10 Most Ridiculous Ideas About Business

You might be SHOCKED by this list, but our friends over at Business Marketing Online and Offline posted this great article on 10 ways you can mistakenly destroy an otherwise good business.  They have given us permission to go ahead and repost it exactly as is, for your benefit...Enjoy!

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I'm no Letterman, and the following are not intentionally humorous.  I could give you a list of 100, but here are my top 10.  

10.  Believing that it is easier to make money with Multi-Level Marketing than other small business options.  Multi-level, whether it is an establish brand like Amway, or a brand new offering like Scentsy, requires tons of work to turn them into businesses.  Finding, motivating, and managing part-time workers is like herding cats.

9.  Believing you will get rich easy with any scheme, but especially affiliate marketing.  If anyone says they want to sell you the secret to a get rich scheme, ask them why they aren't so rich that they could care less about selling it to others.  Most of the online efforts to help you become a great affiliate marketing are just making their income selling you the method.

8.  Starting or buying a business that you know nothing about.  Many, many people buy or start businesses that they have no education, experience, or even passion about.  Odds of success are pitiful.

7.  Thinking your product or service is so great or in demand that you don't need to market or sell.  If you have Gold at $10 an ounce, you still have to put up a sign.  

6.  Having one customer represent more than 20% of your revenue or profits.  When you allow a client to dominate (think especially WalMart, Target, CVS), they own you.  This is also true for the $1,000,000 wholesaler or manufacturer selling to a major account.  If they switch horses or go out of business, you are toast.  If they stay with you, they dictate the terms.

5.  Believing that you can undercut your competitors who are gouging consumers.  Many enter business because they are on a mission to help consumers whom they believe are being ripped off by the rapacious businesses they will compete with.  Margins are what they are for a reason.  The market is very good at driving overprices to reasonable pricing and underpricers out of business. 

4.  Failing to stay on top of trends in your industry.  Famous statement - There is only a small difference between a goods business and a museum.  Book retailing was a great

business not so long ago.  Not to mention newspapers, magazines, cameras, GPS devices, ad infinitum.  

3.  Offering open credit terms without adequate research and a great collection plan or without adequate cash flow to finance the accounts receivable.  So many cases where otherwise great businesses give easy credit and end up broke.

2.  No business plan. Maybe one person in a hundred is able to run a business from the seat of their pants.  Why take the chance.  Spend 48 hours of your life writing up a plan.   That time could be the difference in success and failure.  Don't have 48 hours.  Pay someone $3000 to do it for you.  

1.  Clearly the biggest one.  Entering business without full support of spouse, or with inadequate understanding by spouse of sacrifices that may have to be made in time, energy, stress, and money.  
Your business and your marriage will suffer, and the suffering of each will impact the other.

What would you add to this list from your own experiences in business?

You will definitely want to check out this post: How I Raised Myself From Failure To Success.

5 Valuable Steps In Creating Titles To Sell Content

What does it take for people to find the wonderful content you are writing on a regular basis, whether through a bog post or an email blast?  The answer lies in the content and quality of the title!  

Think of all the emails you receive on a daily basis.  Like most people, you probably scan through the list, looking for who sent the emails, and then quickly glancing over what's written in the subject heading.  Then you decide which emails you'll open, and which ones you'll skip until later or delete altogether without even giving it a second glance.

Now transfer that same concept to your potential clients via emails and blog posts.  The key is to put yourself in their shoes - what are they looking for?  As an online writer, your job is to be two steps ahead of them; know what they will be searching for and the words they will potentially use to look for what you can offer them.

Content Marketing for Google author Randy Kirk has written several books and recounts his own difficulty in creating catchy titles.  He has posted this helpful article in how to get people to take a second look at your content; even better, how to keep them coming back for more.

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Decide Who and What and Where and Why and How

Who is your likely reader?  What do they want?  Where are they?  Why should they read your stuff? How would you want to be approached if you were them? 

Who?  Imagine them.  A 20 something woman with one kid and one on the way, working part time, and married to a just graduated CPA?  Sure you can get really specific and many writers like to picture their audience in much that same way.  My method is more general.  For this blog I'm thinking that content writers for digital media want to be successful at it.  They are trying to find great subjects, make the subjects they are forced to write about by employers really interesting, or scratching their head over what they will do next to keep the ball rolling. Who is your reader?

What?  Try this.  Read the following sentence four times with different emphasis on each syllable.

• WHAT do they want?
• What DO they want?
• What do THEY want?
• What do they Want?

Each version creates a different thinking process.  Most folks want their needs met.  They have a problem or a challenge or project and they are looking for solutions.  If you can help them solve that problem, you will get readership.  So your title needs to give them a promise of that solution. 

I promised you five valuable lessons to help you sell content.  I then promised you that after reading this (and going to the link I'll provide to another completely free resource) that you will be able to write great titles.  I believe that you want to write great titles that will sell your content.  Was I right?  

In my lame effort to write titles designed for digital media, I generally have been trying to be cute or fun or exciting or informational or use a ton of keywords.  Mostly use a ton of keywords.  I do blogs and videos for a lot of bike shops.  My favorite title is "2013 Trek 1.5 Road Bike Review."  To be honest, that title works pretty well.  I could make it cute  "Hit the Road with the 2013 Trek 1.5 Road Bike."  Or dramatic, "Get Yours First! 2013 Trek 1.5 Road Bikes Now Available."

But if I look at the time tested methods, the title should probably be "How the New 2013 Trek 1.5 Road Bike Will Change Everything.  Or "Five Reasons You'll Make the Switch to the 2013 Trek 1.5 Road Bike.

Here is that link I've been promising you.  9 Proven Headline Formulas That Sell Like Crazy  
There is no reason for me to try to outdo this guy.   

Steal Ideas from Tabloids 

If you are in marketing you know that 90% of all content, design, and concept is stolen.  Well, not exactly stolen.  We marketers sometimes have completely unique ideas that have no predecessor that we can put our finger on.  But generally, the first thing we do after getting an assignment is go see how everyone else is selling that, and "borrow" from the best of what we see.

So, too, headlines.  Would it seem likely that folks who are writing the headlines for the magazines at the checkout stand have carefully tested what works?  And while it would seem that the public (that includes you and me) would get wise to their approaches, we still bite. 

Keep a few of these mags around you for a while until you start getting into the headline writing rhythm.   

Ask Google for Advice on Your Titles

Before When Friday Isn't Payday was purchased by any consumers, it had to be purchased by a publisher, in this case Warner Business Books.  Then they had to sell this title to book buyers at chains like Barnes and Noble.  Today, the first person you have to sell your blog, video, article, or press release to is Google.  They need to believe it is worthy of a high ranking on their various pages.

So how do you sell Google.  You check with their Google Keyword tool.  Here you have a chance to put your titles in to the tool and see if anyone is looking for that info.  And Google will also give you suggested variations on your theme.  You can also just explore ideas by typing in single words that are important to what you are writing about. 

Write, Check Results, Try Again, Observe, Try Again, Analyze

As with anything in media, the age old mantra still applies.  Writers write.  The more you write the better you get.  But in the digital media world, you get really fast feedback.  People come, but they may not stay.  You can see that in your analytics.  Or they come and read the whole thing, but never take action or leave useful comments.

You end up getting great feedback to help you write better content, write better headlines, and figure out ways to get the readers to take the actions you'd like them to take.

If you find this content useful, please subscribe, give me a +1, or add to your social bookmarks.

Related Content Methods: Nine Critical Elements to the Perfect 2013 Blog Post

What About You - What has helped you get more emails opened and readers for your blog posts?

You will want to check out 26 Mobile Apps That Can HELP Your Business!

Custom Imprinted Bicycle Bell a Big Hit with Promo Products Buyers

Let BikeNSafetyPromos Partner With You For Your Next Promotional Event!

Principle-Centered Leadership

While Steven R. Covey is most famous for his bestselling book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, he also wrote another book entitled "Principle-Centered Leadership" which takes a look at which principles and practices people use to guide and their lives.  He begins by inviting the reader to take a look at several different scenarios of how everyday people function in leadership positions.  Those who  don't function from a principles base or center are more likely to act based on emotion or momentary circumstances, instead of allowing their lives to be guided by the consistent flow of principles.

This type of leadership is defined by leading from the inside out.  From the center of who you are and the principles you base your personal life on, is what your exterior life in business and relationships will also be guided by.

The book challenges its readers to examine the principles that guide each person on the inside, and what that looks like in terms of relationships with others.  The author then dives a bit deeper into looking at what this kind of leadership demonstrates in business relationships.

Are You A Principle-Centered Leader?  Here is just a peek at an excerpt of what Covey calls the 8 characteristics of principle-centered people.

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They Are Continually Learning
"Principle-centered people are constantly educated by their experiences.  They read, they seek training, they take classes, they listen to others, they learn through both their ears and their eyes....Most of this learning and growth energy is self-initiated and feeds upon itself."

They Are Service-Oriented
"Those striving to be principle-centered see life as a mission, not as a career.  Their nurturing sources have armed and prepared them for service.  In effect, every morning they 'yoke up' and put on the harness of service, thinking of others."


They Radiate Positive Energy
The countenances of principle-centered people are cheerful, pleasant, happy.  Their attitude is optimistic, positive, upbeat.  Their spirit is enthusiastic, hopeful, believing."

They Believe In Other People
"Principle-centered people don't overreact to negative behaviors, criticism, or human weaknesses.  They don't feel built up when they discover the weaknesses of others.  They are not naive; they are aware of weakness.  But they realize that behavior and potential are two different things.  They believe in the unseen potential of all people."

They Lead Balanced Lives
"They read the best literature and magazines and keep up with the current affairs and events.  They are active socially, having many friends and a few confidants.  They are active intellectually, having many interests.  They read, watch, observe, and learn.  Within the limits of age and health, they are active physically.  They have a lot of fun.  They enjoy themselves.  They have a healthy sense of humor, particularly laughing at themselves and not at others' expense.  You can sense they have a healthy regard for and honesty about themselves."

They See Life As An Adventure
"Principle-centered people savor life.  Because their security comes from within instead of from without, they have no need to categorize and stereotype everything and everybody in life to give them a sense of certainty and predictability...Their security lies in their initiative, resourcefulness, creativity, willpower, courage, stamina, and native intelligence rather than in safety, protection, and abundance of their home camps, of their comfort zones."

They Are Synergistic
"Synergy is the state in which the whole is more than the sum of the parts.  Principle-centered people are synergistic.  They are change catalysts.  They improve almost any situation they get into.  They work as smart as they work hard.  They are amazingly productive, but in new and creative ways...When principle-centered people negotiate and communicate with others in seemingly adversarial situations, they learn to separate the people from the problem."

They Exercise for Self-Renewal
"Finally, they regularly exercise the four dimensions of the human personality:  physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual...No other single hour of your day will return as much as the hour you invest in sharpening the saw--that is, in exercising these four dimensions of the human personality.  If you will do this daily, you will soon experience the impact for good on your life."

This is only the beginning of a book that aims to show the inseparable link between your internal and external processes and habits.  

What habits have you found to be tried and true in your success?

You won't want to miss 26 Ways To Create Blog Content That Will Draw Readers!

10 Great Email Secrets

Two hundred emails a day?  More?  I get more than that in my filter, never mind the ones that make it through to my inbox.  And yet, when sending out emails to our client lists, we are commonly seeing 30% opening rates.  What does it take to get folks to open, read, and respond to emails?

Something Delightful - First and foremost you need a "reputation" for providing delightful emails.  The rule for emails is this:  If your client opens three emails in a row that aren't delightful, they will trash your future emails.  A delightful email takes into consideration that the recipients are all different, enjoy different things, and like their information delivered in different ways. 

Something Personal - Instead of starting with a sales pitch, engage with something interesting about yourself, a staffer, or a client (with permission.)  Did someone get married, have a baby, go to Paris?  Most of your clients are women.  Think about what kind of personal story will be delightful to them.

Something Fun - You won't hit this 100%, but don't worry about that.  What cute "thing of the month" or saying or picture or video could you include.  It can be a very, very clever ad specialty item.  Maybe not one that will actually sell, but that is just really crazy. 

Something On Sale - Use coupons or other methods to create specials, discounts, promotions, and referral incentives.  One or two per email is fine.  But do more if you please.

Something Useful - What have you heard or seen from a client or an industry publication that might be useful to most who read the email.  Folks all want tools to help them be more successful.

Something to Anticipate - "When we get back from this commercial break, we'll tell you all about the explosion that shook Hollywood."  The TV and radio all do this.  What can you tease with for next time?  An ongoing game with prizes?  An upcoming interview or article of value?

Something Expected - Your email is a "periodical."  The definition includes that it is regularly published at an expected time.  Monthly?  Twice a month?  Create an expectation.  Who knows, some of your readers may actually look forward to it coming. 

Something Cross Channel - Use a side column to link to everything.  Link to all social media channels, give specific headlines to link to videos or blog posts or articles you want them to see.

Something Pleasing to the Eye - Use Constant Contact or another similar provider to help you create attractive emails with lots of pictures and a great header.  When you use a service like Constant Contact, you also get analytics on how many open, click through, bounce etc. 

Something To Make Them Open It - I left this until last and could probably write a book on the subject, which is after all, the "subject line."  What will intrigue people to open your email.  A series is one good way.  Sales Tip 17.  Great Promo item of the month 12.  Another is intrique.  Who is getting married this weekend?  What star did we see at the Red Onion Yesterday?  It can be December News from Promoland, but a little creativity will get more opens.

You Won't Want To Miss: No Readers For Your Blog Posts? Recycle Old Posts!

Custom Imprinted Bicycle Seat Bag A Fantastic Promotional Product Item

Summer is almost in full swing - what special events will you be promoting during this fun outdoor season? 

Bicycling has reached a new level of popularity among people of all ages - here's an imprinted saddle bag that holds a number of important items, including your cell phone, patch kit, tire lever and other items you need to keep with you!  In addition, BikeNSafetyPromos also produces a safety light that can easily be strapped to the back of this saddle bag.  

Check out this video clip to see just how it works - keep in mind that these are items that can be used at family reunions, company picnics, school events, safety events and so much more!

9 SIMPLE Habits for Good Writing

Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.

Jim Ryun 

Habits are those small, yet important little things that can either make or break us in the scheme of life.  Look around at everyone around you:  they are either trying to break an old bad habit or trying to cultivate a healthy and productive new habit.  By and by, habits define us: we may say we believe certain things about business practices or relational issues, but our habits actually tell the real story.                                                                   

But what about our business habits, where the rubber meets the road?  Most people know that having an online presence is an absolute necessity for all businesses.  But if there is no plan of attack, no active  intention of taking steps to move in this direction, then just having a stale blog or company website will have no payoff.  

But the biggest question, for those who don't like to write or find it difficult to come up with new blog posts every few days is this:  What do I write about and where do I even begin?

We know that the only way to get people to come back over and over again to your blog is through content!  This is a great article on 9 effortless ways to get the relevant, interesting content onto your blog, to keep readers coming back.  

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1.  Read.  Read a lot.  Read a huge, crazy, over-the-top lot.  I read right around a book a week, and have done so since grade school.  Sure, the downside is that most of those around me think I'm something of a know-it-all.  But unless I know a LOT, I don't have the basic resources to provide a broad underpinning of information to write from, and thus enrich any subject that I need to write about.

2.  Write.  Write a lot.  Write for fun.  Write for money.  Write for history.  Write for others.  Write because you love to write.  If you don't, maybe you should try another career.  The reading and writing should not be a chore.  But like anything else in life, there are competing priorities . . . or, at least one competing priority.  So turn off the TV and read and write. 

3.  Learn.  I read because I am curious, insatiably curious.  Not just about some things.  About everything.  I'm curious about science, history, politics, the environment, foods and nutrition, sports, parenting.  Okay, you get it.  And today I read an article on Joel Osteen, the TV evangelist, and spent an hour researching him.  You can be a writer without being curious and loving to learn, but it sure can't be easy. 

4.  Speak.  Talk about your subject.  Give talks about your subject.  Engage in online chats or forums about your subject.  You can't really know how your take on something is going to be received unless you've done some testing.  I love trade shows because of this.  I can pitch a new product idea for a few days and get hundreds of responses and ideas for how to present that product or service. 

5.  Deep.  If you are going to be writing on this subject for a while, you might as well become an expert.  Call other experts and do casual or formal interviews.  Buy and read every book you can find.  When researching online, go 3, 4, 5, or even 10 pages deep on Google.  Then go to YouTube and do the same thing.  Follow the rabbit trails. 

6.  Tools.  Use Google Adwords Keyword Tool, and Google Alerts, RSS feeds, social bookmarking sites and other similar resources to get content information all day long.  Come up with a method for keeping lists of ideas, titles, headlines, opening teaser lines, and categories of ideas when you think of them.   Also use Evernote or some other system for storing websites and YouTube videos that you want to have handy in the future. 

7.  Stop.  If you do these things, I believe you will find yourself with more ideas than time to write the things you want to write.  But if you are actually having one of those moments when nothing is kicking in, get into your Alpha Brain State.  Stop everything.  Go where it is quiet and where there won't be interruptions.  Get quiet.  Tell your mind what it is you want, and let it do its thing.  You might need ten minutes, twenty, half an hour.  But if you can get out of your own way, the ideas will flow like crazy. 

8.  Flow.  Write fast and just let it come.  Stream of consciousness writing is by far the best for non-fiction.  I am horrible at fiction, but suspect that this works for much of fiction writing, also.  You can go back and edit and reorganize later.  However, the more you write this way, the more often your first draft will be 98% ready. 

9.  Talk.  Take your final version and read it OUT LOUD to yourself.  You will find all the places where you syntax was awkward or confusing.  You'll catch punctuation errors.  You may sometimes find out that your argument wasn't formed as well as you thought.  If you don't already do this step, you will thank me for years into the future for just this habit. 

What do you find to be the most effective means of helping you to write relevant content?

In case you missed it, check out this Business Book Review: To Sell Is Human.

7 Ways To Convince Your Boss To Get On Facebook

Afraid To Share Your Facebook Marketing Ideas With Your Boss?

Photo Credit: Photopin

You probably already know that Facebook is the hot spot leader in social media.  So why are some companies still not jumping on this simple bandwagon, where so many have experienced countless benefits of FREE advertising for their business.  It's also a great way to stay connected to customers in an ongoing way, providing them with information on current specials, company events with fantastic giveaways, and so much more.

You might already know about all the benefits of using Facebook, but maybe you're an employee working under a boss who just doesn't fully understand why this social media venue is worth their time.  

How would you approach this dilemma?

Photo Credit: Photopin

Here is a great article by Jim Belosic, providing 7 ideas to help convince your boss, or the big decision makers at your place of employment, of the incredible value of getting their business on Facebook!  In my humble opinion, the best step in this article is the first one:  Assess Your Goals.  The author goes on to explain that not all businesses will necessarily benefit from being on Facebook, and that before you approach the head honcho, you need to take the time to ask the following questions about goals and expectations:

• What are your expectations? If you’re starting a Page from scratch, make it clear that’s it’s unrealistic to think a Page will grow from 0 to 100,000 likes overnight.

• What kind of exposure do you want? Does your boss want to use Facebook for public relations or customer service? Or do you have a client that wants to use Facebook to promote limited-time offers or new products? How about increasing interaction (i.e., engagement) with existing customers? All of these are possible on Facebook.

• What kind of feedback would be most helpful for you? Do you hope to learn more about what existing customers think of your products? Or does your boss want to learn more demographic information?

• What demographic are you not currently reaching but is valuable to you? For example, do you hope to reach users in new regions, or older/younger or male/female users?

• What are your competitors doing that you like/dislike? If you love what someone else in your business sector is doing, explain how you can take a similar approach and what you will do to set your company apart.

• What kind of ROI do you expect? ROI is always a hot topic. Everyone wants to know how much more cash will be in the drawer if they invest in Facebook.

You will want to read the entire article to get the remaining 6 tips.  Marketing obviously cannot be ignored in any business, but the most important aspect of marketing is for you to examine what's working and why, in relationship to other businesses around you.

One of the best ways to get your business name out on the streets in a tangible way is through the use of imprinted promotional items, that are often given out at public events with the company's name printed right on the front!  This marketing approach can also be used in conjunction with any social media approach you decide best meets your company's needs.

In Case You Missed It, Check Out: 26 Ways To Create Blog Content That Will Draw Readers!

Multi-Tool for Bicycles Is A Great Promo Item - Dome Stickers Pop

What Better Way To Promote Your Business Than With This Custom Imprinted 10 Function Bicycle Mini-Tool!

Our Pro-Quality folding Mini-Tool has everything that a cyclist needs for a quick repair on the road or trail.  

10 Functions Include:

Hex Keys: 2mm 2.5 mm 3mm 4mm 5mm 6mm 8mm

Philips and Flat Head Screwdriver

Torx25 Wrench

These fold up to fit easily into a pocket or bag, and can be customized with either a white pad print or a full color dome, as demonstrated in the images above.

This promotional item can be passed out at police safety events, community safety events, bicycle safety events, children's safety program events and so many more!

BikeNSafetyPromos continues to be the leader in creative and useful promotional safety items!  

You Will Also Enjoy When Does A Promotional Product Make The Giver A Hero?

What Motivates People To Work Harder?

Entrepreneur Book Review On Rewarding Employees

What motivates you to work harder, go for the big account, and accomplish your business goals?  Think about that for just a moment.  Now think about your employees.  What do you think motivates them to work harder, use their time more efficiently, and give their best for your company's needs and goals, day after day, year after year?

It can be too easy to remain so focused on all the needs and demands of the business on a daily basis, that the employees can get overlooked, in terms of what is important for their success, which has a direct effect on the success of the business.

In a recent post by Marketing Consultant Randy Kirk, he reviews the book called "1001 Ways to Reward Employees" by Bob Nelson.  Randy Kirk goes on to share his own personal experiences with motivating employees, and further encourages business owners to use this book as a reference for creative ideas in not only telling your employees how much you appreciate their incredible work, but especially by showing your appreciation.

One way that employees can feel really fantastic about themselves is through rewards, praise, and public recognition.  "1001 Ways to Reward Employees" by Bob Nelson, is a great reference book to help you consider low cost or free ways to build your people up.  You can spend 20 or 30 minutes just skipping around through the text and you'll be stimulated to come up with your own variations.  It is like brainstorming, but with a book instead of a room full of people.

The ideas have been gleaned from 100's of interviews conducted with owners and managers of businesses, large and small.  Many won't apply to your situation at all.  Others will have you slapping your forehead wondering why you didn't already think of that.

Under the theory of the shoemaker whose children had no shoes, you might find this book helpful in motivating your own staffs and sales teams. A book that is well worth your attention.

You'll definitely want to check out this business book review on "To Sell Is Human."