Website 101

Updating and maintaining a web presence for your business is critical in today's marketplace. Your website is a valuable tool to serve customers and promote your company's brand and services. Websites can also help streamline business processes to reduce costs.

When designing or expanding your website remember to consider the 11 steps to creating a successful website, such as establishing a domain and creating a customized email account to communicate with customers. If you can't afford a website developer consider creating the site yourself by purchasing a domain through godaddy.com or using many of the free online website templates available through WordPress or other sites.

Once your site is established, there are many ways to drive traffic to your website and ensure that users keep coming back. For instance, you will want to make sure that users are directed to your site when they perform a Google search or view the online yellow pages.

What business leaders know about networking

The best form of marketing is word of mouth. Networking is a proven method of effective marketing, by getting the word out about who you are and what you do! I recently gave a talk on what leaders know about networking. Here are the highlights:

Seasoned networkers have established long term relationships with a wide range of people.

The role of networking is to enlarge your circle of influence ranging from friends who are like minded to potential business alliances.

The benefit of creating a strong network is to have a pool of people who can:
Assist to solve problems.
Mentor / advice to prevent setbacks.
Follow up on opportunities.
Exchange information.
Create strategic alliances

What is Networking?

Networking is…
Establishing long term relationships.
Remaining neutral with mutual friends and acquaintances.
Clusters of people you know from various areas of life.
Two way communication as well as benefit.
Balances over the long run, both parties have given and received.
Helping others to achieve goals.
Supportive with advice, resources, kindness, introductions.

Networking is NOT….
· Asking for a favor or one sided.
· Contacting only when in need.
· Engaging in gossip.
· Opportunistic, insincere, having an ulterior motive.


How to Network

First construct an Elevator Speech:
· Fine tune your introduction to 45 seconds.
· Include your name, title, business and a memory hook.
· Answers the question “Tell me about yourself” and “What do you do?”

Elements to your elevator speech....
o My name is…
o I am the …
o My company is…
o We (memory hook)…
o Our customers are typically…

Effective networking tips for introverts and “quiet” types:
Play to your strengths, be yourself.
Network with a colleague or spouse.
Meet someone, get a card and ask to refer them.
Have someone within your organization that “networks”.
Use social media to connect with people.

Make networking more effective by:
· Finding something of mutual interest to discuss.
· Remembering people’s names and business.
· Take an interest in the person your speaking to.
· Give 100% attention to who you are meeting with.
· Ask for what you need.
· Offer support and resources, refer their business.
· Keep in touch – Never stop networking!

copyright material: Rosa Smith-Montanaro can be reprinted in whole with credit given to author.

Keeping Postive Cash Flow

Keeping your cash flow positive is one of the most important things you can focus on if you want to keep your business strong in the current economy. Part of the current difficulty right now for many businesses is that there isn’t much money flowing in and out of businesses. Cash flow is an essential part of having a healthy business
and you should spend some serious time making sure you have positive cash flow.
Continue reading "Keeping positive cash flow"