Small Business Advice

Harness Your Spark & Hustle

Tory Johnson | Posted 05.29.2012

Read More: Small Business Success Stories, Vera Bradley, Small Business, Liz Lange, Slideexpand, Female Entrepreneurs, Small Business Advice, Small Business News
Tory Johnson

Current and aspiring female entrepreneurs took cues from some of my favorite business rockstars at the small-business master class. Three key messages resounded among every speaker.

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When 'Good' Advice Is Bad for You

Kathy Caprino | Posted 05.01.2012

Read More: Marketing, Personal Branding, Consultants, Small Business Advice, Kathy Caprino, Business Consulting, Business News
Kathy Caprino

If you don't get want you need, be prepared to walk away from the relationship when you sense that this partnership is not for you or for your highest good. Don't wait to ask for what you know you need and want.

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Mompreneurs: Fighter Pilot's Wife Designs Babiators Shades

Sandy Abrams | Posted 04.26.2012

Read More: Start Up, Mompreneurs, Molly Fienning, Baby Sunglasses, Entrepreneurs, Small Biz, Babiators, Small Business Tips, Start-Up Advice, Small Business Advice, Marketing Tips, Start-Up, Small Business News
Sandy Abrams

The founders started discussing the idea in mid-2010, incorporated Babiators LLC in the fall of 2010 and officially launched the product in May 2011. Today, Babiators can found in more than 250 stores and 15 countries worldwide.

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Mompreneurs: Teething Bling -- Why Didn't I Think of That?!

Sandy Abrams | Posted 04.12.2012

Read More: Mompreneurs, Teething Bling, Entrepreneurs, Smart Mom Jewelry, Small Business Advice, Women-Owned-Business, How to Start a Business, Teething Bling Business, Small Business News
Sandy Abrams

Moms are always thinking about how our lives could be easier with this or that, but most of us stop there. Amy Creel felt that way but instead of dismissing her idea, she went online to happily discover that her Teething Bling was in fact unique.

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Small Business and Politics

Nelson Davis | Posted 05.26.2012

Read More: Fortune 500, Small Business, Entrepreneurs, Small Business America, Small Business Politics, Los Angeles Small Business Community, Small Business Governance, Los Angeles Business Community, Small Business Regulations, Small Business Fees, Small Business Taxes, Business Community, Small Business Enterprise, Small Business Advice, Entrepreneurship, Small Business News
Nelson Davis

But alas, in the real world even the smallest business owner needs to realize that we are in a co-dependent relationship with office holders in our cities, counties, states and even at the head office in Washington, DC.

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Proposals That Sell: How to Write a Winning Sales Proposal

Andrea Sittig-Rolf | Posted 05.02.2012

Read More: Sales, Entrepreneurship, Business, Small Business Advice, Sales Deals, Proposals, Sales Proposals, Business News
Andrea Sittig-Rolf

Not only do you want to give your prospect an idea of the details of the solution along with pricing information, it's also your final chance to make a lasting impression before asking for the order. You've got to be sure your proposal is top notch.

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Too Much Office Chatter? What A Business Owner Can Do

AP | By JOYCE M. ROSENBERG | Posted 01.05.2012

Read More: Video, Small Business, Small Business Advice, Small Business Employees, Small Business Office, Office, Small Business News and Trends, Presidential Primary, Small Business News

NEW YORK -- The presidential primary season is upon us, and the Super Bowl isn't that far off. Small business owners may find productivity dipping as ...

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Company Building In The Age Of The Platform: 8 Lessons From Amazon, Apple, Facebook, And Google

Phil Simon | Posted 02.11.2012

Read More: Slidepollajax, Google, Small Business, Apple, Startup, Small Business Advice, Gang of Four, Startups, Age of the Platform, Facebook, Customers, Platform, Amazon, Small Business America, Small Business News
Phil Simon

We have entered a new age -- the Age of the Platform. Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google (a.k.a. the 'Gang of Four') have done nothing less than pioneer a fundamentally new way of doing business.

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Small Business Media Attention: 5 Ways To Get It

Dan Schawbel | Posted 01.09.2012

Read More: Small Business Branding, Small Business, Apple, Brand, Small Business Advice, Dell, Slidepollajax, Marketing, Branding, Coca Cola, Customers, Small Business Marketing, Small Business News
Dan Schawbel

One of the biggest challenges small businesses face is getting attention, in part because small businesses have no brand to leverage. Here are five ways to stand out from the crowd, get the attention you deserve, and build a follower base you're proud of.

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Your Employees Don't Have to Like You, But They Have to Love You

Robert Levin | Posted 01.07.2012

Read More: Company Culture, Employees, Managing Employees, Startups, Small Business America, Small Business, Small Business Advice, Small Business News
Robert Levin

There are times when an employee will not agree with a decision that you have made. If the employee is not thinking to him or herself, "well I don't agree with her, but I do believe in her so I will respect the decision," the employee's relationship is doomed to fail and until it does, it will be a painful one.

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Savvy Entrepreneurs Adopt More Good Habits

Marty Zwilling | Posted 01.01.2012

Read More: Startups, Entrepreneurs, Good Habits, Business, Changing Habits, Small Business Advice, Good Business Habits, Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneur Advice, Business News
Marty Zwilling

In the big picture, the habits you develop and nurture shape your destiny. Little everyday habits will take you either to the life you desire or to disaster by default.

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Rod Kurtz

Ask Rod: Your Questions Answered

HuffingtonPost.com | Rod Kurtz | Posted 12.12.2011

Read More: Small Business Tips, Business Advice, Small Business Advice, Ask Rod, Small Business Video, Small Business Questions, Video, Small Business News

Running a business is tough. But you don't have to go it alone. Executive Editor Rod Kurtz is back to introduce the all-new HuffPost Small Business --...

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Coaching the "Uncoachables": Forget About It!

Marshall Goldsmith | Posted 12.06.2011

Read More: Client, Goldsmith, Employee, Marshall, Coach, Coaching, Executive, Small Business Advice, Business Coaching, Coaching in Business, Small Business America, Career Advice Coaches, Career Advice, Business News
Marshall Goldsmith

Even if you are the best coach in the world, if the person you are coaching shouldn't be coached, the coaching isn't going to work. The good news is that the "uncoachables" are easier than you think to spot.

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The Art of Negotiation

Sophie Gold | Posted 12.04.2011

Read More: Negotiation, Small Business Owners, Debt Ceiling Negotiations, Small Business Advice, Business News
Sophie Gold

Negotiation in business is vital; it affects every part of your business. Even though negotiation is vital some entrepreneurs fail to understand negotiation etiquette.

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10 Tips From 10 Top Entrepreneurs

Porter Gale | Posted 11.26.2011

Read More: Small Business, Apple, Small Business Advice, Startups, Startup Advice, Entrepreneurs, Entrepreneurship, Virgin America, Small Business News
Porter Gale

In the spirit of collaboration (and entrepreneurship), I sent a quick email out to my successful self-employed friends and asked, "What is the best advice you have for business owners?"

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Is Entrepreneurship All It's Cracked Up to Be? It All Depends on How You Approach It

Adelaide Lancaster | Posted 10.30.2011

Read More: Small Business Growth, Entrepreneurship Advice, Growing Business, Entreprenuer Advice, Entreprenuership Tips, Small Business Advice, Entreprenuership, Entreprenuer Tips, Small Business News
Adelaide Lancaster

No one said instant satisfaction was the prize for starting a business. It can take a couple of years to figure out how to reap the benefits of being an entrepreneur, but consider those years part of your business investment.

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The Case for Consulting With an Attorney

Don McNay | Posted 10.28.2011

Read More: Using Lawyers, Small Business America, Small Business Tips, Small Business Advice, Business Law, Small Business Lawyers, Small Business and Lawyers, Small Business Owners and Lawyers, Business News
Don McNay

Love them or hate them, if you plan to make money, and keep it in the family after you die (or if you want to make sure your favorite charities get some cash), you need to develop a relationship with an attorney.

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How to Land Superstar Clients

Karen Leland | Posted 10.25.2011

Read More: Marketing, Small Business, Small Business America, Small Business Advice, Small Business Clients, Clients, HuffPost Small Business, Small Business News
Karen Leland

How exactly does a small business secure a magical stable of superstar clients? It starts by defining what makes up your unique ideal client profile.

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From Disabled Veteran To CEO (WATCH)

Thom Ruhe | Posted 10.24.2011

Read More: Jim Crow, Small Business, Small Business Veterans, Military, Small Business Advice, Veteran Entrepreneurs, Entrepreneurship Advice, Entrepreneurs, Entrepreneurship, Kauffman Foundation, Veterans, Small Business News
Thom Ruhe

Life's greatest rewards start by making a choice to actively participate in our own lives instead of simply observing them. So what's holding you back?

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Two Work-From-Home Danger Zones And How To Beat Them Back

Karen Leland | Posted 10.04.2011

Read More: Small Business, Telecommuting, Small Business America, Time Management, Small Business Advice, Business Advice, Home-Based Business, Business News
Karen Leland

Pondering my own situation got me wondering about what other non-productive work-from-home habits other small business owners might be struggling with.

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3 Bad Small Business Clients And When To Fire Them

Karen Leland | Posted 09.27.2011

Read More: Small Business, Sales, Clients, Small Business America, Small Business Advice, Customers, Customer Service, Business News
Karen Leland

It really comes down to the classic 80/20 rule: 20 percent of your clients will cause you 80 percent of the grief in your business. Smart small business owners know how to identify trouble clients right away, head off problems early on and, when necessary, cut their losses.

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Home-Based Business 'Champion' Tells All To Entrepreneurs

Jerry Chautin | Posted 09.25.2011

Read More: Art Business, Hobby Business, Small Business Hobbies, Small Business Investments, Arts and Crafts, Small Business Advice, Small Business America, Business News
Jerry Chautin

Working at home can drastically reduce your business' overhead. And during this tough economy, it can mean the difference between success and failure.

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Use The 'Aha! Formula' To Close On Sales Calls

Andrea Sittig-Rolf | Posted 09.25.2011

Read More: Customer Loyalty, Small Business America, Small Business, Sales, Small Business Advice, Business Advice, Sales Meetings, Conference Calls, Customers, Business News
Andrea Sittig-Rolf

Every sale starts with the appointment. I have developed the Aha! formula, which will help you anticipate the objection, handle the objection, and ask for the appointment

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Making It in the World of Self-Employment

Don McNay | Posted 09.23.2011

Read More: Tips for Small Business, Small Business Tips, Small Business Networking, Business Strategy, Running a Business, Self Employed, Small Business Advice, Small Business America, Business News
Don McNay

Being self-employed is good for people who need, or want, to work outside the nine-to-five world, even if it's temporary. Self-employment is not often about financing a start-up company and making the INC 500. It is often about making a living at something you enjoy.

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17 Surefire Ways to Land Your First Paying Clients

Scott Gerber | Posted 07.13.2011

Read More: Sales Training, Small Business, Young Entrepreneurs, Sales, Social Entrepreneurship, Slidepollajax, Getting Clients, Entrepreneurship, Young Entrepreneur Council, Small Business America, Small Business Tips, Business Advice, Business Tips, Small Business Advice, Startups, Startup Advice, Business News
Scott Gerber

"I am a first time entrepreneur who has never sold anything to anyone in her life. How can I entice my first few clients to give my new company a shot at their business?"

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