(by 8 people)
From coaches to consultants, the world is booming with solopreneurs. Now that we have a level playing field, let's take advantage of it!
The Solopreneur's Guide To Delegation
Working as a solopreneur is difficult, and getting help is often difficult. Finding out how an assistant (virtual assisstant or otherwise) can help you is instrumental in keeping your business successful. Delegation is the handing of a task over to another person; in order to do this, you should understand the few key points below:
1. Clarify the assignment with clear, unambiguous instructions
When you delegate, you need to be very specific about what you expect, and how you expect it to be done. The more specific you are about what you want, the better the chances are that your assignment will be done the way you desire.
2. Ensure the person has the necessary skills
You wouldn't hire a woodworker to fix your toilet leak, would you? The same goes for your assistant, with one caveat. IF (and, that's a big if) you're willing to train a person in a specific skill (such as music notation), then have at it. But, if you don't want to invest the time and energy into teaching someone every nuance of your trade - then you need to make sure you find someone with at least a little knowledge of your profession.
3. Specify how much responsibility the person has over the assignment
Read Entire Article Here
1. Clarify the assignment with clear, unambiguous instructions
When you delegate, you need to be very specific about what you expect, and how you expect it to be done. The more specific you are about what you want, the better the chances are that your assignment will be done the way you desire.
2. Ensure the person has the necessary skills
You wouldn't hire a woodworker to fix your toilet leak, would you? The same goes for your assistant, with one caveat. IF (and, that's a big if) you're willing to train a person in a specific skill (such as music notation), then have at it. But, if you don't want to invest the time and energy into teaching someone every nuance of your trade - then you need to make sure you find someone with at least a little knowledge of your profession.
3. Specify how much responsibility the person has over the assignment
Read Entire Article Here
The Marketing VA
Online and offline marketing for the solopreneur
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byMarketing eBooks and Resources
- Psychotactics
- Marketing Guru Extraordinare Sean D'Souza has created this information-packed website, filled with information regarding everything form copywriting to structure to design - and everything inbetween. With over 300 articles to his credit, you may just want to bypass the articles and go straight to the meatiest ebook you'll find. The Brain Audit is surprisingly short, yet filled with information that I guarantee will help you take your business into the stratosphere.
- 5000bc
- Ever wonder why one business wildly succeeds, while another business struggles to get ahead? As a business owner are you totally overwhelmed with constant technology changes? Is it really possible to take age-old psychology and create more customers, more profits and yes...more time?
If you've had a chance to read The Brain Audit (or not!), this is your chance to go head to head with Sean D'Souza. 5000bc not only posts several articles a week, but also includes a forum where you can ask the guru (Sean) himself marketing questions - This has been the best marketing investment I've made to date. - Action Plan Marketing
- Robert Middleton, another marketing guru, has written the InfoGuru Manual, the Website Toolkit, and the Action Plan Toolkit - all of which are sure to take your service business to the next level. He explains what you need to do - sequentially, I might add - in great detail, while still 'keeping it simple'. Whether you're a new or seasoned marketer, you'll get much more than you asked for from any of these books.
But don't just take my word for it - browse through his site, download the free workbooks and read through his articles... you'll become a believer yourself! - The Heart of Business
- Mark Silver, fourth-generation entrepreneur and sufi healer, has created this eBook just for those of us who feel disconnect with our businesses. He has taken the time to show us how to keep ourselves spiritually aligned in our businesses - and to make our spirituality WORK for us in business.
Solo-press
Beginning Public Relations
PR: The art of creating interest in you, your company, and your product/service by convincing others (namely media outlets such as print, TV, and radio) to report about who you are, what you do, and why it's important to the world at large.
Sounds pretty simple, doesn't it? PR is perhaps a little deceiving in definition. PR involves a lot of hard work and dedication. There are several things you must do (and do well) in order for the media outlets to recognize your expertise and your business.
Read Entire Article...
Sounds pretty simple, doesn't it? PR is perhaps a little deceiving in definition. PR involves a lot of hard work and dedication. There are several things you must do (and do well) in order for the media outlets to recognize your expertise and your business.
Read Entire Article...
The Entrepreneurial Mind
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byThe Impossible Client
The impossible clients are lurking; we know they're out there. I can almost see them around the corner with their impossible time-frames, unnatural expectations, and general grumpiness - just waiting to catch me off guard and into their netting.
The netting is the worst part. When you realize these people are just like yourself - just impossible for you to work with. I'm sure I'm an impossible client to somebody, but I shouldn't have to deal with them.
We don't have to. It's called selectivity. Use it.
Read Entire Article Here
The netting is the worst part. When you realize these people are just like yourself - just impossible for you to work with. I'm sure I'm an impossible client to somebody, but I shouldn't have to deal with them.
We don't have to. It's called selectivity. Use it.
Read Entire Article Here
Tools of the Trade
- Dreamhost
- This is THE place to host your website if you plan on having more than one domain (and most of us do!) With this service, you can have UNLIMITED hosted domains, UNLIMITED email addresses, and your space and bandwith goes up monthly! I really can't say enough about this service - it's the best webhost I've found - period.
- Aweber
- If you want to begin an ezine or have a decent-sized email mailing list - this is the service you need. Filled to the brim with functionality - from unlimited mailings, autoresponders, lists and more - and very reasonably priced.. you're better to start with the best than waste your time when you're forced to upgrade. It even has a no-obligation trial, so why wait?
- Client Compass
- If you're a coach, then this is the perfect product for keeping your business running smoothly.
- Camtasia Studio
- It is truly powerful to teach and demonstrate visually, rather than through words alone. Camtasia Studio screen recording will change the way you present, train and connect with your audience.
- Wordpress
- Wordpress is a great, **Free**, open-source blogging tool - one that you can host right on your website and not have to worry about all that funky up-and-down time that Blogger and Typepad seem to always go through.
Most webhosts now actually have one-click installation of wordpress, and if you don't there's a thorough guide to help you get it up and running. - Free Conference Call
- Reliable, stable conference calling service - and best of all, it's free!
- You Send It
- Need to send large files? Sick of having your mail bounce back because the file size is too large?
Use this free service to send large files over the 'net. You upload your file and enter your email and the recipients' email - and voila! They receive an email containing a link to download your file. Simple as pie!
Andy Wibbles
Fetching RSS feed... please stand bySolopreneur must-reads
Get Clients Now!(TM): A 28-Day Marketing Program for Professionals and Consultants
Amazon Price: (as of 07/05/2008)
Guerilla Marketing.
Amazon Price: (as of 07/05/2008)
All Marketers Are Liars: The Power of Telling Authentic Stories in a Low-Trust World
Amazon Price: $16.29 (as of 07/05/2008)
Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity
Amazon Price: $9.00 (as of 07/05/2008)
Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking
Amazon Price: $17.13 (as of 07/05/2008)
The Bootstrapper's Bible: How to Start and Build a Business With a Great Idea and (Almost) No Money
Amazon Price: (as of 07/05/2008)
Seth's Blog
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byShut Up and Sell!
Predatory salespeople are everywhere -from the department stores to car sales. Time and time again we've seen these salespeople hunt like hounds trying to get their next sale, the next big commission. "Sell at all costs!" "Don't let them say no!"
No wonder we're afraid of selling. We don't want to hunt people down, we don't want to take their money without consent, and we don't want to sell them something they don't need.
You Don't Have to Do That!
Read entire Article Here
No wonder we're afraid of selling. We don't want to hunt people down, we don't want to take their money without consent, and we don't want to sell them something they don't need.
You Don't Have to Do That!
Read entire Article Here
Solopreneur Must-Reads (Part 2)
Purple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable
Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 07/05/2008)
The Big Moo: Stop Trying to Be Perfect and Start Being Remarkable
Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 07/05/2008)
Permission Marketing : Turning Strangers Into Friends And Friends Into Customers
Amazon Price: $16.50 (as of 07/05/2008)
Free Prize Inside!: The Next Big Marketing Idea
Amazon Price: $6.99 (as of 07/05/2008)
The Guerrilla Marketing Handbook (Guerrilla Marketing)
Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 07/05/2008)
Free Agent Nation: The Future of Working for Yourself
Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 07/05/2008)
The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference
Amazon Price: $8.99 (as of 07/05/2008)
The More Clients Blog
Independent Professionals: Share your ideas about attracting clients
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byFinding Your Niche
What do you Want to Be Known For?
In my experience, there are two kinds of small business owners: one that knows whom their market niche is and utilize it, and another who tends to waiver or not want to "set in stone" their target market. With the latter group, I always probe for more information: Why don't you want to choose a specific target for your product/service? Time and again, the response is the same "I don't want to limit my profits by only catering to a few."
In all reality, you're not limiting any profits at all! When playing horseshoes, you have one horseshoe with one stake. Try playing horseshoes with 5 stakes and one LARGE horseshoe - how successful do you think you'll be then? My guess is not very. The same is true with marketing: the more stakes you're trying to 'ring' the more difficult it is to accomplish that goal. By clarifying which stake you're going after, your success rate is going to be that much higher; and because you're targeting a specific group of people you can speak to them using their own words and make yourself an expert in their field!
Read Entire Article Here
In all reality, you're not limiting any profits at all! When playing horseshoes, you have one horseshoe with one stake. Try playing horseshoes with 5 stakes and one LARGE horseshoe - how successful do you think you'll be then? My guess is not very. The same is true with marketing: the more stakes you're trying to 'ring' the more difficult it is to accomplish that goal. By clarifying which stake you're going after, your success rate is going to be that much higher; and because you're targeting a specific group of people you can speak to them using their own words and make yourself an expert in their field!
Read Entire Article Here
