Getting Your Business Started with UMPH!
June 11, 2008
Let’s say you are like most entrepreneurs. You have an idea. You think it’s brilliant. Your friends think it’s gonna make you a billionaire, and you are ready to do what you need to, to make this dream a reality. Before you quit your job and run headlong into this new adventure, stop. Get the following in order so you can give yourself a fighting chance.
- Put together a real business plan, wearing the CEO, COO and CFO hats. The plan should outline all the basics surrounding the cost of your operations, for at least one year. This includes, but is not limited to, purchasing office equipment (desk, filing cabinets, bookcases, phones, fax, printer, scanner, PC, cell phone and a laptop + the relevant operational and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software); rent, insurance, internet and phone services, marketing (we’ll cover this in more detail shortly), sales initiatives, gas, tolls, miscellaneous niche consultants, air and other travel expenses, entertaining, cost of producing your goods or delivering your service, admin help, IT person, lawyer, bookkeeper, accountant, and business filing fees, trade and other membership fees, printing and mailing charges.
- Assess the yearly & monthly costs of these. Add 25% - 50%.
- Create a separate marketing plan. Businesses that don’t take into account the cost and the time involved with getting the cash register ringing (read marketing, advertising and the process of selling) are planning to fail. A realistic marketing plan includes the cost of the following: figuring out your geographic footprint (local, regional, national, or global); best target markets - how and where you will engage them; developing a strong brand and the tools, a website and a suite of collateral materials that “speak” to your target market(s) – i.e. a business card, letterhead, brochure, website, oversized postcard(s), print ad, web ad, etc.; attending networking functions, sponsoring a local high school team, taking ads in industry or Chamber journals, sponsorships, internet marketing, direct mail campaigns, PR, attending trade shows and business expos, etc. The team you need to help you accomplish all these tasks should include: admin/sales help, marketing consultant, business consultant, graphic designer, webmaster, printer, and a marketing communications copywriter (SPECIAL NOTE about Copywriting: Getting an “A” in creative writing in college does not qualify you for this job! Being a staff reporter is not the right credential either. See “Making Sales with Authentic Copywriting” for more details).
- It’s a lot of hard work. Forget visions of lying on a beach somewhere in Hawaii. Newbie business owners who succeed live and breathe their business 24/7, and working incredibly long days for years! Fact is no matter how many people you know, creating trust (and generating sales) takes an organized, respectful process & time, lots of it.
- You don’t know everything. Smart entrepreneurs take the time to get educated as to all the hats (and their specific job functions) they have to manage, as well as the functions they need to outsource in the course of getting their business up and running quickly. I’ve interviewed scores of millionaires who admit that they would have made it to that “millionaire mark” sooner had they focused on what they did know how to do, versus leaving it up to chance, or worse, trying to juggle everything themselves long term. The ones that make it BIG all say the same thing — they hired or worked with an assortment of professionals who were specialists in a range of important areas — operations, systems, organization, marketing . . . and a marketing communications copywriter. Bottom line: most business owners who try to do everything over the long haul to “save money” usually end up treading water instead of sailing ahead.
(Special Note about Copywriting: Getting an “A” in creative writing in college does not qualify you for this job! Being a staff reporter is not the right credential either. Marketing copywriting is serious work, and a blend of art & science. See “Making Sales with Great Copywriting” for more details).
Making Time in ‘08
June 8, 2008
(Revised from March 17, 2007 post)
Okay - so there are only 24 hours in a day, right? So how do you “make” more time? It’s not as hard as you think.
With just three simple steps, you can create the time you need to do stuff that keeps getting put on the back burner.
A) Take one week and track your time. No cheating - make a log that counts every second, from the moment you wake up to the moment your exhausted head hits the pillow ( I did not say this was going to be painless, did I?)
B) Take a hard look at all the time you wasted ( like the 30 minutes you blew surfing the net for travel deals when you should have been working on a project, returning phone calls, etc.). See how much of your time is dealing with e/mail … sorting, tossing, answering, etc. I bet right now you let yourself get involved with email at least 10 times a day, if not more … Effective time management can rescue you from this trap.
C) Take command of your life! Yup, Stage Three is the best, because you get to create the work-flow chart that meshes with your personality, your job and your responsibilties. And that very simply means you must allocate those precious seconds, minutes, quarter hours, mornings, etc. in a very deliberate, methodical manner. Keep in mind three things you must do each day - review tasks, sort by priority, allocate defined time to attend to each task. By embracing this self-produced time allocation system you will actually be able to take control, work more effectively and keep organized!
A well-organized schedule for at least 3 days a week should be something that includes:
- Lunch time away from your desk, even if it’s a half an hour
- Short breaks, one mid-morning and one in the late afternoon
- Defined times to return and make phone calls
- Prescheduled times to check, sort and toss emails
- Calls or emails to follow-up on new networking leads
In between this new regimen, make sure you plan at least one full hour where you can work without interruptions. The last two days can be earmarked for catch up work, intensive sales calls, uninterrupted project time, special networking events or client meetings as needed.
It will take 21 work days to get this whole new approach integrated into your daily routine, so that you are comfortable with it. Studies have proven that this is the minimum amount of time it takes to firmly establish a new regimen. It may seem nonsensical, even annoying, but you will be fighting yourself as you move through this adjustment period. Do not turn back! This new system will work better than the daily frantic pace you have most probably gotten used to.
Know that each day will throw you an assortment of curve balls. But if you actively start to manage your time, you can create a customized system that allows for more effective & more productive workdays, which is never a bad thing!
Blog
June 3, 2008
Business Resources
June 3, 2008
First things first. Many of the companies listed here are folks we’ve personally done business with (these are starred). Others come highly recommended from a variety of sources: clients, successful CEO’s I’ve interviewed for Entrepreneur.com and other business publications I write for, workshop attendees and networking contacts that I meet all over the country. These business resources are posted here because we think they are talented and generally just nice people to work with. We heartily encourage you to check them out, send them an inquiry by email or give them a call. They’d be happy to answer all your questions!
IMPORTANT NOTE: Just like Consumer Reports, we have no hidden agenda, no “arrangement” with any of these business resources. They are here to give you a great starting point, to help you see the kind of support businesses that should be part of your team — to help your own business thrive. As you might imagine, we cannot make any specific guarantees regarding their services, and recommend that you shop around and get 2-3 written estimates anytime you are looking to hire a new vendor or independent contractor.
Work Smarter Business Suppliers
E/mail Marketing
My Emma** — Need a good laugh, great customer service and top-notch email marketing solutions? You’ve found it all at myemma.com! These people are cheerful, even if you call them with a problem after hours. Go to www.myemma.com and tell them Write-Communications sent you!
IT Services
Third Eye Technologies** provides expert IT technical support services. Call them about keeping track of your computer equipment and the latest advances in automated security and support. Third Eye Technologies is an affordable option for a range of IT solutions! Click here for more info.
Reservations System
WhosComing** — If you host TeleSeminars, produce events, or give workshops, WhosComing.com offers an easy system to manage the whole process, including payments. Owner and software designer Terry Wilson has created a great solution for handling all the details, including specials and email reminders to participants.
Search Engine Optimization
KF Multimedia & Web** helps businesses increase sales through advanced online tools, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and top-notch web marketing strategies. President Kathy Fealy is a pro — so give her a shout for a consultation and assessment of your site.
Web Design/E-Commerce
BrainToaster Interactive** creates terrific web- and E-commerce sites. For effective Internet marketing options, feedback on navigation, usability and design, with amazing customer service give them a shout.
Other Smart Business Resources:
- Core business support services
- Business networking groups
- Business education & funding resources
- Business motivation & inspiration
**Used by Write-Communications
Write Store
May 30, 2008
Welcome to the Write Store! Here you can easily pay for a range of creative & winning sales, marketing and mentoring options, as well as Press Release writing services. You’ll also be able to tap into a range of pithy e-books, podcasts and TeleSeminars — all formulated to help you succeed in business.
Whether you own a company, work in marketing or sales, or want to nurture a dream about becoming a journalist or marketing communications writer — you’ll find what you are looking for at the Write-Communications Store.
Business Solutions
Marketing Success Mentoring
Our meaty Marketing Mentoring sessions will leave you inspired and ready to make better choices, to get the most bang from every marketing & sales initiative you take on…
Marketing Makeovers
These intensive marketing advice sessions provide you with motivation, resources and terrific tips that you can put into play immediately, to boost your campaign returns…
Powerful PR!
Forget gold, editorial coverage reaps platinum returns! Get your business and your expertise in front of editors and producers who are seeking vibrant and knowledgeable new sources…
Become a Writer
Learn what it takes to turn wordsmithing or storytelling into a paycheck! Private writing coaching sessions are available on a limited basis each month, so book your spot now…
