Steve Schlagel's Small Business Blog

Finding Your Start-up Business Idea

October 13, 2011

Pssst!  Your business start-up idea is not on the internet!  Internet lists don’t guarantee success.  In fact, browsing for best business startup ideas only takes you down the wrong path.  Instead, examine your passions, interests, gifts, and talents. People search lists of ‘easy to start’ businesses (is there really such an animal?), of hottest businesses, [...]

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Applying the Legacy of Steve Jobs

October 12, 2011

Steve Jobs’ legacy – even before his recent death – is saturated with stories of outstanding leadership and entrepreneurship, not to mention creative genius that actually CREATED a need, rather than simply filling it.  His story is one that will inspire many generations to come!  Here are a few ways he amazed and motivated me. [...]

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Website Design that Builds Your “Know, Like & Trust” Factor

October 4, 2011

Does your website design help your prospects know, like and trust your business? How do you measure the effectiveness of your website?  Traffic?  Sales?  Still, there are other things to watch for when you are your own webmaster. (If you have a webmaster on retainer, quiz him or her on key metrics.) Much goes into [...]

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Incentives: Three Ways to Encourage Productivity

September 30, 2011

Do incentives really motivate increased productivity?  Do rewards guarantee repeated behavior? If you believe they do, then you’ll need to reward valued and productive employees – but only if you want to keep them. If you think your workers feel entitled to wages, then build incentives into employee productivity. I should point out that a [...]

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A Mastermind Group: Your New Biz Partners

September 28, 2011

Trying to do it all by yourself? Struggling to keep up your motivation? Need someone to bounce ideas off? Join a Mastermind Group! Mastermind groups are small (6-8 people) groups of peers and colleagues on a similar path as you. By partnering with business owners in similar situations, everyone can exchange information and support. Members [...]

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Start Your Business Debt-Free

September 27, 2011

Is debt-free funding even possible? It can be!  And if you are diligent, you can choose funding opportunities that will minimize your risk and improve your chances of success. Debt-free funding lets you hit the ground running without obligations to anyone.  Consider these ideas to get you “started” (pun intended): Minimize business startup money. Choose [...]

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Five Top Tips for Strategic Marketing

September 23, 2011

Chances are good that you have a strategic plan, but what about strategic marketing?  Strategic marketing is a mind-set and blueprint. It is specific, analytic, and motivational in ways that Business Plans are not.   Yes, your marketing strategies must promote your product or service, but they must also outline marketing logistics for identifying your customers, [...]

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Make Social Networking Work for You

September 21, 2011

Social networking marketing is the new normal for small business marketing strategies. Why? It helps you engage customers and partners: past, present, and future. If worked conscientiously, social media tools can put your business face forward, communicate with other business identities, and leverage these connections into new business. Of course, you can and should get [...]

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Without Warning: What’s Your Disaster Recovery Plan?

September 20, 2011

Every small business owner – regardless of what you think your “risk” is – needs a Disaster Recovery Plan.  Floods, fires, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes – all strike without warning, affecting individuals and businesses alike.  Your Plan should consider both people and processes. Work with your local police, fire, and emergency response teams to determine your [...]

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SEO: Four Basics You Need To Know

September 16, 2011

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is part art, part science. And while much of the process can be left to the experts, it’s important for small business owners to know the SEO basics.  Such knowledge informs decision making at many levels of your business.  If nothing else, it helps you distinguish between the SEO “experts” that [...]

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