joel

Why Network? Networking is a cost effective way of putting your business on the map and expanding it. More people in your network mean more exposure for your products/services. You will also expand your sphere of influence as you connect large numbers of people to your network and have the opportunity to connect to their […]

In order to be a successful small business, you have to think and act like a successful business. Sounds simple, perhaps, but many small business owners and startup entrepreneurs forget this basic concept. In the face of financial adversity, they adopt a “can’t do” attitude. As leader of your business you should spread a message

Word-of-mouth is one of the best ways for a small business to attract new customers. It requires no expensive and time-consuming advertising or marketing campaigns and uses the most trusted spokesperson you could ever find for your business—a satisfied client. But while the power of word-of-mouth can drive business to your door, even if your marketing

Freelancer, sole operator, independent contractor and free agent are all terms for a similar type of small business operator with a key trait in common—all are constantly looking for new gigs to fill their time and pay the bills. For these business owners, the Internet has become a boon to finding work. Web sites that

“Do I trust him or her?” Others may ask many questions about you, but this is a key one. Trust lies at the root of building good interpersonal relations. Research into human relations proves that if trust is present, weaknesses tend to be overlooked and mistakes tolerated. Some people are trusted, and some are not,

The recession is not yet over. Business is still slow. It’s tough to find new customers. Traditional advertising just doesn’t seem to be working. What to do? First forget about finding new customers. They are expensive to acquire. Many are only price buyers and have no long term loyalty. Why bother chasing after them? Your

Everyone knows that backing up computer files is important, and most of us will face a computer crisis of some type sooner or later. But simple laziness, or perhaps a lack of information and belief that backups are too costly or time-consuming cause business owners to put it off. And that can have disastrous consequences.

Successful business owners shine at most aspects of operating their business. Usually they’re great at planning, or marketing, or creative thinking or crunching numbers, or knowing just how to satisfy customers. But when it comes to leading, managing and motivating others involved in the business, whether employees, outside sales reps or key partners, they sometimes

To become successful it is necessary to be committed to yourself, your ideas, your desires and your goals. The word commitment strikes fear in the hearts of many people, but commitment is as simple as setting goals and action plans. Goal setting to most people is a chore they do only on a small scale,

As you launch or expand a business, keeping track of the money, preparing tax returns and performing other financial tasks can quickly become a burden. If you need more time to do other things, it might make sense to turn over tax, accounting and other financial chores to outside specialists. Choosing the right type of