6 SEO Mistakes to Avoid When Launching a New Site
Small business owners and webmasters often forget SEO when building a new website The process of optimizing a website for the search engines begins with the first letters of code that get written for the site. SEO (search engine optimization) is not an afterthought. It has to be planned for and implemented from the very…
Read MoreFinding Dumb Investors is a Dumb Idea
Are you looking for dumb investors? “How can I find investors who don’t take much equity?” “How can I find investors who don’t interfere with my running the business? I first posted my objections to this kind of thinking nine years ago in Dumb Investors Dumb Idea, one of the earliest posts on this blog. That…
Read MoreEssential Tips to Create a Successful Business Raffle
Raffle fundraisers can be very successful and relatively easy campaigns for businesses. Great for boosting publicity, attracting a bigger customer base and raising funds for a good cause, raffles are cost-effective way to make a big difference. Interested consumers and potential clients are immediately attracted to a business through a successful and well-promoted raffle, and…
Read MoreGetting the Most Out of Your Mentor–Mentee Relationships
As you already know, the internet is chock-full of advice on how to boost your career success. While most of these are helpful (I’ve written quite a few myself), they seem to largely focus on how to find success by yourself. But what about finding success through others? Isn’t that equally, if not more, important? That’s…
Read MoreContent is Still King in Building Your Business
Providing relevant, valuable content is one of the most effective ways to attract new clients and develop a loyal customer base. When you use content to brand your business, you have access to unlimited exposure via social media networks and online channels. Consistently adding to this bank of information over a period of time is…
Read MoreAre You Ready to Go Native?
One of the things I both love and hate about the marketing industry is the constant quest for creating the hot new thing. Sometimes, there really is something that is so new and innovative, like the topic for last week’s column—retargeting—that it can legitimately make the claim “hot new thing.” But there are other times…
Read MoreHow to Start Your Employees’ Day on the Right Note
The way you start a day can set a precedent for the several hours to follow. That’s why nutritionists say it’s so important to begin a day with a balanced meal. The same goes for any workday. For employees, starting the day on the right note is so important for setting a positive tone for…
Read More4 Immigrant Success Stories That Prove the American Dream is Still Alive
In the words of Scottish immigrant and US entrepreneur B.C. Forbes, “Business was originated to produce happiness, not to pile up millions.” The spirit of US enterprise has attracted millions of people over the years, encouraged by the extensive opportunities and the prospect of starting a new life. Even in this age of strife and…
Read MoreA Guide to Balance Sheets and Income Statements
When you own a small business, organization and good recordkeeping are two of the most powerful tools you have at your disposal. Keeping track of things like sales, outstanding invoices and monthly expenses is essential to understanding how healthy your business is at any given moment. Proper records are also a must if you plan…
Read MoreStart, Stop, Do Different
Many people are familiar with the expression, Start, Stop, Do Different from personal evaluation processes—those regularly scheduled reviews by our supervisor. Management will often use this outline to give us feedback about our performance. But I also think it should be used more regularly, both personally and with colleagues. No leader improves without feedback and…
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