Succeed As Your Own Boss

ENDING SMALL BUSINESS FAILURE

  • Home
  • About
  • Book Melinda
  • One-on-One Coaching
    • CONSULTING
  • SBL Store
  • SmallBizLady University
  • Free Tools
  • Podcast
  • #Smallbizchat
    • Be a #SmallBizChat Guest
  • Blog
  • Contact
    • We’re Hiring!
You are here: Home / Archives for Featured Post

How to Become a Business Owner Through Acquisition

October 13, 2025 By Melinda Emerson Leave a Comment

Would you like to go from resume to revenue? Are you a corporate refugee looking for a new path to financial freedom? I’ve got the answer. The Next ACT CEO Summit is for you. It’s a three-day virtual conference taking place January 22–24, 2026, that will guide senior women leaders age 45+ to become entrepreneurs […]

Filed Under: Branding & Marketing, Featured Post, Fix Your Business, Grow Your Business, Sales, Solopreneurs, Staying Productive, Technology, Women in Business, Your Small Business Tagged With: business acquisition, business ownership, financial freedom, next act ceo summit, senior women leaders, Women in Business

26 Great Ideas to Market Your Coaching Business

October 6, 2025 By Melinda Emerson Leave a Comment

Marketing your coaching business isn’t an afterthought, it’s a designed system that blends authenticity, clarity, and deliberate outreach. In a crowded market, remember that coaching is different: you’re not just selling sessions, you’re inviting someone into a trusting relationship that catalyzes change. Because your offer is intangible, your marketing must make outcomes tangible, share client […]

Filed Under: Branding & Marketing, Featured Post, Fix Your Business, Grow Your Business, How to Start, Sales, Solopreneurs, Women in Business, Your Small Business Tagged With: coaching business, grow your coaching business, marketing ideas, marketing strategies, small business marketing

From RFP to Purchase Order with Corporate Contracts

September 29, 2025 By Melinda Emerson Leave a Comment

Winning a corporate contract isn’t about dazzling a room and waiting for magic. It’s a structured march, from the first conversation to a cleanly issued purchase order (PO), timely payment and ultimately, repeat business. Below is a practical, end-to-end playbook you can follow to turn interest into revenue without getting lost in procurement purgatory. A […]

Filed Under: Cash Flow & Finance, Featured Post, Fix Your Business, Grow Your Business, Sales, Solopreneurs, Staying Productive, Women in Business, Your Small Business Tagged With: business proposals, corporate contracts, government procurement, prepare a bid, purchase order, RFP

How to Transition Your Free Community into a Paid Membership

September 22, 2025 By Melinda Emerson Leave a Comment

Selling through community is a way to always be able to get instant feedback on offers and print money. But turning a free community like a Facebook group into a paid membership isn’t just about adding a paywall. It’s a careful shift in positioning, value delivery, and member experience. Do it well and you’ll gain […]

Filed Under: Business Inspiration, Customer Service, Featured Post, Fix Your Business, Grow Your Business, Sales, Solopreneurs, Staying Productive, Women in Business, Your Small Business Tagged With: community, founding member, member retention, membership platform, membership site, onboarding, online community

10 Workflows Systems Every Small Business Needs

September 15, 2025 By Melinda Emerson Leave a Comment

Running a successful small business takes more than talent, passion, or a good product. It requires systems, specifically workflow systems that guide how work gets done, from attracting prospects to delivering your service or product and getting paid. These systems help you operate more efficiently, reduce errors, enhance the customer experience, and ultimately grow your […]

Filed Under: 10 Things Lists, Business Inspiration, Featured Post, Fix Your Business, Grow Your Business, Solopreneurs, Starting A Small Business, Staying Productive, Women in Business, Your Small Business Tagged With: appointment scheduling, business proposal, client communication, cloud storage, collaboration, CRM, electronic contract, lead generation, online invoicing, online reputation, payment collection, project management, sales automation, task tracking

15 Ways to Be More Profitable in Your Small Business

September 8, 2025 By Melinda Emerson Leave a Comment

Everyone wants to be more profitable. After all, profit is how we keep score in business. It’s not about what you make—it’s about what you keep. Many small business owners confuse revenue with success, but true sustainability comes from consistent profit. The good news is that you don’t always need a complete overhaul to boost […]

Filed Under: 15 Things Series, Business Inspiration, Featured Post, Fix Your Business, Grow Your Business, Solopreneurs, Starting A Small Business, Staying Productive, Women in Business, Your Small Business Tagged With: automation, customer files, financial statements, follow-up, money-making activities, pricing, Productivity, profitable business, referrals, upsell

How to Reinvent Your Business: A 7-Step Guide to Starting Fresh and Scaling Online

September 1, 2025 By Melinda Emerson Leave a Comment

Sometimes, a business runs its course. What once brought joy, profit, and purpose begins to feel like a burden. Maybe the market changed. Maybe your heart changed. Or maybe the model you built simply doesn’t work anymore in the digital age. Whatever the reason, it’s okay to start over. Reinvention doesn’t mean failure. In fact, […]

Filed Under: Business Inspiration, Featured Post, Fix Your Business, Grow Your Business, Solopreneurs, Starting A Small Business, Staying Productive, Women in Business, Your Small Business Tagged With: automate, business ideas, Business reinvention, Business Values, business vision, home office, reinvent business, scale, signature offer, starting over

How to Get Ready for Holiday Shoppers

August 25, 2025 By Melinda Emerson Leave a Comment

If Christmas is your Super Bowl, listen up: it’s time to build your holiday offers, bundles, ads, staffing, and shipping plans to glide into Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday like a pro. The holiday season isn’t just another sales cycle, it’s the biggest chance to make your numbers, strengthen customer loyalty, and […]

Filed Under: Branding & Marketing, Business Inspiration, Featured Post, Grow Your Business, Social Media, Uncategorized, Women in Business, Your Small Business Tagged With: Black Friday sales strategy, boost holiday revenue, bundle offers for holidays, Cyber Monday marketing tips, ecommerce holiday planning, holiday packaging supplies, holiday sales inventory planning, holiday shopping preparation, increase holiday profits, maximize holiday sales, online ads for holiday season, prepare for holiday rush, retail business growth, retail strategy for holidays, seasonal sales boost, shipping preparation for holidays, small business holiday tips, small business marketing tips, small business staffing for holidays, video marketing for Black Friday

SmallBizLady Summer Reading List 2025

June 9, 2025 By Melinda Emerson Leave a Comment

Why Summer Is the Perfect Season to Grow Your Mind—and Your Business—with Books. There’s something magical about summer. The pace slows down, the days stretch longer, and there’s finally space to breathe—and think. It’s not just a season for vacations and cookouts; summer is a prime opportunity to invest in yourself. While others are unwinding, […]

Filed Under: AI for business, Become Your Own Boss Tips, Branding & Marketing, Business Inspiration, Cash Flow & Finance, Customer Service, Featured Post, Grow Your Business, How to Start, Leadership, My Recommendations, Solopreneurs, Starting A Small Business, Teams, Technology, Women in Business, Your Small Business Tagged With: Business Book Recommendations, business coaching, business knowledge, business leadership, business owner resources, business success tips, entrepreneurship, financial future, franchising, leadership books, marketing books, must-read business books, small business books, small business growth, smallbizlady, summer reading list, supportive leadership, teams, women in franchising

How To Go From Social to Closing a Sale

July 19, 2016 By Melinda Emerson Leave a Comment

There can be a tendency as a small business to feel the need to jump on ALL of the social media platforms and start creating accounts. This is one strategy to get your slice of the social engagement pie. While it’s smart to connect with your customers on social media, biting off more than you […]

Filed Under: Featured Post, Social Media Tagged With: @insightlyapp, social media

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 28
  • Next Page »

Let’s Connect

  • facebook
  • instagram
  • tiktok
  • pinterest
  • linkedin
  • twitter
  • youtube
  • feedburner

Sign up for the SmallBizLady BUZZ Newsletter and be the first to receive updates and details about upcoming events.
Click Here to Sign Up!

We’re proud to be part of the Mediaplanet Empowering Small Business campaign! The COVID-19 pandemic brought hardship and ruin on the nation’s small businesses, but there’s now reason for hope. Learn about the resources, support, and tools available to help your small business bounce back and grow stronger than ever by picking up a copy of the campaign in USA Today and reading it online here.

Get a FREE Chapter of SmallBizLady’s Book,
"Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months, Revised and Expanded"!

Become Your Own Boss
Download Your FREE Chapter

Most Popular Posts

>Seven Ways to be More Profitable in Your Small Business
> 7 Ways to Attract Customers to Your Small Business
> 6 Tips for Managing Small Business Finances
> How to Run a Successful Multilevel Marketing Business
> 10 Ways to Grow Your Small Business With Instagram
> How to Sell on Facebook
> How to Get Over the Fear of Starting a New Business

Featured Videos

6 ABC Action News
Global Trade Summit

Bloomberg News Interview
How to Support Small Businesses During the Holidays

National Speakers Association
Winter Conference

Fox 29 Philadelphia
'Small Biz Lady' gives best advice for starting a new business in the New Year

Fox Business
Starting a Business

MSNBC
The importance of job mentoring for women

#SmallBizChat Live
National Small Business Week: Q&A

Good Day Philadelphia
Expert Shares Tips on How to Become Your Own Boss

Testimonials

Become Your Own Boss is a must read if you’re thinking of launching a business of your own.
Jean Chatzky, Bestselling Author of Money 911 and Financial Editor of NBC’s Today Show
Great step-by-step advice for anyone looking to start their own business.
Andrew C. Taylor, Chairman, Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Melinda Emerson has written a remarkable book. It is essential reading for anyone seeking to make the transition from working girl to successfully working it, as an entrepreneur.
Cynthia McClain-Hill, Past President, National Association of Women Business Owners
The perfect companion for those planning to go out on their own. Melinda delivers firsthand practical advice on how to be the successful entrepreneur. Read it if you want to get it right the first time.
Kenneth L. Shropshire, Professor at the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania
If you are looking for a versatile speaker who can talk about how to grow small businesses or get started with social media, look no further.
Heather Van Sickle Executive Director, National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE)
Her wit and depth of subject knowledge were entertaining and empowering. Melinda is definitely on our short list of seasoned entrepreneurs and business leaders we look to invite back in the near future.
Tennille M. Robinson Senior content & Event producer for Inc. magazine
Melinda Emerson, “SmallBizLady,” is an engaging and witty speaker and a great addition to any conference. Her terrific presentation and compelling delivery give people the information they need and want to become their own bosses and grow success… Read more
Laurie Dalton White Conference Director, Pennsylvania Conference for Women
Melinda Emerson has been a fantastic small business and social media resource for the Pitney Bowes team. Not only is she personable and easy to work with, but she also has an innate understanding of the small business audience. My marketing programs … Read more
Justin Amendola, Former VP, Global SMB Digital Strategy, Pitney Bowes

Latest #SmallBizChat

October 2025 #SmallBizChat: Executive Function Support and Grants for 40+ Entrepreneurs

#Smallbizchat Podcast LIVE is a monthly video interview show where small business owners can get answers to their questions. The focus of #Smallbizchat is to end small business failure by helping participants succeed as your own boss. Please join us live every third Wednesday of the month from 8-9 pm ET Live on my SmallBizLady Facebook […]

Fix Your Business Q&A Video

Recent Posts

  • October 2025 #SmallBizChat: Executive Function Support and Grants for 40+ Entrepreneurs
  • How to Become a Business Owner Through Acquisition
  • The SmallBizChat Podcast: Executive Function Support with Jared Kallen
  • 26 Great Ideas to Market Your Coaching Business
  • The SmallBizChat Podcast: How Small Businesses Solve Real-World Problems with Jim Beach

#SmallBizChat

  • SmallBizChat Archive
  • @SmallBizLady

Business Advice

  • How to Start

SmallBizLady Store

Products

Free Chapter

Get In Touch

  • FAQ
  • Be a #SmallBizChat Guest
  • Contact Us
Copyright © 2025
Quintessence Entertainment, Inc
PO Box 280
Drexel Hill, PA 19026
(610) 352-0680
Privacy Policy · Refund Policy

Let’s Connect

  • facebook
  • instagram
  • tiktok
  • pinterest
  • linkedin
  • twitter
  • youtube
  • feedburner

Popup Image ×
Popup Image ×