Do you have customers who’ve liked your small business on Facebook? Followed you on Twitter? Pinned you on Pinterest? Are clients and prospects connected to you on LinkedIn? Then the holidays are the perfect time for you to post, tweet, pin, and connect right back. When it comes to holiday marketing, social media is the …
Eat, Drink, Be Merry — and Network!
Let the parties begin! With Thanksgiving out of the way, you thought you could hunker down in your small business or just kick back at home? No way — the holiday season is a perfect time to use social opportunities to build your small business. Long before Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or even MySpace, there was …
Secrets to Ringing Up More Holiday Sales
What’s at the top of every small business owner’s holiday wish list? More sales! It’s no wonder. For many small businesses, the holidays are their make-or-break season, often bringing in half their total annual income. Holiday sales are critical for more than just retail or e-commerce companies — small businesses in personal services, hospitality, travel, …
What’s Hot in Holiday Swag
Free stuff! Everyone loves getting gifts or “swag” — the promotional items businesses give out. The holiday season is the perfect time for your small business to thank your customers or clients by giving them small gifts. But hurry — time’s running out to order anything imprinted with the name or logo of your small …
Build Your Small Business With Tech Tips From the Ice
When a sports team is located in the heart of Silicon Valley and is owned by a high-tech visionary, you’d expect them to leverage technology to give them a competitive edge. You’d be right. But when you think of a major league sports franchise, you probably think it doesn’t have much in common with small …
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There’s No Business Like Pet Business
I have a scary admission to make: I will embarrass my dog by dressing her in a pet costume this Halloween. I am certainly not alone. Americans will spend more than $350 million (that’s a third of a billion) on pet costumes in 2014. A pumpkin is the favorite costume of choice, closely followed by …
Women’s Not-So-Small-Business Month
The Small Business Administration has declared October as National Women’s Small Business Month, but instead I would like to call it National Women’s Not-So-Small-Business Month. I want to challenge women business owners to make a commitment to grow your companies and make more money. To take your business to the next level, you can add …
Self-employed Give Thumbs up to Obamacare
Years ago, a tenured university professor told me his secret: He was desperate to quit and start his own business. He had enough in savings but didn’t dare leave his job. As a man in his mid-50s, he couldn’t get health insurance on his own. The Affordable Care Act, which some call Obamacare, was supposed …
So You Think You Want to be a Consultant?
Let’s say you’re an expert in a field but got laid off from your job. Or you have skills but can’t find permanent work that pays enough. It may be time to become a self-employed consultant. Consulting is a great way to own your own small business. I know, because I was a consultant for …
