Yes, it's great to think about where you'll want to be at the end of the year, but if your goal is too big, you won't get there. Let's say you want to make 6-figures this year. Instead of focusing on this end result, shift your focus to the smaller, do-able things that will result in your larger goal.
You never know where your next great connection will come from! Use these easy pointers to help broaden your network today. Always be networking and be prepared!
As an Entrepreneur, do you have a mind swirl of new ideas all of the time? Of course, some of these are going to be golden nuggets, but most are going to be bright shiny objects that distract you if you let them. Since it can be hard to filter your ideas, here are 5 steps to help you find the gold but leave the rest.
Include a combo of your key info – business name, phone, email, social networks, logo or a short call-to-action. You can even add functionality like showing your latest blog post or upcoming events. With every email you send, you are promoting online brand.
Many times Entrepreneurs feel overwhelmed and scattered because they are trying to sell a wide variety of products and services. Focus on your best offerings to ease your stress AND be profitable faster.
Have you ever noticed different businesses that popup and then before you know it, they are gone? One of the reasons this happens is a lack of proper marketing skills.
Buy variations of your name, business name, misspellings, tagline, products, etc. This prevents misrepresentation of your business, or even legit businesses that sound similar. So you are investing time, money & energy into building your online brand. How would you feel if suddenly someone hijacked it?
Do you find that you're constantly thinking about the list of all of the marketing things you "SHOULD BE" doing, yet feeling guilty for not doing them? I know the voice inside your head. I hear it, too. If you are in the cycle of feeling guilty for not doing more, here are a few examples that have haunted me or my clients.
Between emails, social media, pressing problems, never ending tasks and distractions, it can be difficult to get things done. Sometimes that looming task or project, just doesn't seem to. Try these ideas to get refocused now.
Previously, I posted about 3 critical reasons to register multiple domain names. Here are some strategies for deciding what domain names you'll need to register. Review my tips & some case studies of how to use domain names wisely.
The Thanksgiving Dinner behavior the same thing I see with many Entrepreneurs when creating their business and marketing plans. It's easy to get excited about the many ideas you have for marketing tactics or potential revenue streams for your business. Think about them like your Thanksgiving Dinner buffet – all so tempting…and it seems like you have to do them all at one time.
Have you ever been pounced on by a sales person the second you stepped into a store to browse? Did you make an immediate decision to buy? Probably not...so don't think social media will lead to immediate sales.
Many businesses think they "need" a complicated social media strategy or search engine optimization. However, the easiest way to start using building your network is to focus on your friends and contacts to expand your circle of influence.
Everyone goes through periods of not wanting to do something. But if you’re stuck on an important business task, your path to profits is blocked. Try one of these 8 practical ways to improve self-motivation. It happens to everyone – you know what you SHOULD be doing, but you just can’t get yourself to get it done!
The new year is a great time for Entrepreneurs to reaffirm their goals and boost their motivation. The new year can be the perfect time to reinvent yourself, your schedule and your business's systems. It's the perfect time to start anew. There are three things about the past year that need reviewing.
If you’re like many Entrepreneurs, you want more clients. So how many? There are 45 days left in 2013. So how many new clients can you actually take on during that time? Now it is a great time of year to ask yourself this important question.
Staying focused on one thing at a time seems to be a recurring challenge for many business owners, including myself. My TO-DO list was endless. Can you relate?
Your business cards are a valuable marketing tool, but are often overlooked for more complex marketing methods. Here are some easy tips to boost your connections. TIP 1: Keep them with you always. Put a few extra cards in your wallet, gym bag, car and suitcase right now so you have them.
Springtime is the perfect season for planting the networking seeds that will grow your business all year long…and you can ENJOY doing it! Networking has a huge impact on your business’s cash flow. But it’s also easy to operate in an all or nothing mode.
A business plan will provide you with a focused path, which ultimately saves you from spending your valuable time, money & energy on the wrong things AND maximizing your profits.
It's easy to feel overwhelmed as an Entrepreneur. Networking events, invitations for coffee or lunch, partnership opportunities, business ideas, new projects and more...Even though you have a full schedule, do you feel guilty when you say NO?
“No time” is a common excuse for not setting up or using social networks regularly. However, they can be a great way to find more time in a busy schedule. Here are a few key reasons on why this is a smart investment for business networkers.
Remember that document that is supposed to be the foundation of your business? Well, I also know that MANY BUSINESSES never actually got around to completing this. THE BAD NEWS - That saying, "Failing to plan is planning to fail." Well, it's true. THE GOOD NEWS - Define Your Strategy by with my Simple Process
Enhance your personal brand by creating a custom URL for your LinkedIn public profile. This makes it easy to share the link on business cards and in email signatures.
Balancing your work & life is no easy task, especially when you have a million TO-DOs. Trello.com will revolutionize how you stay organized. Multiple lists with detailed cards for each task have checklists, due dates, files & more.
Pick your highest priority goal – I recommend one linked to your fastest route to income – and dedicate just 15 minutes a day to working on it. Schedule it on your calendar & work with no interruptions for a amount of short time.
This statement sounds so simple, but I could give you dozens of examples of people NOT putting it into practice. I've been guilty of this same cycle myself. But now I've stopped my networking overwhelm!
You are most likely aware of the alarming statistics regarding the possibility of your business failing. These 10 tips are your first line of defense in ensuring that you do not become a statistic yourself.
Need to plan around important business & life obligations? Create multiple Google calendars that can be viewed together to easily find time for your priorities (and help you say NO to over-booking!)
Does the idea of BUSINESS NETWORKING make you cringe and seem like a chore? Many people are shy or intimidated by face-to-face networking. Here are some tips to make it easier…
Keywords increase search engine optimization (SEO) and make sure you are “speaking the language of your audience. This is essential, BOTH online and in conversations.
Many Entrepreneurs will work at a part-time or full-time job as they launch their business venture. I highly recommend this, as it's a great way to have cash flow while you are developing your other business model.
High-quality, professional images will make your business appear more credible. Here's my roundup of the best stock photo resources and tips to find the PERFECT image to communicate your message!
Saying NO to people that aren't a good fit for your business is best for everyone—including the people you turn away. Here's 5 reasons why you should sometimes say NO, thank you.
Just because someone gave you their business card, it does not mean they gave you permission to added to your email list. You need to follow the CAN-SPAM Act as a business, and spamming people isn’t a relationship builder.
G Suite is a cloud-based productivity suite that helps you and your team connect and get work done from anywhere on any device. It’s simple to setup, use and manage, allowing you to work smarter and focus on what really matters.
Hyperlocal marketing can be focused on a specific city, county, or even a specific neighborhood within a community. Regardless what kind of small business you have, you can benefit from a hyperlocal marketing strategy.
Dropbox is an online virtual storage utility that allows you to bring all your photos, documents and videos anywhere, and share them with other people in just a couple taps.
Ask people to connect to your social networks, get a free report or do an intro call in a conversation & with info printed on your business card. Take a look at your business card. Is it helping you to build your online brand? If not, you are missing a simple and inexpensive way to attract people to your website, social networks and email newsletter!
Close your eyes and imagine yourself connecting to others to share your PURPOSE. How are you currently letting others know about your vision and passion? When you take a trip, you can map it out or you can head in a general direction and course correct along the way.
Testimonials from other users attest to your professional abilities. They tell others that you're a person worth knowing, building your reputation and online brand. Learn why you need LinkedIn recommendations and how to get them.
You know the end result of taking tasks of your plate is a great reward, but the though of getting help can actually ADD to your stress level. This easy tip will give you an IMMEDIATE BENEFIT of saving brain power AND prepare you to outsource.
Visual marketing is a major trend online that's only growing more and more popular. Marketers who use visual content get more customer engagement, more leads, and more followers, which naturally result in higher earnings.
I meet a lot of people that spend valuable time, money & energy networking, yet they never use LinkedIn. Then there are those who quietly go about building their LinkedIn presence, using sound strategies, an understanding of their target subscribers – and of LinkedIn, its mission and its unique advantages. They easily generate solid leads and grow their business. Here's some easy ways to get started.
The biggest target I can think of finding is another Earth-like planet with life. The approach that scientists took can be applied to your business to find the ideal client you are looking for. It's a common mistake is to say that "everyone" is your target market so you begin the search looking everywhere.
Both interviewing an expert or being interviewed present exceptional opportunities to expand your credibility, authority & respect to grow your business. Let's take a look at interviews in a little more detail.