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You are here: Home / Archives for small business

Pros and Cons of Hiring Family Members in Your Small Business

May 20, 2024 By Melinda Emerson Leave a Comment

It can be tricky to hire family members in your small business. It can be both rewarding and challenging. Hiring family members can bring a sense of trust, loyalty, and shared vision to your business, fostering a tight-knit team environment. However, it also comes with its own set of potential pitfalls. In this blog post, […]

Filed Under: Become Your Own Boss Tips, Grow Your Business, Your Small Business Tagged With: business benefits, business challenges, business continuity, business growth, business management, business planning, business strategy, business succession, conflict resolution, employee loyalty, employee relations, entrepreneurial advice, family business, family dynamics, fix your small business, hiring family, hiring practices, hiring tips for small business, performance management, small business, small business tips, tax benefits

Can You Turn a Side Hustle into an Empire?

May 6, 2024 By Melinda Emerson Leave a Comment

The concept of the side hustle has gained significant traction in the last few years. No one is confined to the traditional nine-to-five grind these days. Especially since 2020, people have been increasingly developing side hustles to supplement their income, pursue their passions, and, yes, even build empires. I’m asked the question often, “Can a […]

Filed Under: Become Your Own Boss Tips, Grow Your Business, How to Start, Solopreneurs, Starting A Small Business Tagged With: business empire, business growth, digital age, entrepreneur journey, entrepreneurship, financial independence, online business, passion project, scaling, side hustle, small business, Success Stories

Celebrate National Small Business Week 2024

April 29, 2024 By Melinda Emerson Leave a Comment

Join me and the Small Business Administration for National Small Business Week from April 28 – May 4, 2024. This is our nation’s celebration of the 33.5 million small businesses across the country. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and this is our week to shine as entrepreneurs, employers, and innovative startups. The last […]

Filed Under: Featured Post, Melinda Emerson @SmallBizLady, My Recommendations, Q & A Interview, SmallBizChat Tagged With: African American Chamber of Commerce, AI, attract and retain customers, business awards, business workshops, cash flow, collaboration, customer experiences, customer retention, e-commerce, email marketing, entrepreneurship, expert speakers, federal resources, food truck business, growth, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, inspiration, learning, loyal customer base, national small business week, networking, practical skills, Productivity, Q&A Tuesday, repeat sales, sales funnels, SBA, side hustle, small business, small business success, SmallBizChat Podcast, TechEmpower Series, trust relationship, Virtual Summit, webinar

Strategies to Grow Your Subscriber List for a Newsletter or Blog

April 1, 2024 By Melinda Emerson Leave a Comment

Growing your subscriber list for a small business newsletter or blog is vital for expanding your reach, increasing engagement, and driving conversions. Building a robust subscriber base allows you to connect with your target audience, nurture relationships, and effectively promote your products or services. In this post, we’ll explore proven strategies for growing your subscriber […]

Filed Under: Fix Your Business, Grow Your Business, Technology, Your Small Business Tagged With: audience, Benchmarking, blog, content creation, contests, conversions, email segmentation, engagement, giveaways, growth strategies, incentives, list health, list hygiene, marketing, newsletter, paid advertising, pop-up forms, pruning, referrals, segmentation, SEO optimization, small business, social media promotion, strategy optimization, subscriber list, subscription forms

Strategies to Improve Your Closing Rate as a Small Business

March 25, 2024 By Melinda Emerson Leave a Comment

Mastering the art of sales is essential for driving growth and success. One key metric that directly impacts your bottom line is your sales closing rate—the percentage of leads or prospects that ultimately convert into paying customers. Improving your sales closing rate not only increases revenue but also maximizes the return on your sales efforts. […]

Filed Under: Cash Flow & Finance, Customer Service, Fix Your Business, Grow Your Business, Uncategorized, Your Small Business Tagged With: business development, business growth, buying intent, closing rate, customer acquisition, customer engagement, customer relationship, growth, lead qualification, lead scoring, marketing, sales, sales process, sales strategy, sales success, sales tips, sales training, small business, strategy

18 Ways to Go From Running Small Business to Building a Brand

March 18, 2024 By Melinda Emerson Leave a Comment

Many small businesses become successful at selling stuff but can’t seem to take it to the next level. Why? They have yet to build a brand. Building a brand is what all small business owners need to strive for to get noticed, gain recognition, repeat business, and enjoy the next level of success. Merely selling […]

Filed Under: Branding & Marketing, Your Small Business Tagged With: brand advocacy, Brand Awareness, Brand Building, brand extension, brand identity, brand loyalty, brand management, brand partnerships, branding strategy, business growth, customer experience, digital marketing, entrepreneurship, market positioning, marketing, product development, small business

Why You Need a Brand Refresh

February 19, 2024 By Melinda Emerson Leave a Comment

 When was the last time you evaluated your brand? For small business owners who need to stay relevant, competitive, and engaging, it is paramount to refine your brand and messaging as your business transforms. One of the most powerful tools at your disposal is your brand. As time progresses, the effectiveness and resonance of your […]

Filed Under: Become Your Own Boss Tips, Branding & Marketing, Business Inspiration, Fix Your Business, Grow Your Business, Women in Business, Your Small Business Tagged With: brand evolution, brand identity, brand perception, brand refresh, brand resilience, brand strategy, branding, business growth, competition, competitive differentiation, customer engagement, innovation, market trends, name change, rebranding, small business, strategic branding, target audience

Empowering Small Businesses: Cultivating a Culture of Data-Driven Decision-Making

January 22, 2024 By Melinda Emerson Leave a Comment

In an era where information is king, small businesses face a pivotal challenge: how to transform raw data into actionable insights that drive strategic decision-making. Establishing a culture of data-driven decision-making is not merely an option; it is a necessity for thriving in the competitive landscape. Let’s explore the key steps and benefits of fostering […]

Filed Under: Fix Your Business, Grow Your Business, Melinda Emerson @SmallBizLady, Teams, Your Small Business Tagged With: achieve your business goals, Business Objectives, business plan, improvement, small business, small business owners, small business tips

10 Bible Verses Every Small Business Owner Needs for 2024

January 15, 2024 By Melinda Emerson Leave a Comment

Are you walking in your purpose in 2024? This past Summer, I got a message from God three times that I was playing too small. He asked me to create a goal so big for myself that only he and he only could make it happen for me. For weeks, I sat with it, trying […]

Filed Under: 10 Things Lists, Business Inspiration, Melinda Emerson @SmallBizLady, My Recommendations Tagged With: 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (NLT), 2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV, abundance, belief, bible verse, blessings, blog, burnout, business plan, Colossians 3:12 NIV, compassion, discernment, encouragement, Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV, example, faith, faithbased, faithfulness, gentleness, goals, God's chosen people, God's gift, grace, Habakkuk 2:2 NIV, humility, impossible, intentions, Isaiah 26:3-4 NIV, John 14:27 NIV, kindness, light, love, Luke 1:37 NIV, Matthew 21:22 NIV, obedience, patience, peace, perfect peace, perseverance, persistence, prayer, promises, prosperity, Psalms, Psalms 37:25 (KJV), righteousness, salvation, scripture, self-care, small business, strategic marketing plan, success, trust, valley seasons

The SmallBizChat Podcast: Navigating Rejection with Melinda Emerson

September 14, 2023 By Melinda Emerson Leave a Comment

Navigating Rejection with Melinda Emerson social image

Today, Melinda talks about something that is not really fun in business, but it’s something that we all need to learn how to deal with a little bit better – navigating rejection in business. Rejection is an inevitable part of the business world, particularly in sales. Dealing with rejection effectively is crucial for maintaining motivation, […]

Filed Under: The SmallBizChat Podcast Tagged With: long-term success, motivation, navigating rejection, rejection, small business

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Jean Chatzky, Bestselling Author of Money 911 and Financial Editor of NBC’s Today Show
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Andrew C. Taylor, Chairman, Enterprise Rent-A-Car
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Cynthia McClain-Hill, Past President, National Association of Women Business Owners
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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

How to Tighten Your Sales Infrastructure (Before Your Bank Account Screams for Help)

If your sales swing between feast and famine every few months, the problem isn’t visibility, branding, or even marketing. It’s your sales infrastructure. Most coaches, consultants, and service-based entrepreneurs start out selling based on talent and hustle alone—no real system, no process, just vibes and referrals. And while that might get you to six figures, […]

Fix Your Business Q&A Video

Recent Posts

  • How to Tighten Your Sales Infrastructure (Before Your Bank Account Screams for Help)
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  • 10 Critical AI Automated Workflows to Elevate Your Small Business
  • The SmallBizChat Podcast: How to License and Sell Your Content with Mitch Axelrod
  • What KPIs Should You Track In Your Small Business?

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