Category Archive

  As business owners, we are always looking for ways to save time, increase productivity, lower costs, and attract new customers. While your first instinct may be to throw money at the weak parts of your business, simply reevaluating the tools you are using may give you just the jump-start that you need.   Below is a list of 121 great business tools that you can easily start using today. Whether you’re a new small business or large corporation, there’s bound to be something here that will either help increase profits or allow you to spend your time more efficiently.   Browse by Business Tools – Click to Jump to a Category:           Communications & Chat Every business owner knows that communication is paramount to the success & growth of your organization. These business tools will help you stay connected to your customers and your team, …

  What is Branding? The first thing to understand about this is that a brand is more than just a name with a logo. When we talk about “creating a name for yourself,” we’re talking about putting together the whole package—the tangible perception of your business, as well as the intangible—which is the result of focused, thoughtful marketing that, ideally, inspires consumers to trust your business as a reliable source for a given product or service. There are a variety of elements that contribute to the making of a good brand, including how you interface with the public, as well as generating a strategic look and feel for your logo, content, etc. What do people think when they see your business’ name? It’s worth investigating how customers perceive you to make sure you are sending the right message, and that you’re famous for the right things.   Why Brand Your …

Contracts do more than keep us honest; they make it possible to preserve the rights of everyone involved. Just because 2 people in a business relationship are both honest doesn’t mean that something can’t go wrong. There are a variety of problems that may arise when every aspect of an agreement is not plainly stated. You can avoid most of these problems by describing, in careful detail, every element of your agreement. Put it in Writing No one with a legitimate business would ever make important deals without a contract, but what about smaller deals, new clients, or even individual orders? No matter how big or small the deal, where there is an exchange of money, goods, or services—there should be a written contractual document. Explanation of Goods & Services What, exactly, is to be provided by each party? Including detailed explanations of what, how much, and for how long …

  They say that silence is golden, but if you have to talk, then it can’t hurt to equip yourself to handle the transaction. In business relationships, there are dos and don’ts as there are when you’re relating with anyone. If you take nothing else from this article, just remember that your conversations with fellow professionals are not unlike those you have with anyone in life. Being genuine, straightforward, and appropriate is what brings success in professional relationships. Here are a few reminders to keep you on the right track.   Flattery Flattery has its place, and as we’ll talk about a little later, it works better if you’re sincere. You know when you’re trying to pick up a girl (or a guy) at a bar (or wherever you are), and you use some manipulative language to coerce this person to win them over? That’s the dangerous kind. All business …

When you work from home in the winter, make no mistake—you are in a fight. You are in a fight with your natural tendency to give into laziness and stop working; you are in a fight with the elements outside that keep you locked up in the house. Learn how to take control of each day and overwhelm this resistance, and you will find that you can still remain productive, even in the unforgiving winter months. Don’t Get Stuck In the House One of the greatest enemies of someone working at home is cabin fever. Once the workday is off and running and you’ve been glued to your desk for a couple of hours, the compulsion is to never leave your home office (that’s why you have a home business, after all). But in the cold, dreary months, it is vital to utilize every opportunity to leave the house, when …

Have you ever taken an online course for college? It can be a tough environment to work in, and as instructors routinely warn people who take such a course, it’s not for everyone. All of a student’s assignments, deadlines, and discussions are completely up to that individual to monitor and complete. When you employ a remote team, you are sort of a moderator of a big “online course”. There are many benefits to utilizing a remote team, including a larger pool of applicants to choose from, a potentially more efficient workforce, and an excuse to use some really fun telecommunication tools. There is definitely a learning curve if you’re new to it, though, so it’s good to be honest with yourself in deciding whether you can adjust to this kind of working environment. Can You Manage a Remote Team? There are benefits and disadvantages to having either type of team, …

  The need for a brick-and-mortar office is far less than it used to be, with the advent of online business. Many businesses still need an office to operate, but the nature of ecommerce affords you certain advantages, including the opportunity to avoid the cost of maintaining a free-standing office. And that’s the bottom line—keeping it open costs money, which a lot of small businesses simply cannot afford to needlessly spend.   1. Product Presentation If you’re running a web-based business, then your customers can easily view all products, or information about your service, online. In fact, that’s how most consumers prefer to look at a product, especially in the case of a company that mainly processes its transactions online. Have you ever visited an office for Amazon? They are doing very well without any walk-in traffic, whatsoever, and if you have an e-business, then you probably don’t need it, …

  1. Get Up Early Any small business owner quickly learns that they wouldn’t get very much accomplished by getting up at the crack of noon every day. Aside from the fact that getting an early start gives you time to get more work done, you will be forced to play catch-up when you get started later because all of your partners and colleagues have probably already been going strong for hours.   2. Don’t Skip Breakfast You’re not like other people—you’re a business owner. You’ve got an insane schedule, constant daily stresses, and a team to look out for. That means you need to eat your Wheaties. Ok, you don’t have to eat Wheaties, but before the work starts, make sure you get a good breakfast that will build up your energy stores. Complex carbs like whole grains are good for sustained energy, and so is a vegetable juice …

  6. Awaken the Giant Within—Anthony Robbins Tony Robbins, everybody! Contrary to popular belief, Robbins is more than an eccentric guru; his teachings give practical insight into the science behind tapping into our innate power as individuals. The book opens with a quote from Orison Swett Marden: “Deep within man dwell those slumbering powers; powers that would astonish him,” setting the stage for deeply-informed counsel from an author who seems to sit down with you like a wise father. This selection utilizes a guided progression based partially on formula; however, when it comes to Tony Robbins, you know you can expect an introspective and spiritual journey that cuts right to the core of improving the human experience.   5. The Analects—Confucius Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. Everyone is familiar with the name, Confucius, but very few have read him, first-hand. Your first thought might be, understandably, “How in …