Between unemployment and the risk of unemployment more and more people are looking at the feasibility of starting their own home business. It’s a by product of our tough economic times and changing ideas about work and happiness. It’s also explaining why the home office is becoming such hot spot in the house. Stores and designers are offering all kinds of ideas for consumers interested in great home office decoration ideas.

As an entrepreneur (full-time, part-time, soon-to-be) here are some images to help inspire you as you make your home office a place that is not just comfortable and attractive but great for work!

I’m in need of a new desk for my office and started to look at some options this morning.  I like a lot of desk space and I tend to like L- or U-shaped desks. I’m creating a short list and thought this item from Amazon looked pretty good given my requirements – it’s a start:

What decoration plans have you got for your home office?  Perhaps you’ve just updated your own home office – please share a link to your post about the work  you’ve done at home to inspire your entrepreneurial goals.

When you decided to start your business you likely looked at your existing skills as key assets supporting your goal of entrepreneurship, as you should.  My question to you today is, given your skills and business track record, do you consider yourself an expert in your field and is becoming an expert even a goal for you?

I know quite a few people who are running businesses selling their services and products and doing so quite successfully but I’m not certain all of them consider themselves “experts” in what they do and I think I know why. Positioning yourself as an “expert” in your field is to assert a level of knowledge and experience that is superior to your competitors. It’s also a public declaration to customers and clients that they can expect you to deliver the absolute best at what is offered in your segment of the market place.

For some people, articulating how good they really are is difficult to do. They consider it bragging and while they’re all for promoting their businesses there is a nervousness about crossing the line between good promotion and possible hype.

I say “get over it.” Hype is when there is nothing behind what you’re promoting. When you know what you’re doing and doing it well, asserting yourself as an expert is a way to build help your prospective customers to have a high degree of confidence in your/your business’ abilities.  Keep in mind that ideally, you’re in business because you love what you do–being or becoming an expert in your field is a natural progression.

Getting There: Education and Training

Any professional with a successful track record is in a state of continual learning. For example, the most well respected doctors are typically learning from their patients, asking questions that lead to better patient care, comparing experiences, participating in continuing education seminars and taking an interest in their profession that leads to a level of satisfaction that benefits their patients.

If you’re a consultant, coach, publisher, copywriter, designer, programmer, virtual assistant, accountant, product manufacturer or any other type of small business owner, there are many areas of your business that you need to understand but what is most important is that you be considered a knowledgeable leader in your segment of the marketplace.

Your customers want to know that they are in good hands.  They want you to be that “expert” that can solve their problems. If you think you’re at that point now that is excellent! If you’re not confident that you’re the expert your clients and customers expect now’s the time to take action to develop that level of expertise.

Accessing the education and training needed to make you and your business the success you’ve dreamed of is an exciting and exhilarating challenge that is truly a lifelong, satisfying journey. Markets are always changing and best-practices change right along with customer needs. There’s no way to keep on top of all you need to know unless you ensure that you have constant access to relevant and timely education and training resources.

Resources

Here are some ideas of the kinds of resources you can tap into to reinforce your knowledge base and strengthen your ability to provide the most competitive, high-quality degree of service/product delivery available in your market.

1. Professional Associations or Mentorship Groups in your field: There are thousands of professional associations for just about every field of specialty in the marketplace.  In addition to joining your specialized group/association where members operate businesses similar to yours,  I highly recommend peer mentorship groups where you might meet business owners operating all kinds of businesses.  The point of joining such a group is to get support and ideas to propel your business from a strategic standpoint. I highly recommend this solopreneur peer mentorship group.
2. Use the Internet to access reliable resources to help encourage, educate and motivate you. Here at Small Business Study we have a free e-book that offers profiles on the entrepreneurial journeys of a few successful entrepreneurs that I think you’ll enjoy.
3. Join a LinkedIn discussion group related to your area of expertise.  The questions raised by members are often times the kinds of questions you might ask yourself about a particular issue or problem.  Best of all LinkedIn is free!
4. Read about your business passion! Venture onto Amazon and search out books that have been recommended by peers or experts you respect. If you haven’t the time to dedicate to a book right now, think about purchasing an audio version of your current book selection and listen as you work, en route to a client’s office or while waiting to pick up the kids from school.
5. Participate in seminars and conferences. In-person events like this offer a concentrated opportunity to learn, interact with others who may be at the top of their field and generally enjoy yourself in one of those rare opportunities where you’re not locked up in your office or knee deep in work.

Let me know about your small business journey to becoming an expert in your field and leave a comment below.

I hope you are enjoying your holidays with family and friends. Some of you are back to work; others are getting things in order to start a new year.

I’m in the latter group and thought I’d share a post that will come in handy for all of us.  It’s my “handy tools of the trade” post.  While we’re not all in the same trade or type of business, the fact that you’re reading this online means that we are at least connecting in a an online “way” that is shared by millions – including YOUR customers.

To help you hit new goals for your business using the power of the Internet and strategic online marketing, you’ll need the following key tools/resources.

Get the Scoop on how to Utilize WordPress

If you’re not already using WordPress as the content management platform for your website, you ought to seriously think about the benefits of switching in the new year. As small business owners with lots of tasks and projects to manage, you really don’t want to be spending hours and days fiddling with website technical challenges which are highly likely if you are NOT using WordPress.

One of strongest things going for WordPress is that it is widely used which means you can find plenty of affordable self study programs so you can create, edit and update your website yourself. In fact, for those of you who coach, teach or offer online services, becoming a pro at WordPress can be a very lucrative part of your business. You can teach others how to use this powerful but accessible resource!

One of the best educational programs available for busy small business owners is Website Design Mojo. The next course starts January 16 so sign up now!

Content is King…and Profitable

How you attract customers and engage the marketplace is with content. It’s not enough to just put your product or service out there, you have to use language and smart design to help your prospective customers understand why your product or service can fix their problems and satisfy their needs.

That’s really easy to say and explain but harder for many people to actually “do.” So in 2012 why not ensure that your website and marketing material presents your business in a way that is professional, engaging and attractive to YOUR target market.

Write to Type is an online content and marketing service that can create blog posts, articles, web page content and webdesign for a price that fits the solopreneur’s budget. Don’t delay any longer and learn more about how this service can help your business.

Your List is Your Greatest Asset

You’ve likely heard/read in many places that “the money is in the list.” It repeated often enough because it’s true.  Your prospective customer list is extremely valuable and you should be building that list every waking moment.  How do you that? Easy you use one of the great automated tools available to small business owners like you. There are many out there but I like to recommend the tool I use as it’s been around for some time and is used by many business owners. I am of course referring to Aweber.

Evernote Keeps You Organized When Mobile

I’ve had Evernote saved to my system for at least 2 years, but I never really used it until 2011. Now I can’t imagine being without it because I like to be productive while I’m mobile.

Now don’t get me wrong – I don’t text while driving or anything like that, but when I’m waiting in line at the bank or sitting in the doctor’s office, I love that I can jot down a few notes or ideas that are critical to my business.

I know some of you are thinking “How crazy is life today that we can’t just sit (or stand) with our thoughts?” Why must we always be productive? All I can tell you is that I enjoy being able to write down my thoughts, or add to a list using this tool. It’s not stressful for me and in fact I feel energized once I’ve recorded something I think important into my handy Evernote file.

I use Evernote on my laptop, desktop and of course my trusty iPhone.

Sometimes the Company of Others is Just What You Need

It really is exciting to be able to be running your business from the comfort of your home office.  Some of you are doing it part-time when you get home from work.  Others are doing it full-time, making steady and sure gain with your dedicated efforts.

Regardless of your particular circumstance, one thing is for sure: you can achieve so much more with the “strategic” support of others. For example, you might be stumped and in need of some vital information – what do you do? Sure you could spend hours and months searching for the right solution but in business so often what you’re struggling with has been experienced by others who’ve reached goals you’re only dreaming of right now.

Wouldn’t it make more sense to save yourself months of lost income by connecting with that person who has achieved success? It’s possible when you’re involved in a successful peer mentorship group.

Perhaps you have an idea for something but no means of connecting with the very audience who would love your awesome product or service. This is where a partnership can be invaluable. But where might you meet someone with the degree of trust and resources you need to join you in a joint partnership venture?

You got it…a peer mentorship group.  These kinds of groups are about connecting with others and are truly invaluable and enjoyable – even for the most die-hard hermits among you

The key is to join a peer membership group with a proven track record. I’m going to recommend the group from which I’ve learned so much about my business and myself. Solo Masterminds is a tremendous, professional mentorship group specifically for the online solopreneur (an entrepreneur without any employees).  I’ve been a member since 2007 and I can tell you that I visit the forums and library there at least 5-6 days out every week. No kidding.

Growing your business in 2012 will no doubt involve the use of strategic online marketing strategies. Using the tools above you’ll ensure that you have

• Professional Online Presence
• Clear communication with your audience
• Inspiration to drive you towards reaching profitable goals.

Best wishes for the New Year!

Warmly,

Sharon

I’m a strong advocate for “blogging for business” because I think it helps business owners to provide a more personal welcome to visitors on your website. That’s one of the reasons I’m sharing with you my friend Lynette Chandler’s popular and *free* 2012 Blog Energizer Blogging Calendar and Planner.

The calendar is filled with all kinds of topics, ideas and valuable resources to help you create a truly interesting and engaging blog for your business. You may not think a blog is all that important for your business but I say it is VITAL.

Unlike a brick and mortar office or store, you can’t be there in person to welcome your visitors to your website. I think a lot of people are like me in that they won’t be ready to buy from someone unless they know a little about the person or have received a personal recommendation about the business from someone they trust.

One of the ways you can build trust and learn about a business is by reading their blog. Sure some business blogs are nothing more than glorified advertising but that’s just a reflection of someone who doesn’t know how to “blog for business.” If you’re in business for the right reasons, you likely have great interest in the products or services you sell and can share quite a bit of useful information about your topic of expertise.

There’s no better place to share this information in a conversational and easy to digest tone than in a blog! Your prospective customers can read about your insights and learn more about your products, services and good advice at their own leisure. Personally, I enjoy a well-written blog far more than a slick brochure when I want to learn about a company.

A business blog, when used effectively, can more meaningfully speak to the needs of a customer than a typical marketing brochure. Remember it’s not hard to create an interesting blog and improve your website for 2012 – especially with this wonderful little gift.

Click here to download your free Blog Editorial Calendar from Blog Energizer.

If you need some help in the content creation part of your blog, I can help! I’m in the final stages of completing web copy and web design resource package designed to give you step-by-step guidance to turn your website into a more effective income earning marketing tool. Fill in the form below – just your name and email – and I’ll be sure to let know as soon as the package is ready!

 

By now you’ve likely heard about Small Business Saturday – a day designated as such by American Express to help support the “backbone” of our nation in this wobbly economy – small businesses.

American Express and thousands of other marketers are encouraging consumers to use the Saturday of the U.S. Thanksgiving weekend to go out (or go online) and shop locally in an effort to support small businesses and our local economies. This focus means that you, the small business owner, have an opportunity to make a big impression on your local market.

And not just today…but I suggest every day going forward.

Whether you sell locally or completely online, you have a role to play in re-starting our economy and creating a new version that can withstand global pressures. All the major media and financial pundits agree – small business is the backbone of this nation helping to create jobs as global firms take thousands of North American jobs overseas.

This is all pretty interesting given that economists seemed to say not that long ago that the global economy would be everything and our local economies as we knew them were a thing of the past.

Now this is not to say that small businesses will wipe out the Walmarts of the world. That won’t happen and I don’t even think we want it to happen.  But what we are experiencing now is a push back from consumers brought about by what I call a kind of “globalization fatigue.”

We’ve finally realized that while global markets allow us to buy things at a price far lower than we ever dreamed, it doesn’t take long to realize that without a job all the shopping deals in the world are meaningless.

So we’re back to appreciating how important our communities, cities and regions are not just to our families but the country as a whole.  Small business owners toiling away at their dreams in local stores, offices and spare bedroom offices everywhere are creating the one thing we need that globally focused companies just can’t address well – jobs for the people and places where “we” live.

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, from 1993 to 2009 small businesses accounted for 65 percent of the 15 million net new jobs in the country. We need more of that to happen and you’re the key.

So with the knowledge that consumers – especially your customers – are looking to purchase from small business owners like you, I have a treat to help you market and connect more effectively with your prospective buyers and clients.

Online marketing is a necessary and cost-effective method of marketing for today’s small business. To help you succeed on that front, I’ve picked two great resources that I personally recommend.

1. Interested in a New Revenue Stream? Get “Smart Blogging Skills”

Many companies increase the success of their online marketing efforts by creating an effective blog.  Not only can a blog pull in your prospective customers but it can attract sponsors and advertisers as well. Revenue from advertisers can create a nice side-income for your business.  Who knows, you may do so well at blogging and marketing your niche with a blog that advertising might become your main source of revenue.  Learn from one of the most successful online marketers today – Kelly McCausey. Details are here: www.smallbusinessstudy.com/smartblogging.

2. Now You Can Quickly Create Professional Graphics with Ease

When you haven’t got the budget, time or interest in hiring a graphic designer why not create the graphic yourself?  Now you can create professional looking graphics yourself with this resource kit and learning package from Angela Wills called Graphics Mojo. Get this package at 50% off during the Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale on now.  Enter the coupon code “blackfriday”. Details are here: www.smallbusinessstudy.com/graphicmojo.

Happy marketing!

Sharon

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Now that just about every viable business has conceded that they need a functional website to compete in the marketplace, what are many really doing about it?

Some are paying thousands of dollars to create jazzy looking websites that look good but don’t generate sales because the content is week or confusing.

Other business owners are putting great written copy on their websites but the web design and the layout of the website is unprofessional or lacking in functionality causing prospective customers to leave in frustration.

While there is no shortage of information about creating effective web content, there’s little out there that really puts it all together in a convenient resource that focuses on profitable strategies. I’m about to change that with a special free webinar you won’t want to miss.

On November 21st at 8:00 p.m. E.S.T., I’ll be launching Web Content Profits – a series of free webinars helping business owners to make the connection between strategic web content and profits.

One of the best way to learn about topics like this, is to learn from those who work in the field. I’ll be sharing my extensive experience  helping organizations and small businesses to market effectively with strategic web copy and I’ve invited  popular website design instructor Angela Wills of Marketers Mojo to share her practical knowledge regarding website design and marketing.

Together we’ll be delivering a practical, interactive and visual presentation that will provide you with the ideas and strategies that you can implement right away.

During our 1-hour webinar you’ll learn how to:

• create copy that drives traffic to your website
• design a website that engages audiences and guides them to your “call to action”
• incorporate website tools and strategies that make your website more professional and still easy to manage

Best of all this webinar is absolutely FREE.  To gain access to Web Content Profits on November 21st at 8:00 p.m., E.S.T., Please register at the following link:

www.webcontentprofits.com

See you on November 21st!

Sometimes the challenge in running and marketing a business online isn’t so much about finding how to do it well but managing the time to simply do what’s needed. Often that requires organization.

Here are 5 tips to get your business organized online:

1.If you fail to plan, you plan to fail: This is a phrase you’ve likely heard before but it is very relevant to running and marketing your business online. Because of the access, power and accessibility of the Internet many of today’s small business owners are in fact “solopreneurs” – people running their businesses on their own, without employees.

Running things on your own is doable, depending on your business, but your chances of succeeding without a plan are slim at best. There’s just too many balls to juggle…successfully. And even if you do have 1 or more employees in your online business, it’s just important to plan your strategy for managing all that has to be done. You and your team members need to have clarity on what needs to be done when. A plan gives you that clarity.

• KEY TIP: Develop a daily schedule that is aligned to your current business goals. For example if you want to increase sales this month by 25% determine the key strategy for achieving this (e.g. a contest or guest blogging opportunities) and break that strategy down into daily tasks you can complete each day.

2.Manage your email: I’ve let my email climb to well over 1000 messages causing me to feel very OVERWHELMED. Business organization experts agree that keeping good email management habits are key factor for moving your business ahead.  Dedicate time each day to: Dealing with new emails, deleting emails that have been addressed, and removing spam (increase your security levels if required).

• KEY TIP: Don’t use your email for storage!

3. Your computer is on your desk not in your head so take notes!  As you go on the move throughout your day ideas and opportunities will come to mind. Whether you’re in the super market, in an office waiting to see a client or pumping gas – use technology to capture those moments of inspiration and clarity by downloading a mobile version of your favorite content capturing software. I personally enjoy using Evernote and have that on my desktop, and iPhone.

• KEY TIP: Don’t be afraid of technology – use online tools like Evernote to help you to make efficient use of your time.

4. Ready to reach new heights in your business?  Do more with less with technology tools like Basecamp

• KEY TIP: Don’t be intimidated by an ambitious vision. Pull in the expertise of others to handle more projects , people and multiple timelines and manage it using the online tool Basecamp.

5. One of the most dreaded ways to lose a grasp on your business’ organization is to lose your computer files. A thunder storm, theft or a virus are just some of common ways you can lose your files. But there’s a way to protect your business and that’s by backing up your files.

• KEY TIP: Use an online back-up service like Carbonite to save and archive copies of your computer files. Carbonite will do this daily, weekly or whatever frequency you choose. For less than $60 per year you’ll have peace of mind and the ability to easily retrieve your files should something happen to your computer system.

There are so many steps to take to grow your business but getting organized is a smart and practical first step to getting the control and confidence needed move your business in the right direction.

Ready for targeted information that can help you implement changes in your business today? Then I invite you to sign up for our Marketing Your Business Online e-Course – you’ll get your first installment in minutes!

Every day we hear about how fast things are changing and how it’s getting impossible to keep up with economic, social and technological change. In some respects that’s true, but in many respects some things have remained very much the same. One of those constants in life that could prove to be profitable for you is our human appreciation for “sound” advice.

For example, when someone gives you a tip for curing a soar throat or offers you an approach for negotiating a lower mortgage rate with your bank, you’re a happy camper. Especially when it works. That’s why people who package and sell materials that offer their proven expertise are able to earn significant incomes.

Consider the following names that I’ve randomly put together: Oprah Winfrey, Jack Canfield (Chicken Soup for the Soul author), Dave Ramsey (personal finance guru), Lynn Terry (internet marketing blogger/adviser), and Martha Stewart. Each of these individuals has developed a loyal following and audience based on their success in sharing information that reflects their expertise and appeals to their target audience.

Whether it’s personal finance or home decorating, audiences follow these individuals because they believe that they have or will benefit from the information shared.

So what does this have to do with you? Well if you’re in business because you know you have experience or skill in some area from which you’d like to profit, then you need to think carefully about “how” you can profit from your knowledge.

Even if you offer a service as a consultant your information can be packaged as a product and sold to your audience. That’s an excellent way to augment your business. For some of you that may be the only way you want to manage your business – as an information marketer.

The Internet makes it much easier to market information profitably and on a wider scale than more traditional marketing methods that may have involved costly advertising, inventory and shipping costs.

What is Information Marketing?

Information marketing is when you create and sell information on a niche topic. While many people consider information products to be e-books there really is a wide variety of products you can create and sell.

Information products can be:

• Video products – for example a video demonstration or “how to”
• Workbooks – digital downloads that are designed to help a customer work through a task. For example you could create a workbook on how to organize your home from top to bottom.
• Lists and/or resources – you can create checklists, templates, blueprints and even mind maps that people can download to solve a problem or simplify their life.
• Education – You can create a course and deliver it via email or as a large downloadable file.
• Audio – You can interview experts and sell the information or even create an audio book to sell
• And of course there are ebooks.

You can create these products independently or as a group of products to support each other. The choice is yours and depends largely on your topic and your audience.

Benefits of Information Marketing

As an information marketer you can reap the financial rewards for a long time to come. Your single information product might sell as well three years from now as it does tomorrow.

You can often maintain an information marketing business with only a few hours each week. Additionally, even if you’re not interested in creating information products you can purchase well produced pre-written content (Private Label Rights content or “PLR”) that you then edit or have someone edit to reflect your style/input. Or you can hire a contractor to create information products from scratch.

As you can see, it’s a good business model for many who are looking for new streams of income but not significantly more work. This is about leveraging your expertise.

Finally, information products work well to supplement other business models. Many entrepreneurs use information products to add credibility to their business or to boost profits.

However, there are also drawbacks to information marketing. To maintain success and grow your business you will need to take advantage of many marketing tactics. This can take both time and money. You’ll also need to manage customers and provide customer service. This isn’t for everyone.

Information marketing can be extremely rewarding. It’s a wonderful standalone and complimentary business model. If you are interested in learning more about information marketing and other potential business models, I suggest the Better Content and Marketing Results course by copywriter and successful business owner, Alice Seba.