Browse published articles attributed to Andrew McCombe, with full-archive search.
If there is one thing most new business owners are scared of, it is the prospect of selling. You hear it over and over – the phrase ‘I’m not a sales person.’ The truth is, we are all sales people. The only difference is that we do not all have the same sales style.
How much time do you sit around using Facebook? If you are like the nearly 400 million other users, probably quite a bit. Some people think that using Facebook and other social networking websites is nothing but a huge waste of precious time. Facebook can be a great marketing tool, especially for entrepreneurs who have small marketing budgets, but a lot of people end up spending far too much time on this website and not getting other more important things done. So, is Facebook such a great way to market a business after all? Here are some reasons why it may not be:
Unless you are one of those very few people who just seems to always have luck on their side and opportunities are always falling into their laps, you are not going to be able to sit around and wait for good things to come to you. You have to get out there and work to make things happen, and if you are sitting around wasting time, you are not going to have opportunities, because you won't even know about them. If you are a small business owner, and are wondering why you have not become as successful as you thought, maybe it is because of missed opportunities.
If you still think that YouTube is all about pets doing dangerously funny things, children falling, and various other amusing, but unimportant things, then think again. Yes, YouTube is a video sharing platform, and yes, it does allow users to upload their own video content. That does mean that there are plenty of pointless videos among the 6.1 million or so videos currently on the site, but it is also being used, to great effect, by savvy online marketers. After all, YouTube has had more than 1.7 billion video views already, and its popularity is growing daily.
When most of us think about starting a small business, we think it is a fairly straightforward process. We believe that we go from idea to business in a blur of activity, and that we suddenly wake up owning our own company. That is not strictly true however, and no matter what type of business you plan to start, there are several steps to starting a small business that you should bear in mind.
What is one step you can take to earn more profits for your business? Do everything you can to be able to get more done in a shorter period of time. No matter if we are business owners or not, we are always looking for ways to save time, which there just never seems to be enough of. In the business world, saving time is of course leveraging your business, and in order to do this, you have to take advantage of today's technology, and outsourcing.
Many people, when they first start a business, believe that ‘if they build it, they will come.’ While that may have worked in the movies, however, in business, just opening your business does not guarantee that it will be a success. Even if you have a brilliant business idea, offer top quality service, and exceptional products, your business can often fail, through no fault of your own. The key to avoiding that lies in doing market research long before you ever open for business, and to keep doing it as your business grows.
There is a good chance, if you have been involved in online business for a while, and are tech savvy, that you have used video and audio, either as marketing materials on other sites or platforms, or on your own site, as interesting content for your visitors.
What is the one thing just about every person you know these days will not leave home without? If you answered their mobile phone, you would be correct. Billions of people around the world take their mobile phones with them wherever they go, and they keep them on, all day, every day. Even when they are out of reach of their computers, and email, their phones are within arms reach. It is no wonder that mobile phone marketing is such a phenomenon!
We all want to be wealthy, but unfortunately, not everyone is. Why isn't everyone wealthy? Because not everyone wants to do what it takes to get there, which means doing a lot of hard work. Very few people become wealthy because they have inherited a fortune or won the lottery. The majority of people who are wealthy got that way because they worked hard to achieve their goals. If becoming wealthy is one of your goals, then you really need to sit down and take a good hard look at yourself. Figure out exactly what it is that you want, and how you are going to get it.
Many a business owner has uttered the phrase ‘the customer is always right’ with a sarcastic tone. That’s because, in business, far from finding the perfect customer, the person we’d love to deal with, and are happy to serve, we often find ourselves dealing with people who make our lives miserable.
Even if you have never heard the term pay per click advertising, or PPC, if you have ever used the internet, you have certainly seen it in action. One of the best-known pay per click advertising programs is the Google’s Adwords service, although every browser, many social networks, and several other sites also offer some form of PPC advertising.
One of the biggest problems that many would be entrepreneurs face is that they do not believe that they can start, and run, a successful business on their own. They believe that only those with high level degrees in business or related fields have the skill and talent to create a company, and that they’re stuck in the day to day drudgery of their jobs forever. The truth is that whether you have a degree, or whether you never even finished high school, the key to business success is often in the business planning and visioning you do, rather than the certificates and diplomas you hold.
If you are relatively new to the world of online business and marketing, then you might not know what webinars are, and what they can do for your business. A webinar, as the name suggests, is the modern equivalent of the old fashioned seminar. You, as the host or leader of the webinar, share your thoughts and ideas with the people who view it and it can include question and answer sessions, polls or other elements, just like a real world event.
Every business goes through its slow periods, and when they do, it is important that business owners take steps to improve on their marketing. Even during times of a tough economy, people will still spend money if they need something and are getting value for their money. But, you may have to work a little bit harder to get these customers to do business with you. This is the time to get creative, and a bit more forceful with your marketing strategy. This is the time to get into guerrilla marketing, and here are five ways you can get started:
In case you have missed it, Twitter is a revolutionary micro blogging and social networking platform that is fast gaining popularity around the globe. At last count, nearly 200 million people were using Twitter to connect with friends, colleagues, business associates, and even celebrities. However, it is hard to call Twitter a competitor of Facebook, or even classify them in the same category, because they are just so different.
Many would be small business owners and entrepreneurs believe that if they have a good idea, and they put a lot of thought and planning into it, they are virtually guaranteed that their venture will be a runaway success. However, while it is true that planning, logic and reason have a lot to do with business success, there is also the element of passion that you need to bear in mind.
Many people I know think that internet marketing is only for people who have internet based businesses. That could not be further from the truth. Internet marketing is something that every business owner, and particularly every small business owner, should be doing. It should not be an option in your marketing plan – it should be a distinct and non-negotiable element.
I have a friend who emails every important document that he has on his computer to his Gmail account. He has done it for years, and I have always thought that it is a clever way to make sure that his important information stays safe, no matter what happens to his computer!
Many people think that being an entrepreneur is a really great way to be able to work from their own homes. This may seem like something that has all kinds of wonderful benefits, but if you are thinking about working from your home, think again. While there are some benefits, there are also some real problems that can arise when you work from home, and it can actually hurt your business. If you still think that it is a good idea for you to operate a business from the house, here are five excellent reasons for you to change your mind:
There are probably many business owners out there who are still asking whether the hype around Facebook is worth paying attention to, or whether it’s just the next fad. Let’s turn that question around. Is having direct access to hundreds of millions of potential customers important to your business? If you answered yes, then yes, Facebook is important to your business.
Do you know what it takes to create a really successful press release? Although it may seem like a pretty simple thing, a press release is actually a very important document that should include important information that is going to capture the interest of your reading audience. There are certain elements that make up a really great press release, such as headlines that make an impact. Do you know what these elements are? Here are five tips to get you on your way to writing really effective press releases:
Just knowing every little detail about your product is not going to be the thing to give you the success you really want with your sales. There are many skills involved with being a great sales person, and in order for any business to succeed and see a profit, sales must be made. You must be constantly honing your skills, and taking advantage of any education you can have (including on the job education) to be a great sales person, and it is something that you are always going to be working on.
Let's face it. We all want to be wealthy and never have any financial worries, but most of us never seem to be able to achieve this dream. This is really sad, because anyone can achieve their dreams if they only believe in them, and learn how to do whatever it takes to be successful. If you are tired of being in a rut, and want to make some changes to become wealthier, here are six irrefutable laws for building an unshakable wealth foundation:
If you want to be an entrepreneur, one thing that is going to be very helpful to you is the ability to be adamant. When you are not adamant, and you are wishy-washy instead, it is not going to take you very far in the business world, and you are not going to have nearly the level of sales that you would like to. Entrepreneurs who are adamant don't take no for an answer, and they get things done. They don't let anything stand in their way, and they are successful.
What is one of the most important things needed to ensure success in the business world? A great team of people who can come together and work to create a business that is successful. Now, the problem is to find the right people to make up that team. This can actually raise a couple of problems. First, you have to actually be able to find these people. Then, you need to find ways to be able to retain them in your business. Hiring them is the easiest part. Ensuring that you keep the team together is a lot tougher. Here are five great ways that you can recruit, and keep, the best people ever.r
Having a website these days is not optional. If you want to do business effectively, and you want to compete, then your company has to be online. However, there’s a vast difference between an effective website, that boosts your company’s profile, and creates new business, and one that does little more than take up space in a forgotten corner of the internet.
It may not be everyone's favourite way of getting contacts and new customers, but no one can deny the effectiveness of door-to-door cold-calling. This is a marketing technique that many try to avoid, because they are so afraid that they are going to have too many doors slammed in their faces. You know, door-to-door cold-calling doesn't have to be a scary thing at all. In fact, if you are good, it can be a very profitable way of doing business. What you need is the right mindset, and the skills to pitch your product or service and seal the deal.
It’s impossible to ignore the phenomenon that is the e-book these days. Major online retailers like Amazon.com are reporting e-book sales that match, and sometimes even beat, their traditional book sales! There are even publishers springing up around the world who publish solely in electronic format, and nearly every tech manufacturer has, or is releasing, an e-book reader. Even traditional publishers are jumping on the band wagon, and you’d be hard pressed to find a single one that doesn’t have at least one electronic impression.
One of the most common complaints of small business owners is that they do not have the budget for advertising. While that is usually true, that does not mean you cannot get your message out there, and reach thousands of interested readers with the information you would like them to see. The answer lies in publicity and media, and if it is done correctly, it is both free, and the perfect way to generate interest in your company, site or product.
Have you ever noticed how the term ‘published author’ always makes you sit up and take notice? Whether it is a doctor, a lawyer, or an entrepreneur, having a book published is a definite way to gain credibility and expert status. You don’t even have to have read their book to believe that they are somehow more knowledgeable than their competitors, do you?
When eBay first started out several years ago, it was very much a platform for ordinary people to sell their second hand belongings. There were a few new items, but they were far from the norm. Fast forward a decade or so, and a large proportion of the goods for sale on eBay these days are new items. There are even people who make their living being eBay traders.
If you have been to a number of business presentations, you know just how boring many can be. When a business presentation is boring and dry, it is not going to have the intended effect. In fact, you may even find that those who you are presenting to are actually not paying the least bit of attention. They may even be doing things while you are giving your presentation, such as texting or sending emails to others. A great business presentation is one that will really knock the socks off potential customers, and get them interested in what you are selling.
A lot of people who really want to start their own businesses never try because they think that it is going to be way too much of a financial risk. But, when you have things well planned and have your goals set, there really is nothing that you can't achieve, including running your own business. The risks are not nearly as great as you may think. Even though we are living in a tight economy, as long as you are offering a product or service that people need, you will get the sales you want. To get you started out on the right track, here are six insightful ideas to fortify your business:
Anyone who is thinking about starting their own business needs to sit down and create a business plan. This is not only something that you use to get financing for a new business, but also something that is going to keep you on track to achieving your business goals for many years to come. Your business plan needs to be able to provide guidance when you need it, and it must be flexible, because you never know when things are going to change, and your business plan must be made in a way that it can change as well.
It’s one of the biggest conundrums that small business owners face. They need more, better-qualified staff in order to take their business to the next level, but because they can’t take that crucial step, their turnover means they can’t afford to hire great people! Whether you’re running a home based business, or have a small brick and mortar company, chances are you’ve encountered that particular problem at some point.
If you have just started to look at the internet as a means of promoting your business, chances are you have been focusing on your website. While websites are the cornerstone of online business however, they are not the only essential, and if you really want to boost your business online, you should also be focusing on a blog.
How would you like to make a six figure income, while being your own boss? It is possible, and there are many success stories you can read about, people who started out working from a closet in their homes and ended up millionaires through all of their hard work. Of course, if you are going to be a success in business and make lots of money, there are certain traits you must have, and if you don't already have these traits, they are things you will need to learn. Here are some tips you can use to help you on your way to becoming a self-made millionaire:
Many businesses rely on using brochures and similar literature as their main form of marketing. Brochures can be a good thing in many cases, but they can also be dangerous things to use, and they could actually hurt your business more than help. You may be surprised to learn this, but studies show that if you are dependent on brochures, you are missing out on many other marketing opportunities. Here are some of the ways that brochures can hurt rather than help your business:
Do you remember the days when sending money internationally meant going into the bank, and doing a wire transfer? Or maybe you chose to post a check. Either way, it was costly, time consuming, and not particularly secure, and you were never really sure when the money you were sending would arrive at it’s destination. If it did at all. Thank goodness, those days are over, and we now have internet banking and other innovations to make sending and receiving money quick and easy. What if you’re not sending money, but receiving it?
If you are a small business owner these days, then you probably know that trying to do business without a website is virtually impossible. Before you decide to get a website, however, there are a few basics you should know about domain names and hosting, that can help your business.
There are few entrepreneurs in the world who are as well-known or as flamboyant as Sir Richard Branson, but there is a lot more to this man than just the fact that he is a known risk-taker and daredevil. Sir Branson is the CEO of Virgin, and this high school dropout has taken this company from a bare bones operation to one of the most recognized brands in the world. Want to know Branson's secret to success? Never stop trying, and never be afraid to take on challenges that seem out of this world.
There is a lot of buzz about article marketing on the internet these days. Plenty of articles will tell you that it is the best way to get your website from a lonely place in a forgotten corner of the internet, to a buzzing hub of activity – and profit. The trouble is, most people are not completely sure what article marketing is, let alone how to do it themselves!
Getting customers is a hard enough thing to do, but it can be even more difficult to actually keep your customers. Once you actually get a customer, you must really work hard to retain them as long term customers. It takes a lot of commitment to keep your customers happy and loyal, and you not only have to be able to offer them a product that is going to give them value for their money, you also need to provide them with the best possible service you are capable of. Here are five things that will help you to do this:
For many years as a sport scientist, personal trainer and performance coach, I have been working with clients who come to me for advice about how they can improve the performance and quality of their bodies; some want help to lose weight and tone up, others need to reduce their blood pressure and the effects of stress, some want to put on muscle and everyone wants to look and feel better. But, invariably I have found that it is never my clientâs physical bodies that require
One of the single most important changes that the internet has made to the world is that it is opened up the possibility of becoming a global business owner to everyone who has a computer, a little business and technical knowledge, and a reliable internet connection.
Several years ago, sales was a fairly simple affair. You listed your company and your product or service in the yellow pages, you ran print advertising campaigns, and you had a sales team who spent time drumming up new business, and making sure that your existing clients stayed happy with the service they were receiving. These days, while many businesses still rely on some of those methods for a part of their marketing, most use the internet more and more to find new business, and stay in contact with their clients.
There are all kinds of skills that one needs to be truly successful as an entrepreneur, and one of those skills is the ability to negotiate. Pretty much everything we do in life involves negotiation in one way or another, and over the years, it is a skill that can be finely tuned. If you are planning on becoming an entrepreneur, you are really going to have to lean on your negotiating skills a lot, especially in the beginning, in order to ensure success. Here are some hot tips to help you be a better negotiator:
Not everyone is cut out to be an entrepreneur, but anyone who has an interest in being their own boss definitely needs to at least give it a try. After all, one never knows what they are good at until they try. Of course, there are certain skills that are important for entrepreneurs to possess. Some people are born with these skills, others must learn them, but one thing is certain, everyone can possess these skills if they try hard enough. In fact, being an entrepreneur is a great way to learn these skills, which include:
So many people I know think that business is complicated. However, while putting business ideas into practice may be a little challenging, the ideas themselves are simple. Consider leads. We all get business leads all the time. Someone we know mentions a project they have seen that we could work as a contractor on. Someone else mentions that they know someone who needs a product or service we supply, or we see an article in the newspaper that indicates that a company or organisation needs something we supply. Leads to new business are everywhere, and we encounter them every day.