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5 Things You Could Do Today to Generate a Sale

By Melinda Emerson on May 1, 2012 in Business Inspiration, Cash Flow & Finance, Grow Your Business, Melinda Emerson @SmallBizLady

It’s May. That means it’s National Small Business Month and it’s time for you to get serious about your business.

Answer these questions about your business: Have you updated your business plan? Are you using your business plan to run your small business? Do you have monthly/weekly sales goals? Do you know by the 15^th of the month how well or poorly your business did last month? Are you doing 5 things before 11am each day to jump-start sales and revenue in your business? If your answer is no or not really try these:

Here are 5 things you could do today to generate a sale:

1) Send an email to a recent customer (within the last two weeks) and ask for a LinkedIn or Yelp recommendation. Be sure to send the link in the email to make it easy for them.

2) Call a contact that you met at a recent networking event to schedule coffee or a lunch appointment.

3) Send a personal note to an old customer to check in on them. Include an article of interest to them, too.

4) Write a 300-500 word blog post for your business blog.

5) Evaluate your accounts receivable to see if anyone is 30 days behind in paying you, and give them a call to find out payment status. While you’re on the phone with them, inquire about another order.

May is the busiest time of the year for me, and I have some great free resources for you from some of my corporate customers that will help you as you run your small business.

May 1: Take a business course for free: I’m the lead instructor for Black Enterprise’s Small Business University: Register for the Small Business University NOW and learn how to build and grow your business! Plus enter for a chance to win more than $50,000 in prizes. It’s not too late to sign up today http://www.blackenterprise.com/sbu/

May 2: 7th annual New York XPO for Business at The Javits Center in NYC. I will be delivering a keynote speech: “Using Social Media to Engage Customers & Drive B2B Success!” My speech is from 4:00 – 5:00 PM. I will teach small business owners how to create a winning online marketing strategy. Register today before it’s sold out. Here’s a BONUS! FREE 1-DAY XPO PASS REGISTER NOW = http://bit.ly/ubMH61 Promo Code = SPEAKER15

May 8: Live Tweetchat on Twitter Learn How to Build a Social Media Brand to Grow Your Small Business. Stay tuned for details.

May is going to be a great month for being in business. Check back at this blog daily for tools and resources to succeed as your own boss.

Melinda F. Emerson, known to many as SmallBizLady www.twitter.com/smallbizlady is one of America’s leading small business experts. As a seasoned entrepreneur, professional speaker, and small business coach, she develops audio, video and written content to fulfill her mission to end small business failure. As CEO of Quintessence Multimedia, Melinda educates entrepreneurs and Fortune 500 companies on subjects including small business start-up, business development and social media marketing. Forbes Magazine named her #1 woman for entrepreneurs to follow on Twitter. She hosts #SmallBizChat Wednesdays on Twitter 8-9pm ET for emerging entrepreneurs. She also publishes a resource blog http://www.succeedasyourownboss.com Melinda is also bestseller author of Become Your Own Boss in 12 months; A Month-by-Month Guide to a Business That Works. http://succeedasyourownboss.com/products/purchase-the-book/

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7 Businesses to Start For Under $500

By Melinda Emerson on April 30, 2012 in Business Inspiration, How to Start

Start a Small Business for Under $500 When you see a friend’s kitchen clutter, do you dive right in to bring order it? Are you the go-to girl for hair and makeup advice? Are you “that guy” who can fix anything technical or mechanical? If you’ve ever considered becoming your own boss, this could be the right time to turn your talent into a thriving side hustle business — even if you don’t have a lot of money to get started.

Starting a business on the side is a smart way to get your feet wet as an entrepreneur. Look first at the services and goods you already provide for free to friends and family. “The best way to start a business for less than $500 is to figure out how to get paid for what you love to do,” says Clyde Anderson, a financial lifestyle coach and CNN contributor in Atlanta. “It’s crucial for anyone who’s looking to start a business to determine what gifts and talents they already have and to convert them into an actual business.”

Here are 7 great businesses to Start For $500

1. Baker Cakes and cupcakes are the highlight of any party, and reality foodie shows such as Cupcake Wars have made baking a popular new business idea. Brooklyn blogger and cupcake expert Nichelle Stephens says you can start a cupcake business for $500 or less, as long as you aren’t trying to open a storefront. “You spend more time than money when starting a baking business,” says Stephens, who shares baking and business tips on her blog. “You need to find a neighborhood where there is a limited number of baked goods available and identify your niche.” Once you get your mixer, the next expense is quality baking pans and cooling racks. Use your co-workers as your test market and promote your business in the groups you belong to, especially if you have children. Other parents are a great potential customer base. Keep in mind it’s illegal in most jurisdictions to bake and sell food from your home. Here’s a website where you can research commercial kitchens in your area.

2. Mobile Notary Public Despite technological advances, documents such as property deeds, wills and loan papers still require an official signature and stamp by a notary. Some banks and real estate agents have a notary license, but the current trend is using notaries who come to your home or business on call. Setting up this kind of business has strict rules: Most states require you to take a course to learn the notary business and pass an exam, and all require a state license. Check with your state for regulations and costs, and visit the National Notary Association for materials and more information. It’s important to put out the word to friends, family and co-workers about your new notary business. Set up a professional website with search engine optimization so that your business can be found locally. “Pick a niche,” says Dany Victory, owner of mobilenotarypublic.com in Southern California. “I specialize in loan documents, and it’s helped me earn referral customers such as realtors and title companies.” As a mobile notary, your costs are low and there are fringe benefits: You can drive around, meet interesting people and charge a premium for providing door-to-door service. “My income is higher because I charge travel fees on top of the standard notary charge of $10 per signature,” says Victory.

3. Personal Trainer Many people’s New Year’s resolution is to lose weight, and many of these same individuals are looking for professional help to shed those unwanted pounds. If you are a fitness buff or avid runner, you may be able to make a living by teaching others what you’ve learned. You can be a general fitness instructor or specialize in marathon prep, yoga or Zumba. The first step in launching a fitness business is to become certified as a personal trainer. You also may need some basic equipment such as a portable CD player, exercise ball, stair step and mats. To launch your training business, start by telling your own weight loss story. Don’t be afraid to share your before and after pictures on your website and Facebook page. To find clients, try to build relationships at the gym you already attend. Inquire about becoming a trainer on staff to learn the business. Reach out to friends and colleagues who either don’t have time to go to a gym or feel embarrassed in a room full of people running on treadmills. Fitness enthusiast John Leber of Paramus, N.J., became a trainer in retirement. Leber studied, took a workshop and an exam, and within months got his personal trainer certification from the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). “I worked for a large fitness chain gym for 18 months, and it was like your first job out of college, but after I left that company, my old clients started calling me for services,” says Leber, who is 63.” He specializes in working with clients 50+ and with people recovering from injuries. Here’s more on how to become a personal trainer.

4. Personal Organizer Clutter is stressful for everyone, and you can make a living helping people get their homes, offices and lives in order. Professional organizing is a perfect business for people with a knack for neatness and developing systems. You can charge hourly or set half-day and full-day flat rates for your time. Not all clutter is the same, so it’s a good idea to choose an area of specialization, such as cleaning out garages, helping people plan for moving or downsizing, or assisting professional women with busy lives. Devise a system for how you will approach new client projects. Some organizers interview prospects; others ask for a tour of the space that needs organizing; some just throw everything on the floor and start from there. Philadelphia-based professional organizer Debbie Lillard, author of Absolutely Organized, wanted to work part time after years as a stay-at-home mom. She launched her business by contacting old friends who were stressed by the disorganization in their lives. She created business cards and flyers and distributed them in grocery stores in affluent neighborhoods. “I wrote a sales letter explaining who might need an organizer and sent it to everyone I knew, which landed me my first clients; from there, it was all word-of-mouth referrals,” Lillard says. Within a few months, she also launched a do-it-yourself website. Lillard went on to write two books about getting organized and shared organizational tips during media appearances, which helped her business grow. Collecting before and after pictures and client testimonials are good ways to promote a business as a professional organizer. For people interested in this business, consider joining the National Association of Professional Organizers, which provides education and training for new business owners in the field.

5. Social Media Marketing Assistant The social media world is growing, and most business owners don’t have time to keep up. You can create a business as a social media marketing assistant or strategist if you have strong writing skills and a working knowledge of the major social media networking sites. Copy editing skills also are in demand for customers with blogs. Prior experience in public relations and marketing can also set you apart from those who just know social media tools. This business involves helping clients develop a social media strategy, build blogs, and set up Facebook Fan Pages, Twitter accounts, LinkedIn profiles and Google+ accounts. lf you know how to set up and maintain WordPress websites (they’re free), you can specialize in that service and charge a higher hourly rate. Cathy Larkin of Web Savvy PR in Aston, Pa., shows her small-business clients how to make social media marketing less intimidating. She provides strategies and shortcuts to keep her clients up to date online. “The first thing I did was learn the tools; then I picked a niche for the kind of customers I wanted,” Larkin says, “Be willing to work for free at first, just to prove you know what you are doing and get some references.” A low-cost way to quickly sharpen your social media skills is to attend a social media conference such as a PodCamp, which are held all over the country. The key to being successful as a social media marketing assistant is keeping your skills updated and making sure you stay on top of the constantly changing features on the social networking sites.

6. Jewelry Designer People like handmade, one-of-a-kind jewelry, and this hobby is a good choice for a home-based business. Settle on your signature style or specialty — whether you’ll create pieces with bead design or design molds for silver and goldsmithing or stainless-steel items. Then you need to name your business, create samples, produce high-quality photos and start developing marketing materials. Patricia Miller, owner of the Velvet Box in Flint, Mich., got hooked on the craft while helping a friend with her holiday jewelry orders. Miller launched her own business with small orders for bracelets, and then she began doing home shows. Later she created an online shop at Etsy.com, which makes it simple for crafters to display and sell handmade goods. “Ninety-eight percent of my business has come from repeat customers and word-of-mouth referrals,” says Miller. Jewelry sellers also should look into setting up booths at craft fairs, flea markets and community events. Try partnering with local art galleries, hospitals and boutiques to sell higher-end pieces in your catalog. Don’t forget to wear your own jewelry everywhere you go — you are your best advertisement.

7. Image Consultant Are you the person everyone stops and says, “Wow, you look great! Can you go shopping with me?” You are not just a trendsetter; you also may have the skills to be an image consultant or visual branding specialist. “Both women and men need to present their very best to the world. I help people reinvent and update their look,” says Tracey Reed, who runs a Philadelphia image consulting firm, Tracey Evelyn Beautiful You. “I do everything from color analysis to make-up lessons and personal shopping.” If you want to start a business as an image consultant, you need to have an understanding of color basics, textiles and clothing silhouettes. Reed, who has a master’s degree in theater make-up and costume design, suggests taking courses in color theory and retail merchandising to sharpen your skills. She started out in the beauty business as a licensed aesthetician and later expanded her services to include wardrobe and image consulting. Potential clients include professional women too busy to shop, brides-to-be who want makeovers, and men who want to sharpen their images to get ahead at work. Having a personal network is key to building your initial clientele. Set up a blog to share style tips, and then use Facebook and other social media to attract new customers. You also can use your website to post special packages, share testimonials and feature before and after photos of clients. It could be your best sales tool.

All of these are great businesses ideas, but keep in mind that you still need a marketing plan and business plan to get your fledgling enterprise on track. Start with free business plan software at enloop.com to get rolling and later invest in a business plan course at a small business development center or local community college. Business plans help you think through your business operations, target customers, budget and sales projections, so you can measure success in your new business.

Do you have other great business ideas for under $500? Please share your comments.

This article was originally posted on http://www.secondact.com/ and the copyright is held by Entrepreneur Media.

For more tips on how start or grow your small business subscribe to Melinda Emerson’s blog http://www.succeedasyourownboss.com.

Melinda F. Emerson, known to many as SmallBizLady is one of America’s leading small business experts. As a seasoned entrepreneur, professional speaker, and small business coach, she develops audio, video and written content to fulfill her mission to end small business failure. As CEO of Quintessence Multimedia, Melinda educates entrepreneurs and Fortune 500 companies on subjects including small business start-up, business development and social media marketing. Forbes Magazine named her #1 woman for entrepreneurs to follow on Twitter. She hosts #SmallBizChat Wednesdays on Twitter 8-9pm ET for emerging entrepreneurs. She also publishes a resource blog http://www.succeedasyourownboss.com Melinda is also bestseller author of Become Your Own Boss in 12 months; A Month-by-Month Guide to a Business That Works.

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Smallbizchat Celebrates 3 Years of Helping Thousands of Entrepreneurs

By Melinda Emerson on April 25, 2012 in Business Inspiration, Melinda Emerson @SmallBizLady, SmallBizChat

Today marks the third anniversary of my Twitter talk show #Smallbizchat.

We launched the weekly #Smallbizchat, in April of 2009, as a peer-to-peer mentoring program to help early stage entrepreneurs get answers to their small business questions. The goal was to provide information to help end small business failure. With 82% of small businesses going out of business in five years, we wanted to do something that would really be impactful by giving people information that, in many cases, they had no idea was critical to their business success.

Nearly 150 shows and over 150K followers later, #SmallBizChat has become an institution on Twitter as one of the longest running tweetchats. @SmallBizChat’s third anniversary show is tonight Wednesday April 25, 2012 from 8-9 pm ET, with guest Alexis Maybank, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of The Gilt Groupe www.gilt.com, one of the top online members-only shopping websites. Maybank is also the co-author of the new book for entrepreneurs “By Invitation Only: How We Built Gilt and Changed the Way Millions Shop.

My inspiration to launch the #Smallbizchat community happened after I wrote my bestselling book “Become Your Own Boss in 12 months; A Month-by-Month Guide to a Business That Works” (now in its third printing). Even before the book came out, I wanted to reduce the learning curve as individuals attempted to start and grow their small businesses. My message now reaches 1.5 million entrepreneurs online weekly and has created an additional career for me as social media marketing expert. In fact, more people know me as @SmallBizLady than my real name.

My blog SucceedAsYourOwnBoss.com, which is syndicated by the Huffington Post, has become a valuable resource to small business owners worldwide and Forbes Magazine named me #1 Woman for Entrepreneurs to Follow on Twitter.

It has also afforded me the opportunity to be featured in The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Fortune, USA Today, and Black Enterprise; a regular contributor to OpenForum.com, SecondAct.com and Entrepreneur.com, BlackEnterprise.com and Essence Magazine. And a featured a speaker for such organizations as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, INC Magazine, Bloomberg, #140 Conference, New York Expo, National Association of Community College Entrepreneurship and The Pennsylvania Governor’s Conference for Women.

My weekly interactive Twitter talk show #Smallbizchat, has given me the platform to help millions of small business owners. Doing a live show every week is a major commitment, but I love seeing chat participants “get it” – that charges me up every time. Tonight’s third anniversary show #Smallbizchat will feature Alexis Maybank Co-Founder of Gilt.com on the topic: “How to have a million dollar membership site. To celebrate the anniversary, we’ll give away copies of my book, Maybank’s book and limited edition #SmallBizChat t-shirts.

How does the #Smallbizchat work? Every Wednesday, Twitter users log onto tweetchat.com or tweetgrid.com to follow the interviews I conduct with noted small business experts, live at 8 pm ET. The expert guest types answers to questions using the using their Twitter account and the hashtag #Smallbizchat. Expert guests have included best-selling authors and small business experts Michael Gerber, Anita Campbell, Alan Weiss, David Allen and Peter Shankman many others. Each week, hundreds of participants join in to learn from Emerson and the guest, plus share what’s going on in their small businesses as well. Here’s more information on how to participate: http://bit.ly/S797e

About #SmallBizChat @Smallbizchat hosted by Melinda Emerson, @SmallBizLady, is an online community for emerging small business owners whose reach exceeds 1.5 million readers weekly. Committed to creating and sustaining a supportive network where all business owners can find answers and inspiration in their business endeavors. Melinda Emerson is regarded as America’s #1 Small Business Expert, with a fast-growing online brand providing resources for emerging and existing small business owners. Emerson’s corporate clients include Pitney Bowes, Deluxe, FedEx, American Family Insurance, Bloomberg, Walmart.com, Wells Fargo and Xerox. Emerson is a proud graduate of Virginia Tech.

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Are You Doing Your #1 Job as an Entrepreneur

By Melinda Emerson on April 23, 2012 in Business Inspiration, Grow Your Business, Melinda Emerson @SmallBizLady

Your skills as an entrepreneur can make the difference between a booming enterprise and closing your doors far too soon. Your #1 job as a small business owner is to sell. Your job is to motivate, inspire and convince customers, potential investors, and often family that your business idea is worthwhile. It typically requires passion for your project, a coherent message, and most importantly, a confident delivery of that message. This can be a tall order if you don’t have a sales mindset. Do you have discomfort speaking to strangers? Are you unable to convey enthusiasm about your business? If you have a tough time getting into the sales mode, your solution might be to hire or partner with someone and let them do the selling, but then you can get into a mine-field of issues around control of your message.

How do you build your sales confidence? First, you need to understand where you are today. If your venture is a side-hustle in addition to a main job, and your business passion is on “low” and you just want to keep working your flea market stand, or selling cosmetic products to friends, you probably are where you want to be from a sales energy standpoint. The stakes grow considerably, however, if your venture is a full-time effort. The pressure to generate enough revenue to support yourself and your family will make you become laser focused on selling. Not to mention, if you have goals to grow your enterprise, this means a stepped up selling effort, too.

The Flawless Pitch – First you want to create a “flawless pitch”, telling your company’s story in one minute or less – what you do or sell, who you specialize doing it for and what makes your business special. For example “My name is Bob and I own Bob’s garage. We specialize in the repair and maintenance of luxury car transmissions at far less than dealer prices and all work is guaranteed”. You have a story to tell both potential customers and prospective investors which will get them to ask “Tell me more”.

Give it a Test Run – Practice is not just for baseball and dance class. You need to practice your pitch in the mirror, with your family and friends, and with anybody else who will listen. Ask for hard questions and honest feedback. This will keep you from looking foolish later. If you open a dry cleaning store, and a customer asks you about the chemicals you use for cleaning, you should be informative and give that customer good reason to do business with you. In the restaurant business it is about tasty, quality food, well presented in a clean environment. As proprietor, you and your staff will be touting signature dishes, great service, and satisfying portions giving customers great reasons to return by delivering on what you promised. People need and want to be convinced to buy stuff. You must be able to tell them why they should buy from you.

People should be able to feel your passion – Your enthusiasm and positive spirit are absolutely essential to selling. Whether you are selling to customers, selling your business concept to potential investors or trying to borrow money from your local bank, don’t minimize the excitement of your passion for your business and your absolute belief in its success. If you are short on enthusiasm for your enterprise, you need to take a hard look at whether being in that business is for you. Your ability to sell is key. Introspection today should set your expectations for tomorrow. Once you get the hang of power selling, closing a sale will be thrilling and more fun than work.

Do you have more ideas to get over the fear of selling?

Melinda F. Emerson, known to many as SmallBizLady is one of America’s leading small business experts. As a seasoned entrepreneur, professional speaker, and small business coach, she develops audio, video and written content to fulfill her mission to end small business failure. As CEO of Quintessence Multimedia, Melinda educates entrepreneurs and Fortune 500 companies on subjects including small business start-up, business development and social media marketing. Forbes Magazine named her #1 woman for entrepreneurs to follow on Twitter. She hosts #SmallBizChat Wednesdays on Twitter 8-9pm ET for emerging entrepreneurs. She also publishes a resource blog http://www.succeedasyourownboss.com Melinda is also bestseller author of Become Your Own Boss in 12 months; A Month-by-Month Guide to a Business That Works.

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12 Bible Verses Every Small Business Owner Needs For 2012

By Melinda Emerson on April 9, 2012 in Business Inspiration, Grow Your Business, My Recommendations, Women in Business

I normally do this post at the top of the year, but I was inspired to wait until now. With Easter upon us, I though this post would be particularly meaningful at this time of year. My religious theme for 2012 is, “Either I win or I learn, but with God’s help I never lose.”

I pray that you are inspired by God’s word. Your faith in yourself and your business are key to your long-term success. Starting a small business is a spiritual journey. You should pick a verse that will inspire you. I thought it would be helpful to share some of my favorites. Use these bible verses in the good and tough times in your small business.

Deuteronomy 8:18 NIV But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today. All of our skills and special talents that we use in our businesses are all given to us by God. He gives us the ability to make money and cut deals. He did it for our parents and mentors and he does it for us too.
Romans 12:2 NIV Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. The bible commands us to be innovative in our businesses. We should not ever try to be like anyone else. The world is still waiting on a better mousetrap, and we should never rest on our successes. We must renew ourselves by being lifelong learners and reading constantly.
I Thessalonians 5:16-19 NIV Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances; this is the will of God for your life. It is important to have a prayerful life as an entrepreneur; it will help you on those days when things do not go your way. You need to have the strength to thank God, even when you do not win that big contract. God protects us when we do not get opportunities that we think we can’t survive without. Always be grateful.
Proverbs 16:18 NIV Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Many entrepreneurs struggle with pride. Do not be afraid to tell clients or employees that you do not know the answer. Try to diffuse any issues with truth and by taking full responsibility for fixing the problem. Never let your ego get in the way of doing what’s in the best interest of your business.
II Corinthians 9:8 NIV And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. God always delivers to us what we need in order to do our best work. Sometimes he sends a check we need just in time, and other times he sends us creativity to find the best solution to our challenges. Trust in the Lord at all times.
II Timothy 1:7 NIV For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. Fear is the enemy of entrepreneurship. God wants us to go out with the power he gives us to pursue our ideas in business.
Hebrews 12:11 NIV No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. You must be fiscally disciplined in business. You cannot put all your hard work at risk by not being focused on your big picture goals and your monthly sales goals. It is painful at times, but it will produce quite a harvest.
I Corinthians 9:24 NIV Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Running a business is hard. It’s a marathon not a sprint. There will be plenty of stumbling blocks in your way. Everyone trips and falls while running this race, but winners get up faster than everyone else. You must do what you need to do to win your race.
Mark 5:36 NIV Overhearing what they said, Jesus told them, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” There will be times when you are the only person who believes in your business dream. Don’t be afraid. Believe in yourself and your business idea.
Ecclesiastes 11:4 AMP He who observes the wind [and waits for all conditions to be favorable] will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap. You must be willing to make decisions in your small business. No one is going to come along and do it for you. Make hard decisions quickly, so you can move on to doing the work needed to help your customers.
Proverbs 11:14 NIRV Without the guidance of good leaders a nation falls. But many good advisers can save it. It is critical to have a kitchen cabinet of advisors for your small business. Your business will not survive on your experience alone. Pull together four to five people who are invested in your success. The group should include an existing entrepreneur, a customer, a mentor, a lawyer and a accountant. Seek out a mastermind group or peer to peer mentoring program to help as well.
Philippians 4:13 NKJV I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Whenever you struggle with your self-confidence read this bible verse to yourself. There will be times in your business when you need to force yourself to stretch beyond what you think is possible. You can do it. I believe in you.

Do you have any other bible verses that inspire you? Please share.

For more tips on how start or grow your small business subscribe to Melinda Emerson’s blog http://www.succeedasyourownboss.com.

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How to Communicate Your Business Vision

By Melinda Emerson on March 19, 2012 in Branding & Marketing, Business Inspiration, How to Start

As a business leader, it’s your job to craft a vision for your business. Once you know what that is, you need to be able to communicate it to a wide audience including your customers and your employees. Even the interns need to know. Why? Because your need to share a vision that everyone understands, can relate to — and ultimately believe in. Here are five ways to communicate your business vision.

Share Your Vision With Everyone. To be effective, you’ll need to rally people around your vision. You will need to keep saying it to remind your team of your message to reinforce what you are trying to achieve. You’ll need to do this constantly to keep everyone focused. Don’t worry about sounding like a broken record, after all it is your business.

Use Storytelling: When you tell a story, you give life to your vision. The telling of stories creates trust, touches people’s hearts and minds, and serves as a reminder of the vision. It is also a great way to make your vision relatable to anyone. Your team will find it a lot easier to repeat a story than a vision statement.

Don’t be Afraid to Share: Sometimes we, as entrepreneurs come up with ideas that may seem far-fetched to others. Do not let that stop you from telling people your vision. When you speak it out loud, you speak it into existence. I remember back in 2007, when I told people I was going to be “America’s #1 Small Business Expert,” at the time I am sure some of them may have thought, can she really do that? or they may have thought I was crazy. We’ll who looks crazy now? You must be willing to share ideas people have never heard of.

Be Brief: Learn to share your vision like it is an elevator pitch. Every business leader needs to be able to communicate the vision in a clear, brief way. Can you describe your compelling vision in the amount of time you have during a typical elevator ride? Your pitch should highlight your solution, your target audience and your niche focus. Try to keep it to two minutes of less.

Be Flexible: Don’t feel like you have to have all the answers. As an entrepreneur one of the most important things that you must do is evolve. Be sure to create dialogue around your message so that people feel comfortable to share suggestions and help you take your vision to the next level.

Put out calls to action. Don’t just tell people what you imagine for the future, ask for their help in making it a reality, and be specific about what you want people to do and why.

When you are think about how to communicate your vision first, create a strong vision and communicate it to everyone. Use storytelling to help people visualize your vision. Have the courage to share your vision. Be brief, and willing to take suggestions that could take your vision to the next level. When you put out calls to action, and assign specific roles you want your team to play in your success.

Are you looking for ways to better communicate with your target customers? Don’t miss my FREE webinar sponsored by Pitney Bowes March 29th 1-2pm ET Register today http://www2.pbsmartessentials.com/how-to-better-communicate-with-your-customers

For more tips on how start or grow your small business subscribe to Melinda Emerson’s blog http://www.succeedasyourownboss.com.

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When You’ve Done All You Can, Get Up!

By Melinda Emerson on March 12, 2012 in Business Inspiration, Grow Your Business

There comes a time in every entrepreneur’s life when you just catch a bad break. You work really hard on a deal. You thought it was yours. Then at the last minute, after nearly a year-long sales process, you loose the contract. This especially stings when you’ve spent hours studying the customer and cultivating an internal advocate over lunches and dinners. You tracked the incumbent vendor and shaved you margin as much as you could to get the business. It feels like a kick in the gut when it slips right through your fingers.

After you get over the initial shock, this becomes one of those days that makes you wonder why you are even in business. You probably feel like nobody loves you and no one seems to care. When it happens the first time, you might not be sure how to handle this, particularly if you are one of those small business owners who takes things personally. Your business is your baby after all, who can blame you, Right! Not really. The sooner you learn not to take these things personally, the better you will handle it when things don’t go as planned.

I know this pain. During the early years of running my first company Quintessence Multimedia it happened several times, and it hurts—a lot. I remember one time in particular, there was an advertising agency we had been chasing nearly a year. Once day we got a call and that they wanted us to fly down to Austin, TX to discuss a specific project. At the time, things were tight financially and we really needed this opportunity. When we got there, the client invited us to dinner and then stuck us with the check. Then the next day, as we were presenting our capabilities, I knew five minutes into the meeting that these people had no intention of doing business with us. They had wasted our time and our money, and I was furious. I actually lost it that day on our host after the meeting. I later found out that one of our corporate advocates had asked their agency to meet with us, but a real business opportunity was not promised. I learned a lesson that day about how to qualify customers, and that people have no problem wasting your time.

After it happened, I reached out to a mentor to complain, and she told me something that has always stayed with me. She said, ”When things don’t happen that is God’s way of protecting you from something or someone.” I took what she said to heart, but then I felt so defeated every time we got the rug pulled out from under us. I know that many of you have felt the same way, maybe even recently.

This past week, I heard Olympic ski medalist, amputee, and author Bonnie St. John speak at a women’s history month event. Now, Ms. St. John is a one-legged Olympic skier, and she talked about how she won her first medals. She said in downhill skiing you needed to compete in two races to win a medal. After the first race in 1984 Paraolympics, she was in first place in gold medal position, but the second race was on a different course. Word from the field was that there was an icy spot on the course, and some people had wiped out, and one woman had been taken to the hospital. Bonnie said as she started her second race, she was doing well hitting her stride, and all of a sudden she hit the ice. She fell, and said she felt like crawling off the track. But something in her said get up. She got up and finished the race and earned a Bronze medal. She’s said, ”Everybody falls, but winners get up.” She later said the woman who won the gold medal had fallen too, but she got up faster.

In our businesses, there will be many times when we get knocked down, but successful entrepreneurs get up faster than the competition.

Do you have a suggestion for how to handle major disappointment in a business?

For more tips on how start or grow your small business subscribe to Melinda Emerson’s blog http://www.succeedasyourownboss.com.

Melinda F. Emerson, known to many as SmallBizLady is one of America’s leading small business experts. As a seasoned entrepreneur, professional speaker, and small business coach, she develops audio, video and written content to fulfill her mission to end small business failure. As CEO of Quintessence Multimedia, Melinda educates entrepreneurs and Fortune 500 companies on subjects including small business start-up, business development and social media marketing. Forbes Magazine named her #1 woman for entrepreneurs to follow on Twitter. She hosts #SmallBizChat Wednesdays on Twitter 8-9pm ET for emerging entrepreneurs. She also publishes a resource bloghttp://www.succeedasyourownboss.com Melinda is also the bestselling author ofBecome Your Own Boss in 12 months; A Month-by-Month Guide to a Business That Works.

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What Whitney Houston Can Teach Us All About Business

By Melinda Emerson on February 13, 2012 in Business Inspiration

Whitney Houston dead at age 48

Over the last few days the world has been reeling over the untimely death of pop icon Whitney Houston. As a teenager I grew up on a steady diet the late singer’s hits. My favorites among them are Greatest Love of All, Saving All My Love For You, I Have Nothing and I Will Always Love You from the iconic Bodyguard movie soundtrack.

I can remember singing Greatest Love of All as a solo in a school program. I also competed in a regional talent show singing One Moment in Time. I even wanted hair extensions like hers after I saw the Wanna Dance With Somebody music video. This woman had model good looks and became the voice of our time. She clearly had a God-given talent.

While we all mourn her tragic death, buy all of her seven albums from itunes and amazon.com, and share our favorite Whitney songs on Twitter, two things occurred to me. First of all, we all need to pray for Houston’s family, particularly for Bobbi Kristina. That little girl has lost her #1 fan, and she is at a critical stage in her development. Secondly, I can’t help but think about how Whitney lived and what she always sang about and how that could help us all be better business owners.

The theme in all of Whitney’s music was LOVE. She sang about finding love, searching for love, treasuring love, being every woman, losing love and looking to the Lord for love. From saving all my love for you, to how loving yourself is the greatest love of all and how she wanted to dance with somebody who loved her, how she had nothing if she did have her love, and how she will always love. The constant thread in her music was a need and want for Love.

As entrepreneurs there are some common characteristics we share that cause us to kill our love relationships. I wanted to encourage all entrepreneurs to prioritize the loves in your life, your friends, children and your sweeties or spouses. Work hard to make sure that these people know that they are loved and appreciated by you.

As a group, we tend to be tough and opinionated. We are often workaholics, and at times can take out our day on the people we love. Here are some techniques that will help you protect and strengthen those you love.

1) Be Patient: Regular people with jobs do not understand people like us. Be patient with your spouse and family.

They could not envision going into business, but that doesn’t mean you get to be an irritating know-it-all jerk. Explain stuff so they understand what you do and why you work so hard. Keep in mind that as small business owners, we are typically over achievers, so regular people do not run as fast or jump as high as we do.

2) Find a way to relax: Work hard, but play hard. Part of the reason why so many entrepreneurs are divorced is because we do not know how to relax. I use Yoga to calm down. It’s easy to blame everyone but yourself for your problems. Work hard not to take out your day on your husband, wife or your children. Show your appreciation often and be spontaneous.

3) Go out to non-work stuff : Work events are different from business events. It’s important to keep dating your spouse. Try to attend a non-work related events once a month, invite your spouse and or the boyfriend or girlfriend to come along. Or allow him or her to pick an event or restaurant to go to. As entrepreneurs sometimes we can make it all about us, make it about them too.

4) Ask for a referral: Get help with your search for love. If you want to start focusing on your love life, start asking your business contacts, friends and family for a quality referrals for a blind date. Let someone who knows you introduce you to someone great.

Whitney Houston will be remembered as the best female solo artist of all time. Goodbye sweet angel, I pray that you are enjoying heaven’s choir and that your daughter will find her way. Thank you for reminding us all about the power of LOVE.

Do you have any other relationship tips that you learned from Whitney Houston’s music?

Melinda F. Emerson, SmallBizLady is one of America’s leading small business experts. As a seasoned entrepreneur, professional speaker, and small business coach, she develops audio, video and written content to fulfill her mission to end small business failure. Forbes Magazine named her the No. 1 woman for entrepreneurs to follow on Twitter. She hosts #SmallBizChat Wednesdays on Twitter from 8 to 9 p.m. ET for emerging entrepreneurs. She also publishes a resource blog http://www.succeedasyourownboss.com. Melinda is also bestselling author of Become Your Own Boss in 12 months; A Month-by-Month Guide to a Business That Works.

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How Using A Vision Board Can Help You Achieve Small Business Success

By Melinda Emerson on January 10, 2012 in Business Inspiration, Guest Articles

If you look at personal or small business success, in retrospect, it all started with a goal. And depending on the size of a goal, there can be a wide spectrum between that goal and what can be defined as “success.” So how can that gap be bridged so it is manageable and your goal is attainable?

This is where a vision board becomes useful as a tool to facilitate achieving goals. A vision board brings the concept that “seeing is believing” to life and serves as a powerful catalyst and reinforcement for making big things happen. Here is how the process works:

Have a goal. You start with a goal that you have, whether it is big or small. It may be a short-term goal or even a long-term one. And it can be quantitative or qualitative. The possibilities are endless here and your aspirations are uniquely yours; so be bold with your dreams!

Have an idea of what it looks like. This requires visualization which is where a vision board comes in. With a vision board, you create what your goal will look like by using words, symbols, pictures, etc. to represent your goal or the journey to get there. Inherent in this process is the translation of your goal from a mental image to something that is more tangible.

Believe in it. Now that you’re able to see your goal, it becomes more real and more of a possibility. You begin to believe that it is attainable and that you can have your preferred outcome.

Get others to believe in it. When you strongly believe in something, you become passionate about it. As this passionate radiates from you, it becomes contagious. Others begin to see what you see, they believe in it, they are willing to support you in achieving it, and they hold you accountable. You develop a support system and network that is committed to your success.

Develop a strategy. Figuring out how you will achieve your goal is important. Develop actionable steps that will get you there. Maybe you need to do two things per week, have a certain level of profit each month, or have a certain number of customers each quarter. Whatever the goal is, you need to have a roadmap. Seek feedback from your network to avoid tunnel vision.

Act toward your goal. Once you’re through the preparatory stage, it is time to act. Take the steps you’ve outlined, but also be open to changes that you may need to make along the way. Be ready for detours and speed bumps, handle them as they come up and keep forging onward until you reach destination success.

From the beginning of this process through its completion, your vision board serves as a daily reminder as to why you’re putting in hard work and being persistent. It is a powerful tool that helps facilitate behavioral change and once complimented with your consistent effort and support network, any goal can be achieved. Take this approach as you plan to take your small business to the next level in 2012.

How has a vision board helped you in the past? Do you plan to use one in 2012? Share a link if you already have one!

Dasanj Aberdeen is an entrepreneurial spirit who embodies the combination of left-brain logic and right-brain imagination as a businesswoman and artist. Sh founded TheAfter5Edge.com as a platform for encouraging others to optimize their potential by discovering and leveraging their strengths to obtain their competitive edge. She is a graduate of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Follow her on Twitter at: @TheAfter5Edge.

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Ready to dream big in 2012?

By Melinda Emerson on January 4, 2012 in Business Inspiration, My Recommendations, Your Small Business

Which road do you choose?

Are you ready to dream big in 2012? This is the perfect time to get a clear sense of what you need to do better in your business. Setting annual sales goals is fine, but you know me. I am all about the 30-day sales goal. As in, how much money do you need to make this week? It becomes a lot more real when you focus on your revenues it this way. Another great trick I use at the beginning of every year, I make a target list of people I want to meet and or do business with. Then twice a week, I reach out to some of the folks on my list via phone call, personal note, linkedin or email.

At the end of last month, I pulled the SmallBizLady team together for a retreat. During our three days together, we did an annual review of the good, the bad and what we better never do again in my business. I held the retreat at my home, at my home at the beginning of December to make it half fun / half work. Once we did the review, we planned for 2012. Too often we run our businesses in a reactionary mode. We swing from tree to tree and go from fire to fire. That is draining and exhausting and great way to get yourself on the fast track to burn out. We you take the time to set goals, you can stay focused.
Think about what you want to have happen in your business in 2011. Now, create a strategy that will drive your desired results for 2012. This will quickly help you figure out what you need to stop doing right now.

Here are some clarifying questions to consider:

· Do you need to add to your team? (You can only be an army of 1 for so long)
· Are you set up operationally for a huge sale or major media exposure?
· What are you doing to engage your online community?
· How are you going to attract new clients?
· Are you charging enough?
· What are your highest revenue generating activities?
· Is there a new niche market that you want to pursue in 2012?
· What are the best lessons you learned in 2011?

Once of the biggest lessons I learned in 2011, is that I needed to say No more often. Here’s my five best techniques for saying no to projects, employees, and potential clients that you know deep in the back of your head are going to be more trouble than they are worth. Try these when someone comes at you with foolishness.

No! It is a complete sentence.
I couldn’t possibly do that!
Nope, can’t do it! It’s not in the budget.
What?? Are you crazy? NO!!
Absolutely, NOT going to happen!

Do you have any more ideas for how to get your 2012 started off right? I want to learn your techniques.

For more tips on how start or grow your small business subscribe to Melinda Emerson’s blog http://www.succeedasyourownboss.com.

Melinda F. Emerson, known to many as SmallBizLady is one of America’s leading small business experts. As a seasoned entrepreneur, professional speaker, and small business coach, she develops audio, video and written content to fulfill her mission to end small businessfailure. As CEO of Quintessence Multimedia, Melinda educates entrepreneurs and Fortune 500 companies on subjects including small business start-up, business development and social media marketing. Forbes Magazine recently named her the #1 woman for entrepreneurs to follow on Twitter. She hosts #SmallBizChat Wednesdays on Twitter 8-9pm ET for emerging entrepreneurs. She also publishes a resource blog www.succeedasyourownboss.com Melinda is also the author of the national bestseller Become Your Own Boss in 12 months; A Month-by-Month Guide to a Business That Works. (Adams Media 2010)

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SmallBizLady 2011 Year in Review

By Melinda Emerson on December 21, 2011 in Business Inspiration, Your Small Business

Wow, it has been an amazing year. The SmallBizLady Team has worked hard providing information to end small business failure. I feel so blessed to have had an opportunity to travel the country and talk directly with small business owners about how to start and stay in business. There are so many big things to highlight from 2011. I travelled to 14 states this year on official SmallBizLady business (and I’m silver and gold preferred on an airline and with a hotel chain to prove it.) I was pushed and pulled in many unexpected ways this year. I learned so much and updated my skills.

The year started off in January with a bang. I landed on the front page of the Washington Post Business section as my book Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months http://succeedasyourownboss.com/products/purchase-the-book/

was named the Color of Money book club pick of the month by personal finance columnist Michelle Singletary. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/15/AR2011011502644.html This article was syndicated in over 100 newspapers across the country and it pushed my book into a second printing.

In February, I got on a war path about branding. It is my desire to help small business owners understand that their web presence and social media footprint were a critical element in small business success. I led my revolution with my column on www.SecondAct.com Are You Googleable? http://www.secondact.com/2011/02/are-you-google-able/

In March, the Philadelphia Business Journal named me as host of #Smallbizchat a Social Media Star in the Greater Philadelphia Region. http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/print-edition/2011/03/25/melinda-emerson-smallbizchat.html We also kicked off BYOB2011 Conference National Tour.

In April, my co-host Tai Goodwin and I celebrated the two year anniversary of #Smallbizchat with two special guests. Real Estate Mogul Barbara Corcoran from ABC’s Shark Tank joined us for an audio interview http://www.blogtalkradio.com/smallbizradio/2011/04/27/small-biz-lady-melinda-emerson-interviews-barbara-corcoran and Alan Weiss, Author of Million Dollar Consulting. http://succeedasyourownboss.com/04/2011/smallbizchats-100th-show-small-business-legend-alan-weiss/ These two business legends are people whom I have always admired. It was my honor to share their powerful advice.

May was National Small Business Month. I travelled the country teaching people how to become their own boss, build a social media brand, keep the sales going in a small business. I lectured for the MIT Sloan Sales Conference, Virginia Tech Women’s Leadership and Philanthropy Conference, Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Summit, Delaware County Community College, and my own BYOB2011 Conference in Washington, D.C.

In June, I kicked off the national campaign for the Pitney Bowes Small Business Makeover Contest and started writing for www.pbsmallessentials.com

In July 2011, I started doing monthly appearances on NBC10 in Philadelphia’s 10! Show on small business tips. http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/shows/10-show/Build_Your_Own_Business_At_Home_Philadelphia-127247128.html

I headed to Boston, MA to speak at the National Urban League conference. I had an unexpected death in my family that took me back to Alabama to honor my dad’s baby brother too. It was a sad occasion, but it was great to see all my relatives. I also got a chance to hang out with one of my small biz owners for some quality one-on-one time.

In August, Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months was the book of the month by Verizon Small Business http://forums.verizon.com/t5/Verizon-Small-Biz-Blog/bg-p/SMBBlog/label-name/melinda%20emerson and I was a guest expert on a live Tweetchat. I also had a major honor as I lectured at my father’s alma mater Alabama A&M in Huntsville, AL. I also swung through Houston, TX for the National Sales Network and my BYOB2011 Conference. Later, I hit the road with the team from Pitney Bowes to visit the five grand prize winners who won the Pitney Bowes Small Business Makeover contest. Fellow small business experts Jane Applegate, Matt Mansfield, and Phil Simon went on the road with me to Fairfield, CT, Huntington Beach, CA, Knoxville, TN, Leesburg, FL and Melbourne, FL. I really loved spending time with the contest winners. They were all special, and I am confident that the advice we gave them will grow their businesses. Shel Israel also wrote a profile piece for American Express Open Forum http://www.openforum.com/articles/how-melinda-emerson-became-the-online-pal-for-small-business

In September, I packed up the family and headed West to Wyoming and Yelllowstone National Park. I keynoted the annual Wyoming girls conference hosted by NorthEast College in Powell, Wyoming. It was the first time I have travelled to Wyoming. It was a delight to speak to 9^th and 10^th girls. (I was nervous, but it was awesome.) This was a great trip because my mother and son were with me. Family is so important to me. It was great to share that experience with them.

October, my birthday month, took me to Portland, Oregon for the National Association of Community College Entrepreneurship Conference, NAACE conference where I lectured on a few difference subjects, but I was most excited to talk with the entrepreneurship professors about how to use my book and workbook Are You Ready to Become Your Own Boss http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0979983916/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_alp_tQ8Nnb1NCK52Y to teach small businesses on the college level. Fedex Office, hosted a live tweetchat with me on ow to recession proof your business and I was a featured speaker for the Pennsylvania Conference For Women which was right in Philadelphia in my backyard for a change. The SmallBizLady Team also conducted the final BYOB2011 Conference for the year.

In November, the team had three big opportunities. I lectured at Brand Camp University in Detroit, MI and then I went to NYC, The New York Expo to lecture to a standing room only crowd on How to Niche to Get Rich. (One of my favorite subjects) And the Wall Street Journal thrilled me by quoting me as article about whether realty stars could be legitimate small business owners. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204449804577068600801965064.html

In December, has been a whirlwind of activity. I started the month in NYC appearing on MSNBC’s Your Business http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2KEuthazEI and I moderated a panel for Inc Magazine’s 1^st annual Women’s Summit. I pulled The SmallBizLady Team back together in Philadelphia for a retreat at my home to plan the strategy for 2012. The Philadelphia Inquirer made my Christmas bright with a profile story by Diane Mastrull titled SmallBizLady: Using social media to spread small-business advice

http://articles.philly.com/2011-12-19/business/30534422_1_social-media-small-business-twitter-fans and a Yahoo small business quoted me in an article on 7 Tips to start a business in 2012 http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/advisor/7-tips-for-becoming-your-own-boss-in-2012.html

With a 2011 like this, I can’t wait to see what is in store for 2012.

What was your biggest accomplishment this year?

For more tips on how start or grow your small business subscribe to Melinda Emerson’s blog http://www.succeedasyourownboss.com.

Melinda F. Emerson, known to many as SmallBizLady is one of America’s leading smallbusinessexperts. As a seasoned entrepreneur, professional speaker, and small business coach, she develops audio, video and written content to fulfill her mission to end small businessfailure. As CEO of MFE Consulting LLC, Melinda educates entrepreneurs and Fortune 500 companies on subjects including small business start-up, business development and social media marketing. Forbes Magazine recently named her the #1 woman for entrepreneurs to follow on Twitter. She hosts #SmallBizChat Wednesdays on Twitter 8-9pm ET for emerging entrepreneurs. She also publishes a resource blog www.succeedasyourownboss.com Melinda is also the author of the national bestseller Become Your Own Boss in 12 months; A Month-by-Month Guide to a Business That Works. (Adams Media 2010)

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12 Things To Do Before 2012

By Melinda Emerson on November 28, 2011 in Business Inspiration, Grow Your Business, My Recommendations

Today, kicks off the last three work weeks of the year. In addition to landing those key contracts and commitments and getting those holiday cards in the mail, it’s time to get your house in order in your small business. You want to be organized and ready to do business heading to the new year. As small business owners, we do not get lots of time off. It is important for us to prioritize tasks to manage all that we juggle on a daily basis.

In order to get things started off right in the New Year; I need to add a few more things to your to do list. Here are 12 Things To Do Before 2012:

1. Update Your Bio and Resume. As you head into the new year, take the time to reflect on your accomplishments this year. Have you won any awards? Got some media attention? Landed any new Fortune 500 clients? Launched any new lines of business? Any and all of these accomplishments should be reflected in your bio, resume and your social media profiles, especially on LinkedIn.

2. Create 2012 Folders. Create new files in your computer for all of the key files that you use on a regular basis ex: contracts 2012, coaching clients 2012, blog content 2012 etc. This is also a great time to start using dropbox.com to back up all of the files that you use in your business. Start using the cloud, so that you can share files and protect your business operations.

3. Update Your Pricing. If you haven’t raised your prices in over two years due to the recession, it’s time to revisit all of your costs and make sure that your are pricing to make a profit. You do not run a charity, and I know you do not want to be a glorified hobby, so make sure there is enough profit in every sale.

4. Update Your Website. In the new year make sure your website or blog has a new look. Even adding a new header graphic can make a big difference. Create new ways to engage your target customers. Add a new giveaway, checklist or coupon offer to your website. Make sure that you at least update the copyright signature to 2012.

5. Export Your Contacts. Make sure you have all of your contacts are backed-up. Export your contacts into spreadsheet from LinkedIn, Facebook and your CRM system.

6. Clean Out Your Inbox. Start 2012 fresh with no old emails. If you haven’t read it by now, it is simply not that important. And if you subscribed to anything you haven’t been reading take this opportunity to unsubscribe.

7. Get a New Professional Headshot. If you have changed your appearance in any way, you need a new head shot. Be sure to get it professionally done, the photo from your cellphone is not appropriate. Be sure to smile and look friendly. Ladies, be sure to get your makeup professionally done.

8. Collect Updated IRS Forms. Make sure you get up-to-date W-9 forms and/or W-4 on all freelance and full-time employees. The IRS requires that W-2 and 1099 forms be mailed by Jan 31, 2011 to all workers paid over $600 this calendar year.

9. Develop a 2012 Target Customer List. You should have a list target clients I want to have. Monthly, I check my list against my sales activities. Challenge yourself by putting some big fish on the list. It’s a great way to keep your sales processes going.

10. Update Your Personal Theme Song. For years I have used Golden by Jill Scott and I have decided to make a change in 2012, I’m now using For the Love of Money by the O’Jays. Be sure to pick a theme song that makes you feel good whenever you hear it. Have it handy so you can rock your theme music whenever you need to remind yourself why you started your business.

11. Develop Signature Content. If you are going to be using content to build a social media brand in 2012, you need to spend time to develop great multimedia content. It’s the best way to firmly establish yourself as a thought leader in your industry. Remember, that people learn from reading, watching and listening to helpful information. I created the Emerson Planning System and the Triple ROI of social media. What will your signature content be?

12. Determine How You Will Keep In Contact With Your List. The most valuable thing in your business is your potential and existing customer lists. You should plan how and when you will communicate with your target customers. Options include email, video posts, direct mail, phone calls, special offers/ coupons.

Do you have any more tips for tasks before 2012 for small business owners?

For more tips on how start or grow your small business subscribe to Melinda Emerson’s blog http://www.succeedasyourownboss.com.

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Are You on the Path to Reinventing Your Small Business?

By Melinda Emerson on November 15, 2011 in Branding & Marketing, Business Inspiration, Grow Your Business, Women in Business

Small biz owners are reinventing their businesses all the time, especially in this economy. Old ways of doing business just aren’t working anymore. I’d love to be able to tell you that there are set of linear phases that every small business owner goes through while you’re reinventing your business and marketing models…

…but if I told you that, it would be a lie.

But there are some well-known phases that you might go through, sometimes circling back to one you thought you already finished, and skipping others completely. All these phases require you to put on your CEO hat and take a step back from daily busyness to look at the big picture.

Here is a short list of some of the signposts you’ll encounter on the road to reinvention:

I know/feel/sense/think something needs to change – You find yourself pausing in the middle of the day and asking, “What’s next for me and my business?” People report feeling restless or frustrated, knowing deep in their heart and mind that the business needs a fresh new approach.

Finding clarity on goals – If you spend time tapping into your goals for your business (and for yourself personally), you’ll find that it’s easier in the next phases to explore and choose the right business model for you. Is there a particular problem you need to solve? A particular dream you’d like to achieve? Values you’d like to express into the world?

Exploring the possibilities – In this idea-generation phase you explore every aspect of your existing business model, looking for places to add, modify and discard. Since there are 9 areas to explore, you’ll have plenty of space to be creative. Even the craziest of ideas can be a springboard to a new business and marketing model.

Making a road map – This is where you design your new business and marketing model, keeping what still fits from your old model and mixing in the new ideas you’ve generated. This is also where you create your transition plan and map out where and when changes will take place, and what resources you’ll need to make it happen. Now you’re thinking like a business owner and not just a worker-bee!

Taking the journey – Implementing your business model changes can happen in a week or it can be a two-year process, depending on how complex the changes are and how many resources you have at your disposal. This is often a journey through the weeds and can be rough going. Why? Because you have to continue to run your existing business (unless you’re independently wealthy!) while creating your new business at the same time. Managing change can feel like a juggling act.

You’ll know when it’s time to start thinking about transforming your business. And now you know you’re not alone in thinking that way: people before you have been down this path and emerged victorious!

Where are you on the path to reinventing your business?

Karyn Greenstreet is a self-employment expert and business reinvention strategist. She shares techniques, skills and strategies about the 9 areas in your business where you can reinvent and transform. Visit her business reinvention website at www.RoadmapToReinvention.com

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Are You Ready To Finish the Year With a Bang?

By Melinda Emerson on October 31, 2011 in Branding & Marketing, Business Inspiration, Grow Your Business, How to Start

This past weekend I conducted my last BYOB2011 Workshop in my national tour. I held the last one in Philadelphia, my hometown. The focus of the tour was on three things; How to Become Your Own Boss, How to Develop a Killer Marketing Plan and How to build a Social Media Brand. For the last year I have travelling the country teaching small business owners and would-be entrepreneurs the Emerson Planning System, How to align their marketing and sales activities and how to leverage social media to grow their businesses. I thought it would be helpful to highlight what I have been teaching. Here are 7 tips to finish the 2011 with a bang, and go into 2012 with a plan for success.

It’s Time to Update Your life plan. The cornerstone of the Emerson Planning System is to develop a life plan and a vision board. Your business goals and your personal goals must align or you could lose your business and your family. Once you have a life plan create a vision board. You can use the board as personal motivation to remind you why your work so hard. My life plan is taped on the wall near my computer monitor so that I have a daily reminder of my big picture goals.

BYOB also stands for Be Your Own Bank. Your ability to save has everything to do with your ability to start a business. The nature of business has changed and you will need to fund your own enterprise. The most you can borrow is a microloan for $25K, most people can life off that and launch a business, so the money needs to come from somewhere. I suggest you look in the right or left pocket.

90 percent of Success is Self-confidence. If you don’t believe in your business no one else will. Fake it until you make it! Look yourself in the mirror (like I do sometimes), and say Girl, you are doing IT!!! Most business problems are not so well hidden personal problems. Learn to compartmentalize your drama and stress and get your work done. You must stay focused.

Be an Agent of Convenience. Small businesses who are still getting big business in this economy are making it easy for their customers to say yes. They solve problems before the customers can say ouch. They understand industry trends. They use metrics heavily. They know the value they bring to the table. They can accept all forms of currency. They brainstorm with their clients for free because they care. What kind of agent are you?

Plan Sales in 30 day Increments. Your biggest concern should be how much money you need to make in the next 30 days. Once you breakdown your sales goals by month, you can easily breakdown how much you need to generate each week. Doing this, will help you get more aggressive about your sales process. You can also plan your marketing activities around lead generation.

Done is Good Enough. Your small business brand will evolve over time. Don’t be one of these people who have not released your new website or newsletter because you are still messing with your logo or layout. No one cares about your logo but you, and you can always revise it later. Just get it out there. Get feedback, and adjust your branded as needed. You are supposed to cringe at the original art work years later.

Harness The Power of Social Media. As a walking social media brand, trust me when I say that social media is the best thing that has happened to small business owners. You must Listen + Engage + Add Value + Promote Others in order to be an Influencer in social media. You must build trust and credibility in order for social media to really work for you. Use social media to speak directly to your target customer.

I am looking forward to teaching more entrepreneurs next year with the BYOB2012 National Tour. The schedule of cities I’ll be coming too in 2012 will be released in December. Stay Tuned. Special Thanks for Corpnet.com and ConstantContact.com for sponsoring this year’s tour.

For more tips on how start or grow your small business subscribe to Melinda Emerson’s blog http://www.succeedasyourownboss.com.