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Incredibly useful info for the busy small business owner.
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SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION
Three Ways to Build SEO Links
Whether you are planning a search engine optimization strategy or already have efforts underway to boost your Google PageRank, one key concept to consider is link building. There are a variety of ways to build links back to your website while also utilizing keywords. Three basic ways to start with link building include social bookmarking, off-site blogging, and press release distribution. Social bookmarking networks allow users to organize, manage, and share websites and blog posts of interest. This provides an easy exchange platform to tag other companies' websites and to create links to back to your own. Digg, Delicious, andStumbleUpon are just a few popular social bookmarking sites. Off-site blogging is a valuable tool for SEO to utilize keywords and insert links. These blogs can be done on a weekly or daily basis, and they are also a great way to keep customers and clients interested in what your company has to say. The main point to remember when blogging for SEO is to create original content that is relevant and interesting for viewers to read. Last, online PR is another valuable technique that serves two purposes. For publicity efforts, online press releases put newsworthy information about your company in the hands of reporters. For SEO efforts, online press release distribution, through websites such as eReleases and PR Urgent, distribute content that is optimized with keywords and contains links back to your homepage or pages within your website.
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SALES
Ask and you shall receive. Right?
It's likely you've heard the verse, "Ask and you shall receive."
Wouldn't it be great if the same thing applied in selling your services?
Hi, I'm Carolyn. What's your name?
Jill.
Nice to meet you, Jill. Would you like to buy from me?
Sure.
Yes? Great, I take cash and plastic. Which will it be?
You dream about that, don't you? Admit it! There are days I do, there's no denying it.
Instead, entrepreneurs tell me they have a helluva time making "asks" throughout the stages of their sales cycle.
Why? Because there are things that come before that ask, besides getting a name or a credit card number. Things that serve you and your potential client.
One of those things is getting your head screwed on straight. If that's not set, no amount of sales tips are going to work well for you.
Start by paying attention to where you stop yourself in your sales cycle.
Is it before you get out the door to meet people? Or is it at the end of a productive sales conversation, but you just can't get yourself to ask for the business? Or is it somewhere in between?
You'll start to notice patterns so that you can get help specific to the blocks that are in your way. And keep watching this column for more tips on how to change your relationship with selling.
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STARTING YOUR BIZ
Choosing a Business Entity
Many entrepreneurs decide to form their business as a separate entity to limit their personal liability. If you opt to go this route, the two most popular choices are a limited liability company (LLC) and a corporation (S or C corp.). Although corporations are better known than LLCs, you should look into whether an LLC would meet your needs.
Both an LLC and a corporation shield you against personal liability if someone sues your business, but an LLC can be a better choice for closely-held small businesses. LLC owners have more options for allocating ownership, managing the company and distributing profits, and there is more flexibility around taxation. Also, an LLC is not required to follow the same formalities as a corporation. In most states, for example, a corporation must hold annual meetings to elect a board of directors and keep records.
Although a corporation requires more formalities than an LLC, it is advantageous if you want to seek venture capital funding, or if you want to issue stock options to employees or consultants. Venture capitalists invest almost exclusively in corporations, so you want to identify your future business plans when choosing an entity.
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Pay Per Click Marketing
Pay Per Click (PPC) advertising is the one method of online advertising that allows businesses to seek high volumes of traffic almost immediately. Many businesses spend a lot of time putting their websites together but don't invest anything into driving traffic. PPC is one of the best ways to drive new traffic because you can highly target your audience and control or limit your ad spend within your comfort zone.
Google Adwords and Microsoft AdCenter (Yahoo! and Bing) are the 2 largest platforms for paid search advertising. Many search marketing companies offer a $100 Google credit to start advertising so getting going is easy. Within the account, you can add or delete keywords and ads, add negative keywords to qualify traffic, set geography targeting, set budgets, and much more.
For more experienced advertisers, there are a host of new Google-specific features that will enhance a business's online efforts including Product Listing Ads, Video Ads, Display Ads, and Remarketing. Remarketing is where the company retargets past visitors by serving ads on different websites that recognize that browser cookie. This can be done with a text ad, video ad or an image ad. This is one more way advertisers can increase the online ROI and drive return business.
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BUSINESS SUCCESS
 Unleash Your Brilliance!
Have you ever thought about what it would like to be positioned as en expert,helping lots of people and loving what you are doing! What if I told you that it is all possible! Here is the secret - Discover what you a great at and make sure that your talent or expertise serves lot's of people! Everyone thinks you can just find your passion and get paid for it! If you want a dose of reality you need to realize that finding your passion is only one part of the equation! The next part of the equation is to make sure that you are serving a large demographic that is interested in buying your product or service!
The next step is to create a great product or service and build and amazing value proposition! The final part of the equation is that you have invest in your marketing! Over 90% of your success comes from marketing! If you are interested in building a global business that becomes super successful you will need to create an unstoppable marketing initiative that generates new and interested prospects 24/7. The best in Marketing over the past decade has been a small company called APPLE. They are brilliant at Pre-Sale programs that move people to pre-order at one of the highest rates ever for a consumable product or service! The final step is take your message to stages around the world and share your product/service with the masses!
If you are interested in learning more about public speaking contact jen@pti360.comfor more information about building, launching and creating a successful platform speaker business!
Have an amazing day!
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EMPLOYMENT LAW
 Practical Tips For Employers For The 2012 Campaign Season
With the 2012 campaign season now in full swing, employers should consider how they will address political speech at work. Employers who ignore this issue risk exposing themselves to claims for retaliation, harassment, and discrimination, among others. Here are a few tips.
1. Though there are state and local laws bearing on the issue, the First Amendment does not prevent private employers from regulating employees' political speech at work. Therefore, you may want to consider prohibiting political discussions in work areas during working time, implementing a dress code that bans political campaign tee shirts, buttons, or other paraphernalia, and banning political solicitation at work during working time.
2. Review company policies concerning discrimination, harassment, retaliation, discipline, solicitation, online communication and electronic resources, voting, and code of conduct. Hold a meeting with the staff to remind them of these policies and how to make a complaint. Also, remind employees that company electronic equipment is for work, not for promoting political views.
3. Caution supervisors and managers not to discuss their political views with subordinates. And, when discipline is imposed for a situation relating to a political argument, it should be imposed uniformly with the focus on violation of company policy, not on the content of the political speech.
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WEBSITE
Get online. Grow your business. Never miss a customer.
Your customers expect to find you online, and your website is the perfect place to promote your business on the Web. Now it's even easier to create a beautiful, professional website with the improved Go Daddy Website Builder™.
Getting a website for your business shouldn't be difficult or expensive. Go Daddy's user-friendly Design Wizard features drag-and-drop functionality that's great for any skill level. Plus over 2,000 Web consultants are standing by 24/7/365 to help with setup and maintenance.
Why start your website with Go Daddy Website Builder?
- It's new: The NEW Go Daddy Website Builder gives you so much more!You'll find hundreds of updated templates, image-editing and improved usability at the same affordable price.
- It's fast: With intuitive navigation, templates and drag-and-drop functionality, your website will be up and running fast. No technical skills or coding required.
- It's easy: In minutes, beginners can build a gorgeous website using industry templates or our new Design Wizard. Once your site is complete, our slick editor makes updates and maintenance a snap.
- It's social: Easily integrate Facebook® and Twitter® and connect with your customers using widgets like Open Table®, Yelp®, eBay® and more.
To learn more visit GoDaddy.com.
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ENTREPRENEURS
How to avoid failing in business
Why do some businesses succeed while others fail? Some people attribute luck to success in business but in reality there are common mistakes that hinder many small businesses before they even get off and running. If you want to make a go of your business, try avoiding these startup missteps.
Many experts say their number one concern that leads to business failure is growing too fast. "While growth is desirable, overexpansion is a serious error." Try and set realistic goals that you can meet or exceed in order to stay solvent. Wanting to be the first in the market with a new product or taking on added overhead can cause your business to fail.
Mistaking a business for a hobby is another example. Just because you love to do something and are passionate about it doesn't mean it will make a sound business. Before starting any new venture, research your business ideas to make sure they're viable. Too often businesses fail because owners feel their passions are shared by others and they won't be able to carve out a specific niche in the market or that their ideas aren't strong enough compared to the competition.
Poor planning. Are you prepared to handle problems when they arise? You need a sound business plan in place whether it's five pages or 50 pages in length. "Your business plan helps you to focus on your goals and your vision, as well as setting out plans to accomplishing them. And don't get mellow - revisit and revise your business plan annually." A business plan is where you work out crucial elements your business must have to thrive - finances, marketing, management and strategy. You must think about the vision for your business and always, what your budget will look like.
Lack of funding. Many young businesses are not prepared for the monetary restrictions of their businesses. "Many budding enterprises fail to secure enough operating funds to get off the ground of make it through the crucial first few months." It's easy to underestimate the capital required for all your business needs such as inventory, staffing, office space, vendors, etc. Always, calculate your potential startup and operating costs.
Overspending and lack of capital reserves. It's true that many new entrepreneurs burn through their startup capital before they see positive cash flow. Many young business owners have misconceptions about how business operates. You should always prepare for unexpected increases in the costs of your operations. Make sure you have enough reserve cash to help you through the tough times.
Wrong location. Don't be fooled by cheap leases that will put you out of a thriving neighborhood where your business is likely to see more traffic. Consider locating near your competition. Think about accessibility of store location to your customers. Is the area well served by public transportation and foot traffic? Be convenient to your customers. This can make or break your success.
Failing to change with the times. You must be flexible and adapt to changing market trends. The ability to recognize new opportunities as they arise is key. "Learn how to wear multiple hats, respond nimbly and develop new areas of expertise."
Underestimating the competition. You have to earn customer loyalty; it doesn't just happen overnight. Watch your competition closely and stay one step ahead of them. If you underestimate your competition, you're setting yourself up for failure. Always keep a competitive analysis of your competition especially if you find yourself in a niche market. Stay updated on changes in competitive behavior and strategy. "With a comprehensive understanding of who you're up against, you're better positioned to come up with a good idea before they do." Customers go where they can find the best products and services. What makes your product unique and better? Think about how you can better service your customer and what they want and need.
Ineffective marketing. "If customers don't know who you are or even that your business exists, what hope is there to succeed?" Successful entrepreneurs understand the effective power of marketing and advertising. It doesn't cost a lot to do some online advertising or use social media or email listserves to get your name out there. Successful business owners know who their target audience is and which marketing channels will most effectively reach them.
Hiring the wrong people. Your business will never succeed without employees who share your vision and are motivated and work hard to satisfy customer demand. Hiring the right people can be time consuming but it's worth it as it takes less time and effort in the long run if you don't have to fire and rehire. You need employees you can trust to do the job without needing to be micromanaged.
Procrastination and poor time management. Putting off tasks that you don't enjoy will sink your business faster than anything else. You can't afford to waste time on unimportant tasks while critical tasks pile up. All tasks need to be done; if you don't like to do them (or don't want to spend your time doing them), hire someone to do them for you. If your time management and prioritizing skills are rusty, hire a small business coach or take a class to help you.
Entrepreneurial burnout. Owning your own business can be time consuming. Often you can lose sight of what matters most in your life, such as family and friends. It's easy to become consumed by your work and make it the main priority of your life but it shouldn't be. Take some time off and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Putting all your eggs in one basket. Try some variety in your product offerings. While one idea might have gotten you off the ground, always think about expanding upon that original idea and branching out into new arenas. Obviously, you don't want to spread yourself too thin or lose sight of your original goal, but don't stand still and stagnate.
Lack of experience in running a business or in the industry you're entering. There are so many hats you have to wear, from marketing and selling in order to run a business effectively. On top of that, you have to understand your industry, the skills required to offer your products and services and the trends in the industry. "If you don't know about these basic skills, educate yourself. Talk to others who are successfully running their own businesses, talk to industry leaders, get a book, find a website, get a coach, do your homework. And keep increasing your business and industry skills by attending classes or reading new books every year."
What I've discussed here today are some pitfalls to avoid so that your business can succeed through the good and bad times. Take my advice to heart and try to steer clear of bad habits or patterns of behavior that may eventually be the downfall of your business.
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LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS
In our prior discussion about copyright law, we presented a basic overview of the work-for-hire doctrine and its most commonly encountered pitfalls. In this Tidbit, we will discuss the fundamental issues involved in publicly performing a copyrighted work.
Under U.S. copyright law, the right to perform a work publicly is one of the exclusive rights granted to a copyright holder. The issue of a public performance not only relates to a concert or play, but also includes the publishing and distribution of online video content that contains musical compositions (whether used as part of a soundtrack, background music, etc.). If, for instance, a website operator has licensed the right to perform video content but has failed to also licensed musical compositions accompanying such video, the public performance rights of the composer of such music likely would be infringed.
Note: even if one does properly obtain the right to publicly perform a musical composition, doing so may very well trigger a further obligation to account for and pay royalty fees to an applicable performance rights organization (e.g., ASCAP, BMI, SESAC).
This article provides general coverage of its subject area and is provided with the understanding that it does not constitute legal advice and that its contents may not be applicable in all situations.
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START-UP / ENTREPRENEUR
Innovative Tips for Entrepreneurship
By Joshua Simon - EO member; Owner, S/I Real Estate
Here's a tip on "in your face" goal-setting. I'm a firm believer in goal setting, but jotting goals on Post-it notes or mentally visualizing them isn't enough of a push for me, so I commit them to paper. Each of my employees-me included-develops a list of monthly goals, which are then posted in the common area of our office. Year-end goals are also posted visibly at each employee's desk. This is a great way for us to keep our goals top of mind, while encouraging each other to stay on track and hit our targets. The best part is that we can keep one another accountable and push each other to succeed.
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SUCCESSFUL NETWORKING
Make Your Post Event Follow Up Easier
Ever attend a networking event and collect cards from everyone, whether you wanted to or not? The problem isn't just the waste of paper (although that is another big problem), but who do you follow up with. In most cases, you get a card, look at it so you can try and visualize it to help you remember after the event, but that usually doesn't work so well, especially at larger events. Below are two helpful tips to make your post-event process easier.
The first tip is to mark the cards. Whether with a pen making a little X or by folding a card corner down, these little marks will let you know who you need to follow up with and which cards can go in the garbage.
The second tip, which I use most frequently, is have a different pocket for cards. The right pocket is for follow up and left pocket is for the others. This lets you easily identify the cards without anyone seeing you "mark their card."
Regardless of what method you choose, following up after an event with the right people will make the event a success!
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PR
One of the last items in a release, the boilerplate (or 'boiler') is a standard chunk of text, usually a paragraph that briefly describes who a business is and what it does. It's a designated space where readers get a chance to learn more about the company issuing the release. At its core, the boiler seeks to capture the essence of a business by describing how its products and services help solve real-world challenges.
At first, 'boilerplate' may seem like an odd name for such an integral part of a press release. That's because the term originated in an entirely different industry. 'Boilerplate' was first used more than 100 years ago to describe the thick iron sheets used to create steam boilers. As the years passed and technological advances in the printing press were made, 'boilerplate' jumped industries and found its way into the lexicon of media pros to symbolize any piece of copy that can be used with little or no changes in a variety of corporate materials, namely the "About Us" section of press releases.
Separate from the iron sheets used in making steam boilers, the name plate affixed to a newly minted boiler is also called a 'boilerplate.' Listed on the boilerplate is basic information about the unit, such as who built the boiler, when and where it was built, and its ID number.
Using the boiler name plate as a guide, a presser boiler should be simple and direct, supplying readers with the most relevant details. For example, the boilerplate on a steam boiler only lists the most important information. There is no room for superfluous minutiae. It's short, straightforward and simple. In corporate releases, this commitment to simplicity is what separates a clear, effective boilerplate from one that's muddled and hard-to-follow. This scalpel-like approach is what allows a
boiler to be both informative and descriptive while staying relatively close to the 100-word range.
An effective boiler is concise and easy to follow, striking the right balance between providing enough details to make it informative, but not so much that it overwhelms. The goal is to focus on key company facts while highlighting the problem-solving orientation of the business and its products. This information should be easy for readers to locate. Don't make readers work hard to find the information they want. Boilers should inform, not frustrate. After all, everyone likes a good ending.
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