The Website Diva's Blog

Another Bright Idea

The Website Diva — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:39:00 GMT

Did you ever consider that the reason your website is failing is you? Consider training a puppy. The puppy has no idea what you want him to do. It is imperative that you guide and direct the puppy to meet your expectations. It make take several attempts and multiple coaching sessions in order to achieve the desired results. The same is true of your web designer.

Now hold on! I am not comparing you or your potential web designer to a puppy, I am only suggesting that communication and direction are essential and neither the puppy or the web designer are able to discern your desired results in advance.

Greg Bright has penned a new ebook on getting ranked on google and where websites fall short.

Most web designers fail because the business owner did not lead them properly. Business owners know their businesses best and need to guide their website designers in creating websites that rank well.

This book not only teaches business owners how to get high visibility on the search engines, it teaches them what to do once visitors land on their websites to convert those visitors into paying customers, phone calls, or walk-in traffic.

The best news? Natural search engine ranking is more effective than advertisements and, better yet, free. Book author Greg Bright uses an up-to-date, non-technical approach to motivate small business owners to get proactive in their internet marketing – written in layman’s terms. “Most books on Search Engine Optimization and Internet Marketing are written by techies for techies, in daunting technical jargon." Grow Your Business Online - Fall 2008.

So if you are ready to design your own website or have someone design one for you READ THIS BOOK!

This Little Piggybank Went to the Market

The Website Diva — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 15:29:00 GMT

Marketing is one of the single largest problems facing entrepreneurs today. Now that we know you can win an election based on strategic use of the internet we must only harness the power to gain clients and referrals to keep your business up and running, dare I say thriving.

Due to marketing the campaigners were able to raise tens of millions of dollars in today's economy without any guarantees or tangible return on investiment. So what is an entrepreneur to do?

A good place to find marketing help is MarketPower.com, a free Web site produced by the American Marketing Association. The site offers information on various topics including advertising, Internet marketing and research, strategy, public relations and items specific to small businesses. Here are some additional resources:

http://www.marketing-mentor.com/html/tips.html

http://www.mikes-marketing-tools.com/marketing-tips/

http://www.bizwaremagic.com/

Marketing is an important tool that because of the complex nature of the beast is often overlooked. It is best to invest the time into developing a marketing plan and utilizing free resources to expand your marketing footprint and drive traffic to your site.

Working the Web!

The Website Diva — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 03:49:00 GMT

November 4th is a day that will go down in history for many reasons. If you are skeptical about the power of the internet and wonder why you should even consider using the web as a business marketing or full scale networking tool...DON'T BE!

CNN had a host of reporters and personalities reporting on the election and since historic numbers of first time and under forty voters were reported the question was raised about how these demographics were penetrated and motivated to turn out as never before. In part the answer was the candidate's charisma the rest of the turn out was attributed to the internet.

You heard The Diva correctly...The Internet. The candidates both utilized the internet to contact and connect with over 3 million people from every demographic.

There were blogs and forums, internet chats, papers, articles, broadcasts and messages. By using the internet to effectively secure potential support these businessmen sealed their future.

In the days to come The Diva will be discussing in detail the opportunities to capitalize on the post election internet traffic to create buzz and generate traffic.

An Article on Why Articles Offer Opportunity

The Website Diva — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 02:00:00 GMT

The Diva is always looking for an angle. By now I am probably preaching to the choir but when someone restates my thoughts more eloquently and with additional data it bears repeating.

Www.marketwatch.com is an excellent source of news and information all the time but all the more so as the economy continues to falter. As I trolled Marketwatch, I found this excellent piece on how articles and article placement are maintaining the spotlight.

"HOPKINS, Minn., Oct 30, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Turbulence in the global economy may be resulting in the perfect opportunity for marketers striving to control advertising costs while increasing efficiency in reaching potential customers.

"Virtually every advertiser I know has been tightening their belts, reevaluating spending and trying to drive costs out of their marketing programs," says Scott Severson, president of ARAnet, a marketing services provider based in Minneapolis.
Severson says that online advertising has continued its march to capture a greater share of marketing spending even during this period of historic economic uncertainty. He notes that several sources, including Forrester, Jupiter Communications Inc., Zenith Optimedia and

European Information Technology Observatory all predict continued, significant growth of online advertising in 2008 and beyond. And ARAnet's online advertising solution, Adfusion, has increased revenue tenfold over a year ago.

Adfusion is an online service that delivers brand and marketing messages via articles appearing on top Web sites, resulting in qualified consumers who click on clever headlines, read the articles, and then click their way onto Adfusion clients' Web landing pages.
"An economic downturn can actually turn into opportunity because companies are putting their spending under a microscope and figuring out where they can get the best return on investment," Severson says. "It's all about value," he points out. "We see our clients reducing spending on other types of advertising in favor of services where they can measure ROI and accurately track consumer behavior."

Many business analysts are advising that recessionary periods are actually times to punch up advertising to snare market share from competitors. An example is respected Harvard Business School Professor John A. Quelch, who noted in a recent blog: "This is not the time to cut advertising. It is well documented that brands that increase advertising during a recession, when competitors are cutting back, can improve market share and return on investment at lower cost than during good economic times."

But, says Severson, a recession is also a time to be more efficient about advertising by reducing cost per lead and closely measuring results. "Advertisers on our network tell us they appreciate that they can measure the click-through they're getting and quantify the consumer conversions to the desired action -- and that's appealing during these tough economic times. Because they can prove results, they're buying more Adfusion and less of other alternatives," he says..."

There is more to the story and it is available on the Marketwatch site. Articles and article placement are an important and appealing area to consider. You can't draw negative traffic so by creating web content, even if you start out on your own, you are headed in the right direction.

Put on Your Thinking Cap

The Website Diva — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 03:10:00 GMT

If you Google the term Entrepreneur in the news section you will see many fascinating entries. The unique thread that pulls these stories together is that they all seem to be pointing, no eluding to the high points of being an entrepreneur.

It is a general assumption that very few people are paid what they are actually worth, the interesting twist that is coupled with solo professionals or entrepreneurs is they set their worth. That is not to say that they can charge more than the market will bear, however it does mean that if they create a niche and fill a need where there was once a vacancy they or their product become invaluable or actually priceless.

Many employees are faced with the possibilities of lay-offs or even complete unemployment, what employees have not been trained to do is consider what unique value they add to the company they work for.

Now is a great time to take stock and discover what your strengths are, what you like and dislike about your current employment, and most of all each and every way you add value. No matter how small of a value it might be, write it down. Once you have completed the list decide how these assets might help you fill a need wither at another company or working for yourself.

The economy is growing more uncertain and although money is tight for most people, they are still spending but they are reallocating how they spend. Watch the trends, look for the holes, and put on your thinking cap.

Go West Entrepreneurs! Go West!

The Website Diva — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 01:44:00 GMT

The Diva has found an opportunity that can not be missed if you will be or can be in Tempe, Arizona in mid- November. Rarely, is there a chance for such a low fee to hear from experts in so many fields talking about the growth of entrepreneurs. Treat yourself to and end of the year bonus that will affect your bottom line going forward. The following news is straight from Marketwatch.com but it is timely and important.

Founders of Wordpress, Limelight Networks to Address Entrepreneurship Conference

Nov. 13 Conference to Help Anyone in or Contemplating an Entrepreneurial Venture with Speakers Offering Real World, Frontlines Advice Lessons Learned

PHOENIX, Oct 22, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Businesses and entrepreneurs looking for funding, talent, real estate plays for the future, green initiatives or innovative ideas will find them all at the Third Annual Arizona Entrepreneurship conference November 19 at the Buttes Resort in Tempe, Arizona. The day-long event will connect participants with some of the most interesting and active entrepreneurs and investors across the U.S.

Last year's event was standing-room only, with this year's event expected to draw even larger audiences.

"While Arizona will never be Silicon Valley, this conference is designed to connect the two and help entrepreneurs here build their businesses," said Francine Hardaway, organizer of the event.

Keynote speakers include a collection of heavyweights sharing their in-the-trenches experiences in building, funding and selling their companies.

Keynote Speakers:

-- Allan Kaplan, Co-Founder of Limelight Networks and Director of Clearview Capital Partners

-- Matt Mullenweg, Founding Developer of Wordpress

-- Gary Vaynerchuk, Founder of WineLibrary.com

-- Bill Reichert, Managing Director, Garage Technology Ventures

-- Howard Lindzon, Partner in Knight's Bridge Capital Partners and Founder of Wallstrip

Full conference will include:

- The State of Startup Financing

- Creating a Product that Can Sell

- Local Successes

- Lessons Learned

- State of the Blogosphere

- Sustainability Initiatives

- State of Funding in Arizona

- Social Media Best Practices

Conference details:

November 19, 2008

7:30 am -- 7:00 pm

Location: The Buttes Resort

2000 Westcourt Way, Tempe, AZ

Conference registration of $150 includes lunch and a continental breakfast: http://www.azentrepreneurship.com

Guerilla Good- Spending Bad

The Website Diva — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 17:15:00 GMT

The Diva found this fabulous question on Google it was posted in the Los Angeles Times among other hot spots on the web.

Dear Karen: What is the fastest way to boost sales in this tough economy?

Answer: If you are working with a tight budget, one of the fastest ways to boost sales, awareness and credibility is to do guerrilla-style public relations and get some local media attention for your company.

"Develop a unique story angle relevant to your products or services that is specific to a targeted media venue. Then, contact a reporter directly and give your pitch. Also offer yourself as an expert for future stories," said Melanie Rembrandt, a small-business publicist at Rembrandt Communications in Redondo Beach.

To be successful, you'll need to read local publications and regional business media, keeping track of what kinds of stories they feature and which reporters cover which topics. You can also work with bigger organizations and businesses on joint events and promotions. "This way, you share resources, expenses and efforts."

Here are a few additional tips from The Diva:

The key to PR is consistency over time. Announce anything that is truly newsworthy. Examples are new clients, new executive hires, new contract wins, new partners or sponsors, new goods, services, or technology. It may also be an expanded product or service, some type of upgrade or even new feature.

Since PR is ongoing but not repetitive Placement is the key, use the media kits and editorial calendars of the publications that are in sync with your company, news or offering. Keep up on the media and trade publications that are relevant to your industry on a local and national level.

Contact the reporters or obtain a professional to do so with the following intent:

To compliment the reporter on the last piece they wrote that pertains to the reason for call

To provide valuable information to the reporter and its readers

To educate not advertise your expertise

Remember that persistence breaks down resistance, always has always will. Make sure you ask if the reporter is on deadline and if so when they will be free. There is a fine line between persistent and pest-like.

If for some reason the reporter will not speak with you, follow Dale Carnegie's advice "Talk to people about themselves and they will listen for hours!"

To Be Or Not To Be

The Website Diva — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 17:11:00 GMT

The Star out of Canada had an interesting article today about signs an entrepreneur is in trouble. Here is an excerpt but as always The Diva will save her thoughts for the end.

"Sometimes there are clear signs a business is failing. University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management entrepreneurship professor Becky Reuber lists three different types of signals entrepreneurs should watch for.

Financial: Are you struggling to make payments like rent? Is it hard to buy inventory? Are you taking on more debt than you're comfortable with just to keep the business going? Is your banker worried when he reviews your statements?

Customers: Is there a decrease in repeat business? Is there an increase in customer complaints? Are their lawsuits from customers?

Employees: Is employee morale diminishing? Are key employees leaving? Are departments fighting with each other? This may be because "employees can often sense businesses that are going bad," Reuber said.

If an entrepreneur spots these signals, it's time to ask a tough question. Does it make sense to close down the business? The hard part is there isn't always a right or wrong answer."

While all of these signs are good indicators of the business as a whole it doesn't account for the portions that may be working. It is good to examine the parts of the enterprise that do work and see if they are still viable

Can the product or service be marketed alone on or off the web?

Can the producer or service be restructured or revamped to fit a niche market that is not being served?

Is there a way to lower costs and not diminish quality?

Is there a new product or service that can be added to infuse financial life into the existing business?

At the end of the day entrepreneurs need to make decisions that they can live with but it is best not to utilize long term solutions to rectify short term problems.

Hire My Mom

The Website Diva — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:04:00 GMT

As The Diva scrolled through the electronic news this week an interesting piece came up on WWW.MSNBC.COM. I have lefted part of the piece that covers additional things that home based businesses can do to survive and flourish on minimal spending. There is full credit at the end of the piece and a few interesting links about additional opportunities and further reading. The Diva has covered some of the points in previous posts but Lesley is eloquent and insightful.

Bartering--This is also an excellent way to save on costs while obtaining a quality product or service. Think outside the box for creative ways you can swap services in exchange for what you need. If you need a web designer, could you exchange your product or service to reduce or eliminate the expense? Or could you offer to provide a link to their site on yours (which may appeal to them especially if you have a lot of traffic on your site)?

College Students--Another option to finding low-cost resources may be as close as your local college(s). There are many students eager for an opportunity to utilize their skills and possibly intern to build experience they can put on their resume.

Advertising--Buying ads can eat up much of your profits. But the internet provides many options for free advertising. Posting on forums, writing blogs and writing articles are excellent ways to draw attention to your company as well as bring traffic to your website, all at no cost.

Networking--Getting involved in local networking groups is an excellent way to sell yourself and your business.Meetups.comprovides a list of networking groups in your area. Many of the groups are free of charge to attend.

Printing--Costs also add up here, but taking advantage of free offers can help.Vistaprint.comfrequently sends out free offers once you place your first order. You can get free business cards, post cards, note cards, etc., as long as you pay the shipping fee.

Accountant fees--Hiring an accountant is a good idea, but there are steps you can take to reduce their fees at the end of the year. Using software such as QuickBooks can track your revenue and expenses throughout the year, and with just a few clicks, transfer that information to your accountant. Because this saves your accountant time, you may experience a lower bill.

There are many ways to go about saving money, but the biggest impact on your business's finances is made by creating a solid and reasonable budget--and sticking to it. Comparing actual accounts to budgeted amounts quarterly will help you stay on track. It will also help you plan accordingly for the following year when trying to identify areas in which you need to reduce expenses.

Lesley Spencer Pyle is the founder and president ofHomeBasedWorkingMoms.comandHireMyMom.com, and she is the author of The Work-at-Home Workbook: Your Step-by-Step Guide on Selecting and Starting the Perfect Home Business for You. Pyle has been working from home for more than 13 years.

Philadelphia Freedom

The Website Diva — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 04:40:00 GMT

There is a growing trend among seasoned and serial entrepreneurs to give back. Around the country there are incubator programs that aid new, stuck, financially challenged and just about every other type of entrepreneur. Some programs offer low or no cost mentoring and training, others offer work space and collaboration tools. Incubation programs are to entrepreneurs what financial aid and other services are to college students.

The Chamber of Commerce, Local entrepreneur organizations, Women in Business, and industry specific organizations generally have information about such programs and often can help you contact and even qualify for such offerings.

Philadelphia is no exception. This upcoming event for designers is exactly the type of springboard that leads to opportunity.

Innovation Philadelphia to Host Creative Entrepreneur Expo ’08 at DesignPhiladelphia 2008

"Attendees Will Have the Opportunity to Review the Work of 25 Top Industrial, Web, Graphic and Interior Designers in the Philadelphia Region

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Innovation Philadelphia will host Creative Entrepreneur Expo ’08 at the closing reception of DesignPhiladelphia 2008, the largest annual celebration of design in the U.S. Twenty-five of the region’s top entrepreneurs in the fields of industrial, web, graphic and interior design will showcase their talent and portfolios. The event will be held October 22, 2008 from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM at the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Center for Architecture.

Creative Entrepreneur Expo ’08 is part of Innovation Philadelphia’s mission to grow the for-profit creative economy in the Philadelphia region by linking local talent to potential business opportunities in the area.

“We hand picked a small, diverse group of design entrepreneurs and are giving them the opportunity to show off their work,” said Kelly Lee, Executive Vice President of Innovation Philadelphia. “Too often, local entrepreneurs and freelancers are finding work outside of the region. Our goal is to connect creative talent to creative opportunities here in the Delaware Valley.”

The AIA Center for Architecture is located at 1218 Arch Street, Philadelphia. Individuals interested in attending must pre-register at www.innovationphiladelphia.com.

“There is a growing, vibrant design community here,” Lee added. “We are going back to basics, helping these designers make personal contacts to grow their businesses.”

About Innovation Philadelphia

Innovation Philadelphia is committed to supporting technology-driven economic growth in the Philadelphia region through growing the region’s for-profit creative industries, attracting and retaining young professionals vital to economic growth, and fostering entrepreneurism and new ideas. For more information about Innovation Philadelphia and its initiatives, please visit www.innovationphiladelphia.com."

Do not let geography stop your growth or creativity. COntact organizations in your area or industry and discover the opportunities that await you.

Much Ado About Websites- Part One

The Website Diva — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 18:10:00 GMT

Okay so the economy is going down the drain, and you still have a need to make money. Join the club, we have jackets!

Here are some important reminders about things a website can do to generate income for you almost as fast as you can build it:

The website can sell other businesses' services or products for a commission--also known as affiliate marketing or associate programs.

The website can sell information on a subject you are passionate and knowledgeable about.

It can sell a service.

It can sell a product made by you.

The fastest way to generate income is to resell products that appeal to the masses. Affiliate reseller programs are rampant on the net. Here are some key points:

Choose ones that offer the most to the end user with the least investment to you.

Choose affiliate programs that offer prompt payment on your sales and a proven tracking mechanism to update your sales in real time.

Don't get into a long term commitment until you see how the product or service sells.

Research the program and only sell something that you would recommend.

The Diva is just starting this series on step-by-step tips to help you get into business for yourself without being by yourself. Remember high emotion (good or bad) equals low intelligence. In other words most people do not make their best decisions under stress.

As we go through these tips, get yourself a notebook and start jotting down your thoughts about how this information applies to you and how it can help you generate an income.

Laugh All The Way To The Bank

The Website Diva — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 04:37:00 GMT

Are you still looking for your niche? Wondering how to create additional income? Do you have an entrepreneur spirit but are held down by a 9-5? Do you have a creative side?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions then Laughing Bird Software Logo Creator may be the answer!

The Logo Creator comes in 10 unique Logo Editions!

Choose from a professional portfolio of logo designs in each set that you can modify and customize yourself... for far less than what a logo design firm will charge.

Mix, match and personalize over 480 professional templates
Import your own artwork, photos and drawings, or use any of the 1500 built in library images!

Sell the logos you create! - That's right! If you're a graphics or logo design company, webmaster, small business owner, entrepreneur or service provider ... you can sell the logos you create to your own customers!

The software is Mac or PC Compatible and will have you up and running in just moments. Once you are ready to go you can create and keep or sell your logos on sites like Craigslist, Ebay, your own websites, Guru, Elance, Freelance, IntegrityLance or any number of sites where services are contracted out.

Anytime you can make an initial investment of only $29.95 and create your own business the opportunity definitely outweighs the risk. With the economy struggling and the gas shortages now may be a good time to spend some nights and weekends at home generating additional funds.

Take it from me, it is so simple even the Diva can do it!

What About Adwords?

The Website Diva — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 21:18:00 GMT

There is an art to adwords that not everyone has mastered. Mastering adwords takes creativity and education. Google Adwords has multiple online tutorials that you can take and they are worth the time investment to master the future of your website. In the mean time Entrepreneur Magazine on line had the following insight to offer:

1. Not turning off the content network.

When first setting up a campaign, turn off the content network. This option is "on" by default, and you're lucky if it works for you in the first run. It's a form of contextual advertising and tries to position your ads on sites like About.com, The New York Times, Food Network and others. You typically will see high impressions in your system, but often low CTR--click-through-rates, as determined by impressions to clicks--and low-quality clicks. These aren't serious buyers; they're wasting your dollars and time.

2. Using too many keywords.

When creating new campaigns and ad groups, many people begin by entering every keyword under the sun. Don't. Targeting is key; think about your niche and the categories within it. You can use tools like the Wordtracker Free Suggestion Tool to determine which keywords to begin with. Then, when you have a list together, refer to tip No. 6 below.

3. Ignoring the competition.

Analyze your competitors. One way is to use the Google Keyword Tool. Select "site-related keywords" and enter the competitor's website to pull keyword groups from their pages. Also, check their sites for an overall impression and for content. Do some more digging at SpyFu.com to find more on rankings and competitive PPC spending. Look at the search results pages after entering their top keywords in Google, review their ads, think about text and prepare for tip No. 4.

4. Not including keywords in the ad text.

Use keywords in the title of the ad, but also in the ad copy. So many ad copywriters forget to include the keyword phrase in the actual body of the ad text. Write clearly and provide relevant content for both users and the Google AdBot. Create a matching, relevant landing page to satisfy users and obtain a higher Google Quality Score.

5. Sending visitors to your homepage.

Most PPC accounts I come across send traffic and visitors to their homepage. But there's simply too much information there, and visitors may leave your site. Read my blog entry on money-making landing page tips and test the pages for content. Realize that narrow-casting is better than broad-casting in almost every case.

6. Using too many broad keywords.

Creating ad campaigns and ad groups with tightly matched keywords is necessary, but most folks don't do it. You should place only a few keywords into each ad group and add more groups to accommodate new "themed" keywords. Google maxes out at 100 ad groups per account; I believe they'll raise this at some point.

7. Using broad match.

When you set up Google AdWords for the first time and input a keyword, the default type is broad match. While broad match can work for you, I always recommend using phrase and exact match types to start and track the performance from there. AdWords also has a negative match type, which is overlooked most of the time. Examples of match types are:

Broad: leather jacket (any order, any word, not as targeted, more clicks)
Phrase: "leather jacket" (this order, words before and after, more targeted, OK clicks)
Exact: [leather jacket] (this order, no other words, highly targeted, least clicks)
Negative: - pink (this would not show ads for "pink leather jacket")

Yahoo! Search Marketing includes match types as well. Make sure you understand them and where they're different. Begin with the standard match type, which is not the default.

8. Using the default "optimize" option.

The default setup for AdWords is to let Google "optimize" your ads for you. It's better to select the "rotate" option, so you can test your ad performance in a much cleaner manner.

9. Not tracking ads and keywords.

If keywords and ads aren't performing, you're wasting money. You can use the free Google Analytics tool to help you track activity. Keywords should also be tested and tracked with misspellings, plurals and stemming(-ing) options.

10. Not properly testing ads.

A/B testing has been around in the advertising world for decades, and the concept is the same online. Write at least two ads within an ad group, and AdWords will rotate them automatically for you. This will reveal the winning ads based on performance. As you continue, pause the loser and write a new and better one; try to outperform the winner again. Don't change it immediately, though; let it run for a while to get some trending data.

11. Not applying the "conversion code."

Be sure to apply the "conversion code," which is a simple JavaScript set that goes into your landing page or thank you page. This information will show up in a column on your AdWords dashboard when you log in, and is a quick way to check for lead counts and important for tracking return on spend.

This is just a brief overview and excerpt from Jon Rugnerud. If you run a website and you are looking for additional traffic and passive income from that traffic adwords may be for you.

Get Your Ruby Slippers & Click Your Heels

The Website Diva — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 00:35:00 GMT

If you are an entrepreneur in Kansas and you speak spanish you are in good company and may be interested in taking part in the FREE Training being offered.

The Kansas Small Business Development Center is offering a series of entrepreneurial courses online in Spanish.

KSBDC is working with NetWork Kansas, the Kansas Department of Commerce and the Hispanic and Latino American Affairs Commission to provide the virtual-training courses, which are geared to current and potential small-business owners

The courses focus on starting a business, finances and marketing. They are free!

The Latino community has long been underserved and Kansas is among the states to take not. If you are not in Kansas do not despair there are other resources available to you. Here is a list of agencies that may be in your area and may offer help:

Hispanicsmb is an online business directory chock full of resources and forums that will help you gain insight and services.

Accion is another excellent source that provides education, training, mentoring, and even low interest loans.

NHBIC offers financial news, tips and action plans specifically designed for the latino community.

The web offers a plethora of information and if you are willing to spend time doing research you can find just about anything.

How To SCORE as an Entrepreneur

The Website Diva — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 23:26:00 GMT

The Dallas News wrote the following article on an organization called SCORE.

"The current economic environment is not the most ideal for small-business owners.

John Lewis, new director of the North Texas district of Score, is leading efforts to attract current executives to advise budding entrepreneurs. " style="CURSOR: hand" onclick="return clickedImage(this);" height=245 alt="KYE R. LEE/DMN" src="http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/img/v3/09-18-2008.NB_18smallbiz.GQI2FS30C.1.jpg" width=175>

KYE R. LEE/DMN

John Lewis, new director of the North Texas district of Score, is leading efforts to attract current executives to advise budding entrepreneurs.

A trembling Wall Street has tightened access to capital still further, energy costs remain high and corporate America's payroll cuts put more potential entrepreneurs – and potential competitors – out on the street.

All the more raison d'être for a group like Score, which offers small-business owners counseling and help in forming and nurturing their businesses, said John Lewis, the new director of the group's North Texas district..."

The Diva has done her homework and SCORE may be the perfect resource for budding entrepreneurs in this or any economy. The SCORE website offers tips and online mentoring for just about any subject. The web is not the end of it for SCORE, they have offices across the country that offer services and classes.

Here are some of the exiciting features about SCORE:

SCORE "Counselors to America's Small Business" is a nonprofit association dedicated to educating entrepreneurs and the formation, growth and success of small business nationwide. SCORE is a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

SCORE is headquartered in Herndon, VA and Washington, DC and has 389 chapters throughout the United States and its territories, with 10,500 volunteers nationwide. Both working and retired executives and business owners donate time and expertise as business counselors. SCORE was founded in 1964.

SCORE is America's premier source of free and confidential small business advice for entrepreneurs.

SCORE Has Helped Nearly 8 Million Small Businesses including:
Vermont Teddy Bear, Vera Bradley Designs, and Jelly Belly Candy.

How SCORE Can Help You

Mentoring advice 24/7 Ask SCORE online.

In Person Mentoring 389 offices.

Low-cost workshops nationwide.

"How to" articles and business templates

Online workshops and learning

There is nothing to lose and everything to gain. Check out SCORE today!

Solo isn't the Same as Alone!

The Website Diva — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 03:59:55 GMT

Felicia Slattery wrote a great ezine article on being a solo professional. The Diva is posting this in part because it is solid advice for anyone getting started or wondering what to do next. Here is an excerpt from her article:

I get asked all the time about what it takes to succeed as an entrepreneur who is working part-time, out of your home, trying to bring in some cash flow for your family's needs. I recently answered this question in detail. Here are a few things that have helped me to become successful and accelerate my business growth and what you can do to get your business going well fast:

Having a coach:

I work with a coach who is doing what I want to do and has reached a level I want to reach. It keeps me accountable and gives me amazing clarity on what next steps I need to take. My coach has also provided me with access to people, resources, and opportunities that I would never have had access to otherwise.

Outsourcing what I need:

As a small business owner you CANNOT do everything (please don't try you will run yourself ragged!). There is literally no way to succeed alone. Find people who are experts in what you don't know or don't have time to do and pay them to do what they are good at to free your time to do what you are good at. The Diva would add that you can also outsource services.

Investing:

I started my business on a super-skinny shoestring budget because I had to. I found ways to make as minimal investments as possible in my business. But I still made investments like classes, getting support, using the right software/programs, etc. There are ways to do things inexpensively, but you still need to be willing to put a little out up front to bring in the most later. The more funds you have to invest upfront, the more quickly you can see returns on that investment.

Dedicating time every day:

When I started investigating and going after coaching my little girls were ages 1 and 3. My full time job was Mommy, and still is (they're 3 and 6 as of this writing). Even so I find time every single day to devote to my business while still being a Mommy and a wife.

Getting support:

My Mom is my babysitter for when I go out to do speaking engagements to market my business. My husband gives the kids a bath and puts them to bed two nights a week so I can start working earlier in the evening (he works late the other nights). I have people around me who want me to succeed and who are willing to do what I need them to do to support me.

Making time for 3 main business activities:

These are: product creation/actual "work" of the business, marketing, and administrative/planning. When you leave out any one of these you won't reach your fullest potential.

Having a clear and focused vision of what exactly I want:

I know who I serve and how I serve them, so it's easy for me to make decisions about how to spend my time and what's coming next. I also have a simple, clear and consistent message because I'm talking to the same people. All this equals a skyrocket to small business success.

If you are an aspiring solo professional or part-time Diva trying to crossover to be your own boss, please consider the above information. You will have to make the individual adjustments to for your own situation but the basic guidelines will serve you well.

Solo isn't the Same as Alone!

The Website Diva — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 03:47:00 GMT

Having a coach:

Outsourcing what I need:

Investing:

Dedicating time every day:

Getting support:

Making time for 3 main business activities:

These are: product creation/actual "work" of the business, marketing, and administrative/planning. When you leave out any one of these you won't reach your fullest potential.

Having a clear and focused vision of what exactly I want:

Is Your Website Winning Awards?

The Website Diva — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 05:33:00 GMT

The Small Business Administration’s Business.gov Web site has received the Best Use of Local Search award, the agency announced today.

The site received the award because of its unique solution for handling geographically oriented search queries, SBA said. Search Engine Strategies, a conference and expo series focused on technological innovations, announced the award Aug. 20.

While we may not all have the resources of the SBA there are tools to create logos and websites that we can use without much help and even less expense. In addition to building a great website that tickles Google's fancy it is important to understand emerging and interactive media.

The Webby Awards have already taken place but the WebbyConnect summit on interactive and emerging media is still to come. October 22-24, 2008 in Laguna Niguel, California will showcase those in the know about what's hot on the web. Confirmed speakers include:
The Keynote Speaker is

Arthur Sulzberger Jr.

If you are looking for an excuse to go to the Ritz Carlton or ramp up your website head to Laguna Niguel in October. Register for WebbyConnect as soon as possible the deadline is September 19th.

How Much Will You Pay To Work?

The Website Diva — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 05:12:00 GMT

The Diva has often talked about why a home based business and how to choose. I am back on my soapbox because of all the suspicious offers that have landed in my inbox recently.

It is a fact that it takes money to make money but it shouldn’t cost money to go to work! There is a big difference between spending money or raising capital to create a business and paying money to another company so that you can have a job.

IF you are fielding offers from your inbox that say things like:

Just a $99.00 refundable fee
Start work for only $5.00
$25.00 deposit and you can start making $xx.00 per hour today!

These offers are usually connected surveys, ink cartridge processing, rebate processing, and other possibilities. The number one challenge with these offers is that they often provide information on getting started or even companies that will offer these types of work at home opportunities after a screening process. They rarely offer an actual job opportunity. In the posts to come I will look for specific links of offers to avoid. If you have any links or comments about offers to avoid please let The Diva know!

IF you are looking for a business opportunity, make a list of your attributes and the things you are interested in doing. There are many of legitimate business opportunities and doing thorough research and consulting other professionals is a great start on the road to success!

Start Your Engines

The Website Diva — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 19:38:00 GMT

The Diva is always hunting for ways that solo professionals and small businesses can excel. With the holiday weekend, The Diva was searching for a light hearted post that would make you smile or roll your eyes. Here it is kids- The NASCENT 500 is brought to you by Ball University! There is no geographic limitation, students from the United States and Canada may enter. The only catch is you must be an undergraduate student and write the plan yourself. The Grand Prize is $10,000.00 in cash! You can check out the guidelines and then register.

Nascent 500: Business Plan Challenge

The Nascent 500 could be referred to as "The Greatest Spectacle in Business Plan Contests." Hosted by Ball State's Entrepreneurship Center, it attracts students from universities across the U.S. and Canada. Located in Indiana, we found it only fitting to honor a true Indiana tradition by conducting this event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Twelve semi-finalist teams are selected, based on submitted business plans and are invited to Indianapolis, Indiana and are awarded $500.

Next, they get 500 words to earn pole position and 500 seconds (about 8 minutes) to pitch their business plan in the back of a limousine as it travels around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Four teams advance to the "Homestretch" round and present their plans for a chance to win more than $18,000 in prizes.

The winning team receives a victory lap around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a quart of milk, and $10,000.

2009 Timeline
December 5, 2008—Registration forms are due
January 20, 2009—Business plans are due
February 16, 2009—12 semi-finalists are notified
February 27, 2009—Pole position papers and final business plans are due
March 27, 2009—Limosine and Homestretch rounds