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20 Ways to Grow Your Business in 2020 by @DrRKayGreen

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by Dr. R. Kay Green | Featured Contributor

2020 is just around the corner. This start of a new year — and a new decade — is an exciting time for business owners. It is a time for goal-setting, strategizing, and looking to a future of improvement and growth.

In that spirit, here are 20 ways to grow your business in 2020:

  1. Join more clubs. This includes not only networking groups, but also clubs that are dedicated to other things. The more people you meet, the more potential clients are in your circle. Obviously, you should not push sales too hard on everyone you meet. But make sure they know what you do.
  2. Build a social media strategy. If you have not started a social media strategy already, this is the year to begin. When people find out about you, they will be googling you. It is important that you have a social media presence to show that your company is real.
  3. Get client testimonials. These should be displayed prominently on your social media, website and possibly on your clients’ social media, too. Testimonials are an important part of making companies appear trustworthy and worthwhile to potential clients.
  4. Start a blog or podcast. Blogs and podcasts do a lot for a company’s image. They can turn you into a figure of authority, or humanize you, depending on your needs and your audience. Strategically providing for potential clients will make them more likely to hire you in the future.
  5. Track data and metrics. To grow a successful business, you need to know what is working and what is not. That means identifying the actionable metrics you can track, and keeping an eye on them. Adjust your strategy depending on what they say.
  6. Conduct a customer survey. What do your customers actually like about you? What you think might be very different from the reality? Take the time to actually ask them how they interact with your business, and be sure to highlight the things that they like, while improving what they think needs improvement.
  7. Volunteer in your community. In addition to being a genuinely good thing to do, volunteering allows your business to become more tied to your community. This helps you reach a wider range of people around you, and positions you as someone who cares.
  8. Host a webinar or other event. Similar to blogging or podcasts, hosting a webinar or a similar event is a great way to get “on the radar” of potential clients. It also shows that you want to provide them with a mutually beneficial relationship.
  9. Keep up on your email marketing. Email blasts are an easy thing to forget, but they should not be. This keeps you top-of-mind for people on your list, which can really improve your rate of referrals, as well as improve your business with current clients.
  10. Watch your competition. Know what other people in your space are offering. Then you can focus on what makes you different, and put emphasis on why people should choose you over others. In addition, you might be able to see trends in what customers want.
  11. Give back to your customers. Positioning your company as one that genuinely cares about your customers can do a lot for your reputation. Offering simple gifts or deals can help bring in new customers who are interested.
  12. Hold a contest. Visible contests, like hashtags on social media, can help get the word out about your business. It can also tie into the above point about giving back to customers, if you offer prizes at the end of it. Contests are exciting and fun.
  13. Partner with other businesses. This will allow you to offer an even wider range of services to clients. People do not necessarily want to be in contact with a bunch of different businesses. If, by hiring you, they get access to many other services, that makes you convenient and easy to work with.
  14. Acquire other businesses. This is another way to provide a wider range of services, with the added benefit of adding more people to your team.
  15. Simplify what you do. This might seem a bit antithetical to the last few points, but being really clear about what it is you offer can help you find the clients that actually want your services — and, on a similar note, it can help those clients find you.
  16. Get better at delegation. This will allow you to put more time toward networking, reaching out to current clients for more work, and all-around growing your business.
  17. Reward your team. While you are giving your team more responsibilities through delegation, make sure you take the time to show them how much you appreciate them. If you want your business to grow, you need the team to accommodate that growth.
  18. Become an expert. Learning new things is always important for business owners. But when you are attempting to grow your business, it is critical. You need to stay up-to-date on the latest trends in order to provide what customers want.
  19. Be consistent in messaging. Often, people will not hire you the first time they hear about you. But if they hear about you consistently, you will be on their mind when they actually need your services. Keeping messaging consistent is what will keep you memorable.
  20. Invest in training. If you want to grow your business, your team needs to be prepared to provide the services you offer. That means training them. Online training is a great option because it allows your employees to learn on their own terms.

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Dr. R. Kay Green – Marketing Expert from RKG Marketing Solutions Inc. from Atlanta, GA.

Dr. KayDr. R. Kay Green is the CEO/President of RKG Marketing Solutions Inc. With over 190,000+ Twitter followers, 35,000+ Facebook Likes, and the Top 1% LinkedIn profile designation, Dr. Kay, a self-motivated trailblazer, is the Quintessential “New-Age” Professional Woman, and PhD Marketing Pro. She earned a Doctorate of Business Administration in Marketing, and has completed PhD coursework in Leadership and Organization Change. She also holds a Master of Business Administration in Marketing and Management, a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing, and an Associate of Arts in Marketing Management.

She is affiliated with several prestigious universities and has instructed over 350 courses online. A popular speaker on Marketing and Business topics, Dr. Green is currently featured on Huffington Post, Black Enterprise, Black News, The Network Journal, Business Review USA, Digital Journal, College View, Business New Hampshire Magazine, Bay State Banner, Reader’s Circle, North Dallas Gazette, Harlem News, Top News Today, One News Page, NE Informer, Women in Business PR News, Consumer News Today, Women PR News, San Francisco Chronicle, Houston Chronicle, Chicago Daily Herald, The Miami Herald, and Book News Articles.

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11 Ways to Push Past a Business Plateau

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by Liz London 

It’s common for businesses to hit a plateau at some point. You might be working just as hard, if not harder, as when you threw your doors open, giddy with excitement at all the shiny new possibilities. But profits have stalled, or you can’t seem to get past that “barely-surviving” breaking point.

Or, maybe profits are tanking while customer complaints are increasing. No Bueno.

So, what’s a ladyboss to do? Read every piece of literature on the latest digital marketing trends? Join a dozen new networking groups, hoping someone has the secret sauce to get past the hump?

The truth is that every business is unique. Your industry is unique. Your brand is unique. So, the solution will be unique, too.

Maybe what you really need is to go back to the core conventions of business and systematically evaluate your situation.

Here are 11 ways to methodically clean up your business systems and find the source of your hang-up.

  1. Go back to your start-up checklist. Did you skip steps in a hurry to get the doors open, the customers paying, and the momentum going? Take the time to work through a business plan.
  2. Re-evaluate your branding. Many of us create a brand around what we personally like best or what we think our target customers want. But, quite often, real market research shows that your brand isn’t speaking to the clients you really need.
  3. Inspect your products, processes, and team. This is usually where an objective assistant can make a huge difference. Hire a secret shopper. Do a product test with strangers at the mall. Maybe you need a rebrand.
    Thousands of big brands have undergone rebrands. My favorite example is Old Spice. They were dying as a brand that was equated with old dudes and mustiness. After a badass rebrand that didn’t involve changing their name or their logo (much), I’m proud to say that my man wears Old Spice. It’s hipster, masculine, and funny. And if Old Spice can do it, so can you!
  4. Get your cash flow tracking in order. Your cash flow is the lifeblood of your business. If you don’t have your finger on your business’s pulse, she could bleed out before you’ve even caught on to a problem.
  5. Invest some time in continuing your own education. Take a class in a new satellite skill. Immerse yourself in a retreat. Get re-inspired and re-educated with your market.
  6. Stop trying to do everything yourself. Our biggest growth inhibitor tends to be our time. Take it from Shark Barbara Corcoran, who says, “Every great entrepreneur is most reluctant to spend money on an assistant, because they feel like they can do it all themselves, but it’s the most important decision you can make—to let go of the detail into the hands of someone whose just as able as you are.”
  7. Sit down with a pen and paper and get your goals and projections in order. Forget the mood board and the mindset collages. Crunch some actual numbers to find out how much money you need to cover business expenses and personal expenses. Compare it to how much you’re actually bringing in. Calculate how many clients you need each month to hit your goals. Track your marketing ROIs and determine how you need to adjust your model in order to realistically hit your financial goals.
  8. Take a leap of faith by investing in a growth stimulator. After Step 7, you’ll know which branch of your business will give you the biggest bang for your buck. Upgrade to that premium CRM service. Hire an assistant. Invest in some real advertising.
  9. Get better at your time management. Femtrepreneurs are often creatives. Creatives are often not so great with time management. But that’s not to say we can’t practice at it. My favorite time management guidance comes from Lee Cockerell, the creator of the leadership and management program used by over 40,000 Disney cast members. He says, “Efficient” is being able to get things done. “Effective” is doing the right things in the right order and making sure you address everything that is urgent, vital, and important in every part of your life.”
  10. Shift your marketing efforts towards sales techniques that actually close the deal. Too many of us get lost in the lure of the “passive sales funnel” trend. In a world of too much content and digital noise, maybe it’s time to re-engage in some human-to-human contact in order to close more sales.
  11. Find a way to re-ignite your passion. Turning a passion into a paycheck can lead to burnout fast. After that point, your work no longer fun, and apathy does build a successful business.

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Liz London is founder of The Ladyboss Nation, a certified business coach, and author of The Business Bible for the Unconventional Entrepreneur. She’s a serial entrepreneur, dog trainer, bellydancer, reptile-raiser, and a bit of a bohemian punk who helps people understand there is a place for every personality in professionalism.

Gig – Sharing – Youpreneur – [Ec]onomy by @SBSLEducSoltns

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by SJ Barakony | Featured Contributor 

 

‘Lean in … it’s growing daily.’

 

As this blog goes live, we find ourselves on a chronological cusp; it’s not just A New Year’s Eve/Day:  it marks an entirely new decade!

The 2020’s will bring us untold innovation which’ll make us do double-takes; one trend, though, that we can better understand since it’s been growing since ~ 2008 ?

 

A > It has multiple monikers:  Gig / Sharing / Youpreneur. 

 

All = synonyms for an independent workforce which’ll continue to improve day to day life, so long as we don’t stoke fear, assume, become too comfortable, or let corporate entities dictate the narrative.

Here’s a fundamental Q:

 

How can we entrepreneurs be trailblazers for our peer generation, those older, and, yes, younger, for this economic paradigm?

 

Gigs are Great

We’ve likely heard, or know someone who’s a ‘side’ hustler; this person’s also a side ‘gigger’.  She’s pursuing gig economy income, driven not by trading units of time for currency/dollars & cents; rather, via representing a product/s, service/s, &/or sharing her specialized knowledge in/to the marketplace, earning $$ in return.

This infographic offers a flyover, showing how many ‘gigs’ are available, just via smartphone apps.

Yet, there is far more at ‘work’ here: Entire new business models have, and will continue to be formed. One recent example?  Click here.

The back to back [ ‘blue’ & ‘white’ collar ] industrial ages shall continue to be supplanted by gigs, although it will necessitate re framing, challenging 20th century assumptions, & being willing to exchange calculated risk for more time & financial flexibility.

 

For it matters not, how much we own, the cars . . . the house . . . the cash. What matters is how we live and love and how we spend our dash.

 

― Diane Mulcahy, The Gig Economy: The Complete Guide to Getting Better Work, Taking More Time Off, and Financing the Life You Want .”

 

Sharing = Collaborative = Interdependent   

‘Share & share alike ..’ – weren’t we told this by a doting parent(s), or maybe a primary school teacher at some point?

However, as we aged into adulthood, and started our business(es), we might’ve forgotten this sage advice. We either learned how to be dependent ( ‘employ’[ee] – to be used (utilized)) , and/or that we had to be a cowgirl, & do entrepreneurship all by ourselves, as an in-dependent.

Not so fast!  Sharing economic models enable us to rebuild trust with our peers, be inter-dependent, and find/leverage ways to collaborate & partner with others.

This visual is worth many words.

 

Multisided Platforms / ‘Matchmaker’ Economics

This new economic era is restoring and flat out creating new sparks of creativity that were lost in the very linear, centralized, & hierarchical industrial ages preceding it.

This terrific post will make you think; next time you grab your smartphone & search for an AirBnB, you’ll look at this research in a fresh way.

Matchmaker (‘ing) is worth trillions – it squeezes inefficiencies out of conventional producer/seller→ consumer/buyer bilateral relationships & builds bridges. It is beyond intriguing & sits squarely in this new [ec]-onomy.

 

What’s a “You” Preneur, anyway?!  

YOU ‘re worth far more than a rigid, pre-defined wage, salary, or compensation package. Shouldn’t your pay be aligned with the absolute value you deliver to your clientele, & not based on the usage of space & time ( = occupar / occupation ) ?

Most, if not all, entrepreneurial minded people reading this would say ‘absolutely!’

Thus, we’ve 2 words fused together, creating a combo which richly reflects the spirit, heart, & mindset of this new economic model:  YOU + [entre] preneur.

 

Overcoming …   

There are 5 (‘for the hand’) root issues which stand in the way of ‘giggers’ & ‘youpreneurs’ ‘sharing’ more & building a stronger entrepreneurial edifice in the 2020’s:

 

  • Our 125+ year old schooling ( not truly education ) tracks, ‘K-12’
  • Fear ( cynicism, unhealthy skepticism, & negativity )
  • A completely broken political system
  • The incumbent hierarchies

&

  • Comfort/familiarity

 

We can hurdle over the first by focusing on self-directing our education & loosening the grip of credentialed degree signaling ( esp if we have staff ); next, we can win out over fear by being faithful & focused; thirdly, how about turning towards local elections to drive grassroots transformation upwards to state/provincial &/or national/federal offices?

Fourth, be wise to what the ‘status quo’ says, and especially does. Often times, they’ll attempt to buy influence through the deeply flawed politics of today. Don’t let them; put your trust in your own small business & those of your peers. Lastly, don’t rest on your laurels or read your own press clippings. Always strive to sit in a learning zone.

 

Future = Free: IF we Choose

Many step up to ‘be their own boss’ ; yet, the promises heralded in transition tend to be lost in the haze of working harder, not smarter.

Freedom is such an overused word; for the purposes of this post, let’s frame it this way: It’s having many conscious choices always available to match with our  most irreplaceable asset, time.

The ultra flex & portability available in the gig/sharing economy is there for the taking. Lean into it!

 

Twitter ‘To-Do’s 

Youpreneur

Sharing Economy

Future Workforce

VisualCap

Suitcasepreneur

 

Let’s ‘future’ proof …

… your business(es).

Be unique & willing to unlearn what you were taught in a conventional classroom about economics & entrepreneurship.

 

A dozen things I’ve learned about …

6 Ghosts of Fear

 

… Multisided Markets

The Matchmakers 

 

Mutual Aid Societies & the Gig Economy

Rise of the Youpreneur

 

Read to Lead

25 Ideas …

 

Summing up … 

  • A major milestone is upon us!
  • A fundamental question …
  • Multiple monikers
  • Multisided & matchmaker
  • 5 challenges
  • “Free”dom
  • ‘Future’ proofing

 

Thank YOU for reading!

____________________________________________

Allow Beauty to Capture your Heart and Mind by Sue Perez of @Beautyphonics

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by Sue Perez | Featured Contributor

With days to go until 2020 everyone is getting their gift shopping done and attending those Holiday Parties. But as entrepreneurs we are planning. The activities we are doing now in December yields fruit 60 sometimes 90 days later. I have my schedule laid out for the next 4 weeks. I’m currently traveling with NBC Sports and providing makeup services for the on air talent on Sunday Night Football. It’s so exciting to watch football live, the roar of the crowd, the energy and excitement on the football field! I can feel it in my soul and it’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. But I’ve made some huge goals for 2020 and like many of us; it feels as though we are climbing upward, one reach overhead at a time, carefully and methodically moving forward.

 

Trust your confidence

I’m a successful television makeup artist but I always research every project. I read Bios, looks at images, ask questions, shop for anything I need and then at crunch time deliver first-rate work. Even though I obsess and over prepare for every shoot I have on occasion felt overwhelmed by those voices of self-doubt in my head. This is when I sit down alone and center myself. Having a clear vision of my plan, how I will execute whatever I am going to do next, having a successful outcome is a determination that I make. It’s a choice and that is what I prefer to entertain. At a holiday party recently an aspiring makeup artist who had missed an event of mine was finally introduced to me and she was beyond ecstatic to say the least. “Sue, I would love to work with you, I would carry your makeup kit or clean your makeup brushes!” she gushed. She’s fully aware that I published a book and won my Emmy award. She wants to do what I’m doing. Many of you have had experiences too where other people say how great and awesome you are. So how is it possible that even when we are experts in our field that we should harbor even a tiny shred of self doubt? It happens. But Trust in yourself and in your confidence.

 

Choose Joy

Something’s don’t go our way and how we respond to it is a choice. Sometimes I yell but most times I laugh. I’ve learned that when unexpected changes happen to pivot and allow myself this new venture into the unknown. Often a change creates a new opportunity, and usually one I wouldn’t have had without the mishap in the first place. It’s very interesting but the next time something goes against your plan, stay flexible and smile. Joy comes from life’s little surprises. It takes practice and it’s not easy, but gee it’s definitely a lot more fun! In my work I talk to all sorts of people, ages and with different backgrounds. I make sure to share something about myself, flash my sense of humor and keep the convo off any hot topics. You don’t need to go far to get into a debate these days about a variety of stories splashed in the media. But I like to laugh and prefer topics that are fun, inspiring or creative. Why discuss sad things, or dwell on bad news? It’s natural to have obstacles in life, loss and pain. When I have moments with people I want them to be fun and memorable for the right reasons.

 

 

Celebrate Life

So as we transition into another calendar year lets be joyful! I lost my mom this year, so it’s been very difficult without her. But I dream with her and see her as she was in her 30’s and 40’s. Vibrant and happy. I think about the best days I had with her and I made sure to have many. Celebrating the people I love and connecting with them is a reward I give myself. Watching them enjoy a meal I cooked for them, or enjoying a spa service as a treat, even opening a card or present I picked out for them and watching their excitement makes me feel so happy inside. I think I like giving gifts more than receiving them actually because I remember what people say they like. I try to celebrate little things too. Like when I reach a goal I made for myself, this year I’ve had some excellent career opportunities and I’ve been making progress in my other projects too. I list all the good things I’ve accomplished  and I keep all the Thank You cards I’ve ever received. It’s in this massive photo album and it’s so wonderful to review them and read all those heartfelt messages! Letters from family members some are now deceased, many sentimental beautiful notes. Treasures that I am proud to still have. There were more challenging times in my life (a super long time ago) when I wanted to give up, but I sat down and read those cards and letters. I cried, they made me smile and reassured my faith in myself.

 

Pass the Prosecco

Now at the end of every year I write a letter to myself. As a business owner I look at the year in quarters, every three months. My letter outlines my successes and goals of course. It’s a very pretty shiny work of art that I place stickers all over and decorate. Not every goal is achieved and thats fine, I can assess what needs to be completed. It’s also filled with good wishes and loving affirmations. I’ve learned to become my biggest cheerleader. Another great way I stay focused is by carefully choosing who I surround myself. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but when people are constantly in the default position I avoid them like the flu. These individuals are so judgemental, secretive, pessimistic and complaining. Never truly happy for anyone else’s success because they are always comparing themselves to some unattainable goal. Truly miserable folk that suck the air out of the room. Maybe you know a few, I prefer to smile and move away from them. It takes practice, but it keeps me sane and emotionally healthy. I don’t need thousands of likes and followers to know how great I am. I am the star in my life without even being in a movie. Celebrating life, ourselves and the good things we create in other people’s lives are the greatest gifts of all.

 

Happy Holidays and have a Fantastic New Year!

 

 

How To Incorporate Storytelling Into Your B2B Marketing Strategy by @SHANE_BARKER

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How to Incorporate Storytelling Into Your B2B Marketing Strategy

by Shane Barker

Storytelling and B2B marketing may not seem like they go together. After all, storytelling is the art of writing fiction, right? Not always. Every brand has a story to tell, be it of the brand’s origins, their growth, or their employees.

Stories can humanize brands and make it easier for others to connect with them on an emotional level. While many B2C brands already use storytelling, it’s common for B2B brands to neglect or ignore this key marketing ingredient. This is because some B2B marketers forget that they are selling their products and services to other people and not just other businesses.

Stories have the capability to bring out the deepest emotions in humans. So when your prospects read your story or see your ad campaign, they will have an emotional response.

Let’s take a closer look at how you can leverage storytelling to improve your B2B marketing strategy.

1. Find a Reason

The toughest part of storytelling is starting out with a reason. You need to find a purpose and motivation behind telling a particular story.

It’s only once you figure out the “Why” that you’ll be in a position to tell a story. Without a cause to tell a story, it may not have the sort of impact you want it to have.

The reason to create and convey the message will help you convert it into words and incorporate it into your marketing campaigns. Your goal should be to give people a reason why they should take the time to read your story and care about it. That will help it have a more significant impact on the minds of your target audience.

2. Show, Don’t Tell

This concept is central to the art of storytelling through content marketing. Good storytelling requires that you help your readers visualize and feel things. For this reason, you need to paint vivid pictures in their mind. This can’t be achieved by just telling your readers your story directly.

You need to make the effort to bring your story to life and involve them in it so that they can experience it themselves. This can be done by collecting client stories and testimonials. They can help you bring your products or services to life. With examples from your past customers, you can show your audience how your products and services can make their lives and businesses better.

To help you understand the difference between show and tell, here’s an example:

Tell: Our product can help you grow your business.

Show: Our product helped our clients grow their revenue by 12X in one year.

Google AdWords Stories is a brilliant example of this. In this video series, you can watch small businesses talk about the impact that Google AdWords has on their business. These videos depict how small-scale companies were able to scale up their businesses using Google’s advertising service.

For example, in one of their videos, Google talked about how a small deli was able to grow their business to $14 million just through Google’s advertising services.

incorporate storytelling Youtube

Image via YouTube

The video includes the co-founder of the brand speaking along with behind-the-scenes shots of their employees. You can also see some customer testimonials of the brand. While the video itself makes the deli the hero, it subtly tells the story of how Google ads helped them become the hero.

3. Search for Stories in Your Company

As mentioned before, every company has a story to tell. And surely, your employees will have their own stories as well. If you want to incorporate storytelling into your B2B marketing strategy, it’s crucial to dig deep and find them.

This is especially true when it comes to employee stories as it can help humanize your brand. At the same time, you also get a chance to showcase your company culture through them.

Microsoft understood the importance of storytelling long back and hired a chief storyteller in 2010. They started a blog called Microsoft Story Labs, a platform that showcases the stories of their employees.

These blog posts also include interviews with their employees who give their perspectives on certain topics along with bits from their journeys at Microsoft.

They’ve taken it up a notch by coming up with Microsoft Life, where their employees share memories from their lives. This helps humanize the brand image of the company. They’ve also creates a Microsoft Life Instagram account, where they post these stories with photos of their employees.

Search for Stories

Image via Instagram

4. Use Visuals

Visuals are crucial for storytelling. This is especially true when you have a business that is very technically-focused. It can be challenging for such businesses to attract the interest and attention of their audiences.

Visuals can help make even the dullest of things come alive. By sharing infographics, screenshots, videos, or images, you can make your stories more engaging for your audience.

Visuals also help your audience understand the context better. And the best part is that the story doesn’t necessarily need to sell or promote your products/services. It just needs to convey a message to your audience.

To figure out which visual content resonates the best with your target audience, you can use Cortex. It helps you get insights on how you can leverage this content and stay ahead of your competition.

“The Longest Night” ad by Philips is a brilliant example of this. The ad shows you the story of a fisherman who’s suffering from insomnia. It takes you through his day, and you can listen to him talk about his tiring time out on the seas. He then goes on to talk about how his insomnia has led to apnea.

Use Visuals

Image via Vimeo

The ad doesn’t showcase any products from Philips, and it’s not even targeted at the fisherman. It’s really about the numerous healthcare providers who help treat people like the fisherman in the ad. And the ad talks about the solutions that Philips is developing only at the very end of the video.

Throughout the ad, you can see strong visuals of the stunning Icelandic landscape and the high seas. The surreal views, combined with the narration of the story make the entire ad very captivating.

Alternatively, you can collaborate with influencers to create engaging visual content. For instance, Mercedes-Benz partnered with Kelly Lund and came up with a video that shows a stunning snowy landscape and tells the story of Loki The Wolfdog and Kelly.

engaging visual content

Image via YouTube 

Influencers add a human element to your brand, and your audience can connect better with them too. However, for this, you need quality influencers.

To find and filter influencers based on their category of influence, you can use Influence.co. They have a huge database of genuine influencers whom you can contact and partner with through the platform as well.

5. Offer Engagement Opportunities

You must keep your audience engaged throughout your story. For this, you need to have a thorough understanding of your audience and must understand their goals and objectives as well.

Your storytelling shouldn’t, in any case, come across as a sales pitch. It should flow well and should be an engaging piece of content. The idea is to engage your audience and give them a reason to connect with your brand on a deeper level.

A great example of this sort of story is a set of videos that were created by Toshiba and Intel called “The Beauty Inside.”

Offer Engagement Opportunities

Image via YouTube

These videos gave their audience a chance to play roles in the stories. They were aimed at making technology more relatable to people. Such was the power of storytelling in these videos that they received more than 70 million views and even won an Emmy.

6. Keep it Simple

When you’re creating a story, it’s crucial to understand that it should reach the largest audience possible. For this, you need to ensure that the content that you’re creating isn’t too complex.

Your goal should be to create content that is simple and conveys your message effectively. Additionally, the attention spans of people are getting shorter according to a recent study.

For this reason, you should keep your blog posts and videos short. It’s also important that you don’t use unnecessary jargon and use simple words instead. You must also pay attention to the length of your sentences. Short sentences, which are roughly 10-20 words long, are ideal.

It’s also a great idea to combine your narrative with that of pop-culture and other popular stories. This ensures that the ad is easy to understand and can help generate significant engagement.

Advanced Business Solutions did this extremely well through their campaign – FairITales.

Keep it Simple

Image via Advanced

During this campaign, they used traditional stories such as “Jack and the Beanstalk” and “A Christmas Carol” to tell their story. A majority of people know these stories, and that made it easy for them to relate to the images. Catchy illustrations made the campaign even more captivating.

Final Thoughts

Storytelling is not just important in B2C marketing but is essential in B2B marketing as well.

To do it effectively, you need to understand your audience and create content that will appeal to their emotions. Dig deep into your company’s history and share the story of your beginnings.

You can also humanize your brand by conveying the stories of your employees and their journeys. Make sure you use attractive visuals and keep your audience engaged throughout. And remember – show, don’t tell.

Are there other things marketers should keep in mind while incorporating storytelling into their B2B marketing strategy? Let me know in the comments.

How Entrepreneurs Can Lean Into Embracing Big Changes by @DeborahSweeney

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by  | Featured Contributor

We’re wrapping up more than the year as 2019 comes to a close. This is the end of a decade, the 2010s, and it’s difficult to fully predict what the next 10 years has in store for small businesses.

Many entrepreneurs likely have a plan in place for Q1. They may not be too fazed by the changing calendar year. Others may see the new decade as a big opportunity to make much-needed changes to their business. These changes may be implemented quickly or they might be pushed to a later date. Making big changes is often easier said than done, so it’s not too surprising if other goals are prioritized first that are less intimidating to accomplish.

What if you feel resistant to change? Is there any method you can use to lean into change without fearing all the “what ifs?” that come with it? Through my own experience, I have found that these techniques can help even the most hesitant entrepreneur make, and be, the change they wish to see.

See every change as an opportunity.

This is an interesting technique that I encourage all entrepreneurs to try out for at least a month. What if you viewed all changes, and mishaps, that occur in your life as opportunities? For example, let’s say that the coffeeshop you like to work out of closes down. You might be a little upset at the storefront closing and need to change your schedule. But, it might inspire you to take a new path moving forward such as joining a coworking space.

See what I mean about changes? They’re really fresh starts in disguise. Try to view changes that occur within your business, both good and bad, as opportunities. Gradually, your mindset will change to see what kinds of upsides come with the changes and how you can leverage these advantages for your benefit.

Surround yourself with a comforting tribe.

Changes are great for growth, but sometimes too much change all at once can be a bit overwhelming. Entrepreneurs are already taught to be consistently “on,” and able to hit the ground running. However, it’s equally as important that they understand when to pause and recharge before they start running on empty.

As you make changes within your business, make sure you’re not doing it all alone. Ask for help if you need it. Take breaks and use the time to get outdoors or enjoy a little “you” time. Create a support system of family members, friends, and mentors. Long-time friends and mentors are comfortable and reliable to have in your life during big changes. These individuals may act as your cheerleaders and be able to provide perspective.

Clearly communicate with everyone.

Do you have major changes planned for your business, but your customers and employees aren’t totally aware of what’s going on yet? They might have an inkling that something is coming, but don’t really know for sure.

It’s time to get everyone on the same page. Meet with your team to share the news about upcoming changes within the business. Be fully transparent about when said changes will go into effect and how various teams will strategize to communicate the messaging with your customer base. Ask team members to come to you if they have any questions or feedback.

One more pro tip? Get excited about communicating these changes with your team. If you feel less than enthusiastic about having this conversation, the vibe will ricochet off of you onto everyone else. Focus on the positive impacts that this change will have on your business. Remind everyone that change is also good. It keeps you one step ahead of the competition and positions you as an innovative thinker (and doer). Great outcomes are always produced when the team goes all in together!

 

Deborah Sweeney is the CEO of MyCorporation.com which provides online legal filing services for entrepreneurs and businesses, startup bundles that include corporation and LLC formation, registered agent services, DBAs, and trademark and copyright filing services. You can find MyCorporation on Twitter at @MyCorporation.

How To Sell Your Course Online Like Hotcakes by @victoriahock

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by Victoria Hockaday | Featured Contributor

Creating an online course can be a long process, but actually selling your course to keep your business afloat? That can be one of the most difficult and anxiety-inducing struggles for a course creator.

In today’s post, I’m sharing my favourite strategies that will – hands down – help you sell your course online like hotcakes. Ready to learn how to sell your course online? Here’s my favourite ways to do it:

1. Set your goals

Before you sell your course online you want to set goals, to give you an idea of what you’re working with.

You want to think about what your monthly revenue goal is, how you’re going to price your course and how many units you need to sell to hit your goals. 

If you’re selling your first course, I’d create a minimum goal and a stretch goal, so you can work out how many courses you need to sell at the bare minimum.

Once you’ve got an idea of your goals, you want to think about how you’re going to attract qualified prospects.

2. Plan a launch 

Most people create an online course, slap it on their website and expect people to come running with their credit cards.

This doesn’t lead to any sales (and don’t worry it wouldn’t work for me either!)

Instead, you need to create hype and anticipation for your course, so that people are excited to hear about your course.

One of the best ways to do this is by launching your course and making it available for a limited amount of time. 

It also means giving away free content and adding value, so that your audience is primed and ready to hear about your course. This can be through a free challenge, webinar or bootcamp.

Overwhelmed with how to launch your course? The Launch Accelerator is my signature coaching and training program designed to give you the strategy, tools and support for a profitable online course launch. It gives you the EXACT process maps and step-by-step execution guides I use with my clients, so you can say goodbye to soul-sucking projects and replace your one-on-one income with an online course.

3. Plan how you’ll make consistent sales

After the launch is over, you want to think about how you’re going to make consistent sales. 

There’s no point putting your blood, sweat and tears into a launch, having a successful 10-14 day period and then letting it slide. 

Instead, you want to think about how you can bring in sales after the launch is over. What will you do after the launch? What marketing activities will you do to bring in sales? Will you use evergreen systems?

One of the best ways to sell your online course all year round is through webinars. Webinars are really effective because they give you a chance to add value and show your expertise. Want to learn how to create a highly profitable webinar for your next launch? Check out The Launch Accelerator. 

So, there you have it! There’s my favourite steps on how to sell your course online. I hope that helps!

20 Business Ideas for Solopreneurs by @DONNAAMOS

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by Donna Amos | Featured Contributor 

According to Startups.com, 73% of all US-based businesses are solo, or solopreneur, businesses. TaxFoundation.org reports that there are over 23 million sole proprietorships currently operating in the United States, making it by far the most popular form of business ownership. And that number is reportedly on the rise as more people become disenchanted with the typical corporate structure and its undependable reputation for stability and longevity.

However, many huge corporations actually began as solopreneur enterprises and grew into other business structures. Some of the most famous include:

Whether or not you plan to go big in the future, a solopreneur business is a great way to begin. In fact, thanks to the Internet, there are many ways to launch a solopreneur business remotely, right from the comfort of your own home. Many of the examples below are Internet-based businesses. Others may require more human interaction.

Affiliate Marketer

Affiliate marketing allows you to share links to specific businesses or products and then earn a portion of the sales you direct to those companies.

Blogger

If you’re looking to build a business around your writing skills, you can start your own blog and manage it on your own, then make money through advertisements or sponsored content.

Bookkeeper

For another profitable opportunity to work with business clients, you could offer bookkeeping services for businesses looking to outsource that function. Many small businesses need this service but cannot afford to pay larger services for it.

Virtual Assistant

Virtual assistants handle various tasks for businesses like email, payroll, transcriptions, scheduling, and social media management. It’s something you can do on your own from home or another remote location.

Consultant/Coach

Consultants or coaches specialize in a service or career type and then teach others how to succeed in their specific niches. If you have many years of valuable experience, you can pass on that wisdom to others through group or one-on-one coaching.

Social Media Manager

For social media savvy solopreneurs, you can offer your services to other businesses to schedule social media posts and manage their accounts. This can be very lucrative for the knowledgeable solopreneur.

eBook Author

You can also focus on writing more long form content and then self-publish your own eBooks to sell. Many self-published authors are very successful. This business takes time to scale into a full-time income, however.

Freelance Writer

Offer your writing services to other businesses looking for blog posts, ghostwriting, sales emails, or other types of content. There are many branches, or niches, for freelance writers.

Copywriter

Copywriting is another popular writing business. You can specialize in writing copy for websites, product descriptions, or even advertisements. Copywriting is more about sales and harvesting leads than regular topical writing.

Graphic Designer

For design savvy solopreneurs, you can start your own graphic design business and work with clients on a one-on-one basis. Many small businesses could benefit from this service, and cannot pay large firms for it.

Translator

If you know more than one language, you can start a business as a freelance or contract translator. There are many opportunities for this online.

Podcaster

Podcasting is easier than ever to set up on your own. You can host your podcast, build your website, and make money through advertisements or affiliate sales.

Event Planner

If you enjoy organizing and working with different vendors, you can set up your own business as an event planner. You can even niche into only weddings, corporate events, or other types of events.

Online Course Creator

Another way to share your knowledge with others, you can create your own online courses and then sell them to students so they can work on their own time. This can involve personal calls, video, audio, and print products, or require no personal involvement.

House Cleaner

Build up a base of regular clients and specialize in house cleaning services. Complete cleanings for new construction can be a lucrative offer for approaching home builders.

Lawn Service

For those who enjoy working outside, you can start your own lawn mowing service where you provide weekly maintenance during the summer. Consider offering fall leaf and winter snow removal, also.

Gardener

Specialize in setting up or maintaining gardens and more intricate landscaping projects. A variation of this is to raise and sell fresh produce at farmer’s markets in season.

Party Entertainer

You can use a number of different skills, from music to juggling to face painting, to start a business as an independent party entertainer. Specialize in birthdays, holiday parties, or whatever you like best.

Personal Trainer

For athletic solopreneurs, you can start your own business as a personal trainer who works with clients one-on-one. Sometimes, local gyms can help you promote this business and even send you clients.

Yoga Instructor

Offer fitness and wellness classes to bigger groups of customers. Yoga and Pilates are popular choices for women.

What about you? What is your best idea for launching a solopreneur business in the new year? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

 

Legal Steps to Closing a Business Before the New Year by @CorpNetNellie

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by Nellie Akalp

Did your business struggle this past year? You’re not alone. Statistics show 20% of small businesses fail in their first year, while 30% fail in year two, 50% fail after five years in business and 70% don’t make it past their 10th year in business. Business failure does not mean the end of your entrepreneurial dreams. However, before you move on to your next great idea, it’s important to follow the right steps to legally close your business. 

Closing a business legally is just as vital as starting one legally. If you don’t do it correctly, you could get in trouble with the federal and state governments, putting your business reputation and credit health on the line. Even if you’ve already closed down the business, you need to make sure you’ve processed the correct paperwork and paid any outstanding fees—by year end, if possible. 

Why? In the eyes of the government and the IRS, if you don’t follow the proper steps of business closure, you are still responsible for filing annual reports, filing state/federal tax returns, and maintaining miscellaneous business licenses and filings. You are also responsible for any fees associated with the inactive business. If you don’t pay those (perhaps because you think you no longer have to), it could lead to a bad credit score, which will only hurt you when it’s time to secure financing for your next business. Here are five steps to closing your business.

Step 1: Make a Unanimous Decision

If you’re a sole proprietor, the decision to close down a business is all yours. However, if you have any partners (even silent ones), own a corporation or LLC, you must get all co-owners and board members to agree to the business closure. The method for closing your business should be outlined in your operating agreement/articles of incorporation. Usually the process requires there to be a formal vote to close the business, signatures collected, and documentation made in the company’s meeting minutes. 

If the business is a corporation and you’ve issued shares, you need two-thirds of those with voting shares to agree on closure. If there are no shares issued, the board’s approval to close is enough. If the business is an LLC, the rules vary from state to state, so check your state’s requirements.

Step 2: File Paperwork

After the official vote for dissolution, you must file the appropriate forms with the Secretary of State’s office in the state your business was formed. These forms are called “Articles of Dissolution,” “Certificate of Termination” or “Certificate of Dissolution.” If you don’t complete this step, you are still obligated to file the required annual paperwork and pay the fees associated with the business. 

It’s also important to cancel any city registrations, permits, licenses, and business names. When you file the dissolution paperwork with your state office, the business name is automatically cancelled. However, if you’ve registered a fictitious business name (DBA) with the state, you may need to file a separate cancellation notice on the DBA. Canceling a trademark is a bit more complicated, but can be done through the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) or by using a third party company to do if for you. 

Step 3: Settle Your Debts

You are also responsible for settling all the company’s financial obligations such as paying vendors, employees, etc. Creditors have first rights to any residual assets and if you, as the business owner, pocket any money before paying creditors, you can be personally sued for the money. If you don’t have the money to pay off all the debt, you may have to file bankruptcy and let the courts settle the assets. Likewise, LLCs and corporations are required to pay off creditors before any money or assets are distributed to shareholders, although personal assets are off limits to creditors.

Step 4: Cancel Your Business with the IRS

You cannot cancel your IRS assigned Employer Identification Number (EIN)/Tax ID once your business has started operating. The number is forever and permanently linked to your business whether it is open or not. (If you were assigned a number, but never used it, you can write to the IRS and have it cancelled.) If the business is a corporation, you should file Form 966, Corporate Dissolution or Liquidation.

Step 5: File a Tax Return

Don’t wait for tax season to file your last tax return. File the final wage reports, report any capital gains and losses, submit employment tax returns, and be sure to check the box labeled “final return” on the forms so the IRS knows this is the final return and your business is no longer operational. 

Nellie Akalp is a passionate entrepreneur, business expert, professional speaker, author, and mother of four. She is the Founder and CEO of CorpNet.com, a trusted resource and service provider for business incorporation, LLC filings, and corporate compliance services in all 50 states. Nellie and her team recently launched a partner program for legal, tax and business professionals to help them streamline the business incorporation and compliance process for their clients.

Passion and Profits: Consciously Creating a Blog by @lieshapetrovich

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“Do what you love, the money will follow”

That sounds amazing in theory, but how do we actually make that work? Marsha Sinetar discusses her book by the same name, Do What You Love, The Money Will Follow: Discovering Your Right Livelihood, and discusses living an authentic life. We all want to be happy and genuine, yet we aren’t on some magical journey where we get to live our best lives because we are passionate about something.

We have to consciously create a pathway to our own success.

Many of us blog because it’s a platform anyone can use to connect with the world. We get to design our tiny part of the universe any way we want. And with the right tools and strategy, we will never have to choose passion over profit.

We can have both.

Choose Good Works

It starts with choosing a topic that satisfies our soul and brings something positive to the planet. It’s choosing to be profitable but not at the expense of others. It’s the belief that money is the consequence of doing good works.

This concept isn’t new. It’s actually one of the steps on the Buddist’s Eightfold Path. Called the Right Livelihood, it means making a living through “ethical and non-harmful means”. What we put into the world has a direct impact on our overall well being and contentment. I know that’s a lot of spiritual huey for some, but it’s easy to see how choosing the right livelihood would promote a happy and harmonious life.

We can choose something we are passionate about and that we can profit from. Start with asking ourselves the following questions:

  • What excites us?
  • What topic could we talk about all day long?
  • What never feels like work even after putting in a 12 hour day?
  • What do we love that would bring good karma to the world?

Choose a Monetization Strategy (or two!)

Although we’re focused on doing good works and writing about what we’re passionate about, we always have to remember that this is a money-making operation. And there are a lot of ways we can monetize our sites. For example, here are 4 ways Jenny Lawson, from The Bloggess, makes money from her site:

  1. Link to her book and where we can buy it
  2. Link to her shop on Zazzle
  3. Promoting things in her blog (she doesn’t do this often but it’s a possibility)
  4. Selling advertising space

Affiliate marketing is another fantastic idea for bloggers. In 17 High Ticket Affiliate Programs to Dramatically Increase Your Profits, Spencer Mecham explains how being an affiliate for Hostgator works:

“The cool thing is that people who sign up for Hostgator only have to pay $20 to sign up, then you as an affiliate automatically get $200. So you don’t have to convince your audience to purchase high-dollar products to get a nice commission from Hostgator.”

We can choose from thousands of different affiliate programs and work with the ones that are both reputable and profitable. We can choose to sell in ways that are honest and upfront. I’ve turned my back on sleazy sales tactics but never lose sleep when I’m making money selling something I’d buy myself.

Create a Digital Product

This is one of the funnest things we get to do. We get to share our knowledge and expertise in eBooks, online courses, video tutorials, patterns, and guides. And we can DIY the entire product ourselves when this once would have cost us thousands of dollars to accomplish. Chris Dalziel, from Joybilee Farm, created a very cool DIY Herbal Apothecary course that she promotes on her homesteading blog:

What makes blogging the ideal platform for digital products is we are already writing for a niche that’s interested in what we have to say. As we’re building our audience, we’re also building our potential customer list. It’s the perfect business relationship!

And when we blog with good intent and write with a genuine desire to help people, it shows in our sales.

Rethinking What it Means to Be a Blogger

I’m surrounded by artists. A friend just made me a beautiful drawing of my daughter and I. My mother just painted me a lotus flower watercolor. I can’t draw a stick person.

But I can write.

I’ll never have the eloquence of Virginia Woolf. And I’ll never be able to spin a tale like J.K. Rowling. Yet, I can write about eCommerce for days. I love writing about new business ideas or how amazing a new productivity tool may be. I’m a total business nerd and that’s okay. Because there are millions of other business nerds out there that understand what I’m saying.

I’ve made a conscious choice to not sacrifice my soul just to make money. Of course, I need to make a living and pay my bills. Rather than choose profit over passion, I’ve built a business where I can have both. It’s not easy, but it is possible.

And it never truly feels like work.