Small Business Information
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How your business can win online

There are lots of websites out there that do little to encourage their customers to stick around or buy their products from them. In this article i'm going to show you a typical example of where a small company has gone wrong with its website. Company X is a small family run roofing company. They repair, install and insulate roofs. They spend a lot of time and money advertising in the press and. . .

Are You Afraid to Sell?

Are You Afraid To Sell? © 2002 Elena Fawkner Relationship marketing. It's the backbone of a successful online business. Fail to forge online relationships and your business will suffer. Simple enough concept, right? But what does "relationship marketing" really mean? Simply put, it refers to the principle that, in order to be successful in business, especially an online business since th. . .

The 9-to-5 Home Business Tug of War

The 9-to-5 Home Business Tug of War © 2002 Elena Fawkner Perhaps the scarcest commodity the new home-business owner just starting out has is time. This is particularly so if you are also working a traditional, full-time job and building up your business "on the side" in your spare time. So how do you go about burning the candle at both ends without burning yourself out in the process? F. . .

Is Your Business A Pain, Or A Pleasure...

By Noel Peebles If your business is successful, then chances are you have poured most of your time, energy and spare money into it - for what may have seemed like forever. Your company may have become your life . . . an extension of yourself. Can you really imagine life without it? Is your family dependent on your business? Do you discuss it around the dinner table? Is your business an educa. . .

Home Business and the Holidays

I have this reoccurring vision for Christmas Eve in our house. The kids are sneaking snacks from the table, shaking presents, and ducking hugs and kisses. Close friends are gathering, light hearted chatter. Me? I'm pounding away on my keyboard trying to get that last thing done! I keep saying "one more minute" which really means to my family: "who knows when?" When you work out of your home wit. . .

Find Your Unique Buying Advantage And Watch Your Profits Grow.

By Noel Peebles Clear positioning is critical for any product or service, whether new or existing. Without clear positioning it is hard to find or establish a Unique Buying Advantage (UBA). The first thing to consider when working on your positioning strategy is the question "where do you come in first?" Then consider what key benefits you offer over your competitors. If you don't already know. . .

What can the Internet REALLY do for me? - 12 KEY BENEFITS

In my conversations with business people i've noticed a surprising lack of understanding about the Internet and its potential for their business. Most know it is important for business in general but dont really know why. Few really understand what it can specifically do for their organisation, "What can the Internet really do for me?" This article aims to answer this fundamental question by id. . .

PLEASE! dont make the biggest mistake on the internet today !

Everyday I see a common mistake being made on websites all over the Internet. It results in lost customers, lost sales, poor visitor figures, lost profits and more. In short, it has a negative impact on all aspects of the website and company concerned. Its also completely unnecessary and costing businesses dearly. Rectifying this one mistake would transform websites and businesses increasing sa. . .

Popular Business Misconceptions Cost You Money! -Part 1

Popular Business Misconceptions Cost You Money! Part 1 by J. Stephen Pope Faulty information costs you money! Which of these popular business misconceptions do you believe? Popular Misconception #1: -------------------------- "We Only Need Our Books Done Once A Year For Tax Purposes." ------------------------------------------------------------ Are Your Accounting Records Adequate To Run You. . .

"Help! Mary Poppins Please Apply!"

Often the idea of working at home appeals to us because we don't want to leave our children with strangers for the better part of a day. Child care expenses can take a huge chunk from a paycheck. Still, working at home with small children can be difficult, exhausting and presents a unique challenge. Boundaries overlap and blur. Formerly "work time" and "home time" was clearly defined, now time . . .

Don't spend any time thinking about the product, until you've discovered the market!

By Noel Peebles Make no mistake; there are literally thousands of potential tightly niched markets out there. Markets abound! Your first job is to find one, and discover what it is the market wants. Then, and only then, do you consider what kind of products or services you might be able to supply to that market. Notice I said "wants" as opposed to their "needs." This may sound like a rather p. . .

Choosing The Right Home Business For YOU

Choosing The Right Home Business For You © 2002 Elena Fawkner Pay any attention at all to your email inbox and you'd be forgiven for thinking that the only way to run a business from home is on the Internet. Sure, many people are running spectacularly successful Internet-based home businesses. Many, many more are doing so even more spectacularly unsuccessfully. But what if you're not int. . .

Health Insurance for the Self-Employed - Protecting Your Business's Greates Asset

Health Insurance for the Self-Employed - Protecting Your Business's Greatest Asset © 2002 Elena Fawkner "I've been considering quitting my full-time job and getting a part-time job that would pay the bills [so I can start a home business] ... The one biggie my full-time job provides me now is health insurance. If I was to get a part-time job, I'd probably have to pay for my own health in. . .

Personal Discipline and the Home-Based Business Owner

Personal Discipline and the Home-Based Business Owner © 2002 Elena Fawkner Allow me to let you in on a little secret you're probably already wise to anyway. As often as not, the inspiration for article topics comes from struggles with my own personal demons. Writing about them is my way of giving myself a good talking to (a.k.a. kick in the rear end). And so it is with this one - the pe. . .

Snatching Defeat From The Jaws of Victory

Snatching Defeat From The Jaws of Victory © 2002 Elena Fawkner You may find the lure of an online business seductive indeed. And why not? After all, it holds the promise of true independence - time and money freedom - from the comfort and sanctuary of your own home. It tantalizes you with the promise of unlimited potential, a limitless market. With immediate results. All of this is achie. . .

Are YOU Leaving Money on the Table?

Are YOU Leaving Money on the Table? © 2002 Elena Fawkner For those of us in the U.S., tax time is here again. For those of you elsewhere, tax time is always around the corner. Oh joy, I hear you say. Well, if you're contemplating an online home-based business, it may be just that. Really. Here's how. Are you ready to start making money with, say, affiliate programs or by creating your ow. . .

Ezine Publishing As A Business

Ezine Publishing As A Business © 2002 Elena Fawkner If you have your own website, or are planning to create one soon, in the course of your research you will have read about the importance of publishing an ezine (electronic newsletter) as a way of generating traffic to your site. -- Note to purists: yes I DO understand there is, strictly speaking, a difference between ezines and electro. . .

How to get more sales from your website NOW!

The fundamentals of business are the same online as they are offline. Making income and profit is vital to the success of any business. How are income and profits generated? By SELLING products. Is your site selling your products? If you answered no, why isnt it? Weak copy, poor design/organisation, poor customer focus, internal company issues, no site visitors ...? If you answered yes - Are yo. . .

Does your homepage work?

All websites have a homepage. It is the most important page of your site. It acts as the main gateway to the entire site. Most of your prospective customers will enter through it. Its vital to get it right. You dont want them to just turn around and go away again. Take a moment to clear your mind. Now go and look at your homepage and take a minute to evaluate it. Does it work for your prospecti. . .

How to get your business online

This article is for all those who have asked "how do I get my business online?" or have just plain been putting it off because you dont know where to start or who can help or how much it will cost. Why should I put my business online? Well, there are several reasons why you should. Firstly, its a great 'connection point' between you and your customers or partners. They can visit your website a. . .

How To Incorporate Yourself Without a Lawyer

How To Incorporate Yourself Without a Lawyer by J. Stephen Pope You could save hundreds of dollars by incorporating yourself without a lawyer. How? Is it advisable to do so? 1. This is Not Legal Advice! The only ones who should be giving legal advice are those licensed to practise law (in other words, only lawyers). This article is not legal advice. If you need legal advice, consult a la. . .

You cant just build a website and hope it works!

Like any area of business your website needs some effort from you if its going to be successful. You'd be foolish to just build any old website and hope it works. Yet this approach, or rather lack of approach, is still widespread on the internet. Businesses still dont seem to understand what the internet can do to benefit them and their customers. They just dont get it. This is not a new critic. . .

Finding the Way Home

"Finding the Way Home" © 2002 Sharon Davis http://www.2work-at-home.com ----------------------------- It's very frustrating to receive an email from someone that says, "I really need to work at home. Please help me." It would be impossible for me to make any kind of recommendation to this person. I receive emails just like this so frequently that I've created a template of the response that I. . .

How To Complain & Get Results

What are you upset about? Are you angry, annoyed, irritated about something or someone? Do you have a grievance? Have you been offended or treated unfairly? You can complain and get results. If you have a problem with your school, city, county, state, or national government you can do something about it. Or if you have disputes with your landlord, a business or company, you can use the . . .

The Lure of Easy Money

The Lure of Easy Money © 2002 Elena Fawkner You might be forgiven for thinking that competition is fierce if you run an online business. After all, every day - day in, day out - you, me and everyone else is constantly bombarded by offers from every man and his dog for various programs that promise us the means to earn an income from home. After a while, of course, you begin to recognize. . .

Work at Home Business Ideas

Work at Home Business Ideas by J. Stephen Pope Here are some excellent businesses that you can start, operate and grow from your home. All these work at home businesses have the following desirable features: **Low Startup Costs **Ease of Entry **High Income Potential **Home Based and Operated **Worldwide Sales Potential **Residual, Recurring and/or Passive Income Potential 1. Consultin. . .

What your website REALLY says about you and why it matters

Everything you say and do says something about you. This has never been more true than in a text based environment like the Internet. You only have one chance to put across what you want to say. Use it wisely. Getting a website right does take work and commitment. If you want it to succeed you must spend time to get it right and present the right impression to your potential customers. During a. . .

Developing The Right Attitude To Sell in Tough Times

Do I have any specific thoughts about selling when times are tough? Well, if you are to achieve high levels of success in selling, you must be able to get positive results even while circumstances are negative. In just about every area of selling, the field will over populate in boom times and thin out in tough times. The real estate industry is a classic example of this. Yet some people stay. . .

There Is No Time Like The Present

Contact Author: noel@marketleadersltd.com Publishing Guidelines: May be freely published w/bylines http://www.instantsellbusiness.com/index1.html ============================================ There Is No Time Like The Present By Noel Peebles ============================================ We are living in "The Greatest Entrepreneurial Boom In History." We are surrounded by opportunities, but most . . .

Playing Follow The Leader - The Downfall For Many Entrepreneurs

Contact Author: noel@marketleadersltd.com Publishing Guidelines: May be freely published w/bylines http://www.instantsellbusiness.com/index1.html ===================================== Playing "Follow The Leader" - The Downfall For Many Entrepreneurs By Noel Peebles ===================================== A good education is always a good start in life, but think about this for a moment: Most for. . .

Are You Seeking Advice From The Right People?

Contact Author: noel@marketleadersltd.com Publishing Guidelines: May be freely published w/bylines http://www.instantsellbusiness.com/index1.html ****************************************************** Are You Seeking Advice From The Right People? By Noel Peebles http://www.instantsellbusiness.com/index1.html Who should you listened to and get advice from? Who can give you the help, a. . .

Dream The Impossible Dream - Turn Your Ideas Into Reality.

Contact Author: noel@marketleadersltd.com Publishing Guidelines: May be freely published w/bylines http://www.instantsellbusiness.com/index1.html Dream The Impossible Dream - Turn Your Ideas Into Reality! What's Stopping You? By Noel Peebles I'm sure you can recall having a sudden inspiration, a brainwave, a "bolt from the blue", a brilliant idea striking you like a light being switched on . . .

YOU are in control! YOU are responsible!

Contact Author: noel@marketleadersltd.com Publishing Guidelines: May be freely published w/bylines http://www.instantsellbusiness.com/index1.html ***************************************************** YOU are in control! YOU are responsible! By Noel Peebles http://www.instantsellbusiness.com/index1.html Do you ever think to yourself, "I can't do that?" Most likely, it is your present beliefs . . .

Why Researching Your Market Can Pay Big Dividends

Contact Author: noel@marketleadersltd.com Publishing Guidelines: May be freely published with bylines http://www.instantsellbusiness.com/index1.html Why Researching Your Market Can Pay Big Dividends By Noel Peebles Over the years I have seen a lot of companies waste a lot of money on market research. In many cases they commissioned the research simply because they had allocated a budget for . . .

How To Write Headlines That Could Make You A Fortune

Contact Author: noel@marketleadersltd.com Publishing Guidelines: May be freely published with bylines http://www.instantsellbusiness.com/index1.html How To Write Headlines That Could Make You A Fortune By Noel Peebles What do people see in advertising? Headlines! What do you see when you are glancing through a newspaper or magazine? Headlines! What is it that makes you stop for a moment an. . .

Build Your Database - Build Your Profits

Contact Author: noel@marketleadersltd.com Publishing Guidelines: May be freely published w/bylines http://www.instantsellbusiness.com/index1.html *********************************************** Build Your Database - Build Your Profits By Noel Peebles It's been said that it costs five times more to attract a new customer than to keep an old one. Despite this, most businesses spend an enormous. . .

Choosing a Winning Business Idea

You've probably heard it a hundred times by now - if you want to make alot of money with an online business you have to offer your own product or service. Well, make that a hundred and one times... It's true. Although affiliate programs are a great way to add additional streams of income, the best money maker is still a unique product or service that you control. That way you earn all of the mo. . .

Four Things You Must Do For Online Business Success

Four Things You Must Do For Online Business Success © By Jinger Jarrett 2003 Starting a business online can be one of the easiest things you can do. It doesn't take much money, and with all of the free software available, it is very easy to automate every aspect of your business. Once you start to market, things can change very quickly. The Internet is like the Wild, Wild, West. There's no stru. . .

How to Create a "Link-To-Us" Page

by Mike Banks Valentine Most webmasters are very aware of the value of having quality links from well regarded, high traffic web sites pointing to their own site. Professional webmasters will always provide linking graphics, instructions and sample text to those webmasters willing to link to them. The text you use in your recommended linking instructions will very often be cut and pasted withou. . .

Tax Tidbit #2: How To Get A $1,000 Refund By Filing An Amended Tax Return

Tax Tidbits: Presented by Wayne M. Davies of www.YouSaveOnTaxes.com. Short but sweet tax nuggets for the Small Biz Owner and/or Self-Employed Person, each morsel serving up a specific tax reduction strategy guaranteed to tickle your monetary taste-buds. The U.S. Tax Code is so big, there's only one way to digest it: one little nibble at a time. Just like a piece of candy, one small bite of t. . .

Get More Customers – With Less Work!

A lot of website owners work tirelessly at increasing their traffic. They submit to FFA pages and classified sites. They participate in startup programs and pop under exchanges. There is no end to the gimmicks they will try, all in the hopes that they’ll get more customers. If you’re one of these website owners, there is an easier way to increase your sales! By improving your conversion rate . . .

So You Want to Be A Freelancer

So You Want To Be A Freelancer © 2002 Elena Fawkner What's the difference between running your own home-based business and freelancing? (tick, tick, tick ...) Give up? Me too. If you want to work for yourself from home and have a special talent or skill that you think others would be prepared to pay for on an hourly or per-project basis, why not stop thinking in terms of the traditional . . .

5 Reasons Why You Should NOT Get A Big Tax Refund

=========================================================== 5 Reasons Why You Should NOT Get A Big Tax Refund -- by Wayne M. Davies Copyright 2003 Wayne M. Davies Inc. =========================================================== I will never forget the day one of my tax clients came to pick up his personal income tax return. "How's it look?" he asked. "Well," I said, "You're getting a refund.". . .

Creative Commons Replacing Copyright?

This article is licensed under Creative Commons for public use http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd-nc/1.0/ Plagiarism is an issue that has always plagued writers online and those of us that offer our stuff for free are most at risk for this. I am testing a program called "Creative Commons" which helps to preserve some of the rights to your articles when they are distributed freely. The id. . .

"I Want My Money Back!"

My friend perked up. "At least, I get to start working at home" she said. Terrorists in the United States and the anthrax scare did what she had been unable to do. Convince her boss how telecommuting could be beneficial to companies and employees alike. More and more companies are checking into telecommuting options for their employees. Sadly, the workplace is becoming frightening. While this. . .

How to Avoid the Microsoft Hotmail Junk Mail Plague

Article Title: How to Avoid the Microsoft Hotmail Junk Mail Plague Author: Joshua Feinberg Web Site Address: http://www.smallbiztechtalk.com Publisher of “Tips”: KISTech Communications – Morganville, N.J., USA Word: 1,332 words This article is also available online at http://www.smallbiztechtalk.com/news/archives/tips091001-bn1.htm Keywords: Microsoft Hotmail hotmail.com InfoSpace infospace.co. . .

Get the Best Bona Fide Price on Your Purchase of Microsoft Office XP

Article Title: Get the Best Bona Fide Price on Your Purchase of Microsoft Office XP Author: Joshua Feinberg Web Site Address: http://www.smallbiztechtalk.com Publisher of “Tips”: KISTech Communications – Morganville, N.J., USA Word: 2,039 words This article is also available online at http://www.smallbiztechtalk.com/news/archives/tips071601-ms1.htm Keywords: Microsoft Office XP for Small busin. . .

Medical Billing Courses: Can You Really Get A Work at Home Job?

Sheila Spieler has been a Managed Care Consultant for over 11 years, specializing in accounts receivables. She routinely interviews and hires medical billers for local physicians. We asked her about medical billing courses and how possible it was to get a job as a Medical Biller/Coder and work at home without any initial onsite time.   "First off Sheila, what IS Medical Billing?" "Most people . . .

A Gift Basket Business The "Punkin" Way-Part Two

Can you start a GB business for under $100?   "I don't think so. With a well thought out plan you could probably start out for under $250. A quality heat gun, roll of shrink wrap, 2 rolls of wired ribbon, heavy duty tape & a turntable are going to use up your first $100."  How do you determine the price of your baskets?   "There are different methods of pricing. Some use a mark-up percentage of. . .

A Gift Basket Business The "Punkin" Way-Part One

No doubt about it! There is a dramatic increase in home-based businesses over the last decade! Why? Self-Independence? High cost of daycare? Or, maybe we just want to truly be in charge of the direction of our lives. Many people are trading in their corporate hats and venturing into the small home based business world. http://www.sbtrends2000.com reports "...currently about 50% of the 10 millio. . .

Telecommuting To-Do List

Compiling to-do lists often help us remember all those little, nasty chores we have to do even though we would like to forget them if we could! Writing also organizes our thinking and defines our goals in a concrete manner. You can use this handy little tool as you search for a real work at home job. No experience is necessary and the only equipment you need is a piece of paper and a pencil!. . .

Top 10 Ways to Procrastinate Your Small Business Upgrade to Microsoft Office XP

Article Title: Top 10 Ways to Procrastinate Your Small Business Upgrade to Microsoft Office XP Author: Joshua Feinberg Web Site Address: http://www.smallbiztechtalk.com Publisher of “Tips”: KISTech Communications – Morganville, N.J., USA Word: 982 words This article is also available online at http://www.smallbiztechtalk.com/news/archives/tips071601-ht1.htm Keywords: Small Business Upgrade Mi. . .

When Do I start Getting Money, and Where Does It Come From?

When Do I Start Getting Money and Where Does It Come From? © 2002 Elena Fawkner I received an email during the week from a reader of a recent article "The 10 Most Popular Myths About Running A Home-Based Business Online" (http://www.ahbbo.com/top10.html). That article was, I admit, something of a vent which was long overdue and it struck a chord with many readers who wrote in to let me. . .

Are you trying to create wealth in a racing car or a jalopy?

Contact Author: noel@marketleadersltd.com Publishing Guidelines: May be freely published w/bylines http://www.instantsellbusiness.com/index1.html Are you trying to create wealth in a racing car or a jalopy?? By Noel Peebles =========================================== It doesn't matter whether the spark of hope within you is large or small. The right thoughts coupled with the appropriate actio. . .

The Money Value of Time

The Money Value of Time © 2002 Elena Fawkner You have, no doubt, heard the phrase "the time value of money". It means that a dollar in your hand today is worth more than a dollar in your hand a year from now. Why? Because of what you can do with that dollar over the next year. You can invest that dollar in an interest bearing account and have $1.05 at the end of the year. If you decide . . .

12 Reasons Why A Business Without An Online Presence Is Missing Out On A Goldmine Of Potential Custo

By Noel Peebles http://www.instantsellbusiness.com Marketing on the Internet is not really a choice anymore, but has almost become a necessity in today's marketplace. No company can afford to ignore the fact that online marketing is now a multi-billion-dollar business. Those businesses without an online presence are missing out on a goldmine of potential customers. Like anything, there. . .

SUCCESS Comes... When You Turn INDECISION And FEAR Into POWER and ACTION!

Contact Author: noel@marketleadersltd.com Publishing Guidelines: May be freely published w/bylines http://www.instantsellbusiness.com/index1.html ========================================================== SUCCESS Comes... When You Turn INDECISION And FEAR Into POWER and ACTION! By Noel Peebles ========================================================== "We have nothing to fear but fear itself.. . .

Promotions - a simple way to get more sales!

Everybody loves a bargain or special offer, especially at Christmas time when they'll be spending lots of money on other people. Traditionally the Christmas season has always had a big impact on businesses, some relying on it more than others, it can provide 20-80% of their annual income. So with the biggest event of the year rapidly approaching, what are you doing to benefit from this spendin. . .

3 Steps To Keeping A Customer For Life

Contact Author: noel@instantsellbusiness.com Publishing Guidelines: May be freely published w/bylines http://www.instantsellbusiness.com/index1.html ************************************************** 3 Steps To Keeping A Customer For Life By Noel Peebles The relationship between a customer and your company is more complicated than it appears. It's not a simple matter of the customer handing o. . .

In Praise of Thinking Small

In Praise of Thinking Small © 2002 Elena Fawkner All your life you've probably been beseeched to "Think Big!", the idea being that if you think big you achieve big, while thinking small gets you nowhere fast. That's probably good advice as a general rule but it shouldn't be taken literally when it comes to creating an Internet-based business. The Internet is one environment where thinkin. . .