Good People,
Biz Tip of the Day
If your prospect doesn’t have any problems your product or service will solve, you don’t have a prospect.
On August 24, 2010, In Uncategorized, By jtoconnor
On August 13, 2010, In Uncategorized, By jtoconnor
Good People,
From ….Biz Tip of the Day
Instead of showing people who smart you are, help people realize how much they already know.
On August 10, 2010, In Uncategorized, By jtoconnor
Good People,
Enjoy this Business Tip of the Day from Kave Golabi of Liquid Designers, Argentina.
“We are conditioned to believe that we have to pick a profession. In elementary school, my teachers never asked me if I wanted to start my own corporation when I grew up. Because of this, subconsciously, we have become afraid to take a chance and start something. I believe that if you want to try to build a company, try. You might fail, but if you do, you will regroup, get some more cash and try something new. Eventually you will get it right and become successful. Otherwise you can stick with your 9-to-5, but don’t expect to move any mountains. As a caveat, it’s not a bad idea to keep your 9-to-5 temporarily while you get your entrepreneurial venture off the ground — but you better be willing to put in the hours.”
On August 6, 2010, In Uncategorized, By jtoconnor
Good People,
Creativewebgroup.com puts up a new, random “Biz Tip of the Day” each time their page is loaded or reloaded. For the next few posts we will enjoy some of the tips they have to offer.
Biz Tip of the Day
Compose emails as if the person your are corresponding with is setting right in front of you. Give your message a little personality
On August 5, 2010, In Uncategorized, By jtoconnor
Good People,
Seems that many of the successful people who manage busineses repeat the basic same tips for success. We do understand and appreciate the wisdom in repetition. Though there are times we feel, “Gee, I already heard that.” Much like the same thing people are thinking when they hear us repeating how to gain spiritual success. With this in mind I am pleased to present another example of our need to hear over and over again how to gain success.
12 Business Tips for Success
by Bob Reiss
Entrepreneur.com
What’s important to the success of small-business owners and entrepreneurs? Knowledge, skill and talent.
However, many competitors have the same traits you do. The key to beating the competition and achieving success is mental, reflected in one’s attitude, totally controlled by the individual and requires no cash. This holds true in most human endeavors besides business — in sports, the arts and politics.
How many times have we seen the underdog team or player win over the more talented opponent? The
difference is often attitude.
These 12 attitude attributes can put you in the right mindset for achieving entrepreneurial success.
1. Have passion for your business
Work should be fun. Your passion will help you overcome difficult moments and persuade people to work for you and want to do business with you. Passion can’t be taught. When it wanes, as it surely will in difficult times, take some quiet time. Whether it be an hour or a week, take inventory of all the reasons you started the business and why you like being your own boss. That should renew your passion.
2. Set an example of trustworthiness
People have confidence in trustworthy individuals and want to work for them in a culture of integrity. The same is true for customers.
3. Be flexible, except with core values
It’s a given that your plans and strategies will change as time goes on. This flexibility for rapid change is an inherent advantage of small over large business. However, no matter the pressure for immediate profits, do not compromise on core values. 4. Don’t let fear of failure hold you back
Failure is an opportunity to learn. All things being equal, venture capitalists would rather invest money in an individual who tried and failed founding a company than in someone who never tried.
5. Make timely decisions
It’s okay to use your intuition. Planning and thought are good. But procrastination leads to missed opportunity.
6. The major company asset is you
Take care of yourself. Your health is more valuable than the most expensive machinery or computer software for the company. You don’t have to choose between your family or your company, play or work. Maintain your health for balance and energy, which will, in turn, enhance your mental outlook.
7. Keep your ego under control
Don’t take profits and spend them on expensive toys to impress others. Build a war chest for unexpected needs or opportunities. This also means hearing out new ideas and suggestions no matter how crazy they sound.
8. Believe
You need to believe in yourself, in your company, and that you will be successful. This confidence is contagious with your employees, customers, stakeholders, suppliers and everyone you deal with.
9. Encourage and accept criticism graciously. Admit your mistakes.
You need to constantly work on convincing your employees that it’s OK — even necessary —to state their honest opinions even it if conflicts with the boss’s opinion. Just stating it once or putting it in a mission statement won’t cut it for most people.
10. Maintain a strong work ethic
Your employees will follow your lead. It will also help you beat your competition by outworking them, particularly when your product or service is very similar.
11. Rebound quickly from setbacks
There surely will be plenty of ups and downs as you build the business. Learn from the setbacks and move on. You can’t change the past.
12. Periodically get out of your comfort zone to pursue something important
Many times you will feel uncomfortable in implementing a needed change in technology, people, mission, competing, etc. For the company and you to grow personally, you sometimes have to step out of your comfort zone.
Many organizational and leadership shortcomings can be overcome or mitigated with the good attitudes described above. All can be learned except passion, which comes from within. Take time out of your hectic schedule to periodically reflect on these attributes. You may be inspired to act.
Bob Reiss is the author of ” Bootstrapping 101
On July 30, 2010, In Uncategorized, By jtoconnor
Good People,
Continuing with the idea of providing quick notes on business inspirations you may find this Tip of the Week from Beltway Networking by Angie Segal of Action Coach worth the read….
Don’t Fear Failure
“I can accept failure. Everyone fails at something. But, I can’t accept not trying.” Michael Jordan, NBA Legend.
Is fear of failure holding you back from having great successes? Many of the greatest success stories have had many failures. Thomas Edison tried over 1000 times to create the light bulb, Tony Robbins lived in his car at one point, and there are many more examples. You can only achieve greatness by getting out there and trying.
What is one thing you would do in your business that you are not doing now that you would do if you knew you could not fail?
Why not get out there and try it today?
What do you really have to lose by not trying it?
Good luck!
###
Business Tip of the Week is brought to you by Angie Segal of Action Coach. Visit her website to learn more about Action Coach.
On July 27, 2010, In Uncategorized, By jtoconnor
Good People,
While hunting on the intenet to find yet another good business tip I found the following tip that I believe you will be pleased to have on your mind today….
Own the Elevator
Know your 30- to 60-second pitch COLD. Be able to explain quickly, clearly and with passion what you do, why it’s valuable and how people can get in touch with you for more information. You never know who your next client is going to be, or when and where you’ll encounter them! Continue Reading.
On July 23, 2010, In Uncategorized, By jtoconnor
Good People,
Another great business tip discovered at Creative Web Group.
Biz Tip of the Day
Instead of looking at how large a project is, start doing it and before you now it, it’s done. What’s that old saying “The longest journey begins with the first step”. Or, for the youngsters in the crowd, how about Nike’s “Just Do It!”
On July 20, 2010, In Uncategorized, By jtoconnor
Good People,
Continuing with my campaign to provide great business tips I went to Open Forum on the internet and found the following article by Ivana Taylor. Though she wrote and published this in December of 2009 her counseling is relevant today as well as back in December. I believe you will find her article of interest and helpful.
10 Must-Do Marketing Tips for 2010
One of the most common questions I get asked is what marketing activities pack the most punch when there are so many to choose from? If you’ve been asking yourself that same question, then you’re in luck. I’ve pulled my most popular tips for small business owners right here:
1. Get on Your Soapbox: A solid brand position is rooted in a passionate commitment to the customer. What do you believe about your industry, product or service? What possibilities are you creating for your customer? What’s your customer’s burning issue and in what ways does your company solve it. Get on your soapbox, speak and write passionately about it and your ideal customer will be drawn to the message.
2. Update Your Site and Start a blog: If it’s been more than three years since you’ve updated your site – it’s time to take a fresh look. Have you started a blog? These days, web sites and blogs are almost interchangeable. They can be hosted for free and often come with free high-end design templates that only require you to write content. Look at your web site and blog as free or low-cost advertising to your prospects and customers. Use the blog to tell them about the latest new products or services. Have you solved a customer or technical problem – share your experience on the blog? Customers will love the extra information. Prospects will have reasons to choose you.
3. Create a social media policy: Social media is not a fad any more. It’s time to stop experimenting and start managing your social media strategy. Create a policy around social media, even if you’re only a one-person operation. Your social media policy should include your objectives for each site and any rules you have around posts, articles, pictures, etc. Creating this policy will eliminate employee confusion, problems and PR and potential digital reputation management nightmares.
4. Build and Combine Lists: You probably have some kind of customer list (or three) lying around. This is the year to combine these names into a single customer list. Start with a basic spreadsheet and then start grouping your customers into segments or categories. Now do the same with your prospects. Having one, updated master list will make communicating with customers fast and easy.
5. Market Directly: Why spend thousands of dollars on advertising that you can’t control? If you know where you customers live, you can reach out to them personally and directly. You’ll find your marketing spending power double or triple by simply diverting your advertising dollars to direct marketing.
6. Do Videos: If you have a product or service that shines in demo mode, then videos are an ideal and cost-effective marketing tool for you. Open a corporate YouTube account and upload demos and live presentations for your prospects to find and customers to access.
7. Productize Your Services: It’s much easier to understand and purchase something that looks like a product. Notice that even software downloads or e-books actually look like a tangible product so that people can have a sense of what they are purchasing. Turn your service into a product by giving it a name, describing your process as a specification and then charging a flat rate instead of by the hour. You’ll find that it’s easier to sell, easier to buy and more profitable for your business.
8. Mobile Marketing: Globally twice as many people use text messaging than e-mail. Chances are your customers interact more with their PDA than they do with their computer. Mobile Marketing Programs allow your customer to opt-in and request certain kinds of messages and updates from you. If you’re a restaurant, use mobile marketing to update customers on specials. Mobile marketing is currently a wide open space. Use it to market to hard-to-reach customers.
9. Referral system: Stop treating referrals like a happy accident. Run a referral program that includes regular meetings with people who agree to enthusiastically refer you. Start by creating a referral guideline that outlines what sets your business apart, profiles your ideal customer and describes what they might say that should trigger a referral to you. Put your focus on attracting “Centers of Influence” and “trusted advisors” who will refer you to their clients and customers. It’s like having a free salesforce!
10. Focus on Ideal Customers: Decide to only work with profitable customers. Identify customers who are happy with what you offer and refer you. Profile them in detail; what’s important to them, what are their 7 biggest frustrations? Outline in what ways your company gives them what’s important and eases their frustrations. Now go get more customers just like that.
* * * * *
About the Author: Ivana Taylor is CEO of Third Force, a strategic firm that helps small businesses get and keep their ideal customer. She’s the co-author of the book “Excel for Marketing Managers” and proprietor of DIYMarketers, a site for in-house marketers. Her blog is Strategy Stew.
On July 17, 2010, In Uncategorized, By jtoconnor
Good People,
SCORE Tip of the Day
Always keep learning. An open and curious mind is a must in today’s fast economy.
