As small business entrepreneurs we all know the dichotomy between working in your business and working on your business. The latter often gets shuffled off to the corners of our desks because we’re really busy working with customers and doing things that keep the business operating and keep revenue coming in. You must work on […]
How to Craft a Killer Business Model
Do you have a solid business model or a glorified hobby? Your business model is how your company operates and makes money. The heart of any business is its offering, but the business model is wrapped around the product or service, completing the picture and generating revenue. Most entrepreneurs come from a skilled background. Many […]
Who is on #SmallBizChat September 2012?
Join me live every Wednesday, 8PM EST for #SmallBizChat on Twitter. Here’s how: follow @smallbizchat on Twitter and click here for directions on how to join the conversation. September 5: Pat Flynn @patflynn: How to Generate Passive Income from Your Website – Pat shares information about developing passive income at http://www.smartpassiveincome.com September 12 Maria Stevens @smallbizchatter: How to […]
How to Qualify Potential Customers
As small business owners the one thing we all have in common is that we have limited time and limited resources. While we must all constantly be on the hunt for new customers, it is critically important to recognize who is worth chasing. Since your time is the most valuable thing you can give anyone, […]
What’s in YOUR Business Plan?
You’re a smart, savvy business owner. You’re making a profit – even in these tough times. But you’re looking at other business contacts around you – especially on the Internet. You see that they seem to be earning more than you do – almost effortlessly. Why is that? They have a plan, man! Yup. Folks […]
How to Find the Right Manufacturer for Your Small Business
The biggest challenge business owners that invented a product face is finding a partner to manufacture their product. Most of the small business owners in my network use foreign manufacturers in China. Here are some tips on how to do your due diligence with potential manufacturers. The first advice I give is to look for […]
The Lifeline of Your Business: 5 Rules to Loving Your Sales CRM
Guest Article Don’t hate your sales CRM. It’s your friend. Really it is. An effective CRM – Customer Relationship Management – system can be the lifeline of your business. I have had the pleasure of using five different CRM systems (plus spreadsheets, notebooks, and my good old memory) over the last 15 years. Quite frankly, […]
The Daily Deal Isn’t Dead Yet
We all know that consumers are not as excited about the Groupon emails that land in their inboxes as they used to be, and we’ve all heard the horror stories of businesses that were overwhelmed or even destroyed by a poorly planned campaign. But, some businesses are making them work. Here’s one. 24-year-old Jacomo Hakim, […]
How Your Small Business Can Have a Big Brand
Guest Article Tiny. Miniscule. Small. When it comes to business, “small” shouldn’t be seen as a disadvantage. To the contrary, being a small business opens the door for making a huge impact as “the next big thing”. Big brands take advantage of this newness of locality all the time. It’s how they flourish through franchising. […]
How to Retain Employees in Your Small Business
Guest Article Small businesses may not be able to offer a huge benefit package or the salary of a major corporation to employees, but they don’t have to. The smart ones have a secret weapon that’s even more effective at attracting and keeping the best employees. It’s the opportunity to be part of something and […]