Here are a few methods to help you stay current and on top of your business using online resources and social media sites.

Would you like to know how you are doing with customer satisfaction? Visit Survey Monkey http://www.surveymonkey.com

Do you have a blog? You can set one up for free at WordPress http://www.wordpress.com

Need to stay in touch with your prospect and customer base? Constant Contact can help you do just that at http://www.constantcontact.com

Everyone has heard of YouTube. How about a sharing a video of you and your team? Visit http://www.tubemogul.com

Finally don’t forget the social media giants: Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin

Now there are more opportunities available to reach out and let your audiences get to know you and learn about your company or services. Use these tools and watch your business grow.

Happy Holidays!

Most people assume that professionals and business owners are all extroverts. That is simply not true. In my own mastermind group many of the business owners that I share ideas with are actually shy people by nature. They have learned that in order to grow a business they need to overcome their natural shyness and develop a plan to self-promote.

Here are 4 tips that can help an introvert become a master self-promoter!

1. When speaking in public here are the two words you should live by. Be prepared. Off the cuff, on the fly, winging it or going with the flow are not strategies you should use!

2. Position yourself as an expert with the written word versus the verbal communication. Whether it is by creating a blog, posting on social networking sites or submitting articles to web sites or publications, Showcase your expertise through your writing!

3. Host a business event. By hosting you will get the necessary PR as the mastermind behind the event without having to be onstage.

4. Network. Develop a few easy conversation starters and let the others talk. Consider surrounding yourself with an extrovert and don’t forget to smile!

Stress is common for women in the workplace. One universal way that women relieve themselves of stress is to talk with others about the problems they face. Doing this with friends and family is a useful way to vent but you have to be careful in an office environment.

How much time you spend visiting or chatting with co-workers is getting more notice in this down market. When managers have to lay people off, they go for the ones they feel are less productive than others. Being seen too often in the break room or standing at a co-worker’s desk could send the wrong message.

The best advice is to keep the visiting and chatting to a minimum, at least during work hours. Save the conversation for after work. Don’t give your managers any opportunity to think any less of your work or you!

Is now the right time to start a new business?

More people are launching their own firms to make ends meet. Since becoming unemployed and having little success of finding their dream job, professionals are taking the leap, embracing the “I’ve got nothing to lose” philosophy and starting their own business.

If you are seriously considering do the same, contact the local chapter of SCORE. This organization is made up of retired business owners and professionals who can give you tips to success.

In addition, the SBA is still making loans to new start ups; your local chamber of commerce has a new members component to help you develop a network and referral business as well as there are lead generation/mastermind groups such as BNI (Business Networking International) that are all over the country.

Perhaps with a little help from these friends, this might be a great time to start anew!

Ever wondered if being on Linkedln can help you grow your business? What about YouTube or Twitter? How much time do you have to focus on social media? Is it worth it?

Here are a few stats to consider when thinking about your marketing strategy as it applies to social media

93% of Americans expect companies to have a presence in social media.

85% say they want companies to interact with consumers through this vehicle according to a report from Cone Research.

YouTube: 80 million monthly users. 3 billion videos. The number 3 most visited site in the world.

Linkedln: 40 million users, 4,663 groups categorized under various business types.

Facebook: This past March had 91 million unique visitors, making Facebook the number 4 most visited site. (You tube info, Facebook and linkedln research from Alexa.com)

With the above stats in mind, ask yourself, can you afford to not take advantage of online social media sites? Happy surfing!

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Join the Self-Directed Retirement University on LinkedIn!

Does your business need a fresh look, an overhaul or an exciting twist?

Here are 4 strategies to implement to help you accomplish reinventing you and your company.

Create a clear brand
A brand defines the process of your core values. You need to have a clear understanding of what you want your business to represent and be about.

Have a signature story
How did you get started in this business? Was it something unique? A story you could tell that would have an impact on others? You get to author your history so don’t be afraid to tell your story. Not only does it add a human factor, but people like doing business with people they can identify with.

Know your product
We all have product to sell. In the services industries it’s you they are buying. Product sales can be measured. Whatever you are selling, put a tracking system in place to evaluate your marketing.

Know your audience
Understanding who your audience is gives you an added advantage against your competition. When you can solve the needs of the prospect, you will get their business.

In the end, if you take the phrase “it’s all about them” as your mantra you will be successful in reinventing your business and possibly yourself!

With the tightening of the credit markets, do you find it is near impossible to get conventional financing for your business? Where can you go in this day and age if you need an infusion of capital?

Here are 5 popular ways business owners raise cash.

1. Angel investors and venture capital. If your business plan makes sense to these private money lenders, they will invest in an industry they feel confident in know and understand.

2. Private loans. Key management and other private investors, including individual retirement plans who have capital that is not earning much may be interested in short term lending.

3. Equipment Leasing. If you need the capital to buy equipment, consider leasing over purchasing.

4. Factoring. Selling your receivables to a third party generally at a discount, is known as factoring. There are pros and cons to using factors so make sure you understand the rules before you sell your receivables for cash.

5. Asset-based lending. Financing secured with collateral such as equipment, real estate and inventory or other assets.

Be creative, think outside of the box and remember, do your homework!

What is the most difficult part of owning a business in today’s economy? Are you losing customer base? Having a tough time getting credit? Worried about having to lay off employees?

Email me and let’s share problems and potential solutions. Also, visit our LinkedIn community and let us know. I will be sure to credit you and your ideas in a future blog on this issue.

Thanks, Lisa

You hear about Facebook, Twitter and Myspace, but what are the best sites that we, as professional women business owners, can use that will help us get the most exposure at an affordable cost? Here are the latest recommendations from other Entrepreneurs.

1. APSense.com: allows you to develop income by promoting products and sites on your business profile.

2. Biznik: Connect with your local business community through this site and find out about local events and seminars.

3. Linkedin: you can form business groups with Linkedin where you and they can brainstorm for new to increase your marketing efforts and develop a larger database/presence.

4. FastPitchNetworking: Create a profile, blog, product listings and take advantage of email marketing and virtual trade shows.

5. Local associations such as NAWBO (National Association for Women Business Owners) who have blogs and sites where you can contribute/participate in.

Seems like it’s all about technology in order to save costs, increase market share and be seen!

When developing business for your company, do you know the core value of your customer? Many business owners and professionals focus on the baby boomer and the retiree. This is a good market where their fear is not having to work into retirement and having enough cash to last their lives

What about the younger adults, those just starting out with families or careers and building a future? What are their core values?

According to a recent survey at Charles Schwab, 52% of young adults are looking to make better money management choices; 18% want to strengthen family relationships; 11% wish to improve the environment; 10% care about the balance of personal and professional life and 9% want to improve their nutrition and health.

This is an interesting study. All of us who cater to a demographic need to know the “what’s in it for them” as we build our business because without identifying core values of your audience, you won’t have a strong audience from the start.

Whether you sell “widgets” or provide financial services, identifying your audience and knowing what are the most important issues that face them helps you to identify with them. You know the old saying it’s not what you know but who?

People do business with people that know, understand, and can relate to their audience.

Do some research into your customer base and identify the core values your customers have. When you do this, you will see results!