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You are here: Home / Archives for How to Start

What Eagles Can Teach Us About Being Effective Business Leaders

July 28, 2025 By Melinda Emerson Leave a Comment

Now listen, I don’t just love Eagles because I’m from Philadelphia. Sure, I bleed green every football season (Fly, Eagles, Fly!), but today we’re talking about the other kind of eagle — the one with wings, razor-sharp vision, and an inspiring leadership style that business owners can actually learn a thing or two from. Eagles […]

Filed Under: Branding & Marketing, Business Inspiration, Grow Your Business, How to Start, Leadership, Solopreneurs, Starting A Small Business, Your Small Business Tagged With: business leaders, business scaling, business transformation, business vision, face business problems, laser-focus, rise above the noise

The New Form of SEO: GEO Secrets to Be Listed as a Trusted Resource in AI Searches

July 21, 2025 By Melinda Emerson Leave a Comment

Search engine optimization (SEO) is no longer just about ranking on page one of Google. Thanks to artificial intelligence, the search landscape has changed dramatically. AI-powered platforms like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, and the latest voice assistants Siri and Alexa are now helping people find answers—not just websites. But what does that mean for your business? […]

Filed Under: Branding & Marketing, Grow Your Business, How to Start, Solopreneurs, Starting A Small Business, Your Small Business Tagged With: AI search, Genuine Expertise Optimization, GEO, search engine optimization, SEO

Newsflash: No One Cares About Your Brand—Yet. Why Businesses Must Invest in Brand Awareness

July 14, 2025 By Melinda Emerson Leave a Comment

Let’s start with a harsh but liberating truth: No one cares about your brand. Not your logo, not your clever name, and certainly not the “About Us” section you spent two weeks writing. This is especially true if you’re a startup or SaaS brand just entering the market. Your product might be the next game-changer, […]

Filed Under: Branding & Marketing, Grow Your Business, How to Start, Solopreneurs, Starting A Small Business, Your Small Business Tagged With: authentic brand, Brand Awareness, brand development, customer trust, market positioning

How to Build a Lead Generation and Nurture Process That Converts

July 7, 2025 By Melinda Emerson Leave a Comment

Most businesses don’t actually have a sales problem—they have a nurturing problem. While many entrepreneurs are actively collecting leads, running ads, and growing their email lists, those leads often fail to turn into paying customers. Why? Because there’s no follow-up strategy. Leads go cold. Opportunities get missed. And the business ends up stuck in a […]

Filed Under: Branding & Marketing, Grow Your Business, How to Start, Solopreneurs, Staying Productive, Technology, Your Small Business Tagged With: behavior triggers, conversion, email nurture sequence, lead generation, lead magnets, nurture process

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

What KPIs Should You Track In Your Small Business?

May 5, 2025 By Melinda Emerson Leave a Comment

Running a small business successfully requires more than intuition—it demands tracking performance metrics that guide decision-making. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) provide measurable insights into your business operations, helping you optimize lead generation, marketing campaigns, and sales strategies. By focusing on the right KPIs, small business owners can identify strengths, pinpoint inefficiencies, and increase profitability. This […]

Filed Under: Grow Your Business, How to Start, Sales, Solopreneurs, Starting A Small Business, Your Small Business Tagged With: business growth metrics, key performance indicators, kpi, performance metrics, tracking data

How to Develop a Business Launch Timeline, Part II

April 28, 2025 By Melinda Emerson Leave a Comment

Welcome to Part II of Building a Launch Pad to Start Your Business. In this post, we’ll walk you through a comprehensive 12-month roadmap to launch your business with clarity and confidence. From refining your idea and setting up finances to marketing and making your first sale, this plan is designed to help you stay […]

Filed Under: Become Your Own Boss Tips, How to Start, Sales, Side Hustle, Starting A Small Business, Staying Productive, Your Small Business Tagged With: build your brand, business planning, business research, business scaling, grow and audience, marketing strategy, sales strategies

Building a Launchpad to Start Your Business: Part I

April 21, 2025 By Melinda Emerson Leave a Comment

Do you think that you have a million-dollar idea? Building a Launchpad to Start Your Business is just the first step. Starting a business is thrilling—but let’s be real, it’s also a high-stakes move that impacts your money, time, energy, and relationships. That’s why you need more than just a good idea—you need a plan. […]

Filed Under: Become Your Own Boss Tips, How to Start, Sales, Side Hustle, Starting A Small Business, Staying Productive, Your Small Business Tagged With: assess finances, personal goals, Plan B, professional goals, start a small business, work schedule

How to Master the Art of Discovery Calls

December 16, 2024 By Melinda Emerson Leave a Comment

Discovery calls are a critical step in the sales process, especially for service-based businesses and consultants. They’re your chance to connect with potential clients, understand their needs, and demonstrate the value you can provide—all while determining if they’re a good fit for your services. But for many business owners, these calls can feel daunting, especially […]

Filed Under: Become Your Own Boss Tips, Customer Service, Grow Your Business, How to Start, Your Small Business Tagged With: business growth tips, client acquisition, closing deals effectively, consultative selling techniques, discovery calls, high-ticket closing, how to sell services, lead generation tips, sales strategies, small business owners

URGENT: Is Your Business Compliant with the Corporate Transparency Act?

December 9, 2024 By Melinda Emerson Leave a Comment

Small business owners there’s one new regulation that needs your immediate attention before the end of 2024. The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) requires most small businesses operating in the United States to create transparency in business ownership to prevent illicit activities such as money laundering, tax evasion, and financing of terrorism. The CTA is a […]

Filed Under: Fix Your Business, How to Start, Starting A Small Business, Your Small Business Tagged With: anti-money laundering compliance, avoid CTA penalties, beneficial ownership information, business transparency law, Corporate Transparency Act, CTA filing requirements, financial crimes prevention, FinCEN BOI report, new business regulations, ownership disclosure law, small business compliance, small business owners, U.S. business compliance

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Jean Chatzky, Bestselling Author of Money 911 and Financial Editor of NBC’s Today Show
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Justin Amendola, Former VP, Global SMB Digital Strategy, Pitney Bowes

Latest #SmallBizChat

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In this episode, Melinda Emerson hosts a panel discussion with Natalia Caylor, Sherill Mosee, and Toni Johnson. Each guest shares their favorite podcast, a business app they find indispensable, a marketing tip, and a business book that has impacted them. Toni Johnson is the Head Chef and CEO of The Jamaican Pattie Shop. A plant-based […]

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