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Opening and running a small or solo business is a daunting task that takes courage, passion and grit. It often takes a while before you hit that sweet spot where clients and profits start to flow in and you begin to breathe a sigh of relief. You look forward to that feeling of elation that takes over as you realize that your dreams are coming true. You’ve climbed a mountain and reached the top.

If you feel like it’s a struggle just to keep your business chugging along and you’re wondering when you’ll get to that point, you’re not alone. Here are some important things to look at and think about now.

• Make sure you’re key products are something for which there is a clearly expressed need in your market-something for which people are hungry. Your prospects and customers will let you know what they want and you need to give it to them, rather than what you think they want.
• Check to see if your niche is overcrowded. Competitors may be crowding you out and you may need to re-focus in on a less crowded niche within your area of expertise.
• Carefully measure the results you get from your marketing efforts. Are you creating a flood of interested leads? If not, your marketing approach isn’t working and needs to change. You need a powerful, new strategy.
• Your message may be getting lost in the flood of information with which people are bombarded. Making your message fresh, unique and benefit focused-even remarkable and memorable- is key
• You’re great at what you do, but are you struggling with the “running a business” part, like marketing, selling, website, bookkeeping, systems? These Entrepreneurial skills will make or break you no matter how good you are at what you do. They need to be mastered.
• Do you have difficulty managing your time and staying focused on profit generating activities? The most successful 6 and 7 figure income Entrepreneurs are time masters.
• You’re great at the daily details, but are you good at big picture planning? Remember, no one else can be the CEO and strategy maker but you.
• Persistence and follow-through are key. Don’t give up if something doesn’t produce immediate results. I’ve seen people throw an ad in the paper and expect the phone to ring like crazy. When it doesn’t they pull the ad and move on to the next short lived idea. Have a strategy, then stick to your plan. Follow through and you’ll see results.
• Are you feeling some resistance to doing tasks you know are essential to your success? Many business owner clients have told me that they know what they should be doing but every time they try they find themselves procrastinating of doing a non-priority activity. That can lead to inertia. Tasks that drain your energy may be better outsourced so you can spend your time on profit generating activities. Outsourcing is a success strategy and more inexpensive than ever. Or break the task down into 10 minute segments. Anyone can devote ten minutes to a task, even if they don’t like it. What’s important is to keep taking action! Keep moving forward. It doesn’t have to be perfect.

If any of this rings true, know that you are definitely not alone. Every business owner has experienced some or all of these roadblocks at one time or another. And all of them can be over come! If you want to breakthrough to a new level of success and reach the top of that mountain you need a solid, proven business and marketing system that works.

Try answering this question: “What is the one thing, which if I did it, would make a huge difference in my business now?” If there’s more than one thing, write it down. Voila! You know what you need to work on beginning now.

To access a series of free videos that will show you a solid, proven business building and marketing system that can take you to a solid 6 figure small business income, go to http://www.MaximizeYourProfitsNow.com/

Janis

Recently I’ve heard painful accounts from start ups as well as established small business owners about how they are afraid.

They’re afraid because they feel that they have no money to grow, or they’re
overwhelmed or confused about how to get out from under the load of work that is keeping them stuck from breaking through to the next level. Is any of this true for you?

Are you truly ready for strategies, tools and ideas that could easily catapult you to
a healthy 6 figures a year? Some people say they’re ready, but they don’t have that burning desire to do the hard work.

If you’re truly motivated and looking for help, I’d like to give you a boost by introducing
you to some of the best proven strategies I know of that will help you reach 6 figures in personal income as soon as possible. It’s time to feel energizedand motivated.

Time to change and shake things up.

I’m opening the vault to release 5 audios that cover these topics:

==> Bootstrapping: What You Need to Know to Save Money on Marketing and Advertising

==> How to Promote and Market Your Small Business Websit to Make 6 Figures a Year

==> How to Build Your Expert Status So Ideal Clients Come to You

==> How to Move from Self-Employed to Financially Independent Entrepreneur 

==> How to Dramatically Increase Sales by Re-Purposing and Re-Packaging Your Products and Services   

This 5 audio package along with the written versions of each is available for download to my subscribers and blog readers for a short time only .

http://smallbusiness-bigresults.com/6-figure-audios.htm

BONUS: The first 50 people will also get a copy of 

**Create Your Own E-book Without Ever Writing a Word**

This 80 page e-book, written by a very successful Internet Marketer, will show you how to quickly create a revenue-generating e-book, even if you hate to write.

http://smallbusiness-bigresults.com/6-figure-audios.htm

Warmly,
Janis

How would you like to be a part of a very special teleseminar where one of the most successful people in his industry is interviewed? This gentlema is not only in the top 3% of revenue generators in an extremely competitive industry, he has been happily married for over 34 years, is in top physical shape in his late fifties and enjoys a life of balance, spirituality and massive contribution to others.

Who is this person?

His name is Dr. Joe Capista, author of, “What Can a Dentist Teach you About Business, Life and Success? Discover Secrets to Achieving Total Success!”

Although Dr. Joe is an extremely successful dentist, we won’t be talking about dentistry. Dr. Joe will be sharing insights that virtually anyone can apply to dramatically improve their financial well-being, health, happiness and overall joy in life.

For a limited time, you get an invitation to Dr. Capista’s teleseminar and the opportunity to access over $2,551 in great bonus gifts from experts from around the globe when you order his newly released book, “What Can a Dentist Teach You about Business, Life and Success? Discover Secrets to Total Success!”

His book is not some pie-in-the-sky success book. It is one of the best books you will ever get your hands on that will teach you success principles that can give you a life of abundance, health, happiness, balance and great relationships. It reinforces what I believe–that the choice to be a small business owner is a life choice and involves every part of who you are.

You will find Dr. Joe’s book to be one of the best on business  success and spirituality that has come along in a while.

 http://www.joecapista.com/amazon.htm  

To get your very own copy of Dr. Joe’s book, an invitation into his teleseminar and bonus gifts valued at over $2,551 from experts around the globe simply go to http://www.joecapista.com/amazon.htm to read all about this special offer. This offer is good for a very limited time.

Hope you enjoy it.

Janis

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The small, solo and micro businesses that jump on these trends quickly will have a real edge over the majority and will create an bigger opportunity for success this year. Look at each of these trends and brainstorm how you could integrate them into your business.

1. Creating an interactive experience with your website

You need to find a way to engage and interact with website visitors. You can do this by creating videos, audios, compelling blogs or forums or adding free widgets or resources. Video is definitely exploded as the preferred interactive media. Download a free version of CamStudio, or purchase a webcam with microphone and you’re in business. Upload your video to YouTube and post the link on your webpage.

2. Social network marketing or media

Write articles and submit to article directories, leave comments on relevant blogs and popular forums, create a lens and join groups at Squidoo.com. Post press releases on free online press release sites, start a Facebook page, ask others to bookmark your webpages on sites like del.icio.us.  Place a profile and build a network on LinkedIn.com. That’s not even scratching the surface. You can build a huge network and drive massive traffic to your website through social network marketing or Web 2.0. No business can ignore this, even if you’re primarily local. If you want to learn how to use Web 2.0 to drive traffic to your website, go to Maximize Your Website Now

3. Customer power

Involve your customers in an interactive way to help you decide what your next product or service will be. Give them choices. The internet has shifted power to the consumer and you want to be on the bandwagon. Ask people to sign up for your e-mail list so you can ask their opinion through surveys.

4. Focus more of your marketing budget online

Spend less in places like the Yellow Pages or local newspapers

5. Hip design.

Design is hot right now in all areas or product creation. Look at Target. It’s also hot online. Look at all the design options available at MySpace. Update your graphic look or website design to show that you’re not stuck in the 90’s.

6. Nuggetize.

We are all suffering from shorter attention spans-a kind of mild ADHD-due to being bombarded daily with more information than we can process. Develop a talent for breaking information down into specific important nuggets if you want to be noticed. You can do this when writing e-mails or articles, webpages or marketing materials. It’s especially important when you write a subject line or headline. If you create information products, focus on one specific topic, rather than taking a general approach.

7. Go green.

It’s no longer optional and everyone is doing it, even Walmart! See where you can use green practices in your business, even it’s just using energy efficient bulbs or doing a better job of recycling. Donate to green causes. Use green materials. Let your clients know about your green practices in your marketing materials and on your website.

8. Think global.

If you have special knowledge to share, and almost every business owner does, think of packaging it as an e-product that can be sold to thousands of people who would love to know what you know. You can sell your knowledge globally rather than just sharing it with a few hundred people locally. Info products are bigger than ever, with an ever-growing global market of English-speaking business people clamoring for knowledge.

9. Update and increase your use of technology and automation.

If you’re still using outdated technology or little at all, you’re going to left behind if you don’t “bite the bullet” and update. Learn to maximize the use of database software, e-mail, e-fax, and bookkeeping software. Learn to make regular updates to your website yourself and to use an autoresponder to keep in touch with clients by e-mail. Learn to make videos and upload them and digital photos to the web. Maybe you need a PDA or scheduling software. Many professions have software that’s been customized to help you streamline your business. Think of the most time consuming tasks in your business and do some research to see if there is a technology solution that could automate some processes.

10.  Strategic alliances and joint ventures

This is huge. There are other successful business owners who have already spent time, money and effort acquiring the clients you want. If you have a product or knowledge that they don’t, but which would benefit their clients or subscribers, you can set up a partnership with them to endorse your product for a percentage of sales. You can do the same for others who have products your clients would buy but that you don’t offer. This is a topic worth exploring because 20% of revenues from the top 2000 European and US companies come from strategic alliances and joint ventures. This is a secret success tool for small businesses that can double or triple your sales.

How can your business cash in by following these trends?

Janis

If you are a small business start up, a micro or solo entrepreneur, you’re probably wondering where to find the money that will allow you to grow your business. Most likely, angel investors or venture funding are not a possibility. Actually most businesses start up by bootstrapping. They self-fund and find ways to ramp up with a minimal amount of money.There’s often a misperception that you can grow your business with no money. That’s not entirely true. There is a good deal of marketing you can do cost free, but you can also learn how to conserve cash and only spend on what is necessary. Think of it as a game. Make a list of the essentials that you need and go shopping.  I’ll give you an easy example of what I’m talking about. If you’re a woman, do you pay full price for designer clothes at the mall? Please! We shop around, look for sales and feel triumphant when we get a good deal. Think the same way about your business.

Here are some bootstrapping tips;

Start with a home office.

Even if you know you’ll eventually need more space, start out by creating a quiet, bright space at home until your revenues can pay for your rent. I tell business owners that when they can afford to invest 25% of their yearly revenues in rent, they can think about renting.

Phones

You can save a bundle by bootstrapping your phone equipment and service. With services like Vonnage and Skype you can get a full menu of services, including free long distance, relatively inexpensively. Also with a voice mail system, you don’t really need an answering machine. Make a list of the bells and whistles you need and find the company that will provide them at one low monthly price. Also realize that you don’t need to buy a fancy phone system either. Refurbished systems are available on the web, or you can start off with a simple phone from a local retail chain.

It also costs more if you register your phone number as a company rather than a personal line. To start out, list it in your name unless you have the type of business that potential clients look for in the phone book.

Branding

I’ve seen people spend weeks agonizing over the color or exact look of their logo and spend lots of money on endless revisions, when it would make little difference to their business growth. Shop around for both a graphic designer and web designer who have already done work that you like and who are reasonably priced. Online services like Logoworks can be a good bootstrapping resource.

Make sure your web designer can help you with search engine optimization and that they will design your site in a Content Management System, so you can easily make simple changes yourself rather than paying them to do it for you. You can save lots by learning about SEO, good copywriting and how to quickly generate traffic to your website for little or no money. That was the reason I developed this e-course, Maximize Your Website Now

Marketing

In Maximize Your Website Now I’ve introduced many ways to market cost free on the Internet. But offline you can also trade advertising for services or a percentage of sales revenues. Maybe you’re good at speaking. Find organizations whose members are in your target market and offer an information filled presentation. Be creative and you can cut your marketing dollars significantly while still getting a great ROI

Outsourcing

Rather than hire, outsource specific tasks. Outsourcing will save you from paying for underutilized employee hours. Need administrative assistants, hire a Virtual Assistant. Need someone to build links to your website, submit articles online, write press releases? Go to http://www.elance.com/ and let qualified professionals bid on your job. A great place to find outsourced help with your website is http://www.digitalpoint.com/. Go to the forums.

Sales

Rather than hire a sales person, find  joint venture partners who have already attained clients in your target market and see if they will endorse your service to their clients for a percentage of sales. Save yourself the struggle of want ads, interviews, training, monitoring, and payroll taxes.

These are just a few bootstrapping suggestions. Where else can you save money but still achieve the results you want?

Janis