business articles

Turnarounds and Workouts: What's the 2005 Forecast?

Clearly, the trend of large company insolvencies that started in 1999 has come and gone. Most of us in the turnaround industry expect the next few years to have much slimmer pickin's.

We won't spend much time explaining why the cycle of distress has ended. It's clear to industry insiders that: 1) big company bankruptcies, which drive the turnaround industry, are way down; 2) non-performing assets (NPAs) of most lenders are again within fully reserved levels; 3) bank workout staffing is down 25-75%; 4) capital funding returned to the market in late 2003 in all segments—equity sponsors, high-yield bonds, M&A activity, even cash-flow lending; 5) the U.S. economy is expanding in almost all sectors, and; 6) the boom-to-bust cycles of "hot" industries (internet, telecom, energy) driven by technology or regulatory changes have mostly run their course.

So what's a turnaround consulting firm to do when near-term business is likely to drop by 50% or so? The obvious solutions are being worked by many of us: skill redeployment to front-end M&A work; diversification into services such as M&A and litigation support; and geographic expansion, mostly to Western Europe, where local laws are evolving toward debtor-friendly rehabilitation.

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Posted by Angie at 11:09 PM | TrackBack

Job Seekers Beware: Statistics Show that New Year’s Resolutions are Doomed for Failure

A survey conducted by Gail Kasper, LLC, a leading speaking and coaching company, found that American’s aren’t taking their futures very seriously. Specifically, 51% of those surveyed do not have New Year’s resolutions. Of those who do, 79% don’t have a plan to achieve them. According to the Department of Labor, over 400,000 unemployed individuals are NOT actively seeking employment because they do not feel that there are jobs available for them. With unemployment at a all high, job seekers, must stay the course, have a game plan, and maximize holiday opportunities or they will find themselves amongst the 91% of American’s who won’t be achieving their goals in the New Year.

The survey which was complete by a random group of 104 adults over 18 years of age, also asked respondents to identify the biggest issue that prevents them from achieving their New Years Resolutions or goals. The top 3 reasons identified were as follows:

Procrastinating 33%
Lack of discipline 24%
No game plan 19%

Interestingly enough, 10% of individuals felt the biggest issue that prevents them from achieving their New Year’s Resolutions or goals was “doing it alone.”

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Posted by Angie at 10:48 PM | TrackBack

Writing Your Business Plan is Actually Storytelling

Storytelling and writing a business plan actually go hand in hand. The same ingredients used in telling a story are also used in writing a business plan. Let’s use the Executive Summary as an example.

The usual advice give to write this part of a business plan is something along these lines:

• This is the most important part of your plan because it is where potential investors will focus their attention most on.

• Write this executive summary once your plan is at its very final draft stage.

• Highlights and key issues.

• Avoid detail.

• Address the needs and interest of the reader.

• Use bullet points.

• Keep the length of this Executive Summary to no more than three pages.

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Posted by Angie at 11:08 AM | TrackBack

Can You Talk Yourself Into Success?

You’ve tried and failed. You’ve watched others fall. You’re wiped out, burned out, and beaten. Is there any way to turn it all around?

If you’re reading this, than likely you have been working very hard at realizing a goal that now seems out of reach. It does not matter whether that goal is related to diet, creating a home business, getting a promotion, finishing a difficult course, or mastering a talent. The one common factor is that our past can, and will, affect our future success.

So, if nothing has worked, shouldn’t you throw in the towel? Learn from your mistakes and quit while you’re ahead?

Think of this: What’s Possible?

Why say Possible?

Motivational speaker, Les Brown, shares an interesting lesson with us when he points out that past perceptions influence our projected images of success or failure. Consider what changes can be made when you see that others before you have conquered the same battles, and same fears, and created a successful outcome. And consider that if it was possible for them, than it IS possible. Period.

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Posted by Angie at 02:10 PM | TrackBack

Top 8 Ways to Make Your Business a Success

Do you remember that day when you decided that you would go into business for yourself? The day that you decided that you want to control your own destiny. The day when you decided that your job is not what you expected in your life and wanted to do something about it.


If you are in business or thinking about going into it, you need to use some strategies so that your business goes in the right direction. Here are 8 unique strategies that you can use to make your business a success.


1. Write down your “WHY”.

Why are you really in this business that you are in? What made you start your business? Why are you doing this? Is it because that you want to be your own boss? Is it because you wanted more freedom and time to spend with your family? More money? Is it because you wanted to control your own destiny? What ever your WHY is, you need to know it so that it keeps you going when things are not going well for you.

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Posted by Angie at 02:02 PM | TrackBack

10 Tips To Protecting Your Business

American business owners lose billions annually to crime. With the crime rate constantly rising, small businesses owners are more alert than ever to business security issues. Here are 10 questions and brief answers that point out where a small business can be vulnerable:

1. Did you know that over 60% of temporary employees have criminal records?

Don't you, as an employer, take it for granted that the temp agency you hire employees out of has the resources to do a complete background check on all their applicants before sending them to you? How thoroughly do they check an applicant's background beyond a credit check, resume, or application information, and are felons always going to be truthful on their applications?

Before you use the services of a temp agency, you should check into THEIR background. Know just how thoroughly they check their applicants and ask if you are being informed of the results from criminal background checks.

2. Could you be sued or prosecuted for what you throw out in your trash?

Identity theft from your personal information is just one dumpster dive away once your garbage is put out for collection in an area that has public access. Items of interest to the thief could be old credit card bills, utility bills, phone bills, etc. You would be surprised at the information these items give up.

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Posted by Angie at 09:49 AM | TrackBack

How to Use the Holidays to Build Business

The holidays present the opportunity to send cards and token gifts without recrimination. You can touch base with people who you have lost touch with and avoid feeling awkward about it.


Over the years I have received numerous holiday gifts from business associates, some more expensive than others. As the holiday approaches, I am always reminded of the people who have been creative and innovative in sending me a holiday gift. Among the creative gift/trinket items that I have received were an oversized chocolate bar (my favorite since I am a chocoholic) with the company name on it, a funky desk calendar, holiday wrapping paper, ornaments for my tree and many more. In any case, the gift puts that person back in the loop. It forces me to think about the person that sent the item and what it is that they do. It makes me consider them as a resource. They move to the top of my memory book. Remember, that's the system that helps me prioritize my referrals and people that I can help get business.

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Posted by Angie at 12:33 PM | TrackBack

Five Principals for Prosperity

Many years ago, forty to be exact, I started my own business at the tender age of nineteen. The street markets in and around Manchester England was my happy hunting ground. Every day was an adventure and despite the weather and difficulties of getting a stall on the street market, life was always fun and enjoyable. There was always some comical incident, even when I had to stand in the pouring rain, with no customers in sight. And if there was no amusing event to focus on I created one and made other people laugh.

Within a few years my business progressed and I opened a wholesale textile company. I went on to become a very successful businessman not only making money in my original business, but also in commercial property and the stock market. I retired from the business world forty-six years of age.


After a six year, time-out period, so that I could understand why I was successful with no effort, I reinvented myself and became...... An author, poet, philosopher, motivational/inspirational/financial speaker, radio show host, director, producer and many other labels, within the past five years. How was all this achieved with not a mention of the word "work" in my vocabulary.....Well, you see, I just enjoy everything I am doing and if it is enjoyable, how can a class it as work?

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Posted by Angie at 05:29 PM | TrackBack

Specific Measureable Results

Want to make an immediate and dramatic increase in the overall performance of your company? Try creating a set of Specific Measurable Results (SMR) for each department or functional unit.

Specific Measurable Results? Of course, your sales force has them. It's safe to say there are few companies in the world that do not use sales quotas. Not only do sales people use quotas to track their output, they often have targets which measure their activity. "How many, by when" is a familiar phrase.

Top sales people monitor how many calls they make to prospects each week. The also track calls made to existing customers, how many letters they send, how many "closes", and so on. If a sales person isn't bringing in the promised business, management can examine his or her activity to see what area might need work.

What about the other players on your sales team - the technical representatives, the sales associates? Do they have specific, measurable results they've agreed to produce? What about your other departments? What about development? Customer Service? Finance? Marketing? Administration? What are they accountable for? Do they have SMR's to produce within a set time frame?

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Posted by Angie at 06:02 PM | TrackBack

Are you Planning your Business or are you Planning your Growth?

If you are like many high-performing business people, you have an annual ritual to set your plans for the coming twelve months. Some people do it in December, others at weird, miscellaneous times of the year, but most--me included--tend to do it the beginning part of the New Year.

It doesn’t matter exactly when you do this, but it is important you do it sometime soon. It has been said all the way back to the time of the ancients: goals and written plans for their attainment are the surest way to speed up your accomplishments. So skipping this step is not an option!

As you buckle down to this critical task, consider: are you planning for business as usual or are you planning for wonderful, extraordinary, growth? Many people feel kind of beaten down by the past three years of economic mis-performance and think a year in which profits don’t retreat will be a good year.

Others--most people--will plan to do something very much like they did in 2003; perhaps they will try to do it a bit better. They may look at the surplus resources they have available (if any) and try to figure out how they can eke out a little more performance, profit and revenue--without taking any big risks or doing anything radical. And for the most part, it will be business as usual.

Ho hum...

Don’t be either of these types...

Plan to do something extraordinary!

Plan to extend or expand or excel.

Continue reading "Are you Planning your Business or are you Planning your Growth?"
Posted by Angie at 10:45 AM | TrackBack

Specific Measureable Results

Want to make an immediate and dramatic increase in the overall performance of your company? Try creating a set of Specific Measurable Results (SMR) for each department or functional unit.

Specific Measurable Results? Of course, your sales force has them. It's safe to say there are few companies in the world that do not use sales quotas. Not only do sales people use quotas to track their output, they often have targets which measure their activity. "How many, by when" is a familiar phrase.

Top sales people monitor how many calls they make to prospects each week. The also track calls made to existing customers, how many letters they send, how many "closes", and so on. If a sales person isn't bringing in the promised business, management can examine his or her activity to see what area might need work.

What about the other players on your sales team - the technical representatives, the sales associates? Do they have specific, measurable results they've agreed to produce? What about your other departments? What about development? Customer Service? Finance? Marketing? Administration? What are they accountable for? Do they have SMR's to produce within a set time frame?

Continue reading "Specific Measureable Results"
Posted by Angie at 10:26 PM | TrackBack

Does Your Business Suffer From Paralysis By Analysis?

Let me ask you a simple question. "Now that you've spent months, perhaps years, studying how to build an on-line business, are you close to reaching your goals?" Have you started building that business? You've read hundreds of ebooks, hundreds of ezine articles, and gone through several courses. HONESTLY, you already know all that you need to know to make that dream a reality.

Now it's just a matter of putting some of what you already know into action. Yes, some of what you know can become dated. That's why it's critical that you put it into action now. You need to apply what you've already learned to get your business going. As things change, you need to read the industry publications and news to keep current, but information is growing exponentially... you'll never know it all.

You'll never be completely current, but you can't let that paralyze you into inaction.


"Money likes people who act fast!" That's what my buddy, Dr. Joe Vitale teaches. When he gets an idea, he acts upon it, IMMEDIATELY. That's totally unlike the majority of (less successful) people. They get an idea, and then they spend weeks, perhaps even months, thinking of all of the reasons why it might not work. Think it through, but don't over analyze! Don't become a victim of paralysis by analysis.

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Posted by Angie at 05:47 PM | TrackBack

Next Year's Planning

I'm amazed at how each year slips by just a little more quickly.

Only a few weeks ago I was running the San Juan River in Utah - blazing sunshine and ninety degrees in the shade. Now it's Fall already. And hey, I live in Southern California - in some places it's almost winter. Friends of mine back East are talking about 30 degree temperatures - or colder. Even snow flurries.

Blink - and it will be November, then Thanksgiving, and right its heels - New Year's. All of which is great if you love to ski, or snowshoe...

Which brings me to every businessperson's favorite indoor sport - planning.

Each year around this time I urge clients to dust off last year's business plan and compare it to what is really going on. Because many people - believe it or not - forget what they committed to for the year. Oh - they know their sales and profit projections - but most people don't pay close enough attention to the other issues. Things like market development, new customer growth, distributor relationships, customer services improvements, even new products: all the things that make it possible for a businesses to grow and prosper year after year.

Continue reading "Next Year's Planning"
Posted by Angie at 11:06 PM | TrackBack

5 Lesser-Known Online Business Ideas

1. Ask people to find a hidden link in your ad copy. If they find the hidden link tell them they will get a prize or freebie by clicking on it. This will increase the chance that they will buy your product or service because they will read your whole ad copy.

2. Start a members only web site. Tell visitors what's in your members only site and what it costs to get access. Offer them a free membership, if, in exchange they link to your web site, post your banner on their home page or agree to advertise your web site in their e-zine for a set period of time. Usually they will agree to the free advertising to save money. This is a powerful way to get free advertising.

3. Want a popular discussion board? This technique is based on the number of postings made by any one person. You could give away a free product or service to any person that posts ten or more messages on your discussion in a month. It could be a free e-book, report, e-mail consulting etc. Just keep track of everyone's postings each month. This could also work for e-mail discussion lists.

Continue reading "5 Lesser-Known Online Business Ideas"
Posted by Angie at 11:32 PM | TrackBack

5 Lesser-Known Online Business Ideas

1. Ask people to find a hidden link in your ad copy. If they find the hidden link tell them they will get a prize or freebie by clicking on it. This will increase the chance that they will buy your product or service because they will read your whole ad copy.

2. Start a members only web site. Tell visitors what's in your members only site and what it costs to get access. Offer them a free membership, if, in exchange they link to your web site, post your banner on their home page or agree to advertise your web site in their e-zine for a set period of time. Usually they will agree to the free advertising to save money. This is a powerful way to get free advertising.

3. Want a popular discussion board?
This technique is based on the number of postings made by any one person. You could give away a free product or service to any person that posts ten or more messages on your discussion in a month. It could be a free e-book, report, e-mail consulting etc. Just keep track of everyone's postings each month. This could also work for e-mail discussion lists.

Continue reading "5 Lesser-Known Online Business Ideas"
Posted by Angie at 09:18 PM | TrackBack

5 Tips for Going Global

Import, Export, Global Markets...the buzz words of international trade are getting small business owners very excited. Why now more than ever before? In the past it would be too costly for a small business to survive global markets. However, as various technologies and service, such as the Internet and professional website design become more affordable, it's far easier for the little guy to compete. As the trend towards 'going global' grows, so does my business. I have the pleasure of guiding these enthusiastic new players through the global game procedures.

As The Import Export Coach, during my training workshops I'm often asked "How can I test my new product or market idea before deciding to fully commit my resources and finances to the project?"

Of course, I always recommend thorough research before jumping into any international agreement - there are no small deals when "Going Global" - players are ready to buy and sell in bulk. The more research you do, the more you minimize the risks. It's like a see-saw; the more planning you do, the less risk you experience, and the less planning you do the more risk you will carry:

However, it's not going to hurt your business to start making some contacts and begin the communication process with key players in that market. Below are some tips on how to quickly find valuable global prospects.

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Posted by Angie at 05:55 PM | TrackBack

19 Questions to Supercharge Your Business Plan

Paul Lemberg Whether you are seeking capital for your company or are optimizing your business strategy, the most important element - particularly for outside investors - may be your written business plan. You can tune-up and supercharge your plan using this 19-step checklist. When your written plan firmly answers yes to each of these 19 questions, your market/product strategy is in terrific shape plus you increase the odds of attracting investment capital.

If you don't already have a written business plan - write one! Your business plan is a blueprint for your whole company. It describes in detail your goals, the financial and technical viability of your goals, and the strategy you will use (or are using) to reach those goals. And your business plan is a working tool - it is a yardstick to measure your progress and a compass to keep you on course.

Must a business plan be written?

Yes! A plan which is not written usually has not been thought through fully. And despite what you may have read, it is doubtful that any business ever attracted capital on the back of a napkin.

Use this checklist as a way to identify where your strategy, as spelled out in your business plan, needs work. Each of the questions below highlights an area considered critical to technology investors.

Continue reading "19 Questions to Supercharge Your Business Plan"
Posted by Angie at 09:23 PM | TrackBack

Ten Crucial Questions for Your Business Future

As a business coach I specialize in asking questions.

The right question asked at the right time can effect your business future more than you can imagine. It has the power to completely and instantly shift your mental activity, your entire thought pattern, and ultimately the actions you take. Over the last fourteen years I've asked hundreds of small, medium and very large business owners endless questions which have helped them achieve far greater levels of success than they would have had thinking the way they were -- only moments before.

While the following may not be the only ten questions -- or even THE ten questions, they are ten questions that you must answer if you want your business to flourish. The right answers are critical to your company's future.


1. How many un- or underserved prospective clients are in your target market?

The number of prospective clients - prospects -- available to you relates to two key considerations: the total revenue possible from this client base, and what kinds of marketing tactics will be most cost-effective. If yours is a 'mass market,' advertising will almost certainly be part of the your marketing mix. By contrast, if your market is very small (I once sold software to the top-50 international banks) you can contact each and every prospect individually.

Continue reading "Ten Crucial Questions for Your Business Future"
Posted by Angie at 09:55 PM | TrackBack

19 Questions to Supercharge Your Business Plan

Whether you are seeking capital for your company or are optimizing your business strategy, the most important element - particularly for outside investors - may be your written business plan. You can tune-up and supercharge your plan using this 19-step checklist. When your written plan firmly answers yes to each of these 19 questions, your market/product strategy is in terrific shape plus you increase the odds of attracting investment capital.

If you don't already have a written business plan - write one! Your business plan is a blueprint for your whole company. It describes in detail your goals, the financial and technical viability of your goals, and the strategy you will use (or are using) to reach those goals. And your business plan is a working tool - it is a yardstick to measure your progress and a compass to keep you on course.

Must a business plan be written?

Yes! A plan which is not written usually has not been thought through fully. And despite what you may have read, it is doubtful that any business ever attracted capital on the back of a napkin.

Use this checklist as a way to identify where your strategy, as spelled out in your business plan, needs work. Each of the questions below highlights an area considered critical to technology investors.

Continue reading "19 Questions to Supercharge Your Business Plan"
Posted by Angie at 04:32 PM | TrackBack

Are you planning your business or are you planning your growth?

If you are like many high-performing business people, you have an annual ritual to set your plans for the coming twelve months. Some people do it in December, others at weird, miscellaneous times of the year, but most--me included--tend to do it the beginning part of the New Year.

It doesn’t matter exactly when you do this, but it is important you do it sometime soon. It has been said all the way back to the time of the ancients: goals and written plans for their attainment are the surest way to speed up your accomplishments. So skipping this step is not an option!

As you buckle down to this critical task, consider: are you planning for business as usual or are you planning for wonderful, extraordinary, growth? Many people feel kind of beaten down by the past three years of economic mis-performance and think a year in which profits don’t retreat will be a good year.

Others--most people--will plan to do something very much like they did in 2003; perhaps they will try to do it a bit better. They may look at the surplus resources they have available (if any) and try to figure out how they can eke out a little more performance, profit and revenue--without taking any big risks or doing anything radical. And for the most part, it will be business as usual.

Ho hum...

Don’t be either of these types...

Plan to do something extraordinary!

Plan to extend or expand or excel.

Continue reading "Are you planning your business or are you planning your growth?"
Posted by Angie at 06:07 PM | TrackBack

Business is About Making Money

Ask most people why they are in business and they will give you any number of reasons. Things such as wanting to improve the lives of others; make the world a better place; provide for their family; have more free time; the list goes on and on.

Fact is business is about making money, which means the bottom line is the bottom line. Many business owners, managers and sales people seem to forget this. If you don't have a strong bottom line you cannot continue to do business for very long. And if you can't continue to do business you cannot achieve the other primary reasons you do what you do. The way you get a sturdy bottom line is to understand some basic truths about business.

A few fundamentals to running a successful business are to know what your product or service is, who your customer is, who you are, what drives you in business, and what trends are impacting the economy and marketplace.

Many people run their business without these key ingredients. Sure, a company can survive, but is survival all you are seeking? Don't you want more? As previously mentioned, most people are in business to design a certain lifestyle for themselves and their families. Many are in business to create an experience for their customers. Still others are in business to improve the quality of their community. Unfortunately, many miss the mark by a long shot.

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Posted by Angie at 12:17 AM | TrackBack

Get Your Office Schedule Back on Track!

After the long, lazy, summer you may have let your office schedule slip--
follow these great tips and get YOUR office schedule back on track!

Clear out your desk and files

Make way for those exciting new projects that have been put on the backburner over the summer. I recently did this and apart from getting rid of four grocery bags of papers, I felt much more motivated to start those projects that had been lurking for months! And it's amazing what you come across too!

Set up a Resource Folder

Keep track of those all-important pieces of information that you come across
daily. How? Create a Resource Folder:

:: on your PC--store all those downloaded documents and create a shortcut on
your desktop so that you can easily access your information. Go one step further and create folders within your folder, each relating to a specific topic, i.e. industry news, marketing, accounting--decide what works best for your business!

:: in your Favourites Folder in your web browser--bookmark those web pages
that you find useful so that you can easily access them again. Create subject specific folders within the main resource folder.

Continue reading "Get Your Office Schedule Back on Track!"
Posted by Angie at 04:54 PM | TrackBack

Five Steps to An Effective Business Plan

You have an idea for a business. You know what you want to sell, who you can sell it to, and how much you stand to earn from it. There's just one more thing you need: a business plan.

Many people dread the idea of preparing a business plan. They think of them as complicated, unnecessary documents that exist only to make it more difficult for them to get started as an entrepreneur. They are wrong.

Business plans are necessary because they help you “see” your business. Instead of just talking in abstract ways about your “customer base” and your “profit potential,” it lets you put those things in writing and in concrete terms. It forces you to think through every aspect of your business in advance so down the road you don't realize you've made a mistake that's cost you your business, your life's savings, and your job.

Besides all of that, they are also important tools for getting other people interested in your business. For one, if you've taken the time to create a business plan, others will realize that you are serious about this endeavor and that it isn't just some pie-in-the-sky dream. A business plan also shows people that you are a professional and that you understand what it takes to start and manage a business. This is all extremely important, particularly if you need any type of outside funding, such as loans or investors.

Continue reading "Five Steps to An Effective Business Plan"
Posted by Angie at 10:32 AM | TrackBack

10 Nifty Tips for Better Business Cards

Not having a business card is as bad as using an eMail address that ends in AOL.com It's just not professional.

With domain names costing less that 9 bucks a year, there's no excuse for anyone in business to have an AOL.com address. With business cards costing less than 9 bucks at the big box store, there's no excuse for anyone in business not to pass them about.

Here are BIG Mike's 10 Nifty Tips for Better Business Cards

Don't Do It At Home For what you spend on blank microperf cards and the time to get it right, you could pay to have them look professional instead of home baked.

Get your Own Logo No logo at all looks better than a logo from a clip art book. Same with cards with bars of color or circles. Your card should be you, not something from a can.

Continue reading "10 Nifty Tips for Better Business Cards"
Posted by Angie at 03:54 PM | TrackBack

3 Ways To Re-Invest In Your Business For Maximum Profits

If you are not re-investing your profits in your business, you are killing your business. Your profits should be put back in your business for growth, not buying your groceries.

Granted, you need to eat, but if you have started a part-time business, and you have another source of income, you need to re-invest most of your profits back into your business. Re-invest for growth. When your business grows, then you can start taking a profit.

Marketing expert Jeffery Fox calls this “paying steak and eating hot dogs.” The concept is simple: keep your expenses low, but don’t cut costs. Here are 3 ways you can re-invest in your business for growth:

1. Re-invest at least 50% of every dollar you earn in advertising.

You might think that you deserve to spend your profits, as a return-on-investment. You are right! But if you want your business to grow, you must re-invest in the business. For example, perhaps you spend $100 a month on leads for your business opportunity. These leads result in $200 in new sales. Instead of taking the $100 profit and spending it, what if you re-invested it, and bought $200 worth of leads for your business? You could end up with $400 in new sales the next month. Re-investing your profits this way can grow your bottom line, but you must be patient in the meantime.

Continue reading "3 Ways To Re-Invest In Your Business For Maximum Profits"
Posted by Angie at 11:38 AM | TrackBack

The Top Ten Methods to Create a Successful Work Team

Teams are often useful in situations where the task cannot be completed individually or if the task requires working interdependently. However, a successful team requires thought and planning. Too often, a group of individuals is simply thrown together, given a mandate, "marching orders" and then told, "Now go make us proud!"

To create an effective work team, defined outcomes, common goals and correct skills are keys to success. Here are ten methods to create a successful work team.

1. Create a common, shared (team) goal. There must be a central focus that the team is moving towards and it must also include a strong task orientation that translates into each person knowing how to move towards that goal.

2. Have measurable outcomes. Team execution is usually more effective if you can measure what the team produces. Standards of excellence should be established so that the team understands what the target is and ongoing measurement (milestones) towards the desired outcome should also be implemented.

Continue reading "The Top Ten Methods to Create a Successful Work Team"
Posted by Angie at 12:33 PM | TrackBack

Write Better Web Content

If you’re reading this article, chances are that you, like most professionals these days, understand the value of the Internet. It may be where you go to buy movie or concert tickets, browse restaurant menus, or plan your vacations. Most likely, you also turn to the Web to research business strategies, vendors and other companies.

But what about those surfers who are researching your company? When they visit your Web site, will they find what they’re looking for? Does your site provide the information they need in an interesting format that will keep them there long enough to convince them to do business with you?

While an attractive, professional-looking site is an important start, content is king. (What else would you expect from a copywriter?) But seriously, your site will never be truly effective without well-written content that answers visitors’ questions and creates enough interest to keep them coming back.

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Posted by Angie at 11:20 AM | TrackBack

Managers: Get Real, Please!

Personnel mentions in the newspaper and product plugs on radio hardly qualify as an adequate return on your public relations dollar, and you probably know it!

Especially unfortunate when your PR budget could be doing something really positive about the behaviors of those outside audiences that most affect your business, non-profit or association.

And also when it could be delivering external stakeholder behavior change – the kind that leads directly to achieving your managerial objectives.

And, finally, when you could be persuading those important outside folks to your way of thinking, then move them to take actions that help your department, division or subsidiary succeed.

On the other hand, if all you want is a simple publicity effort, fine. But if you want full-bore public relations performance like that above – performance that really contributes to your success as a manager – here's a blueprint that will start you on your way.

Continue reading "Managers: Get Real, Please!"
Posted by Angie at 10:00 AM | TrackBack

Writing Short Info Reports

People want information, they want it quick, frequently in short form, and straight to the point. Its no wonder that they go straight for a computer connected to the internet to find anything from how to grow tomatoes to choosing a web host.

As a home business owner, this "information revolution" as I like to call it, is only to your benefit. After all, you are in the business of trying to give people what they want time and again. So, give them the information they crave.

Now, e-books are a wonderful way to , but in the spirit of the Infopreneur, short high content reports which I like to call info-reports are perhaps even better. If formulated carefully, they can even be put to use to literally explode the size of an opt-in list of subscribers. To proceed you simply develop several high content short reports, targeted at a specific market which you would like to add to your subscriber base, and give it away free just for subscribing to your newsletter. With content, and the word "free", many people will flock to subscribe. Best of all this is a win-win situation: You pick up valuable subscribers to interact with on a weekly basis, and your subscribers receive valuable information from you.

So, how is it done you ask?

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Posted by Angie at 10:45 AM | TrackBack

How to Choose the Autoresponder Right for Your Business?

Let's give a definition to autoresponder first. So, what is an autoresponder? Think of it as a 'fax on demand' service. When a customer sends an e-mail to the autoresponder address, this smart 'robot' sends back an e-mail response, usually informative letter.

You can set up hundreds of autoresponders. You can use them literally for anything you can think of, including customer support, new product offers, ezine broadcasts and a whole lot more...

Autoresponders can save you a lot of your hard earned dollars. They can be your best marketing tool, therefore, it is important to have a reliable service under hand. There are quite a few autoresponder services around that you might consider using.

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Posted by Angie at 10:27 AM | TrackBack

10 Mistakes That Reduce Profitability

In my professional experience as a sales and marketing coach/consultant, I've had the opportunity to work with a number of small business owners on various issues related to sales and marketing. The owners who are struggling to keep their businesses afloat tend to engage in some, or all, of the following mistakes that reduce profitability.

Mistake #1: They fail to market or market inconsistently. Once you have committed to owning and running a business you must be equally committed to marketing and selling the products and services of that business. It is difficult, if not impossible, to stay and remain profitable without a commitment to ongoing concerted marketing.

Solution: Market all the time, every time.

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Posted by Angie at 10:06 AM | TrackBack

Writing Your Affiliate Home Business Plan

Here's a typical scenario: You are deciding to start a home business and suddenly everyone you know has his nose in your business, literally. What do you tell them? And how do you answer your own questions? What should you expect from the company in terms of stability, longevity, vitality, trust, income, and so forth?

First the bad news: there are no guarantees. Then the good news: there is plenty of information from which to draw your own conclusions. The internet is huge, and any good company will offer free marketing tools and training.

But back to the WHY of that business plan. You're going to be starting small, slow and boy! is there a lot to learn. What's the point of actually sitting down and writing a business plan? You're not Bill Gates, this isn't Microsoft, just you in your home office a few hours a week, slowly building an online business presence, not really understanding what the heck you'll be doing.

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Posted by Angie at 04:37 PM | TrackBack

Maximum Affiliate: Becoming the Next Super Affiliate

The term "Super Affiliate" has become common online in the last year or so. For those of you wondering what the term refers to, let me give you a common definition:

A super affiliate is a person who has the ability to create a large number of affiliate sales for a vendor website in a short period of time.

For example, my friend Rosalind Gardner is a super affiliate. She produces hundreds of thousands of dollars in sales each year for a variety of online match-making sites.

[By the way, she has agreed to allow my readers to pick her brain about how she does that here: http://www.All-In-One-Business.com/brainpick ]

A super affiliate will typically have a high-traffic site and a large list within a market niche.

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Posted by Angie at 04:21 PM | TrackBack

3 Keys To Building a Successful (Online) Business

Want to know the secret to effectively building a successful online business? I'm afraid the answer may not be what you're expecting.

Take this simple pop quiz. (I know, I haven't given you time to study yet. But I think you'll pass the test anyway).

If you want to build a structurally sound home, you must first do what?

If you said, "Lay a solid foundation". Then congratulations. You've passed! :-) Building your online business is no different. The secret is not new. Just follow these 3 keys:

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Posted by Angie at 10:51 AM | TrackBack

Strategic Checklists


I've been through a couple of checklists in the past few days, and the exercise has reaffirmed my faith in their effectiveness as a communication tool.

Now, there are at least a couple of ways we can look at checklists in a communication context. First, in the strategic sense, and second in the tactical sense. You'll probably recognize the tactical advantages of using checklists: a clear and logical, as well as economical, way to write.

But, let's start with the strategic perspective today, and explore checklists as a tool for achieving our objectives.

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Posted by Angie at 10:08 AM | TrackBack

Ten Secrets of Super Successful Meeting Planners

Whoever said that being a meeting planner was easy, lied! Rather, it should be classified under the tough and demanding job category. But, along with being tough, it's also fun, exciting, exhilarating, stimulating, and never, never boring. You have the opportunity to go to exotic places, stay in luxurious hotels, and experience life from a totally different angle. Who could ask for anything more? For those of you ready to shoot me at this point, know that I fully understand your pain!

The purpose of this article is to look at ten skills that help make a super successful meeting planner, and how you can take this expertise and use it to enhance the great job you're already doing.

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Posted by Angie at 09:54 AM | TrackBack

Are You Making These Mistakes In Your Business?

You've probably heard the statistic that 95% of small businesses fail in the first five years. That's not a very encouraging number! Although being part of the 5% that succeed is not easy, it's definitely possible. What it takes is a lot of common sense, some marketing and sales skills and the ability to learn from the mistakes of others.

To get you started on the road to success, here are three of the biggest mistakes small businesses make and some tips to help you avoid them:


Mistake #1: Having a Poorly Defined Sales Process

The key to making money with any business is to stay focused on how you can "sell", "sell more" and "sell more often". Unfortunately most businesses don't consider all of the ways they can make money from customers and end up losing potential revenues.

There are three ways you can make money from your site:

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Posted by Angie at 11:43 AM | TrackBack

Five Steps to An Effective Business Plan

You have an idea for a business. You know what you want to sell, who you can sell it to, and how much you stand to earn from it. There's just one more thing you need: a business plan.

Many people dread the idea of preparing a business plan. They think of them as complicated, unnecessary documents that exist only to make it more difficult for them to get started as an entrepreneur. They are wrong.

Business plans are necessary because they help you “see” your business. Instead of just talking in abstract ways about your “customer base” and your “profit potential,” it lets you put those things in writing and in concrete terms. It forces you to think through every aspect of your business in advance so down the road you don't realize you've made a mistake that's cost you your business, your life's savings, and your job.

Besides all of that, they are also important tools for getting other people interested in your business. For one, if you've taken the time to create a business plan, others will realize that you are serious about this endeavor and that it isn't just some pie-in-the-sky dream. A business plan also shows people that you are a professional and that you understand what it takes to start and manage a business. This is all extremely important, particularly if you need any type of outside funding, such as loans or investors.

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Posted by Megan at 10:22 AM | TrackBack

6 Steps to a Perfect eMail Message

Each day the Internet delivers more than 5 BILLION eMail messages. To be sure your message is delivered and read, it must be politically correct, free of errors and innuendoes, inoffensive and still convey the essence of what you want to communicate

Follow these steps for better eMail messages

1.Compose Off-Line Develop the habit of writing your eMail messages off-line (use your word processor). This eliminates the sub-conscious need for speed (the line is open, hurry-hurry). Use the spell checker but don’t rely on it exclusively. You still need to proof your message several times. The spell checker will not highlight the word YOU if you meant to type YOUR.

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Posted by Angie at 01:52 PM | TrackBack

Accept Credit Cards Online without a Merchant Account

Getting your credit card accepted online can be easy even if your business doesn't have a merchant account.

It is often assumed if you want to accept credit cards on your website that you must have a merchant account. This is not the case. You can accept credit cards with a Third Party credit card processor.

1) What is a Third Party Credit Card Processor?

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Posted by Angie at 10:31 AM | TrackBack
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