If you’ve got the opportunity to travel out of the country, you don’t have to put your business on hold.  Of course, there are computers and internet access just about anywhere you’d be interested in going; so you’re never too far from email access.  This is a terrific way to keep in touch even if you’re out of the country for extended periods of time.
If you want to be able to accept phone calls, you are in luck!  As long as you have access to a telephone while traveling (whether it’s a cell phone or your hotel phone number, or your friends phone number, etc!) you can still receive business related phone calls- as well as personal calls- from a … (more)

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While big corporations typically spend a large chunk of their budgets on advertising, it’s not necessary to have that kind of cash flow to get your business in front of your prospective customers.  Here are several ideas you can use for marketing your small business, and most of them are around $10 bucks.  If they work for you- then obviously you want to continue them; and if they don’t, try making a slight modification or adjustment to what you’ve done and trying it again- this is the trick to measuring your results.  Make one small change at a time and then monitor the results of the change.
Give-a-ways
A time tested marketing technique is to give something away when a customer orders … (more)

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Not all businesses require a ton of disposable cash and a master’s degree to start.  In fact, there are hundreds of businesses you could actually start in a day or two, and as the business grows use the income to expand the business with some marketing.  Some businesses cost more to start than others, but if you have the courage and are willing to do just a little research and go for it- you could be in business for yourself as soon as tomorrow.
First, all businesses need a way to be contacted.  You can use your home telephone or your existing cell phone, but better would be to get a number that is specific to your new business.  A toll … (more)

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Still trying to advertise your business on a shoe string budget?  Here is an effective and easy marketing campaign you can implement for little money- and it has the potential for very big results.
If you try this around the holidays, you may experience a higher rate of response but it may depend upon your specific business and the products or services that you offer.  What you want to do is find an inexpensive service that will let you create postcards.  I like Vistaprint.com because you have full control over the creation of your post cards, can use several fonts and add clip art and other graphics for reasonable prices.  If you want, you can upload your logo and fully customize … (more)

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Small business owners are busy, there is no doubt about it. Often, the owner of a small business is also the prime employee- carrying out the day to day operations and business functions. At the end of the day, the last thing you want to do is think about marketing or writing newsletters.
But that’s exactly what you should be thinking about. Even if you are enjoying a busy season now, if you don’t keep up with the marketing, you could wake up one day soon and realize you don’t have any work lined up.
Any study will tell you that it is far less expensive to keep an existing customer than to find a new one. You … (more)

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 Even though many websites of successful internet business owners make it seem like they woke up on day two of starting their business with money in their bank accounts and enjoying their beach front property, it’s important to realize the realities of owning your own internet-based business.
Photographs and stories of internet business owners also make it seem like they’re always on vacation.  The truth of the matter is, most business owners are not overly familiar with having time off.  Most businesses, especially small businesses, require someone to be working in order for work to be coming in.  If you’re sitting in a lawn chair on the beach, will your business still be earning money?  Ideally, you will set your business … (more)

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I know the internet is plastered with pages and pages of stories about how people became overnight successes by using the internet to make money.  It’s no wonder that most people have “become internet business owner” on their secret wishlist of things to do; but if you are serious about starting your own internet-based business, you should make sure you are prepared for reality!  It’s rarely (if ever) as easy as people might make it seem, and no matter how many times you’ve heard it, chances are- you cannot make millions of dollars overnight just by throwing up a web site.
That being said, there is some truth to it all… you do have more flexible hours than if you worked … (more)

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If you have ambitious plans for the future growth of your small business, but a limited budget, you don’t have to give up on those goals.  Not all marketing requires extensive funding. There are many techniques you can use for getting your small business noticed- and you don’t need a bottomless bank account to get them going, either.
Focus on Keeping Existing Customers
Studies have shown that getting a new customer costs about five times more than the costs associated with keeping your existing customers, so spend some time on activities that encourage your existing customers to stick around.  You can offer some sort of discounts or additional items to your loyal customers; and the more they come back, the more you reward … (more)

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All small business owners, whether you’ve been established for awhile or are just hanging out your “open for business” sign today, can benefit from some effective strategies and tips for jump starting your business.  You could have the number one business in the world, but if none of your potential clients know about the business, it’s not going to do you any good!
Here are six strategies, or tips, that you can begin implementing and start seeing results immediately.

Improve or get a Web site.  Businesses without a website these days just send off the wrong message.  Customers expect to be able to find out information about your company online, and if you don’t have one they’re not going to sit back … (more)

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If you are considering starting your own small business, you’ll need to consider the way you will structure your business. There are four main types of business structures, sole proprietor, partnership, corporation, or limited liability corporation.  How do you know which one to choose?
Most people who are starting a small business tend to start as either a sole proprietor- if they’re going at it alone – or as a partnership if they’ve gone one or more people who are working alongside them in the business.  The reason most businesses start out this way is not because it’s the “right” way; but because it’s the simplest way to start out!  You can operate legally as a business in most states … (more)

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