Copyright © 2006 Alastair Dryburgh

1. STOP DOING SOMETHING

Maybe it’s a product or service line that isn’t paying its way: it is hard to sell, generates lots of customer complaints of demands for after-sales service, or uses up more than its fair share of resources.

Maybe it’s a customer. The one who negotiates special extended payment terms and then pays even later ? The one who keeps wanting to change schedules at the last minute ? The one all your staff dread hearing from ?

Maybe it’s a marketing activity that doesn’t produce the results. It doesn’t address the right market any more, your message is drowned out by competitors who spend more, nobody is interested any more.

Whatever it is, get rid of it ! Don’t worry about if it is generating some contribution; cutting it out will release a quantity of time and energy which will generate many times more.

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Copyright © 2006 business-cards.com

In this age of digital this, and technology that, when it comes down to it, there is very little to beat the business card for effective and economical promotion.  It is quick, easy and efficient and will repay you many times over for its cost. Here are some tips to help you make the most out of each and every business card you hand out.

• Don’t leave home without them.

• Keep a supply in your car glovebox and in your wallet or purse.

• Order in large quantities, making the per card cost substantially less.

• Ensure your business card bears every possible way to contact you, including landline, and even a map (on the back) if you are difficult to locate.

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Copyright © 2006 Marketing Maven

An easy thing to forget in the midst of our frenzied lives is the simple act of saying “thank you.” Who has the time to slow down for such old-fashioned pleasantries? And yet, by incorporating a thank-you strategy into your marketing, I promise you’ll reap immense rewards.

You’ll stand out because it’s not something that other business owners are in the habit of doing. Extending age-old courtesies now actually gives you an edge in the marketplace. It goes a long way toward cementing relationships with prospects and reinforcing customer loyalty.

One of the best ways to thank someone is a hand-written card. Get into the habit of writing notes. Keep a stack by your desk and scribble notes to customers, vendors, leads, associates, and mentors. Once you get started thanking people, you will find limitless opportunities. And guess what? People are tickled pink to receive a good, old-fashioned card.

Write a note that is sincere. Make sure you are expressing simple gratitude in your message, not a thinly disguised sales pitch. Don’t be afraid to be warm and personal. And in case you’re a chicken scratcher like me, don’t worry about the way your writing looks - scribble your note and send it anyway!

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Copyright © 2006 Donna Gunter

One of my clients was asked, “How do you know when you need help?” at a presentation she conducted recently, and she wasn’t sure how to respond, except perhaps to say, “Well, you’ll just know!”  As generic as that answer might be, it’s not so off-base.  There will come a point when you’ll “just know” that you’ll need help in your business, whether that’s an in-person employee or two, or a virtual assistant/online business manager or other type of independent contractor.  However, for those who might need a more structured response to this question, here’s a list of hot buttons that I’ve heard business owners frequently mention over the years:

1.  You spend nights and weekends at work.  Most people go into business for themselves because they want more control over their lives, like the ability to make their own decisions about when they work, how they work, and with whom they work.  However, one of the most common pitfalls of self-employment is the “I need to do it all myself” trap.  When you become caught in that trap, many of your dreams of self-employment fade away, as you find yourself relentlessly toiling all day and all night to keep the business up and running and moving forward.  Was this an aspect of the kind of life and business you wanted to create?  Probably not.  If you’re meeting yourself coming home at night when you go to work in the morning, you probably need some help in your business.

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Copyright © 2006 So-lu’shunz Leadership Services

If your concern is that administration be of no concern in the health of your organization; if you have come to the realization that there is gold in retaining your valuable staff; and if turnover is a major contributor to slowing the progress you know is possible for your organization, the solution is surprisingly straightforward.

Some of today’s most successful entrepreneurs are approaching administration in a new way by laboring under an “old fashioned” notion that it’s possible to foster an atmosphere conducive to simultaneous productivity and loyalty, an unbeatable combination.  Choosing one or the other will lead to organizational imbalance.

The world is enormously stressful, but the workplace need not reflect this condition.  Attempting to create an atmosphere employees will be drawn to when the stress of complicated lives threatens to overwhelm them is not only evidence of good people skills, but is good business as well - commonsense!

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Copyright © 2006 Alicia M Forest and ClientAbundance.com

One of the strategies I teach to PULL your business forward, almost effortlessly, is to create a powerful vision for your business. My private clients have found this exercise to be both motivating and inspiring, and I’m certain you will too.

Once a year, I take a short retreat to work on revising my vision for my business (and my life). This is an annual break I take away from my business (but with my family, although some of my clients prefer to go it alone, which is perfectly fine) to really think about and decide what I want the next 1 to 3 years to look like. I write my vision and I create a whole bunch of goals for my business. I also use this time to talk with my husband about my vision and goals. He is a great sounding board for all the ideas I come up with… and we usually have this conversation while hanging out on the beach… :)

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Copyright © 2006 Marketing Maven

To be successful in your industry, it is crucial to stay up to date. By learning about new trends, technologies, and systems, you will be able to offer your customers more value. You will reinforce your credibility and expertise.

Make a commitment to regularly refresh and update your professional development. Go to seminars, read industry publications, and consult with colleagues to stay current on the use of new tools in your industry. Implement new technology in your company to offer your customers the latest and greatest.

What are you currently reading? What live events are you going to? Who are you spending your time with? Experts are always staying at the forefront of their field. One of the best ways to do this is to make sure you include career-propelling books on your reading list, as well as ongoing training. Even free online forums can greatly enhance your set of skills by asking questions of other entrepreneurs.

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Copyright © 2006 Margaret Stead

According to the Society of Human Resource Managers, US, 53% of all job applicants lie to some extent on their resume. What if you have been ‘economical with the truth’ on your ‘home-made’ resume/cv and, as a result - have been offered an outrageous salary? It happens!

I guess the natural reaction would be to say that being ‘Overpaid’ is on balance a superior position but in fact, I believe in practice it is almost without exception a damaging situation for all concerned.

Imagine you were given a hundred thousand spondulicks rise in pay because the recruiters believed (perhaps from your FAKE resume) that you were fully capable of handling a national emergency. (see Malcolm Brown’s outing)

At first it would be such a thrill wouldn’t it? Especially when you got your first salary cheque and found that you were paying more TAX than you’d ever earned salary in a month. (You could pay off the credit cards with relish. ‘Take that!: Amex. Eat me!: Virgin: The end is nigh!: Barclays) Then what? You could plan a holiday - if you would dare leave things unattended. If they’d let you take a holiday!

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Copyright © 2006 Joe McVoy

Do you know how to tell if an ad has any chance of working before you run it?

Any good ad has four components and how well you do each of them will determine how your ad it will work.   Ask yourself these questions:

1. DOES IT HAVE AN EFFECTIVE HEADLINE? An effective headline is one that grabs your prospect’s attention and forces him to read further.  As copywriters say, the job of a headline is to get the reader to read the next sentence.  If you pay for your advertising with your own money, the headline of this article, “Do Your Ads Suck?” or a headline like “How to tell if an ad will work before you run it” should get your attention.

Headlines like a company name, a meaningless platitude, or no headline at all will not grab the reader’s attention. You may think your company name makes a cool headline, but your reader wants to know WIFM (what’s in it for me?).   They don’t care about your company at all, only about what you can do for them.

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Copyright © 2006 Alicia M Forest and ClientAbundance.com

Are you the kind of business owner who tends to hide behind your computer screen? You network online through discussion lists and other virtual forums, but you are hesitant to leave the comfort of your home office to actually meet others in person?

Whether you’re a natural introvert or extrovert, attending live events and meeting peers and colleagues in person can make a dramatic difference in the success of your business. If you’ve been the lone wolf type, it’s time to get out and start gathering your pack.

When I was in the public relations/higher education field, I attended dozens of conferences, but when I started my consulting practice, money was tight and it took me a few years to get back out on the circuit.

The first event I attended in my capacity as a consultant/coach changed my business and my life. I hesitated about attending because it was a lot of money to invest and I was going to be starting over in a way in a new industry, which were both risks for me at the time.

Was it worth it? Let’s just say that I still have the card from the Irish pub my husband and I went to the final evening of the event where we figured out how I was going to make this work. It really is when everything changed.

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