Business Success Archives

Top Ten Home Business Ideas for Parents

Parents have to make special considerations when it comes to starting a home business. They need to be able to work without punching a clock or having to available at particular hours, otherwise they’ll have to get a babysitter. Parents who want to start a business from home may have special challenges if they don’t want to hire help. But, it’s not impossible. In fact here are the top ten home business ideas for parents that don’t require clock punching, or answering to anyone but yourself. 1. Stock Photographer – Stock photography is used in numerous applications, from websites and blogs to print ads. The demand is quite high for good and unique photographs to use for these reasons. Therefore, most stock photography companies allow independent contractors to upload pictures for sale on their websites. You can also start your own website offering the images for use. 2. Graphic Designer – Designers are needed everywhere; the demand is high. If you’re good with using creati…

2020 – It’s the Year of the Business Woman

When the first generation of women entered the workforce in earnest in the 1970s, they succeeded in the only way they could – by imitating men. Authoritarian leadership and tight control was the hallmark of that day’s businessman, and women were not exactly welcomed into the ranks of management. Well ladies, that was yesterday, and today is today! Forget what your mama or your boss told you, because following the rules can be bad for your career. Today’s CEO/entrepreneur can no longer tap his/her company’s full potential using a “command-and-control” style. The 21st century business woman needs to be able to build a vision based on the awareness of economic transformation, then help her partners and staff fulfill that vision. She must draw on a wide range of skills to get to the top and stay there. Following are 7 Key Characteristics that are essential: Sell the Vision: A leader with a fresh, independent plan for her company’s growth and future has a distinct adva…

Using Creativity To Problem Solve At Work

We all encounter problems at work and in life. It can be stressful to find yourself in the middle of a problem without a solution. There are ways to solve most problems though if you know when, where, how, and what to look for in creating a solution. Creative problem solving is the process of solving problems with a view of the issue in more than one way. It’s a necessary skill in the workplace but many people don’t naturally have the instinct for it. That’s why using the tools and techniques outlined in this article will help you. Begin by identifying and defining the problem, wish or goal. What is the real problem? What’s wrong or lacking? What do you want to achieve or have happen? Look at the underlying reason for the problem. Is it a simple thing or is there something going on causing the problem? Remember, the solution is not to treat the symptom. Address the problem and fix it instead of putting a bandage on the problem. Gather Data - Gather the information you …

A Beginner’s Guide to the 80/20 Rule

The 80/20 rule (officially called the Pareto Principle) is a general rule that states that 80% of all effects come from around 20% of the causes. The idea behind this rule is that it can be applied to basically any field. In business, the Pareto Principle states that 80% of all your profit is going to come from 20% of your products. It also means that 80% of all work is done by 20% of your employees. It can apply to basically any field that you can think of, including sports, math, healthcare, and fitness. In this article, we are going to look at how the 80/20 rule can be applied in various fields to give you a better understanding of the principle as a whole. In Healthcare The 80/20 rule can definitely be seen in healthcare. As a general rule of thumb, 80% of all healthcare resources will go to helping 20% of all patients. Those 20% of patients are typically the elderly or those with persistent health issues who need round-the-clock care. In Sports In sports where anal…

Tips for Freelancers to Find Clients

When you're employed by a business, it's fairly easy to find clients because you work for the clients that are assigned to you. You don't have to worry about making sure you line up clients now so that you'll be able to pay the bills in the future. But when you're a freelancer, you're all you've got. You have to make sure that you bring in the clients in order to keep your business going. In fact, you should always be on the lookout for new clients so that your business continues to thrive and expand. While some freelancers think that finding clients is difficult, it's actually not - but it does take a little bit of consistency and effort. You can't just create a page and expect clients to flock to you. Word of Mouth When you do a good job at what you do, word will get around. When a client is happy with the work you've done for him, he'll tell others. You can provide excellent service to your clients by knowing their needs and looking out for them. When you find…

How to Enhance Your Brand Personality

A strong personal brand can really boost business. However, strong personal brands generally don’t just happen. It takes a plan and a commitment to follow through. This New Year, consider making a resolution to build a stronger personal brand. Here’s how. Step One: Identify your brand personality For most small business owners their brand personality is their own personality. If you’re a goofy or silly person then your brand may be goofy and silly. If you’re a hard hitting and serious person then that’s your brand personality. This is because it’s much easier and more effective to be yourself than to try to be a character. Martha Stewart is a great example. While she’s certainly not a small business owner, her brand is her personality. You know what to expect from Martha Stewart and people love that. It’s also important when identifying your brand personality to make sure it fits with your niche and target audience. Some personalities and niches may not blend well. …

4 Rules For New Entrepreneurs – Practical Tips For Starting Right

It’s a great time to be an entrepreneur—in the last decade, technology has leveled the playing field and propelled an entrepreneurial revolution. As an entrepreneur, you now have more access to information that enables you to make more intelligent choices more quickly. You have an advantage over big businesses in that you’re lighter, more flexible, and faster on your feet. You can target new markets more quickly, and you can turn on a dime. But being a successful entrepreneur requires that you look at the big picture and follow a plan through from beginning to end. Rieva Lesonsky, President and Founder of GrowBiz Media gives some practical guidelines that can help you when beginning your own enterprise: 1.Don’t Quit Your Day Job. Consider starting your business part-time, especially if it’s online, while you’re working and have a steady income. It usually takes six months to a year to get a business going and you don’t want your ability to make your house payment to hing…

Communication And Follow Up In The Business World

Out of all the skillsets that are necessary to be a success, communication is perhaps the most important. Think about it. Communication is the only way for us to share concepts, ideas, feelings or plans. It’s the only way we can tell others about ourselves. If you own a business, it’s the only way to attract the attention of new customers and keep the attention of current customers. Since customers mean sales and sales mean profits, communication is actually currency. In other words, the manner in which you communicate is directly related to how much money you make. That is a powerful thought.

If communication is related to financial success, then it stands to reason that only good communication skills have value. Therefore, if one of your goals is financial success, you need to take the time to hone your communication skills and develop the most effective way to talk to your customer base. One of the best places to start this process …

Get Seen, Get Heard, Get Famous

You never know when the opportunity to share your expertise and garner free publicity will show up.

Case in point, not long ago, I had the privilege of being on Bolder Business Woman with the amazing Aprille Jaynes. She found me on LinkedIn and asked if I would like to share a few marketing tips with her listeners. She was one of the most organized and delightful hosts with whom I have had the honor to share my story. Since that time, show has been shared, tweeted, retweeted and listened to thousands of times.

I also recently connected with Tonya Scholz of SocialChats.net and had the same opportunity. Social Chats is a really laid back, conversational style of programming that leaves guests feeling good about themselves. Tonya and I have been connected on social media for years and just recently were introduced via a mutual friend. We hit it off right away and now…

5 Tips To Boost Your Willpower

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a little extra boost of willpower when you need it most? It would make it so much easier to stick to our plans and reach our goals instead of giving in to temptation. Well, you’re in luck. I’m about to share five different tips and strategies with you that help you get that extra boost of willpower whenever you need it. Let’s dive in and explore these willpower “power-ups. Take It One Task At A Time The best way to strengthen willpower is to focus it on one task at a time. It’s tempting to get motivated and start to change everything all at once. I get it. It’s just not the most successful strategy. Instead, focus on one change at a time and use all your willpower to take it from new behavior to well-established habit before moving on to the next change. Your willpower efforts will strengthen many times over when you focus them on one thing at a time. Find An Accountability Partner It’s much easier to do what you set out to do w…

A Quick Guide to Outsourcing

Many extremely successful internet marketers say they would do one thing differently if they could. They say they’d outsource earlier in their business. In fact, many experts advise outsourcing almost from the very beginning. If you’ve come to a point where you’re ready to seek outsourcing help, congratulations! This is an important step. Where you go from here will help determine your success. Your First Step Your first step may be surprising. It’s not to start asking for referrals or to do a Google search for freelance help. Your first step is to sit down at your desk and plan. You want to begin with a definition or a list of the tasks you need help with. These tasks will also likely include systems or a step by step of how you want the task to be accomplished. For example, if you’re outsourcing your customer service, you want to outline your customer service system so whoever you hire can step right in and do the job correctly. You also want to plan how you’r…

In Business It’s Just as Important to Sell YOU!

When many business owners start out, they tend to emulate those they respect in their industry. This is not a mistake but rather a first step on the path to real business success. You will know that you’re on the road to long-standing success, however, when you’re able to sell YOU rather than to stand in the shadows of your mentor, coach, or business idol. Here’s how to let your personality shine through for better business today and tomorrow. * Be yourself - One of the easiest ways to be yourself and share your true personality is through your communications. This can be through your email messages, your blog posts, your social networking interactions and through your content efforts. When you write or speak with anyone in your industry - client, prospects or business associates, let your personality and communication style shine through. For example, if you have a knack for colorful metaphors, use them. If you have a very animated face when you speak, don…

Have You Ever Thought About Starting a Business of Your Own?

If you have ever thought about starting your own business, its important to know who you are and if you have the "qualities" it takes to have an Entrepreneurial Mindset? There are several ways to tell if you have this entrepreneurial mindset. Moreover, there are just as many ways to clear the road to becoming an entrepreneur. To Have the Entrepreneurial Mindset, Consider these Personality Traits: ___ Leadership qualities ___ Creative thinking ___ A feeling that there is something more than what you are doing in your current job ___ Innovative ideas If you show any or all of these qualities, you could very well be on your way to owning your own business because you do have that entrepreneurial spirit. How to Clear the Road toward Entrepreneurial Success (photo courtesy of Freepik) Going from the 9:00 to 5:00 grind to the entrepreneurial spirit may not be the easiest path, but it is something you can achieve. However, there are several steps you need to t…

Five Ideas to Get Your Freelancing Noticed

You started from scratch. You built your freelance business up from nothing. You’re doing well and you're proud of your accomplishments. However, you want more. You want to build a bigger business - one that supports all of your personal and financial goals. Here are five top tips to take your freelancing business further. #1 Publish - Publishing e-books, books and reports on pertinent and relevant topics in your industry will make you a household name. When you meet prospects you can say, “Here, let me give you a copy of my book.” Perhaps more importantly, people will start coming to you for your services because they’ve heard of you through your book. Publishing enhances your authority and credibility. It also makes it possible to justify higher rates. You are, after all, a published author and expert. #2 Blog - Okay, so you’re probably blogging already. But are you blogging on other industry blogs? Are you guest blogging for those movers and shakers in your industr…

The 5 Considerations You Need to Make When Creating Your Business Plan

"If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail." That quote has been bandied about for so long, it is difficult to accurately determine who said it first. It has been credited to Benjamin Franklin and other great minds. Regardless who first made the statement , or since, it has definitely proven true where launching and managing a business is concerned. When creating your business plan, remember the following 5 important considerations that will help you achieve your goals. 1. Raising capital Forbes magazine reported that 8 out of 10 businesses fail within their first 18 months. What is the principal reason behind that 80% failure rate? The primary reason businesses big and small, off-line and online, fail so quickly is a lack of capital. You need upfront money to launch your business. You should also set some plan for a continual influx of capital, whether that be through sales, outside investors and venture capitalists, or diverting your personal income to your b…

Twelve Tips to Develop Your Online Media Kit

An online media kit is a page on your website where media and potential advertisers can learn what they need to know about your company. It generally contains: * Company overview * Summary of your products and services * Press releases or newsworthy items * Professional credits * Advertising rates * Traffic and demographic information * FAQs * Case studies, success stories, or testimonials * Professional surveys or reports * A calendar of industry or media appearances It makes sense to make sure you have a top-notch media kit available to interested parties. The promise of potential media coverage will undoubtedly boost your business and profits. And an increase in advertising sales, if you sell ad space on your website, is always welcome. Here are the top tips to develop your online media kit: * Make sure your press releases and newsworthy items are up-to-date and that they’re organized with the most recent release at the top. * Take the time to craft c…

How Savvy Women Who Work from Home Stay Motivated

Here are a few tips to help savvy work at home moms (WHAM) stay focused and motivated. #1 – Set a schedule. One of the best ways to stay productive when working from home is to separate work from home. By setting work hours you say to the world and to yourself “I’m now working and can only deal with work.” Once your work hours are finished you can then move on to other tasks. This is exactly what you would do if you worked outside the home. Being strict with yourself and setting a work schedule means that you not only get more done but you keep motivation at an all time high. It’s very demoralizing to fall behind on your work and this can really send any motivation you have into a nose dive. Avoid this trap by working to a set schedule. #2 – Create a goals board. Creating a visual reminder of why you do what you do is extremely motivating. This can be a simple cork board that you add written goals to. You can also add pictures of your family and other reminders…

What to Expect From a Coach

There are many different coaching styles and just as many opinions as to which is best. Here is a list of what you can expect from the coaching relationship: Visionary: A coach helps you envision your desired outcome. Strategist: A coach helps you map out a plan to reach your goals. Partner: A coach helps you reach the desired goal. Trainer: A coach teaches you the skills, strategies and techniques to address your concerns. Resource: A coach provides resources and connections to ensure your success. Listener: A coach listens. Motivator: A coach inspires. Supporter: A coach provides support in difficult times. Advisor: A coach offers advice to help you grow. Guide: A coach helps you get and stay on track. Helper: A coach assists you with difficult assignments. Assertive: A coach is direct when needed. Accountability: A coach helps you reach your goals by checking in regularly. Coachin…