Ideas To Make Online Income
To help you get started, here are some profitable online business ideas that anyone can make online income with.

Online Business? Why Do We Need One?

A few years ago, the economy was roaring. Stock prices were going up, interest rates were staying low, the online business industry was booming and unemployment was down. A year later and those indicators were all going in opposite direction. It is difficult to know if the turmoil is over but we have to have faith. We have to be optimistic that the current situation is a short-term one and we have to believe that long-term prospects of growth and good times are just around the corner. But that doesn't mean that there won't be downturns, along the way. We have to ask ourselves: 'are we ready to take advantage of the good as well as the bad times - are we ready to start an online business?'

Is an Online Business a Real Business?

I suspect that far too many people fall into the trap of thinking that an online business is easier to start and run than an offline business. It is possible that an online business could require less money up front to start but I’m not convinced less work is an option – unless you have that so-called “magic selling” product. Most people starting out with an online business probably do not fully understand what they are getting involved with. They understand the internet,

Demographic Profile of an Average American Millionaire
Bullet points from the book "The Millionaire Next Door" by Thomas J. Stanley.

Where to Find Growth Money For Your Business
Here are a number of unique ways to raise money for your struggling business.

IS YOUR BUSINESS PUTTING YOUR ASSETS AT RISK? BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS: THE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

Most states provide for a variety of business forms. The form you choose for your business will influence the time and money needed to form and maintenance your business. Most importantly, it controls the extent to which your personal assets are available to your creditors to satisfy business debts and obligations. This article is the third in the series that explores the differences between business forms. It is easy to read and understand. The information is a great starting point in your investigation and will prepare you for further discussions with your attorney, accountant, or advisor.

4 Tips for Developing an Employee Handbook

Company policies are often determined in a reactionary or even ad-hoc fashion and may change to suit certain situations. This is especially true for small organizations. This is a risky strategy and may lead to unwanted litigation from disgruntled employees if they feel that they are not being treated fairly by management. It is important to set the company’s ground rules for conduct and the best way to do it is with an official employee handbook.

MLM vs. Top Tier Direct Sales Marketing

MLM businesses are a dime a dozen in today's highly competitive world. Many MLM business owners are struggling to find new reps to sign up for a number of reasons. On the other hand are top tier direct sales marketing businesses, where a onetime payment is made rather than long term residual incomes. Which is the better option? For many who are facing the struggles of the MLM market, top tier direct sales are a better option.

Leadership is about the Leader's Character
Regardless of your industry, here are some leadership virtues that you want your employees to be able to imitate in you

Independent Contractor vs. Employee
Many business owners have used independent contractors when appropriate and especially when the needs are part time and/or irregular hours. Using independent contractors can save the business owner on payroll taxes and can be a plus if the need is occasional.

Business New Year's Commitments – For Leaders and Lawyers
With another year quickly coming to an end, I started thinking about New Year's Resolutions and what enlightened business owners and solo entrepreneurs can resolve to change and be more successful next year. The following are my top twelve tips in no particular order to help you and your business thrive in the New Year.

The “Karmically Correct” Way to Lay Off an Employee
For anyone in the unlucky position of having to fire an employee, here is the “karmically correct” way to lay off an employee:

Cold Calling for Business Owners
Simple networking practices for business owners and managers.

(11) Questions To Answer Before Starting A New Business!

What is your intention for your business? One could say to be successful and make money of course. How do you intend to do this? How does it happen? How much time will it take? Who will you become in the process of building your business? This is the important question and the answer. Let’s assume you have never owned a business yet, you really have this burning desire to work for yourself. You have done your research and decided on a business to build, yes build.

How to use article marketing to generate leads
Article marketing is one the best kept secrets on the net. Why don't more business owners know about this? This article explains how to write an effective article that you can distribute in an Article Marketing Strategy.

7 Habits for Franchisee's
Owning a franchise doesn't qualify you as a better entrepreneur. What might be the things that provide you with the right foundations to succeed in your business and other businesses in the future? Let me suggest 7 Habits you will find quality franchisee's practicing.

Life without Leaders
A discussion on how leadership makes a difference and what makes a leader.

Simple Marketing Tips to Do Marketing the easy way in 5 minutes a Day
Business owners are all aware of the importance of marketing to their business. Still many find it difficult to set aside time to do marketing. Here is a simple way to make marketing fit into a busy schedule and keep the flow of clients coming.

It Takes More Than A Resolution to Achieve Your Dreams In the New Year

Business owners you know that New Year’s resolutions don’t last! It’s been proven again and again. So why do we keep setting them? I think we really want each new year to be different, and better than the last for our small businesses. I want this year to be my best year ever. So what can I do to make sure that happens? Setting SMART goals is part of the secret to success, but it is not enough. Add a measurable action plan and partner with a business coach or mentor and your chances of success will hit their peak.

How to Clean out the Clutter and Pump Up Your Profits
Have you ever felt totally overwhelmed because you were surrounded by clutter? When you work in a cluttered environment it crowds your thinking and easily distracts you. Not only that clutter wastes your time and your money.

Make No Mistake, We Should Make More
Mistakes are anathema in our business culture, and actually our culture-at-large. Unfortunately, they are also a critical element of most successes, especially entrepreneurial ones. This article examines why and how we should embrace mistakes. Make no mistake, we should make more.

Working Online - - Endless Possibility
Starting an Internet based business has never made more sense. Traditional brick and mortar is quickly becoming a notion of the past as entrepreneurs look at new ways of marketing themselves that get superior results.

Marketing strategies: Procrastination and the Fear of Failure
Is procrastination one of the things that gets in the way of your success? This article gives you some great tips on how to overcome those non-productive habits.

Strategic Alliances

Strategic Alliances are a strategy for getting what you need for your small business without necessarily incurring further debt. This happens when two or more companies form an alliance while retaining their own identity; in certain cases, a separate legal entity or “joint venture” can be formed to accomplish the same purpose. Each company agrees to commit resources for common business objectives.

What are the 2 Missing Links that Guarantee Sales Strategy Failures?
Have you ever wondered why so many hopeful business owners fail in spite of having a good product or service to sell? The reason isn’t location. It isn’t even insufficient start up cash.

Ten Ways To Improve Sales On A New Business Website
There are two major obstacles to make a profit with a new business website. The first is attracting targeted traffic to the website, and the second to to turn those visitors into paying customers or subscribers. This article discusses the second step and includes some proven ways to convert your traffic into customers.

Leadership - The Art Of Being one of the 3%

As parents, coaches, and business owners, we must develop and posses leadership qualities if we want our children, team members and business to succeed. Whether our desire is to be a leader or not, there are specific skills that must be developed. Leadership styles will differ according to various personalities but main qualities must exist for excellence. Below are six key traits of successful leadership.

Match Your Message To Your Market - A Unique Selling Proposition
When some people hear the term unique Selling Proposition (USP), they think of their company slogan or tag line or something trite. What a lot of business owners don't realize is that a good USP can make or break a business. It goes much deeper than a few words in an ad.

How To Start A Business With Low Overhead
Most traditional businesses cost thousands, if not tens of thousands to get started. The time it takes to have a positive return on investment is usually around 3 - 5 years. You can start a business with low overhead with high returns in your first year. I know because I have done it.

One of the Most Important Sales Skills
When it comes to selling your services many find it a frustrating experience. You are after all virtually selling thin air.

Public Relations Success Stories
What makes public relations so fascinating are the unexpected perks. While you’re reaching your target market and promotional goals via public relations that press coverage can also lead to other money making ventures and career opportunities.

Top Five Reasons Why Your E-newsletter isn’t Getting Responses
Whether you're currently sending an e-newsletter that isn't getting results or are considering starting an e-newsletter, there are five techniques that every e-newsletter sender MUST know in order to make their e-newsletter successful.

Marketing In A Poor Economy
Don't stop spending on advertising and marketing; this is a death sentence as sales are tied directly to advertising. Be creative - use Twitter, initiate special campaigns, revamp your website, make a You Tube video. Talk to your customers and find out what you can do for them that they need right now. Be able to adjust to market trends but stick to what you know.

Is Info-dumping killing your conversions?
Keeping the content on your website simple & specific.

Revamp to Revenue: 5 Ways to Turn on the Profits for your Website
Setting goals for your website is just one of the ways you what you want your visitors to do and in order of priority. From this you can then make certain elements more prominent, and minimize others.

One Thing You Could Do Today to Instantly Increase Your Sales
If you listen to some business owners, even some sales trainers you would think one day sales will just happen. Individual sales do just happen, on occasion. Consistent sales never just happen.

HONK If You Need More Clients NOW!
If you need more clients now, don't waste any more time or money on efforts, experts, or programs that don't work. Read this article twice. Once for understanding... and once for IMPLEMENTATION. Marketing success, guerrilla marketing, business survival, business success, business growth, more clients NOW.

Three Business-Building Ideas To "Steal"

One of the great joys of our work is meeting a wide range of successful local business owners. Each has a wonderful story to tell about how they created and developed their firm, and each has special challenges. Each owner has a set of talents that make his or her business unique, and some valuable lessons for all of us on what has worked for them. On the principal that it’s easier to follow someone else’s best practices than spend time and effort making up our own, here are some lessons we can all apply from business people right in our own neighbourhood.

Young Guns: TheFearless Entrepreneur’s Guide too Chasing Your Dreams and Breaking Out on Your Own by Robert Tuchman
Part of the American Dream is to own your own business. Millions of people have done this – but we also know that many people fail in business every year, many in the first years. So, is there a secret to succeeding as a new entrepreneur? There are a number of factors and Young Guns by Robert Tuchman is a very good place to get started.

Discover Why Sometimes Switching Web Hosting Providers is a Good Idea
When it comes to service providers online business owners will not hesitate to drop any service that is not giving them the results they want. For some unexplained reason though, web hosting providers seem to escape this fate.

Where the Bible teaches us how to improve our cashflow

No cash means stunted business growth, worry and sleepless nights wondering to how you are going to pay your bills. So you're lying there at night, eyes wide open, thinking how you are going to face your creditors the next morning. In this situation, many business owners (religious or not) would plead for some kind of divine intervention. Well believe it or not, one strategy for getting your customers to pay on time is actually sitting there in the bible. You just need to know where to look…

Add dollars to your bottom line by hiring well
Many business owners don’t take the time to calculate the cost of hiring the wrong person against the benefits of hiring the right one. Get it right and you can make your business a substantial amount of money. Get it wrong and watch those dollars disappear – literally.

Healthy Salespeople - Healthy Sales Results

As I have stated previously, sales is a demanding profession. Top performers know that to sustain a high level of performance, they need to keep fit and well - both physically and psychologically. They are self disciplined, self managed and take good care of themselves. You only have to look at them and know they are healthy. Their skin is clear, they have a vitality about them that is fresh, their attitude is positive and they are keen to learn. What sort of sales culture do you encourage? Is it one of health and wellbeing or a boozy, extreme living on the edge culture?

How To Create a Reputation for The Best Place to Work
For those business owners looking to avoid high turnover at a time when business starts to turn around, here are 3 cost effective tips that will help you keep your teams together and your talent intact.

More Millionaires Were Created During The Great Depression Than In Any Other Period. Will History Repeat Itself?
Find out what it takes to become a millionaire during times of a recession or even a depression

14 Ways to Collect Cash Faster
In this new era of difficult credit, cash is the life blood of your business. In this series of articles, we’ll look at bringing in cash faster, keeping cash longer, and increasing cash holdings.

The 3% Solution for Business Success ~ part one

We've long known that true financial independence only occurs for about 3% of the population. Similarly, I believe, that only 3% of all registered businesses ever achieve their potential greatness and success. Some businesses let small issues take over while others become mired with a lack of focus. Some even let world economies dictate their prosperity. An elite group of entrepreneurs and business people chart their own path and create their own success. This group practices what we call "3%" behaviours. These behaviours separate them from the other businesses in their industry and create unparalleled success.

Feeling Out-Twittered?
The secret is to keep it simple.

Small Business Leads to Keep You Going and Growing
A search engine on the internet has led you to this article. You found it. I didn't go looking for you. I strategically placed this content where I knew only those I cared to reach would find it. "The right prospect, at the right time and the right place is looking for you."

Selling and managing are not the same
I wrote recently about sales burnout and the challenges many SME business owners have of being all things to all people including, usually, the main sales person and sales manager. Like many people, I have known that selling and managing are not the same thing. They are two very distinct jobs with different demands and expectations.

The cost of poor sales selection
Have you ever done the math on how much sales recruitment costs you, especially when you get it wrong? If you are like most managers then chances are you haven't. So let's consider the costs, overt and covert, involved in sales recruitment. If you don't know it already, sales recruitment is one of the toughest assignments around.

Overcoming Corporate Disconnect
Corporate disconnect is the major contributor to every one of your challenges, problems or negative issues that undermine your growth, profitability and effectiveness as an organization.

Work At Home Trumps Having A Job Every Time

Work at home is a growing trend among people who want to create and control their own income. Work at home trumps having a job every time. A job is defined by the employer. You are hired because you have the skill sets that match the scope of the tasks needed for the job. You will always be limited by what the employer needs to move his company forward. It does not matter how good you are at your job, you will never exceed the expectations of the employer. It is possible to be rewarded for exceptional work with a promotion and higher pay. The opportunities for advancement are limited and the competition can be fierce. No matter how high you climb the corporate ladder you will never reach the top. You can turn that around when you become the owner of your own home based business and are committed to work at home.

Telemarketing Victory - 10 Rules: Use The Phone, Let 'Em Moan, Retain Client Confidence

Ever had good clients and customers walk away and never understood why? Is it possible they're so disgusted they're refusing to respond to your email or take calls from you? Ever felt powerless to change the outcome? How did it come to this? Whether they slip away silently and imperceptibly by degrees or create a commotion on the way out, for some business owners and directors it's a bitter blow they never fully recover from. The good news is that in the vast majority of cases it can be avoided. Often, it's the telephone that provides us with the answer to the problem of losing clients and customers.

Business Cards From Hell
Business cards often present the first impression about you and your business. Yet many businesses continue to use incomplete, hard to read business cards that may be doing more harm than good. Here's what you need to have a business card that works for you and not against you.

Learning Required to Grow Your Business If You Wish to Increase Sales
Are you learning enough to increase sales? For some, knowledge deficit may be the obstacle to business success.

Financials for Business Owners: More Than A Look In The Rear View Mirror

Financial reports are the least understood piece of business information for most business owners. Yet everyone expects a business owner to understand his financial reports. Banks want them and they're needed to prepare tax returns. If you're not an accountant, you probably don't know how to use them to manage your business. Accounting is the language of business. The reports tell the story of how well your business is performing. Once you know what your financial reports can tell you, your accountant can provide the information in a format that makes sense and is quick and easy to read, even for a non-accountant! This is the first in a series of articles that will put business owners back in control of their company and reduce the stress that comes from not being certain how well your business is performing.

Simply Speaking Increase Sales By Remembering Qualified Sales Leads Are a Two-Way Street
Do you belong to a formal networking group? Not getting enough referrals? Possibly the answer is that you are traveling a way one street.

Are You Throwing in the Towel Too Soon? More Musings from the Marathon
Why would knowing how to finish a marathon have to do with your business? Because you might be having the same problems in your business -- demons coming out to play when you get close to the finish line and you throwing in the towel too soon and not seeing the success you deserve. Here¹s some ways you can get beyond that.

7 Key Simple Points to Turn Ineffective Sales Scripts to Effective Ones to Increase Sales
In the rush to increase sales, some organizations are returning to the old tried and true sales scripts. Yet, these well intended business owners to sales managers have forgotten several key points and one very critical key aspect when using a sales script.

How Failing Business Etiquette #101 May Be Your First Obstacle to Increase Sales
If you want to increase sales, then are you demonstrating the right business etiquette? Possibly, you are failing one of these every day behaviors and this maybe why you are still achieving your sales goals?

Increase Sales Means You Must Confront Those 800# Gorillas
What 800# gorillas are you avoiding to increase sales? I believe now is the time to discuss one those gorillas. Possibly, the avoidance of these 800# gorillas contributes to the high failure rate of small businesses where for each one that opens another one closes. (Source: Small Business Administration)

Equity Splits
I’ve been working with a couple of clients recently on how to give equity to other people coming into the business, and it’s definitely a recurring theme which causes a lot of debate and difficulty.

5 Top Income Producing Tasks For Your Internet Home Based Business

If you have decided to work at home, congratulations. It's definitely a great choice. However, it is very easy to procrastinate and deal with distractions when you are working from your home. If you want to make sure that your home business produces income, there are a variety of things you are going to need to do. Here are five of the top income producing tasks you need to do for your internet home based business.

Marketing Strategies for Building Customer Relations
As business owners, we all want to sell more of our products and services to new and existing customers. But before we can achieve this goal, it is imperative to understand a few basic marketing strategies for creating interest, trust and desire.

Step By Step Branding Is Your Company Logo Important Enough To Make Or Break Your Brand

Some people will tell you that your logo is everything when it comes to branding your business. However, that is not really true. A good logo is important, a great logo is even better; but neither one is even remotely vital to your success. Why? Because when all is said and done, a logo is a visual image that will remind people of your company. The greatest logo in the world will do nothing at all for your success if it just serves as a reminder of a company that people neither like or trust.

Improve Your Health to Enjoy Your Wealth

What good is being successful in your business if you have such poor health you cannot enjoy it? I know it is hard to get the adequate sleep we need when building a business. It is difficult to treat exercise as a necessity as compared to researching the best keywords for your Google AdWords campaign. You see immediate need in what you are doing right now, yet ignore the things you need to do (not just want to do) to stay healthy for yourself, your business, and your family. So just as you did with your personal and business goals when you first started your business, go ahead and take out a sheet of paper and start writing down the following goals you need so you can improve your health to enjoy your wealth.

Revisit the Past to Increase Future Sales
Would you like more sales now than last year? Then you may need to revisit a marketing and sales skill set that was developed during your high school days even if you never took a business course.

Taxes The Good News and the Bad News For Increasing Business Productivity
Cost to do business extends far beyond the standard fix costs of rent, utilities, insurance, etc. How you address these costs has a direct bearing on your sales to profits to employee retention.

Harness the Power of ‘Free’ Marketing
No doubt the title of my article caught your attention! The question is - are you gaining enough attention from your customers/clients? And, do you want to maintain their attention?

No Guarantees
No Guarantees is one of the cornerstones of Free Market Economics. There are no guarantees. Business success happens through methodical, daily efforts. Healthy competition in all sectors ensures that even the greatest company on earth can be quickly humbled by the next small, innovative enterprise to come along.

Business Website Design
Article emphasize upon the importance of web designing in business website. The article talks about important points that can help you create a right kind of professional website layout.

PR Peeves
There are some pet peeves that arise again and again - not only for me but for many journalists - in dealing with publicists. So here are a few "do's and don'ts."

Defining Success
Achieving success is defined by most as setting and meeting goals. The goals can be financial, productivity based or related to company growth goals. Goals as well as what is considered success, vary from business to business.

Does Your Business Have What it Takes To Be A Successful Franchise?
There are 5 ‘Success Keys’ that must be in place if a business is going to transform into a successful franchise – Profitability; Uniqueness: Proven Sales and Marketing Strategies; Systematic Approach to Business; An Owner with Vision.

Listen to What Your Prospect is Saying to You
Occasionally, you will come across a prospect who asks questions or offers objections that you have never before encountered, so you don’t have an ideal way to deal with them. Even so, you need to respond to your prospect appropriately. If you ignore their questions or statements, you will end up with a prospect who is seriously annoyed.

I've got a business idea - what's next?
One question I get asked a lot goes something like “I’ve got an idea for a business. I need to get finance from the bank, buy stationery and equipment and do some research. I’m not sure how to plan everything that I need to do.”

Filling the Sales Pipeline?
The bottom line is that if you want to be able to sell consistently, if you want to have those million dollar and beyond sales careers, if you want to avoid major frustration and wheel spinning, blanketing the earth with emails, voice mails or even phone calls is not the answer.

A Credit Catch-22: When lenders and lawmakers disconnect
I operate a small business marketplace that connects entrepreneurs to financing options. Recent legislation has created an impression that the credit markets are softening and business loans are growing on trees. Not so fast - what's really going on down on mainstreet? Here's a story from today's local credit markets.

Affordable 800 Number Service Provides Effective Marketing
Having an 800 number for your business is one way to improve your professional image and inspire customer confidence.

Change Nothing...Expect the Same or Less
Can you change nothing given the present economic climate, and still expect revenue gains? Tough economic times have always opened new doors for the open minded and enabled business owners/leaders to not only survive, but also end up thriving as a result of new economic forces. Read about a new and innovative approach to remaining successful inside this new world economy.

Disruption Breeds Opportunity
Between 1831 and 1840 there were 14 Americans born who each went on to amass billions of dollars in wealth. Some of their names were Rockefeller, Carnegie, and Morgan. They came from all walks of life but had one thing in common. Read the full article to find out what it was.

How to REALLY Connect With Your Customers on Their Terms to Build Relationships and Generate More Sales
Knowing how to engage your readers with attention grabbing headlines is important and at the same time, it's not enough to really create a relationship, build trust and eventually win a customer or client.

Writing For Conversions - Testing New Content
Our exploration of utilizing content to increase conversion rates began with analyzing statistics to uncover opportunities for improvement, followed by how to create and implement good content to compel visitors to take action.

Successful Entrepreneurs - Know How to Grow Your Business, but Need a Push?
Often, successful entrepreneurs fail to implement their own great ideas and strategies, ones they know would take their business to higher levels of revenue and profits.

The Beauty of Search Engine Optimization Phobias

It is a common belief among many web business owners that once they submit their website to a search engines they're on their way to financial success. Yes submitting your site is important. But simply informing the search engines that you exist (which is all you are doing) is not enough because they reaction you may get is "so you're out there, so what." Today web pages need to be optimized in order for search engines to take them seriously.

Fail Quickly To Succeed Fast

Almost every business owner has a continual supply of new ideas. But most of them never follow through on even one of those ideas. It's like they leave what could be the key to their future success locked up in a closet somewhere - never letting it see the light of day. Over the years, my experience has been that business owners are so reluctant to try out their new ideas because they don't have a simple way of testing them in an easy and low-risk manner. They (wrongly) believe that they would need to make significant changes in how their business runs in order to test an idea. And if that idea proves to be less-than-ideal, they are scared they will have hurt their business. But it doesn't have to be that way. They can apply "quick-failing" tactics to easily and safely test new ideas

Online Business Success: Advisory Board Primer (Part I)
Would you like to have industry leaders give you FREE business advice on a regular basis? Read this article and learn all about the power of advisory boards.

Online Business Success: Does Your Business Need An Upgrade?
Do you know how to upgrade your business for increased business attraction? Read this article and learn seven quick and easy ways to get started now.

Recession Rescue -- Lessons Learned from Dan Kennedy
Don't panic. Yes we're in a recession. Yes the government is doing crazy things. Yes we have pirates and pig flu and everything else. But you shouldn't be panicking because it's very possible for us to not just survive but thrive.

Internet Based Home Business - Why More People Are Starting One
Perhaps a lot of online business owners these days would express their great appreciation to the advent of the internet, as many of them have managed to set up and nurture an internet based home business even on a shoestring budget through this modern medium.

Why Your Financial Statements Are Important

In today's business financial market, it is important to understand what bankers and other financial sources require of business owners. When accessing capital through traditional sources such as banking institutions, they must have specific financial documents from the party seeking to borrow their funds. Alternative Sources require said documentation but can take a different approach based on the borrower's situation.

Access To Alternative Financing for Small Businesses
Many small or startup business owners seeking financing are caught between a rock and a hard place. Are you going to let this stop you? Are you going to give up on your dream of owning your own business or growing the current one?

5 Things Every Startup Business Owner Must Know
Start-up business owners are not always aware of financing options outside the banking industry. They are more likely to be turned down by the banks, especially if they have not been in business for at least two (2) years.

3 Keys to Income Acceleration
How to Boost Your Bottom Line This Week

Small Business Growth: Recession Rescue Strategies

This week alone, I have heard from two business owners going "under"... literally closing their doors and, of course, blaming the economy. I must say that both of these companies started out with overwhelming debt, and neither had shown a month of profit since opening their doors. They were both open BEFORE the "recession" hit. Both invested heavily in traditional marketing. Both inquired about hiring a business coach, but never felt it worth the investment. THIS is the Darwinian-like "thinning of the herd" that we will continue to observe in "tough times". But you don't have to be one of those eliminated... So, what can you do NOW to rescue your own business today?

Small Business Survival Tips For THIS Economy
Has the turbulent state of the economy got you and your business down? Why not change your perception and start CREATING instead of REACTING. Your business can not only survive in THIS economy, it can thrive! You can be "tougher than the times".

Blogging for Business
True or false: blogs are never going to be an effective form of marketing for small businesses

To Share or Not to Share? What a Question!

As successful business owners and corporate executives, many of us struggle with finding a good balance between being fierce leaders and taking the glory and profit of our hard work versus sharing the profit and the responsibility of the risk. This is one of the hardest of dilemmas for business owners and for top executives, often restricting the potential for growth. Here are some suggestions that will hopefully assist you as you are making the big decision on whether to expand on your own project or to seek for cross-collaborative opportunities or business associations...

The Importance of Layout to the Success of an Online Business
First impression is the best impression and this is very true in the case of online business too. I have come across many onsite business owners complaining that their website is not delivering the expected results in spite of employing good Search Engine Optimization (SEO) methods.

Franchising vs. Licensing
Frequently entrepreneurs look to licensing as a way to accomplish their expansion goals, thinking that it is less complicated and less expensive than franchising, but they should look carefully before thinking that licensing can accomplish the same thing as franchising.

Franchise Sales in the First Year
Franchisors should carefully consider how and where they are going to sell franchises in the first year that they offer franchises.

Getting Paid
Accepting payment today is becoming more complex. Entrepreneurs need to plan their payment acceptance strategy.

Do You Always Have Trouble Closing Sales?
Do you sometimes feel like you always have trouble closing? Are you looking for the 'magical' closing question that will close every piece of business. Forget it! Focus at the beginning and closing will just fade away.

How To Increase Your Opt-In Rate By 33%
Everyone wants a larger and better list of prospects. Here's how to get more of your visitors to opt-in when they visit your site.

To Thine Own Self Be True - It's Better for Business - What Arthur Andersen Would Say to His Company
What Arthur Andersen would have said about the ethics scandal that destroyed the company he founded...and why saying no to the wrong client or request can jumpstart your business. As a child, you probably heard, "to thine own self be true."

What to do with all your business cards?
How many business cards have you gathered since you’ve been in business? I’ve seen business owners with hundreds if not thousands of business cards stored in card boxes, in jacket pockets, stapled to diaries and contact details scribbled on bits of paper.

How to use Search Engine Optimization in your PR Programs
The new tool for internet visibility is utilizing Search Engine Optimization. Learn how to use this in your PR program to increase internet traffic.

How to grow your Ideal Clients by 25% with zero cost of sales
We are big fans of “growing loyalty” among Ideal Clients over pretty much any other business building tactic—it’s the lowest cost sales activity you will ever engage in, since you are already doing business with them, you already know what they want and need, and you can easily find out if they are being wooed by someone else. How easy is that?

How to Thrive in Times Like These
The “R” word is coming up a lot, of course. How bad will it be? What should we do? How worried are you? Maybe surprisingly, in those coffee shop gabfests, we’ve heard some fabulous ideas and success stories along with the questions and worried looks. So this article is about how we can all cope, maybe even prosper, in Times Like These.

Build A Healthy Corporate Culture
Building a healthy corporate culture is key to the success of your business. In today's society, everyone wants their work environment and employees to be like family. While this is a great idea, your business should be careful with approaching this concept. You want to build a happy and successful family, not a dysfunctional one. "How do I go about doing this," you ask? Well read on!

Best Ways To Grow Your Online Business Offline
Whether you're online business has been around for some time, or is just starting up, turning potential contacts into actual clients is a top priority. Many online business owners wonder how effective offline marketing really is.

Stop Chasing The Money
You've probably heard it many times before, but it's the same advice I give all of my clients, friends and family members when they ask me how I've made so much money online. I tell them, stop chasing the money. Once you decide to stop chasing the money and actually do what you love, the money will follow!

The Barter System -- Overlooked and Underrated
The barter system is one of the most overlooked and underrated forms of business development available today. Bartering is one of the fastest ways to BENEFIT your business almost overnight.

More New Clients
Getting more new clients is an ongoing challenge. These marketing tips will help you get prospects interested what you offer and do.

The Small Business Grant Misnomer
Business owners seeking grants for their businesses must understand the process. Grants, just like other methods of financing, have their unique qualities. Knowing how and when to access grant funding is important in not wasting time and money, then not winning the grant.

Keep Cool, Calm and Connected with your Bank Manager!

Professionals and bank managers alike cannot recall a crisis of this scale, consequently they lack experience in managing such distress. Recently, the majority of my counselling has been for couples and business owners who are having difficulty meeting their loan repayments. If this includes you, here’s an effective plan, but you’ll need to take urgent action to minimise the chances of becoming victim to the current crisis.

Spring up your selling skills to improve your business!
Do you sell solutions or products and services? There is a big difference between the two. Most people today only want to deal with sales people if they can provide solutions to their problems or opportunities to improve sales, operations and lower costs.

How to Increase Sales and Profits Without Spending a Cent!
Here's the strategy I've used to double, triple and even quadruple profits in months, sometimes even weeks!

How to make your business thrive in a floundering economy

It's no secret that today's economy is struggling. People are losing money, and businesses are scrambling to keep costs low and sales high, while the consumer is spending less than normal. Your business could possibly have taken a hit as well these days, and you are scaling back operations in order to keep afloat. But if you implement "smart marketing", you CAN make your business thrive in a floundering economy. Here's how...

How to explain what your business does
About 6 months after I started in business, I remember attending a sales course. I had one specific question and to my utter frustration, it wasn’t answered on this course. You see, I had been attending a lot of networking events and the favourite question there is “so, what do you do?”

Marketing on a Shoestring
Marketing doesn't have to be costly, but it is a necessity. Here are some overall tips for getting the most out of your marketing.

Play the Full Table
During uncertain times (like today!) most leaders and business owners play it safe. This means that if you want to distinguish yourself during tough times, the bar is pretty low. Now is the time to play the full table! Don't restrict your strategies to the sure shots. While your competitors are playing it safe, try new shots, explore the edges of the table.

Planning The Future Of Your Business. Expansion Challenges and Franchise Solutions To Grow Quickly, Organically.

Most small and medium sized businesses face huge challenges to get to the next orbit. Business owners are predominantly too involved with the day to day operations or have scarce resources, limiting their vision to working from inside the business, rather than strategizing its future growth. Most of them are generally aware of the challenges, and what they foresee, as they must do to survive or to grow to the next level, but are unable to action it. They often reach out to professional business consultants who work alongside their business and help them evolve. The business article below poses the most common business challenges, and what they must do, to take it to the next level. How they can grow their businesses into a successful franchise with multiple business units across various geographies.

The Problem With Free Publicity
The truth about free publicity and what you need to know to make it work for your business.

The Secret to Getting Press
Public relations enables you to build sales and get third-party credibility you simply can't purchase. But how do you get mentioned in the press? Find out as the secret is revealed!

A Secret to Closing More Sales
Do you know who your most ideal client is? Do you know how to find out that information? Read about three easy and effective ways to do market research.

Self Assessment...Do You Really Need An Accountant To Deal With This??

This article examines what benefits are gained by using a qualified professional to handle your tax affairs for you. Not using an accountant for your tax matters is akin to doing your own minor surgery on yourself to save the cost of a surgeon. I hope you would never dream of doing that - so why then would you risk getting into strife with the Tax Office just to save a few quid. Any accountant can more than justify his fee and can save you money on your tax bill that you will never have thought of. After all...if you were expert in tax you would be a tax consultant - not running the business that you are.

Use Two-Step Direct Response Advertising and Stop Wasting Your Ad Money
Have you wondered why some companies continually advertise? It's because they know how to develop direct response advertising. This article will show you how to do it.

5 Proven Strategies For Online Business Success
We read too often of the many people that fail to make online income. Their reasons for online business failure are varied. Take these 5 proven strategies and increase your chances of joining the ranks of the successful online business owners.

What If There Was a Recession And No One Came? 3 Tips to Increase Your Biz Right Now
It's easy to get caught up in a cycle of negativity right now but if you want to succeed you absolutely MUST rise above it. People are still going to buy no matter what the economy is doing. It's YOUR job to position your products and services as the ones they buy.

Achieving Success
So what does it take for you to get your business to the next level, to grow it to where you have reached your definition of success, and/or to leave a legacy or success story that others can tell?

Are You Delivering?

So are you really providing a superior product or service or experience? When is the last time you checked on this? How you do you find out? If you are saying ABSOLUTELY…..then I’m double daring you to prove it. If you aren’t sure, then congratulations, you have a realistic and healthy outlook on your business. If you are pretty sure you DON”T have a good product or service, then it’s time to make some drastic changes NOW or GET OUT of what you are doing.

5 Deadly Home Party & Direct Sales Recruiting SINS Exposed!!!
direct sales consultants home business presentation skills : Here are some direct selling tips and ideas on how to boost home party and direct sales!

Things to Look for In a Coffee Franchise

Building a business isn't necessarily an easy task to pursue. Many people go the franchise route when building their businesses so that they may build upon the successes of others rather than learning things about building a business the hard way. A coffee franchise is a good business for most would be business owners. The problem is that very few who are interested in owning a coffee franchise actually put pen to paper and decide what they find attractive about the various coffee franchises that are available to them.

What are the Benefits of a Coffee Franchise?

Building a business from the ground up can be an intimidating, back breaking, and bankrupting process for many would be business owners. Most businesses fail miserably after the first year and even those that hang on often fail to do much more than break even (if that) during their first three years in existence. For this reason we are seeing a growing trend among those who are interested in owning a businesses in franchise purchases and ownerships.

How Does networking RAISE your Revenue?
As they get more successful in business, it is said that people's networks grow. This happens through word of mouth from satisfied customers. But how did they get their customers in the first place. Apart from the usual ways of finding customers, like mail shots, advertising and cold calling, a lot of people engaged in "networking".

Mars and Venus – Part V. Buyers and Sellers Want to Close the Sale for Different Reasons.
Do you remember that last significant sale you made? Do you remember the buzz you felt from the exhilaration of closing? So what did your buyer feel at that stage? Do you know precisely why they felt the way they did? If you can not tell me for certainty, the real reason they finally made the decision to purchase, then maybe this article could help you close significantly more sales.

What is your product really worth?
The secret of selling is the art of value visualization. A natural sales person will lead the buyer through a series of structured questions, whereby the buyer will actually “see” what the product will enable them to do. The Sales person then will encourage the prospect to put their own value on that capability.

How to create and deliver truly effective customer presentations!
What is a truly effective sales presentation? I would define it as one that generates a call to action that eventually leads to a sale. Is there an underlying theme, across all products and their respective target audiences, on how to deliver this presentation? The answer is a definitive yes. This article tells you how.

7 + 1 Criteria, business owners should use, when selecting Sales & Marketing Consultant

What makes you different? How do I know I will get value from your services? Why should I use your services, as opposed to someone else? These are questions that I get constantly. I am sure that in your business you get equivalent questions. This article objectively looks at criteria you should use for choosing services like my company's. I would strongly advise you to use this as a template for the products and services that you sell. Do they have a passion to succeed in their own business, which will reflect on what they do for my Business?

Imagine SuperCharging client meetings
I don't know if you have ever been in the scenario where you are about to walk into a meeting, you know that this guy you are meeting has the potential to give you an order that will take you to the next level.

Write Proposals that Win Business
The Magic Formula of Success.

7 Golden Rules for Recession Survival
During good times in ancient China, surplus food and wealth was stored in great strong houses to provide succour for future famines and droughts. Are you one of many business people left wondering what will happen next, now that the Celtic Tiger has passed on and the winter of recession and customers with tight wallets is upon us?

7 Key Tactics For The Small Business Owner
For most folks, owning your own business is a dream come true. The freedom of being your own boss and succeeding to the best of your ability are facts of life for the small business owner.

Rise and Shine
In today’s uncertain times, I constantly hear people gripe about how “business is slow, nobody’s buying” and “everybody’s cutting back.”For too long, many salespeople and business owners have been on the proverbial “gravy train.” Supply was less than demand and people got away from effective business basics. Besides, why should anyone hustle when business is lined up?

Offline Strategies for Driving Traffic to Your Website
Online business owners are all familiar with the typical online strategies for driving traffic to a website - pay per click marketing, like Google's adwords; article marketing; giving away free gifts to build your database of contacts, etc. But what about the offline marketing strategies that can actually drive traffic to your website?

Is Your Business Tough Enough to Survive Recession?
The economy is playing havoc with a lot of businesses, but many small businesses are thriving despite the recession. Ask yourself these ten questions and make your business tough enough to survive recession.

Three Questions To Make Sure You Are Doing the Right Things
Business owners know that doing things right is only half the battle. If you want to succeed at the highest level, you need to know you are doing the right things. In the day to day operation of a business it is easy to lose sight of what those right things are. This article offers you three simple questions to help you keep focused and on track working on the business.

Three Questions To Make Sure You Are Doing the Right Things
Business owners know that doing things right is only half the battle. If you want to succeed at the highest level, you need to know you are doing the right things. In the day to day operation of a business it is easy to lose sight of what those right things are. This article offers you three simple questions to help you keep focused and on track working on the business.

Death by Marketing & The Emergence of Retro Service

If you want to succeed, simply do the opposite of what unsuccessful people do! I’ve always liked this maxim, as it makes perfect sense when you think about it. So to learn how to be successful in business we must first establish how to be unsuccessful. To experience a fast but painful business death, there are many roads one can explore. However one of the quickest and surest routes is to engage 'Traditional Marketing' and a Balance Sheet Business strategy.

Why Small Businesses Don't Survive

There are more than 30 million small businesses nationwide. Approximately 65 percent of small businesses are grass-root small businesses, and unfortunately don’t survive because they are not fully equipped or prepared to do business and compete in the marketplace efficiently. They have great intentions, a vision, and a big dream. Many start their business with true purpose-to help others through the use of their products or services. However, most often a new business owner believe they can run a business without a plan or strategy, not considering the unforeseen and possibilities which could influence the outcome of the business.

Want to Be A PR Success story? Think Like the Media
Want to be interviewed by Oprah, CNN, People, Time, the New York Times and other media outlets? Don’t pitch what you think is interesting. Create, develop and pitch stories that meet the media’s needs. Put yourself in the place of the various editors and producers. Discover what it is they need and pitch those stories.

Dwindling Cash Flow is a Big Problem
Business owners today are tapping into whatever available cash reserves they have. This is not always the best thing to do but they might not have an option. Survival is the primary reason entrepreneurs are using their cash reserves. It is vital to stay afloat and be able to come through our current economic situation that is affecting many.

Is cold calling right for my business?
Cold calling or telemarketing is seen, by a lot of business owners as a good way to market and promote their business. It’s one of those marketing methods that many people try some with great success and others with no results at all. When success occurs though, all business owners want to give it a go, thinking that success can occur for their business too.

A Website Is More Than A Shopping Cart

I had the pleasure of interviewing Christina Hills "The Shopping Cart Queen" in a live teleseminar for Wonderful Web Women. I asked Christina what were the most important things people should consider when setting up a shopping cart on their web site. Her answer showed why she has earned her reputation as an authority on using this software not just to set up a shopping cart but to build a strong business.

Business coaches aren’t for everyone
A personal decision not to use a business coach

How do you do what you do?
Give people a short discription of what you do.

Insurance Programs and You
Discussing the benefits of group insurance coverage for health/dental, home and auto insurance and professional liability Insurance.

How to Make Your Entrepreneurial Dream a Reality

How to make your entrepreneurial dream a reality - Many people desire to become entrepreneurs. Some are bold enough to make the leap on their own. Others are "forced" to do so because of circumstances (such as job layoffs). But starting and running a business isn't easy, primarily because we may possess some of the skills necessary to create a productive and profitable enterprise but we probably lack all of the skills necessary. And, we probably lack the time, too. In this article, you'll read about one way you can improve your entrepreneurial efforts – whether you're just starting out or you're looking to grow.

Can your customers be as loyal as a big brown dog?
Because most businesses monitor new sales as the key measurement of healthy, existing customers are often forgotten about until they "shop" again. While focusing on new business is important, so is building a relationship with those you've already sold. So, how does a business foster loyalty with its customers? Take a lesson from from the dogs...

7 steps to Systemising and increasing sales
These days too many business owners are spreading their focus too thin by doing everything and anything, working in the business not on the business. In this article find out why systemising the sales process is crucial to the bottom line.

The Secrets to being wealthy
The most effective pathway to achieving wealth is by owning your own business. In the book "The Next Great Bubble Boom" by Harry S. Dent he tells us that, “The best single way to build wealth is to own your own business, especially one that can be systematically expanded or sold.” So what does it mean to own your own business?

Creating A Successful Online Sales Strategy

You have a website, and perhaps you're even a professional salesperson, and as such you know that the best way to sell someone something is face-to-face, but have you seen the price of gas lately? So whether your customers are local, national, or international, the cost of getting to them is just too darn high to make any money. You could call them on the phone or email them, but with voice mail, spam filters, and all manner of gatekeepers, it is literally impossible to get to people, even when they're waiting for your call. It's never been easy to sell, but in today's jaded, cynical, frustrated business climate, the job is even harder.

Be Googled Or Die
Companies who don't know the importance of SEO and Google will fade off from the scene in no time.

What do you do?
What do you do? And how do you answer that question? Develop a Conversation about your business that has the other person interviewing you and asking you about, well, YOU!

Online Networking For Business Success
Business owners need to build trust with people in order to have sales. As a business owner you need to figure out ways to do this. There are many ways to make the trust building process easy and successful but one way is to do online networking.

What is Social Media Marketing?
As a marketer, I find this topic overwhelms and confuses many business owners. Quite frankly, even in the marketing world - the jury is still out on the trends. But rest assured - social media is not going away. As our children grow up and take over corporate North America, the names of the tools may change, but the overall usage will only become more and more in use.

Increase Sales by Giving Them What They Want

Customers are looking for very specific solutions to their problems and if you can provide it you’ll struggle less, save on marketing expense and sell more. The market place is becoming more “niched”. By that I mean that there is so much competition and there are so many choices that people look for very specific solutions. For example, if you need heart surgery would you go to a general surgeon or a general practitioner? Of course not, you’d go to a heart surgeon.

How to Develop Organizational Culture in an E-Business

How to develop organizational culture in an e-business - Many businesses have staff but not all businesses have in-house staff. If your business uses freelancers, consultants, virtual assistants, or other outsource professionals, it can be tough to get everyone on the same page. In this article, you'll read about a few ways that you can improve communication and productivity among your outsource staff

How to even out the peaks and troughs in your business
Do you ever get times in your business where you’re really busy and then other times when you’re really quiet? Annoying isn’t it and frustrating? Wouldn’t it be much easier if you had business constantly coming in and never faced the really quiet times?

The Wave Of The Future May Be Logo Imprinted Products
Does the effectiveness of an advertisement depend on where you see it: in the newspaper, online, or in your own hand? The wave of the future may be logo-imprinted products, which have proven to be a better value than either newsprint or online advertising.

Home Party Plan Selling Tips How To Increase Home Party Sales Ratios For More Direct Sales Profits
Need more cash? In my last article, An Open Letter To : Direct Sales Consultant, Direct Selling Business Owners On How To Triple Home Party Sales we laid the foundation for improving direct selling ratios . Today we are going to focus our minds of increasing and improving home party sales ratios. This will lead to more home party sales and direct sales profit!

Open Letter To : Direct Sales Consultant, Direct Selling Business Owners On How To Triple Home Party Sales
Need extra cash? Most people who choose to get involved in a direct sales business do so because they are tired of having a 9-5 job! The idea behind a home party business is that you get to control your paycheck. Then you know exactly how more home party sales you will have to close to get you the amount you want.

How to Decide on Outsourcing Accounting Services
Companies must consider many factors when deciding if accounting services are beneficial or a waste of money. There is no one answer for everyone, but there is a logical answer.

Home Party Sales Is Simple: 4 Tips to Sell Your Way Out of This Direct Sales Business Recession
What separates the struggling, frustrated, heartbroken, cash-poor Home Party Plan Business Owner and direct sales consultants...from the confident, pink Cadillac driving, white Mercedes Benz owning, obviously clued-in home party plans marketers pulling in huge numbers and results EVEN in this chaotic, soul-sucking economy?

Not everyone is the same in marketing
Have you ever heard a business owner talk about a marketing activity they’ve been doing and thought ‘if I try that it will work for me too’? Perhaps someone has tried cold calling or sending out sales letters and has found it has worked particularly well for their business – maybe you’re thinking about doing the same to see how well it works for you.

How to Be Different in a Homogeneous Business World

It's hard, isn't it? Making your service business stand out from the rest is a challenging task. When it comes down to it, every realtor helps people buy or sell property. That's it. Every consultant offers advice that will either help people avoid pain or increase pleasure. Every doctor diagnoses illness and prescribes a remedy. Every salesperson offers a product that is strikingly similar to the competition's offering. What do you need to do to stand out?

Use The Services Of A SEO Expert To Beat The UK Economic Crisis And Increase Web Traffic And Sales Figures
With businesses concerned with the economic crisis, now could be the best time to get your website to the top of the search engines and get targeted, increased traffic to your web pages by using a UK SEO expert.

Buying a franchise during recession
In this article Nick Strong looks at the dinamic of franchise purcvhasing and recruitment during times of economic growth and during the downturn. Nick explores how, even in times of economic challenge, business format franching can offer benefits to both franchior and people buying a franchise.

Home Party Plans Tips For Marketing : Deadly Home Party Business Mistake
How does this relate to your home party business? How can a direct sales consultant benefit? Simple. Successful home party business owners are leaders go from communicating to connecting! Remember the discussion about what Oprah can teach us about direct sales and home parties success?

Direct Sales & Home Party Marketing : How Can Social Media Benefit My Business
Looking for good marketing information about party plan? May I recommend social media marketing. Direct Sales Home Party Marketing Tip: Any task you do more than once NEEDS a procedure, system or checklist!

Engagement, Performance, Retention - Where Do Your Employees Fit?
Employers need to look forward and not hunker down during an economic crisis. You do this by using all the tools at your disposal and by understanding your employees and where they fit in your organization.

How White Papers Free Reports can Turbocharge your Marketing Efforts
If you are like most business owners, you are often afraid of giving away too much information. But in fact, you needn’t be afraid. The more valuable the information you give away, the more your prospects and customers will see you as an expert and trusted advisor.