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How to Make Accurate Sales Projections in a New Business
Being able to accurately predict what your sales will be is important for determining when your business will be profitable and if it will need startup funding. But projecting sales without any historical data to go on is difficult. Here's what you need to do to figure it out.
Tips for Overcoming Facebook's Marketing Obstacles
Facebook is making it even harder for you to reach your page's fans without paying to advertise. Before you open up your wallet, make sure you're doing all you can to get your Facebook page's content seen.
How to Identify Your Target Market
Knowing your target market is the best way to be sure your advertising dollars are spent wisely and that the products and services you sell are actually what your customers want or need. Here are six things to help you identify your target market.
How to Develop a PR Plan
Do you have a public relations plan in place for your business? If not, you're missing a huge opportunity to win name recognition and customers. Here's what your PR plan should look like.
How Retailers Can Thrive after the Holiday Season is Over
Now that the holiday shopping season is over, what can you do to help your business thrive? Here are five areas you should evaluate and tips for keeping your business healthy during the slow season.
Make New Year's Resolutions You Can Keep
New Year's resolutions are often lofty and hard to achieve, setting you up for failure before February rolls around. But meeting your goals is possible, if you take it one step at a time.
The Hidden Costs of Presenteeism
Absent employees cost you money for sure, but what about sick employees that come to work? Find out how presenteeism could be costing you money and get tips for handling it.
Free Online Calendars, Schedulers, and Organizers
Keeping up with all the things you need to do in your many roles as a business owner can be tricky. Here are thirteen free online tools that can help you stay organized and on time.
Tips for Making a Home Business Work
Working from home is the dream of many would-be entrepreneurs, but it doesn't come without its downfalls. This advice can help you deal with the cons to make your home business a success.
How to Market Your Business Effectively on Twitter
If you really want to get the most out of Twitter, your feed needs to be engaging and interesting. Here are five things you can do to market your business on Twitter more effectively.
Where to Get Free Help for Your Business
Starting a business requires many skills and talents you may not have realized you'd need. Thankfully, there is lots of free help available for your business - everything from business courses, mentoring, and free training. Here's where you can find that help.
Reduce Your Stress This Holiday Season
Don't let holiday stress spoil this joyful time of the year. Before you find yourself knee deep in holiday parties, wrapping presents, shopping, shopping, and even more shopping, heed these tips for reducing holiday stress.
Start an Online Content Writing Business
Want to make a living writing? One way to do it is by providing content for websites, businesses and individuals. Here's what you need to know to start an online content writing business.
Small Business Owner's Guide to the Holiday Bonus
Is your company giving out holiday bonuses this year? Did they give them last year? Find out what other businesses are doing and get tips on how to give (or not give) holiday bonuses without causing bad feelings among your employees.
Protect Your Business from a Data Security Breach
Is your business in danger of a data security breach? Small businesses don't have the resources of big companies but are just as exposed to a potential data breach. Learn how to protect your business with these tips.
How to Put Data to Work for Your Small Business
You can use data from different areas of your business to see what's working and what's not. Here are three key areas you'll want to study and tips for putting your newfound information to use.
5 Steps to Better Employee Communications
Good communication in your small business is important for your employees' morale and productivity. Here are five steps to improving employee communication.
Start a Virtual Assistant Business
Want to work from home? If you've got administrative skills, a virtual assistant business might be right for you. Here's what you need to know to start your own business as a VA.
Have a Holiday Party that Won't Break the Bank
Hosting a holiday party for employees is traditional for most businesses at this time of year. But hosting one that shows your appreciation for a year of hard work without breaking the bank isn't easy. Here are a few hints that can help.
How to Slash Your Winter Heating Costs
Use these low and no-cost ways to lower your heating bill 20% or more this winter, regardless of your heat source.
5 Ways to Sell More to Holiday Shoppers
Want to make more sales to holiday shoppers visiting your store? You can increase order size and also turn one-time shoppers into repeat customers by using these marketing tips in your business this holiday season.
How to Do Business Blogging the Right Way
Blogging is a high-leverage marketing activity that few business owners are taking full advantage of. Learn how to do business blogging the right way.
How Much Money Do You Need to Start a Business
Planning to start a business? You're probably wondering just how much money you're going to need to get it off the ground. The simple answer is - well, it's not simple. You can, however, get an estimate of what you'll need. Here's how.
Are Open Office Layouts Efficient?
Open office layouts are popular among today's businesses because they supposedly encourage collaboration and save office space. But are they really that beneficial? Read about the pros and cons of open office layouts here.
Are you making one of these 5 email marketing mistakes?
Email marketing is an effective and inexpensive way to keep in touch with your customers. Be sure you aren't making one of these common mistakes.
12 Ways to Get Leads
Small business owners who feel stuck when it comes to lead generation can use these 12 ideas to find new ways to get more clients.
7 Hints for Organizing Your Office Party
If the thought of organizing another ho-hum holiday event for your office, plant or store staff is making you wish the Grinch really would steal Christmas, here are some expert tips for turning your party from blah to blowout!
5 Tips for Selling Your Business
With 5 millions baby boomers set to exit their businesses over the next 5 years, its critical for business owners to begin planning. Business exit strategy expert Tensie Homan provides five tips for increasing your odds for business sale success.
9 Ways to Steal Customers from Your Competition
Want a bigger piece of the pie? One sure way to grow your business and increase your market share is by coaxing away your competition's customers.
Rev Up Your Social Media Channels This Holiday Season
You might not be used to thinking of social media as a way to attract customers during the holidays, but it can be an effective way to keep your business front of mind. Here are seven ways you can put social media to work this holiday shopping season.
10 Legitimate Home Based Business Ideas
Want to work from home but aren't sure what you should do? This list of 10 home business ideas is a great place to start.
Tips for a Low Cost Holiday Party Your Employees Will Love
You know throwing an office holiday party will be good for morale, but the expense isn't good for your bottom line. Try these ideas to keep costs low while keeping holiday spirits high.
11 Ways to Make Your Brochures Effective
How can you make your brochures more effective? How do you write copy that gets your brochures and flyers read and customers to respond?? Use these 11 copywriting and design tips to create and improve your the sales literature you provide customers.
20 Ways to Creatively Market This Holiday Season
Want to stay ahead of the competition this holiday season? Make sure potential customers think of you first by applying these 20 creative holiday marketing strategies.
How to Make a Video Ad that Converts
If you aren't using videos to advertise your business, you're missing out. Besides looking at pictures of cats, most people spend a significant portion of their internet time watching videos. Learn how videos can be an effective way to market your business.
The 4 Cs of Business Idea Evaluation
Looking for a business to start? There are lots of business ideas out there, but not all of them are good, and not all of them are right for you. Here are four points to consider when evaluating business ideas.
Have You Become a Sales Zombie?
Do you operate like the living dead when giving a sales pitch? Maybe it's time to change your techniques. Find out if you've become a sales zombie here.
Tips for Working from Home
Working from home seems like the perfect win-win situation - until you realize just how many different things compete for your attention throughout the day. Here's how you can cut down distractions and work more efficiently when you work from home.
11 Monstrous Small Business Marketing Mistakes
Marketing is an important, and often expensive, part of keeping your business alive and thriving. Be sure you aren't wasting time and money on any of these 11 small business marketing mistakes.
Take Your Pinterest Strategy to the Next Level
Pinterest has become a proven and reliable social media platform for marketing your business. If you want to really get the most out of Pinterest, follow these steps for taking your Pinterest marketing to the next level.
When and How to Sublease Office Space You've Rented
So you've got some extra room in your building and are thinking about subleasing it to offset the cost of your rent. Here's what you need to know before subletting that space to someone else.
Alignable-Social Networking Made Practical for Local Businesses
Small local businesses can bring in more business and improve sales by communicating and working with each other. Here's how the Alignable social network makes it easier and less time consuming for local businesses both to work together and to manage their social media outreach.
Where to Find Free Images for Your Website
Looking for images to spruce up your website or blog but don't want to spend money on stock photos? Before you fill your site with pictures from Google images, find out why that can get you sued and where you can legitimately get images for your site.
8 Ways to Improve Employee Performance
When your employees just don't seem to care about what they do and put little effort into their jobs, it's easy to blame it on the employee. Before you give up on ever finding anyone with a good work ethic, check out these eight things you should be doing to motivate and inspire your employees.
How to Get a Loan When the Bank Says No
Need a loan for your small business? When the bank says no, a microloan may be the answer for the funding you want.This guide to micro lending includes a number of sources for microloans.
12 Tips for Better Meetings
Dreading your next business meeting already? If you want to make meetings more efficient, more enjoyable, and perhaps even less lengthy, follow these 12 tips.
Tips to Get More People to Like You on Facebook
If you want to get very far on Facebook, the first thing you need is a lot of followers. How do you do that? Use this back-to-basics guide for building your Facebook fan base.
6 Ways to Haggle with Customers so Everybody Wins
Although it might come as a surprise when customers want to haggle, don't be offended. Instead, use these tips to negotiate the best deal for both of you.
13 Ways to Find Customers
What's the hardest thing about starting a business? For many new business owners, it's finding clients or getting customers. This is particularly true if your marketing budget is limited. If you're having trouble finding clients, consider using some these time-tested strategies.
How to Write a Newsletter for Your Business
Don't know what to put in your newsletter? Wondering what will get your subscribers to open and read it? These ideas can help you write a newsletter that your customers will look forward to receiving.
Bookkeeping for Your Business
As a business owner you have to have a way to keep track of your income and expenses. This article explains why good records are important and how a good bookkeeping system can help you grow your business.
How to Protect Your Business from Credit Card Fraud
Credit card fraud is a problem most small businesses don't think about - until it hits them. If you sell online, or by mail, your business is particularly vulnerable to losing money due to fraudulent credit card orders. Here's what you need to know to minimize your risk from credit card fraud losses.
How to Evaluate Business Ideas
How can you tell if a business idea is good or bad? And how soon should you abandon the bad ideas? Here are tips for evaluating business ideas and separating the good from the bad.
9 Small Business Accounting Tips
Your business's accounting is probably the last thing you enjoy spending time on, so why not take a few steps to make it easier? These nine small business accounting tips can help.
How to Spot a Liar
How can you tell when a job applicant or employee is lying? Workplace body language expert and author of The Truth About Lies in the Workplace, Carol Kinsey Goman offers these tips for spotting liars at work.
11 Ways a Sense of Humor Can Improve Your Business
Laughter is the best medicine, as the saying goes, and it's also a key ingredient in running a successful business. Here are eleven ways having a sense of humor can help you be more successful at business.
4 Tips for Better Email Subject Lines
A good email subject line is the key to getting your prospect's attention. The more subscribers that open your emails, the more exposure you'll get for your products, services, or website. Here are four things that you should keep in mind when creating email subject lines.
How to Turn a Hot Prospect Into a Lost Sale
Are you missing your sales goals? Find out if you or your employees are making any of these sales-killing mistakes.
10 Things Your Customers Don't Want to Hear
Think about what you say when talking with current and potential customers. What are you saying that offends buyers? Here are ten phrases you might be using that bother customers and suggestions for what to say instead.
Why You Should Hire an Internet Marketing Expert
Even if you've been successfully marketing a business for years, internet marketing is a whole different ballgame. Here are some reasons why you might need to hire an online marketing expert.
How to Run Your Business and Still Have Time for Social Media
Social media might be effective, but it can be very time consuming. So how do you find time to keep your social media accounts active and engaging while still running a business? These suggestions can help.
How to Choose a Crowdfunding Platform
Crowdfunding is the newest way to raise money for startup capital. But not all crowdfunding is alike. Learn how to determine which crowdfunding platform is the best one for your business.
Estimated Taxes: A Primer for New Business Owners
Now that you're self employed, you're responsible for paying your own taxes. The IRS expects you to pay estimated taxes every quarter. Here's a rundown of what you need to know about calculating estimated taxes.
How to Find a Consignment Shop for Your Goods
Selling your goods through a consignment shop gives you another avenue to reach customers. Here are a few tips on finding a good consignment shop and working with them.
5 Online Marketing Changes You Should Know About
Online marketing is constantly changing. Policies change, services evolve, and before you know it the digital marketing method you used the most is no longer allowed. Find out about these five recent changes to online marketing.
Tips for Buying a Home-Based Franchise
Buying a home-based franchise could be your ticket to having your own home business. But how do you know which ones are legitimate, and how do you choose the one that's right for you? Use these tips to analyze home-based franchise opportunities so you make the best choice.
How to Design the Perfect Business Card
Business cards are still a valuable marketing tool for your business. These seven tips can help you design a professional business card that will help customers remember you.
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) for Small Business
More and more businesses are allowing employees to bring their own devices (BYOD) - cell phones, tablets, laptops, etc. - to use for work. While it can be a big money saver for your company, there are some risks involved. Here's what you need to know about "BYOD" for your business.
Why Hiring a Military Veteran Could Be Your Best Business Decision
Many military veterans are looking for civilian jobs, yet employers are hesitant to hire them for a number of reasons. Here's why military veterans are having trouble getting hired, while at the same time can make some of the best employees for your business.
How to Get More People to Buy from Your Web Site
Trust is everything when you're doing business on the web. Here are six trust-boosting tips that will increase your web site conversion rate and help you turn more visitors into paying customers.
How to Get Your Business Found on Google
No matter what kind of business you have, you will benefit if people can find your business on Google. Google is typically the first place people search when looking for whatever it is you sell. Here are five things you can do to improve your search visibility on Google.
How to Make Your Business More Profitable
Are your small business profits declining? Or haven't they reached your expectations? Spin off a new profitable business to boost your bottom line: Here's how.
8 Steps to Making Decisions Easier
Do you hesitate before making business decisions? Sometimes it's important to be able to decide quickly. Here are eight steps that can help you become more decisive in your decision making.
3 Marketing Tactics Every Small Business Needs
When it comes to marketing and advertising your small business, you need to focus on more than just attracting new customers or clients. In fact, thats the most expensive and difficult way to grow your business. Try using a mix of these three types of marketing tactics to get new clients and keep them coming back for more.
Whats a Like Gate and Why Did Facebook Kill it Off?
Once upon a time, Facebook encouraged page owners to create "like gates" to encourage their site visitors to like their Facebook page. But Facebook has changed its tune recently. Find out just what like gates are and why Facebook no longer wants you to use them.
How to Use Amazon as Your Consignment Shop
Everyone knows about eBay, but don't overlook Amazon. Amazon has several programs for sellers, including one where Amazon handles the entire transaction from purchase all the way to shipping. Here's what you need to know about selling on Amazon.
8 Reasons Being Charitable is Good for Your Bottom Line
Giving to charity doesn't just make you feel good, it is also good for business. Here are eight ways that being charitable can benefit your business.
How to Market Your Business with Email Marketing
Email marketing is one of the best ways to reach your customers. Not only is it more effective than some marketing methods, it's also less expensive. Here's how you can successfully use email marketing to reach prospects and customers.
Top 5 Facebook Mistakes Business Owners Make
Promoting your business with Facebook isn't as easy as creating a page and posting your promotions. If you want to use Facebook to the fullest, be sure you aren't making one of these five common mistakes.
How to Create a Sales Funnel
A sales funnel is the pathway that captures sales prospects and moves them from awareness of your product to interest, desire and ultimately the sale. Heres the way to create a sales funnel for your company.
7 Ways to Start a Business Without Going Broke
Is finding the money to support yourself during the early stages of your business holding you back? There's no doubt that some sacrifices will be necessary, but if you're trying to support a family, your choices are limited. Here are seven strategies you can employ to reduce the financial strain of your startup.
34 Free Online Tools to Help You Run Your Business
The Internet abounds with tools and resources for running a business. Here are 34 free online tools that can help you analyze your website, schedule appointments, invoice customers, and everything in between.
10 Powerful Steps to Defuse Angry Customers
Sometimes things go wrong and customers are dissatisfied. It's how you deal with it that determines whether you win them back. Here are ten powerful steps to defuse angry customers, address the issues and sustain customer loyalty.
17 Things You (Unknowingly) Do That Say I Dont Care
Most of us care about doing our jobs well, and about the relationships we have with customers and employees. But your actions might be sending the opposite message. Here are 17 things you unknowingly do that tell others, I dont care.
How to Create a Social Media Superfan
Fans, followers and friends are all important for keeping social media buzzing about your business. But your real heroes are your superfans - customers who love your business so much that they can't say enough good things about you. Here's how to recognize and cultivate your social media superfans.
How to Make a Great First Impression
Want to make a good first impression? Start with your visual impact. Here's what you need to know about how your appearance and body language create a lasting first impression.
Top 10 Ways to Be Successful in Both Business and Life
Why do some people succeed, while others fail to reach their goals? Here's one business owner's observations about what successful people do that others don't.
How to Make Your Website Faster
Is your website fast enough to keep your visitors from clicking away? These days, customers expect your website to be quick and responsive, and if it's too slow they'll become frustrated and leave. These tips can help you make your site load faster so you don't miss out on sales.
Claiming Your Local Small Business Listings Online
If you run a brick and mortar business, there are probably online listings for you even if you didn't set them up yourself. Find out why it's so important for you to claim those listings, how you can find them, and how you go about claiming them.
Top 7 Reasons Businesses Fail
When you're starting a new business, the last thing you want to focus on is failure. But if you address the common reasons for failure up front, you'll be much less likely to fall victim to them yourself. Here are the top 7 reasons why businesses fail and tips for avoiding them.
5 Ways to Extend the Reach of Your Content
Creating fresh content to market your business is a lot of work. Here are five ways you can repurpose your existing content to give it new life and extend its reach.
6 Ways to Sell to Millennials
Are you marketing to millennials? If not you're missing a $2.4 trillion market. Use these tips to understand and sell to millennials and boost your bottom line.
How to Accept Credit Cards on Your Cell Phone
If you sell at craft shows, conventions, concerts, or anywhere you won't have access to your merchant account system, then cell phone based credit card processing could be just the solution you need. Here's an overview of the options available for mobile credit card processing.
Why Your Website Must Be Responsive
If people visit your website on their phone, do they just get a miniaturized version? How about on their tablet? Responsive web design makes sure each visitor has a good experience at your site, regardless of the device they're using.
20 Ways to Make More Money
Hidden sources of income are all around you, you just have to know where to look. Boost your income and shave expenses with these 20 tips to for making more money.
How to Make a Video on the Cheap
Video marketing is a great way to advertise your business, and it doesn't have to cost you a fortune in equipment and editing software. Here's how you can produce a video for your business inexpensively.
How to Manage Remote Employees and Freelancers
When you have remote employees and freelancers, it can be hard to keep tabs on what they're doing. This advice on managing them via email and social media will help you keep communication open and productivity high.
Offline Marketing Tactics That Still Work
Although the Internet has forever changed the way businesses advertise, you can still market your business with old school offline marketing methods and get results. Here are seven offline marketing tactics you should give another chance.
How to Dominate Local Search
How can your business get found in local search? Do you show up near the top of search results? These 11 tips can help you be sure your local business can get found online.
How to Create a Social Media Policy for Your Business
Do your employees know what's acceptable for them to post online when they are representing your company? Having a social media policy in place can prevent blunders that make your business look bad. Here's advice on how to create a social media policy.
Top 10 Workplace Distractions-And What to Do About Them
Telephone calls, emails, interruptions... all of them distract you from your work. But there are more things that interfere with you getting the most important tasks done. Find out what they are and what you can do about them.
Attracting and Hiring Recent College Graduates
Recent college graduates can offer a lot to your business, but if you want to recruit them, you have to do things a little differently. Here's how you can attract new graduates to your company.
5 Tips to Attract, Keep and Motivate Employees
Attracting and keeping young, skilled employees is important and often difficult for today's businesses. Following the tips below will help increase the satisfaction of your employees with their job, and as a result lower recruiting costs and make your company more productive.
5 Ways to Generate Repeat, Loyal Customers
New customers are great, but what's even better is repeat customers. They become your business's cheerleaders that drive new customers your way, sing your praises, and buy from you again and again. Here are five things you can do to create loyal customers.
Creative Cash Flow Strategies for Small Business
Increasing sales doesn't do you any good if you don't have enough cash on hand to replenish your stock or pay your operating costs. Here are eleven creative strategies for improving your business's cash flow.
17 Best Practices of Top Salespeople
What makes the difference between a good salesperson and a great salesperson? It isn't just good luck. Chances are they are applying some or all of these 17 best practices.
6 Ways to Run a Craft Business from Home
If you've ever created handmade goods for friends and family as gifts, you've probably wondered how you can use your skills to start a craft business. Here are six ideas to start a successful home craft business.
How to Find Good Freelance Jobs
Looking for freelance work? Whatever your expertise, there is probably a freelance market for it. Here are 8 tips to help you find freelance jobs.
10 Businesses You Can Start for $500 or Less
Do you want to start a business but don't have much money to spend? It can be done. Starting a service business is often the answer. Here are ten business ideas that can be launched for $500 or less in startup funds.
Communicating with Retail Customers via Digital Technology
Staying in touch with customers is so much easier than it used to be. If you aren't meeting your customers where they are online, you're missing the boat. Here are four ways you can use the internet to communicate with your customers.
The 11 Biggest Time Management Lies
Does it seem like no matter what you do, there's always something or someone who takes up a lot more of your time than you had planned? Maybe you've fallen victim to one of these 11 time management lies.
7 Mistakes that Could Drive Your Star Employees Out the Door
Your best employees are worth their weight in gold. The last thing you want is for them to quit and go to work for the competition. Be sure you aren't making one of these mistakes.
39 Cost-Cutting Tips for Your Small Business
Think you've exhausted all the ways to save money in your business? Don't be sure until you've taken a look at these 39 small business cost-cutting tips.
5 Tips for Better Telephone Skills
When the phone rings, are you annoyed at the interruption? The way you and your employees answer the phone sets the stage for your customers' experience with you. Here are five tips for ensuring your phone skills give a good impression.
What Kinds of Insurance Does your SMB Need?
Does your small business have the insurance it needs to keep you protected? Find out what kinds of insurance are available for businesses and what they cover.
How to Write Attention-Grabbing Email Subject Lines
A good email subject line is the key to getting your prospect's attention. The more subscribers that open your emails, the more exposure you'll get for your products, services, or website. Here are four things that you should keep in mind when creating email subject lines.
How to Avoid the Peter Principle in Your Company
Don't let your company be a victim of the Peter Principle. Use these tips to nurture top talent and avoid promoting people into positions they can't handle.
Top 5 Legal Mistakes Small Business Owners Make
It's all too easy for small business owners to make legal mistakes that could be costly. Most entrepreneurs aren't legal experts, but don't expect a judge to be sympathetic of your ignorance. Inform yourself about these five common legal mistakes so you don't make them yourself.
5 Ways to Get More Subscribers Using Social Media
Looking for more subscribers on your email list? Followers and fans on social media are ripe for the picking, if they know your list exists. Here's how you can use social media to reach more subscribers.
14 Things to Ask a Potential Financial Advisor
Choosing a financial advisor? Make sure you choose wisely. Here are 14 questions you should ask any financial advisor before signing a contract.
7 Strategies That Boost Negotiation Success
Want to improve your negotiation skills and learn how to start from a winning position? Here are seven ways you can give yourself a head start in any negotiation.
6 Common Resume Lies (and How to Spot Them)
How truthful is the resume you're reviewing? How can you tell when a job candidate is doing more than a little exaggerating about his or her past experience? Here are six tell tale signs to watch for when an applicant has lied on his resume.
9 Ways to Steal Your Competitor's Customers
Want a bigger piece of the pie? One sure way to grow your business and increase your market share is by coaxing away your competition's customers.
How to Promote Your Special Offer
Running a special offer to attract customers? If you want your promotion to be a success, you need to get your offer in front of prospects who are interested in it. These 10 tips can help.
How to Use Promotional Products in Your Business
Giving out promotional products is a great way to keep your name in front of past and potential customers. Use this advice to choose the best way to use promotional items for marketing your business.
How to Stop Interruptions and Be More Productive
Interruptions cost you and your employees valuable time and productivity. Get back all that lost time and end interruptions for good with these tips.
How to Get Better Results from Online Marketing
Want to give your online marketing a boost? Try combining your social media marketing with email marketing. Here's how to do it.
Should You Lay Off Workers During Slow Periods?
Laying off employees during slow periods, whether it's due to seasonal fluctuations or an economic downturn, is an easy way for businesses to cut expenses. But are you costing yourself more in morale, productivity, and loyalty by laying off workers?
Learn How New Customers Find Your Business
How are new customers actually finding your business? Which of your marketing methods is working best? Here's how you can track down that information.
Common Causes of Prevalent Tax Mistakes
Nearly half of us believe we pay too much taxes. Are you paying in more to the IRS than you have to? These five common tax mistakes could be causing you to overpay.
5 Red Flags to Avoid Triggering an IRS Audit
Do you live in fear of an IRS audit? The IRS counts on you being afraid to keep you honest, but there are things you can do to lessen the chances of getting audited.
Essential Sales Team Management Strategies
Your total sales may be on target, but are all the members of your sales team meeting their goals? Heres why its important and what you need to do if some sales people are under performing.
21 Cash Flow Tips for Seasonal Businesses
One issue that many business owners fall victim to at some point is cash flow problems. Because of the type of business they operate seasonal business owners need to be even more vigilant when it comes to managing cash. Get a handle on the financial outlook for your company with these 21 tips.
Questions You Should and Shouldn't Ask Job Candidates
What questions should you ask job applicants during an interview? What questions shouldn't you ask? Use this guide to help you ask the right questions and select the best candidate for the job.
How to Know When Its Time for Funding
There are two major types of business funding. Know what they are and when you should seek them out to help your small business grow.
Do I Need to Pay Facebook to Get More Traffic?
Gone are the days of all your fans seeing everything you post on your Facebook page. Now, Facebook expects you to pay if you want more than a few people to see what you post. Here's how to determine whether it's worth paying for that visibility.
How to Find Work-Life Balance
When you run your own business, your work can quickly take over your life. Here are tips for keeping your work and life balanced, so you can have time to enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Low Cost Employee Motivation Tips
Retaining employees and motivating them to perform their best is a constant challenge for small businesses. These simple, low-cost motivation techniques can reduce turnover and energize your staff.
How to Use Surveys and Polls to Grow Your Business
Want to know what your customers really want and make your marketing more relevant to them? Here are ten ways that polls and surveys can help you reach customers more effectively.
13 Ways to Find Customers for a New Business
What's the hardest thing about starting a business? For many new business owners, the answer is finding clients or getting customers. This is particularly if your marketing budget is limited. If you're having trouble finding clients, consider using some these time-tested strategies.
7 Tax Tips for Small Businesses
Keeping your tax records organized and being aware of the tax laws that apply to you can save you time and money. Here are 7 tips to help you focus now and get tax records organized for the future.
5 Keys to Creating Your Best Tomorrow, Today
Are you unhappy with your life the way it is? Do you want a better future but aren't sure how to make it happen? These five tips will help you begin creating that future right now.
7 Important Tax Deductions
Tax Day is almost here. Do you know what deductions you can take? Here are 7 important types of tax deductions for home businesses and sole proprietors.
How to Create an Elevator Pitch
A good elevator pitch is easy to understand and gets straight to the point without a lot of fluff. Here's how you can create a clear and concise elevator pitch that will let customers know what you do and why they need your product or service.
Social Media Best Practices
In social media marketing, how you use punctuation, when you post, how long your message is, and who your audience is all have an impact on its effectivness. Here are guidelines to punctuating your social media marketing, as well as four best practices to help you make the biggest impact.
10 Cloud-Based Tools for Small Business
Cloud based software has made running a business easier and more affordable. Here are ten cloud tools that you might find useful in your small business.
3 Ways to Keep Your Job from Ruining Your Life
Has your job taken over your life? Do you feel like you never actually clock out? Here are three suggestions for getting your life back.
How to Not Be the Annoying Networker
Spreading the word about your business necessitates a bit of self-promotion, a smidge of bragging, and a lot of rubbing elbows with different people. Here's how to work your network without alienating everyone around you.
Using Instagram for Business Marketing
Instagram is a popular photo sharing service you might have seen your teenager using. Companies are using Instagram successfully, too. Here's how you can use Instagram to market your business and engage your customers.
How to Use Pinterest for Your Small Business
Pinterest is still a little confusing for some business people. Here are six tips that will help you use Pinterest to promote your business and connect with customers.
How to Handle Awkward Employee Issues
Employees can present you with some awkward situations, but as the boss, you have to be prepared to deal with them. Here's how to handle three of the most common difficult conversations you'll face.
Top 5 Lies Job Applicants Tell
You want to be sure you hire the best candidate for the job when you have an opening. But how can you tell if the applicants are being honest with you? Here are the top five most common lies job seekers may tell in an interview or on their resume.
Understanding the Home Office Deduction
Do you qualify for the home office deduction? Should you take it even if you do? Is it worth the effort? Here's what you need to know about recent changes to the home office deduction rules.
Is Your Body Language Hurting Your Business?
Body language is an important part of how you communicate. These 11 body language pointers can help you communicate with customers more effectively.
Little Things That Make Employees Want to Quit
You spend a lot of money recruiting and training employees. Are you unknowingly making them want to quit with small, seemingly insignificant slights? Find out how to identify and stop these "microinequities" before they harm your business.
How to Build a Relationship with a Business Lawyer (Before You Need One)
Choosing a lawyer for your business isn't as simple as opening up the yellow pages and picking the one with the best looking ad. And asking for free legal advice when you're in a pinch isn't likely to gain you any popularity points with attorney friends. Here's how to go about finding the best lawyer for your business situation.
How to Pick the Perfect Password
Creating a good password that's hard to hack but easy to remember is no simple task, yet it's vitally important for protecting your personal and financial information. Here are a few ideas for creating secure passwords.
Dont Make These Common Email Marketing Mistakes
Email marketing is an effective and inexpensive way to keep in touch with your customers. Be sure you aren't making one of these common mistakes.
Government Contracting: A Beginner's Guide
Government contracting seem too complicated for your small business to try? It's a huge potential source of income, so don't be too quick to disqualify yourself. Here's what you need to know to get started in government contracting.
300+ Ideas for Starting a Business
Do you want to start your own business but don't know what kind of business to start? Here's a mega list of over 300 business ideas plus suggestions for what it takes to succeed.
7 Steps for Thinking on Your Feet
To get ahead, you need to be able to speak confidently when you're put on the spot. Here are seven steps to follow so you keep your composure and respond well when you're under pressure.
12 Ideas for Starting a Business
Are you thinking about starting your own business but don't want to be the victim of a get-rich scam? Discover real opportunities right under your nose with these 12 ways to find the right business idea.
How to Choose a Credit Card Processing Company
There are dozens of credit card processing companies that offer merchant accounts to small business owners. How do you know which one to choose? Here's what you need to know to evaluate and choose the best credit card processing company for your business.
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