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What to do when competitors turn ugly
I was thinking back to the days when I owned an Internet company and encountered some women who decided they didn't like me (we had never met). They set out to badmouth me to whomever would listen -- including the press -- as well as publishing false statements about me online. It was a very painful experience for me, especially since my entire business revolved around teaching and helping women and girls get online. I was floored that other women felt the need to put me down -- as an author, as a businesswoman and even as a person -- as a way of "competing." Read More »
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How do you remember everything you have to do?
I just forgot something very important this week, and I did have a strong feeling that I forgot to do something, but couldn't quite place what it was.
I forgot to blog here on Thursday! Yes, even though I'm blogging regularly Thursdays, I somehow spaced it out and woke up this morning with the sinking feeling that I forgot to post.
So this got me thinking about ways to remind myself of things, especially as my project load gets heavier and my memory is trapped somewhere in the chaotic recesses of my "Mommy Brain."
I'm using a paper organizer, but it doesn't have an alarm to alert me of something nor does it send me an email to let me know what is coming up. If staying on top of your projects along with all your other events in life is an issue for you, here are some Web-based tools that could help. And yes, I'm going to try them out myself starting NOW. Read More »- Let’s talk: Comment (3) | Blog
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What's a social network, anyway?
What is a social networking site, you ask? In non-techy English, it is a site that leverages the exponential power of connections meaning that it provides you with tools to take advantage of the "who you know" network.
If you know 10 people and they each know 10 people, the theory of social networking sites is that you now potentially know 110 people because your friends could introduce you to their friends. Another theory of social networking sites is that if you have things in common with your 10 friends, chances are you may have something in common with their 10 friends or 100 other people. Most social networking sites are based around common interests as the magnet and the glue of "friendships."
I'm going to write several posts about social networking, particularly for work at home moms, but first I'll give you a brief list of popular social networking sites and how they might work for you. Keep in mind that I'm only mentioning the ones that I've tried myself and narrowing them down to 3 in each category is tough but otherwise, this post would go on for days! Read More »
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Contingency plans for a 'company of one' -- when life gets in the way of work
Last year, when my husband got word that his brother was killed in a car accident, I was on standby as his support system, wanting to be at the ready for anything he needed as he processed his grief.
This incident put my mind into overdrive about how one manages a business while dealing with life's issues, tragedies and unexpected events. If I had a staff, I'd say now is the time that delegation should kick in, preparing staff to take over projects and tasks. As a Company of One, however, I don't have anyone to delegate to, and this could be a problem.
So how should we as business owners prepare for those moments when life steps in and kicks you out of the office for an undetermined number of days? Here are some of my thoughts: Read More »
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Should you blog for business?
It seems like everybody wants a blog these days, but is a blog really necessary for a company? Here are some things to ask yourself before blogging for your business.
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1. Do you have time to blog? Blogging is a time-consuming process because people who read blogs expect a certain amount of fresh content on a regular basis -- at a minimum, weekly -- preferably several times a week.
2. Do you have anything interesting to say? Blogs about your company and your products may sound interesting to you, but people rarely tune into a "commercial" blog unless there is additional information of real value. Read More »
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Starting an online business: 8 things you need to know
What does it take to start a business online? I'm talking about a solely online business, not the online component of your "bricks and mortar" business but a bonafide e-biz.
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Starting a business online - an e-store, for example - does not mean instant success. Some things to consider before starting an online business are the same things you need to think about before starting a regular business.
Let's say you have an example for an online catalog. Some things to think about include: Read More »
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What's a Mompreneur, Really?
As a writer, I receive a lot of pitches from PR people trying to get me to write about their clients. Since I specialize in writing about women in business, I see my fair share of pitches with the term "Mompreneur" in them. I've even seen some for "Momtrepreneur," but that... Read More »
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Your quick business startup checklist
You have a business idea, you've tested it out a bit and done some market research, you have a business name and you are ready to get started. Here are some things to consider as you start a business:
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1. Structure - Check with both your accountant and a lawyer about the best way to structure your business (sole proprietorship, LLC, corporation).
2. Bookkeeping - Hire a bookkeeper or accountant to set up your company's books.
3. Intellectual Property - Turn to a lawyer to help define and protect copyrights and trademarks, including your company name. For all 10, Read More »
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Funding your business idea
If the answer to the question "How do I fund my business idea?" were simple, we'd all have businesses. There is no easy answer and almost no single correct answer. But here are the most common options you have - and maybe a few not so common ones.
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1. YOP - Your Own Pockets. If you don't have any money in the bank, you may want to think twice about starting a business until you have a little savings tucked away. That said, lots of people took the business plunge without a safety net. Not the most advisable approach, but if you've got a solid plan and unrelenting stick-to-it-edness, you just might make it to the next step. Read More »
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Quiz: Are you an entrepreneur?
As a business writer who specializes in writing about women business owners and the issues they face, and as a woman who has started and run several businesses since 1995, I'm puzzled when I hear women say:
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I really want to start a business -- but I have no idea what kind of business to start.
I hate to break it to these women, however, wanting to start a business and having an idea for a business are one and the same for almost every person who becomes an entrepreneur. Read More »- Let’s talk: Comment (17) | Blog
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