Entrepreneurship is a spiritual journey as much as anything else. It requires making commitments that often extend beyond the promises made to employees, vendors, and clients; it also encompasses the pledges we make to ourselves. These internal commitments are the cornerstone of personal integrity, driving us toward our goals, shaping our work ethic, and ultimately determining our success. Yet, in the chaos of running a business, it’s easy not to make it onto your own to-do list. You can overlook your personal commitments, such as getting a life outside of your business, finding time for famil ..read more

  In this episode, Melinda Emerson shares a personal story about a failed purchase attempt, highlighting the importance of well-managed inventory and transparent pricing. She discusses strategies for handling customer dissatisfaction and the art of engaging potential customers. Melinda emphasizes the role of professionalism in small businesses and shares holiday season recommendations. She concludes with final thoughts and advice for small business owners. Listen to the podcast below:   This week on SmallBizChat Podcast: Plan for holiday business demands at least four months in adv ..read more

Embarking on the path of entrepreneurship is not merely about having the drive and passion; it’s also about channeling that energy into the right business opportunity. Once you’ve scrutinized your abilities, identified your strengths, and visualized your entrepreneurial future. Now, you must determine What kind of business you should start. Answering this requires introspection, strategic evaluation, and industry analysis. Exploring Your Passions  Begin with your passions. What ignites your soul? What activities do you excel at effortlessly? What would you do for free? Your passions and i ..read more

Gloria Chou is an award-winning Small Business PR coach and host of the top-rated Small Business PR Podcast. Her untraditional yet proven PR methods that allow anyone to gain top-tier, earned media without needing to hire an agency, have industry connections, or any PR experience have been featured in Forbes, Business Insider, Crunchbase, and on over 50+ podcasts. Gloria helps early-stage founders “hack their own PR” to go from unknown to being seen, heard, and valued with her proprietary 3-step CPR Pitching Method™— one that’s helped 10,000+ small businesses get over a combined 1 Billion fre ..read more

Growing your subscriber list for a small business newsletter or blog is vital for expanding your reach, increasing engagement, and driving conversions. Building a robust subscriber base allows you to connect with your target audience, nurture relationships, and effectively promote your products or services. In this post, we’ll explore proven strategies for growing your subscriber list, including insights on annual growth benchmarks, email list segmentation, and best practices for maintaining list health through pruning.   Importance of Growing Your Subscriber List Before diving into the s ..read more

Dave Newell is on a mission to “align the misaligned” — connecting leaders with systems that foster outstanding work and personal fulfillment. He collaborates with small business leaders to implement the Five Facets of Business™ — a small business operating system — to optimize processes and foster team alignment around culture, strategy, operations, story, and finances. This framework provides leaders with the necessary clarity and alignment to crush both short and long-term goals. As CEO of Evolve Leadership Consulting, Dave has coached hundreds of leaders both nationally and internationally ..read more

Mastering the art of sales is essential for driving growth and success. One key metric that directly impacts your bottom line is your sales closing rate—the percentage of leads or prospects that ultimately convert into paying customers. Improving your sales closing rate not only increases revenue but also maximizes the return on your sales efforts. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore strategies to help small businesses enhance their sales closing rate and achieve greater success.   Understand Your Ideal Customer: The foundation of any successful sales strategy is a deep understandi ..read more

Many small businesses become successful at selling stuff but can’t seem to take it to the next level. Why? They have yet to build a brand. Building a brand is what all small business owners need to strive for to get noticed, gain recognition, repeat business, and enjoy the next level of success. Merely selling products or services isn’t sufficient for long-term success. Small business owners must transcend transactional relationships and cultivate a distinctive brand to stand out amidst fierce competition.  Building a brand fosters customer loyalty, enhances perceived value, and different ..read more

  In this episode, Melinda Emerson discusses the operations of SmallBizLady Enterprises, the importance of diversifying revenue streams, and effective time management. She highlights the role of books and continuous learning in business growth, the significance of relationship building, and tips for creating a powerful email list.    Listen to the podcast below:   This week on SmallBizChat Podcast: Focus on having at least three revenue streams in your business to create stability and minimize risk. Invest in professional development and coaching to grow yourself, which i ..read more

Small business owners face a multitude of challenges on their journey to success. From navigating challenges with the economy and gas prices to managing day-to-day operations, the path to building a thriving business can be daunting. However, one common thread unites many successful entrepreneurs: the presence of a business coach. While some may view coaching as a luxury, the truth is that it is an indispensable tool that can catalyze growth, foster resilience, and unlock the full potential of a small business owner. In other words, if Oprah, Tiger Woods, and Michael Jordon invested in coachin ..read more