5/29/14 - Do You Really Need to Spend Money...To Make Money (2nd Install.)?

In the previous week's post, we discussed...

This week’s blog post (2nd Installation) will be short and sweet and a continuation from last week. For the next few posts, I will provide you with a glimpse of some 70+ Ways to Make More Money, Increase Contacts & Expand Your Networking.

1)     Do Freelance work

2)     Sell link “Advertising” space made available on your webpage

3)     Sell “Commercials”  on your blog/internet radio show

4)     Sell “Video Advertising” space on your website

5)     Ghost Content Write for others

Contact us directly for more tips and continue following us in the next few posts for more ideas...

We will also connect you to the people you should have in your circle of influence by having you discover a different networking activity that you didn’t know was possible.  Start at “Networking From The Waist – Up!” with us each month.

Finally, connect with me today to determine how BCC –Small Business Management Services can assist your Entrepreneurial and Small Business endeavors by allowing us to be your personal Business Concierge.

written by: CL Reed

   

 A Suite Collaboration a subsidiary of

BCC - Small Business Management Services

(The Entrepreneur’s & Small Business' Concierge)

Helping You Upstart & Grow Your Business

www.BeCrystalClear.Net

5/22/14 - Do You Really Need to Spend Money...To Make Money?

This week’s blog post will be short and sweet. For the next few posts, I will provide you with a glimpse of some 70+ Ways to Make More Money, Increase Contacts & Expand Your Networking. Let’s begin with these tantalizing few:

1)     Use Community Bulletin Boards to your advantage

2)     Put up Fish Bowl business card prize drawings throughout the community (clearly marked with your logo/contact info)

3)     Participate in many like-kind and varying interest Networking groups

4)     Set up a table at yard sales

5)     Sponsor a tray or bottle of _________ for an event (label with your logo/contact info)

Contact us directly for more tips and continue following us in the next few posts for more ideas...

We will also connect you to the people you should have in your circle of influence by having you discover a different networking activity that you didn’t know was possible.  Start at “Networking From The Waist – Up!” with us each month. 

Finally, connect with me today to determine how BCC –Small Business Management Services can assist your Entrepreneurial and Small Business endeavors by allowing us to be your personal Business Concierge.

written by: CL Reed

 

A Suite Collaboration a subsidiary of

 

BCC - Small Business Management Services

(The Entrepreneur’s & Small Business' Concierge)

Helping You Upstart & Grow Your Business

www.BeCrystalClear.Net

5/15/14 – A Setback Is A Valuable Lesson Learned … Run With It!

The story goes… Why did they name it Formula 409? Because it took 408 tries to get the right formula! How many setbacks (failures) did Edison have in inventing the light bulb; somewhere between 1,000 and 3,000 formulations and different materials used?  Does this give you encouragement to keep trying…it should.

If we immediately mastered everything we tried, we would never be challenged and would grow bored very easily. If the moth didn’t use its wing muscles to get out of the cocoon, the wings would never develop properly and it wouldn’t become a beautiful butterfly. If you didn’t harness and polish what looks like a lump of coal – there’d be no diamond. Do you get the juxtapositions here? In order to achieve more and reach higher – you will have to struggle, endure and suffer a few setbacks so that you will know and appreciate what it takes to succeed and what not to do going forward so that you can continue to soar higher heights.

As an entrepreneur or small business owner, there are days when it takes all you have to get out of bed, brush your teeth, shower and shave. Who knows better than you that there are no immediate payoffs and payouts when starting your endeavors?  Wait, don’t throw in the towel just yet, there are some bright sides.  One is, that that you are not alone; there are others just like you – maybe with a different service, product or dream – but the same passion and intensity to make their brainchild a success. Also, all of your efforts may not cause you to see the entire light at the end of the tunnel, but one of the reasons that you press on day and night is because each step, each activity, each day causes that pinpoint of light at the end of the tunnel to grow bigger and brighter showing you that your train is about to pull into the station.

Food for thought: An important decision you MUST make to help ensure the success of your business is that you will not continue to keep yourself locked up in your laboratory and begin to (if you haven’t already) expand your networking circles.  You must get the word out about yourself (because who better to promote and market your ideas and concepts than you – your #1 salesperson). Networking will be key in advancing and continuing the success of your endeavor. Why do you think big business constantly bombards us with their wares through marketing and promotion  – because you are only as good as your last accomplishment and you have to keep yourself and your services/products relevant and at the forefront of people’s minds, continuously pushing the competition to the runner up space.

Going forward, don’t let your setbacks defeat you and be the reason you threw in the towel. Use them as extremely valuable learning lessons and building blocks for the day of sweet success! Start fresh today by surrounding yourself by like-minded individuals.

We will also connect you to the people you should have in your circle of influence by having you discover a different networking activity that you didn’t know was possible.  Start at “Networking From The Waist – Up!” with us each month. For more information go to: www.BeCrystalClear.net

Connect with me today to determine how BCC – Small Business Management Services can assist your Entrepreneurial and Small Business endeavors by allowing us to be your personal Business Concierge.

written by: CL Reed

 

A Suite Collaboration a subsidiary of

BCC - Small Business Management Services

(The Entrepreneur’s & Small Business' Concierge)

Helping You Upstart & Grow Your Business

www.BeCrystalClear.Net

5/8/14 – What Is Your Street Value?

What is your street value? It’s whatever you say it is. No one and I mean no one can set or determine that price but you. Learn to “set it and forget it” (in the immortal words of Ronco). Learn to say it with a confident smile. But first, figure out exactly WHAT that value/price is and then dig your heels in. People will balk at what you ask for – that’s o.k., they are not who you cater to. Others will not blink – they are your bread and butter, keep them close to the vest, very happy and well taken care of with extra goodies and special treats on occasion (at no extra charge). The squeaky wheel gets the grease and your kindness and niceties to this group of people will go much further in your marketing efforts than any promotional event or flyer ever could because these are your word of mouth Marketing & Promotion team (M&P Team).

If you cannot determine exactly what you believe your dollar value to be, do a couple of things first to begin your calculations (and then if you still can’t figure it out – give me a call to set up a Clarity conversation and we will develop that number together). Let’s start with the below list. Write a dollar value (or a ‘yes’) next to each example and this will total up to just the beginning rate of what ballpark you should be charging in (push hard to determine the dollar value and not just a “yes” answer):

1. Educated in the field your offering
2. More than five years’ experience in the arena
3. New in the arena
4. Have a list of happily satisfied customers that wouldn’t hesitate to vouch for you
5. Using personal equipment (computer, printer, phone, camera, etc.)
6. Purchased software
7. Using personal office supplies (ink, paper, tape, staples, etc.) 
8. Using personal electricity
9. Using automobile (gas, insurance, mileage, etc.)
10. Customer/vendor talking time used (project description, meetings, etc.)
11. Amount of time spent on project
12. What are others at your level charging (per: hour, project, day, etc.)

Follow me? This is just your STARTING point, your VALUE goes up from here because you are not out just to make the bare minimum, you are out to make a profit.

Now, you can’t very well charge a commanding rate and you aren’t very well knowledgeable/educated formally or hands on, have limited experience, not delivering on the goods or can’t say yes to 90% of the above! Your professional acumen, demeanor, products, services, quality, attention to details, follow up and follow through must be on point – especially if you want repeat and new business and to spend as little money as possible on M&P because your very satisfied clientele WILL be your M&P Team.

Connect with me today to discover exactly what your commanding value is through a simple Clarity conversation. Also, let’s determine how BCC – Small Business Management Services can assist your Entrepreneurial and Small Business endeavors by being your personal Business Concierge.

We will also connect you to the people you should have in your circle of influence by having you discover a different networking activity that you didn’t know was possible.  Start at “Networking From The Waist – Up!” with us each month. For more information go to: www.BeCrystalClear.net

written by: CL Reed

 

 

A Suite Collaboration a subsidiary of

BCC - Small Business Management Services

(The Entrepreneur’s & Small Business Concierge)

Helping You Upstart & Grow Your Business

www.BeCrystalClear.Net

5/1/14 – Make It A Night To Remember…

Networking is a lot like dating. You have to make an investment and hope for a return on that investment.  Investment in Networking (much like dating) may include but is not limited to: several phone call or email exchanges to setup the big “date”, schedule clearing/arranging, several changes of outfit prior to the event, waxing, shaving, bathing, flossing, grooming, childcare arrangements, transportation, etc.

Ta-dah, and now, the time has come.

No turning back now. You are here. Possibly a little nervous, feeling like the new kid in town, didn’t bring a wing-person so maybe you are flying solo. Just breathe. You can do this. You need to Make It A Night To Remember (in the immortal words sung by the R&B group Shalamar circa 1982). Much like dating, remember – IT’S JUST A DATE … IT’S JUST NETWORKING! Start by walking into the room like you own it… or at least want to rent it! An opportunity to go out and have some food and beverage, exchange chit chat and thoughts and discover what makes another person tick.  There is no contract on the table or gun to your head, the evening won’t end with you waking up in Vegas with a hangover, new last name and gold ring (yes, that’s the worst that could happen!).

What’s the best thing that could happen? You could make a new connection/contact for personal and/or professional mutual exchanges and interactions for the future. Or, you could discover some new found traits about yourself that you didn’t know existed before, such as: You can do something alone, you are well informed and engaging, you did know that Wildebeest are also called Gnu (and other random facts), you have something to offer and you are relevant, valuable, credible and a really great person to get to know.

Don’t dread the next time you have to attend a Networking event. Embrace it. Because after all, you MUST network if you want your business to grow!

Discover a different networking activity that you didn’t know was possible.  Start at “Networking From The Waist – Up!” with us each month. For more information go to: www.BeCrystalClear.net

written by: CL Reed

 

A Suite Collaboration a subsidiary of 

 

BCC - Small Business Management Services

(The Entrepreneur’s & Small Business Concierge)

Helping You Upstart & Grow Your Business

www.BeCrystalClear.Net