One of the most exciting aspects of owning a small business is watching it grow. Creating goals and implementing strategies to achieve those goals, particularly the money related ones, can be immensely satisfying! However, sometimes it’s easy to get stuck in a rut and not know which direction to take or which strategy to try. Here are just a few ideas to get you out of that rut.
She's in the new world… are you?
The customer is making a comeback – slow though it may be. And when she (or he) returns, you're going to notice a change. A big change. FAIR WARNING: How you prepare for the new customer will determine your long-term success.
Raye and I went to an annual dinner meeting of a local business group the other evening. This was a group of owners of local Independent Heating Contractors who break from their normal meeting agenda once a year and have a Holiday dinner party and invite spouses, friends and family to attend.
Filed under Advertising, Blogging, Customer Service, How To Information, Internet, Online Marketing, Self Employed, Social Marketing, eMail Marketing by 
What is SEM anyway? Well, here's my best definition:
Search Engine Marketing is a constantly evolving strategy focused on an ever moving target.
And, if you're a small business owner currently advertising in the Yellow Pages, it's a strategy you'd be smart to learn or outsource right now. The meteoric rise of local search, and the rapid fall of Yellow Pages use, coupled with the integration of Social Networking is a phenom you can't afford to ignore and you won't want to be on the outside looking in. TIP: It's happening FAST…
Filed under Business Management, Customer Service, How To Information, Internet, Local Search, Online Marketing, SEO, Social Marketing by
In order to do business online, business owners need safe, efficient and effective ways to collect payment. While PayPal might be the most notable and familiar, is it necessarily the best? Let’s take a look at some of the more common secure online payment systems and compare.
Filed under Business Management, Customer Service, Internet, Local Search, Online Marketing, Self Employed, Social Marketing by
Small businesses don’t have the same marketing muscle as large businesses. A small business simply doesn’t have the advertising budget needed to build a “big” brand and to gain recognition in the market through that brand. So how is a small business to compete with the “big guns?”
Filed under Blogging, Business Management, Customer Service, How To Information, Online Marketing, SEO, Self Employed, Social Marketing, eMail Marketing by
Wish you knew where to get a flu shot in your local area? Google has the answer using the power of local search and the Google Flu Shot Finder:
Filed under Customer Service, How To Information, Internet, Local Search, Online Marketing, SEO, Social Marketing by
As your service based business continues to grow your rates and value will continue to grow too. Many business owners are reluctant to raise their rates or to command higher rates because they feel they’ll lose clients and prospective jobs. However, the opposite is true. When you command the best rates, your perceived value will rise too. Here are five tips to command the best rates.
More on How To Command The Best Rates
If you have a Boson business and want more local clients…
Don't miss this opportunity to learn how you can begin to get more qualified leads by using highly effective and measurable Local Internet Marketing strategies. This will be a very informal 60 minute presentation followed by a question and answer session. I'll personally answer any questions you have and to help you get a full understanding of how using the Internet may help you build the business you've always dreamed of.
When writing a business plan one of the first things you’ll be asked to do is to write a vision statement. This isn’t a trivial moment. In fact, your vision statement can guide your success for years to come. Here’s how to write a vision statement that will help you accomplish your business dreams and goals.
