Blog

BySalma El-Shurafa When you read business journals and other publications to take inspiration and lessons from those who have succeeded in the business world, youre sure to encounter the topic of passion quite frequently. There are some entrepreneurs who conclude that whatever success they have secured was gained simply by following their passion: they did what made them happy, and everything fell into place. Thats the kind of story every aspiring entrepreneur likes to read or hear, because it presents a romantic journey. In such a... Read More

If you or your target audienceare frequent social media users, advances in social commerce can be a huge blessing for you. Social media can help you to educate your audience about your products, give them an easy way to buy from you, and offer quick and convenient customer support. It also helps your clients to research your products, so they can be confident about their buying decision. Today, Josh Wardini is sharing an article andinfographicthat will help you to understand what kinds of social commerce tools are available to you, and how... Read More

By Chris Mercer Im naturally a very agreeable person. Its because I like it when people are happy even more so when Im the reason they feel that way. At the same time, at one point that sentiment nearly destroyed me. ​There are many reasons for that, but one of the biggest ones was that I was spending all of my time dancing to other peoples tunes and never getting the things that were important to me done. Then I learned how to say no and everything changed. Admittedly, it wasnt easy at first. It caused quite a bit of a... Read More

In one of the business groups I frequent, I recently saw an interesting question: "Do you believe in meeting a customer where they're at financially, or charging full price and sifting through the nose to get that customer?" Many business owners are faced with this question, and there are several valid answers. Which answer is right for you will depend on the client and the scenario, and it's important that you choose one that will create a win-win situation for everyone involved. Today, I'm going to share some principles and strategies... Read More

I recently had an interesting conversation with some of my fellow writers who were struggling with social media addiction. They wanted to focus on creating content, but they felt compelled to continuously check their notifications on their favorite social channels. As a result, they were struggling to actually produce content, because they were spending so much time online. But as I pointed out, social media addiction isn't 100% a bad thing. As a creative, introverted copywriter, I have the opposite problem: if left to my natural... Read More

Sometimes, you need to tell people things they don't want to hear. This is especially true if you're a coach, and it's your job to tell people when you see them sabotaging themselves, or you notice that they have a false belief that's holding them back. This situation can also come up if someone has an unreasonable expectation or request, or you see someone spreading information that they sincerely believe, but that you know is inaccurate in a way that could harm someone if they acted upon it. Some people are receptive to... Read More

Did you know that your best leads and marketing allies are usually your satisfied customers? When someone has used your product or service and loved it, they've a lot more inclined to work with you again, and to recommend you to their friends, than a stranger to your business would be. This is especially important in light of the fact that bringing someone from being a total stranger to becoming a loyal repeat customer and advocate of your business can take a lot of work. You've got to get their attention, hold that attention, earn... Read More

You've probably heard about the Golden Rule: do unto others as you want them to do unto you. In other words, treat other people the way you want to be treated. In many ways, the Golden Rule is invaluable. It reminds us to treat others with the same care, respect and fairness that we ourselves desire, and to think twice when we're tempted to do something unkind or inequitable. But if it's used blindly, it can actually work AGAINST our relationships with our customers, business contacts, families and friends. Let me give you an... Read More

For a Virtual Assistant or marketing professional, finding the right Customer Relationship Management software can be a frustrating challenge but when you succeed, it will make your life SO much easier. Without a good CRM system, you have a LOT of extra work on your hands. Keeping track of multiple email conversations, passing the right information on to your clients in an efficient and organized way, booking appointments and informing your client, sharing files, sending emails, and keeping tabs on all your tasks it can get overwhelming! ... Read More

Do you sometimes feel like you're drowning beneath a flood of demands on your time? Maybe your inbox is overflowing, and each new email feels like a new obligation that you have to meet, no matter how vast your existing to-do list is. Maybe you've been blessed with an influx of client projects, but you haven't been miraculously gifted with an extra five hours a day to accommodate them all. Or maybe you're the go-to person every time someone has a task they want completed, and you never really feel like you can say "no". The... Read More