June 2012
31 posts
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How to Make Your Business Card Stand Out
If you’ve ever taken a glance in the fish bowl of business cards each competing for the free latte or sandwich at your local coffee shop or deli, you’ll notice there’s always one or two that seem to stand out among the sea of standard white card stock. So what is it about these cards that make them so effective? Do they have more originality than the rest? Are they easier to read? Are they...
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The Perfect Home Based Business Opportunity:...
Have you scoured the Internet looking for the ideal business opportunity, but never pursue any of them because: (a) the ‘perfect’ opportunity costs too much, (b) don’t want to waste time and money that you don’t have on something that may not work out, (c) you want to own a business not a franchise, or (d) when you contact the people in charge of the opportunity they...
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How to Create Buzz for Your Small Business While...
America’s number one reality show, Love & Hip Hop Atlanta, is generating tons of conversation. Nearly 2 million viewers tuned in and watched the first episode. The show has captured lots of attention producing thousands of tweets and a feature on the nation’s most read new site. Whether you love or hate this latest reality sensation, here are a few tips on how to leverage the...
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Getting Customer Reviews For Your Small Business...
The first step in optimizing your website for local search is to list it in Google Places, or Google+ Local now. It’s a pretty straightforward process – you fill in the boxes with your address, description of your business, insert important keywords… Yet, people tend to make beginner’s mistakes right there: if you’ve decided to help local customers to find you more easily, do it right and fill...
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How to Deal with Employee Apathy
Are your employees like dead ducks at their desks? Do they look like something the cat dragged in when they arrive in the mornings, only to get progressively worse throughout the day? Is there more thumb twiddling and Facebooking than productivity? These problems aren’t uncommon in today’s work environment, as job dissatisfaction is on the increase. This causes many people to either become...
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6 Tips to Dominate Your Niche with Your Blog
Blogging is one effective way to dominate your niche. If you want to establish good business in your niche, why not start with blogging? It will give you a good advantage, such as personal relationship with your audience. Enclosed are 6 tips to assist you with dominating your niche with your blog:
[[MORE]]1. Create a unique identity for your blog
If you look at many successful blogs, you will...
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My Business Crushes They: Act•1, Spanx, OWN, &...
Last week I came across an excellent post by Dr. Shannon Reese titled, “Who’s Your Business Crush?” Dr. Reese points out that no matter how many years that you have been in business it is likely that you have a business crush or someone that you admire. This person(s) is where you would like to be in business or keeps you heavily motivated and inspired. I personally...
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3 Promotional Giveaways That Potential Customers...
With everything that goes on in the days leading up to a conference – preparing your staff, arranging meetings, researching prospects, and even brochure and banner printing – it’s not surprising that so many companies put little thought into their promotional gifts. Despite the frequent lack of attention, promotional giveaways are a great way to put your company in the forefront of a potential...
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Integrated Marketing – Get More Bang For Your...
In the wake of Google’s latest algorithm update, Penguin, marketers are on the lookout for new ways to drive traffic to their website. With the over-optimization penalty slashing some website’s rankings, it’s time to think ‘outside the box’ when it comes to online promotion.We’re living in the 21st century; and there are hundreds of ways you can market your business. If you’ve got the budget,...
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10 Commandments of Blogging for Small Business
Having a blog for your small business is vital. Businesses that blog receive 55% more traffic than those that don’t. In a month’s time B2C businesses generate 88% more business with a blog, while B2B businesses generate 67% more leads. In a webinar, Dan Zarella, the Social Media Scientist found that blogs effect customer purchasing decision by 71%. Even the big guys like Coca Cola...
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Why Press Releases are Effective for SEO
Press releases are often perceived as a tool used only for significant industry events and large business releases, but they can actually be an effective SEO tool for a small business website or blog when used correctly. You don’t need to be a major company to make a release that generates backlinks and gets your keywords ranked in Google News, all you need to do is start a promotion,...
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Certificates of Insurance: Why Your Small Business...
Small business transactions without certificates of insurance pose a big risk to both businesses involved. Just as you wouldn’t plan expensive travel plans without travel insurance or buy a new car and not have it insured; it’s equally unwise to enter into a business transaction with someone else and not insure your interests. Learning more about insurance certificates and how they...
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7 Great Ways to Get More Customer Reviews for Your...
Customer reviews or testimonials are an important component of a website. Visitors to a website can learn a lot from other’s experience. They help build trust and credibility, which is crucial on the Web or for any business. Customer reviews or testimonials also serve a marketing purpose and are a fantastic way to get feedback on how you are doing. Whether you are a webmaster or a business...
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Cut Costs Around The Office, It's Simple
With a sluggish economy and an apparently long road to complete fiscal recovery in our nation, small and large offices alike are searching out creative ways to cut costs and increase their bottom line. Instead of freaking out and laying off valued employees, take a deep breath and read this article. What follows is a short breakdown of 4 practical ways to cut costs around the office. Trust us,...
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So You Got a Bad Review? That Can Be a Good...
So the dreaded day has come your small business has received a bad review. You have paid what seems to be a small fortune to your SEO consultant in order to rank high for your keywords putting you on the first couple of pages of Google and other popular search engines. Or perhaps you did all the work to rank high all by yourself via blogging and other content marketing strategies. Now you have a...
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5 Military Training Techniques We Can Apply to...
Military training techniques are often associated with war, although business leaders can learn several useful lessons from them. Discipline, high standards, leadership and diplomacy are just a few of the qualities that comprise a strong and profitable company. A significant number of business ventures and projects are completed through teamwork, so a cohesive unit is crucial. Company owners and...
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How to Begin Selling Your Products Internationally
Selling abroad can be a fantastic way to attract new business customers and really expand your brand. While online selling allows international customers to purchase your goods, unless they are lucky enough to discover you in a search engine or through word of mouth, it is likely they won’t know you exist. By selling your goods or designs internationally your chances of discovery significantly...
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What Your Local Supermarket Knows About Upselling...
Did you ever notice all those small trinkets that are showcased next to the cash register at your local supermarket? Chewing gums, razor blades, candy bars, ice cream, batteries, and so on… Of course, they are also available in other sections of the store, so there has to be a reason for giving them an additional placement at the cash register, it’s clearly no accident. At the cash...
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10 Minutes Social Media Strategies for Small...
Social media is one of the largest factors involved in search engine optimization and brand building for businesses today. If you are not currently promoting your business, brand or affiliate product using popular social media and Web 2.0 websites then you are losing traffic, subscribers, and most importantly sales! So keep reading to learn a few fast ways to get a big response from your...
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How Small And Medium Sized Companies Can Manage...
Small and medium sized companies do not have a large pool of employees to manage their affairs. As such, each employee is valuable to the companies, and the absence of one or two employees may have serious implications. Managing absence in such companies is an important aspect of the business.
Proper absence management will help the organization to:
Avoid recruitment and...
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Free up Your Time AND Produce More with a Virtual...
It seems like just yesterday when I had a dream of starting a successful home-based business, one that could provide a healthy balance between my work and personal life. But, it was actually 10 years ago already, and it’s no longer a dream. It’s reality. Perhaps it just seems like yesterday, because I thoroughly enjoy what I do. I started an affiliate marketing business with my wife Arlene, and...
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Using Pinterest in Promoting Your Business Through...
If your brand still isn’t using Pinterest, then it’s time to step in and take advantage of its enormous popularity – by now, it’s certain that Pinterest isn’t a fad, so don’t wait anymore. Since Pinterest has been made primarily for the B2C market, running contests in one of the most effective strategies on Pinterest: it is easy, can be inexpensive and it will help you...
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27 Insights About Creativity That Every...
All entrepreneurs must know how to be innovative if they want to succeed in the business world today. This is not something that happens because of a lucky accident. You must understand innovation and creativity to use them both. Below are 27 things that you should consider to bring yourself to the sort of success that you want to obtain.
[[MORE]]1. Do Not Be Afraid To Break The Rules
You have...
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Ashley Neal is nominated for the 2012 Small...
I am super excited to announce that I (Ashley Neal) have been nominated for Small Business Trends’ 2012 Small Business Influencer Awards in the category of Journalism. I am truly honored to be recognized as an influencer of small business. I have a passion for entrepreneurship and I’m an advocate for small business. Thank you for recognizing the work that I do for the small business...
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Equipment Leasing: Top 10 Tips for the New...
When it comes time to create a budget, most new business owners go straight to the cost of buying office equipment. However, there is a much more cost effective alternative for the startup companies on a budget—equipment leasing. According to Advantage Leasing Corporation, the U.S. Department of Commerce reports that about 31% of all equipment used by businesses is leased, and this number will...
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Easy SEO Changes You Can Make Today to Improve...
Is your website still struggling to earn traffic? What a shame…especially if you spent hundreds or even thousands of dollars creating it. We understand your dilemma. Unfortunately, when you’re dealing with Internet traffic, it’s not the same thing as freeway traffic. Without an SEO strategy, your website is the equivalent of an “invisible store” right on the main highway! Don’t lose heart....
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Q&A with Upscale Consignment Boutique Owner Ashlea...
Atlanta-based small business owner Ashlea Perkins, takes prides in helping women to achieve an upscale look for an affordable price. At her consignment shop, Genesis Bridal and Formal Wear Ashlea enjoys being an entrepreneur because she gets to do what she loves most: help woman look their best and dress up in wedding gowns all day! Ashlea has taken the time out of her busy schedule to share...
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Small Biz Owner Confession: At First I Wasn't...
For the past six or seven months Pinterest has been the talk of the town —the web town that is. There has been so much chatter about the benefits of utilizing Pinterest to drive traffic to websites and increasing sales. When I first heard of Pinterest maybe back in November I thought…
[[MORE]]Hey, slow down! I’m not ready for this. I’m still trying to build my following...
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Boost Morale and Profits with an Employee...
Great employees are hard to come by, so when you have a few good ones on your team you need let them know that you appreciate them so that they will stick around for the long haul. Rewarding your employees with an incentive program is a great way to show your employees you value the work that they do.
[[MORE]]Give Rewards That Employees Deserve
For any business, employee...
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How to Create a Marketing Budget
Guest post by Charlie Adams
Marketing is one of the most important facets of your business. Without marketing, the world would be unaware of your business, products or services. And if the world didn’t know you existed, you wouldn’t make a profit, and then you probably wouldn’t be in business for very long. Before you can start marketing your...
