6 Ways to Show Client Appreciation

By Jennie Lyon / April 17, 2015

You’ve worked so, so hard to get clients—now it’s time to do everything in your power to keep them! Keeping clients is much less expensive than getting new ones, and client loyalty strengthens business. In addition, word of mouth, testimonials, and referrals are still some of the best methods to attract new clients who want your products or services. What this all adds up to is that it’s important, from time to time, to show your existing clients you appreciate them. I hope that you are already providing exceptional, personalized service and have great client relations, but it’s also important…

Read More

5 Healthy Lifestyle Habits To Grow Your Business

By Jennie Lyon / April 3, 2015

Like most women, you have probably heard that you can’t do it all—and you probably try to anyway. It is easy to run ragged trying to juggle your business, social life, family, and household. Remember, though, that you are your company’s most valuable asset! Successfully managing all aspects of your life requires balance and prioritizing self-care. Healthy habits help us to be more effective in both business and life. When we are healthy and balanced, we can “do more”—and in less time (which is always the goal). Here are 5 healthy habits for women in business. 1. Healthy Diet and…

Read More

How to Choose a Virtual Team for Your Small Business

By Jennie Lyon / March 27, 2015

More and more small businesses these days are home-based or physically scaled down, operating out of a small office with minimal equipment. Additionally, more businesses start with modest budgets and aim to cut overhead costs in order to develop into successful startups more quickly. Because small businesses still need a team to operate, the cost-effective, simple solution is to partner with a virtual team of workers instead of staffing an office with salaried employees, which requires a bigger office rental, bulkier payroll, and an HR department—to name a few things. Even though virtual support teams are non-traditional (though they are…

Read More

4 Branding Tips Every Entrepreneur Can Use

By Jennie Lyon / February 27, 2015

I have been a small business owner for a long time and have partnered with dozens of other successful entrepreneurs. Through my own personal experience building my company, as well as helping the successful people I partner with, I have learned a few things about successful small business branding. Here are 4 branding tips that every entrepreneur can use.  1. Know Your NicheUnderstanding your target market is absolutely key to knowing how to market to them. In today’s economy, successful marketing means that a brand is more than a fancy logo or enticing slogan; in order to engage clients businesses must…

Read More

6 Ways to Make Working From Home Work for Your Business

By Jennie Lyon / February 20, 2015

 As more and more people go into business for themselves, more and more people are working from home. Working from home offers many benefits, like eliminating your commute and freeing you from the distractions of co-workers. That said, working from home can prove more challenging than it looks at first glance. Here are 6 ways to make working from home work for your business. 1. Designate an Office Space This is step #1 for successfully conducting your business from home. Dedicating a specific space at home keeps you focused and serious about your business. Having a space that is designated…

Read More

Why Every Entrepreneur Needs a Virtual Team

By Jennie Lyon / February 13, 2015

If you are an emerging small business owner or considering branching out on your own, you’ve probably given a lot of thought to the endeavor, weighing the pros and cons and wondering whether you have what it takes to work for yourself. Starting your own business can be overwhelming, but with the help of a virtual assistant team you can boost your confidence and set yourself up for success right from the beginning! The following are a few ways that partnering with a virtual team can benefit you and your budding enterprise. Help You Stay Energized and FocusedSomething every small business…

Read More

5 Time Management Tips for Entrepreneurs

By Jennie Lyon / January 16, 2015

When you have an entire business to run on your own—or with a small staff—there’s always a LOT to get done. Time management is one of the biggest challenges small business owners and entrepreneurs face on a daily basis. With a little planning and discipline, though, your days can run smoothly and calmly—and you can still get everything done. Here are 5 time management tips for busy entrepreneurs like yourself. 1. Make a List & PrioritizeAs an independent business owner, you probably have a running list at any given time of about 1,000 things that need to get done. Some…

Read More

Partnering With a Virtual Assistant Can Help You Focus on the Big Picture

By Jennie Lyon / December 26, 2014

As a small business owner, you have a lot to keep track of, from the smallest details, like spell checking emails and web content, to the biggest—your company’s vision. With so much to check off your to-do list each day, it can be very easy to spend hours at a time on small—though important—tasks, foregoing the essential work of putting your concepts into action and solidifying your vision. Partnering with a virtual assistant with specialized skills and experience will ensure that everything on your list gets done quickly and professionally, allowing you to focus on the bigger picture and move…

Read More

5 Steps for Choosing Your Small Business Idea

By Jennie Lyon / December 19, 2014

The decision to go into business for yourself is an exciting, liberating one that often sparks an endless stream of creative, imaginative business ideas. If you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, the brainstorming process is a fun and important step in making your dream of independent business ownership a reality. In the end, though, you’ll have to settle on one—at least to start with! Because entrepreneurs tend to be high-energy, inventive people, it can be a challenge to settle on one idea and to make sure the one you’ve chosen is the right one. By following these five steps, you’ll be well…

Read More

Essential Elements of Small Business Content Marketing

By Jennie Lyon / December 10, 2014

In the past, the only businesses that were required to produce daily quality content were news, academic organizations, and entertainment companies. In today’s world of online branding and representation, all businesses are required to maintain professional, interesting content if they want to succeed and maintain contact with their market. Providing your audience and clients with relevant, regular content via social media platforms (including LinkedIn), blogs or professional articles, newsletters, and up-to-date websites strengthens your brand and builds your expert reputation. First thing’s first: your business must produce quality content. Grammatical errors, too casual of a tone, and content that is…

Read More