Are you working from home for the first time? Back when I was working in the corporate world in my late 20s, I (like many Americans) occasionally dreamed of working from home. I had this romanticized image of slowly getting up in the morning, heading to my home office in my PJs, and taking some time off in the middle of the day to run errands or read a book. Then I started my own small business in my home and, BOY, was I in for a rude shock! It turns out that working from home requires a specific kind…
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Have you ever taken an online course? While there are many community colleges and universities that offer exceptional training programs, many of us simply don’t have the time to dedicate an entire evening to class. Hence, the rise of the online self-directed course. With these, you can learn the material at your own pace without having to worry about long classes that you have to fit into your already-tight schedule. Online courses offer an incredible opportunity to small business owners and other entrepreneurs who are looking to make a name for themselves as an expert in their field. On top…
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Do you have a personal Pinterest account? Pinterest is one of those companies often left out of the conversation when it comes to social media marketing. Unlike Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, it isn’t about collecting followers or posting viral content that will get buried in less than a day (if not less than an hour). Instead, Pinterest gives its users a very different experience, along with astonishingly personalized content. To a digital marketing expert, Pinterest offers some incredible opportunities to connect with an engaged and passionate audience that might be tailor-made for your business. While Pinterest only has about 320…
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There are few things more nerve-wracking for a small business than launching a new product. Believe me, I know how it feels! Since the early days of my digital marketing and virtual assistant business, I’ve expanded my offerings dozens of times. And every single time, I was filled with anxieties. I was worried that no one would be interested in that service, or that I spent all of that time and money for nothing. Over time, I’ve come to realize that there is an art to launching a brand-new product or service. If you know the formula, you can significantly…
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Do you remember buying your very first car? There is a real sense of pride that comes from making such a “grown-up” purchase. It’s shiny, new, and YOURS. It feels the same way when you purchase your first house. It’s your home, with all of the responsibilities, maintenance, and benefits that come with it. For many small business owners, there is a similar feeling when you get your first professionally-designed website. It looks incredible, acting as your own little corner of the internet. Your branding is impeccable, the content is compelling, and your graphics simply “pop.” But here is the…
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What’s inside your small business toolbox? My husband and I are currently in the process of building a vacation house. And if there is one thing I’ve learned, it’s that there is a right tool for every job! This adage is true even in the small business world. There is a tool out there perfectly suited to every task. You only need to find it! And when you do, that tool could save you a crazy amount of time at your small business! Lacking time is one of the biggest challenges I face as a small business owner. There are…
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Do you feel like you’re getting a little less “bang for your buck” from your marketing strategy plan lately? Digital marketing is one of the fastest moving targets on the internet. Things are constantly shifting and changing. New services appear and old ones disappear constantly. Google+, for example, was a “must” just a few years ago. Today? Uh, what’s Google+? This rapidly changing digital landscape means that you need to update your marketing plan every year (if not more often). If you’re basically doing the same thing you did in 2017, your digital marketing strategy is beyond ancient. But that’s…
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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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Happy New Year! Now that the parties, silly hats, and celebratory drinks are in the rearview mirror, it’s time to set your sights on what matters: your goals. I’m NOT talking about New Year’s Resolutions here. Those, for the most part, are more like general wishes for the new year. “I want to lose some weight,” or, “I want to earn more money.” What I’m talking about here are your concrete business goals. The things that you’re going to be focusing on at your small business throughout the next 12 months. It’s time to get your thoughts in order. But…
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A lot of small business owners get stuck in the idea that all businesses should run the exact same way! No way! Here’s the thing about small business owners: we are all different! Our reasons for becoming entrepreneurs vary from always wanting to run our own business to wanting to spend more time at home with our families (or both). But when it comes to things like business planning, most coaches and programs treat every small business owner the same. And if you don’t fit into that narrow preconception, you’re going to be out of luck. I’ll give you a…
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