Small Business Growth Strategies

I had the great pleasure of attending the eWomen Network annual conference in Dallas last week and WOW, what a phenomenal experience. It was my first time attending this event, and it definitely won’t be my last.

When more than 2,500 women business owners take over a Hyatt hotel, magic happens. The Law of Attraction was hard at work for those of us who went with clear intentions. The most exciting moment for me was meeting the fabulous Michael Gerber, author of The E-Myth (if you own a business and haven’t read this book, run to your bookstore NOW). His lovely wife, Luz Delia, was also with him and it was moving to see their mutual adoration for each other.

Mr. Gerber gave a wonderful keynote presentation and one of my favorite moments was when he pointed out that he is now 72-years old and he is often asked when he is going to retire. “Retire? Why would I do that?” He went on to say that he is having too much fun creating. A nugget that will stay with me for a long time was when he said, “I am here on this earth to create.”

YES!

I don’t know about you, but that one small comment shot through me like a lightning bolt. I get it completely.

We enjoyed many fantastic presentations. The surprise opening entertainment came from Judson Laipply and his hilarious Evolution of Dance, a six minute montage of music and dance moves that made him famous on You Tube (and led to appearances on the Today Show and Oprah). Marci Shimoff, author of Happy for No Reason, shared some remarkable insight into our personal levels of happiness. I learned that your happiness level is the average of the five people you spend the most time with. Interesting stuff, for sure. I also connected with Jan King, the founder of the inspiring eWomen Publishing Network. If you need help publishing your first book, this is an excellent resource.

And of course there were all the amazing women wandering the halls. I am still, a week later, overwhelmed by the connections I made, the ideas generated and the energy that happens when that many women share the same space. It’s electric! Best of all, we didn’t even have to wait in line for the restroom. The few brave men who attended had to trek downstairs. What a refreshing change.

Sandra Yancey, founder of eWomen Network, has created something truly powerful in this organization and the annual event. She also rocked Donny Deutsch’s The Big Idea this week. If you want some inspiration, make sure you put this event on your calendar for next year.

written by Stephanie Chandler

For the past week or so, I have been hearing from various people that my e-mails either aren’t arriving or I’m not receiving their messages. Since I have managed to receive some e-mail messages and some of my e-mails have gone through, I have been beating my head against the wall trying to decode the mystery problem.

Then I remembered that a friend of mine, Michelle Ulrich from Virtual Business Marketing, had mentioned a similar problem a couple of months back. I called her up and she reported that her DSL provider required that she change the port settings for her POP mail setup in Microsoft Outlook.

Since we have different DSL providers AND different website hosts, I wasn’t sure that my problem was the same as hers. But all it took was a quick online search of AT&T/SBC and Yahoo! support to check for POP e-mail settings. It turns out that somewhere along the way, these providers changed the required port settings for e-mail! The same e-mail settings that I have used for YEARS… I had to completely update all of my e-mail accounts (I have several).

What is most disturbing is that I never received any notification of this change. Perhaps their e-mail announcement couldn’t get through to me?! For goodness sake folks, send a postcard to your clients who run businesses with your services! There is a very good chance that I lost business this past week due to failed e-mail delivery.

So my friends, if you use Outlook or POP e-mail and you’re stuck in e-mail limbo, do yourself a favor and check with your Internet service provider and/or your Web hosting provider. Even if you’re not stuck in e-mail limbo YET, it would be wise to double check your POP mail setttings. It appears that several providers are changing their settings and you don’t want to find out the hard way like I did.

Onward and upward!  

written by Stephanie Chandler

If you are sending commercial e-mail messages, it is essential that you follow the rules of the CAN-SPAM Compliance Act. Fines for violations are steep - up to $11,000! Aside from following the law, being viewed as a spammer can actually hurt your business. Here are the key rules to follow:

• The subject line of your e-mail message must reflect what the message is about and cannot be deceptive or misleading.
• Your “From” e-mail address must accurately reflect who is sending the message.
• Your message must include instructions for the reader to opt-out of your mailing list.
• Once someone opts out of your list, you have 10 days to remove them.
• You must include a physical postal address in all messages.
• You cannot harvest or capture e-mail addresses without a user’s knowledge. They must CHOOSE to receive your messages.
• Unlike traditional direct mail, you cannot purchase an e-mail list! Again, your recipients must opt-in. If you want to legally reach more people through e-mail, you may be able to rent ad space in someone elses e-newsletter.
• If you meet someone at an event and they give you their business card, you cannot add them to your list unless they give you permission! (This is a pet peave of mine.)

The above list includes the basics. For more details about CAN-SPAM Compliance, visit the FTC website. I also use and recommend Constant Contact for managing your electronic newsletter and email marketing campaigns!

written by Stephanie Chandler

What a horrible tragedy it was that Tim Russert had an apparent heart attack and died on the job last week. I was glued to the tributes all weekend and so deeply saddened by the loss of such an inspiring person.

In case you don’t know, Tim Russert was an attorney with a passion for politics and the head of NBC’s Washington Bureau. According to the long list of tributes given to him by people he knew, he was a stand-up guy who loved his work and his family. His son Luke’s appearance on the Today Show this morning would make his father very proud.

When someone like Tim leaves the world too soon, we have to wonder why. It would be an even bigger tragedy if we could not find some lesson in his passing. Here’s what I see in all of this:

• We must take better care of ourselves. Business owners are hard-wired to work long hours. Even though we may love what we do, it certainly can’t be worth it if we lose precious years of our lives because we are so focused on work.
• Be fiercely passionate. Loving what you do makes life so much more rewarding. If you don’t love what you do, look for a way to make a change. Life is too short.
• Create a legacy. How are you giving back? What will you be remembered for? What do you want to be remembered for? This may take some reflection so set aside the time to give it some thought.
• Live an authentic life. Friends reported that Tim Russert was smart, supportive, passionate, a loving father and husband, and someone that many looked up to. He also authored a moving memoir about his father (Big Russ and Me) and seemed to wear his heart on his sleeve. Being authentic and showing your vulnerability actually endears people to you. I believe it also helps you lead a more fulfilling life.

My heart goes out to the Russert family and all of the people who loved Tim. He left a legacy to be proud of and touched many, many lives.

written by Stephanie Chandler

10 Ways to Build Your Author Platform Online: Get Published, Sell More Books and Be an Online Superstar
By Stephanie Chandler

When I ventured into the publishing world like an eager puppy in 2003, agents and editors asked me the same old tired question: “What’s your platform?” As one agent told me, “You need to have an audience of thousands that want to buy your book.”When I ventured into the publishing world like an eager puppy in 2003, agents and editors asked me the same old tired question: “What’s your platform?” As one agent told me, “You need to have an audience of thousands that want to buy your book.”Because the publishing industry, like so many others, cannot afford to take too many chances, authors are expected to come to the table with a ready-made audience. Determined to turn rejection into acceptance, I decided to take matters into my own hands. This recipe worked like a charm.

Whether you’re just starting out in publishing or you have dozens of books to your credit, having a platform is a sure-fire way to make agents and editors fall in love with you and to sell plenty of books. The quickest way to reach the finish line is to start on the Internet. Here are the steps to get started on your journey to publishing success.

1. Launch a Website: No matter where you are in the process, a website is a place to showcase your talents. Use yours to build an audience, share samples of your work, showcase your accomplishments and impress publishing professionals.

2. Host a Blog: A blog is essentially an online diary where you post brief entries (one to three paragraphs) about topics related to your work. This can be a wonderful creative outlet for a writer, not to mention a savvy promotion tool. Do it right and your audience will find you. You can peruse all kinds of blogs at www.BlogCatalog.com. To start yours, check out www.Typepad.com or www.Wordpress.com.

3. Publish a Newsletter: Build loyal fans for life by publishing an interesting electronic newsletter with content related to your book(s). My first newsletter went out to a whopping eight people several years ago. Today it goes out to thousands of subscribers.  Get started with www.ConstantContact.com or www.iContact.com.

4. Form Online Partnerships: Find people who reach a similar target audience and look for ways to promote each other. You can publish articles on each other’s websites or newsletters, host an event or contest together or even share a blog. Be creative and pool your resources.

5. Get Some Experience: Write for industry publications and related websites to build your credibility. Writing opportunities are abundant on the Internet. Go out and find them.

6. Participate in Online Forums: Find online communities where your target audience looms and make a name for yourself by sharing information. If you really want to stand out, start and lead a group. A good place to start is http://groups.yahoo.com/.

7. Leverage Social Networking: Sites like MySpace.com, LinkedIn.com, Facebook.com, Twitter.com and countless others are ripe for finding and building an audience. Create an interesting profile and get active in social networking communities. The biggest cost here will be in your time so spend it wisely and identify the best opportunities to expand your reach.

8. Moderate Yourself: Everything you do on the Internet is subject to live on forever. Consider the image you want to portray and make sure everything you do and say reflects that.

9. Look the Part: Get a professional photo taken. Post it on all of your profiles so visitors can feel like they know you. You will also be glad you have that handy when a reporter comes along who can use it along with the profile they write about you!

10. Create a Bio: Many sites allow you to post a bio with your public profile. Make sure you have several versions of your bio readily available in short, medium and long formats. This will not only save you time in having to recreate it each time, but it will ensure that your message is consistent.
About the Author:
Stephanie Chandler is the author of several business and marketing books including “The Author’s Guide to Building an Online Platform: Leverage the Internet to Sell More Books.” She is also the founder of www.BusinessInfoGuide.com, a directory of resources for entrepreneurs and www.TheBusinessGrowthConnection.com, a marketing company specializing in custom electronic newsletters. Sign up for her monthly newsletter for more tips of resources!

*You are welcome to reprint this article provided the author bio is included.

written by Stephanie Chandler

My publisher sent me a link to a hilarious video on You Tube by Dennis Cass. Reasons to watch this video:

1. Because you will probably relate even if you don’t want to admit it.
2. Because it’s just plain funny.
3. Because it’s a great example of viral marketing and you can ask yourself how you can do something similar to promote your books!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxschLOAr-s

written by Stephanie Chandler

I recently had a conversation about determining job titles in business. In the corporate world, most titles are dry and boring. One of the many benefits of business ownership is that we can write our own rules. Who says you can’t be the “Chief Prosperity Officer” or declare yourself a “Wealth Specialist.” Here’s a list of words you can have some fun with:

Trainer 
Specialist Strategist 
Adviser Expert 
Mentor

Coach 
Partner 

Consultant 
Chief ___ Officer Professional 
Instructor
Tutor 
Ally
Leader 
Head Honcho
Top Dog 
President
Owner 
Founder
Queen Bee 

written by Stephanie Chandler

It’s hard to avoid the glum news about the economy right now. I know we’re all feeling it at the gas pump and many business owners are also experiencing the squeeze. In some industries, such as real estate, it’s impossible to deny what’s happening. But here’s the thing about doing business in a recession – though it may be off in the distance, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Expert opinions vary, but most say it will be two years before a real recovery happens. The way I see it, we have two choices. We can watch the news and complain and worry about it OR we can choose to reject the recession and look for new ways to generate business. Here are a few ideas to help you reject the recession:

1. Marketing, marketing, marketing. Studies show that businesses that continue to market through a recession come out ahead when the economy begins to turn. Though you may be tempted to cut back on business expenses, this is the worst time to cut back on marketing! Remember, marketing should be an investment in your business that produces a return, not an expense. If what you’re doing isn’t producing results, try something else.

2. Reevaluate your products and services. If you sell items or services that rely on your clients having extra disposable income, you need to get creative. Business is about meeting the needs of your clients. For example, if you’re a travel agent and clients aren’t spending on extravagant vacations, you could shift your focus to affordable family get-aways. Or develop a new niche in coordinating family reunions or quick trips for couples.

3. Leverage your existing clients. These are your hottest prospects because they already know and like your business. Offer referral programs, special offers, whatever it takes to get the wheels in motion. Remember to reach out to them repeatedly through direct mail, e-mail, hand-written note cards, events, appreciation programs, etc.

4. Be budget sensitive. Consumers are tightening up their wallets. In order to get their attention right now, you have to give them some incentive. A walk through any department store will show you that sales are abundant. Offering discounts, buy-one-get-one offers, bundled packages and other money-savers can help you attract buyers that might otherwise be holding off from making a purchase.

5. Get everyone on board. Do whatever you can to motivate your staff and to keep yourself focused on the opportunities. Your competitors are struggling too. This is an opportunity to rise above! With the right amount of strategy and effort, it is entirely possible to move forward and even thrive in a tough economy.

If you’ve come up with some creative strategies to reject the recession, I would love to hear about them. Be sure to post a comment or send me an e-mail!

written by Stephanie Chandler

I recently discovered an awesome and affordable tool that allows you to set up a toll free or custom phone number, a phone tree that routes messages to your staff, voice mail with text notification and more. For about $10 per month you can elevate your business image and streamline your answering process! Check out GotVmail. Everything should be this easy.

written by Stephanie Chandler

The following review was submitted by a reader:

Are you serious about growing your business? If so, Million Dollar Networking by Andrea Nierenberg is a must-read for you. Mastering and utilizing effective business networking techniques is the key to building long-term, ongoing business relationships. This enjoyable and informative book provides step-by-step instructions for growing your business through networking.
In Million Dollar Networking, Nierenberg also explains what separates those who are successful at networking from those who just don’t get the concept of building long-term, mutually beneficial business relationships. She shares suggestions for how cultivate the attributes that separate effective networkers from the rest of the pack.
The valuable insights you will gain from reading Million Dollar Networking include:

• A solid understanding about why networking requires giving without the expectation of receiving
• How to connect with “unreachable” contacts
• How to make networking a part of your DNA
• Tips to re-start relationships with former contacts
• Many other practical and valuable business growth suggestions

This book is a valuable resource for entrepreneurs, salespeople, consultants, and any other professionals seeking to build their reputations, credibility, and income. No matter what industry you are in, the tips and suggestions provided in this book can help you take your business to a new level by mastering the art of effective networking.
Book review provided by Mary Gormandy White, training and career expert with Mobile Technical Institute and MTI Business Solutions (http://www.mobiletechwebsite.com). Visit http://www.dailybizsolutions.com for small business marketing, PR, and operations advice. See http://www.dailycareerconnection.com for professional development tips and career advice. 
 

written by Stephanie Chandler