Tag Archives | melinda emerson

Are You Ready for 2010?

By on October 26, 2009 in Business Inspiration, Grow Your Business, How to Start, Mompreneurs, My Recommendations, Pink Slip Entrepreneurs, SmallBizChat, Solopreneurs, Starting A Small Business, Women in Business, Your Small Business

smallbizchat_live_telesummitThe economy is on the rebound, but the nature of business has changed.

Is your small business repositioned for 2010? October and November is the perfect time to start planning for how you will kickoff the New Year. It’s not about making it through the recession; it’s about coming out of this recession with a stronger business.

Every Wednesday #SmallBizChat delivers training on how to start and run a profitable small business via Twitter, now for the first time we we’re delivering what you need over the phone and at your own desktop.

I’m known as @Smallbizlady on Twitter, I have developed a FREE resource to help you develop tools to compete in this new business environment. We’re calling it the SmallBizChat Live Telesummit.  To register now, visit http://bit.ly/1TxnoL.

I’ve pulled together top small business experts who are allowing me to pick their brains and share with you invaluable advice that will take your business to the next level.

The Smallbizchat Live Telesummit interviews will take place over four-days the first week of November.

Mark your calendars for Nov 3-6, 2009

Register now http://bit.ly/1TxnoL

Listen and Learn! Each day, we will do live interviews at 1pm and 7pm Eastern Time

We’re going to introduce the challenges and advantages this new business economy has created.

Live Telesummit Nov 3-6, 2009 | register for full program – http://bit.ly/1TxnoL

If you’re already an entrepreneur and you want to improve your business, or if you’re planning to take the leap and want to start out on the right foot, here’s your chance to learn from top experts who are business owners just like you.

Sheer passion and courage aren’t all you need to succeed in today’s business environment.  Listen in and you’ll be able to learn key strategies to accelerate your business success.

This is a great time for an aggressive entrepreneur, but you need an action plan for business success in 2010.

Wondering if this is for you?

The old rules of business no longer apply.  Do you know how to compete?

Are you tired of dealing with the unpredictable ups and downs of cash flow in your business?

Is the daily stress in your business draining you of the passion you have for your business?

You know you need to be utilizing social media, but don’t know where to start?

Are you ready to invest in learning how to adapt and grow your business while others struggle?

If you’ve answered “Yes” to any of the questions above, sign up today for the 1st Annual #SmallBizChat Live Telesummit http://bit.ly/1TxnoL!

Telesummit Topics:

  • Using Social Media to Brand Your Business
  • Developing a Mastermind Group
  • Retooling Your Business in Tough Times
  • Strategic Cash Flow Management
  • Growing Your Network
  • Getting More Out of Each Business Day
  • How to Author a Book to Grow Your Brand
  • How to Be an Email-Marketing “ROCK STAR!”

MEET THE EXPERTS

Melinda Emerson “Smallbizlady” is your host for the #SmallBizChat Live TeleSummit! Melinda is a seasoned entrepreneur, professional speaker, and small business coach. Her areas of expertise include small business start-up, business development and social media strategy.  Melinda hosts #Smallbizchat, a weekly talk show on Twitter.  #Smallbizchat is the trusted resource on Twitter to discuss everything entrepreneurs need to know about launching and running a profitable small business.  Melinda has been featured on NBC Nightly News and in the Wall Street Journal, U.S. News and World Report and Black Enterprise.  Melinda publishes a resource blog www.succeedasyourownboss.com and has several special reports including 44 Things To Do Before You Go Into Business and The 12 Cardinal Sins of Small Business-and How to Avoid Them! Melinda’s first book Become Your Own Boss in 12 months; A Month-by-Month Guide to Start a Business that Works!” will be released in February 2010 by Adams Media. For more information, please visit melindaemerson.com

Mike Michalowicz is the Toilet Paper Entrepreneur.  Mike Michalowicz has a driving passion for entrepreneurialism. Michalowicz wrote The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur with the sole purpose of giving first time entrepreneurs the information they need to grow their concepts into industry leaders.  Michalowicz has successfully launched three multimillion-dollar companies.  His most recent venture, Obsidian Launch LLC, partners exclusively with first-time entrepreneurs to launch their ideas into niche industry leaders.  For more information, please visit toiletpaperentrepreneur.com

Dr. Melvin Gravely, II, is the founder of the Institute for Entrepreneurial Thinking, the leading think tank on issues related to business development.  The Institute is nationally known for providing thought leadership, and industry changing research on issues at the intersection of business and race.  The Institute is a trusted advisor to Chambers of Commerce, major corporations and community leaders across the nation.  Gravely is the author of seven books including The Lost Art of Entrepreneurship, When Black and White Make Green, and his latest Getting to the Next Level.  He has been featured in many national publications including Black Enterprise Magazine, Entrepreneur Magazine, and American City Business Journals.  After ten successful years working for a large corporation, he co-founded a civil engineering firm and grew it into a multimillion dollar company.  Dr. Gravely speaks and writes on various topics related to entrepreneurial thinking and business development. For more information, please visit entrethinking.com

Michelle Villalobos is a Business turnaround expert who teaches busy entrepreneurs how to improve their sales approach through networking skills, personal branding and word-of-mouth marketing. As a 14-year sales & marketing veteran, she first made her mark in the publishing industry.  Michelle is known for never turning down a sales challenge, she has helped numerous small businesses significantly increase their revenues. She conducts seminars, brainstorming sessions, strategic planning workshops, roundtables and other programs that “educate, entertain and engage” by helping businesses learn to build revenues, through effective sales, networking and word-of-mouth techniques  Michelle holds an undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College, and an MBA from the University of Miami and is a life-long devotee of Sharpies. You’ll have to listen in to find out the deal with that. For more information, please visit MichelleVillalobos.com

Paul B. Brown is a long-time contributor to the New York Times.  Paul is the author of more than two dozen books, including the international best-seller Customers for Life.  A former writer and editor of Business Week, Financial World, Forbes, and Inc., Brown has “ghosted” books for several of the nation’s most success business executives. The latest example: Obstacles Welcome: How to Turn Adversity into Advantage in Business and in Life, written with Ralph de la Vega, president of AT&T.  Even more relevant for our purposes he is the author of Publishing Confidential: What it really takes to land a non-fiction book deal.  Brown was trained as a lawyer, but he asks that you do not hold that against him.

Lisa D. Sparks is a marketing expert with nine years of experience developing and implementing marketing communications solutions for small and medium sized businesses. A small business owner herself, Lisa uses her expertise to teach small organizations in South Florida how to use technology to maximize the power of relationship marketing. She is experienced in providing guidance, instruction, and comprehensive planning advice for the development, growth, and expansion of new and existing businesses. In 2007, Lisa won the Florida State Star Award as the top small business analyst in Florida.

Karyn Greenstreet is a small business coach and a mastermind group facilitator, and the owner of The Success Alliance, a website devoted to helping mastermind group facilitators start and grow their own mastermind groups. She has been creating and running these groups since 1994 and is the author of How to Create a For-Profit Mastermind Group. She also teaches a series of classes on starting and running mastermind groups.  Karyn holds a B.S. in Business Administration and Management, and is a certified Adult Education Trainer.  She has postgraduate work in Business Administration and Computer Systems, and is graduate of CoachU.  She has spoken at numerous national on business-building topics and action planning.  Visit her website TheSuccessAlliance.com

Tim Berry, is president and founder of Palo Alto Software, founder of bplans.com, and a co-founder of Borland International. He built Palo Alto Software from zero to 40 employees and 70% market share without outside investment. He is a Stanford MBA and taught starting a business at the University of Oregon. He’s the conceptual author of Business Plan Pro, author of The Plan-As-You-Go Business Plan, Entrepreneur Press. Find Tim on twitter at @TimBerry. “I’ve seen startups and small business from multiple views. I’ve had the good years and bad years. My wife and I had three mortgages and $65,000 of credit card debt at one very low point, which we survived, but I really don’t recommend. I’ve consulted with startups on bringing in venture capital, and angel investors, and business loans, and friends and family.” He’ll be talking about Cash Flow in a Tough Economy.

Allyson Lewis is a renowned motivational speaker and business coach who focuses on productivity, specifically developing systems to change your life.  Allyson has spent the last 22 years teaching concrete yet actionable ideas to business leaders all over the country. Her book, The Seven Minute Difference, grew out of the workshops she has been teaching for the last five years.  Author of The Million Dollar Car and $250,000 Pizza (Kaplan Publishing, 2000), Allyson is frequently asked to host motivational and educational public workshops throughout the country. She has been a guest on CNN, CNNfn, Bloomberg Information Television, and many other regional radio and television programs.  For more information, please visit Seven Minutes Inc.

The nature of business had changed, if you register for this Telesummit you will be equipped to handle anything the economy will throw at you.  Don’t delay! Register now Smallbizchat Live TeleSummit  http://bit.ly/1TxnoL

Comments { 5 }

The Perfect PR Pitch For Your Small Business

By on October 22, 2009 in Branding & Marketing, SmallBizChat, Social Media

Every week as SmallBizLady, I conduct interviews with experts on my Twitter talk show #SmallBizChat. The show takes place every Wed. on Twitter from 8-9pm ET. This is excerpted from my recent interview with @PRSarahEvans. Sarah is a public relations and new media strategist at @SevansStrategy.  Sarah has worked extensively in the non-for-profit, higher education and healthcare sectors, focusing on media relations, message management, coalition building, deployment strategies, and organizational change. A self-described social media freak, Sarah is the founder of #journchat and MediaOnTwitter. Her personal mission is to engage and employ the use of emerging technologies in all communication – that connects her with a rapidly growing base of more than 26,000 people. Contact Sarah online at: http://card.ly/prsarahevans


Smallbizlady: How much time should you dedicate to PR for your business?

@PRSarahEvans At least 10% of your time should be spent working on your business. That time should include building relationships with journalists and bloggers, identifying stories your public should know, reputation management, tracking who is talking about you…to name a few. Public relations is more than media relations. Here’s how I define it: Public relations is an ongoing conversation, which builds sustainable relationships between an entity and its publics resulting in change, action or influence

Smallbizlady: What’s the best way to generate traditional media coverage? What about social media?

@PRSarahEvans The best to generate traditional media coverage is to have a good story to tell to the right journalist with the right audience. That means knowing who covers topics appropriate to your business and reading/listening/watching their work. Nothing kills a potential relationship faster than an off-pitch. It’s not all about the press release (more on that later). Social media coverage means blogs, online news publications, content distributors and influencers. Same rules apple.

Smallbizlady: Are press releases still in vogue, does anyone read them?

@PRSarahEvans I host a Monday night chat on Twitter, #journchat, where journalists, bloggers and PR professionals discuss questions like this. Recently we had the New York Times social media editor @NYT_jenpreston who said this in response to the value of press releases, “Honestly? Minimum value.” @JeffJarvis recently told PRs that the press release is dead. However, I work with many local daily print publications who request press releases because of their cutbacks in the newsroom. If you really want to know if a journalist reads a release, ask them. There are other uses for press releases than for pitching stories. I’m the community manager for Pitchengine where we’re changing the way press releases are created, written and distributed–social media release (more on that in a bit).

Smallbizlady: How often should to use press releases as a small business? 

@PRSarahEvans It depends on what you’re trying to accomplish. The press release isn’t your magic cure all pill. Use the basics of “what is newsworthy” to determine whether you should write and distribute a press release: timing, significance, proximity, prominence, human interest. It’s not about how often, rather the quality of what you share.

Smallbizlady: What about social media press releases?

@PRSarahEvans I’m biased and I like the SMR. The social media press release is the first wave in the evolution of the release, there’s more needed to make it a truly great tool. Use the same rules as a traditional release. However, the caveat I offer is in regards to search engine optimization. SMRs are helpful in driving awareness to your site if they’re written and distributed effectively. I wrote a post for Mashable on this topic: 10 ways to make your press release SEO friendly http://bit.ly/GEdLx. 

Smallbizlady: How do you craft a pitch? How much time should you dedicate?

@PRSarahEvans One of the great things about social media is that I research a journalist or blogger’s online presence before a pitch. If they’re on Twitter I might check out what they’ve been talking about in addition to their recent work. It’s nice to add a personal touch–especially if it’s the first time you’re communicating. The research takes time. The pitch takes time. The follow up takes times. Your best bet is to create a small, targeted list of media you reach out to on a regular basis. You’ll put the bulk of your time into the initial contact and build a relationship from there.

Smallbizlady: What are your top 5 pieces of advice for small biz owners doing their own PR?

@PRSarahEvans 1. Develop a small, targeted list of media and bloggers (10-15) you communicate with on a regular basis

2. Engage a group of stakeholders (friends, family, customers) who serve as your third party coalition of supporters. When you have a message or story to share, include them and encourage them to share, too.

3. Use traditional and online media to share your stories

4. ONLINE: Set up Google alerts for you, your business, your competitors to monitor your online mentions. Secure your user name across all social networks, even if you don’t use them (knowem.com). Use a resource like @alltop to aggregate your favorite media outlets so you can easily research trends.

5. Participate in discussions and chats like this to share with one another. It’s good karma.

Smallbizlady: How often should you pitch a particular media source?

@PRSarahEvans It depends on the frequency and reach of the media outlet. If it’s a blog written about one topic with a targeted audience and they recently wrote about you, pitching them the week after is probably not smart.

Smallbizlady: Do you need to have a media reel to get national media coverage?

@PRSarahEvans No. I would however, recommend an online newsroom. A place where journalists and bloggers can easily obtain your logo, photos and headshots, boilerplate, recent releases, bios, etc.

Smallbizlady: What determines a story?

@PRSarahEvans This goes back to the definition of newsworthy. I’d also encourage you to think about a story in this way: if you go home at the end of the day and can’t wait to share something with your significant other, parent, child, it’s probably a story. In fact, when I think about a story I ask myself, “would my mom care about this?”

Smallbizlady: Is PR only generating media coverage?

@PRSarahEvans No way! The larger umbrella of PR is communications and that encompasses a whole host of activities. It can include media relations, community relations, internal and external communications, and legislative affairs (to name a few).

Smallbizlady: What’s the benefit of hiring someone to do PR for my small biz?

@PRSarahEvans Do write your own legal documents? Unless you’re a lawyer, I’m going to guess no. I hired a lawyer and an accountant for my small business because they are the experts. There are some things small business owners can do on a PR front, but in reality do not have the time to conduct full PR outreach.

Smallbizlady: What are ways to use social media to further a story?

@PRSarahEvans 1. Write a blog post. This can be for your blog or as a guest post.

2. Check out CNN iReport to see if there’s an appropriate segment for your story.

3. Share information on social networks.

4. Use a social media release.

5. Include bloggers and online influencers in your media database.

Here are 5 case studies of small businesses successfully using Social Media http://ow.ly/vJW2

Great information on social media press releases: http://budurl.com/SMReleases

If you found this interview helpful, join us on Wednesdays 8-9pm ET follow @SmallBizChat on Twitter. 

How to participate in #SmallBizChat: http://bit.ly/S797e

For more tips on starting or growing your small biz subscribe to Melinda Emerson’s blog  http://www.succeedasyourownboss.com

Comments { 5 }

Could Franchising Be For You?

By on October 19, 2009 in Branding & Marketing, Business Inspiration, How to Start

Steersman on puzzleFranchising is a great opportunity to take a proven business model that has produced financial success and run it as your own business.  While there are many wildly inaccurate statistics about success rates for franchises all over the internet, in general “a franchise is a lower risk proposition than investing in a pure start-up,” according to Joel Libava, the The Franchise King.

One of things that concerns me the most about entrepreneurs who invest in franchises is the belief that, “if you buy a franchise, you cannot fail.”  This is fallacy, and is simply not true. Any business can fail. The question is whether your particular franchise opportunity puts you in a better position for success than if you attempted to start a similar business on your own. When you buy into a franchise you are buying a turnkey system.  Your continual implementation of that system will determine how successful you will be in business.  Starting any business is a risk, but I believe fear of failure is a healthy motivator in business.

Key benefits of a owning a franchise includes – you are buying an established brand, with an instant client base, with operations procedures already in place. You do not have go through the labor intensive task of launching a new brand, establishing procedures, testing and marketing products or establishing a distribution network.   However, you must operate your business exactly as the formula describes it and pay a royalty and/or licensing fee to the parent company. 

Buying a franchise that is already established can be a lucrative business, but there are drawbacks.

It can be very expensive. In some cases, especially for the marquee franchises, you must be able and willing to purchase three franchises, not just one. This significantly limits the individuals who can afford to buy a franchise.

The price is substantial and the return on investment slow.  It can take more than three years to break even and up to five years to turn a profit.

You are at the mercy of the parent marketing department. They will determine the marketing done in your area.

You share in your parent company’s negative publicity. Remember, that issue with lettuce that Taco Bell had two years ago? Well, nobody was eating at any Taco Bell until the restaurant chain cleared up the issue.

The deal with owning a franchise is that the rules/operating procedures must be followed. The uniforms and store set up are set in stone, your main suppliers will be predetermined and franchise fees must be paid. If you think you want to put your personal stamp on your business, a franchise might not be for you.

There are some terrific small franchise opportunities that you can invest in for under $50,000. The following websites are great resources for researching franchise businesses.

www.franchiseopportunities.com

www.franchise.org

www.franchisegator.com

There are so many business opportunities in franchising, that anyone can find one to fit their situation:  the key is research.  Like with any business, you must take into account the skills you have and the skills you will need to run your franchise. Consider working for another franchise before purchasing your own.  Those franchise agreements are really intense legally binding contracts, so be sure to engage an attorney that specializes in franchise agreements. Here are some other questions to consider:

How much capital do you have to purchase a franchise?

How much capital do you have to actually operate the business?

Will you need financing?

How much training and continued support is offered?  

How much control will you want to have over the business?

A franchise opportunity could be the perfect business for you. Once you understand your personal and financial capabilities then you will be able to find the franchise business that suits your situation.  Evaluate your net worth, personal skills, the market you are interested in, and be sure to talk to other franchise operators to research the best franchise business for you.

Do you know of any additional franchising pros and cons? I want to hear why you think franchising is the way to go to start a business.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE, E-NEWSLETTER OR WEB SITE?  You may, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:

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

Melinda Emerson, “SmallBizLady”, is a Veteran Entrepreneur, Small Business Expert and Social Media Coach who hosts #SmallBizChat on Twitter.  #Smallbizchat is the trusted resource on Twitter to discuss everything entrepreneurs need to know about launching and running a profitable small business.  Melinda’s first book, Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months! A Month-by-Month Guide to Start a Business that Works! is scheduled to be released by Adams Media in Feb 2010.

Comments { 5 }

How to Go From Self-Starter to Self-Finisher

By on October 15, 2009 in How to Start, SmallBizChat, Solopreneurs

From time to time as SmallBizLady, I conduct interviews with small business experts that could benefit my audience. This is excerpted from my #smallbizchat interview on Twitter with Michelle Mangen @mmangen is a Virtual Assistant specializing in Accounting, Payroll, Excel and Social Media services. She helps sole proprietors and small businesses by reducing the amount of time they spend on administrative and accounting tasks while helping them to achieve a better work/life balance.  Her social media skills include WordPress and Aweber set-up, and copyediting.  Michelle is skilled in analyzing problems, troubleshooting crises and delivering alternative solutions.  She constantly revises and “tweaks” the process to get project complete as quickly and efficiently as possible.  She’s a valuable resource to grow your business and realize your full potential.

Smallbizlady:  What keeps self-starters from finishing their projects?

Michelle Mangen:  A number of things can prevent self-starters from finishing their projects – for example: needing info from someone else, lack of focus, interruptions, too many things to do, overwhelm

Smallbizlady:  What role does isolation play in getting things done?

Michelle Mangen:  For me having isolation while getting things done is critical. When I am deep in a project I will go as far as to turn off the phone & email because I am easily distracted, especially by the email. Always wondering what goodies are waiting in there for me.

Smallbizlady:  As entrepreneurs since we do 12 jobs minimum. What strategies do you suggest for handling daily tasks and the “to do” list?

Michelle Mangen:  Strategies I swear by for handling daily tasks and my “to do” list are: writing everything down, scheduling appointments with myself, outsourcing what I’m not good at, learning to say NO.

Smallbizlady:  How do we get through all the little frustrations that pile up at work?

Michelle Mangen:  I think this is to be defined by each person. For me, I just try to keep it in perspective. For me, projects and clients equals money and satisfaction that I am making a difference in the world, one business owner at a time.

Smallbizlady:  What are your top 3 strategies do you use to help people finish what they start?Michelle Mangen:  1. Set aside the appropriate time for the project – for example: don’t start a 3 hour project if you only have 30 minutes

2. Try to anticipate what may be needed from others before starting

3. Bullet points of what still needs to be done – try to get “full picture” outlined so it seems more manageable

Smallbizlady: How do you keep going when you feel completely overwhelmed?

 

Michelle Mangen:  As counter-productive as it may seem that is when I actually take a break. Even 10 minutes “away” can make all the difference in overwhelm (or a few very deep breaths). If I’m really feeling overwhelmed I’ll call a friend to have a five minute vent.

Smallbizlady:   What if I realize I need help to grow my biz? How do I find a partner?

 

Michelle Mangen:  I know this is right around the corner for me. I’m working on finding people to work with me that share same vision, drive and have skills that I don’t. I have been outsourcing several of my own administrative tasks for several months now and I am continually trying to see what else I can hand off to others.

Smallbizlady:  How do you turn away a client without looking like a jerk?

 

 

Michelle Mangen:  I am upfront and tell them I don’t think it’s a good fit. I also offer to help find someone else who may be more suitable.

Smallbizlady:  How do you keep from getting overwhelmed with a new idea/project, especially when you’re short on time?

 

Michelle Mangen:  Normally it’s my own “wish” list that I get overwhelmed with. I have many things I want to learn & I feel as though I cheat myself sometimes. If it’s a big project I will break into 30-60 min sessions. Again, I write everything down so I can revisit ideas at a later point. If I am really overwhelmed with my own list I will sit down and re-assess the list. There are times I find that things I wrote down several months ago no longer interest me.

Smallbizlady:  How can one stay motivated daily when working on a long-term project? Michelle Mangen:  I would suggest breaking the project down into smaller pieces. Visualize the desired outcome. I also always work on long-term projects during my high energy times, which is why from time to time people won’t see me on Twitter first thing in the morning.

If you found this interview helpful, join us on Wednesdays 8-9pm ET follow @SmallBizChat on Twitter. 

How to participate in #SmallBizChat: http://bit.ly/S797e

For more tips on starting or growing your small business subscribe to Melinda Emerson’s blog at http://www.succeedasyourownboss.com

Comments { 3 }

How to Take Your Blog to the Next Level

By on October 8, 2009 in Branding & Marketing, SmallBizChat, Social Media

Every week as SmallBizLady, I conduct interviews with experts on my Twitter talk show #SmallBizChat. The show takes place every Wed. on Twitter from 8-9pm ET. This is excerpted from my recent interview with Anita Campbell @smallbiztrends. The editor and chief contributor of http://www.smallbiztrends.com, one of the most widely read small business blogs on the internet.  Her company, Small Business Trends LLC, is a media and information company. In that role she closely follows trends in the small business market and trends in technology. Her popular website won the Forbes “Best of the Web” distinction for small business blogs in 2005 and again in 2008.

Smallbizlady:  How long has Small Business Trends been around?

Anita Campbell–It’s been around for six years. I started out on Blogger at a blogspot address for first few years. Then moved to my own domain and WordPress. That was my first jump to a new level. If you are still on the Blogger platform and dream big, I suggest moving to WordPress. You will need its expanded features. Remember, also, that perseverance is a key to success. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Every blog starts small with just a few readers.

Smillbizlady:  How has blogging changed in the last 6 years?

Anita Campbell–In one sense it is still the same. But it has matured. Used to see a lot of shorter posts just dropping links to media articles. Now I think the bar is higher and you must have something original to say.  People now point out interesting links at Twitter instead. There’s lots more competition now, too.  Many more blogs.  The need for a narrow niche is important today.  There’s always room for good blogs, though.

Smallbizlady:  The niche target market is so important in any small business venture. Why is the blog niche so important?

Anita Campbell–There are millions of blogs today. Many topics are saturated. It’s harder to stand out. A niche is one way to stand out.  Your audience might be smaller, but you have the advantage of uniqueness.

Smallbizlady:  What’s the #1 thing you should do to get your blog to the next level?

Anita Campbell–Think about your blog as a product. You are the manufacturer and distributor of that product. This gives you purpose and structure. Makes it easier to know what to do. It makes the process of creating content much easier.  No waking up and wondering “what do I write about today?” Instead, it’s like a magazine – a clear concept. Problogger has a brilliant piece where he dissects a magazine as a way to shape a content plan.

You can find it in his e-book “31 Days to Build a Better Blog” (not free – but worth the modest price). Thinking of your blog as a magazine helps you set goals and stay on track.

Smallbizlady:  Do you recommend having a marketing plan?

Anita Campbell–Yes! You should have the typical elements of a marketing plan in it. Clear target market.  Unique selling proposition of your blog. Online marketing building blocks: SEO; email marketing; social media marketing. For an easy starting place, create plan for marketing a single blog post. Read Problogger’s post – how to get your post read by more than mom: http://adjix.com/uwkv  After learning how to promote single posts, work your way up to a marketing plan for the blog overall.

Smallbizlady:  Should you plan an editorial calendar for your blog?

AnitaCampbell–An editorial calendar will help you be more organized and make sure you stay on point.  Strive for a general sense of what you publish when – but not too rigid.  Allow yourself some flexibility.

Smallbizlady:  What is the biggest mistake to getting to the next level with your blog?

AnitaCampbell–First mistake: trying to monetize a blog too soon. Not enough focus on your audience.  You need to build an audience who clamors for your content.  Focus on serving readers first. You are not likely to make any money from ads in the first 6 months — So why distract yourself?   

Second mistake is not blogging enough. Most of the big name blogs post a MINIMUM of once a day. Your growth will be limited by how frequently you post.  Here’s analogy:  what if you developed a product, and only shipped it out now and then?  When you “had time”?  Would you expect that product to become a big seller?

Smallbizlady:  Can a part-time blog be successful?

AnitaCampbell–I’m not saying you can’t benefit from a blog with 1 post a week. Just that the blog’s growth will be limited. You may be OK with a part-time blog – there’s not a thing wrong with that. Perhaps you have a full-time business and your blog is there solely to market the business. If so, be proud! But adjust your expectations — traffic will be modest. You will need to work at your blog full-time if you expect to become a popular end destination.

Smallbizlady:  What about other mistakes preventing you from getting to the next level?

AnitaCampbell–Another blogging mistake is inconsistency.  Inconsistency in how often you post.  Inconsistency in your topics, sometimes getting off topic. Readers like consistency. Your readers want to know what to expect. Example: that you write about email marketing and they can get email tips at your blog.  But if one day you write about your dog, and the next email marketing – don’t be surprised if readers are confused.

Read “Why They’re a Successful Blogger and You’re Not”: http://adjix.com/zvcx

Smallbizlady:  What about guest bloggers?

AnitaCampbell–Guest bloggers are good.  Readers like to hear different voices. Vet your guest posters carefully. Your voice and what makes your blog unique can get diluted if you are not careful. Don’t make mistake of thinking guest bloggers are freelance writers, either. Think of them like Op Ed contributors to a newspaper Editorial page.

But they are not newspaper reporters.  Don’t expect them to be your workforce & only source of content. 

Smallbizlady: How to do become a paid guest blogger for a corporate blog?

AnitaCampbell–Consistent top notch writing.  Having something worthwhile to say in a conversational tone.  Face it — large sites can afford to pay freelance writers. And there are plenty of laid off journalists. You must offer something different, such as an edgy tone or unique perspective or a well-developed reputation.

They also will want you to “bring your audience with you.”  Get good at promoting your articles.  Then you become more interesting to such sites.

Smallbizlady:  How important is it to tie-in current events to your blog posts?

AnitaCampbell–Two schools of thought on current events.  One school says “yes, current events make you relevant.”  Another school says “stick with evergreen content.”  No surprise, then, that mixing both types of content has merit. 

If you found this interview helpful, subscribe to smallbiztrends and join us on Wednesdays 8-9pm ET follow @SmallBizChat on Twitter. 

How to participate in #SmallBizChat: http://bit.ly/S797e

For more tips on starting or growing your small business subscribe to Melinda Emerson’s blog at www.succeedasyourownboss.com

Comments { 2 }

10 Ways to Get Your Blog to Shine

By on October 5, 2009 in 10 Things Lists, Branding & Marketing, Social Media, Your Small Business

This is the last post of a three part series on blogging for business.  We started out with how to get started blogging. Then we tackled the strategy for setting up your blog as your only website or having two separate websites. Now we are finally talking about what to do to get your blog noticed.  Here’s 10 Tips that I swear by for building a successful blog platform and getting your blog to shine.  The best way to get to the front page of Google and other search engines is to have the exact phrase a person is searching for used on your blog.  The same words you use in the title also need to be somewhere in your text. 

1. Be strategic about your headline.

2. Use a branded header. Image is everything. People need to know what your blog is about at first click.  Use a colorful header that features your logo, a professional photo and your tag line.  Your tag line is the most important element of your header.  It should tell your reader exactly what to expect from your blog. 

3. Explain your blog.  On the front page of your blog — tell people more information about what you can do for them.  Be sure and include keywords, your name and any branded materials you have such as a book title.  Explain who your target audience is and the credentials that make you an expert. 

4. Create a conversation.  Use a conversational tone when you write.  Do not just give information; let your personality shine through.  People love well told stories. They also like to learn from other people’s mistakes.  Don’t be afraid to take an unpopular position or be brutally honest.  Be your authentic self.   Tell your readers what you really think.  

5. Be original.  Teach ‘em some new stuff and be entertaining.  Your audience wants to find something that doesn’t exist anywhere else on the web.  David Meerman Scott author of World Wide Rave says people want to share in something remarkable.   Do you have any concepts or systems that you have developed?  I developed the Emerson Planning System which is a new approach to business planning.  I wrote my book Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months (Adams Media, Feb 2010) based on the system.  I use elements of it to write many blog posts.  That’s my signature content, what’s yours?

6. Be a participant.  If you want your ideas to spread or your blog posts to be retweeted you need to spend some time building relationships online.  Getting involved in the online communities where people actively share information in your specialty area. It is also a great way to have comments left on your blog.  I spent six months on Twitter building relationships, answers questions and supporting others before I launched my blog.  It made a big difference.

7. Avoid fluff.  In order to have people talk about your ideas, resist the temptation to hype your products and services.  Create something interesting that will be talked about online.  Readers have many choices available, and they’ll quickly move on from a blog with unnecessary or annoying commentary.  Keep your writing focused.  If you leave your readers wanting more, and they’ll come back for more.

8. Use multimedia to break things up.  Add podcasts and video posts to add depth to your blog.  Sometimes when I am interviewed on an internet radio show, I will turn the interview link into a blog post by adding a tip list highlighting key takeaways from the interview.  The interview host will appreciate the additional exposure for sure. Keep those video posts short, no more than 3 minutes please. Trust me – less is more.

9. Comment on blogs.  Leave comments on other people’s blogs.  Doing this will help you get a quality backlink.  Blogs need backlinks.  They help increase your PageRank and widen your blog’s visibility. The plugin displays a link to your last post along with your picture and your name using RSS feeds. Also use the CommentLuv Plugin on your blog.

10. Always think of your audience first.  Whenever you start thinking of a blog topic make sure the information will be helpful to your target audience.  Provide information, analysis, interviews and viewpoints on your blog.  When you give your audience what they want and need, they will tell others and post your information to social media sites. 

For more information on getting your blog to shine join us this wednesday 8-9pm ET on 10/7 for #smallbizchat on Twitter where my guest will be Anita Campbell @smallbiztrends who will be talking about how to take your blog to the next level.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE, E-NEWSLETTER OR WEB SITE?  You may, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:

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

Melinda Emerson “SmallBizLady” is a Veteran Entrepreneur, Small Business Expert and Social Media Coach who hosts #SmallBizChat on Twitter.  #Smallbizchat is the trusted resource on Twitter to discuss everything entrepreneurs need to know about launching and running a profitable small business.  Melinda’s first book, Become Your Own Boss in 12 months! A Month-by-Month Guide to Start a Business that Works! is scheduled to be released by Adams Media in early 2010.

Comments { 12 }

Developing a Blog vs. Website Strategy

By on September 28, 2009 in Branding & Marketing, How to Start, Social Media, Your Small Business
Blog vs. Website in Business

Blog vs. Website in Business

This is the second of a three part series on blogging for business. It is such an essential issue for small businesses today that I felt it important to dedicate some real time to the topic.  The first article focused on building a small business blog. Today’s piece investigates the decision to have a separate website verses using a blog as your website. 

It used to be that all you had to worry about was having a website, now you need a blog and a complete social media footprint to go along with it to reflect the many ways that your customers are using the internet.  Whether you have a professional services business, a brick-and-mortar retail establishment or an online business.  Your business needs a website as the anchor of your online marketing!   All websites should include a static home page that has been designed and written to clearly explain what you have on offer to people who visit your site.  The question then becomes what kind of website do you need?

One of the most common questions I get about building an online brand is whether a small business should:

a)     Have a website and a separate blog

b)     Have a blog as the company website

c)     Import a blog into an existing website. 

I polled my @smallbizlady followers on http://www.twitter.com/ for advice on this:  Here’s what a few had to say:

“With the right web team, you can power the blog within the website using WordPress.”

 ”Unless one can add value and maintain a blog long-term, I suggest just developing a website and importing dynamic content like Twitter feeds.”

“If your goal is heavy on the commercial side then go with a web site. If you want to create a community, go with a blog.” 

Let’s define the basic business website terms:  A blog is an online journal written by one person, or a team of staff people focused on a particular area of interest.  Blogs are typically written in a conversational style and updated 2-3 times a week minimum.   Search engines love blogs because of the fresh content.  If possible, it’s best to have the blog as part of your website.  Then, the fresh content on the blog attracts the search engines to your entire website.

Blog-based websites are cost effective, search engine friendly and can have both static information (like a traditional website) and dynamic information by way of blog posts.  It is also very easy to update a blog without hiring a web designer every time you make a change. Cathy Larkin of  WebSavvyPR.com says, “Blog posts are a way for service businesses to build trust in their brand. A blog, done well, gives you and your staff a way to showcase your expertise in a way that makes people think of you when it comes time to buy.”

A website is a collection of related web pages, images, videos or other digital assets that are available under a specific domain name on the World Wide Web. Websites are essentially online brochures designed to provide information, build a contact list, make money, and raise awareness of a small business. Information on a traditional website typically does not change very often.  The static information on a typical website includes 5-7 pages: home page, about us, contact us, services/products, in the news, and an online store.

If you are just getting started, a self-hosted blog is the best option to help promote your business online.  If you are starting from scratch, I suggest using WordPress.org, with your own hosting package.  What I like about WordPress is that is designed to have both static pages and blog pages.  Go for a hosting company that has a one button install for WordPress.org blogs.  Customizing a WordPress blog can be tricky, but once its rolling along it’s pretty much maintenance-free.   

If you already have a website, adding a blog section to it can be a way to update your online presence, and bring more traffic to your existing site. It’s best to have the blog as part of your website, but this isn’t always possible.  “You may have started a blog a long time ago on a free hosted site such as blogger or typepad and may not want to go through what it takes to transfer a hosted blog to your website.  In this case, you should link your blog from your website (and vice versa) and add frequent new content to your website, such as articles, white papers and special reports to provide fresh content on the website,” says internet marketing consultant, Phyllis Zimbler Miller, Millermosaicllc.com.  The only downside is you will need to engage a professional web designer to upgrade your website to import your blog, and add the additional content unless you learn to do it yourself.

When would you use a blog and website separately? If your blog is targeted to a very specific niche market and your website is targeted to a larger market, two sites make sense.  Some advocate creating a completely separate blog and stand alone website if you are an infopreneur. This works for authors, coaches, professional speakers etc. (a micro-site designed to sell each book, for example).  I use Melindaemerson.com and Succeedasyourownboss.com.

To get up and running quickly, I advocate hiring someone to help you set up your blog. You will have an expert to help you build the most professional presentation, create a branded banner, customize your blog with a theme, and show you the ropes.

No matter what method you decide to go with, it is very important to have a static home page on website and/or blog where what you offer is clear the moment someone lands on your page.  The headline, banner graphic, and the text all work together to keep that unique visitor on your site.

Next week, the final part of the blogging for business series: 10 Ways To Get Your Blog To Shine.

Part 1 http://succeedasyourownboss.com/09/2009/how-to-build-a-small-business-blog/

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE, E-NEWSLETTER OR WEB SITE?  You may, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:

Melinda Emerson “SmallBizLady” is a Veteran Entrepreneur, Small Business Expert and Social Media Coach who hosts #SmallBizChat on Twitter.  #Smallbizchat is the trusted resource on Twitter to discuss everything entrepreneurs need to know about launching and running a profitable small business.  Melinda’s first book, Become Your Own Boss in 12 months! A Month-by-Month Guide to Start a Business that Works! is scheduled to be released by Adams Media in early 2010.

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

Comments { 11 }

How to Stop Wasting Time With Your Social Media

By on September 24, 2009 in SmallBizChat, Social Media, Women in Business

Each week as Smallbizlady, I conduct interviews with small business experts on my weekly Twitter talk show #SmallBizChat. This is excerpted from my #SmallBizChat interview @Lenawest, Lena is a social media locksmith who helps dynamic women business owners untangle “social media spaghetti.” She makes social media easy-to-use, manageable and worthwhile. She also a columnist and blogger for Entrepreneur Magazine and Fast Company. For more information her website http://www.xynoMedia.com

Smallbizlady: Why does social media become such a black hole of time for so many people?

Lena West: Because for the most part, it’s easy to use. Notice I didn’t say easy to use effectively, I said, easy to use. And, the tools are mostly intuitive. Click here, type that, etc. And, people mistakenly equate easy-to-use with knowing what and why to do something and then it’s all downhill from there. It’s hour after hour of trying to get it right — to no avail.

Smallbizlady: Why is the source of where business owners get their social media information so critical to success with social media?

Lena West: Because everyone has an agenda. And, I don’t mean that in a bad way. I have an agenda, too. I am passionate about helping women CEO’s. So every word out of my mouth is going to be in favor of them and my agenda is to help them remove the “craziness” from social media and start using it as a marketing tool that gets results.  So, women CEO’s need to know where they’re getting their information. Is it from someone who’s just learning what it means to be a business owner or is it from a 12-year business veteran like myself?Understand to whom you’re listening and make sure you’re on their agenda. 

Smallbizlady: You talk a lot about people tapping into a “why” when they are using social media to market their businesses, how does that help them save time? 

Lena West: Once you figure out what your company needs to get from the blogosphere, you can figure out how and what to contribute. It’s like being in a relationship with a guy. You can’t figure out what you want from him until you figure out where you’re going in life overall. Otherwise you’re just hanging around watching each other breathe and there’s no way that’s productive.

Smallbizlady: Social media has its own vocabulary, is it important for entrepreneurs to understand the lingo – even minimally?

Lena West: Absolutely, it is. Anyone who knows me knows that I do NOT believe women CEO’s should spend all their time thinking about and learning social media “stuff”. But, just like you need to know how to read a profit and loss statment without being a CPA and sniff out a crappy contract without being a lawyer — you need to understand the basics of social media. And, if you don’t know, ASK. Educate yourself so people can’t give you the ear hustle about social media, even if they try.

Smallbizlady: How can business owners resist the urge to join everything and accept everybody?

Lena West:  They can treat it like they do everything else — have rules. Whether we know it or want to admit it or not, we all have rules. Rules for how we allow people to speak to us. Rules for how we allow people to treat us. Same deal with social media and social networking. You need to have rules. I get invites to join other social networks all the time, but I ignore them. I know where my market is and that’s what I care about. What do I care if my friends are on some other social network? My market’s on Facebook and so that’s where I put my energy. It’s OK to delete and ignore requests that don’t meet your business needs.  

Smallbizlady: What’s the quickest, most effective way for CEOs to evaluate social media consultants?

Lena West:  I’ve met so many “so called” social media consultants. They have glossy websites and you have a conversation with them and they’re managing PPC campaigns or running website stats. Those are all honorable jobs, but if you’re a social media consultant, don’t you think you should be working with social media tools? The bottom line is this: unless someone makes the lion’s share of their livelihood providing social media services to clients, they’re a hobbyist. If they’re not writing and PAID to speak about social media topics, they’re a hobbyist. Again, know your information sources!

Smallbizlady: How can we make sure that we’re being effective with our social media work – what metrics should we measure, etc?

Lena West: This greatly depends on the business owner’s goal. If you are using social media to learn more about your market, then you should be measuring how your products and services are resonating with your market (one way to do this by asking and keeping track of the answers you get). If you’re measuring blog post comments or some other metric, you’re not connecting the metric back to your original goal.

Smallbizlady: Many business owners now have less staff and thus less time for marketing, What is your Social Media Auto Pilot Program?

Lena West: This is a program that I’m really proud of. Women Business Owners love it. They get to work with me to figure out the big picture and then our team of VA’s execute the day-to-day details. Many of our clients don’t have the time, interest or inclination to get deeply involved with social media and so based on a proprietary process we’ve developed we do everything for them yet 100% of the content comes from THEM, not us. Clients love it. You can read more about it here: http://ow.ly/pSjU

Smallbizlady: What do you think is next for social media?

Lena West: What’s immediately next is more adoption and understanding — and WAY more women CEO’s releasing the fear and confusion energy surrounding social media, getting the expert help they need and stepping up to claim what was ALWAYS ours — word of mouth.

Smallbizlady: How should people approach social media?

Lena West: I place a HUGE amount of importance on personal responsibility. I believe that you should do what you say and mean what you say. I’m not perfect, but I strive for excellence. And, I believe that social media, by virtue of the medium, is making more people accountable. If you’re not who you say you are in this day and age, you’re in for it. I LOVE LOVE that!

If you found this interview helpful, join us on Wednesdays 8-9pm ET follow @SmallBizChat on Twitter. 

How to participate in #SmallBizChat: http://bit.ly/S797e

For more tips on starting or growing your small business subscribe to Melinda Emerson’s blog at www.succeedasyourownboss.com

Comments { 0 }

Global Creative Economy Summit 2009

By on September 22, 2009 in My Recommendations, Social Media

See Melinda Emerson Live at the Global Creative Economy Summit

Oct 5-6, 2009 Philadelphia Convention Center 

Only two weeks to register for GCECS 2009!

I will be among 150 speakers discussing topics including innovative technologies such as animation, gaming, design, social media, and business solutions software; to the resources that support creative entrepreneurial development ; to the 21st century workforce skills needed to fuel the creative economy; to the convergence of technologies and innovation that will drive sustainability in our communities and in the world.

Visit www.gcecs2009.com for more information about the program, speakers, the $75 No Frills registration package, and free events.

Comments { 0 }

How To Build A Small Business Blog

By on September 21, 2009 in Branding & Marketing, How to Start, Social Media
building a business blog

Building a business blog.

This is a first of a three part series on blogging for business. It is such an important issue for small businesses today that I felt it important to dedicate some real time to the topic. The series will focus on getting started at blogging, the decision to have a blog and a website or just a blog, and 10 tips to get your blog noticed.

Great blogs stand out because the writer knows who their reader is and has great content.   Getting your blog noticed takes strategy – planning, marketing know-how and good writing skills.  You can use pay-per click advertising to get your brand known, but developing a successful blog is really the best way to get noticed on the web.

Let’s look at some of the basics of creating a small business blog:

Know who you are talking to.  Don’t create a blog for you– create a blog for your readers and potential clients.  You should not write a single word on a blog until you have researched your target audience and conducted a trends analysis on that audience. It’s not hard, just do it.   Know who they are and what they need to know.  Christina Katz, author of Get Known Before the Book Deal says you need to identify your niche market, and then break down your target into several submarkets. Then use your blog as a service to your target markets.

Create an editorial calendar.  I am a former TV producer, so old habits die hard.  It’s important to build an editorial calendar to keep track of your content.  It will also help you brainstorm topics in advance.  Read articles and blogs in your industry to get ideas. Sometimes I read articles, and just a sentence from it can seed an idea for a blog post.  Avoid boring your readers to death with the same song, come at a subject from a different angle.  A well-kept calendar will also keep your blog sharp, timely, and informative.

Start developing content 3-6 months before you start blogging.  Good blogs have good content.  Take the time to write well to make sure your content is excellent.  Also, there will be days that you just do not have time to write.  It’s best to develop a mini archive of articles that you can use as blog posts when you do not have the time to write a fresh piece.  It is always good to get a timely piece that can tie-in a current event, but do yourself a favor – plan ahead. 

Determine your blog strategy.  Determine your blog publishing schedule.  The key is to remain as consistent as possible.  Some people post no more than two-to-three posts a week, but there are bloggers that put out new posts everyday. I post twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays.  While there is no specific formula for how many times a week you should post, just remember that readers appreciate consistency.

Choose the right blog platform.  There are so many choices out there to establish your blog.  WordPress.org has a huge community, with many support resources including featured plug-ins and many customization options.  You may need some help with set-up, but after that, posting is an easy process.  My blog is a customized WordPress blog.  If you don’t want to buy a domain name and hosting package WordPress.com, Typepad.com and Blogger.com might be just what you need.  If you are doing business, I suggest spending the $150.00 and personally branding your blog site.

Develop a picture library.  Adding an image to your blog posts adds a huge amount of depth to your blog.  Ahead of time, pull images that might work for your blog posts.  There are free sites such as www.Photobucket.com, www.openphoto.net, www.unprofound.com  You can also use www.Flickr.com, but use the advanced search page and check “only search within Creative Commons-licensed content” to avoid copyright issues.  There are also low cost photo sites such as www.istockphoto.com.  Pulling pictures can be time consuming, so if you start out with a library of 50 or so, you’ll save time in the long run. 

Write great headlines. Your headline can make or break your post, so choose your words carefully. It helps to think about what your reader would type into a search engine to find your information.  Use active voice and as few words as possible.  Throwing in key words is good too.  You can also use lists, numbers, how-tos, compelling questions, and famous names to draw people in.  It doesn’t matter how good your blog content is if no one will click on the link to read it.  Would you read an article titled “Growing Your Online Marketing through Blogging” or one titled “Blogging for Business”?  If you’re struggling with headlines, look at a few popular blogs to see how they do it. 

With these tips, you’ll speak to your target audience and attract a wealth of new readers. If any of these points sound difficult or time consuming, remember, you don’t have to do it all alone.  Get help from a social media coach or marketing consultant that can help you build your blog and position yourself as an industry expert in no time.

Did I miss any tips? Leave me a comment and let me know your secrets to blogging success.  

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE, E-NEWSLETTER OR WEB SITE?  You may, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:

Melinda Emerson “SmallBizLady” is a Veteran Entrepreneur, Small Business Expert and Social Media Coach who hosts #SmallBizChat on Twitter.  #Smallbizchat is the trusted resource on Twitter to discuss everything entrepreneurs need to know about launching and running a profitable small business.  Melinda’s first book, Become Your Own Boss in 12 months! A Month-by-Month Guide to Start a Business that Works! is scheduled to be released by Adams Media in early 2010.

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

Comments { 5 }

Financial Help for Growing Inner City Businesses

By on September 15, 2009 in Cash Flow & Finance, Grow Your Business

Are you aware of all your financial options to support your company’s growth? 

Could your business benefit from:

  • Discovering the full range of financial options available to grow your businesses
  • Building and strengthening relationships with investors
  • Obtaining one-on-one feedback from seasoned investors and consultants
  • Optimizing your business growth strategy
  • Promoting your company products or services

The Inner City Capital Connections training program might be your answer.  ICCC New York 2009 features seasoned professionals who break down what you should know about debt, equity and other financing options for your small business.

Inner City Capital Connections (ICCC) is a free national program that identifies and prepares a select group of entrepreneurs searching for finance to support their business growth.  Unlike other capital raising events, ICCC is unique in its focus on inner city entrepreneurs. Since the inaugural event in 2005, nearly 150 inner city companies and 115 equity providers have been selected to participate. These companies have raised more than $140 million in capital.

On October 20, 2009, a full day training session will take place in New York City to prepare entrepreneurs to meet with potential investors.   The program culminates with an event on November 18-19th in New York that gives entrepreneurs the opportunity to connect one-on-one with investors also.

Any for-profit corporations, partnerships or proprietorships headquartered in or having 51% or more of their physical operations in an economically distressed urban area of the US that have revenues of $2 million or more in 2008 should apply for this program.

The 2009 Inner City Capital Connections (ICCC) program is co-sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City and Bank of America.

 For more information: www.icic.org

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE, E-NEWSLETTER OR WEB SITE?  You may, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:


Melinda Emerson “SmallBizLady” is a Veteran Entrepreneur, Small Business Expert and Social Media Coach who hosts #SmallBizChat on Twitter.  #Smallbizchat is the trusted resource on Twitter to discuss everything entrepreneurs need to know about launching and running a profitable small business.  Melinda’s first book, Become Your Own Boss in 12 months! A Month-by-Month Guide to Start a Business that Works! is scheduled to be released by Adams Media in early 2010.

 

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

Comments { 3 }

5 Ways to Shift from Tired to Inspired in Business

By on September 10, 2009 in Grow Your Business, SmallBizChat

Every week as SmallBizLady, I conduct interviews with experts on my Twitter talk show #SmallBizChat.  The show takes place every Wed on Twitter from 8-9pm ET.  This is excerpted from my recent interview with Elizabeth Barbour @CoachElizabethB on Twitter.  Elizabeth’s company is The Inspired Entrepreneur. She is a small business coaching expert who serves as a catalyst for entrepreneurs to take inspired action and create extraordinary results in business and in life.  A professional coach for nine years, Elizabeth has worked with thousands of people to shift from tired to inspired in business and in life! Her four core values are community, celebration, spirituality and self-care.  Visit www.ElizabethBarbour.com for details!

SmallBizLady:  Why do entrepreneurs get so tired?

CoachElizabethB : We’re excited! We have big ideas! We multi-task all the time so we juggle a lot of balls in the air and often drop some. Often, we are solopreneurs so we are wearing many hats which gets overwhelming. In this economy, some people are struggling so there is a bit of fear that motivates us to do more than we normally would. That’s exhausting.

SmallBizLady: What are the warning signs that you are tired?

CoachElizabethB: LOL! So many. Some more obvious than others. Losing things. Forgetting Appointments. Always being late. Cloudy Thinking. Can’t fall asleep at night. We get overtired and then over stimulated and keep a to-do list by our beds! We stop taking care of ourselves – no exercise, poor food choices, no down time. Just go-go-go 24-7. Stress. Getting cranky or snippy. We call it “having the growlies” in our house! Watch out if someone has the growlies! J

SmallBizLady:  So how can we get inspired? I understand you have 5 Tips to Shift from Tired to Inspired. What’s the first tip?

CoachElizabethB: Tip #1 to Get Inspired: Practice Self Care. Like the financial gurus suggest – don’t spend all your money and then save what’s left over – start by paying yourself first! Decrease tolerations and things that drain your energy. Let go of habits and behaviors that don’t serve you or your biz. Do more of what you love to do. Go for a hike. Read. Swim. Nap. Dance. A 30 min break can really shift your energy in a positive way. Establish your connection to God, self and others. When you are plugged in spiritually, you live an inspired life. Louise Hay suggests using this sentence “I love myself therefore…”  if you said that several times a day, you’d always make good choices.

SmallBizLady:  What’s the 2nd tip to shift from Tired to Inspired?  

CoachElizabethB: Tip #2 to Get Inspired: Learn, Study, Grow! Read books. Take classes. Get a mentor. Go to workshops & conferences. Attend all the FREE events you can find. My top 3 Biz books: The E-Myth, Attracting Perfect Customers, One Page Business Plan. My top 3 Personal books: Sabbath – Wayne Muller, You Can Heal Your Life – Louise Hay, Ask and It Is Given – Abraham-Hicks

SmallBizLady:  What’s the 3rd tip to shift from Tired to Inspired?

CoachElizabethB:  Tip #3 to Get Inspired:  Build Intentional Community. Assess your current community – who feeds you? Who drains you? Who do you want to spend more time with? Who are you spending your time with? Successful people surround themselves with successful people. They mastermind. They go to workshops and personal development seminars. They hire the right people to work for them. Think about it – Tiger Woods – what does he do? He plays GOLF – that’s it! He does what he does best. And he surrounds himself with a community that supports him at being his best.

SmallBizLady:  What’s the 4th tip to shift from Tired to Inspired?

CoachElizabethB: Tip #4 to Get Inspired: Create Systems for Success. Look at every aspect of your life. Not just your biz! Assess Your Business: Is your desk organized? Are your computer files easy to navigate? What’s your communication like with your clients? Assess Your Home: is bill paying easy? Do you have a central scheduling place for meetings, vacations, etc. do you have a place to hang your KEYS when you walk in the door? Systems make life easier because there’s a plan that you don’t have to think about.

SmallBizLady:  What’s the 5th tip to shift from Tired to Inspired?

CoachElizabethB: Tip #5 to Get Inspired: Work ON your business, not just in it. This is what Michael Gerber teaches in the E-Myth. If you have not read it, you must! Working on your business means to embrace being an Entrepreneur with a Capital E! When you work IN the business, you’re serving clients and doing daily tasks. When you work ON the business, you’re Visioning, Goal Setting, Big Picture Thinking, Networking. That’s where the inspiration comes in!

 

SmallBizLady: These are great tips but what if I still need help?

 

CoachElizabethB: Get help and perspective: hire a coach, work with a mastermind group, talk to your dog, meditate or pray. It’s important to identify the areas you need help and then find the appropriate resource (person, book, website, etc) Also be sure to schedule doses of inspiration. Sounds silly. But if it’s not in your schedule, it’s not in your life.

SmallBizLady: What’s your advice for brand new entrepreneurs?

CoachElizabethB: Network, network, network! Build your community so that you feel supported and you have access to resources. Join groups in your community to get the word out and to not feel isolated. Get a mentor or hire a coach. Someone to guide you on your journey and help you stay focused. Remember what Calvin & Hobbes said? “It’s only work unless someone makes you do it!” If you’re an entrepreneur, you’ve chosen this. So have fun with it. Don’t create another J-O-B for yourself!

SmallBizLady: Who and what inspires you?

CoachElizabethB: My Favorite Spiritual Teachers: Sonia Choquette, Wayne Dyer, Caroline Myss, Jerry & Esther Hicks. My Favorite Business Gurus: Michel Gerber, Stephen Covery, Harv Eker, Walt Disney! J I get inspired by being in community, spending time in nature and having intellectual and spiritual conversations. Life is so much fun and I love to explore and learn constantly! Being a coach is the perfect fit for me.

If you found this interview helpful, join us on Wednesdays 8-9pm ET follow @SmallBizChat on Twitter. 

How to participate in #SmallBizChat: http://bit.ly/S797e

For more tips on starting or growing your small business subscribe to Melinda Emerson’s blog at www.succeedasyourownboss.com

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Managing Difficult Clients

By on September 6, 2009 in Branding & Marketing, Grow Your Business, My Recommendations

Does this sound familiar…”How many 16 hour days is this project going to take?” “My client has saboteurs working with me on this project,” “This project started with an Managing Difficult Clientsunrealistic deadline and has gotten crazier every day since.” If you have said any of these phrases out loud to yourself recently – you are not alone.  Professional service businesses, particularly creative service businesses can really get abused and lose profit margin to rework.

Unanticipated hours spent trying to please a client that is never satisfied can drain you and your business like a vampire.  From the countless unnecessary revisions, to the “I don’t know what I want, but I don’t want that” dance or too many people allowed to influence the look and feel of your project.  Then there’s the real kicker– the client beat you up on price in the first place.  After more than a decade in business, I have seen that devil more than a few times-and now I have strategies to cope.

When it seems like nothing that you do is right, forget about preserving the relationship – save your sanity instead.  With a client who just won’t be satisfied no matter what you do, you need to operate defensively. 

Smallbizlady’s Rules for Managing Difficult Clients

  • Never start work without a signed agreement and at least a 50% deposit.
  • Don’t accept less than your standard fee without a good reason.
  • Reserve the right to adjust the budget if the scope of the project changes.
  • Make sure the budget is significant enough to hire a project manager to help you.
  • Have a kickoff to meet all the key stakeholders.
  • Create a project timeline and then have the client sign off.
  • Develop a detailed project plan with assigned task and deliverables.
  • Praise stakeholders openly who are helpful.
  • State clearly in your contract agreement, and every time you send over a draft how many business days the client will have to review the draft based on the project timeline.
  • Insist on a single point of contact.
  • 1 edit, 1 revision -That’s it! All additional changes are billable for time and materials hourly.
  • Use a signed work order for revisions. Before additional revisions are made, make the client sign a work order to approve any additional charges.
  • Over communicate with status reports.
  • Document all communication, just in case you need to prove ridiculous directives after the fact.

 If you are a project-based company it may make sense to invest in a project management software/file share program such as GoPlan, Microsoft Sharepoint, or SharedPlan Central. These programs allow you to give restricted access to clients and your project team 24/7.  It will also keep you from having 42 emails back and forth about the same project.

Always make time to fill your pipeline.  Do not fall into the trap of spending all of your time on one extremely demanding clients to the point where you can’t devote yourself to any new opportunities.  Say “no” or “that’s impossible” when necessary.

Take great care of customers, who love your work and acknowledge your dedication and professionalism.  They are rare, but they are the backbone of your long-term business success.

You will not love all of your clients; not everyone is a good customer.  The great thing about being in business for yourself is that you can move on from difficult clients after their nightmare project is over. Never be afraid to cut your losses and move on.

Have you ever dealt with a difficult client? How did you handle the situation? Share your story in the comments.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE, E-NEWSLETTER OR WEB SITE? You may, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:

Melinda Emerson is a Veteran Entrepreneur, Small Business Expert and Social Media Coach who hosts #smallbizchat on Twitter.  #Smallbizchat is the trusted resource on Twitter to discuss everything entrepreneurs need to know about launching and running a profitable small business.  Melinda’s first book, Be Your Own Boss in 12 months or Less; A Month-by-Month Guide to Start a Business that Works! is scheduled to be released by Adams Media in early 2010.

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

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How to Quit a Job to Start a Business

By on September 3, 2009 in Branding & Marketing, SmallBizChat, Starting A Small Business

Each week as Smallbizlady, I conduct interviews with small business experts on my weekly Twitter talk show #SmallBizChat. This is excerpted from my #SmallBizChat interview @SherriGarrity.  Sherri is the founder of Corporate Fugitive, a company that provides business and marketing coaching to aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners who want to go from overwhelmed to extraordinary.

In 2007, she walked away from a raise and a successful marketing career in the corporate world to start her own consulting business. During her transition she found that there wasn’t a lot of information and support out there specific to entrepreneurs coming out of a corporate environment – so she established Corporate Fugitive. She has lots of free articles and how-to information on her site at http://www.corporatefugitive.com

Smallbizlady: How did you become the corporate fugitive and what are the typical reasons people quit their jobs to start a business?

Sherri Garrity: Many people choose to leave careers behind because they want flexibility, or have reached a ceiling in their income and want to have more control over their futures. Other common reasons are a desire to leave a legacy and create something, to fulfill a dream or passion. People also start businesses because of a change in life circumstance like job loss, relocation, or post retirement. In my case I hit a wall energy and health-wise and decided that I wanted to be able to spend more time at home with my young child.

Smallbizlady: What is the number one mistake you see people making when they quit a job to start a business?

Sherri Garrity: The biggest mistake I see is when someone does not take the time to truly consider what they want from a business. As a small business owner there is little or no line between life and work, and so if you don’t take the time to really think about your income goals, the way you like to work, the kind of flexibility you want, etc. you can easily create a business that simply becomes a job in disguise.

Smallbizlady: What is the best case scenario for a start-up entrepreneur?

Sherri Garrity: When you can create a business that is uniquely suited to you, by taking the time to consider what’s best for you, who you’re ideally matched to serve, and you create the  business model that really fits you, it’s absolutely extraordinary and totally rewarding! This is the moment I strive for with business owners, is to see the light go on and their eyes widen when they realize the business is there for them to create exactly in the way that’s custom fit for them.

Smallbizlady: What are the things that someone can do first like maybe even before they quit their day job?

Sherri Garrity: It is best to do the research and test the waters while you’re still working. Think about what you want, research others who have businesses you like, and check out the market. Once you know what you want, it’s relatively easy to start a home-based business, especially with the online tools we have today. The other thing is I think what’s really valuable is to learn some basics about marketing and business and I’m not talking about being a master but you know, get some basic knowledge while you have the time to learn and your income is not dependent on it. Finally, build your network. Today with social media this is so much quicker than it used to be. Get out there and don’t worry about perfection, just take action.

Smallbizlady: What tips do you have for people who are still working for an employer while they’re developing their business?

Sherri Garrity: I think the number one is for first of all, keep it separate. You know, one of the biggest challenges, if you’re working while you’re starting a business, is what to tell people. Keep the worlds separate as much as possible and while you’re representing your employer, be the consummate professional and do your best job and absolutely do not market your independent services where you work. That’s a big no-no. It’s just not ethical and that’s not going to serve you if you try to market yourself at the same time. But if you’re out on your own time, attending an event or something, introduce yourself as the owner of your business, and do not mention that you’re also working for someone else. This makes you look disloyal to your employer and also not serious about your business. So keep it separate.

The second tip is to use the predictable income you have to invest in some of the tools you’ll need in your business.

Smallbizlady: Popular business advice is to save several months salary, or use someone else’s money to start your business. Do you have any advice in this area?

Sherri Garrity: Most of the 2500 or so new businesses that are started every day in Canada and the USA are started as sole proprietorships. Most are service based and also home based meaning most of us tend to transition from a job to working at home and usually on our own, providing services in our professional backgrounds. The first piece of advice I give to anyone contemplating making this leap is to go through the basics of what you want in a business, what you need to live on, what you’d ideally like vs what you have to make, and so on. Everyone has a different circumstance and this is also why I think that these kinds of generalized statements are unrealistic. As far as business loans go, it really depends on your type of business. Most of my clients are solo professionals who work from home providing a service and so wouldn’t require or likely qualify for a typical business loan.

Smallbizlady: What should someone expect when they quit?

Sherri Garrity:  The biggest fear people have is where they are going to get clients and how they’re going to get the money flowing. These are valid concerns, but luckily with some planning and forethought you can get things rolling pretty quickly, although you shouldn’t expect to be replacing your income right away. If you do your homework and keep marketing you’ll get the work and this will lead to more.

Smallbizlady:  Do you need to change your mindset to become an entrepreneur?

Sherri Garrity: I think the issue that no one really talks about that can be really difficult is the total mindset shift that is required. I joke about the “corporate detox” process but it really doesn’t feel that funny when you’re in the middle of it and no one told you what to expect. It can be completely exhilarating and completely terrifying at the same time. You lose your identity as an employee and all of its social stature and you enter the no man’s land of the not yet successful business owner. The other thing to remember is that you’re doing the unexpected and so many people who know you will think you’re crazy to walk away from the so called security of a corporate career. You need to develop a thick skin.

Smallbizlady: I have heard you say that business owners should CHOOSE their clients. Most think it’s the other way around. Can you explain that?

Sherri Garrity: Especially coming out of a traditional employee relationship we tend to think that our marketplace dictates our business and unfortunately many people who start businesses just take whatever work comes along. I advise that it is entirely possible to choose your clients and not only that, you SHOULD choose. You will actually make more money and enjoy your business more if you can tap into a specific unique talent that has huge value to the ideal client. Once you set up services that complement your skills and work preferences, this will make your marketing efforts more effective. You’ll be able to attract clients and connect with them in a way that will ensure they are the right fit for you. This is how you build a business instead of creating a job for yourself!

Smallbizlady: Many new business owners spread themselves really thin to take on work that maybe doesn’t fit them. They dream of getting a big client. You like to call this an anchor client. Can you talk about that?

Sherri Garrity: Many business owners are just so happy to get clients that they take whatever comes along. They think if they can land that one big secure, regular paying client that they’ll be set. This is sometimes called the anchor client. The problem with an anchor is that it is designed to weigh an object, in this case you, down! Be careful. Be clear to define your market and your ideal client. Be clear on your service offerings. It’s better to start out with less, but highly focused work than to spread yourself thin or to take clients on that don’t fit where you want to go. Also, if you are going to seek a big client, be sure you are not overly dependent on one or two for your survival.

 The biggest danger of an anchor client is that you become complacent and you stop marketing. Never stop marketing.

Smallbizlady: Many new business owners have a problem with cash flow. Can you give us advice on this?

Sherri Garrity: Cash flow is really critical. You can have high fees and lots of clients and be really strapped if you are waiting a long time to get paid. The best way to ensure consistent cash flow is to make sure you’re always marketing. The marketing actions you’re taking today are what turn into cash flow months down the road. Also structure your products and services in such a way that you’re getting predictable and regular payments. There are many ways to set your business up to encourage this.

Smallbizlady: How much time do you think should be spent on marketing and managing their business versus doing the actual work of their business?

Sherri Garrity:  I advise people they should be spending at least the equivalent of a day per week on this. In all businesses this is critical, but it’s even more so in new businesses that aren’t established yet. You can think of the business in two broad categories: marketing and operations. Marketing is the routine activities that keep you in front of your ideal client. For example, you should be spending your time developing new contacts, following up with current or past customers, attending networking events, and drawing clients in with activities like speaking, writing and so on. Think of this as part of your job as a business owner rather than a special project or something.

The other category is marketing operations. On a regular basis you must revisit your broader business and marketing plan. This means creating new services and products ahead of time, and rolling them out in a well thought out fashion.

If you found this interview helpful, join us on Wednesdays 8-9pm ET follow @SmallBizChat on Twitter. 

How to participate in #SmallBizChat: http://bit.ly/S797e

For more tips on starting or growing your small business subscribe to Melinda Emerson’s blog at www.succeedasyourownboss.com

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