Your Brand Is Everything

Your brand is everything. Don’t think that just because you’re not Nike or Coke that you don’t have a brand. You ARE a brand. Your brand is not your advertising or agency. Your brand is not your logo. Your brand is not your company name. Your brand is not your product. Your brand may not be at all what you think it is. Your brand may not be what you intend for it to be. You do not own your brand. Your brand is owned by your customers, the people you work with, and anyone else who has an impression

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12 Commandments of Wealth: Lessons from Self-Made Successful Entrepreneurs

W. Randall Jones, founder of Worth magazine, in his book entitled “The Richest Man in Town: The Twelve Commandments of Wealth“distills the characteristics of successful men and women. He explores the age-old question of what makes these successful people, all self-made, different from you and me. Being rich and living a prosperous life seem to be a universal desire, but why is it that not everyone can achieve great success and everything it brings? How can you become the richest man in town? In the course of his career interviewing successful people — from tech giants Bill Gates and Larry Page

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How to Manage Holiday Stress

The holidays are a time for great joy for some, and a time of stress and frustration for others. None of us should be denied the joys of the holiday season and so I have put together the following seven suggestions to help you “bust” the holiday stress and enjoy this time more. 1. Plan ahead. We know well in advance, (like a year before), that the holidays will require a lot more of our time for special preparations in addition to our regular routines and responsibilities. However, many of us get caught short, in crisis management, running around at

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Minimize Interruptions and Control How Others Affect Your Productivity

One of the most difficult aspects of time management is controlling your day when others around you want to steal your time. Interruptions can eat up literally hours of precious, productive time each day.

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How to Find Your Calling and Live Your Passion

>> Passion Quotes to Inspire You to Success Is your work sapping the life out of you? It is time to reassess your life and your goal. Discover and pursue your true calling. From the book Business: The Ultimate Resource here are ways to find your calling and live your passion: Assessment Begin by assessing your skills and talents. Make a list of all the things you have been good at. On this same piece of paper, make three columns. The first one is labeled “Current Job.” In this column, put a check to all the skills and talents that

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4 Ways to Reduce Your Small Business Taxes

Upon launching a brand new small business, the numerous startup costs and related expenses that you’ll incur can be overwhelming. These hefty costs could even discourage some entrepreneurs from moving forward with a business. Thankfully, there is some good news in terms of how you can keep more of the hard-earned money you earn as a small business owner. Consider these tips to reduce your small business taxes: 1. Adopt a formal entity structure for your small business. If you work as a sole proprietor or are a member of a partnership, the IRS is likely taxing you at the

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How to Use Customer Testimonials in Your Marketing

Let’s face it, today’s consumers are skeptical. Can you blame them? With all the marketing hype and sales pitches people receive each day, we are all a bit jaded. However, to make the sale we must overcome our prospect’s natural skepticism and create a relationship of trust. One of the most powerful tools in your marketing arsenal is customer testimonials. It’s one thing to toot your own horn. People expect you to sing praises about your own products or services. Because of this, there is an inherent disbelief in any marketing message that comes from you. But when other people,

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Establishing Your Website’s Objectives and Purpose

In creating your website, you need to establish your website's objectives. Be clear on what you want your website to accomplish. Ask the question: "What is the purpose of my website?"

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What is Incorporation?

Find the answers to frequently asked questions about incorporation from Active Filings, LLC: Why Incorporate? A well-incorporated and well-run company can limit the personal liability of its shareholders. Corporate assets may be at risk, but personal assets will generally be treated as separate. However, keep in mind that the Court does not automatically remove liability for criminal and negligent acts on the part of the company’s officers, directors, and shareholders. Incorporation can help limit your personal liability as a business owner. In general, creditors of your corporation must satisfy their claims by seizing the assets of the corporation rather than

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10 Factors to Consider When Selling on the Web

Selling on the Web is not as simple as you may think. Learn the various elements that you need to implement a successful e-commerce strategy. 1. Make sure you have a market. Who is going to buy your products online? The best place to start is your current customer base. Will going online make life easier for them? Are you going to save them time and money by allowing them to purchase online? You probably have a basic web site already; are you getting requests for online buying from potential customers? It is never truly possible to judge in advance

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5 Trade Show Marketing Mistakes and How to Prevent Them

The success or failure of your trade show rests heavily on how well you market your event. Marketing, when done right, can project a positive image of your event, entice exhibitors to sign the dotted line, and attract loyal customers. However, critical mistakes in your marketing campaign can have the opposite effect. Here are five trade show marketing errors that are common in our business, along with some sound advice on how to avoid making them. 1. You select the wrong exhibition hall. You’ve got the perfect trade show — or so you think. The products are a great fit

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6 Signs Your Business Partnership Will Fail: Changing Vision

Learn why changing vision and discrepancies in the core values and principles among the business partners are a major cause of the failure of business partnerships

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