If you’re starting a new business or expanding the one you have, a valuable first step is developing a written plan. You’ve heard about business plans, but did you know there is more than one type? Depending on your situation, you may need a complete business plan, a simple business plan, and/or an action plan. Read more (members only)

You’ve probably seen many people offering free teleclasses or webinars to land clients for their products and services, and it may seem to you like this is an easy, affordable approach. But it’s not for everyone. Whether or not this is a good idea depends quite a bit on how you plan to attract people to attend. Read more (members only)

Recently a client asked me what to do when he received referrals he was unable to take, either because he was too busy or they weren’t quite on target. Here are some suggestions I gave him that you may find helpful when you’re in the same situation. Read more (members only)

That’s really the million dollar question, isn’t it? If only you knew why your marketing efforts weren’t paying off, you could change what you were doing, and start seeing better results. In a recent article, I wrote about the five most common marketing saboteurs. Read more (members only)

As business owners, we are frequently offered “opportunities” that may deliver a significant return, but also have the potential to take up a great deal of time. You may be asked to provide your professional expertise, collaborate on a project, help with organizing an event, or Read more (members only)

While it’s true that many business owners never take time to write a business plan, it’s also a fact that two-thirds of all new businesses fail in the first five years. The majority of failed businesses never had a written plan. Read more (members only)

At a recent presentation on networking, we were asked this question by a graphic designer: “I’m looking to meet CEO’s, CFO’s or COO’s, but when I’m out networking, I meet mostly middle and lower-level managers. What do I do to get to the right people?” Read more (members only)

If you’ve been operating a successful professional services firm as a solopreneur, it can be a smart move to leverage your experience, contacts, and track record in the industry by adding other professionals to your team. Read more (members only)

Does it feel to you like you work all the time, yet there’s always more to do? It seems that in order to do well financially, you must work through the weekends, ignore your family and friends, and leave no time for yourself. How can you get your working hours under control? Read more (members only)

It does seem that the vast majority of marketing advice is aimed at extroverts. “Go to networking mixers and meet new people,” the authorities say. “Make cold calls.” “Speak in front of groups.” “Call people up and chat with them about what’s new.” Read more (members only)