It seems each January that many small businesses (especially online businesses) sigh as they wonder why their company is not producing and what to do about the situation.
Well, the predictions are in and according to Investor's Business Daily, Forrester Research, Inc. states that despite concerns over consumer confidence and the impact of gas prices, U.S. consumers will spend $18 billion online during this holiday season [2005].
I spend a lot of time emailing with online business owners. Since that's my specialty, I find a lot of people asking me questions about my success. What amazes me is that many of those people are asking the wrong questions!
Many small online business owners have yet to understand the sheer power that comes from building consumer confidence. They struggle with sales month after month, but still, when someone tells them their site design needs help, they get offended. "I spent a lot of time building my own site!" is the reply.
Are you promoting affiliate products?
So many times, online business owners are confused about where their sales come from. They think they are helpless after a visitor arrives at their site. Nothing could be further from the truth!
When a request for proposal (RFP) comes in, you get excited! It's a chance to earn income, develop more business contacts, and expand your client base. You work your little heart out in order to be thorough, compelling, and professional. Everything is in place. Your RFP is geared to show why your product or service will meet or exceed the client's goals. With fingers crossed, you submit.
While most people understand the benefits of forums from a "gathering information" perspective, many don't think about the hidden benefits of forums. The most common reason for visiting is to ask questions or get advice. That's a good enough reason to go, but there are other - more beneficial - reasons to become a forum frequenter.
When you say "end of the year", most small business owners think of two things immediately. The second is the holidays. The first is taxes! While almost all of us pay taxes quarterly, we still have to file in January.
I saw a television commercial the other day. It actually made me laugh out loud. It wasn't funny "ha ha," it was funny ironic. A local telephone service provider was singing its own praises about what wonderful service it provided. "Yeah, sure!" I thought. I used to live in the area that this particular provider covered, and I know for a fact their service is anything but wonderful.
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