Posts

Motivation 20th April 2012 10:00 PM

“What do you all do to stay motivated whilst working on your business?

1) I like to take regular short breaks (usually 5mins every hour) to get away from my desk. This gives my eyes a break and I find I am less tired if I do this.

2) I also like to read other businesses success stories which helps to keep me motivated.

3) I also find that writing to do lists at the beginning of the day helps me to stay focused.”

I like to focus on what I'm doing and why, I try to think about this a lot. When you think about it, your business needs to get you up out of bed early every day, and need to keep you in the office until late at night. It needs to make you take risks, and do things you've never done before.

In this respect, you need to be constantly question what you're doing and why.

What online advertising do you use? 20th April 2012 9:57 PM

Originally Posted by SCentral

“I have a small advertising budget and I'm not sure what to do with it so I'm interested to learn what types of advertising everyone here uses.

Are you still using newspaper or magazine ads and have you noticed their effectiveness waning?

Do you use paid for ads on national listing sites like Yell.com and if so do you think they are value for money?

Do you simply rely on free to advertise sites or do you believe they are a waste of time?

Are there any portals you've tried that worked really well and did you see any significant SEO benefits for your own website?

Are you of the opinion that business type has a direct bearing on different types of advertising effectiveness?

Any info or suggestions will be gratefully received.”

I learnt a lot from this article in regards to the online side of marketing. The cool thing about online marketing is it's flexible i.e fairly easy to switch providers, it's also relatively in-expensive in many ways too with SAAS. In regards to offline or traditional marketing, it's still important despite ceding ground to digital. Events are still huge for most businesses in the business of selling stuff e.g trade shows.

Thanks for this post:

Thanks from: SCentral, printking

Exit Strategy - do you have one? 20th April 2012 9:55 PM

Originally Posted by sjr4x4

“You need to love doing it to run your own business, otherwise you wouldn't put up with the stress!”

There's plenty of examples where people don't love what they're doing yet continue to do so and make lots of money. But in general, I agree, it's better to love it.

“But as Barney says, after 30/40 years, there will come a time when you want to maybe take a step back, go on that cruise, drink yourself into oblivion, or maybe explore the Amazon.

But unless you can hand over to someone but maybe keep a dividend, then you may need to sell your business to fund your retirement.

Or anther way of looking at it, is to set up and create a profitable company, then look to sell it as a going concern a couple of years later, reaping the rewards, and investing in a new venture

”

Why not hand your business on to the next generation? For anyone that doesn't know Germany's business environment, Google 'Mittelstand' and you'll see what I mean. I guess it's one of the reasons why Germany is the best European economy - they adopt a long term perspective in life.

Starting a Business 20th April 2012 9:49 PM

Originally Posted by BFL

“To start a business, you really have to be passionate about your chosen field. Your passion will motivate and carry you through thick and thin. And obviously, research, research AND research.”

I disagree with that. Sure, it's better to be passionate than not right. But to say you need to be passionate to start a business isn't true. There are plenty of business people, and plenty of markets out there, where passion isn't really part of the equation. (Especially the underground ones!)

Bing to Facebook 17th April 2012 9:34 PM

Originally Posted by Kevin.Wiles

“Some quite interesting news came to light on twtter today that Bing might be sold to Facebook, now if this happens I guess it would be a massive deal breaker and % changer for the battle of the engines

Rumor of the day: Microsoft To Swap Bing For Facebook Shares Foo forum at WebmasterWorld”

Hmm. Strange one for me. Search is a really expensive business to run as Bing is proving by posting annual loses every year. Facebook itself is still a young company positioned for growth - how would they go about underwriting Bing?

First order of business - Money or product. 17th April 2012 9:31 PM

Originally Posted by Dreamraven

“I have been noticing a shift of sorts. More and more, people seem to start a "business" purely to make money and have no regard for anything else other than the almighty bucks (in whichever currency).

When you decide to start a business, create a website and then start that long journey to market the site, what do you focus on the most. Your product?, Service? or Money?”

I think this is true, but there's also people out there building products they love or just want to see exist. Business is good in that way; people are involved for different reasons.

Motivation 17th April 2012 9:29 PM

I like to think; literally about anything business or non-business related. Thinking generally allows me to process all of the inputs in the business - whether it be employees, products, customers, markets, whatever.

Thinking in my opinion helps make better decisions though there will be contrarian views that will prefer to be more direct.

What time of the morning do you start work? 17th April 2012 9:28 PM

7:30 am. I like starting at this time, you can prepare for the day ahead before 9:00 when most others are getting started.

I finish anytime between 6:00 and 7:00 pm.

Which mobile phone? 17th April 2012 9:26 PM

Blackberry Bold 9780. I like it - great battery life, camera, keyboard, build quality and it never drops any calls.

Social Networking for Business - is it worth it? 15th April 2012 4:19 PM

Originally Posted by Accounting Help

“Get your point by what you mean by free marketing but it isn't always the case that it is free. you have companies who pay for facebook ads and and other services. Also it cost time if a individual or company decides to do it themselves. But yes when it done right it can pay off and be worthwhile.

Not sure how much big social media will be in future in regards to marketing and digital media. Lets wait and see.”

You're right, I should have meant in comparison to traditional marketing - and particularly outbound marketing - it's less expensive.