You know, this would be a great business if it weren't for having to deal with people all the timeĀ OK, so maybe I've exaggerated things a bit, but we've all certainly heard that saying before. Why does that sentiment ring true for so many folks? Obviously it's because of all the people challenges we're presented with in our business. Virtually every one of my clients over the years has brought up the subject of dealing with difficult people. ...more
Most one-person businesses don't flounder because their products or services are below par. They struggle because their owner's lack of business skills or business practices gets in the way of being profitable.Are you making these big mistakes?1. You don't tell people what you do in a way that helps them buy. People buy when they understand what they get, what problem you'll solve for them, how you'll stop their pain, or increase their pleasure....more
How You Can Make Advertising Pay Big Dividends (source: www.chetholmes.com)McGraw Hill once commissioned an extensive study to determine what marketing weapons make a company famous in it's market or community. The study went on to show that advertising created more product, service, or brand awareness than all other marketing weapons combined. The fact is, we know that Coke is "The Real Thing" because Coke advertises, not because it has good salespeople or does great direct mail.Advertising stays in front of your prospects when you can't be there. While a handful of salespeople can only be in front of perhaps a hundred or so prospects per month, advertising can reach thousands of potential buyers each and every month, week, or day. Studies also show that advertising inspires confidence from your current clients. When current clients see your ad, it reinforces their belief in you. It makes them feel like they made the right decision to be your client. But advertising can also waste money if you don't use it properly.To avoid wasting money, keep these three tips in mind. Don't spend money on an advertising vehicle if the majority of its listeners/viewer/readers will never buy...more
When it comes to investing, leave your emotions out of it. When it comes to many areas of your life you can rely on your emotions and instincts or gut feelings. But when it comes to investing in the stock market this is a big mistake. Not many people are able to use their instincts to make successful trades. So if the professional investors can't...more
Synergy: {n} The working together of two things to produce an effect greater than the sum of their individual effects.Most businesses operate on two distinct levels: Human Systems - Those systems that are concerned with or operated by people. Process Systems - Those systems that are functional or mechanical in nature.Each of these systems is...more
Debt is a problem that is ever increasing in our society today. Offers for credit cards coming in the mail is happening more and more often, interest rates are appearing low, and borrowing money seems like the "smart" thing to do at times. However, it seems that going into debt is not that good of an idea after all, and now many people are stressed to get out of debt. Are you caught in debt yourself? Fortunately, there are steps that you can take to get yourself out of debt. 1. Make lists. Figure out what you own, and figure out what you owe. Take what you owe, and put the major debts at the top of the list. Paying off those debts first will reduce the amount of interest that you are charged. Once that is paid off, you can then move on to the next item on the list, and so on. 2. Do away with all credit cards. There are no buts, simply get rid of them. Do not roll over balances, ever. Pay them off and get rid of them. Call the credit card companies and tell them to close up the accounts. 3. Make a spending plan or a financial plan if you will. Getting out of debt is as important as staying out of debt, and that requires a financial plan that will allow you to live within your...more
Small business success is very similar to learning to walk, talk and spell. The basics have to be understood before moving on to the next step. I am blessed to have twin 2 year old girls in my life and am amazed constantly how much I learn from...more
Everyone hates late fees and being late will cost you dearly these days. For some credit cards today, if you are late, you will have to shell out as much as $40 each time. This can put a nice sized hole in your pocket really quick.Below, I will...more
SECURED CREDIT CARDS Secured Credit Card is similar to a prepaid credit card since the funds you are using are actually yours and not the issuer of the credit card. Generally people who apply for secured credit card or prepaid credit card are people...more
Part 1: Getting StartedIf you're just getting started with ClickTracks, you'll find it's a very versatile tool. It presents information by overlaying it on your actual Web pages. It also allows you to create reports "on the fly" so that you can look...more
1.Searching for a job onlinePierre Omidyar's (pronounced Omidvar) first job out of university was that of a software developer, now he's the founder of ebay. Brad Pitt dressed up like a chicken before his breakthrough as an actor. Denise Donlon was a...more
This year, some 700,000 American businesses will be sold. Most will be small and mid-sized businesses like yours. If you, too, are thinking of selling, consider these practical steps for making the process go smoothly. Determine a Realistic Price...more