If you write down a plan and jot down all of your greatest wants and needs, this will help you make decisions more accurately as you take your walk through life. The best thing you could possibly do is make a timeline of which you mark down what you want to have done in 30 days. Then make another mark for 3 months and so on and so on until you’re up to 5 years. It is at this time you will finally start to realize what is important to you and your business. It is at THIS TIME that you will finally start to see the error in your business ways and start to walk the path of a successful business person.

Once your Business Timeline is in place, start to make a list of items you would like to have done by a said date. For instance, at the 1 year mark which should be right after the 9 month mark, write a little note beside it saying something like this: “Have XX amount of total customers and have XX amount of returning customers.” The customers from the first half of that note would hopefully graduate and initially … Read the rest

Since most companies are started with very limited funds, many entrepreneurs are reluctant to set money aside to pay for consulting services to fill in their knowledge gaps. For example, many create a website from the many templates available. Some are even free.

Where the company website is concerned I feel that the use of existing templates is a false economy. The website functions as an online calling card and needs to put your best foot forward. For site visitors, seeing a format that they have seen before can reflect badly on you.

The amount of time required for the entrepreneur to become proficient enough to develop a quality website takes time away from tending to functions relating to product knowledge, operations and management. Contracting with a website development company could be the solution.

Websites, to be noticed, must go through the Search Engine Optimization (SEO) process. The purpose of SEO is to improve your website’s chances of ranking high in a search. The mechanism for doing this is complex and dynamic. This again is a very specialized function that is often beyond the capability of the business owner.

There are functions which may be grouped under the heading Entrepreneurship … Read the rest

For a business with physical products or a physical location, it’s more than likely you’re going to need upwards of $100K to even get started. If you’re interested in a specific business, do the research to find out what it would take. But, if you don’t have money in the bank that you can afford to lose, then a physical business may not be the best idea for you.

If you need to work a normal full-time job while you’re starting your business because you don’t have savings to live on, then it’s possible that the best choice for you is a digital business. This is because you can start it in your spare time with nothing more than a computer and internet connection.

It sounds wonderful to start a food truck or a restaurant but what is the reality of that? Have you ever worked in a restaurant as a manager? If not, your learning curve will be extremely large. Even if you’re currently a chef at a restaurant, making money as an owner is a lot harder than you may think – although of course, it is possible.

If you’ve managed to sock away enough money to live … Read the rest

It used to be the case that the task of writing a book was tantamount to embarking on a long and arduous journey, that required long periods of time, great planning and dedication, an agent, the approval and acceptance of a publishing house, and more. This is no longer the case… Anyone who has wanted to write, can… and you can get your book published and ready to sell in less than 48 hours after it’s written. And no, it doesn’t take a great level of skill or any secret or specialised knowledge… I’ve done it, and have helped others do the same just by following a few simple steps, and using more simple steps have gotten books to #1 ranking spots – for some of them, without even a review to reassure buyers, (though I wouldn’t recommend this). So, if it’s that easy, why isn’t everyone doing it, and why aren’t all entrepreneurs who have published online have booming businesses?

Well, in the answer lies what’s key… it’s not enough to simply write, what’s important is that you write content that others will find useful, and want to read, and more than that, essential for success is using that … Read the rest

Focusing on the key product

Your business revolves on the key product so focusing on your core product is the first step to create a business opportunity. A certain successful entrepreneur has stated that “Prospects buy when they trust your value is applicable to them and believe your company is stable” suggesting that an entrepreneur should focus on providing value to the customers. This suggestion is the key to the core plan. An entrepreneur of small business needs to differentiate from big business by concentrating on the core products. Specialization is the biggest asset of entrepreneurs.

Keeping it simple and short

One should be able to tell what their business is in few precise and concise words(I.e the patter or pitch) lasting for 30 seconds since any prospect can understand clearly about the business without being confused.

Staying true to who you are

You can reach your goals by knowing who you are and what gets you excited and not. Notably procrastination as human nature is can delay your growth plan so it’s better to not procrastinate and go for a perfect result oriented plan

Mapping it

The best way to determine your service strategy is by mapping your capabilities … Read the rest

There are many social media platforms out there, and knowing how to leverage as many of them as possible is key to maximize your business’s exposure and reach new potential markets. Here are a few suggestions on how to leverage social media platforms that most people use today.

• Leverage Twitter! Twitter is a micro-blogging platform that lets your business “follow” certain experts, competitors, and other important entities in your niche. Your customers can also follow your “Tweets,” checking out your newest articles, your latest products, and other updates.
• Leverage Facebook! Arguably one of the most popular social media platforms out there, Facebook lets you put up a fan page for your company. Some plugins can also let your “fans” and visitors sign up for your mailing list, and Facebook also has a special program for ads and promos.
• Leverage LinkedIn! LinkedIn is more professional than most other social media platforms, since it focuses on creating contacts between businesses. You can find markets to sell to – as well as other products and services that can help you grow your business even more quickly.
• Leverage Plaxo! Plaxo is a great way to keep your contact list and calendar updated by syncing

Is the American dream a possibility for anyone, or, does it take more than most to become a successful entrepreneur?
The success of an entrepreneur does depend on their mindset. A large percentage of business owners will quit in their first five years in business. What is needed is the fortitude and belief that goes with attaining success.

Entrepreneurs are risk takers and dreamers. The difference between the dreamer and the entrepreneur though, is that the entrepreneur takes actions based on their dreams. They persist through the hardships and never give up! Many entrepreneurs start with an idea. Their success is determined by their belief that they can create something greater than simple monetary success. Often, it is about creating something which will benefit the world.

James Dyson, for example, came up with the idea of the bagless vacuum cleaner. Despite multiple set backs, over 5000 prototypes and not being able to get any manufacturers or distributors to accept his idea, he persevered. It was over a decade after his initial idea when his concept came to fruition. Even then, it was after a lot of difficulties and hardship due to the vacuum replacement bag industry, which was worth £100 … Read the rest

First, to achieve success as a social entrepreneur, you need more than a business idea. You need a business strategy and the tenacity to see it through.

Why a social entrepreneur?

Have got what it takes? Don’t answer immediately, think about your motivation, is it because you want to do some good or find a way for to give back to society? Being a social entrepreneur means dedicating time, money, and efforts to help solve the issues of other individuals. You need to figure out why you want to become a social entrepreneur in the first place and understand all its aspects. Remember, self-reflection is the key that will keep you going and will prevent you from going off-track.

Your primary objective

If you are ready to take this path, then it is time to decide what your mission is going to be. Which issue(s) are you going to tackle? Think about abilities, previous experience, professional skills, and whether you have access to the required resources. Have a clear-cut plan and finally decide if you want to tackle that problem. Research thoroughly about the type of social business setting you want to work in and learn more about competitors. If … Read the rest

Use a calendar – either manual, digital, or both. Check and update it every day. Being organized is essential to entrepreneurial discipline. Set reminders for yourself and make sure you read them. Distractions will arise throughout the day which may cause you to glance over things. An overlooked appointment can mean a missed business opportunity; it can be hard to get second chances when there is competition lurking around the corner.

Have a good filing system. Locating important papers or tracking your follow-ups is extremely hard to do if you do not have a good one in place. If you are working alone or have limited space, file items in order of importance, set reminders to review them and be sure to mark them as complete. Consequently, this will help you remember what you are currently working on or what has yet to be started, especially if you easily get distracted. Marking items as complete also provides a sense of accomplishment. Trust me; a check mark can go a long way when your to-do list seems to get longer and longer.

Dedicate at least one hour of your peak time (the time when you get your best work done) to … Read the rest