Monthly Archives: November 2011
Seven Tips to Establish Rapport with Potential Prospects
Being able to build rapport with potential prospects will be a very valuable skill when trying to launch a new business. This is important because not only do people buy from people they like, but also because having rapport will …
10 Reality Checks Before You Start a Business
Making the decision to become an entrepreneur is a major commitment, with huge implications for skills and lifestyle. Yet there is no standardized testing or certification required or available anywhere to help you decide if you are a good fit …
Attracting Your Ideal Customer — Every Time
We often see entrepreneurs using what I would call a "shotgun approach" for their marketing efforts. They have the "throw enough [mud] at the wall and something's bound to stick" philosophy. Not only is that an expensive tactic, it's also …
What Your Customers (and everyone else) Really Want
Is there one thing your customers, employees, friends, and family all have in common — one thing they all want from you? Your relationship may be very different with each group of people in your life, and their needs and …
Niche Marketing: The Only Way to Fly
People are different — and that's fantastic news. Not everyone has the same favorite color, likes the same food, enjoys the same activities, or laughs at the same jokes. Thank goodness that's the case, or life would be pretty boring. …
Make Sure Your Great Idea Includes a Business Model
For survival, the objective of every business should be to bring in revenues which exceed their costs. Even non-profits have to do this to cover overhead costs, unless they rely totally on donations. Yet I continue to see business plans, …
5 Essentials to Cultivate Business
My wife is certified as a Master Gardener by a prestigious university in the Northeast. She designs and maintains gardens for a roster of high-profile clients in the New Jersey suburbs outside New York City, and is very good at …
Building Trust: How to Communicate with Integrity
There is little that's more important in business than trust. Whether we're talking about communication between a company and its customers, employees, suppliers, or the public at large, communicating with integrity is vital. Without it, relationships suffer, and business, ultimately, …
3 Ways to Reduce Your Work Comp Costs
Worker’s compensation insurance (“work comp”) is an expense that every business owner dreads. The state forces you to purchase it, rates and premiums are seemingly out of your control, and the extent to which the insurance will be needed is …
The Simple Ingredient for Business Success: Care
There are a million and one 'systems' and 'programs' out there that claim to hold the secret to having a successful business. For a price, consultants, gurus, and experts of all kinds will tell you what it takes to be …
Choosing the Right Global Market for Your Online Business
Expanding can be one of the most exciting things for a business. With many businesses turning to ecommerce, it's now easier than ever to grow quickly and relatively inexpensively, particularly in markets overseas. But when you've got the world at …
What Bad Looks Like (and What it Means for Your Business)
My wife and I recently stayed at a nationally affiliated "luxury" hotel in Miami and learned a lot about customer service…the hard way. Being Okay with Blown Expectations: Staying at a nice hotel ($350+/night) and being willing to pay $25/person …
SEO 101: The Basics Every Entrepreneur Should Know
The story goes that in ancient times (B.C. – and I don't mean before computers) women of ill repute would have a symbol carved on the sole of their sandals. As they walked through the dirt and mud of the …
Supermums: Juggling Business, Kids, and More
With the world's population reaching a staggering 7 billion, I've been turning my thoughts to babies. I'm a 31 year old woman, no kids and working full pelt on my startup. I can't really imagine fitting in children yet, but …
4 Lifestyle Patterns Successful Entrepreneurs Share
Successful entrepreneurs make profits from their passions. They decide what actions they must take in order to establish or grow their own business. After speaking with many entrepreneurs from all different fields, it has become increasingly apparent they all share …
10 Smart Ways Successful Entrepreneurs Take Risks
Being a risk taker in business is not the same as being reckless. Nevertheless, the word "risk" has a negative connotation to most of us, implying danger and possible loss. For true entrepreneurs, risk is viewed as a positive, with …
Virtual Office 101: Marketing Yourself & Your Business
Yes, we're amidst an unemployment drought in the US, but there are all types of opportunities out there for savvy, motivated virtual workers. Companies are looking for contractors for everything from one project to a permanent position. Small business executives …
How to Make New Media Work for Your Business: Interview with Neil Rosen, Author of Chatter Marketing
New media, which encompasses all aspects of online marketing, such as social media marketing, blogging, comment marketing, and more, is everywhere we look these days. It's almost impossible to find ads even in traditional media that don't point to a …
