Waiting for customers. Common mistakes can kill your small business, but most of them can be easily corrected or avoided. Today’s bad example: Expecting a new business to support youI read the interview with a new business owner in my town. When asked why she started the business, she said she lost her job, so…
Each Friday, I open the brag basket as a fun place to brag or promote yourself and your projects. Last week, Sandra bragged on speaking at her first seminar, I bragged on Kevin’s new business announcement and on Liz picking one of my posts. Teli bragged on her outstanding client work. Congrats, Sandra, Kevin and…
It’s like you want to throw a big costume party. You call a few friends, “hey, I’m going to throw a costume party.” “Great idea!” we say. We make supportive noises, offer a few ideas, and say we’ll be glad to help. Because we are, we will be, glad to help. Then you work out a…
Networking with many new media folks, I realized that lots of people are starting businesses. Since helping people start a business is the full time job of my co-author “OkieJ” Jeanne Cole, we decided to present a live internet TV miniseries on small business startup issues. Problem with the player? Try playing it at Operator11….
They are fakes. This latest cyber scam involves e-mails that appear to be from IRS announcing a refund and asking for the recipient’s Social Security number and credit card data to get the money. But the IRS never e-mails filers about refunds. If you receive one of these phony notices, don’t bite. Forward it to…
Each Friday, I open the brag basket as a fun place to brag or promote yourself and your projects. Last week, I bragged about getting some bloggy attention, and Phil bragged on his customer service webinar and the promo video. Congrats, Phil! What will you brag about this week? You can brag on your business,…
Common mistakes can kill your small business, but most of them can be easily corrected or avoided. Today’s bad example: Bad signs Way too many businesses have poorly designed or unnoticeable signs. People form their impression of you from your signs. New customers need to see your location sign to find you. Your remote signs…
Here’s a nifty site. It will reveal all kinds of great, useful demographic information with only the input of a 5 digit zip code. Want to know how many folks have a high school diploma? How about the rate of unemployment? Here it is. Whatever has been reported for a zip code seems to be…
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