Category: entrepreneur

1,455 words
SURVIVAL TIPS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

You may be in Mail Order, Direct Mail, or you may be a local merchant with 150 employees; whichever, however or whatever—you’ve got to know how to keep your business alive during economic recessions. Anytime the cash flow in a business, large or small, starts to tighten up, the money management of that business has to be run as a “tight ship.”

Some of the things you can do include protecting yourself from expenditures made on sudden impulse. We’ve all bought merchandise or services we really didn’t need simply because we were in the mood, or perhaps in response to the
flamboyancy of the advertising or the persuasiveness of the salesperson. Then we sort of “wake up” a couple of days later and find that we’ve committed hundreds of dollars of business funds for an item or service that’s not essential to the success of our own business, when really pressing items had been waiting for those dollars.

If you are incorporated, you can eliminate these “impulse purchases” by including in your by-laws a clause that states: “All purchasing decisions over (a certain amount) are contingent upon approval by the board of directors.” This will force you to consider any “impulse purchases” of considerable cost, and may even be a reminder in the case of smaller purchases.

If your business is a partnership, you can state, when faced with a buying decision, that all purchases are contingent upon the approval of a third party. In reality, the third party can be your partner, one of your department heads, or even one of your suppliers.

If your business is a sole proprietorship, you don’t have much to worry about really, because as an individual you have three days to think about your purchase, and then to nullify that purchase if you think you don’t really need it or can’t afford it.

While you may think you cannot afford it, be sure that you don’t “short-change” yourself on professional services. This would apply especially during a time of emergency. Anytime you commit yourself and move ahead without completely investigating all the angles, and preparing yourself for all the contingencies that may arise, you’re skating on thin ice. Regardless of the costs involved, it always pays off in the long run to seek out the advice of experienced professionals before embarking on a plan that could ruin you.

As an example, an experienced business consultant can fill you in on the 1244 stock advantages. Getting eligibility for the 1244 stock category is a very simple process, but one with tremendous benefits to your business.

The 1244 stock encourages investors to put equity capital into your business because in the event of a loss, amounts up to the entire sum of the investment can be written off in the current year. Without the “1244” classification, any losses would have to be spread over several years, and this, of course, would greatly lessen the attractiveness of your company’s stock. Any business owner who has not filed the 1244 corporation has in effect cut himself off from 90 percent of his prospective investors.

Particularly when sales are down, you must be “hard-nosed” with people trying to sell you luxuries for your business. When business is booming, you undoubtedly will allow sales people to show you new models of equipment or a new line of supplies; but when your business is down, skip the entertaining frills and concentrate on the basics. Great care must be taken however, to maintain courtesy and allow these sellers to consider you a friend and call back at another time.

Your company’s books should reflect your way of thinking, and whoever maintains them should generate information according to your policies. Thus, you should hire an outside accountant or accounting firm to figure your return on your investment, as well as the turnover on your accounts receivable and inventory. Such an audit or survey should focus in depth on any or every item within the financial statement that merits special attention. In this way, you’ll probably uncover any potential financial problems before they become readily apparent, and certainly before they could get out of hand.

Many small companies set up advisory boards of outside professional people. These are sometimes known as Power Circles, and once in place, the business always benefits, especially in times of short operating capital. Such an advisory board or power circle should include an attorney, a certified public accountant, civic club leaders, owners or managers of businesses similar to yours, and retired executives. Setting up such an advisory board of directors is really quite easy, because most people you ask will be honored to serve.

Once your board is set up, you should meet once a month and present material for review. Each meeting should be a discussion of your business problems and an input from your advisors relative to possible solutions. These members of your board of advisors should offer you advice as well as alternatives, and provide you with objectivity. No formal decisions need to be made either at your board meeting, or as a result of them, but you should be able to gain a great deal from the suggestions you hear.

You will find that most of your customers have the money to pay at least some of what they owe you immediately. To keep them current, and the number of accounts receivable in your files to a minimum, you should call them on the phone and ask for some kind of explanation why they’re falling behind. If you develop such a habit as part of your operating procedure, you’ll find your invoices will magically be drawn to the front of their piles of bills to pay. While you should maintain a courteous attitude, don’t be hesitant, or too much of a “nice guy” when it comes to collecting money.

Something else that’s a very good business practice, but which few business owners do is to methodically build a credit rating with their local banks. Particularly when you have good cash flow, you should borrow $100 to $1,000 from your banks every 90 days or so. Simply borrow the money, and place it in an interest bearing account, and then pay it all back at least a month or so before it’s due. By doing this, you will increase the borrowing power of your signature, and strengthen your ability to obtain needed financing on short notice. This is a kind of business leverage that will be of great value to you if or whenever your cash position becomes less favorable.

By all means, join your industry’s local and national trade associations. Most of these organizations have a wealth of information available on everything from details on your competitors to average industry sales figures, new products, services, and trends.

If you are given a membership certificate or wall plaque, you should display these conspicuously on your office wall. Customers like to see such “seals of approval” and feel additional confidence in your business when they see them.

Still another thing often overlooked: If at all possible, you should have your spouse work in the business with you for at least three or four weeks per year. The important thing is that if for any reason you are not available to run the business, your spouse will be familiar with certain people and situations about your business. These people should include your attorney, accountant, any consultants or advisors, creditors and your major suppliers. The long-term advantages of having your spouse work four weeks per year in your business with you will greatly outweigh the short-term inconvenience. Many couples share responsibility and time entirely, which is in most cases even more desirable.

Whenever you can, and as often as you need it, take advantage of whatever free business counseling is available. The Small Business Administration published many excellent booklets, checklist and brochures on quite a large variety of businesses. These publications are available through the U.S. Government printing office. Most local universities and many private organizations hold seminars at minimal cost, and often without charge. You should also take advantage of the services offered by your bank and local library.

The important thing about running a small business is to know the direction in which you’re heading; to know on a day-to-day basis your progress in that very direction; to be aware of what your competitors are doing and to practice good money management at all times. All this will prepare you to recognize potential problems before they arise.

In order to survive with a small business, regardless of the economic climate, it is essential to surround yourself with smart people, and practice sound business management at all times.

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Business Party Dos and Donts

Here it is holiday time again, and while Ms. Abby and Manners takes care of our social etiquette Id like to share some practical tips for business holiday parties.

Here are some DOS.
Attend the Event: Its an unspoken expectation that showing up may not be mandatory or can it be required, but attending isnt really optional. That is if you want to be working there next year.
If you RSVP by all means ATTEND: Many business functions are paid on the basis of the number who attend, and that is calculated by the number of RSVPs.
Mingle, Mix, and Move: Talk to different people and learn something new. Dont stick with your usual watercooler pals.
Pay Attention to Start and End Times on the Invitation: This is there for a reason, and you dont want to overstay your welcome.
Remember that Any Business Party is Really a Business Event: Although it might be outside the standard office meeting and be accompanied with food and beverage, the same rules of conduct apply.
Limit Gift Giving: Colleagues will often feel obligated to give gifts in return for receiving gifts. If you do give, give from the heart and keep it simple, and priced at a minimum.
Dress Appropriately and Professionally: All eyes are not meant to be on you, and this is not the time for provocative dress. Lean toward the conservative or classic look.
Give Thank-Yous: When appropriate write either a note of thanks, or if at a private home tell the host/hostess in person that you enjoyed the celebration.

Now for the Donts..
Say yes to a Blind Date: You dont know who the person is or who he/she might know. Rule of thumb when in doubt, go stag.
Be Flirtatious or Get Frisky: This is crossing the line of appropriate and adult behavior at a business event.
Drink Too Much: its not worth taking the chance that youll say something you wish you hadnt. Rule of thumb is- limit yourself to 2 drinks.
Talk All Business: BORING!! After all it is a social gathering. The guests are supposed to have fun, get to know each other, and have a different experience outside of daily office routine.
Prospect for New Business: TACKY!!
Assume Everyone Celebrated the Same Holiday: If you say Merry Christmas to someone who doesnt observe the holiday it might offend them. Be generic and say Happy Holidays.
Give Gag Gifts: This is not the place to risk offending or embarrassing someone.
Gossip: Gossiping in any situation is usually damaging and not a good practice, but its especially not appropriate at a business-related event.

Hopefully with these tips under your belt, your appearance at you next business holiday event will go successfully.

The majority of business professionals know these things, but theres always some newcomers to the firm who may not be as seasoned as some of us.
 
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Virtual Assistant

A virtual assistant is a self-employed business owner who provides administrative support to their clients. The clients may want a one time job, or a long term position. A virtual assistant may do secretarial duties, such as writing up letters and memo’s or contacting other business people for the client. Other duties a virtual assistant may cover are customer service, messaging services, email blasts or autoresponders, email support, fax paperwork, and many other duties. A virtual assistants duties really does vary drastically.

There are a few key attributes to a great virtual assistant. Good grammatical skills are necessary; no spelling errors are going to be acceptable. A virtual assistant must be extremely organized because no one will hire an assistant who doesn’t have their files arranged and handy. A virtual assistant with a wide range of skills is sought after. Being technically savvy is essential especially when you are a virtual assistant because it is what people expect and need in such an internet related business world. Also, in this technological world, you must be able to take directions, understand them without too many questions or issues, and get the work done, perfectly. A virtual assistant must be on their toes, on the lookout for unforeseen issues that may have been overlooked. Virtual assistants have great communication skills, negotiating rates, deadlines, and project plans. But, unfortunately, these assistants must make sure that they make time for work. It is really easy to get caught up in housework or the kids and not set aside work time at home. When deadlines are missed, it looks bad on your reputation as a virtual assistant.

A virtual assistant can make their own hours, as stated before, but they can also make their own rates, which is excellent. They do not have to settle for getting paid too little for a big job. They do not have to worry about long commutes, and therefore expensive gas, leaving their children at daycare, and stressful co-workers and bosses.

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USE THE WORD “FREE” IN YOUR ADS

1. The word “FREE” is still the most powerful – the most often
used word in advertising today! If you have anything to offer
FREE to others, you can use this powerful word! It pulls orders
better than any other word! Here’s some ways to use it:

2. ONE thing FREE when you buy Another! This can be the way to get
people to order from you! A second one is FREE, with the
purchase of the first!

3. Buy 2 – get the third FREE! This can be used to get MORE and
LARGER orders! Giving away ONE, with the purchase of two others!

4. Fourth FREE, with purchase of Three! Tire stores and Publishers
offer a 4th FREE, when you buy Three others at regular price!

5. FREE “Trial Size”! Give away one that’s smaller than usual,
hoping that people will LIKE what you give them, and want to buy
more!

6. FREE Bed frame, with purchase of A King Set! Lots of mattress
stores use this type of ad! Offering some sort of “premium”
FREE with purchase!

7. FREE Introductory Class! This usually is offered with purchase
of a Computer; Microwave oven; etc. (Free Memberships in clubs,
etc!)

8. Use it FREE for 30 days! Allow people to use something; to use
your product or service, FREE, for a limited time! (Enticing
them to order!)

9. FREE Service with each purchase! This is used often by Pizza
companies, and cleaning services. Free delivery; Free Folding;
etc.

10. FREE Interest for 3 months! Many loan companies and others
offer this to entice customers to buy from them! It’s delaying
something for a time!

11. Fast service, or it’s FREE! It’s Hot, or it’s Free! (7-11
offers Hot coffee). Denny’s says “10 Minutes, or it’s FREE!”
Customers come to see!

12. 2nd Topping is FREE, with purchase of a Large Pizza! That about
says it all! (Free Extras; Free Colors; Free Inks; No extra
charge at Printers!!)

13. FREE Details! This is used by a LOT of advertisers, who sell
products by mail! Let ’em know you’ll send information FREE,
just to write and ask!

14. Buy 2 ads, get a 3rd (or 4th) FREE! This is another way to get
Long Term advertisers! They get FREE ads, with every 3rd or 4th
they buy.

15. FREE Commission Circulars! Many Prime Sources are willing to
offer you FREE circulars (some for postage) to obtain dealers!
Free Dealer Info!!

16. FREE Typesetting, with purchase of an ad! Publishers offer this
FREE service to obtain new advertisers! (Why pay extra for it,
if it’s FREE?)

17. FREE Catalog! Many companies send out Catalogs FREE to anyone
who writes and asks for one! More sales result! (Free Downline
Recruiting!)

18. FREE Sample Copy! Some companies will be willing to send you
ONE FREE to entice you to buy more later! (Free Cassette; Free
Introductory Video, etc!)

FREE Report entitled, “7 Different Ways to sell the Same
Product!” is YOURS for a S.A.S.E. from: Chris, 1412 Mt. Shasta
Dr., San Jose, CA 95127!
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HOW TO START AND OPERATE YOUR OWN VIDEO TAPING SERVICE

Video taping services are not only tremendously profitable, but timely, as
more and more demand grows within this exploding industry every day.

Video tape is rapidly growing in popularity among consumers because
as more and more people add video cassette players to their home
entertainment systems, the demand for expertly produced videos of
important events in a family’s life is skyrocketing. Weddings,
baby showers, birthday parties, club meetings, school sports events
and numerous other gatherings provide the perfect opportunity for
you to enjoy a fantastically profitable business while enjoying the
company of new friends.

Now is the ideal time to get started with your own video taping
service. The purchase, operation and maintenance of all the
necessary equipment is quite easy. Advanced features built into
the equipment, combined with simple operating procedures make video
camera operation a snap. You can read through a video instruction
manual, spend several hours experimenting with various lighting
conditions and techniques, and develop the ability to produce a
high quality video tape of almost any event.

One- and two-person video taping services around the country are
reporting substantial gross earnings. One large operation we
looked into reported an income figure of $800,000 during the
preceding 12-month period. They were accepting taping jobs from
all quarters and keeping four full-time teams busy. In the
beginning, however, success with this kind of business does not
require an office set up or any special education or training. You
can start it on a part-time basis from your home and parlay it into
a full-time, profitable profession. The prestige this business
will afford you is similar to that of a real estate broker. You
can begin working alone or with a partner. You’ll need a minimum
amount of equipment, but you must spend time developing sales leads
and personally contact prospective customers. Therefore, if you
plan to begin as a part-time operation and grow into a full-time
business, it would be advisable to have at least one other person
on the team with you.

The successful operation of a video taping service is found through
marketing imagination, organization, and attention to detail.
Ideas and requests for new events to tape and preserve for later
playback and viewing develop faster than one can list. There are,
however, so many things to remember and minor details to take care
of that the only way to operate successfully is with a series of
checklists. This applies to both the person selling the service as
well as the man or woman behind the recording camera.

Don’t let the numerous details scare you off. On the contrary,
you’ll find video equipment easy and inexpensive to work with,
especially when compared to obtaining a comparable degree of
expertise with film. You can use the same tape over and over
again. This is definitely business where the phrase “practice
makes perfect” applies.

To begin your video taping service, you’ll need a portable video
recorder, commonly termed a “camcorder” (camera-recorder). If you
don’t already own your own equipment, now is the time to buy.
Prices have never been lower nor the selection greater. Standard
size camcorders can be purchased for well under $1,000, often for
half that price. Because technology changes so rapidly, you can
pick up a high-quality camcorder from last year’s stock, or perhaps
slightly used, for under $500. And these are still top-of-the-line
cameras. Smaller, palm-size cameras are now available, as well as
adapters to make smaller tapes compatible with most home VCRs.

Features and options for your camera will abound, but you’ll want
to make sure your camera has some of the more important ones, such
as input jacks to add external microphones. This will aid in
taping extended vocal recordings, such as speeches, weddings,
concerts, etc. Your dealer can help you choose an inexpensive
external microphone to augment the one that is already built into
the camera. Other important features include auto-character
generation (for adding titles and captions) and the ability to dub
vocals onto a tape without harming the original picture quality.
Read through some current video magazines available on the
newsstand to get a general idea of the features you would like.
Make a list of those that will be a necessity and those that are
“wishes.” Then visit as many stores as possible in your area that
carry video cameras. Get a feel for prices and available options.
Then make your selection. Note that some stores may allow you to
lease a camcorder, thus reducing your initial cash outlay
requirements.

An important part of your service is the blank video tapes that you
will purchase. While standard VHS tapes can be purchased quite
inexpensively, you will want to make a habit of using a high
quality tape for the best results. Check out the latest copy of
“CONSUMER REPORTS BUYING GUIDE” at your local library. Determine
what their best recommendation is concerning video tapes. Talk
with the video salesman at your local stores. You’ll soon come to
know what brands are better and which to avoid. Find out if you
can purchase tapes wholesale by calling the home office of the
manufacturer. Check around in your area. Doing the necessary
study in advance will save you time and money in the future. These
elementary learning steps are necessary as the foundation of your
business.

Once you have your video recorder, take it home and start
practicing with it. Think of yourself as being on a job for a
homeowner or an insurance company taking a photographic inventory
of the house and/or the occupant’s possessions. Practice by making
a tape recording of your own household furnishings. Make a tape,
then play it back and critique your work. Then repeat the process
again and again until you have a tape you can use in sales
presentations to homeowners and insurance companies. Video tape
recordings of this kind are becoming extremely popular for use in
insurance claims across the country.

The possibilities for selling your services to those who would like
a video record of some special event are endless. Look through
your weekend newspaper and make a list of the girls announcing
wedding dates. Find their names and telephone numbers in your
telephone directory and call them on the phone. Ask them if they
would mind if you came to their wedding and made a video tape of
it, without any obligation to them, of course. Arrange to be at
the wedding location an hour beforehand to get your equipment
situated. The secret is to get as much of the wedding from a good
angle as possible without being obtrusive. Setting up slightly
behind the officiating minister and off to one side will allow you
to focus on the faces of the wedding party and guests without
having to make large movements. The zoom feature of your camera
will allow you to be far enough out of the way so as not to
obstruct the view of any guests. With your camera set up on a
tripod, shoot the wedding ceremony. Afterward, go to the reception
and take candid shots of the events–dancing, singing, cutting the
cake, the departure of the couple, etc. Use your imagination. Get
as many of the events as possible but without interfering in any
way. After the event, take the tape home and review it. Keep
practicing at weddings until you have a tape you’re reasonably
proud of, and then call the bride. Ask to come over and let her
see the tape. Explain to her that you’re just getting started in
the business and you simply want her comments and suggestions.
Chances are that when she sees the tape she’ll want to buy it.

While you’re in the learning phase of your new business, visit an
apartment building and arrange with the manager to make a video
tape of her showing the apartment to you as a potential renter.
Contact a couple of property management and real estate firms and
do the same thing with condominiums and houses for sale. You might
want to listen in on the police radio frequency and make tapes of
auto accidents for law firms, particularly those involving
injuries. Consider taping golfers practicing at the local driving
ranges and letting them review the tape on site to improve their
swing. Other ideas include any kind of sports practice sessions,
birthday parties, special anniversaries, baptisms, bar mitsvahs,
publicity stories, sales presentations, and “fireside chats” by
company presidents or general manager. These are just a few idea
suggestions you might want to pursue. You may find a certain kind
of video taping assignment especially enjoyable and want to
specialize in that area. Or, you may want to leave the door open
for any kind of assignment and handle each as the opportunity
presents itself. Whatever you decide, there are a few “sure
success” points to keep in mind as you begin to sell your services.

Virtually everyone likes to see himself as a star in a home video.
Thus, when you show a client of a video tape of himself in the
starring role, he’ll either buy the tape on the spot or contract
with you to make a similar tape of another event. Modesty aside,
everyone likes to show pictures of himself and explain to his
friends the different highlights of his or her life. Thus, when
you make a sales presentation featuring your client, your sales
rate should be close to 100 percent.

The best way to sell your services is to run a regular ad in your
area newspapers. Consider something along these lines:

Smart Video Taping Service

Whatever your idea or assignment,
we can handle it for you! No job too
large or too small! We’re experts
at taping weddings, anniversaries,
birthday parties, and other special
occasions. Commercial assignments
welcomed. Your satisfaction is
guaranteed, so give us a call–
123-4567, right now!

When you receive calls in response to your ad, your objective
should be two-fold. First, find out what kind of taping job the
customer has in mind. Second, set up an appointment to show them
an example of the kinds of tapes you can produce. Present the
prospect with an example of your work.

Never meet with a prospect in a selling situation without some sort
of demonstration tape for him to preview. Try to match the tape
you show them as closely to their wants and needs as possible.
Don’t show wedding tapes you have made to golfing prospects or
demonstrate a tape of home insurance inventory for prospective
wedding clients. Once you’ve met with the prospect and shown the
proper demonstration tape, you should have the sale in your pocket.

Besides an ad in the newspaper and yellow pages of your telephone
directory, make copies of your ad and get it up on the bulletin
boards in your area. Send news and publicity releases to all the
media in your region, especially when you have an unusual or
special assignment that would be of interest to the general public,
such as the testing of a new invention by a major corporation or a
birthday party for a centenarian. Have some impressive business
cards printed and hand them out to as many people as possible, as
often as you can. The slogan on your business card might read:
“You Name It, We’ll Tape It.”

Radio and television ads are much more expensive than the resulting
jobs will sustain, so be very cautious when considering this type
of advertising. However, it will very definitely be advantageous
for you to pursue guest interviews on any kind of talk show. Talk
show appearances and free write-ups about your business in your
local newspapers are promotional angles to grab at every
opportunity. Always be on the lookout for promotional ideas and
gimmicks that will result in area-wide publicity for your services.

The bottom line is simple: Don’t be adverse to creating a story or
set of circumstances if it results in a talk show appearance or
newspaper write-up for you.

How much should you charge for your services? Basically, the going
rate in most large metropolitan areas is about $75 per hour you
spend on the assignment. Thus, you’re going to have to learn to
estimate pretty accurately exactly how long you’ll need to spend on
each job to produce a quality recording. Some jobs, like weddings,
might go for a standard fee of $150 to $300, depending on the
competition in your area. It’s always a good idea to check out
what other video taping services in your city or comparably sized
cities are charging. Newsletters and trade publications serving
the video industry often feature articles on typical rates that
free-lancers charge. Check with your equipment supplier for the
names or sample copies of any newsletters about which he might
know.

You can form a relationship with a client that can last a lifetime.

Beginning with a young couples’ wedding, if you follow up on each
sale properly, you’ll probably end up making tapes for birthdays of
their children, youth sporting events, school pageants and
graduations, anniversaries, family histories and scores of other
events.

To make yourself a success, you will need imagination, an affinity
for people and a flair for salesmanship. Imagination is important,
because in many instances, you’ll have to suggest an idea for
taping services. Although just about everybody would like to have
a taped record of some event or part of their life to pass along to
future family members, most will not be able to decide what to tape
until you suggest something to them. You’ll also find that almost
no one is aware of even half your capabilities until you make
suggestions.

Taking pictures of people requires an ability to get along well
with them–to get them to relax and immediately feel comfortable in
your presence. You’ve got to be persuasive while exercising a
great deal of tact and diplomacy. Learn to make friends easily and
quickly. Be aware and understanding of wants, desires and
ambitions. Do your best to instill a feeling of confidence in the
prospect–confidence that you are the best choice he could have
made, and confidence that what they are doing is important and
doesn’t look silly or staged.

Selling and getting along with people are almost synonymous. Life
is an ongoing program of selling yourself to achieve your own wants
and ambitions. Read a few good books on the art of selling, such
as “How to Sell Yourself,” by Steve Girard or “How to Sell Anything
to Anybody” by Tom Hopkins. Remember, selling is really just a
matter of recognizing someone’s needs and then satisfying those
needs with a product or service. Your customers will automatically
accept as fact that you have the professional knowledge and
equipment to fulfill their needs. All you have to do is reassure
them, listen to their opinions on how best to meet their needs,
and, in closing the sale, become a good friend to them.

With the simple plan outlined above, you can get started with your
own video taping service. By combining our suggestions with a bit
of energy and persistence, you should be able to begin with very
little start-up investment and quickly begin to reap the fruits of
your own profitable labor. Having laid it all out, the rest is up
to you. Your future is in your own hands. Grab on to your future
today!

-30-

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Viral Marketing

Viral marketing is a cool term for word of mouth on the Internet. It is where people hear about your website service or products through other people. Sending an email with an advertisement on the bottom is a good way to spread the word. Having a newsletter also increases your visibility online. There are also forums that discuss products and services and rate them. Viral marketings referral technique works like the snowball effect, which increases exponentially the visibility of your business. Getting personal recommendations to try a product or service is a great way to build credibility and trust in the company. Repeating these referrals to other people makes the customer actively engage themselves and not passively hear about the products advantages.

Viral marketing is a great way to keep advertising costs way down. Passing along an article from an ezine keeps the message intact, is free and easy to pass along, and doesnt cost anything, but offers a clear benefit to both parties involved.

Here are some ways to make your viral marketing message work. You can give away a free article with a pass it on link on the bottom, or a free demo version of your product, or offer a free trial of your service on your web site and include a share it with your friend button at the bottom of the page. You could also hold a contest and capture peoples contact information and each time their friends come to the site, they are entered into the contest again. Starting your own affiliate program, where affiliates generate traffic to your website with banner ads, text links, letters of referrels, etc. You pay for results only.

Viral marketing is the way to achieve high traffic cheaply and effectively on the web. Provide your customers with a compelling reason to pass on the message and you are well on your way to big time traffic.
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Business Dress – Men

The general dress code guidelines for men during an interview are that they wear suits in navy blue or dark blue. This is preferred over gray or charcoal gray. Sometimes brown can be acceptable but not on the first interview. Usually, the darker the suit, the more authority it carries. But beware; a man should never wear black to an interview unless he is applying as an undertaker. A two piece suit is acceptable as is a three button single breasted jacket. What matters most is that the suit fits well and it is good quality. The trousers should fit comfortably at the waist and a slimmer fit is preferred. There should only be a slight break where the trouser hits the shoe. If your ankles are showing, they are way too short.

A man at an interview should always wear a long sleeved shirt either in white, cream or pale blue. Monograms are not a good decision on the first interview. If you tend to perspire often, cotton shirts are the way to go professionally cleaned and starched. The higher the cotton content, the better the shirt will look. Make sure your shirt fits the neck properly and that the sleeve cuff ends just at the wrist. All your interview clothes should be professionally cleaned and pressed and ready to go.

Ties that are cheap looking do not give off a good first impression. A pure silk tie makes the most powerful professional impact, has the best finish and feel, and is easiest to tie well. The tie should complement your suit, not match it. No outlandish, flamboyant ties are necessary. The length of the tie should be extended to your trouser belt.

Shoes should be brown or black leather. No other materials or colors are acceptable. Socks should complement the suit, blue, black, gray, or brown. A briefcase is a symbol of authority, which makes a strong professional statement. Brown or burgundy are the colors of choice.

As with women, men’s jewelry should be kept to a minimum. No visible body piercing or tattoos -if you can help it.

This clean cut, well manicured image says a lot about a professional man. He should smell wonderful, have a nicely trimmed hair cut and appear clean and crisp. Good luck.

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Strong Leaders Are Lifetime Students

Entrepreneurial leaders do not have a mindset that adapts to failure. Things go wrong, of course, but entrepreneurs dont call them failures they call them glitches, mistakes, bungles, setbacks but not failing.

When one such entrepreneur was asked about the hardest decision he ever had to make, he answered that he didnt know what a hard decision was. An entrepreneur will approach decision-making with the idea that theres a strong likelihood that he/she will be wrong. This doesnt dissuade them to the contrary they just do the best they can and worry about handling obstacles as they arise.

Another way of looking at it is to realize that you will make mistakes, so make them as quickly as you can in order to learn from them. A good leader doesnt view making mistakes as negative or irrevocable, he/she feels free to press on and try something new. There is the belief that something useful has been learned, and hopefully not at a high cost.

Lets face it; if youre going to live this life youre going to make mistakes. Make use of them as learning tools and dont make the same ones twice.

Entrepreneurs also know the value of intuition. While you shouldnt act on the results of tossing a coin, there is something to be said about your gut feeling about the situation. Very often business people become so involved with systems and checks-and-balances that they forget about that gut instinct they had when they started.

While not strictly logical, intuition does draw on a combination of experience, knowledge, and analysis as well as a lot of gut information you may have forgotten that you have.

You become a strong leader in your business by practicing being a leader. Its not a course you can take at a business college; its learned in the school of life as youre doing business.

As a leader, you have to set standards and higher standards for your own behavior. You must do this because appearances are sometimes more important that facts.

Consider for a moment that as an entrepreneur with a small business youre planning on approaching a bank for a loan. You know that you must present a well thought out and concise Business Plan, with all the projections for the use of the capital youll borrow and the repayment of the same. You learned that from all those seminars you attended when considering becoming an entrepreneur, but is there something that you werent taught in seminars? What about presentation?

I dont mean the presentation of the Business Plan, we all know that must be well done and attractive. What Im talking about is YOU! Do you maintain the appearance of leadership? Do you project a confident appearance of a successful entrepreneur? You may not have the faintest idea today how youre going to pay for that advertising bill coming due on the 15th, but youre not going to give that banker that information.

Presenting yourself as a confident entrepreneur, filled with the excitement of your business idea, and a strong leader of your team (whether its 1 or 10 employees) is what will make you a winner and add untold weight to your Business Plan. After all, you are your business to that banker so youd better look good and confident.

To protect that faith that your people and your customers have in your organization, always ask yourself these two questions:

Could this be interpreted by anyone in a way that would shake their faith in my leadership?
Could this be misinterpreted and held against me or the company?

Strong leaders know that leadership is a lifelong learning experience, and when they make a mistake they simply continue to move forward. The ability to bounce back is a quality that every entrepreneur Ive ever known has in abundance.

When you blunder, get up and try again quickly. As one high-tech executive I knew put it, Our strategy is to fail forward fast.


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Hang On To Top Employees

The best way to keep your top employees is to know them better than they know themselves. Use this knowledge to create the career of their dreams, and theyll stick to your company like glue. The new biz-speak for this is called Job Sculpting.

The concept of Job Sculpting as defined by career experts, Timothy Butler and James Waldroop, in the Harvard Business Review, is that good people will stay only in jobs that fit their deeply embedded life interests—that is their long-held emotionally driven passions.

To adopt this strategy, spend a lot of effort listening to your company stars. For each one of them, try to identify what life interests are dominant with them, and then offer them the assignments that satisfy this interest. It may mean simply adding another assignment to the existing responsibilities, or it may mean switching one set of tasks to another employee. It may even require moving your star employee to a different position altogether.

To learn what kind of interests youre looking and listening for, use these 8 identifiable areas:
Application of technology.
Quantitative analysis ability.
Theory development and conceptual thinking.
Creative production.
Counseling and mentoring.
Managing people and relationships.
Enterprise control.
Influence through language and ideas.

If you have a top employee who has been working in the area of customer service, but lately seems dissatisfied, after talking with him/her you might learn they would rather be dealing with the vendors. Your star might be just the answer youre looking for to find that latest innovative product that could be added to your stock (conceptual thinking), and employee B would rather interact with the customers. By a simple switch of responsibilities, you have two happy employees that feel theyre now contributing to your business and not just putting in time for a paycheck.

Its always more cost effective for the business, and better for employee morale to keep your existing employees happy with their careers. It takes a toll on your business when you have to fill an empty employee spot with a newcomer who has to be trained in the way your company functions.

Time is money, and time used to train a brand new employee is the highest cost of doing business. However, the time spent by you to find out what will keep your top producers happy to be working for you is the best investment you can make in your business.

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542 words
The All Important Opening

A lot of times we get wrapped up in our products. And why not? Weve worked for months putting our business together and our products are what people want to buy. When it comes to putting together a sales letter we want to explain every little detail so our prospect can see exactly what theyre getting when they make their purchase.

Isnt this the way it should be?

NO! The customer doesnt care about the late nights you spent meticulously researching your product. The customer wants to know just ONE thing: Whats In It For Me? (WIIFM) If you cant answer that one simple question, youll never be able to consistently sell your product or service.

In a sales letter or ad, you have less than two seconds to gain your prospects attention. The first major mistake most people make is to start out with a weak headline.

If your headline doesnt grab attention, then whatever you say in the body copy is meaningless.

The next biggest mistake is starting any piece of copy with a me message. A me message is all about you and your company. To your prospect me messages are boring! To get your prospects attention you must talk about THEM, not you. You must talk to their pleasure, their wealth, their challenges, their fears, their problems, and their joys. Every prospect is tuned into the same radio station WIIFM (as in Whats In It For Me).

One way of avoiding this after you have written your ad or sales copy is to reread it and circle all the me words. Words such as I, me, we, and our are me words. Rewrite the copy using you and your words, making it more interesting and exciting to your prospect.

Imagine how much fun it would be to see your profits go through the roof. To do this, you must clearly make your business stand out and apart from all your competition. You must convey your uniqueness without spending a fortune, and the secret is all in the sales copy.

You must create a Unique Selling Proposition (U.S.P.) What do you offer your prospects that your competitor doesnt or cant? Maybe its a better guarantee, better service, availability (reachable after 9 to 5), better location, or better customer treatment. Whatever you can do to set your business/services apart from your competition gives you the edge.

Something many business owners dont realize or are mistaken about is the length of guarantee they offer. Giving your prospect a 2-Year, No Questions Asked Guarantee is much better than a 90-day,
Money Back Guarantee.

The longer the guarantee, the more credible you and your business are perceived by your prospect. Typically the majority of your customers will never make use of the 2-Year Guarantee. Lets face it, by that time they like using your product, and/or theyve long ago lost the sales slip. BUT, when a prospect reads about the longer guarantee youre offering, it raises their comfort level and makes them choose you over your competition.

Always remember that when youre a small fish in a big pond you must be different to stand out. Making use of good advertising copy filled with words that make prospects eager to satisfy their WIIFM is the answer.


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