Everyone likes to indulge in a fantasy world on occasion – one where people actually care about what they think. Blogs and tweets are the primary evidence of this phenomenon, and I’m no different. However, I’ve come across many helpful nuggets by giving in and reading other people’s advice. If I can be of help to anyone new to the internet or a startup small business owner, I want to keep them from making the same mistakes or erroneous assumptions that I made. As you prepare for your Schedule C’s, consider what you will take with you to 2011. Here is what I am packing:
1 – Everybody has knowledge.
You’re not a top selling author and you lack an impeccable personal brand. However, you have knowledge about something – and that knowledge is what somebody, somewhere, needs to hear. Regardless of how important it seems to you, whether it is a brand new idea or just a gentle reminder, share it. Say it. Offer your knowledge widely. Chances are good that someone out there is making money from that same idea by selling it or incorporating it as part of their brand. Don’t get left behind.
Be willing to accept ideas that are different from your own and share your knowledge in new ways. I spent a lot of time on the phone the last few months while building up my business. Not my favorite thing, yet I have realized that my 40 something or older male clients just *love* to chat on the phone with me. Even though it isn’t my favorite activity, I see the value in it. These guys just want to hear my Midwestern voice and know that the girl in the pictures or behind the emails is real. I use this time to share different kind of internet marketing techniques, which endears them to me and in turn lulls them into long-standing contracts. Both parties benefit.
2 – Don’t reinvent the wheel.
Paul Colligan uses the expression, “Always improve, never invent.” I love that idea. Why, why, why rack your brain to reinvent the wheel? You don’t need to create a brand new content management system when you can simply customize some Joomla. The same is true with content. The vast majority of my clients don’t want to receive a brand new creation. They want me to customize content that already has a proven to be a success. Don’t make life harder than it has to be.
3 – Maximize the free.
People are constantly giving away free content. It’s a viable way to build lists and brands. So as consumers: capitalize on the free information. I adore small business podcasts. Do I pay for any of them? No. But I do often buy from the very businesses that produce these podcasts. So maximize the free and use the free products/content to see who you want to buy from. That is why they are giving it away in the first place.
This goes both ways. Maximize the free products you give away and you will attract better clientele. No matter what industry you hail from, there is free content to be given away. Position yourself as an educational source and you will get an incredible ROI. There is a reason behind the seeming madness of giving away something for nothing.
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4 – Be transparent.
It’s common knowledge that your potential clients will Google you, especially those of us that provide direct services. Leverage that knowledge while still being a real person. Keep up a Facebook and a twitter account, but know your clients will likely read it and represent yourself according to your professional image. Also, take the time to create an “About Us” page. The internet is full of scammers and bad people, and these tricks will show your potential clientele that you are not one of them.
I had a huge misunderstanding a few years ago when I ran an ecommerce site. Instead of going to Rip Off Reports, this individual decided to post about me in a forum. She used the name of my company and my name many times. If you Google “Amie Marse” you will still see this rant at the top of the search engine results. For years, I have had colleagues or potential clients ask me about this situation. Many of my close internet marketing friends have suggested black hat tricks to get the page lower on the list. I think it’s fantastic and use it to my benefit. When it comes up in conversation it provides the perfect opportunity for transparency. I can tell my side of the story and a bit more about my internet marketing background. I am sure I have lost customers from that post, but I also know that I have gained a lot more by staying transparent.
5 – Be generous, but don’t sink yourself.
I tend to be an overly generous person. This makes me very popular at the bar, but as a businessperson I have to purposefully curb this behavior. After working with startups I know the struggles of a shoestring budget. There is a tendency to act like a big business before you are one, but this can undermine your profits and cause you to lose the company before you can become a big business. Consider the bottom line in every business decision. It might seem nice to do revisions for free, but can you afford to pay your staff for such tasks when the client is only paying once?
6 – Color by numbers.
There is simply no way to run a successful business without knowing the bottom line. Don’t try to “feel” your way through your first year in business – know the numbers.
Not everyone is a math genius, but you can and must learn the basics. Even if you can afford to outsource your books to someone without being bothered to keep track of finances yourself, it is not a wise decision. Knowing the pulse of your business will allow you to make informed decisions. Even an investment in taking a basic accounting class at a local community or junior college will pay off and give you an amazing feeling of satisfaction. Knowing the intricacies of business finances will allow you to remain in control.
7 – Price Point.
It’s about value…or is it convenience? In The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur, Michael Michalowicz points out three major options that a business can choose for focus – but they can only choose one. Will your business strive for cost, convenience, or quality above all else? The book uses fantastic illustrations about some companies that tried to change focus midstream and failed miserably. Did you know that Wal-Mart had video stores? I won’t spoil any more for you, but reading about these examples and knowing what to avoid will allow your business to be more profitable. Great companies offer all three components, but one must take precedence and a laser-like focus on your choice should steer all of your business decisions for 2011.
Article written and contributed by Amie Marse. Amie is an expert in Content generation & structure. She is the Founder of ContentEqualsMoney.com
From: http://ping.fm/9QmsZ
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