8 Small Business Ideas to Start You on the Road to Success

The idea of starting a small business is intimidating to the majority of the population.

The problem?

Fear of the unknown. It does it to us every time we try to think outside the box. Every time we try to peek out from our own little personalized cubby-hole and think about the possibility that something – an idea or skill within us may one day possibly turn into a full-time career – and make us an overnight millionaire too!

looking for small business ideas

Of course not everyone wants to be a millionaire, but making a more-than-average income is almost always part of the dream isn’t it?…

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How to Create Balance in Your Home Office

Working at home doesn’t mean that you need to work in a “homely” office. As home-based businesses become more and more popular, the home office environment becomes more important. Because you’re working from home, you need to make sure that the workspace is conducive to you getting work done. If your home office is set up like your living room or is actually located in the living room, forget about it.

work from home

Add An L-Shaped Desk

Using L-shaped desks is one way to organize your work space so that you have plenty of room to work, yet you aren’t taking up a lot of space.…

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Telecommuting – a Sure-fire Way to Reduce Productivity and Effectiveness

I read with interest the recent, excellent article on telecommuting.

It argues that telecommuting reduces a company’s costs, increases its productivity and furthers the green agenda. Well-argued as it is, I disagree. My belief is that it hinders teamwork, fosters resentment, reduces flexibility and makes it difficult to support your employees or identify true talent.

telecommuting

I should state, early on, that I don’t have any problem with occasional telecommuting. If my employees are flexible and are prepared to work late when needed, then as an employer, I’m more than happy to let them work from home to let the plumber in, or to see a school play.…

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eCommerce Basics for First Time Entrepreneurs

Many people are finding a new freedom by building online businesses. Being your own boss can be incredibly fulfilling if you are willing to learn and do some hard work. If you are thinking about building a store online, you’ll need to know some basics about eCommerce if you want your business to be successful. Learn about these key principles first.

online shopping

Web Marketing and Traffic

Web traffic simply means the people who visit your website, and no online store can be successful without it. You need to get the word out about your business, and entice people to come take a look.…

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5 Ways Mobile Point-of-Sale Systems are Improving the Retail Experience

A recent study by Yankee Group found that more and more businesses are trading in their traditional cash registers for sleeker mobile point-of-sale systems. It appears that smartphone dongles and iPad POS terminals aren’t just for food trucks or neighborhood boutiques–they’re for businesses of all shapes and sizes.

mobile pos software

In fact retailers seem to have really embraced mobile POS systems this year. According to the Yankee Group survey, 61% of U.S. merchants with over 500 employees have either already deployed mPOS technology or are planning to do so within the next 12 months.

Is it time for your business to follow suit?…

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Crowdsourcing: The Latest BIG Advantage for Small Businesses

You’ve heard of it.

You like the idea.

Maybe you’ve tried it.

Crowdsourcing, though simple to define, can have a very broad range of uses for your small business and for all of humanity in general.

Let’s kick this post off by taking a quick look at what it is and how it got started.

crowd sourcing

How crowdsourcing started and its impact on modern society

The term crowdsourcing is often used to describe the practise of outsourcing tasks on the Internet that you either can’t do, or simply don’t wanna do. In the hum-drum of of our current technological global society, it isn’t hard to see how this very classic term has evolved into what it is today.…

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Boost Your Online PR: Public Relations as Part of Online Marketing Strategy

Public relations should be an essential part of your online marketing arsenal, from the inception of your business. If you haven’t already started marketing yourself and your business through public relations, it’s time to make sure that all other areas of your online marketing plan are firmly in place and then get to work on a public relations plan. Online public relations generally refers to any time you can get your business in front of the (online) media. This sounds really easy, in theory. In reality, getting the attention of the media at large can be difficult.

man doing online press release

Many Different Pieces to the Online Marketing Puzzle

1.

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How to Know When to Go International?

Many companies will make the decision after a few years, that it is time to venture into international markets, whereas some dive in straight away after only a few weeks; but how can either of them know if they are ready to do so?

global market expansion

Many smaller companies do not build an export plan into their original strategy and so it when it does come up, the subject is more as an afterthought. It is really important that companies don’t make the leap into foreign territory without having done the research and preparation needed to be sure that they are completely ready to make the move.…

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Don’t Let Your IT System Become Your Business’ Downfall

Technology is now an integral part of all businesses, no matter what the industry.

Without the right technology, your business is likely to fail, which is why many small business owners are keen to invest in the latest IT systems and electronic devices. This, they assume, will help increase staff productivity, business efficiency and the overall quality of their customers’ experience.

IT system breach

Despite the necessity of having a comprehensive IT system in place, there are problems and issues which your business’ IT presents. There have been many horror stories over the last few years about large companies becoming the victims of hackers; their customers’ private information and business’s sensitive data being accessed by third-parties.…

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Telecommuting: The New Green Business

Telecommuting is becoming increasingly popular, with currently more than 29 million U.S. workers telecommuting at least one day per month. This is a growing trend too, as more companies see the positive impact telecommuting can have on the environment, while helping reduce operating costs and increase productivity for their businesses. This green strategy can also help to improve a company’s brand, and if done properly, can be a great sell to shareholders.

telecommuting

Going Green with Telecommuting

An important benefit to telecommuting is in how it reduces gas usage and helps disseminate rush hour traffic. According to a recent whitepaper compiled by Kate Lister and Tom Harnish, the 29 million workers who are currently telecommuting have been able to save more than 390 million gallons of gas throughout the year.…

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