Hints For Baby Boomer Entrepreneurs

Avoid The Causes of Small Business Failure

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 17:30:55 -0600

Why Small Businesses Fail - Advice for Entrepreneurs - Gaebler Ventures - Chicago, Illinois

There are clearly known reasons why small businesses fail. Avoid them and your chances of success go up amazingly. They include:

Lack of experience
Poor location
Poor inventory management
Personal use of business funds

Check out the link above to see more reasons that cause small business failure.

Shallie Bey
Smarter Small Business Blog
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Does Your Health Effect Your Business?

Sat, 12 Dec 2009 12:56:41 -0600

Business owners’ health crucial for company success - Microsoft Small Business Centre

Do you consider how your health effects your business?

A study says that 44% of business owners report sleepless nights worrying about the economy. If sleepless nights, stress, or anything else causes you to be sick, How well will your business fare?

Shallie Bey
Smarter Small Business Blog
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Is Entrepreneurship About Managing Events Or Processes?

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 08:04:30 -0600

Seth’s Blog: The reason social media is so difficult for most organizations

Seth Godin wrote a very interesting post that caused me to ask myself the question that is the title to today’s post. Seth’s post was short. I hope that he does not mind that I copy it for you here:

The reason social media is so difficult for most organizations

It’s a process, not an event.

Dating is a process. So is losing weight, being a public company and building a brand.

On the other hand, putting up a trade show booth is an event. So are going public and having surgery.

Events are easier to manage, pay for and get excited about. Processes build results for the long haul.

I think entrepreneurship is about managing a process. I also think that most people like events better. As I think about this, I wonder if this is the key to the entrepreneurial mindset, being willing to manage processes? What do you think? Drop me a line on Twitter or at the Smarter Small Business Blog.

Shallie Bey
Smarter Small Business Blog
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Andrea Stenberg's 9 Favorite (and free) Business Software downloads | The Baby Boomer Entrepreneur

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 12:32:40 -0600

Andrea Stenberg's 9 Favorite (and free) Business Software downloads | The Baby Boomer Entrepreneur:

Andrea J. Stenberg, from The Baby Boomer Entrepreneur, blogs about things that are helpful to entrepreneurs. Here are her thoughts about 9 of her favorite software download. The added plus is that they are free. I already make use of several of them and plan to add more to my list.

See if any of Andrea’s suggestions can help you as well.

Shallie Bey
Smarter Small Business Blog
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Megan Strand Takes A Stand ->Project Management for Entrepreneurs: Throwing Away the Manual | InCouraged

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 06:37:50 -0600

Megan Strand Takes A Stand ->Project Management for Entrepreneurs: Throwing Away the Manual | InCouraged:

Megan Strand is a blogger with interesting ideas for entrepreneurs. Today, she is introducing a series of posts that she has planned on the topic of project management for entrepreneurs.

It has long seemed to me that starting a business is a perfect example of project management. I am surprised that more people do not describe entrepreneurship as such. Of course, as Megan expresses her opinion on why you should “throw away the manual” we might get a glimpse why people who should be using project management don’t.

Go Megan Go!

Shallie Bey
Smarter Small Business Blog
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Seth's Blog: The first transaction

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 07:24:16 -0600

Seth's Blog: The first transaction:

Seth asks some interesting questions about how you will make the first transaction with a new customer. Does the transaction begin when they reach into their pocket for cash or a credit card? Or does the transaction begin long before that point? Check out this interesting food for thought.

Shallie Bey
Smarter Small Business Blog
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Guest Insights: Why culture comes first - Richard Brown

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 11:38:58 -0600

Guest Insights: Why culture comes first - Richard Brown:

What is the importance of the culture of your company that you are creating. Richard Brown shares important thoughts on why establishing your culture is your first task.

Check him out.

Shallie Bey
Smarter Small Business Blog
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Be Remarkable and You Will Get Noticed

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:32:47 -0600

Be Remarkable and You Will Get Noticed:

Young Entrepreneur offers advice on the proper balance of delivering a remarkable product or service and marketing that product.

Often, people think that just marketing their product without regard to quality is the answer to building a successful business. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Check out this article for more insiight.

Shallie Bey
Smarter Small Business Blog
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Content Marketing Today » 6 Reasons to Embrace Social Media Today

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:14:05 -0600

Content Marketing Today » 6 Reasons to Embrace Social Media Today:

If you are a small business owner, you want to know about these six reasons to embrace social media today.

Learn why social media is a trend, not a fad.

Shallie Bey
Smarter Small Business Blog
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Powerful Tweeting Techniques To Drive Traffic To Your Blog | Microgeist

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:29:14 -0600

Powerful Tweeting Techniques To Drive Traffic To Your Blog | Microgeist:

Microgeist shares a video displaying examples of how to construct tweets to drive traffic to your blog. The post shows how to get more of your personal content exposed in the tweet stream so that it attracts the interest of readers to click through.

You will enjoy this simple but effective presentation by video.

Shallie Bey
Smarter Small Business Blog
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Is Commercial Real Estate The Next Bubble To Avoid?

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 05:56:44 -0600

Market goes sour on entrepreneur | HeraldTribune.com | Sarasota Florida | Southwest Florida’s Information Leader

Many baby boomers are looking for the right model for their retirement businesses. Is owning commercial space or marketing from commercial space the model you are considering?

Is commercial space a market to avoid in the near future? This article from the Herald Tribune of Sarasota shares some of the woes currently happening in the bricks and mortar world.

Is bricks and mortar the model for your baby boomer retirement business? Make an informed decision, please!

Shallie Bey
Smarter Small Business Blog
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The best motivation video (via KyaniHawaii)If you have never...

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 21:48:07 -0600

The best motivation video (via KyaniHawaii)

If you have never failed, you have never lived. That is the message of this wonderful video. If you have failed, you are in good company…keep pressing forward.

Shallie Bey
Smarter Small Business Blog
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Motivational Song - Never Give Up On Your Dreams (via...

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 07:45:07 -0500

Motivational Song - Never Give Up On Your Dreams (via motivationalpower)

Being an entrepreneur is about dreams. Often, it is about helping others to realize their dreams as the path to you realizing your dreams.

Your challenge is to weave your business dreams into reality. NEVER GIVE UP ON YOUR DREAMS!

Shallie Bey
Smarter Small Business Blog
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Is There A One Size Fits All Twitter Strategy For Business

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:52:00 -0500

Which Twitter Strategy Is Right for You

So very often we look for “the” right answer. Well, is there one answer for the business person seeking to use Twitter?

Research suggests there are at least five different strategies one can use as you relate to your market through Twitter. What are they and how do you use them? See Social Media Today’s discussion. Just click on the link above.

Shallie Bey
Smarter Small Business Blog
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Entrepreneurs can change the world (via GetGrasshopper) Enjoy...

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:17:12 -0500

Entrepreneurs can change the world (via GetGrasshopper)

Enjoy this brief video on the wonders of entreprneurship.

Shallie Bey
Smarter Small Business Blog
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Set Godin's Secret To Being Remarkable

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 05:35:44 -0500

Seth’s Blog: Trolls

What the heck is a troll and what does one have to do with being remarkable? If you are a baby boomer looking to make a contribution to society, you want to know the answer to that question.

Check out Seth’s blog for a dose of enlightenment.

Shallie Bey
Smarter Small Business Blog
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5 Must-Read Social Media Marketing Studies | Social Media Examiner

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 23:22:49 -0500

5 Must-Read Social Media Marketing Studies | Social Media Examiner:

Are you trying to keep up with Social Media? Are you curious not only about where it has been but where it is going? You might want to know about Social Media Examiner. Amy Porterfield, the author of this blog calls it “Your Guide To The Social Media Jungle.” In this edition she shares five reports on the future of social media. It is well worth a look.

Shallie Bey
Smarter Small Business Blog
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Small Business Owners - 5 Uses for Twitter

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 23:03:31 -0500

CurrentMom: 5 Uses of Twitter for Small Business

Many small business owners struggle with if and how they should use Twitter. Current Mom shares five excellent reasons to use twitter if you are a business owner. If you have been asking yourself if Twitter is right for you, here is a place to get some great advice.

Shallie Bey
Smarter Small Business Blog
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Do You Need a Business Partner? USA Today gives hints to help you

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:31:36 -0500

A partner can give your business shelter or a storm - USATODAY.com

Do you need a partner? That is one of the very first questions to ask yourself if you are starting a business.

Few new business owners have all the skills necessary to effectively start and run a business. Of course, consultants can be engaged and employees with special skills can be hired. What is the answer that will work best for you?

USA Today is running a six week series on how to start a small business. The tips are helpful to baby boomer entrepreneurs as well as entrepreneurs of all ages.

This link leads to a discussion to help you determine if you go it alone or find a partner to help. How will you make that decision. Take a look to see what they recommend.

Shallie Bey
Smarter Small Business Blog
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Seth Godin, "10 Bestsellers: Using New Media, New Marketing, and New Thinking to Create 10 Bestselli

Sat, 03 Oct 2009 08:19:14 -0500

Seth Godin, "10 Bestsellers: Using New Media, New Marketing, and New Thinking to Create 10 Bestselli:

Seth Godin has ideas worth spreading. He also has ideas on how to spread ideas.

This blip.tv clip shares his thoughts about the thinking that led ten of his books to becoming best sellers.

As baby boomer entrepreneurs, you and I are trying to build an asset that will have value and give us leverage. Seth says that the ultimate asset is a permission based asset. This is essentially an audience that has given you permission to talk with them and are looking forward to hearing what you have to say.

That may be an e-mail list. It might be a blog. It might be something that you or I or one of our friends might invent as a brand new form of communication.

If you want to play this game, you will want to listen to this clip from Seth.

I say listen because there appear to be some glitches in the recording. It was intended to be a video; however, many of the comments suggest that people could only hear the audio. That was the case for me too.

So, go listen already!

Shallie Bey
Smarter Small Business Blog
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