What is the quickest growing business in America today? Consulting. Not only are there more small businesses than ever in American history forming, but an ever increasing number of those businesses are that of private consultants. Why is this? Is it the Obama economic plan? Has government developed these “new” jobs as is so often the claim? I think I speak for most of you when I say the response is, “Obviously not.” The new consulting businesses popping up around the country are a direct outcome of corporate downsizing and the difficulty in securing professional employment. As major corporations are…

Personal branding. We all would like to believe that we make an impact on our customer’s and connection’s lives. But do we really? Are you developing a personal brand that resonates? Personal branding, like its corporate cousin, is based on a fixed set of brand values that are the foundation for your brand. Having and abiding by these values, gives you rules to live by. They must be lived up to even if you’re hurting and are tempted to bend them to suit a situation. Your values help to define your personal brand. In developing a personal brand, I advise…

So you’ve got an idea that you think could make a lot of money and you’ve decided to start a business. Maybe it’s even a great idea. Perhaps it’s so good that despite your lack of experience you’ve managed to interest some investors and possibly even line up a loan. Now what? If you went to business school or you’ve got a good head on your shoulders you probably realize that there are a lot of variables involved in starting and running a business, and not all of them are within your control. Add to that the fact that you’re…

We are all pretty familiar with Generation X; they are the offspring of the post-World War II baby boom, the so-called “13th Generation”. Their perspectives on the world were shaped by political, environmental and financial conflicts including Black Monday, the evolution of the Internet, the Chernobyl disaster and the fall of the Berlin Wall. Generation Y, however, is still a bit of a misunderstood group – at least by the Gen X’s. Gen Y-er’s perspective on their world has been shaped by their immersion in technology, almost since birth. The New York Times describes Generation Y as “post-emotional, entrepreneurial” and…

What’s your definition of success? What steps do you need to take to reach the pinnacle of success? Those answers will be different for everyone but the important thing is to revisit these answers every now and then. What we considered important or successful back in our 20’s will most likely be different now that we’re in our 30’s. If you have a family, are you spending enough time with them and developing a close relationship or are you driving yourself into the ground, working 16-hour days? What do you want your closest friends and family members to remember about…

Considering all the words I write on branding, essentially all I’m saying is that if you’re not playing, you’re losing. That’s not to say that you’re not successful, but that you’re not being the best you can be. I’m saying that marketing can be a little easier when you compete as a leader not a follower. Most companies advertise by using campaigns to inspire consumers to buy in the moment. They use any number of proven techniques to get the attention of you the consumer. A number of these techniques have even taken on a life of their own. Ie:…

As a small business owner or CEO trying to broaden your internet target and get noticed, I’m sure you’re aware of the significance of new, fresh, recurring content on your site of all kinds. When it comes to written material on page copy or blogs and articles, you need to have the ability to write well, inform and entertain, that’s obvious. That’s for your followers. But if you can’t write as well for Google and the other search engines to maximize your material for Search Engine Marketing, you are the proverbial tree in the forest that falls when no one…

In the fast-moving environment we live in today, those who jump to the top have fantastic communication skills, and that means better business writing than the competitors. You’ve heard the cliché, “the pen is mightier than the sword.” Well, in business, you’d better be able to flourish a pen or else you may just fall on your sword. In the Information Age in which we reside, it’s an inescapable conclusion that your capacity to communicate is one of the most critical talents you can master. In business, you’ve got to communicate with clients, employees, providers, attorneys, consultants, maybe even legislators.…

Sometimes I think I should put an branding eye-chart on my website for companies who have a hard time seeing the truth about their brands. If they were only 20/20 they’d be able to take on the competition from a leadership position and have clarity in their actions. If these 5 observations leave you squinting then maybe it’s time you addressed your branding optics: 1) “It’s not time to address my brand as we’re too busy. When things slow down a bit, maybe we can do something.” The time to address branding deficiencies is now. Waiting only compounds problems and…

There are more than 27 million small businesses in the U.S., and in this tough economy, the competition can be intense. As a result, online marketing is playing an increasingly crucial role for attracting and retaining customers. The first step to marketing your business online, of course, is to create a website. But then what? Most local merchants don’t automatically think of online scheduling as the second step to growing their business. Perhaps they aren’t aware these solutions exist, or think they are too complicated or too expensive to implement. However, even a fully featured online scheduling solution like Genbook…