I’ve always been in awe of architects. They are like modern-day magicians. With math and an expert design sense, they design a blueprint that creates rock-solid structures that stand the test of time. And how do they do it? It all starts with a blueprint. After all, you can’t just start building a structure without knowing every single step you need to take. An architect designing a building will go through countless drafts of blueprints until they have a plan that is both functional AND beautiful. And once they finalize everything in the blueprint, they can finally start to get to…
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For some small businesses, getting a new client is “Good news, bad news” time. The good news is that you have a new client! The bad news is that if you don’t have an automated onboarding system, it can be a massive headache. There is the first consultation, the follow-ups, sending/signing the contract, convincing them of the importance of filling out their client information form, invoices, scheduling your kick off call, learning their habits and preferences… It’s a ton of work! Of course, you can make things go much smoother by streamlining your entire client onboarding sequence. And a big…
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Do you have a business plan? Something that I highly recommend all of my clients (and pretty much every entrepreneur) do is create a business plan at the beginning of the year. Spending the first week or so in January putting together a comprehensive business plan can pay off dividends for a small business through the new year. A business plan gives you a map, with goals and strategies that may help you confront the biggest challenges facing your business. But here is the problem: plans change. Things change! Life happens! Maybe your business did even better than you expected…
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Have you ever heard the old saying, “Those that can’t, teach?” Personally, I always thought that is absolutely ridiculous. It’s not just disrespectful to teachers, who sacrifice so much for their students, but it’s also just flat out wrong. There can be a similar perception about coaches in sports. “Those that can’t play, coach.” Again, ridiculous. The wealth of knowledge and experience that a talented coach can bring is incalculable. With their watchful and experienced eye, they can help shape an athlete or team into the best they can possibly be. That takes talent! Thankfully, there isn’t a negative perception…
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Providing your customers with value is what business is all about, and that also goes for your advertising. No one wants to read dry, boring copy going on and on about how great your business is. Customers are far more savvy than that, they know how advertising sounds and they know to ignore it. The way you can connect with your customers today is with content. If you provide them with authentic, personality infused, valuable content, like blog posts, free downloads, email campaigns, etc, then you can sneak in under the advertising radar (stealthy selling, anyone?) by giving them what…
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You know the most difficult step of any endeavor? Getting started. It’s always those first few steps that are the trickiest, especially when you are starting a small business. As an entrepreneur, I remember the very early days of starting my own small business. I felt like I had everything to do and no time to do it. I didn’t have a team, it was just me, so everything was on my shoulders. That’s an incredible amount of stress and is, frankly, unsustainable. Thankfully, most small business owners don’t have to sustain it after the first few months because, by…
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Who doesn’t love spring cleaning? It’s a chance to get rid of all the clutter, and the same could be said for your business. For a small business, organization is key. There are a ton of little tasks that can take up way too much of your time, quickly filling up your schedule and pulling you away from the work that only you can do. Well, it’s spring cleaning time, so hire a virtual assistant to help create systems that will set your business up for success! Administration & Client ManagementOne place where you can find a lot of unnecessary…
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When was the last time that you went to the mall? Didn’t it seem just a little emptier than it used to be? That’s because it is. eCommerce is quickly eating up much of the market share of big and small brick and mortar companies alike. If your business sells either products or services, you should be making a huge push online. By doing so, you will be able to reach so many customers that you otherwise would never have met. The Importance of a Digital Shopping CartIf you want to be able to make sales online, it needs to…
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Do you have the edge? If you look back at the history of successful businesses, it is often just a single, tiny edge that made the difference between the winners and the losers. In many cases, that edge can simply be that you have more time to focus on the things that are important, leaving the small things in the hands of others. If you are an established business with a multitude of employees, this is easy. You can just delegate. If you are a small business with limited, if any, staff, then you might find yourself having to do…
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Do you have a comprehensive business plan? If you don’t have one in your drawer, you should get to work! I’m a big believer in planning ahead. A business plan can give you direction, something to aim towards throughout the year. If you already have a well-thought-out business plan, then the new year is a perfect time to update it with your new goals for the new year! If you are thinking about starting out on a new endeavor, then figuring out a plan for your proposed business is a must. Here is my personal updated 8-step process, along with…
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