The business blog has become a must-have communication device for business. Savvy business people have grasped the huge potential of the blog as a way to reach and communicate with, and promote to, existing and potential customers… are you blogging yet?

So what is so wrong with creating yourself a job versus creating yourself a business? These two scenarios are compared and contrasted with the former being given all bad press and publicity and no saving virtues. But a lifestyle job has lots of merit!

How many of you would attempt to build a house without laying the foundations first? Yet how many actually follow this principle when building a business?

Many businesswomen attribute their success to mentors or a group of people who’ve advised them in some way. These women realise and acknowledge to themselves that they didn’t necessarily have all the answers, or all the skills and knowledge and contacts to take their business to the next level. They weren’t afraid, or too proud, to approach people who were experts in their field and ask for their help and input. We are not alone!

We all moan about attending meetings – but they’re crucial to the communication within a company and the attainment of our business goals.
I’ve attended meetings that have dragged on endlessly, yet nothing has moved forward – no conclusions have been reached, no actions or projects have been assigned. At the other end of the scale I’ve also attended meetings that were upbeat, ‘crisp’, collaborative and hugely motivating – and things happened.

Finding the right person for a position in your company is not only a challenge but a costly exercise. Once you have them on board, you don’t want to see them exit in a hurry, so what can you do to retain them? One of the top emotional needs of human beings is a need to feel valued. Make them feel valued and you will increase their motivation to do a good job... So how do you make your people feel valued?  Here are some tips....

72 marketing strategies to use in your business from media relations to word of mouth advertising ideas.

Are these ten obstacles standing in the way of you and your business success?

1. Your business controls you instead of you controlling your business.

You developed your business so that you could have a better life. Your business has grown and now consumes the majority of your life. Operating your business has cost you what you wanted it to give you... a better life.

We all want to make our impact on the world but how can we do it?

There are numerous ways that your business can make a difference. Here's a list to start you thinking and by putting those ideas into place you'll be able to make your own special impact on the world.

RSS is a fabulous way to keep track of your favourite blogs and news - you don't have to keep visiting the sites for new news and feeds don't clutter your email in-box... they're like your own customised online newspaper or magazine delivered daily (or more) to your computer.
Here's a great explanation

"Owning my own business." It sounds like a wonderful idea: making your own choices, setting your own goals, keeping your own money. However, not every business makes it out of the starting blocks, and not everyone is cut out to be an entrepreneur.

 Before you look outward to the benefits of owning your own business, look inward and make sure that you are 'entrepreneur material.' At the heart of every new business is the entrepreneur, the base upon which all other aspects of the business will rest. The qualities of this entrepreneur will be reflected in the ultimate success or failure of the new venture.
 

Periods of economic decline have direct impact on your profitability and on relationships with suppliers, customers and even employees. Yet the fact that conditions are changing opens up opportunities for resourceful companies to outsmart larger competitors who, during a downturn, carry on business as usual or are unable to adapt quickly - except to fire employees. Entrepreneurs who survive and even prosper during hard times must be able to look beyond the present, to see their business from a new perspective, and do business differently.

Here are 14 specific recommendations for small business owners and managers to follow during economic upheavals!

What’s stopping you from reaching your goals?

Have you ever wanted to accomplish something, only to find that your motivation just wasn’t there? If so, you’re not alone. All of us encounter times when we seem to be driving with our brakes on and our willpower needs some energising.

A portable reading device has been talked about for what seems ages… and now perhaps it’s here. The Amazon Kindle.

Released at the end of last year, and currently selling for $359 (US) the “ipod of digial books” allows you to download e-books, books, newspapers and blogs onto the reader. Apparently the device uses e-paper, so it looks and reads like real paper.

So at last there’s a portable reading device to take on the bus, to the beach and into the bath…

That’s great news for bloggers and e-book authors; making their content a whole lot more accessible to the reading public who don’t like to read off their computer screens.

And good news for the environment…. No printing out documents onto paper… just download them to read on the Kindle.

Check out the Amazon spiel at:

Do you have a vision for your business? Or is your business more a fly by the seat of your pants kind of venture?

Maybe now is a good opportunity to take stock and to ask yourself where is my business heading?

To be a truly effective manager, you must develop skills in strategic thinking. And what exactly is strategic thinking? Strategic thinking is top-down, big-picture thinking, which essentially requires you to envision the ideal outcome for your business. That vision sets the direction for the organisation. It also serves as a tool to help you confront change, and plan for and make transitions.

Read complete article....

Guy Kawasaki blog – How to change the world

What it’s about; It’s about Guy Kawasaki. He commentates on Venture Capital, marketing and presenting and general innovation and trends in business.

Why you should subscribe/read it: Guy started blogging end of Dec 2005 and he’s worked hard to get into the Top 100 blogs list, so he blogs regularly and wisely (no, he didn’t invent the motorcycle… as one of his hilarious – though adult rated - posts alludes to). Check out his ‘top’ voted posts for a quick insight into the diverse content his blog offers.

In a nutshell: It’s a top 100 blog with some valuable business gems

 

MeetUp.com

What’s it about? Whether you have an interest in technology, books, business or Chihuahuas you’ll be able to find a local group on your topic and go along to one of their meeting events.

Or you can start your own ‘meetup’.

There are lots (and lots) of different group topics from knitting to business, all spanning the globe.

Why? Putting your group on MeetUp could attract new members and alerts existing members of your network of upcoming events, venues and costs – and profiles new members as they join.

How to leverage MeetUp: Start your own local MeetUp group; a brainstorming group for business owners, a focus group or a referral group….

Join existing groups to connect with…join a relevant group to your industry/business that’s not local to see what they’re doing and talking about…or advertise your own existing groups and networks.

Experts say that in order to mature, build strategic alliances and gain access to capital, growing companies need some sort of advisory group, even if they are not legally obliged to appoint a formal board of directors.

A vibrant young private company attempting to navigate its way through the challenges of accelerated growth will find that a strong, diverse board or advisory group can give valuable assistance in a variety of ways, not least of which is endowing it with credibility in the outside world. It reflects extremely well on a business owner, for it shows that she can take criticism and is prepared to allow others input into her vision for her business....

What it is:  SlideShare lets you share your presentations and ideas with the world. You can share publicly or privately.

How to leverage slideshare:
- upload your best presentations (or create some especially) to share your expertise; or as a smart viral marketing tool.
- Embed the link on your website or blog for potential or exisiting customers to view your slides
- download relevant slideshows to add to your own presentations (or website or blog)

Look for: The slideshow on ‘Death by Powerpoint’ (already viewed 345,000 times) makes for a valuable tutorial on how to make a great slide presentation.
Check out ‘Meet Henry’ for a fabulous example of how you can use slideshare for smart promotion of your business. Meet Henry has been viewed 107,000 times.

In a nutshell: YouTube with slides instead of video.