Business is about relationships. Relationships are about people. So it should be obvious that people do business with people, not businesses. Yet I'm always surprised how many small business owners miss this. Somewhere in all their efforts to develop their business plan and marketing strategy they … Read more about Small Business Advice: Relationships Are the Key to Success
You Don't Have to Be a Salesman to Sell Like A Pro
So many people I know are hesitant to sell. They're hesitant to sell themselves. They're hesitant to sell their products or services. And they're hesitant to sell their business. It's easy to understand, right? As soon as I mention the word 'sell' what goes through your mind. For me I think of the … Read more about You Don't Have to Be a Salesman to Sell Like A Pro
SOBCon08: Chris Garrett Asks ‘So What?’
What does it take to have a successful blog for your business? Denise Wakeman of Blog Squad fame asked that question of Chris Garrett. The conversation that grew created a bed of blogging tips. Watching the interview (5 1/2 minutes) Chris makes it pretty clear that a successful blog, like a … Read more about SOBCon08: Chris Garrett Asks ‘So What?’
SOBCon08: What Did Everyone Else Think?
You already know my experiences at SOBCon08 - at least those I could get down in a reasonable amount of time. But aren't you curious what others have been saying about it? Well, I've done my best to compile all the posts I could find about the event. While extensive, this is likely not a complete … Read more about SOBCon08: What Did Everyone Else Think?
SOBCon08: Is Your Blog Serving Your Business?
SOBCon08 - Biz School for Bloggers… A report, part 2 Amazing that it took a whole blog post to cover the first day of SOBCon08, but it did. Friday was great. The boat ride stellar. And the conversation even better. Seeing Lorelle first thing Saturday morning started the day off right. Got a … Read more about SOBCon08: Is Your Blog Serving Your Business?
What Rocky Balboa Can Teach You About Business
What does it take to be successful in business? I'm guessing you can begin listing a dozen things right off the top of your head. I know I can - clear vision, business plan, marketing plan, metrics, proper positioning in a highly refined niche market, branding, marketing message, growth … Read more about What Rocky Balboa Can Teach You About Business
Why You Should Give Your Business A Chance To Succeed
I have a friend who's been self-employed in one way or another for more than ten years. She's brilliant, caring and a really good communicator. Anyone who works with her immediately sees her huge range of gifts. But this friend of mine - whose name I'm not going to mention - hasn't made much of her … Read more about Why You Should Give Your Business A Chance To Succeed
The Absolutely Best Advice About Being A Coach or Consultant
If you're an educator, coach, consultant or advisor you usually want one main thing for your clients - that they use your advice. That only makes sense, right? They're paying you fees, sometimes large fees, to help them either change something or accomplish something that they just can't manage on … Read more about The Absolutely Best Advice About Being A Coach or Consultant
Small Business Positioning: What’s Your Market?
There are lots of keys to creating a successful business. Yet the one that I've found to be most important - and often most lacking in small businesses is positioning. There's lots of definitions of positioning because the term is often used along side branding. The definition that I gravitate to … Read more about Small Business Positioning: What’s Your Market?
Small Business SEO Resources: SEO Interviews
Get a vast amount of search engine optimization tips right from the source. DazzlinDonna over at SEO Scoop has done us all a great service. She's posted hundreds of SEO interviews with some of the top SEO bloggers, consultants and experts on the web. What's really cool is she continues to update … Read more about Small Business SEO Resources: SEO Interviews
The Ben Franklin Guide to Running a Business
Okay, I'm a bit of a quote hound. I love reading the concise wisdom of how others saw life. And few provide more interested quotes than Benjamin Franklin. If you remember, a few weeks back I wrote a post titled, What Benjamin Franklin Knew About Social Media. In it, I took a number of his quotes … Read more about The Ben Franklin Guide to Running a Business
Why Your House and Your Business Need A Solid Foundation
Many of the days I work with clients seem to have themes around them. Yesterday was no exception. The clients I advised yesterday were dealing with the same issues. While each of their businesses had some success, none had the foundation stabilize and sustain their growth. Having a solid … Read more about Why Your House and Your Business Need A Solid Foundation
