The 7 Irrefutable Rules of Small Business Growth

This book is very recommend for small business owner, and anyone who need to know how to grow their small business.

Editorial Reviews

Book Description
Starting a small business and making it a success isn’t easy. In fact, most small business owners don’t get rich and many fail. This book presents the straight truth on small business success. It doesn’t offer cure-alls for every small business. Instead, it outlines real, effective principles for continued small business growth and success. Written by business growth expert Steven Little, The 7 Irrefutable Rules of Small Business Growth skips empty small business positivism in exchange for real-world, practical solutions. If you’re a small business owner or an entrepreneur just starting out, you’ll find answers to all your most important questions on topics such as technology, business plans, hiring, and much more.

Download Description
Written from an insiders perspective, this book presents the straight truth on small business success. It's not a get-rich-quick scheme and it doesn't offer cure-alls for every small business. Instead, it outlines real, effective principles for sustained small business growth and success. Written by business growth expert Steven Little, The 7 Irrefutable Rules of Small Business Growth skips pie-in-the-sky theory in exchange for real-world, practical solutions. Readers will find answers to the small business owner's most important questions on such topics as technology, planning, hiring, globalization, and the near-term future of small business in America.

See all Editorial Reviews

Small Business Outsourcing Can Work Wonders for You!

by: Michelle Barkley

Work hard for success is what you will hear everywhere. But have you ever thought about implementing a smart move to be successful. Well outsourcing is the smartest business move that you can make for your small business. There are many small business ventures that can implement small business outsourcing to earn profit. Yes, there are many benefits of outsourcing, but until you implement the process you will not actually know how beneficial small business outsourcing can be for your business.

Small businesses have less number of staff and this can at times be a constraint to meet deadlines and complete work in time. However, small business outsourcing must not be seen as a means to meet any temporary deadlock or pending work. In fact you can profit and prosper more in your business if you think of taking up small business outsourcing on a long term basis for your company.

The internet is a great source for you to find out people who will do the work for you. These days you can find virtual workers who will do any sort of work for you. If you want a research paper written, want someone to do the accounting and bookkeeping or just want someone to take care of the work backlog that you have accumulated you just have to find someone to do the job for you.

One of the key benefits of small business outsourcing is that you will save lots of money. Hiring manpower to do the work for you can be a time consuming and difficult task for you to handle. Small business outsourcing takes care of this for you. The outsourcing firm will do the work for you and hire employees for you by hiring people for you who will do the work for you for half the amount professionals working in your country would demand for doing the same work. Imagine this scenario, you will get the work done by a qualified professional and you also end up saving a huge amount of money.

The quality of work becomes definitely better, simply because the work is done by a qualified professional. All people who work for small business outsourcing are very highly qualified, so you can rest assured about the quality of the work done by them. You can regularly check out and see if their work they are doing is quality work or not. At any time you feel that your work quality is suffering, you can stop the work and find someone else to do the work for you.

If you have finally decided to implement small business outsourcing for your business, you must find out the best outsourcing company to do the work for you. Find out the efficiency of the company by talking with people who have already worked with them. Check out the security feature provided by the company. This is your business we are talking about and you must not compromise on anything for this.

Small business outsourcing results can vary form business to business. Depending on many factors, your business may or may not be successful. However, there is a great chance that the benefits of outsourcing your business abroad will be many and varied. The results can vary from business to business and company to company due to many factors.

About The Author

Michelle Barkley is a CPA working for IFRworld. She specializes in Accounting Outsourcing ,Small Business Outsourcing and tax returns preparation outsourcing. To know more and to use the services visit http://www.ifrworld.com.

Beating the Odds in Small Business (Paperback)

Business Matters

A no-nonsense read...a shrewd look at the pitfalls and opportunities of going into business for oneself....Down-to-earth solutions, refreshing outlook.

Business Opportunity World

Perceptive and entertaining, while offering sound advice. The straight-talking truth about business without a buzzword, guru, or trendy management theory in sight.

Are You Targeting the Right Prospects with Your Small Business Marketing?

by: Charlie Cook

Steve called from Minneapolis to ask how to attract new clients for his auto repair shop. He has been in business for two years and has four trained technicians to keep busy, but he was having difficulty attracting enough new customers.

Steve wasn't just waiting for people to show up at his shop. He regularly mailed letters to new homeowners in the area. His rationale was that people who had just moved into town would be looking for a mechanic before long.

Steve wanted to know why what seemed like a good strategy wasn’t working. Why was he only getting one or two inquires from each mailing to 500 prospects? He asked me if he was targeting the right people. "Anyone with a car is in my target market, right?"

Good question. In theory, yes, any car owner living in the area is a potential client. But in reality, car owners have very different attitudes towards car maintenance.

Steve was making the same mistake that most small business owners make in thinking about their target market. He was trying to market to everyone who might use his service instead of targeting the most likely prospects. After trying this for a year, he recognized that this marketing strategy was costly and inefficient.

According to Albert Einstein, "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

Are you getting the number of inquiries and sales you want from your target market? If you're not getting results then why keep marketing the same way over and over again?

The alternative to broad based, costly marketing is to target your prospects more precisely and shape your marketing accordingly.

There are three types of people in your target market.

First, there are people with immediate problems. These prospects have urgent concerns and want solutions today. In Steve's case, these are the customers who come in with a flat tire or a blown head gasket.

Second, there are people who have a problem or want to improve their situation and are considering a purchase.

They need more information in order to understand why they should use your product or service. They may take more time to reach a decision to buy.

Again in Steve's case, these are people who need their disc brake pads replaced before they fail and cause more costly damage, or who could be getting better mileage with a properly tuned engine, or who should purchase new tires soon to avoid a potential accident. These are the people who need to be educated in order to make a decision.

Finally, there are people like my dear Dad in every target market. It was a point of pride with Dad to see how little he could spend to maintain his cars. He never took a car to a mechanic unless the broken part could no longer be wired back together or the car just wouldn't start. People like Dad have blind spots in certain areas.

The same is true in any business. Some people won't spend money to fix or repair something even if it's barely functioning. No matter what you say or do they don’t want to be bothered. Their objective is to spend as little money as possible regardless of whether it costs them more in the long run or not. Know anyone like this?

Even if you have the perfect product or solution for these people, you're not going to get their business. They either know it all or don’t want to know. Marketing to this group is a waste of your time and money.

You'll get a much better response by targeting your prospects more precisely. That means marketing to what your prospects are looking for. You'll end up spending less and making more. Steve needed to focus his marketing on car owners who want to fix a problem or prevent one from developing.

In Steve's case a few changes to his marketing letter could make a huge difference. With a few questions he could help his prospects identify their concerns and then give them some helpful maintenance tips that involve his services.

You can do the same. With a few changes to your marketing strategy and your marketing copy you'll get a much better response and see your business soar.
-
2006 © In Mind Communications, LLC. All rights reserved.
-

About The Author

Charlie Cook helps small business owners and marketing professionals attract more clients and be more successful. Sign up to receive the Small Business Marketing Ideas eBook, '7 Steps to get more clients and grow your business' at: http://www.marketingforsuccess.com

The Small Business Survival Guide: How to Manage Your Cash, Profits and Taxes (The Small Business Sourcebooks) (Paperback)

This book is most important book concerning creation and operation of a business. Also presents a system for organizing your paperwork and staying on top of the financial condition of your company. The system is at once simple, convenient, and perpetually audit-ready. Best of all, it allows you to accurately understand your cash flow so that you're able to make sound business decisions. Having this book is A MUST for Small Business owner.

Small Business Loans – Satisfying Commercial Ideas

by: Mary Jones

Business is considered the best way to earn your living for most of the people. Unlike jobs, there is nobody to control you as you are the controller. But starting or running a business is not an easy task. As we know that business runs on capital and there must be sufficient flow of capital for a business to function smoothly. A small deficit of capital can lead to big losses. Small business loans are designed to help you avoid such losses through apt cash support whenever you need it.

Small business loans are loans for meeting all your business needs. Whether you want to pay off your creditors or purchase raw materials or buy office space or stationeries, computers, equipments, for transportation purposes or to cater any other need a small business loans serves it all. These loans are easily accessible through online option. In a scenario where no body has enough time to take appointments from numerous loan lenders in the market and meet them, an online option helps borrowers in getting the maximum information in minimum time. Large numbers of online small business loan quotes are available to choose from. To make your life easier, there are online instruments such as comparison tools, debt and repayment calculators and budget planners which could help you get a better understanding of the loan package.

Small business loans offer you money in two forms: one is secured and other one is unsecured. When no collateral is offered to the lender the loan is called as unsecured small business loan. The amount which you can get under this form may be lesser as compared to secured option but it is the best way to support immediate expenses as the approvals are quite faster in absence of collateral valuation. On the other hand if the need is bigger and you need money for longer term, you can rely on a secured small business loan. These loans are easily available to borrowers with a bad credit history or poor credit score.

While considering your loan application a lender will look for your business prospects. You may need to convince the lender that your business will succeed enough to repay the loan on time (when collateral is not there). Along with such information, simply fill in the loan application form with your personal details and requirement and details about your business. The lender will review your application after which he will contact you for further assistance regarding small business loans.

About The Author

Mary Jones is an expert financial advisor. She has done Masters in Finance from London Business School. To find Small business loans,Payday Loans, Personal Loans, Instant personal loans, Secured Loan, Unsecured Loan visit http://www.loansvalley.co.uk

How to Succeed as a Small Business Owner ... and Still Have a Life (Paperback)

This book is a MUST for every small business owner who wants to see their business grow in a sustainable way!!! I can't recommend it highly enough.

Editorial Reviews

Bo Burlingham, editor-at-large of Inc. magazine
and author of Small Giants: Companies That Choose To Be Great Instead of Big
"Bill Collier’s wonderful book is a guide for getting the most out of a small business."

Jack Stack, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of SRC Holdings Corporation, author of The Great Game of Business, and the father of the Open-Book Management movement
"Bill Collier has been there and done that. His book points out what you can do to help yourself succeed."

See all Editorial Reviews

The Seven Deadly Sins of Small Business

by: Michael Adams

Owners and executives must be leaders first and managers second. As leaders our task is first and foremost to be about doing the right things, and the “seven deadly sins,” should be on the top of your list as leadership issues you are dealing with on a regular basis. Building a small business is one of the most rewarding, but risky ventures one could possibly venture into. Most papers on small business deal primarily with financing and risk management, which are only symptoms of the real issues. Your bank account is just the scorecard of how well you have developed your leadership skills relative to accomplishing the “right things.”

This paper will help you avoid many of the costly pitfalls of operating a small business, assuming you heed the advice. Avoiding these pitfalls will in turn help you to conserve cash, develop market share, increase sales, improve customer loyalty, increase employee retention and build efficiencies into your operation.

The “seven deadly sins” include 1) Poor or non-existent business planning; 2) Lack of a strategic objective; 3) Lack of marketing strategies and tactics; 4) Management in the place of leadership; 5) Poor or non-existent systems; 6) Failure to utilize an appropriate leadership style; 7) Care and feeding of sacred cows. Business owners and executives who do not understand them, do not have experience with them and therefore do not appreciate their impact and significance often ignore these critical leadership issues.

Thirty-five years of building and operating small businesses has taught me that most small business problems are not money problems at all, and in fact money is just an indicator that much deeper issues are at play. Beware; the market is a wicked taskmaster, these “seven deadly sins” are like small doses of poison injected into your operation by the very marketplace you are trying to conquer, and they provide a slow painful death to the naive.

Here are the “seven deadly sins” in order of priority.

1) Poor Business Planning

Most small businesses do not have even a summary business plan, and of those that do, many are cookie cutter business plans built with the help of a piece of software. At a minimum a business plan should have an executive summary; a company overview with company history and it’s current status; the companies strategic objective; a description of the companies products and services; a list of the companies intellectual properties including patents, copyrights, trademarks, processes and know-how; a market analysis; a competitive analysis, which includes competitors and their market position, and their strengths and weaknesses; a marketing plan, which includes your marketing strategy, product strategy, sales strategy, and pricing strategy; your customer service plan; sales projections by product, in units, for at least three years; and finally a set of financials which include projected income and balance sheets with a Performa sales forecast.

Here are some other important suggestions and facts related to business planning:

• Less than a third of small business startups have a business plan

• A business plan does not have to be incredibly detailed for operational purposes

• It should be a work in progress updated on a periodic basis

• Particular attention should be paid to the marketing plan

• A business plan is part of the first fifteen percent of the business development process which will assure the last eight-five percent will go smoothly

• The executive summary should be written last, after the rest of the plan is in view.

2) Lack of Strategic Objectives

A business strategy is made up of carefully crafted words making up templates, which in turn act as filters through which all planning, tactics and decisions are passed through before implementation. A strategic objective is therefore, a business strategy developed to guide an organization in meeting business objectives. A strategic objective is developed from the owner’s vision, passion, core competencies and values for the business. Contact Emerald Business Services or go to our website for a worksheet you can use to develop these critical business development tools.

3) Lack of Marketing Strategies and Tactics

Marketing strategies govern the development of tactics, which in turn provide the actions items contained within your planning process. The most important aspect of your marketing plan is the development of promotion strategies and tactics, which feed your promotion planning and provide you with sales forecasting data. The promotion plan should also detail costs and anticipated unit volume so you can set priorities and provide sales forecasting data.

4) Management in the Place of Leadership

So why is leadership so important in growing a business? Because leadership is about doing the right things, management is about doing things right . In many ways, it is leadership that will grow your business from a sales and a stability perspective, and management that will make, or keep it profitable. Also, consider that the best companies focus ninety percent of their attention on external issues, not internally , leadership is primarily a focus on the external issues.

5) Poor or non-existent Systems

Most people think of computer systems when they hear the word “system.” But in the since it is used here it means all systems, including the system you use for selecting the right employee, for decision making within a department and so on. One of the more telling statistics in this area is the fact that ninety-four percent of all task or project failures are system failures2. Some of the more common reasons for system failure include:

• Islands of automation verses integrated systems

• Absent or non-existent policies, procedures and user manuals

• Poor training.

6) Lack of Development of Leadership Style

Developing leadership ability has a lot to do with understanding the type of leadership required at different stages of your company’s development. There are at least six different leadership styles identified to be effective at different stages of a company’s development including; Visionary; Coaching; Affiliative; Democratic; Pacesetting; and Commanding . Understanding which leadership style to employ has been found to significantly increase the effectiveness, growth and heath of the companies in which leaders utilized multiple styles. Just as important is the understanding of what a leaders personal profile is. Armed with these vital bits of information a leader is equipped to pursue the right leadership style for the task at hand.

7) Care and Feeding of Sacred Cows

I do not have a statistic on the amount of money, time and energy expended on the sacred cows lurking in American businesses, but it has to be staggering. This list details some of the types of sacred cows you can look for in your business.

• The way we have always done it

• The product or service you keep pouring money into because you just know it will take off and be your future, (these are almost never accompanied by market research or even a promotional plan)

• Resistance to growth through change

• Idleness within the ranks, some experts believe ten percent of the poorest performing people should be let go each year to make room for people with fresh insights and ideas

• The company airplane, automobiles, and other perks, which drain company recourses

• The dead weight relatives and friends of the family who would be better off elsewhere, act as distractions, and add nothing to your bottom line

• The “expert” that no one can live with, who holds a noose around the companies neck in the form of some expertise or an unwritten code of loyalty.

You could call this business “101,” however, most of the issues developed in this paper are rarely taught in schools, much less heeded. These “seven deadly sins” can impede your company’s ability to successfully navigate through the turbulent waters of business development. If you do not understand all the issues summarized in this paper, do the research; find a business advisor to help you navigate these storms , you owe it to yourself, your business and the people who count on you.

Conquering the devil in the details is what management is about, concurring the “seven deadly sins of small business” is what leadership is all about. The beauty of developing top-level leadership skills is that there is no downside, only opportunity for growth in both your business and your personal development. Leadership is what the entrepreneurial spirit is all about.

Develop your business plan, establish strategic objectives, establish marketing strategies and tactics, lead, build effective systems, utilize more than one leadership style and kill the sacred cows in your business, it might be the only thing that keeps you and your company from becoming another dreadful statistic.

--------------------------

1. Inc.com article “Most Entrepreneurs Start with . . . No Business Plan”
2. Demming
3. Peter Drucker
4. Allan Weiss
5. Goleman
6. Keeping everything the same and expecting things to change is at least one definition of insanity
7. Call us at (619)985-0799 for a free consultation

About The Author

Michael Adams
Ideas and Strategies for Business
Emerald Business Services, LLC
P.O. Box 1875
Ramona
California
92065
(619)985-0799
United States

website: http://www.emerald-business-services.com

The Big Book of Small Business: You Don't Have to Run Your Business by the Seat of Your Pants

Absolutely a fabulous book and highly recommended. Anyone who has ever run a business or plans to in the future will find this book a great asset. Tom Gegax delivers another winner.
The Big Book of small Business is very amazing book, most of the reviewer gave five stars. So are you still doubt? If you are small business owner you won't regret to buy this book.

Editorial Reviews

Miami Herald
Loaded with insights and strategies . . . dealing with real-world situations and solutions that most small firms face.

Business Lexington
A wealth of information to be read and digested, then kept within arm's reach for further reference down the road.

See all Editorial Reviews

Small Business Marketing Tip: Conduct A Marketing Crusade

by: George Dodge

Let me ask you a question. The answer is to the question is critical to your business success.

Do you fully understand the real nature of the business you are in?

Your instant response is of course, I'm in the [put your industry name here] business. For example, you probably said, of course, I'm in the real estate business, or the plumbing business, or the printing business, etc.

But that is only partly correct if you are the owner of the business. As the business owner, the real nature of your business is marketing the business you are in.

You may have the greatest service or the best product in the world, but if no one knows about it, you will soon be out of business.

One method of increasing the exposure of your business to your potential customers, is to conduct a marketing crusade.

You can compare this marketing approach to a missionary’s work or the launching of a crusade because only the fervor and the determination of a missionary or crusader will assure your marketing success.

Missionaries are driven by more than just their desire to sell someone on buying their product or service. Rather, a missionary’s goal is to convert the world to their way of thinking, their mission and their crusade. Only through such a conversion process can you expect to receive not just a customer, but customers for life.

When your business launches a marketing mission, it takes a different approach than traditional marketing.

Traditional approaches are taken and set aside in favor of our missionary or crusader’s goal. In a traditional marketing effort, the real motivation for most marketing activity is just to make money. That’s nice to do, but that’s not all we need.

Every marketing effort, at this point, is tied directly back to its contribution to money coming in.

Now, as a missionary, your business goal becomes an effort to win your customer’s lifetime business and loyalty. If your business’ marketing activity is successful in changing the way your customers think about your business or products or services in such a way that the customer sees you as a vehicle to accomplish their goal and growth, then your goals and your growth will be a natural result.

As your business manages its sales growth properly, increased profit is going to follow. Immediate profits are nowhere near as important as long-term profits. To insure that you’re going to continue to profit for the long-term, your real objective is to convert your prospect into a customer who shares your vision of what you’re trying to accomplish and is a true believer.

Vision is a problem with the normal sales approach. There is no vision other than the short-term, which is to make the immediate sale. There is little or no real focus on back-end selling and the life time value of a customer, which we’ll talk more about later on.

What is your vision?

Is your business focused on an area of interest to your customers, prospects or clients?

Are you driven fervently by the need to help them or yourself?

Why should others patronize your business rather than any other business? Or not do anything at all?

What can you do that will not only cause your customers to return again and again, but cause them to tell others to buy your products and services as well?

Can you take that vision and incorporate it with a main sales and marketing thrust, advantage or Unique Selling Proposition and use that for an advantage over your competitors?

A good marketing crusade will integrate all this together and soon have customers coming to you as a result of what Dan Kennedy calls a Magnetic Marketing System. If you were Jiffy Lube, you might call it a well oiled marketing machine.

About The Author

George Dodge is host of Dan Kennedy's Magnetic Marketing System at http://www.Magnetic-Marketing-System.com where you can discover more than one great idea for small business and get a Free Dan Kennedy Audio CD.

JK Lasser's Small Business Taxes 2007: Your Complete Guide to a Better Bottom Line (J K Lasser's New Rules for Small Business Taxes) (Paperback)

Barbara Weltman's "Small Business Taxes 2007," is the best guide for charting your way through the record keeping, profit and loss statements, tax credits, deductions, depreciation & amortization, and cost of goods sold around for the person who files a Schedule C form with their 1040 IRS tax form.



Book Description
J.K. Lasser’s Small Business Taxes 2007 gives you a complete overview of small business tax planning in an accessible manner. Focusing on strategies that help you use deductions and tax credits effectively, shield business income, and maximize other aspects of small business taxes, this valuable guide will show you how your actions in business today can affect your bottom line from a tax perspective tomorrow.

About the Author
BARBARA WELTMAN is an attorney and a nationally recognized expert in taxation for small businesses, as well as the author of several top-selling books on taxes and finance. She is also an experienced writer and has been featured in many media outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Inc.com, Bloomberg TV, CNN, and CNBC. Sign up for her free e-newsletter at www.barbaraweltman.com.

Small Business Ideas & Goals

by: Ove Nordkvist

When you're setting goals for your small business ideas, you really create your future in advance. You write down your goals, and mentally prepare yourself to do what ever it takes to realize them.

The first step is to define your goal. You have to get clarity of :

Exactly what you want

When you want it

Why you want it

Now, there you have your goal. And it's very important that you make it detailed and specified.If you're not absolutely clear about what your goal is, you can't commit to it.

It will not be enough to keep your small business goal in your head. You have to write it down, try to make a picture with words, the more vivid your goal is the more effective it will be.

When you create your goal, you have to be realistic. Is it possible to make it work and come true? You must really believe that you can reach it. You must have faith in your goal. If you think or believe that you can't realize your small business ideas, that will be self fulfilling.

You must have faith in yourself. You must have faith in your goals. You must know deep inside that you can accomplish your small business ideas and your goals.

You need to determine what your goals are gonna cost you, what are your goals worth? How important are your goals? Do you want, do you need or would it be nice achieve them?

To be able to reach your goals you must make them a burning desire. You need to feel that you must achieve your small business goals. No matter what, you have to get your goals.

If you can create that state of mind, your subconscious mind will help you to make your goals a reality. It will give you ideas and show you the actions you have to take.

Divide your long term goal into several short term goals. That will help you to gain motivation as you achieve your short term goals one by one. You will build momentum with each accomplished goal.

Anytime you do reach your short term goals, you need to reward yourself. This will build your self esteem and you will start picture yourself as a person who can achieve any goal.

Write down you goals as specified as possible

Determine what you have to do to accomplish them

Develop a strong believe in yourself and your goals

Take action, step by step

Realize your small business ideas, and get your burning desires.

About The Author

Ove Nordkvist has created the web site http://www.small-biz-ideas.net which is an invaluable resource for small business start up. There are lots of free tools and e-books downloadable. Visit http://www.small-biz-ideas.net/small-business-ideas-goals.html to learn more about small business ideas, goals and motivation.

Small Business Taxes Made Easy: How to Increase Your Deductions, Reduce What You Owe, and Boost Your Profits

The ultimate tax expert shows small business owners how to keep more of what you earn

For millions of self-employed Americans, Eva Rosenberg is the go-to person for tax advice. Now, from the woman behind the wildly popular TaxMama.com--named one of the top seven tax advice websites by Inc. magazine--comes the ultimate guide to navigating the tax maze. Small Business Taxes Made Easy walks you through every stage of the process, showing you how to reduce your tax losses at every step. You'll learn:

* How to set up a business plan that helps minimize taxes
* The tax benefits of various forms of financing
* How to spot errors in 1099s and what to do about them
* Record-keeping techniques that legally increase deductible expenses





From the Back Cover

"Eva Rosenberg knows her real estate. Her analysis of the home-office deduction ought to inspire owners of home-based businesses to take full advantage of the tax break and put their minds at ease about IRS scrutiny."
--Steve Kerch, personal finance and real estate editor, CBS MarketWatch

"Eva Rosenberg counsels new entrepreneurs that they'll need a business plan if they want to succeed. Reading Small Business Taxes Made Easy should be the first step in that plan."
--Kay Bell, tax editor, Bankrate.com

"This is a must-have book for every small business person and anyone wanting to start their own small business. If I'd had this book when I started my business I'd have been able to spend more time growing it because I'd have spent less time working it."
--Dennis Gaskill, BoogieJack.com

You opened your business to get more control of your life. Start by getting more control of your taxes. Small Business Taxes Made Easy gives you the tools and techniques you need to trim thousands of dollars from your tax bill--today, tomorrow, and over the life of your business.

Let Small Business Taxes Made Easy show you how to:

• Establish and follow no-nonsense tax-saving practices from day one
• Know exactly what you can deduct--and what you cannot
• Learn retirement tips for self-employed people that even the IRS found surprising--but legal

See all Editorial Reviews

Small Business Investor - Small Check, Big Headache

by: Wil Schroter

Small Business Investor - Small Check, Big Headache

I don’t know if there is some sort of mathematical equation you can put to this, but it would certainly appear that the smaller the investor’s check, the bigger the headache they become to an entrepreneur.

You might think the opposite would be true, that smaller investors would only expect to play a minor role in the business while the larger investors would make all of the important calls. What you’ll find in practice, though, is that raising and managing small chunks of capital from small investors is incredibly laborious while the more manageable investments come from much larger investors.

Less Money = More Time

Smaller business investors seem to have disproportionately more time to invest than they have money. These are the guys who are putting $5,000 into your company and think they’re Gordon Gekko, trying to run the company like some big time investor. All this extra time that they have to manage these investments actually sucks the life out of your deal because you have to constantly manage their expectations to the nth degree of detail.

Certainly getting help from a small business investor to grow your business is a nice thing, but not if it involves being micro-managed to death over every decision. A good small business investor will understand that their role is to invest in the company, not run the company. You want their invested capital working for your business, not another pseudo manager to contend with.

Small Checks Take Longer

Raising smaller amounts of capital doesn’t translate into reducing the time it takes to get a check. In fact, sometimes the smaller amounts take more time because the people writing those checks really can’t afford to invest (read: gamble) that money to begin with.

They need to be certain of every last aspect of the deal to the point where they over-analyze the deal completely. Before you know it, you’re jumping through all of these hoops over a few thousand dollars. It’s a huge waste of time.

Even if you do manage to land these small business investors, you can be certain he’s going to be on the phone with you every 15 minutes trying to get a status update on his investment. He’s got the time, and the investment is incredibly meaningful to his overall personal wealth. You’ve become his living, breathing stock ticker that he constantly wants to see updated.

Big Kids Run Faster

Believe it or not, it actually takes just as long to raise larger amounts of capital as it does smaller amounts. That’s because the larger investors (the big kids) tend to have less time to spend on any one deal. They have lots of deals to choose from, so they have to get to the point quickly and make a decision quickly.

For an entrepreneur raising capital, this is the best thing in the world. Ideally you want as much flexibility with the capital that you raise as you can muster. You want an investor who pays attention to the important points of your growth, like monthly earnings, not daily expenses. That’s what you’re there for!

That’s why a bigger investor is usually a much better option when raising capital. They can make decisions about the investment faster, they can fill up your investment requirements faster, and they can leave you the heck alone so that you can grow the company a lot faster.

Too many cooks in the kitchen

With fewer small business investors you also overcome the problem of “too many cooks in the kitchen”. Startup companies need to make lots of decisions very quickly and decisively. The company runs a lot better as a dictatorship than a democracy. The more votes you create by adding more investors the longer the process becomes to make a decision.

You can overcome this problem by giving certain small business investors “voting rights” and giving other small business investors the right to keep quiet, but don’t kid yourself – you’re going to hear from the guys who don’t have voting rights whether you like it or not. So the best antidote is to simply have less people at the decision table.

Less is More

As you’re thinking about raising your next round of capital, don’t think in terms of lots of small business investors with a little capital – think in terms of one (or two) investors with a whole lot of capital. You don’t score any additional points for racking up the greatest number of investors. If there are any points to be scored, it’s from getting as few investors as possible in order to get your requirements fulfilled.

When growing a new business, every moment of your time has an incredible amount of value. The more time you spend placating overzealous small business investors, the less time you spend doing what you all came there to do in the first place – growing the company!

Wil Schroter’s latest book “Go BIG or Go HOME – How the next generation of startup companies think BIG, grow FAST, and dominate markets overnight” is available at www.WilSchroter.com

About The Author

Wil Schroter is the Founder and CEO of the Go BIG Network, the largest network of startup companies and entrepreneurs. He is also the author of the new book “Go BIG or Go HOME”, download it for FREE at http://www.GoBIGnetwork.com.

Find a great small business investor at: http://www.GoBIGnetwork.com.

Entrepreneurial Small Business with Online Learning Center PowerWeb Card (Hardcover)

Get free two-day shipping on this item when you spend $200.00 or more on Qualifying Textbooks offered by Amazon.com. Prime members will also receive a $20 promotional certificate to be used for a future purchase. Need a promo code? Enter code TBFALLO7 at checkout. Here's how (restrictions apply)



Book Description
Entrepreneurial Small Business has one clear advantage: it’s the book about the types of businesses your students might actually start, not about becoming the next Michael Dell. Entrepreneurial Small Business accomplishes this goal by focusing on the practical applications and "how to" skills that have immediate relevance for students. Traditional beliefs and models in small business are discussed, as well as the latest findings and best practices from academic and consulting arenas. Each chapter includes Skill Modules, chapter-opening scenarios highlighting real small businesses, weblinks for enhancing student research, and extensive end-of-chapter material aimed at helping students put principles into practice. In addition, several unique chapters include "Paths to Part-Time Entrepreneurship" and "Cash: Lifeblood of the Business," which provide students with a clear vision of small business as it really is today.

Marketing Research Before Putting Up A Small Business

by: Mario Churchill

Whether you are starting or planning to put up a small business, it is important that you have the latest market information. It will provide you significant data that are helpful in solving marketing problems. If ever your business encountered such difficulties, you can easily take immediate action about it.

A thorough market research will serve as your business foundation for achieving success. In fact, there are two strategies that are effective when doing market surveys. One is the market segmentation which helps you identify specific segments in the market. Another is the product differentiation which helps you create the identity of your own products and services which make it unique from other competitors.

There are different methods that you can use for doing market research. It includes experimental, historical, survey, or observational method. Regardless of the methods used, you will still be gathering two types of important data.

The first is the "primary" data which you can obtain alone or let someone gather it for you. There are two types of gathered information here.

1.Exploratory research will help you in defining specific problems. It usually involves detailed and unstructured interviews wherein lengthy answers are provided by a limited number of respondents.

2.Specific research has a broader scope yet expensive. However, this helps in solving the problem that was identified through exploratory research. The interviews are formal and structured.

When doing primary research, there are three basic avenues you can apply.

-Using direct mails. The tactics include brief and direct questions, direct addressee of the respondents, limited pages of questionnaires, attached professional cover letter explaining the survey, and enclosed reminder to respond. The drawback can be lower mail responses from the respondents.

-Phone surveys. This is more cost-effective compared to direct mails in terms of response rates. Phone interviews also allow a wider geographical range. It is also relatively inexpensive by using the cheaper rates at specified hours. The tactics include direct respondents confirmation upon contacts, constant flow of conversation, follow-up calls, and direct relay of information.

-Personal interviews. It can either be a group survey or a depth interview. Group survey is mostly used by big businesses as a brainstorming tool to obtain information on new products and product modifications. Depth interviews are done with a ready made checklist.

The "secondary" data are those that are already organized and compiled for your own good. Examples include studies and reports done by trade associations, government agencies, and other business industries. You can take advantage of this useful information. This is categorized into three different areas.

-Public sources such as public libraries, business departments, and governmental departments. This is the most cost-effective way of finding information. It can be sometimes provided as free with lots of better information to offer.

-Commercial sources such as trade and research associations, financial institutions, corporations being traded publicly, and banks. This can be costly since association fees and subscription fees are involved. However, it will cost less if you hired a team to research and collect the information for you.

-Educational sources. This source of information is sometimes overlooked. However, more research is conducted in polytechnic institutes, colleges, and universities compared to a business sector in the community.

The steps to success always start on the basics. Just choose the best market research technique that will meet your business needs.

About The Author

Mario Churchill is a freelance author and has written over 200 articles on various subjects. For more information checkout http://www.ideacenter.com and http://my-updates.info.

Effective Small Business Management (Cram101 Textbook Outlines - Textbook NOT Included) (Paperback)

Editorial Reviews

Book Description
Never HIGHLIGHT a Book Again! Virtually all testable terms, concepts, persons, places, and events are included.look no further for study resources or reference material. Cram101 Textbook Outlines gives all of the outlines, highlights, notes, and practice-tests for your textbook. Only Cram101 is Textbook Specific. Cram101 is NOT the Textbook.

The publisher, Prentice Hall Business Publishing
This text offers practical, hands-on advice for all areas of concern to the small business student -- e.g., business plans, financing, location and layout, marketing, advertising and promotion, purchasing, inventory, crime, computers, human resource management, business law and government regulation. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Small Business Success Secret

by: Wayne Van Dyck

The real secret to small business success has doesn’t have to do with technology tools, the internet, or anything like that. In fact, it’s not even a real secret. It’s been around since man started to verbalize communiqué. The secret is WORDS!

Words carry enormous power. They can make you laugh hysterically, or destroy the strongest relationship. Words can be more powerful than any other tool at your disposal.

T effective use of words, especially in business, translates into skyrocketing sales, satisfied clients, happy employees, and a profitable and secure future. Yet, less than 1% of small entrepreneur businesses use words to their full potential.

The power of words can be learned and used effectively by anyone, and when you harness and unleash this power, there’s nothing on this earth that can stop you. This art of using words is what is called copy writing. It makes or breaks your sales and advertising material. A true word smith can forge the most potent of copy for their site.

One of the ways an “amateur” copywriter, one who is writing for her own product or business, can beat the experienced pro is by infusing the sales letter or ad with her own, honest, genuine, and unmitigated enthusiasm. When selling in online, enthusiasm is just as important as in face-to-face selling.

This is why you can’t just sit down and write an ad “on command”, like you can sit down and do bookkeeping. You have to muster up some enthusiasm for the job and the proposition you’re putting across.

If I’m going to write an ad or some other sales material the first thing in the morning, as I often do, I try to set my subconscious mind to work on that job before I go to bed the night before. There are times when I wake up with the “big idea” that I need and other times I wake up with some ideas and a readiness to write them down and pick and choose which ones I want to use.

Don’t force yourself to “grind out” direct-response copy when you really don’t feel like it because the result will be flat and mechanical. It may be technically correct with a headline, subheads, bullet points, an offer, etc., but it will lack spirit and enthusiasm.

The person who is genuinely enthusiastic about what she is selling definitely has an advantage. That’s why the freelance professional copywriter should always download as much of the pitch from the product’s most enthusiastic salesperson as possible. Then transfer it to paper and shape and mold it to perfection.

Over the years, the work I’ve done for clients and ad agencies has proven that the most successful work was for clients that were passionate and enthusiastic about what they were selling. So before you tackle that next ad for your business, make sure you’re as enthusiastic about it as you want your clients to be.

About The Author

Wayne Van Dyck is a former venture capitalist and builder of offline technology companies. He is the founder and developer of Simple Money Machines. Simple Money Machines is all the money making technologies in one, easy-to-use, hosted application… enabling non-technical people to set up online businesses in less than 30 minutes. It's made for people with 9-5 jobs, retired folks, stay-at-home moms and college students. To get a FREE copy of “STARTING A HOME BUSINESS MADE SIMPLE", go to: http://tinyurl.com/ykyoqx.

Permission to reprint this article in unchanged form, including author bio.

Essentials of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management (5th Edition) (Paperback)

Get free two-day shipping on this item when you spend $200.00 or more on Qualifying Textbooks offered by Amazon.com. Prime members will also receive a $20 promotional certificate to be used for a future purchase. Need a promo code? Enter code TBFALLO7 at checkout. Here's how (restrictions apply)



Editorial Reviews
Book Description
This fifth edition of the popular book introduces you to the processes of new venture creation and the critical knowledge needed to manage your business once it is formed. With the help of this book, readers can follow their dreams of becoming successful entrepreneurs. Topics include: the challenges of entrepreneurship, building a business plan, marketing considerations, e-commerce and the entrepreneur, advertising and pricing for profit, financial considerations and managing cash flow, building a competitive edge, and debt/equity and site and location considerations. For any person interested in owning, operating, and managing a small business. Also a handy reference for entrepreneurs and managers of small businesses.

From the Back Cover
A streamlined version of the authors' best-selling EFFECTIVE SMALL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT 5/E, this 15- chapter self-contained book offers complete coverage of the essential topics in small business management and entrepreneurship. The book offers an abundance of real-world examples, and practical hands-on exercises and activities. It also provides a no-nonsense real-world approach that follows the logical process and critical issues of creating, launching, and managing a successful small business. For anyone interested in Small Business Management and Entrepreneurship. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Internet Merchant Certifications For Small And Home Based Businesses

by: Christian Nilsson

How do you distinguish your website from all the other ones out there? And how do you get your customers to believe that you operate a serious business where they can feel comfortable shopping? Well the standard is increasingly turning to various forms of merchant certifications and seals of approvals for websites. But which one is right for you?

There are plenty of organizations out there that offer all kinds of certifications. Most of them are however very expensive or they only certify security of transactions or verify actual incorporation. In other words for most home based or new businesses there are not a lot of certification options out there. There are some exceptions of services though that focuses on giving a Seal of Approval to websites based on a good service history and other qualifications geared to the small and home based internet business rather than the large corporation.

An example of this type of certification is IBCIM.ORG, The International Bureau of Certified Internet Merchants. They operate the Merchant Certified Seal of Approval program where internet businesses from any country or industry can obtain a Seal of Approval to display on their website. The Seal is linked to an Instant Verification Page where the website’s customers can instantly go and verify membership and the certification status of the business. A seal such as this one is a powerful tool to enable businesses to compete online.

The bottom line for small businesses is to find way to stand out from the crowd and initiate that first sale which is precious when you are starting out. And the only way to do that is to make sure that your visitor is comfortable shopping on our site. In other words they have to trust you.
To learn more about an internet merchant certification visit http://www.ibcim.org.

About The Author

Christian Nilsson is an author on small and home based internet promotions and advertising articles aiming to teach and educate new internet startups on how to succeed on the internet. http://www.ibcim.org

Legal Guide for Starting & Running a Small Business (Paperback)

This book contain of the tutorial about how to run your small business with any aspect of legal procedure and many thing you should know in small business start up.

Editorial Reviews

Success Magazine
"Most entrepreneurs can’t afford to call their lawyer every time a legal question comes up. TheLegalGuideforStarting&RunningaSmallBusiness is a cost-effective solution."

Business Life Magazine
"…a nuts and bolts legal guidebook that answers questions that continually come up in running a small business."

See all Editorial Reviews

Choosing Small Business Website Names

by: Jim Degerstrom

I disagree with the comment made by some web developers that all the good domain names are taken. Search engine optimization, or seo, does not depend heavily on the www name you select. For my clients just starting out the decision choosing small business website names has never been an issue. It is a fact that all the 3 character and 4 character domain names with the key extensions are taken. Furthermore, I agree that a vast number of choice domain names are no longer available; however, the selection of a suitable www domain for your small business is possible if you remain flexible.

The real value in the name you choose from a search perspective is how easy it is to spell and remember. Of the two types of visitors to your site, the human visitors and search engines, the ability of a person to remember your domain name and spell it correctly to pass it on to others outweighs any SEO value. Search engines are robots and don't care.

Using words like "greatest", "best", or other exaggerated terms in your domain name is thought by some to be a disadvantage and penalized by search engines. Search algorithms change often and likewise that theory, and although you may not be penalized for using such words, consider the reaction of your human visitors. They may not stick around if they feel you boast without the content to back it up. For a serious small business commercial enterprise, my advice is avoiding adjectives in the domain name entirely.

In some cases new clients approach me to redesign an existing website, and it surprises me that some of the basics are overlooked. For example, a commercial enterprise in business for profit should not select a dot ORG domain simply because the dot COM was taken. This was the case from a conversation with a client interested in a site makeover. Their ORG version was online for two years with little or no backlinks or serious indexing from search engines. The mindset of getting one particular name should be reconsidered especially if it's your first online venture.

Here's a breakdown of the most desirable domain extensions and the usual purpose of each:

COM - Commercial for profit enterprise
INFO - Information only related website
NET - Companies providing internet services
ORG - Non-profit organizations

Certainly there are many more like BIZ, US, WS, and others which are all reasonable choices, but for your commercial small business my recommendation is always acquire a dot COM www domain name. The client mentioned earlier did not realize a dot ORG was intended for a non-commercial enterprise, and they decided the poor website SEO performance was something that justified getting a new dot COM. We easily found an available www domain using their company initials and one key word about their target market which is medical. Despite my advice that they keep the existing site and simply change the theme, they decided to just let it go when it expired.

My commercial site choice was my first and last name, and very unique at that. Using your name is okay, and expected if you're famous. There is, however, little or no value as far as keywords in my www domain to attract visitors, so is that a mistake for search engine optimization? Certainly not. The fact that I have collected more than 100 screenshots of generic phrases relative to my business that made Google page one is evidence the content, not the domain, is key.

Here's some advice to help you when choosing a new dot COM small business website domain name.

Start out with a list of about 10 domain names that you would like to have. Next, make a list of market related single word terms about what you do and the customer base you service. If your market is localized, consider geographical terms that relate to where you sell or provide services. Spend 30 minutes brainstorming to come up with the initial names and additional lists of single word terms. You may want another list of significant initials.

Next, search for "WhoIs" in Google to find free online services that keep a database of available domain names, and follow the link in the search results. Each database has a search box which allows you to input the domain name and extension. Begin with your first choice and work down the list and keep track of available names for review later. It may not be easy, so try combinations of the key terms as you continue to search, and keep in mind you want a domain name that is easy to spell and remember. By the time you're done you should have a half dozen or more available names, so take your time and select the best one, and then register the name immediately.

Tip: The domain name may not be significant for search engine optimization, but the length of your registration can be. My advice is registering domains for 2 years minimum, and 5 to 10 years if that's in your budget. Search engines consider that the length of your registration reflects your commitment to be online long term, so at today's prices 5 years is practical and should cost less than $50 USD.

There's nothing wrong with getting the dot COM domain name you want, and then registering the other major extensions that are available for the same name. If you are highly successful in your online venture, having the other extensions registered in your name prevents others from attempting to take advantage of your reputation by association. In conclusion, the concept that all the good domain names are taken is a myth. You may not get exactly what you want, but practical options are available with a little research and due diligence.

About The Author

Jim Degerstrom writes small business advice based on 30 years in management, sales, and marketing, including GM or President of small companies in 5 states. He is proficient in website and graphic art design, and runs his online Small Business Resource Center http://www.jimdegerstrom.com and offers advice on his Small Business Advice Blog http://www.jimdegerstrom.com/blog from Kissimmee, Florida USA.

Big Business Marketing For Small Business Budgets (Paperback)

Business that adhere to the old school of marketing, which involves pushing goods and services toward the masses and waiting for consumers to take them or leave them, are most often the same businesses that struggle to remain competitive. Read the first page

Editorial Reviews

Download Description
Big Business Marketing for Small Business Budgets shows small business owners how to make the most of their limited marketing dollars by capturing the lifetime loyalty of their most valuable customers.

From the Back Cover

Techniques smaller businesses can use to stretch their marketing dollars--and keep customers loyal for a lifetime

Traditionally, the competitive ace -in -the hole for smaller businesses has been their ability to provide more personalized service than their larger, arm's-length competitors. However, CRM initiatives and Web-based technologies now allow global businesses to appear and behave much "smaller" than in the past, leaving local businesses scrambling to uncover new areas of differentiation and competitive advantage.

Big Business Marketing for Small Business Budgets shows small business owners how to make the most of their limited marketing dollars by capturing the lifetime loyalty of their most valuable customers. This hands-on, how-to-do-it book features tricks and techniques of global marketers from Amazon.com to American Express that operations of all sizes can use to quickly and inexpensively:

• Develop precise, personalized marketing programs
• Incorporate the Internet with existing marketing activities
• Collect and utilize valuable customer preference data for marketing "individually" to customers

In today's price-driven, "What's in it for me?" marketplace, developing and sustaining long-term customer relationships has become increasingly difficult for smaller businesses--but not impossible. Let Big Business Marketing for Small Business Budgets show you how to compete with your largest competitors--and adopt and adapt their well-researched tips and techniques to gain lifetime customers.

See all Editorial Reviews

Management of Paper-Based Invoices and Bill in small Business Companies?

by: Mani Malarvannan

Both big or small business must always deal with accounts processing to handle their invoices and bill payments. As this processes deals with cash flow of the company it must be managed properly with full concentration. In this millennium there are modern equipments like online bill payment, electronic invoicing, and P-card are available that remove the paper based processing from the accounting department. But the fact is these technologies may reduce the paper documents but cannot remove it. According to Aberdeen Group research report research report 80% of invoices come in paper format which increases as the company goes smaller and smaller

Utility of Account Data capture Software

Several companies like Kofax , ReadSoft , AnyDoc and Abbyy manufactures data capture solutions specifically developed to convert all the paper based documents into data to sent to the accounting or ERP systems. Large corporations have seen its utility which has increased efficiency of their accounting departments and achieved significant productivity gain in processing their accounts payable and accounts receivable data. Small business cannot afford the cost of the software. Most of the small companies use software just to scan their paper based accounting documents and manually enter the accounting data into their accounting or ERP system.

Reason for not using Account Data capture software

Beside the cost of the sophisticated software other utilities are


* 1. Licensing Fee for the software (User based or CPU based access)
* 2. Hardware upgrade to install the software
* 3. Training for your employees
* 4. Software support and maintenance

Thus it becomes unbearable for small company to buy this software. Moreover your accounting or ERP system must have a compatible interface with the software otherwise it may not run. Sometimes the software couldn't identify the scanned hand made documents for which sometimes your have to work manually. Software vendors embraced OCR and ICR technologies into their product to capture the account data accurately from the scanned images, they're still long way to go to remove the manual process. So still a long way to go to remove manual work.

Thus big companies using an account data capture solution can affordable it and they can justify the cost of managing it. But for small companies it is not an affordable solution and their in-house manual process is not cost-effective and efficient.

So what is the way ouy from here?

Outsourcing to different offshore vendors help a lot to get account processing documents converted to your account or ERP systemThey can use their existing infrastructure to send the data to offshore location securely through Internet to be processed by the offshore vendor. For more details on how the process works read Cybelink Secure BPO They don’t have to change their unique way of management of accounts department

Only change is instead of small business personnel offshore vendor is responsible for converting all the account data from the scanned images to the accounting software or ERP system.

After receiving the scanned images, following are the typical tasks performed by the offshore vendor.

* 1. Use automated and manual process to extract all the data like invoice number, invoice date, and check number from the images.
* 2. Hardware upgrade to install the software
* 3. Enter extracted data to small business accounts software
* 4. Perform other accounting operations like Invoice preparing, Bill payment, and Check Printing in the small business account software.
* 5. Export the work from the accounting software to a file.
* 6. Send the file to the small business to import it into their accounting software for verification.

Once they receive the finished files from the offshore vendor, they can import it into their accounting or ERP systems for verification and further processing it.

Small businesses can achieve several benefits from using offshoring accounts payable and accounts receivable services; cost of processing their paper documents will decrease by 50% to 60%. The cost saving does not come free, small businesses needs to overcome issues like offshore security and offshore outsourcing cultural issues. But by carefully managing their offshore vendors small businesses can gain the cost reduction and operational efficiency in their accounts payable and account receivable operations.

About The Author

Mani Malarvannan is cofounder of Cybelink, a company specializes in small business financial and accounting outsourcing like Bookkeeping, Tax, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, etc. For more info visit http://www.cybelink.com

Ultimate Small Business Marketing Guide (Paperback)

Do you need small business marketing guide? this book is best seller on the small business guide category, so what are you waiting for? let's check this out.





Editorial Reviews
Book Description

* Includes more than 1,500 marketing tips
* New to this edition: 250 new inspirational ideas for small business owners

About the Author
James Stephenson (Vancouver, BC), a small business, marketing, and sales expert, has started numerous successful small business ventures and is the author of seven highly acclaimed books. He operates Stephenson & Stephenson, a consulting form providing Canadian small business owners with creative, results-based marketing solutions.

Blogging For SEO: How To Get Maximum Search Benefit From Your Small Business Blog

Caroline Melberg

If you have a small business blog, or are thinking of starting one, you should be aware of the ways you can use your blog to drive traffic to your Website. It's simpler than you think.

The first thing to understand about your blog is that each entry is counted as one Web page. Even if you have your blog set to display 10 blog posts on the same page, each of them is counted as a separate Web page by the search engines. That's why it is important to treat each blog entry as an SEO tool. The following tips should be kept in mind for each blog entry in order to optimize them for the search engines and drive more traffic to your Website from your blog:

1. Optimize each blog post around a single keyword
2. Make sure your keyword is in your blog post title, preferably at the beginning
3. Use subheads with or tags that also use your keyword
4. Include 1-3 keyword links (anchor text) in your blog posts
5. Sign every blog post with a signature link that uses your keyword
6. Use bold and italics effectively to emphasize certain keywords and phrases
7. Be sure to ping the directories
8. Include tags for all of your blog entries
9. Use categories effectively
10. Make links appear natural by linking to internal pages of your Website

Because each blog entry is a separate Web page, the search engines will crawl them and index them just as they do your Web pages. Optimize each one heavily around a specific keyword related to your Website and that's an extra doorway into your Website for each page indexed at the search engines. Also, by adding anchor text to a couple of those keywords and pointing those links to relevant internal Web pages of your Website you are improving the SEO effect of your blog entry. A poll of top SEO experts by SEOmoz revealed that a majority of those SEO experts said these type of keyword links are among the top 10 most important SEO factors for ranking Web pages. Don't give up on keywords and anchor text.

You'll also want to include keyword tags with each blog entry. Those tags will be used by the search engines to index your pages appropriately for your keywords. Also, social bookmarkers will find it easier to tag your blog entry if they like it and this makes it easier to share among their social group.

Your blog category should indicate an important element of interest as well. Unlike tags, you should only choose one category for each blog post. Don't use "main" or "uncategorized." Those are too generic. Use a specific keyword-related category as that will make your blog posts more crawlable by the search engines.

There are more than 100 blog directories that you can ping to let them know you have updated your blog. I suggest you do this every time you update your blog. With WordPress, and several other blogging software platforms, you can input each directory into a field and the software will send out an automatic ping each time you update your blog. If you are not using WordPress you should go to Ping-o-Matic and use it to ping your blog for free.

Finally, if you sign your blog posts with a keyword-rich signature that points to a relevant internal page of your Website, this will make your Website more crawlable and give you another anchor text link. Use something like, "Find Out More About Keyword." Then add another link that points to your home page.

The important thing to remember about keywords and links, whether on your blog or your Website, is to make them appear natural. The benefits are enormous.

About The Author

Caroline Melberg is President and CEO of Melberg Marketing. She has over 20 years of experience creating exciting marketing campaigns for some of the most successful companies in the world. She publishes the popular eZine, "Blue Chip Tips: The Secrets of Blue Chip Marketing...Revealed!" Learn more today at http://www.melberg.com.

Valuing Intangible Assets (Hardcover)

Get free two-day shipping on this item when you spend $200.00 or more on Qualifying Textbooks offered by Amazon.com. Prime members will also receive a $20 promotional certificate to be used for a future purchase. Need a promo code? Enter code TBFALLO7 at checkout. Here's how (restrictions apply)

Editorial Reviews

Book Description
When partnerships change hands, the valuation of intangible assets can be a financial maze. This in-depth book, working through each of the basic valuation approaches: cost, market, and income, provides professionals with complete guidelines and industry standards. It's a must-have for financial analysts and attorneys!

Download Description
The one-volume intangible valuation library--from trusted authorities Robert Reilly and Robert Schweihs.

See all Editorial Reviews

Business Directories: The Place To List Your Local Small Business When Looking For Local Customers

by: Caroline Melberg

One of the oldest and most effective ways to market yourself online is through local small business directory listings. Small business Internet marketing requires starting with a listing of your small business in the major general directories then listing them in niche and industry-specific directories appropriate to your small business. It is a time consuming process to list your small business in the right directories, but a necessary one to ensure good rankings for your website.

The most essential directory for your small business to be listed in is DMOZ, also called the Open Directory Project. All the major search engines, and most of the minor ones, rely on DMOZ, located at www.dmoz.org, for information on websites. Google gets information on every website it crawls from DMOZ.

You should also list your small business in Google Local and Yahoo Local. All you need to do to get listed with Google is to go to Google, click on the Local link and find the "add your business link." For Yahoo, go to Yahoo, click on "Directory," then click on "Submit Your Site" at the bottom of the page.

You can find other directories online by using Google or Yahoo. Type in "directory of directories" and you'll get a list of small business directories, both paid and free, listed by state, industry, niche, and other categorizations. I recommend that you list in every directory that applies to your business. Here is a short list of local small business directory opportunities to help you attract local customers for your business:

http://www.dmoz.org
http://dir.yahoo.com
http://www.joeant.com
http://www.jayde.com
http://www.avivadirectory.com
http://www.goguides.com
http://www.botw.org

Some directories, like the Yahoo directory, charge, but it is well worth what you pay to be listed. Once you are included in Yahoo's small business directory, you can bet your website will be indexed in the search engine as well.

There are three primary considerations for your small business when listing in directories online:

The directory's PageRank

The directory's age

Is your small business category available?

PageRank is important for SEO purposes. Internet marketing pros all recommend getting inbound links from websites with high PR. A website with a PR higher than yours will benefit you with valuable inbound links that will give you a boost in the search engines as well. The age of the directory makes it more valuable because you know that if the directory has been around for more than two years then it will likely be around next year. You can get information on PageRank and the age of various directories at http://www.seocompany.ca/directory/web-directories.html.

Don't waste your time trying to get listed in a directory that doesn't offer a category you'll fit into. Be sure to browse the categories at any small business directories you consider before you list your business.

Two great sources for finding web directories for your small business Internet marketing efforts are www.dir-search.com and www.best-web-directories.com. The Best Web Directories website is perhaps the most comprehensive website for finding business directories online. If you want to find local customers through small business directories then I recommend these two resources for finding the best places online that list small business directories for your Internet marketing efforts.

One thing you'll need to keep in mind – all directories are different. Nevertheless, you should write your business directory listing before you submit to any directories. Your local small business directory listing shouldn't be too long, but it should include all the pertinent information: Your business name, your name, address, phone number, website address, e-mail address, and a short description of your business. In your business directory listing, be sure to use the best keyword two or three times to make your small business listing optimized for the search engines.

To find industry-specific or niche directories, go to DMOZ or one of the other general directories and search for your industry by keyword. Then do a keyword search at Google and Yahoo along with the keyword "directory." This should return a good listing of directories for your industry or niche.

One other source for listing your local small business is the local chamber of commerce's website. When you join your local chamber, they should list your website on theirs for free. The traffic you can get from this one source can be well worth joining the local chamber, and almost all of the traffic will be local customers looking for your type of business. The Yellow Pages online and www.merchantcircle.com are two other sources to consider for local small business Internet marketing. More and more people are looking online for small businesses to do business with and relying less on print publications like the Yellow Pages. That's just one more reason to look for local small business directories to be listed in.

About The Author

Caroline Melberg is President and CEO of Melberg Marketing. She has over 20 years of experience creating exciting marketing campaigns for some of the most successful companies in the world. She publishes the popular eZine, "Blue Chip Tips: The Secrets of Blue Chip Marketing...Revealed!" Learn more today at http://www.melberg.com.

The Small Business Start-Up Kit (Paperback)

If you the beginner of small business owners this book is very good to read, full of step by step how to begin a small business to become improved. Check this out.

Editorial Reviews

Real Simple magazine
"Answers important questions, including whether to incorporate and how to price merchandise."

Daniel Kehrer, CEO,BizBest
"Shows how to set up a business in any state, quickly and easily... A big timesaver."

See all Editorial Reviews

Too cold call or not to cold call for your small business

By Brandt C Stohr

I hate cold-calling. In fact, there are a lot of horrible pains I would suffer before cold-calling someone. And I think that many small business owners feel the way I do.

It’s true that there are a number of means of small business marketing – direct mail, personal letters, advertising, networking, public relations, internet marketing – and alas, cold calling is one of them. When it comes to small business marketing – any business activity, really – at some point you just have to buckle down and do what you gotta’ do if you want to succeed. But is cold-calling one of those small business marketing activities that small business owners simply have to suffer through in order to succeed in business?

Some experts say, loudly and with vigor: “Yes!” Others say, “Absolutely not.”

The truth about the value of cold-calling as part of your small business marketing strategy is that it’s somewhere in between, and it depends on your particular business. If, for example, you retail small-dollar items through a catalog and on the Internet, cold-calling your potential customers probably isn’t cost-effective: if each customer might spend $10 with you, spending 20 minutes or more on the phone with that prospect doesn’t make sense. If, on the other hand, you’re a manufacturer of small-dollar items that you sell to retailers who may spend $1,000 or more buying your products in bulk, then picking up the phone and making a call may well be worth your while.

If you decide to make cold-calling a part of your small business marketing strategy, there are a few things you can do to maximize the chances that your cold call will turn into a new client:

Cold-calling small business marketing tip #1: Take initiative. When you ask the potential client at the other end of the line “When would be a good time to meet?” you open the door for them to say “Never!” Instead, ask “How would next Tuesday at 11:00 work for you to meet?”

Cold-calling small business marketing tip #2: Approach the call with the idea that your goal is to help your prospective customer. Resist the urge to make the call about you – what you do, what you want. Instead, make the call about the prospect at the other end of the line. Ask the prospect about his needs and wants. Then suggest that you can help – and if he meets you next Tuesday at 11:00 you’ll tell him how.

Cold-calling small business marketing tip #3: Get to the point. The prospect at the other end of the line is going to feel, right off the bat, that you’re wasting her time. So, by all means, be brief. Be clear and concise. Avoid saying “um.”

Cold-calling small business marketing tip #4: Ask questions. This tip reflects back to small business marketing tip #2, making the call about the prospect, not about you. Asking questions also helps steer you to the right information and will help you tailor your sales pitch – for you to deliver at the appointment.

Cold-calling small business marketing tip #5: Save the sales pitch. Effective cold-calling isn’t about selling your product or service. It’s about getting an appointment so that you can sell your product or service in person.

As with any small business marketing strategy, the best way to figure out if it works is to try it. Make enough cold calls so that you can accurately measure their effectiveness. Then compare that measurement to your other small business marketing tools.

---

About the Author: Brandt Stohr, The Small Business Marketing Genius has brought startup one man operations to billion dollar corporations by using creative marketing techniques rather then investors and capital. Brandt Stohr has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs to get their small businesses exploding with sales without the use of expensive traditional marketing techniques. For more information and a free report on the ten deadly mistakes most small businesses are still making visit Brandt Stohr's site at http://www.smallbusinessmktng.com. For a web version go to http://www.smallbusinessmktng.com/Brandt_Stohr-to_cold_call_or_not.htm