small business

Online companies come and go and lately, these businesses have been coming and going a lot more rapidly. Unrealistic expectations of business ownership and even the Internet itself have lent to the demise of many commercial entities. Following are a few of the top reasons why many web-based endeavors are failing and tips on how you can avoid losing your ground while building your business.

Love it or hate it, marketing is a necessary part of creating a successful business. If you happen to reside in the "hate it" camp, it could be because you feel like marketing means you have to be pushy, sales-y or fake. We've all had the experience of having someone try to "sell" us and it doesn't feel good.

In almost ALL things the better your focus the greater your success! In fact this is the biggest 'secret' most successful entrepreneurs have and to what they can attribute their accomplishments! The plain and simple truth is your level of focus will allow you to be more productive which of course is a winning formula for success!

There are certain characteristics of entrepreneurs that lead them to being successful at what they do! For starters and just to dispel the myth, successful entrepreneurs are 'born' they are NOT made! For people who assume otherwise this should be good news and will hopefully motivate them onto bigger and better things!

Here are 5 common characteristics typically found in people who have found success in their chosen field as small business owners!

A number of publications have suggested that advancements in technology have made the traditional salesperson obsolete. It’s easy to see that the sales process has changed over the past ten years; however, crediting that change to technology alone is inaccurate. Customers, like salespeople, are a key part of the sales process. As a result, consumer trends play an important role in determining which sales techniques work and which don’t.

Remember the old saying “Good Salesmen are Born”.  Well, anyone can become a good salesperson if they can learn and master the basic sales skills.  Sales techniques have dramatically changed over the years.  Gone are the old school selling methods of talking incessantly and pushing a customer into a sale. 

No company, especially those that are smaller in size and get to know their employees on a first-hand basis, likes the idea of downsizing.

That being said, letting employees go from time to time is pretty much a reality in the business world, especially when you want to keep your business running at even or with a profit.

You have the money, the time and the energy to purchase your first or another small business. So, is there anything stopping you from such an acquisition?

On the surface it sounds like a relatively rather easy question to answer, but there are a number of underlying layers that need to be covered before you sign your name to a deal for such a purchase.

There have been visible signs of an economic recovery, at least in the Twitter streams.  Last week, I spotted several companies sending messages of incipient 'talent' searches, new-hire opportunities.  Is the online marketing community representative of the larger labor market?  A Wall Street Journal article gives some numbers to convince you one way or the other.

The elections are approaching.  That means we'll be confronted with loads of copy related to strategies, momentum, and trial-error successes.  A recent glance at the Wall Street Journal elicits news of the 'GOP' trying to 'Woo Hispanics.'  Obviously, particular parties recognize the population is segmented into smaller cultures and sub groups, just like brand consumers.