If only there was a secret formula to help you figure out who will be a good client and who won’t be. Over the years, I’ve learned to look for certain red flags, but occasionally I find myself in a situation that just isn’t working. Sometimes you can salvage the relationship, but other times it’s…
All of these tips should have the double bonus of being friendly to the environment and your wallet! 1. Compost You’ll be blown away by how much you can cut down on your garbage by tossing your food scraps, dying plants/flowers, and even tissues into a compost bin. Use the compost as mulch to help…
I’ve talked before about my belief that bad clients can make your business better. But they also create stress, and have the ability to make a good day go down in flames. When I talk to other business owners about what makes for a bad client, I hear mentions of demanding or rude people, as…
When the end of the year rolls around, it’s important to review your business’s marketing strategy. This can show you whether there’s anything you should be doing differently to market your business. In this episode of 5 Business Rules, Monika Jansen and I share five pieces of advice to keep in mind when conducting a…
Over the past year I have gone from taking an interest in being more sustainable, to becoming a full-on conservation nut. In my personal life this has meant everything from switching to a mainly plant-based diet to buying a new Tesla. And yes, I’ve earned a lot of eye-rolls from my husband in the process.…
Buying another company is one of the biggest decisions a business owner can make, so it’s understandable to feel anxious over the whole process. In this episode of 5 Business Rules, Monika Jansen and I share five pieces of advice to keep in mind when buying a company. Spend 4 minutes watching the video or…
Creating a membership site is a great way of encouraging people to actively engage with your business. However, it also takes a TON of work to set up a membership site, so you want to be sure to do things the right way and create a site that people want to join. In this episode…
I’m willing to bet you’ve heard of bitcoin, but you may be hard pressed to explain what it really is. Many people have vague ideas around bitcoin, but not every business owner is aware of how popular of a payment platform it’s becoming. In this episode of 5 Business Rules, Monika Jansen and I sat…
A value proposition helps people understand what you can do for them. Think of a value prop as the written form of your elevator speech. It’s one of your key messages that helps someone understand very quickly what you’re all about. It will also appear on all your marketing material. A value proposition helps your…
When you are running a business, feedback is crucial to your success. Having real people tell you what’s working, and what’s not, can help you refine your products and services so you are offering things that people really want. Logically most people get that. Unfortunately hearing something negative often triggers an emotional response that throws…
As a small business owner, customer service must be a top priority because all the marketing in the world won’t help your company if people have a bad experience. I sat down with Monika Jansen to talk about customer service for the 5 Business Rules series. Listen in or read on for the tips. #1…
When was the last time you thought about your business cards? Sure you hand them out all the time, but have you really looked at your business card lately and considered what it says about you? Monika Jansen and I sat down to talk about business cards as part of the 5 Business Rules series.…