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Written by Brenda Weathers Hargroves, small business coach and author ? Brenda’s consulting firm, Business At Hand, is located in Lutz, Florida. Her mission is to share successful methods for implementing and operating a small business or social entrepreneurship venture. She offers individual/group entrepreneurship coaching sessions, small business workshops/seminars and encourages book signings.
To contact Brenda for assistance call (813) 962-8918 or send an email to businessathand1@hotmail.com. To purchase her book, The Heart and Soul of Entrepreneurship, or for more information about her services visit her website at http://www.businessathand.biz
The same old story time after time. There is a program, or a system, or this, or a that designed for ultimate success, wealth, health, prosperity, peace of mind…and it goes on and on…
Its time to stop the insanity!
There is no absolute answer to health, wealth, peace of mind success or anything else! The news may frighten, alarm, disgust…whatever. But the sad but true fact is…’there is no yellow brick road, Dorothy.’
There are credible and reliable and profitable ways to conduct business on the net. The old saying of jump on board with this or that is done! Bury that notion!
No program on the net is designed for anything ultimately but separating good people from their money. There is no magic answer to tons of traffic, wealth beyond the imagination, health like it was when one was a child. How could people become son naive on the net as opposed to real life?
There are very good, credible, and profitable programs out there. The one thing to do is take a very close look at the program before handing over the plastic and clicking on the I agree button.
Going to the policies and procedures of any program, any program, any program is absolutely essential. Then, is it feels right and everything checks out OK, then the attitude of going for it is fine, but not until then.
Internet marketing and internet marketers have gotten a bad rap. Its time to take back the net from the scammers and spammers and conduct the legitimate and long-lasting way.
There is absolutely no difference in doing business online than face to face…(or there should not be anyway.)
Time to forget the hype, the lies, the untruths, the illegitimate, the greedy, the stupid, the misinformed, and the out and out liars on the net. Walking away from everything that is harmful and walking towards everything that is good…is the only way to go.
It is possible to make good money, free one’s time, and enable one to live exactly like one desires without the tyrannical rule of a company or a boss or the promise of future rewards by staying with a dying horse.
Legitimate business building systems do not need hype…they stand on their own merits. They do not need to convince, coerce, lie, steal and all the rest of the deadly sins to conduct their business.
Profitable marketing techniques online is a doable process if one pays close attention to details and just goes to work!
http://ButchHamilton.com
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Butch Hamilton is an SEO|SEM Specialist. Living on the internet has become a way of life…a succesful way of life. His talents for obtaining top positions on the search engines have led him to the point in his life where he has always wanted to be.
‘Life-What a Ride!’
Says Mr. Hamilton, ‘Writing has always been my passion. Gone are the days when I placed blatant ads on the internet for exposure. I have found my life’s work in writing articles.
Reliable and credible information is what the internet is all about to Butch Hamilton. His experience as a self employed building contractor…steel fabrication…has led him on an incredible journey.
He now resides in his beautiful home in Texas with his wife. Writing is the passion behind his successful promoting ability on the net.
Butch Hamilton’s Quote: ‘What we think-is what we become.’
http://ButchHamilton.com
http://butchhamiltonsbestdomains.com
December 6, 2007
Affiliate Marketing is something that all small business web sites do to some extent either as publishers or advertisers. Although some webmasters use affiliate programs simply to supplement their income to pay hosting fees, others earn dramatic profits by following these simple rules for better affiliate sales.
Autoresponders are incredibly valuable tools that allow you to send a timed series of email messages to those that sign up for them. Most often those autoresponders are sent through a third party provider. Some of the top providers are Sendfree.com and aweber.com
Purchase Offline Classified Ads: You can purchase space in Thrifty Nickel Ads rather cheaply. Try to find a niche that isn’t overrun such as work-at-home or business opportunities. You can place your ad online, but I’ve found that if I can save nearly 50% if I purchase the ad space in person, or if you mail in your payment. Call them first and ask them how much the ad will cost if you mail in your payment.
Visit some of the top classified sites on the Internet. Simply do a search on Google, Yahoo or MSN, if you aren’t familiar with any. Visit the work-at-home, and business sections. Write down their email addresses and simply request more information. But before you do, write your email signature as a small ad. Never attempt to sell them anything in the body of your email, this might be considered spam. Just simply ask for more information and create an enticing tag line as your email signature.
Filling a web site with content reflecting a narrowly focused product or service niche is a well known method of gaining web traffic in your area of specialty. An excellent resource that can help you determine relevant and focused areas to fill your site with is called NicheBot. They offer innovative tools to research and pinpoint market niches for your web site based on the WordTracker Database and Google.
www.nichebot.com
Writing articles about your market niche is essential to gain reputation as an expert in your field. But the biggest benefit comes not just from writing those articles, but from having those articles published by other web site owners and ezine publishers. Your article gains you both reputation and links from other web sites from the resource box appended to the end of each article.
Choosing the right affiliate program is vital for your success. We don?t want to end up with lemons, right? It is not advisable to invest time and effort into something that will not yield the best return for the energy expended.
How sellable is the product? You could always ask for statistics from the affiliate program. Don?t forget that. You could demand to see the sales chart for the past few months, so that you?d know that there are people who are actually willing to purchase the product. We can safely say that an affiliate programs offering high commission rates for very sellable products is an excellent opportunity.
Most affiliate programs will provide their affiliates with tools to market with. Simply put, the more tools provided, the more chances of you making the sale.
This is because you can then save time by simply editing the provided materials to your own ‘voice’ instead of creating an ad from scratch. You can focus instead on the marketing. Similarly, having more tools also equate to more opportunities to get the sales message through effectively.
A factor you must pay attention to is how much you will be paid, in relation to your promotional efforts. A higher commission percentage can be a huge motivation to place higher focus on a particular product in your total portfolio.
Alternatively seek out products with a higher end pricing or those that offer residual income. You would want to profit exponentially from any effort placed.
So find a program you believe in and follow through with it. Learn all you can about it and its products. Stick with it and continue to find new ways to market it. It may take a little while, but before you know it you’ll be making sales. And with each sale your confidence will rise!
And then maybe you can start to look for another program or two to promote…
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Asa Williams founder of Gravitational Inc., Writer, Marketer, and Family Man. Get more useful affiliate marketing Tips and Tactics at:
asa.name/affiliatemarketing/one.html
December 4, 2007
Many of our students express interest on establishing their own private practices. Having your own business means you can have the flexibility needed to fulfil your family commitments, to have control of your life and to excel the quality of your services. Having that in mind, AIPC has developed some guidelines that may help you setting up your practice. Going into business for yourself is definitely not just a matter of opening the doors and putting out a welcome mat!
Promoting your Business
Professionals in the health and associated industries, including doctors, nurses, psychologists, counsellors, social workers, etc., often work from their own self-employed businesses, and as such are required to maintain appropriate trading and other records. When becoming self-employed it is natural that you wish to see your business thrive, and with this natural expectation in mind we ask that you try to set realistic goals. Don’t expect that your business will flourish overnight, and don’t expect it to grow unless you put in significant effort. Nurturing your business in the early stages is like most other things in life, you do the right thing by it and it will do the right thing for you.
- Talk to your family doctor and pharmacist and let him/her know what you are planning as you may have to make referrals to him/her. Many counsellors do get referrals from them and this is usually the result of establishing a meaningful trust relationship.
- Talk to your local naturopath/homeopath/physiotherapist and suggest an exchange of business cards. Explain that you would like to have someone specific to make referrals to and maybe he/she may care to reciprocate.
- One of the best ways to promote your business is by word of mouth, and one of the most effective ways to ensure that this happens is to run group activities such as Grief and Loss discussion groups.
- Advertising - use a simple and concise description of your services and advertise through relevant channels (e.g. yellow pages, newspapers ‘Health and Wellbeing’ and ‘Professional Services’ sections, etc).
Legal and Accounting Matters
Before you go into practice, whether it is on a full time, part time or volunteer basis, you should seek appropriate accounting and legal advice. Don’t just set up shop. Get the right advice, it’s well worth it. Setting up a business as a counselling practitioner carries with it certain responsibilities. You may ask yourself some basic questions, and ensure you have the answers for them before setting your business up.
- Should I register a Business Name and if so, how do I do it?
- Should I form a Trust of a Company and if so, when and how?
- Should I register for an Australian Business Number (or similar) and if so, how do I do it?
- Should I register for GST (or similar tax registration process) and if so, how do I do it?
- Am I required to register under Workplace Health and Safety Regulations?
- What kind of accounting format do I need?
- Do I need Insurance (indemnity or other) and if so, what?
Setting up your rooms
There are some aspects of your room that must be considered when developing a counselling practice environment.
Colours
Both room background and the d?cor colours should be modest, comfortable, settling and non-aggressive. Ideal colours include soft pastel shades including green, blue, lilac or cream.
D?cor
It should be conservative and not include primary colours or items which are attention getting.
Space
It should neither be overly large or small.
- Seating: It should be comfortable and arranged in a circular plan. Lounge type chairs are preferable and it is important that you, the counsellor, sit at the same height as your clients.
- Smoking: It is unprofessional to smoke with a client.
- Seeking Counsel: If you are working with someone and you would like a second opinion never be afraid to let the Client know that this is what you want. Make sure you preserve the client’s privacy by not passing on details such as name or contact details.
Keep yourself up-to-date!
If you are engaging into your own practice, it is important that you keep up-to-date with industry events, standards and innovations. As a solution provider, you ought to know what are the requirements of your clients, what is the quality level of your competitors and in which ways you can bring more satisfaction to everyone involved with your business. Magazines (e.g. The Professional Counsellor), the web, newsletters and industry associations are good sources of such information.
By applying some of these tips there is a greater chance you’ll succeed in your own practice. As they say in business: Failing to plan is planning to fail!
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Pedro Gondim is a writer and publisher for the Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors. The Institute is Australia’s largest counsellor training provider, offering the internationally renowned Diploma of Professional Counselling.
Learn to Be a Counsellor.
Subscribe to our FREE eZine.
Counselling Connection Blog.
Author’s Note: I highly recommend Simon Clarke’s articles.
December 3, 2007
Access to finance is fundamental to business development. It underwrites innovation; take up of technology and exploration of new ideas. In Australia however, the Banks are generally too scared to lend to small to medium sized businesses.
The capital, or currency, of an individual is the cash they have in their wallet or purse, or as cash in the bank. However, an individual cannot print their own currency that would be counterfeiting which carries heavy penalties.
The capital (or currency) of a business enterprise however can be ordinary shares, redeemable preference shares, promissory notes, options etc. In contrast to an individual, a business or enterprise can print its own currency as legal tender, in the form of securities (shares, options debentures etc.)
A business can then use these securities as a type of ?currency? to be swapped for cash, goods or services. As well as swapping shares for cash, an SME can also use its shares as a type of negotiable security or ?bid currency? for mergers, acquisitions or takeovers, unlike borrowing from a Bank, equity capital is contributed in return for a share of ownership. It is not repayable, demands no provision of security (other than issued shares) and bears no interest. The Australian Small Scale Offerings Board plays an important (and not insignificant) role in capital raising for SME?s.
For futher information on this topic please consider the following website:
www.assob.com.au/raising_capital.asp
December 2, 2007
Common sense told me that to excel in the 21st century one needed an education designed for today?s world, that?s what I called an education in 21st century. It’s obvious those who have a education in 21st century are probably more likely to excel!
What I started to look for was solutions and different ways to take back control of my finances and my life. Many people want to change the world, but we can never change things on the outside, unless we first change things on the inside ourselves and then our world magically automatically changes. When I first looked at the idea of a education in 21st century, i had a couple of challenges with it. My first question was ‘what exactly is a education in 21st century?’ and secondly ‘How do I go about getting one?’
Here is what I have come up with after investing my time and money into education in 21st century.
There are five major components for an education in 21st century:
1) Emotional Intelligence
2) Financial Intelligence
3) The four key skills
* communication
* negotiation
* marketing
* creative thinking
4) Results, Purpose, Action or R.P.A.
5) Designing Your Life.
These components are the basis for building the life I want.
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Author: Greg Dempsey ? Investor/Marketer
Title: Education In 21st Century
www.OpulentWealth.com
Reprinting this article is allowed with this footer attached
November 27, 2007
Using networking as a sales and marketing tool is the most effective way to promote your product or service. The unfortunate reality is many simply can?t network effectively and often times end up standing around with a group of people they already know and leave an event with no new contacts. The good news is networking is a skill that can be learned.
There are many organizations which can provide excellent networking opportunities for a business. However, the key to attending networking events is planning ahead and maximizing the opportunity.
Before attending an event, it is important to clearly identify the members you would like to get to know better and what you hope to achieve. Members of an organization are usually listed on a member?s directory web-page and many organizations have photos of each member, as well as a brief description, making it easy to get a head start. Although it may prove an interesting evening, if you are an interior decorator just starting out, spending half of your evening with a group of industrial engineers may not prove to be the most productive use of your time. Often times those who don?t feel they accomplish much at networking meetings and struggle to blend in are those who know nothing about the group or its members.
It is much easier to strike up a conversation with someone when you already know a little about what they do and how knowing you may benefit them. To be effective, networking is just as much about giving as it is about taking. In fact, a great networking strategy is to work hard at getting business for others. Other members of the network will reciprocate and you will be well on your way to linking tangible results to your efforts. For this to be accomplished, keep things short and to the point when talking about your business to someone for the first time. A brief description of your business and its highlights is ideal, followed by a short conversation with as much focus on your new acquaintance as possible before moving on to someone else. The key to networking when you are new is getting acquainted with the group and its members.
If you are armed with a business card and an enthusiastic attitude almost any situation can be a potential opportunity to network. Your capacity to connect with others? interests, wants, and needs is essential to the networking process. And once you?ve met interesting people, don?t forget to follow up and keep in touch with a phone call or an email. After all, networking is all about building business relationships that will last far longer than one event.
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Jason Gadbois is a business expert, having spent a decade with Canada’s leading Pharmacy retailer, opened two start-up companies himself, and worked for Government as a business consultant helping hundreds of entrepreneurs start-up successful businesses.
November 21, 2007
I?ve invented and patented several products that are clever, useful, and saleable. Wal-Mart even gave one of them their highest grade when I sent them the plans through their little-known, inventors program. So why aren?t I rich? That?s a reasonable question. Once I got over the elation I experienced upon receiving their acceptance letter, reality sunk in. They wanted 20,000 units in special packaging and designed to meet certain specifications. After consulting foreign manufacturers and getting prices for construction and exporting, I looked at my investment costs. They totaled over $330,000. I had no way of raising that much money, so I began exploring other avenues of funding. The banks looked at the Wal-Mart proposal and still turned me down. They recommended I look for an ?Angel,? or venture capitalist investor. These people fund likely candidates that have products they deem marketable. After contacting a few in my area, one agreed to meet with me.
I had my proposal ready, including a business plan, the Wal-Mart response, and an entire five-year projection complete with marketing materials. The three men were impressed and explained how they work. If they decided to front me the money needed, they would expect the following: (a) total control over the project, (b) the right to approve and change any idea I proposed, (c) their company name on every piece of literature, (d) 70% interest in the business, including any future stock offerings. Needless to say, I was somewhat speechless.
The thought that my invention would be under someone else?s ownership and I would receive a 30% return on all my hard work, was disheartening, to say the least. But they explained the reasoning. They were taking all the financial risk in an un-proven product that might not sell at all, regardless of what Wal-Mart said. Therefore, they had to be assured of a good return on their investment, if it did succeed. They told me they did like the product and the idea and would make their decision within a week.
During that time period, I thought about my hopes, dreams and how they were souring. When I eventually got the call, I had mixed feelings. They said they were still interested and would probably go with the program, after consulting their investors. I decided that getting 30% of something was better than 100% of nothing.
It turned out that it didn?t really matter. I never heard from them again. Over the following months, I was to discover how few of these projects get off the ground because of similar funding issues. I was also distraught after spending two years of my life designing the product and making a working prototype. I had gone to the trouble of test marketing using random people in my area and getting their feedback. All of them agreed it was a great idea and yet, where was I years later? I was no closer to getting it into the stores. Without the money I needed, I might have well not done anything at all.
I had everything necessary for an invention to succeed: the working product, a business plan, packaging, manufacturing, a marketing program, and a willing merchant. And not just any merchant: Wal-Mart. Yet, no one was willing to finance my product, or, if they were, they wanted 70% ownership and total control. This is a rude awakening to all you would-be Edisons out there. Even if you have a terrific invention, will you automatically make a fortune? The hard reality is that the odds are against it. Myth busted!
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Jeffrey Hauser?s latest book is, ‘Inside the Yellow Pages,? which can be viewed at http://www.poweradbook.com
He was a sales consultant for the Bell System Yellow Pages for nearly 25 years. He graduated from Pratt Institute with a BFA in Advertising and has a Master’s Degree in teaching. He had his own advertising agency in Scottsdale, Arizona and ran a consulting and design firm, ABC Advertising. Currently, he is the Marketing Director for thenurseschoice.com, a Health Information and Doctor Referral site.
November 15, 2007
Most entrepreneurs would not want to meet me at a party.
Here are just a few of the questions I’d hit you with:
What’s your business? How are you different from your competitors? Where do you find your customers? Advertising, word-of-mouth, a referral system, joint ventures? Do you have a back-end? How much do you want to earn? By when? Are you making progress? How do you know? Is what you want to accomplish even possible?
Why am I grilling you with all these questions? Let me explain with an example.
Let’s say your goal is to make more money. Okay, then here’s how: Close your business today so you don’t make any sales. Open your business tomorrow and make one sale for $1.
Goal achieved, right? Technically, yes. But that’s not really what you meant by making more money, is it?
Before you can ever hope to accomplish your business goals, you must know in detail what those goals are in the first place.
S.M.A.R.T. Goals for Entrepreneurs
The S.M.A.R.T. goal-setting technique is popular because of its simplicity and power. Clarify your goals according to the following criteria:
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Results-oriented
Time-bound
Let’s give it a try with the goal of ‘making more money.’
Specific: How much more? Do you mean revenue, profit, or net worth? From new customers or existing customers? At the initial point of purchase or on the back-end? In a windfall or over time?
Measurable: How will you track your progress? Daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly? By dollar increase or percentage increase?
Achievable: How big is this challenge for you? Have you ever done anything like it before? Has anyone else? Yes, there’s always someone who’s first, and you may be that person, but make sure you know that’s the kind of goal you’re setting before you get started.
Results-oriented: Why do you want more money? Do you want to buy a new house? Expand your business? Go on vacation? Feel more peaceful and secure? Take more time off?
Time-bound: By what date?
Vague goal: Make more money.
SMART Goal: Increase revenue from consulting by 50% this quarter (compared to the same quarter last year). Do this by asking for 3 referrals from each customer at the point of sale, and contacting those referrals by phone within 2 business days.
It’s important to note that with any goal, the details will change as you progress. Goal setting is not about stubbornness. It’s about clarity. The more clarity you have from the very start, the more you can invite new opportunities into the process. Those opportunities can be measured against the original plan and explored (or not) as a conscious choice. And greater choice leads to a feeling of empowerment.
Entrepreneurs who learn to use the SMART goal-setting strategy will earn more money and grow their businesses faster than their competition.
Copyright 2006 Curtis G. Schmitt
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About the Author:
Curtis G. Schmitt invites you to learn the 5 Master Keys to Effective Time Management and Planning in a teleclass people are calling a ‘life-saver,’ ‘powerful,’ and ‘inspirational’! When you apply these 5 master keys, you’ll progress faster and feel more fulfilled in all areas of your life. Register for this teleclass today: www.TurnOnToLife.com
November 5, 2007
Have you ever met someone who hears you have your own business, and immediately they launch into what they dream being a business owner is? Sleeping in, watching Springer, getting a tan, Shopping?.. If only!
Starting your own business Requires:
1. Guts. Everyone thinks of starting his or her own business one day. It takes guts to walk away from your ?day job? into the uncertain waters ahead.
2. Being open to learning. Since I have started my business, I?ve learned more about marketing than I ever thought I?d need to know. Marketing is so much more than printing up brochures or placing an ad in the newspaper.
3. Dedication. Yes, it?s so much easier to wake up and decide you don?t feel like working today, stay in your jammies and watch TV. But in order to succeed in business, you need to be dedicated to your business. You have to work at it every day. Most of the time longer hours than you ever worked at your ?day job.?
4. Passion. When you talk to truly successful people about what keeps them going, what encourages them, why they do what they do, it all boils down to passion. Running a business will take alot out of you. In order to keep going and not give up, you must have passion for what you do. If you?re doing something because someone else wants you to do it or for the money, it will get old real quick. If you don?t truly enjoy what you?re doing, you will never achieve the level of success that is attainable.
5. Desire to help people. Yes, everyone wants to make money. But in order to make your business a success, you must feel a need to help people. When you?re doing something because you want others to succeed, it makes you work that much harder, gives you that extra push, and makes you connect more to your customers. Customers are savvy. They can smell a line of bull a mile away. But if you honestly want to help people, it will show through and that is what draws people to you and your business.
6. Confidence. When you?re a business owner, you?re the face of your company. You need to have the self confidence and ability to talk to people about who you are and what you do. Most businesses rely, to some degree, on networking. If you lack confidence, it?s agonizingly hard to thrust yourself out there and make yourself be seen. Especially if you really don?t want to be seen.
7. The Ability to delegate. When you own a business, you are responsible for everything. Not only sales, but also marketing, accounting, customer service, shipping, administrative, PR, and IT. It?s way too easy to get buried underneath all the responsibilities and feel that because it?s your business, you must do it all. You don?t have to! Delegate! Work with a Virtual Assistant. A virtual assistant can take over the administrative and bookkeeping duties, can help you with marketing campaigns, and even help you bounce around ideas on where you should go or what you should do. Unlike an employee who is only there for the paycheck, a VA wants to see you succeed.
Being a business owner is one of the best opportunities you’ll ever get. When you’re ready to take advantage of it, know what you’re getting yourself into and it will go so much smoother.
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Visit www.ExecAdminSolutions.com for more ideas on running a more successful business. Sign up for our free monthly newsletter. Jennifer Irving is owner of Executive Administrative Solutions, and provides executive-level virtual office assistance to business owners who are overwhelmed, overworked, or just plain tired.
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