... , but not in the numbers it once did: print newsletters. The interest in newsletters surprised me, but perhaps it shouldn't, because in the right situations print newsletters can be a valuable marketing tool for solo business owners. The Rise and Fall of Print Newsletters When I started as a solopreneur in 1993, newsletters were a big part of my business. I had the skills to produce print newsletters (I was a Quark expert at a time when not many people were), and desktop publishing helped to make newsletters one of the most cost-effective marketing methods available to small businesses ...
Tags: marketing | newsletters | enewsletters | Quark | printing |

... 't find a job you want, if you can't find a job you like, if you can't find a job at all, you might want to consider an alternative. Entrepreneurship, being a business owner, self-employed, solopreneur - whatever you want to call it - is a tough job. Depending on what you decide to create, you might choose to be a solopreneur or you might have the goal of developing a company which will hire hundreds of employees. You could end up being the one creating jobs for those who can't find one or for those who don't want ...
Tags: job loss | find employment | entrepreneur | self employed | own a business | solopreneur |

... fit with the business... work on billing, invoicing... planning new products... recapping the quarter, updating plans for the next quarter... online seminars, in person development... client attraction, client retention, client relationship building and the list can go on and on, creating massive hurdles that can be difficult to overcome. The solopreneur needs to be the master of many functions. Try the following tips to push past the juggling act and into a smooth routine process that can help develop efficiency and a more productive work environment: Plan time to respond to emails and voicemail. Do not look at every message as ... take work away such as a book keeper or a virtual assistant, leaving more time to focus on actual business with your expertise. Take time to re-energize, regroup and reflect on accomplishments, giving a fresh perspective to moving forward towards your goals. The list can go on, as any solopreneur knows. Try a few and see what works and, step by step, the juggling will stop.
Tags: plan time | juggling routine | actual business | business activity commitments | business work |

... are so bogged down during the start-up phase of their company that it's really a mind-boggling experience. New issues pop up every day, decisions are being made, processes are being put into place, business documents are created and marketing materials are developed. And that's just the solopreneur. For those who have employees, there is also an HR manual to be created, hiring practices put into place, hiring that must be completed and, of course, payroll to process. And there is so much more not even mentioned here! Oh, yes - one more thing. There are customers that must ...
Tags: Service provider | customer satisfaction | customer survey | business owner | solopreneur | questions business |

... need to find you when a potential client is online conducting a search using your key words. Second, your content must be interesting and relevant so once your potential clients find you, they keep coming back, sign up to receive your content regularly and eventually invest with you. As a solopreneur or small business owner with an interest in gaining online visibility, you are probably already writing informational articles as a means of creating content for these two purposes. If so, you're already on a great path to spreading your message and driving high-quality traffic to your web site ...
Tags: marketing | solopreneur | visibility | branding | small business marketing | business development |

... through those experiences for a reason. And if we don't' make mistakes, how will we learn? I invite you to stop thinking about the could haves, should haves, and why didn't I's. By focusing on the past, you stay stuck. And when you stay stuck, as a solopreneur your business will remain stuck. Just think for a moment. The past no longer exists. What's done is done. The only thing that exists is the present. The now. So why not focus on the now? You have control of what happens in the present moment. Grab the reigns ...
Tags: business coach | stay stuck | bad business decision | solorpreneur | let go of the past |

... the 3 critical brand support systems for real breakthrough in your business. These essential systems are key to ensuring your success and creating a structure on which your brand can thrive. It all starts with the BRAND Before we cover these systems, let's talk about brand first. As a solopreneur in the "entrepreneurial renaissance" age - a coin termed by business coach, Marcia Bench, you will have to compete against many people who claim expertise in the same field as you. Regardless of their level of experience or visibility, the sheer numbers require that you carve out a way to stand ...
Tags: small business systems | relationship management | solopreneur | business coaching | online business system |

Are you just getting by to pay your bills and make ends meet? Is your business dragging it's feet? Are you concerned about what's going to happen with your business if it doesn't turn around soon? The amount of money you make along with how much money you have in your bank account directly reflects your beliefs about money. There is absolutely no lack. The only thing that's in lack is your disconnect from who the source of your supply is. The ONLY source of your supply is God (or whatever you call your higher power). Therefore, money comes from God through people. Period. Let's say that you desire to get the support of a coach to help break through your blocks that are keeping you stuck. ...
Tags: business growth | let money control | coaching program for solopreneurs | law of polarity |

... When you are working alone as a solopreneur it's your job to keep yourself feeling upbeat and positive. Having your own business is no easy feat. It's going to bring up all your issues. Why? It's because your business is a reflection of you. And at times, things happen that will affect your mood and ...
Tags: business women | build relationships | working alone | dreams and visions |

I met a savvy marketer two weeks ago who reminded me of six important marketing lessons for solopreneurs. I want to share those lessons with you now. I was visiting with our plumber, Steve, while he was doing the installation of our new dishwasher. We got on the subject of marketing-what works for us and what doesn't. At the end we exchanged business cards and he invited me to visit and join a local networking group of about 25 business owners that meets weekly. Steve then showed me a large wallet he carries with him. It contains multiple business cards for his fellow networking members. When Steve has a client who needs other services, he gives them a card from one of the networking ...
Tags: marketing | tips | plumber |

My Dad was a Lutheran pastor. I think he was a good one in the best sense: he always wanted to help others and he was nonjudgmental. He died in 2004, and during his life he served six congregations. His favorite church by far was his fourth one. It was the 1970s and 1980s in Mentor, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland. Business people, mostly middle management, were the leaders of the congregation, and church growth (as measured by membership and budget) was a priority. I don't think my Dad ever used the word "marketing," and he had no business training whatsoever. He never read the "business" section of the newspaper, and I doubt he ever saw a copy of the Wall Street Journal. But during his years ...
Tags: marketing | Mentor | Ohio | Lutheran | 1970s | Yellow Pages |

... Do you struggle to "find" the time to get everything done in your business? The to-do list of a solopreneur can certainly seem never-ending as there is always something to do. Creating and launching your programs; marketing; writing articles and blog posts; working with clients; business development; social networking; administration; filing; speaking to prospects; presenting; attending networking events; sending out invoices; paying bills; updating the website; and on it ...
Tags: Time management |

... Many times I am in conversation with a potential client or struggling solopreneur and when I ask them what the biggest obstacle is that they feel is preventing them from succeeding, they say "money." I know at that point that they need to work on their relationship with money. That's because money is never an obstacle, it is a vehicle. What the ...
Tags: money mindset | business coaching | entrepreneur | business mindset |

... are still working towards the chosen goals, continuing to train your staff, and/or determining better processes with which to respond to events. Keep in mind that the 3P process is not continuous, but discrete. There are three distinct stages- prepare, performance, and processing. And, should you not be a solopreneur, you must train your staff to employ the 3P process, as well. To do this, you start by previewing the tasks they plan to accomplish. As part of this preparation, you can suggest changes or ask questions as to their approaches. Make sure their approach fits with the goals that ...
Tags: time management | delegation |

... Whether you're a solopreneur or part of a large organization, there will always be a task or two that you don't specialize in or simply don't like to do. Lately, I've been listening to webinars and reading articles that all seem to chant "outsource and your life will be easy". Don' ...
Tags: time management | organization | delegation | process | processes | bookkeeping |

You have probably heard the statistics and they aren't pretty. If you read the numbers that the U.S. Government Small Business Administration's website states it says that 50% of small businesses fail within the first five years. You might have come out of another employment situation and are ready to venture out on your own, or you may have been out of the working arena and are thinking about getting back in. Whatever your situation, do your due diligence. Even if you have had your business for awhile, be sure to read this carefully and make changes if need be. 1. Jumping in without a plan. I know how exciting it can be to start a business but please do your homework first. You need to ...
Tags: Positive Aging | Kim Kirmmse Toth | Business Planning | Online Business | Small Business |

Partnership Marketing means joining forces with another business for a mutually beneficial outcome. The outcome can be to build your list, to sell a product or service or to increase awareness of your business. Because there is a mutually beneficial outcome, it is critical to very carefully select partners that share your target market and offer a complimentary service. Many businesses share the same kinds of customers and clients and can greatly benefit by combining their efforts into one synergistic move versus each of them performing their marketing alone. There are many kinds of partnerships. This article will cover five of them. Joint Venture (JV) Partners A JV is when you and another ...
Tags: partnership marketing | marketing | solopreneur | visibility | branding | small business marketing |

I recently heard Mary Cantando of WomanBusinessOwner.com speak at the Diva Toolbox conference. Mary is very inspirational. She has closed sales of up to $50M, is a respected sales and marketing expert and helps countless women across the globe develop new, successful revenue streams for their businesses. Mary talked about her best-selling calendar that offers inspirational quotes and tips from business owners just like you and me. In her calendar, one of the tips that she called out as one of the most important was about having a great outgoing voice mail message. You would think that there are other things that she could have focused on, but Mary pointed out that having a boring outgoing ...
Tags: outgoing voice mail | marketing | solopreneur | visibility | branding | small business marketing |

So you're a business owner who is interested in spreading your message through public speaking. Good for you! Public speaking is arguably one of the best ways to promote your business. The problem is that you don't know if you should you or should not charge for your speaking engagements. And if you do charge, how to you set your fee? Here's the answer - you just decide. This sounds very simplistic, but this is the reality. You just decide what is right for you at this point in time. There is no "speaking fee system" that you have to fit into, thank goodness! That would severely limit what you as business owners want to do in your business. In fact, that concept reminds me of my former ...
Tags: marketing | solopreneur | visibility | branding | small business marketing | business development |

A Virtual Retreat is a vehicle for helping your business reach new financial gains. I have done many and just love the ease and the transformations that can occur in a short period of time, as well as generating income. These VIP Days are wonderful when people don't want to travel due to expense, family responsibilities or simply because traveling can be so frustrating these days. There are 2 different designs that I use for my Virtual Retreat Days: Design #1: 1-1 VIP Virtual Retreat Day I have run these with clients where we are on the phone for 4 hours. I request they come very prepared with what they want discussed regarding the challenges they are experiencing and the transformation ...
Tags: Kim Kirmmse Toth | Virtual Retreat Days | Small Business Growth | Business Coach |