Growing Your Business Articles For Entrepreneurs & Small Business OwnersMaking the Most of Your Trade Show ExperienceTrade shows and expos are a terrific way to showcase your business and meet new customers. Preparation, several months in advance, is the key to ensuring that you maximize the experience. Very often local trade and business organizations host an annual expo of some kind. These usually offer a good opportunity to get your feet […] That BHAG-thingFor me, the business term of the week is “big hairy audacious goal (BHAG),” coined originally by James Collins and Jerry Porras in their 1996 article entitled Building Your Company’s Vision. A BHAG is a form of vision statement “…an audacious 10-to-30-year goal to progress towards an envisioned future.”My stories (all true) all relate to […] What’s Really Going On With Sales in Your Company?I’ve had the opportunity, over the years, to provide my opinion to CEOs, CFOs, boards of directors, investors, and venture capitalists about what was really going on with their companies’ dysfunctional sales departments. Considering the average tenure of sales VPs these days—less than two years—one can create a timeline for a newly-hired VP that isn’t […] Using Articles to Increase your ExposureIf you are running your own business, then you have expertise in at least one area. And if you have expertise, other people will want to read about it. Marketing your business using articles (like this one!) is one of the most cost effective ways of building profile and credibility that I know. If you […] Radical ThinkingWhen was the last time you thought about taking your business to new and heady heights, but didn’t actually get any further? Don’t worry, you are not alone. There’s plenty of business owners out there who let their brains stand in the way of fundamental changes in their business. We either think that we can’t […] Creating Content for Articles or Ezines EffortlesslyThe benefits of writing as a marketing strategy have been well documented. Articles build credibility, provide lots of links back to your website, and can generate business for you. All good stuff. This is all well and good as long as you have something to write about – right? Finding content ideas can be one […] Centres of InfluenceA Centre of Influence is a fancy way of identifying people that have a hugely positive impact on your business. They often refer people and business to you, and are actively glowing about what you provide and how you provide it. Every business needs a couple of these gems, and once you have them, you […] 10 Ways to Boost ProfitabilitySo many business owners work hard – really hard – just to break even or keep afloat. Each one of us deserves reward for our efforts, whether that be financial or personal. The question to ask yourself is whether you are directing your effort in the right places, to get the reward you want? Of […] Six Steps to Growing Your Business in Difficult TimesWith the current economic challenges we’re all facing, too many small business owners are finding their business moving in the wrong direction. In many cases, what were once growing, thriving businesses are now heading into a downward spiral of cutbacks, layoffs, and, in too many cases, bankruptcies. Owners are watching as their customers dwindle and […] The Only 3 Ways To Increase Your BusinessWould you like to increase your business? In Jay Abraham’s book, Getting Everything You Can Out of All You’ve Got, he says there are only three ways (or a combination thereof) to increase your business and make more money. They are: 1. Increase the number of your clients 2. Increase the average size of sale […] Action, Not Motion, Grows Your BusinessDo you know how much time you spend on your business being ‘in motion’ instead of ‘in action’? Are you aware of the difference? Motion keeps you busy. Action creates momentum and the results you want. Think of it this way, action is something that moves you closer to your goals. Action has direction. Motion […] How to Work Exclusively with Ideal ClientsIt’s no secret that as a business owner, you want to attract more clients to your business. And you want to attract clients that are the best fit for your business. Of course it is easier to do this when you are very clear about the specific problems your business solves and for whom you […] Is This Four Letter Word Hurting Your Business?What’s stopping you from doing the things you know you want to do in your business? Not enough time and a lack of focus can be obstacles to taking action. But take a closer look and see if these are the real issues. Is it possible that you really do know what you need to […] Grow Your Business by Saying NoAs a business owner your time is precious. You probably have multiple requests from people that are pulling you in many directions. But, if you say yes to every invitation that comes your way, you will not have time for the activities that are critical to growing your business. What I frequently hear from my […] The Secrets of Effective NetworkingBefore we talk about specific networking tips I want to address a critical aspect of networking that is often overlooked. Sometimes we are so eager to network that we don’t stop to consider whether or not we are investing our energy in the right places. Listen, you can go to all of the networking meetings […] Promote Your Business with PostcardsMany business owners are utilizing the internet to grow their businesses. Technology is marvelous and frankly, I don’t know what I would do without it. But just because you can implement loads of marketing strategies on-line, it doesn’t mean other methods are obsolete. A fabulous off-line marketing strategy that works is using postcards. WHY A […] How to Cure Your Marketing HeadacheMany times business owners get stuck when it comes to marketing because they feel uncomfortable doing it. They are afraid of being seen as pushy, intrusive, or fake. What if you could change the way you think about marketing by connecting to your true intention for doing it in the first place? Have you ever […] Who Else Wants More Referrals?Getting new clients by referral is one of the most effective, simple, and low cost ways to grow your business. So how many referrals have you received lately? How often do you ask for referrals? It’s exciting to open an e-mail or pick up the phone to find that unexpectedly someone you know wants to […] Do You See Through Your Client’s Eyes?It’s a big shock to realize that no one really cares about your business, at least in the beginning of the process. What people do care about, and want to know, is what your business can do for them. You can imagine that information about how long you have been in business or why you […] Self Test: Small Business Marketing IQHow much do you know about marketing your small business? Spend a few minutes with this quiz and see how much you know. 1. Does your business need a website? a. Yes, definitely . A website is needed so people can find you around the world. b. No . My business is tactile, and doesn’t […] |
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