Posts Tagged ‘start up business assistance’

Stop treating your business like a job; instead think and act like an entrepreneur …

For more practical advice for business start up, obtain a copy of my business start up mini e-course http://www.bizstartupminicourse.com

Trademarks protect words, phrases, symbols, or designs, such a business names, products, or logos, and can be an important consideration of a new business. You do not want to invest years developing brand recognition and goodwill in a business and then, when you are ready to expand to other markets, find out that someone else has the registered trademark on the name. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) provides all of the information, search tools, and forms necessary to file for Federal trademark protection.

This message was adopted by GoSmallBiz.com.  What type of trademark will you establish for your business?  You don’t have to figure this out on your own.  If you are looking for expert advice about how to set up trademarks for your business, visit here.

This past Sunday my pastor delivered a fabulous sermon entitled, ”Pushed Into My Purpose.”

I was so inspired, I couldn’t help to adapt his message and blog about it in the context of solopreneurship.

There are three elements to living in purpose:  answering the call,  being committed, and dealing with circumstances.

1.  Answer the call.  There are many reasons why people decide to start a business.  Being called is one of many.  Some of us answer willingly as active seekers, others of us reluctantly as life steers us into unforeseen situations such as being downsized, under or unemployed,  or unfulfilled in a job.   It is these situations that push us to enter unfamiliar, unchartered territory so that ultimately we live a life of greater purpose.

However, in order to answer the call, you have to commune with the Divine so that He can order your steps down the business ownership path.  In the process you grow deeper in Him which is exactly what He wants.    Remember as a solopreneur you are the soul of your business. Without you, your business would cease to exist.  And since you are wonderfully and divinely made, it is only fitting that you rely on God for wisdom and support as you work toward launching and growing a prosperous business.   Be encouraged and know that if you are called to start a new business according to His purpose, you are serving His will for your life.  In light of this, you will never be led astray, unless you fail to stay in communion with Him.

2.  Be committed. It’s one thing to answer the call, it’s another to go the distance.  In order to stay the course, you have to adapt a “no excuses”  attitude toward the success of your business.  You have to make unrelenting strides toward building your business on a regular consistent basis, while seeking  guidance and direction every step of the way.  Be sure to listen to where you’re being led to go and trust it is the right path with confidence.

3. Deal with circumstances.    The road to purpose driven success and prosperity is not a smooth one.   There are uneven places, detours, trials, challenges, but also triumphs.   Additionally many emotions along the way —  anxiety, uncertainty, insecurity, doubt, fear but also joy, contentment, and fulfillment.

When my pastor discussed discomfort as a necessary aspect of living in purpose,  I had an A-Ha moment.  I never really thought about purpose driven business ownership  in this light.  It opened up new perspective to one of the reasons entrepreneurship is such a challenging pursuit; and it encouraged me to see the uneven places of my business  journey in a completely different light.

I am constantly seeking purpose in my life’s work.   I always want to know if I am doing exactly what it is I am supposed to be doing according to God’s will.

So far I feel like I am walking along the path God  has ordained for me at this particular time. But everyday I’m seeking clarity of vision and purpose driven understanding every step of the way.  For now,  I am content!

How about you?  To what extent is the ”pursuit of purpose” driving your life’s ambitions and deep rooted desires as a solopreneur?

Running your own business presents many challenges but also provides many perks over a regular 9-to-5 job.

It’s an opportunity to reinvent yourself and create a life of greater self-fulfillment and purpose beyond the confines and limitations of your full time job.  The potential of doing more of your life’s work, on your own terms,  is truly what this “launch while you work”  journey is all about.

However, with great reward comes along great responsibility. One of your responsibilities as an independent professional is marketing yourself effectively to launch and grow your business overtime.

As a first time solopreneur, marketing is probably the area of business development where you struggle more often than not.  It’s truly one of the things you resist doing the most and feel the least comfortable.  It’s undoubtedly the last thing that was covered in your  training or licensure/certification program —  if at all.  So it’s perfectly understandable that you may be feeling  inadequate.

The good news is, you can overcome this place of angst or insecurity about promoting yourself and your business, if you choose to.

Here are some personal success tips to begin marketing yourself like an expert:

1. Go for it. If all you do is dream up marketing schemes, you’ll miss the opportunities to implement them. Instead, create one solid marketing plan and stick to it. Tweak your tactics according to your results.

* A marketing plan generally includes several marketing techniques, so choose several of your best ideas and start implementing them today. The faster you get out there and start “peddling” your business, the sooner you’ll begin to increase your revenue.

2. Exude confidence. When you’re confident, people tend to trust your professionalism more than someone who seems timid and unsure of himself.

* Present yourself with poise, and ease. Always maintain confidence in the offerings of your business and your ability to succeed as an independent professional.  This is the trait that has allowed you to be successful in your career job, the same is required as a solopreneur.

3. Test different techniques. Spread your marketing efforts across a number of different strategies. If one or two tactics are less successful, the success of other marketing efforts will keep your business afloat while you determine what gives you the best results.

* To mitigate risk of a failed marketing plan, diversify.  Choose both short and long term marketing strategies for optimal results.

4. Network like a pro. Jump at the opportunity to attend networking events related to your industry. It’s one of the best ways to find clients and make industry contacts that may hire you at a later date or recommend you to their colleagues.

*Free isn’t always key.  Be willing to spend money on conventions or events that provide opportunities to connect with a roomful of your target clientele.  Just one new customer or potential high level jv partner alone can enable you to earn back your investment and then some.

5. Be consistent. Marketing your business is an ongoing task that should be addressed regularly throughout the year. The more you market your business, the more you increase your exposure, make a name for yourself , and meet your financial goals.

* Marketing is to your business what food is to the human body; without it, it’s impossible to survive.

Use these personal success strategies to get out there in 2011 in a BIGGER way and increase your income level to new heights.

Are you ready to make 2011 your best?

Remember this bottom line: if you’re not marketing, you aren’t finding  clients.  If you want to know the formula for how to attract more clients than you ever thought possible in the new year,  join me for the last telelclass of 2010, Countdown to Prosperity 2011!.

Hope to see you on the call.

I think we all remember the phrase, “If you build it, they will come” from the popular movie, Field of Dreams.  However when it comes to business start up, there is a very different story to tell.

It’s one thing to start a business, it’s another to sustain overtime.  I recently read a blog post by Small Business Trends, that outlined the 5 yr success rate of small businesses by industry.    And much to my surprise the service industry’s survival rate is performing slightly higher than average.  However, in spite of this, it also means there is still a large number that aren’t making it.

There are many reasons why small businesses fail.  One area is obviously tied to insufficient financial capital.  So what makes the difference between big revenue streams vs. small or non-existent ones?

Here are my top 10 picks for why new solo businesses remain small and don’t profit:  

 10. No infrastructure to run business.  Once you find that perfect client, the question that comes next is now what?  Many newbies have a difficult time answering this question because they have been so focused on getting their first few paying clients, they don’t have a plan for how they will deliver their product promise, and/or manage the operations of their business. 

Quick tip:  Before getting your first client, establish processes to facilitate ongoing, consistent communication, and systems to manage your finances, and administrative functions of your business.  This way your focus can remain on business building and development.

 9. One-on-one client orientation.  A business model that only consists of working one-on-one with clients is short sighted and typically results in burnout overtime.  It’s much more advantageous to share more of you and what you have to offer with the masses, than with only those whom you can serve personally at any given time. 

Quick tip:  Incorporate both products and services to your sales funnel to help more, serve more and  expand your earning potential.   

 8. A website without a hook.    The harsh reality is once a  unique visitor comes to your website they will  either save your site as a favorite or leave and never return…unless you give them a reason.  Design your site with the goal of converting visitors into prospects.

Quick tip:  Provide relevant and valuable tools, resources, free giveaways…and an opt-in feature to capture contact information and keep in touch.

 7. One dimensional marketing.   Think about your marketing plan as a portfolio of sorts – the more diverse, the better your chance of reaching your intended goals and benchmarks, and the less risk of losing time and money with all your eggs in one basket.  It’s also important to monitor the performance of each strategy to  ensure you are pouring the right resources in the right areas at the right time. 

Quick tip: Incorporate a tracking mechanism for each strategy to eliminate the guesswork around what works, what doesn’t, and achieve optimal results fast.

 6. The wrong offer. Not all solutions you have ideas about are the most viable in the eyes of your prospects and clients.  Remember it’s not about you, it’s about your clients.  Focus on what your clients really want and avoid the temptation of creating services or products in a vacuum.

 Quick Tip:  If you are unsure about what solutions your prospects or clients need, simply survey them or ask directly.

 5. A non-compelling marketing message.  It’s one thing to know who you are seeking to attract, it’s another to know how to communicate with them and enlist them as clients.  Without careful attention to this, you’ll end up working ten times harder by chasing down prospects instead of pulling them toward you.

Quick tip:  Your “sales conversation” should always speak to their heart and mind, by focusing on what matters and concerns them most.

 4. Missing marketing plan.  The “art” and “science” of attracting ideal clients is a focused and purposeful activity.  It’s always a good idea to start with the end in mind and design your strategy for how you will get there.  

 Quick tip:  Establish goals for how you wish to build your list, bring in more business,  and then take action to make it happen.

 3. Fishing in the wrong pond.  There are many criteria for choosing viable markets, to include the ability to reach your prospects easily and inexpensively.   However, without a clear idea of where they “hang out” you will be hard pressed to begin any marketing conversation, build your list, or grow your business.

Quick Tip:  Take time to study your target first so that you know where to direct your marketing efforts.  This way you avoid the “spray and pray approach” to marketing. 

2. Inconsistent marketing efforts.  This fatal error fosters the feast or famine syndrome. In order to keep your pipeline full of prospects, see marketing as an ongoing and consistent activity.  Always remember, if you aren’t actively seeking business, then your business is not making money.

Quick tip:  Carve out time every day to devote toward some aspect of marketing.

 And the number one reason:  Jack of all trades and master of none.   It’s extremely difficult to be a generalist and attract all the clients you will ever need at the same time. Having a specific target audience or niche in mind, will help you formulate a cogent marketing message that pull prospects toward you, more quickly, more often and without fail. 

The end result:  more clients, more business, more money!!

 Quick tip:  As you seek to find the ideal client, never lose sight of what fills you up on the inside – an eager individual with a pulse and credit card in hand shouldn’t be the only criterion for ideal. 

Sometimes a complete business makeover is required to get your business turning profits. But other times a small tweak is all that’s required. Use these simple strategies to audit what’s working  and what isn’t with your business to accelerate your profit making potential by leaps and bounds. 

For more viable solutions for getting your business off the ground running, growing, and making more money: http://bit.ly/9jW642

What:  Free Teleclass:  5 Strategies For How To Launch While You Work

When:  August 31, 9pm EST

Where:  Via Bridgeline

For More Information & To Register, Go To:

http://launchwhileyouwork.eventbrite.com