6 Awesome Tips for Starting a Business Overseas

Let's do this step-by-step. It's a challenging road to success. I ran an online business in Asia focusing on providing a platform for local and foreign businesses to integrate and automate paid advertisements on social media. The platform provided unique written, designed and tested campaigns, which could be tweaked accordingly. It was a very challenging task to meet all the demands of (potential) customers, but it was well worth it.

Before packing your bags, start reading these 6 awesome tips for starting a business overseas:

1. Local Culture

The local culture and habits are extremely important for any entrepreneur who's looking to start a business in another country. It is essential to know the ins- and outs of the local environment and how to get around. As hard as it might be, try to find a local investor or a business advisor who can inform and explain key factors of doing business in a specific area. Depending on your business and target market, get to know local consumer behavior. It's key for your potential business to have local partners who are trustworthy; this key point can make or break your business.

Local business events are a great way to meet new people in the area. In case you are looking to build a network before flying out, which is a smart thing to do, use your current network to see if you can connect to someone doing business in that area. Another possibility would be to join expat communities and ask questions there. Join Facebook groups! They are surprisingly effective.

2. Language

Studying a new language is hard and very time-consuming. It may even present a bigger barrier for you than running an actual business. However, learning the local language will prove to be a huge advantage when doing business with local people. Especially in Asian countries, people will show you more respect and trust when you speak the language. Besides the fact that communication will be easier, it's easier to meet new people and you'll most likely get better deals.

3. Way of Life

Integrate with the local community and neighbors through events and other get-togethers. This is a great way to meet new people, potential clients, potential business partners and besides that, a great way to learn more about the country and its culture. It's an awesome experience to see, understand and feel how the local people live their life. Learn about their values and vision in life. Study the local market and local economy and how that knowledge can profit your business.

4. Competition

It is critical for entrepreneurs, regardless of country or business industry, to fully understand the competition. However, entrepreneurs should not only focus on the current competition model. Have a look at what happened in the past, try to find companies in your industry or somewhat related who have failed to succeed. Examine their conditions and learn from the mistakes those companies made. After all, learning from mistakes is a highly valuable asset. Also, find companies that have succeeded in their market and compare them to the failed companies. Figure out the key differences and implement this in your own business plan.

5. Network

Networking is one of the most important key aspects of running a successful business. As you make the move to another country, the network you build in your home-country will become less valuable abroad. Therefore building an international network is increasingly important. Meeting the right people at the right time can make a huge difference in your business' growth. As mentioned earlier, try to connect with expats or already established communities in the local area. Many Asian countries have specific groups that organize events for members for a small monthly fee. Or join Facebook groups that are free and offer a community atmosphere.

When I moved to Asia to build my own startup, I tried to connect to many businesses at a very early stage by emailing or calling them. It was extremely beneficial to meet businesses and other entrepreneurs and resulted in a lot of new connections and trusted contacts. It turned out to be a valuable for both sides, short- and long-term.

6. Health Insurance

An obvious, but often overlooked, factor when moving to a different country is health insurance. Many expats don't necessarily recognize the importance of good international health insurance coverage. I highly recommend finding a health insurance plan that fits your personal needs and select the most suitable plan for you. For example, if you require routine visits to a therapist or chiropractor, finding a suitable doctor in another country can be difficult. Check with your insurance provider whether they keep a list or communities of the best doctors in your new country. This will take the stress out of searching for a doctor as you're simultaneously settling in.

Starting my own business abroad was single-handedly one of the most exciting things I've ever done in my life, but it was not an easy thing to do by any means. Don't just randomly choose an industry or country, but take your time, be patient and come prepared. Of course, keep in mind some of my tips, I'm positive it will contribute to your success and give you an experience of a lifetime, something you will never forget!

About Marcel de Jong - An entrepreneur living in Asia for the past 12 years and specialized in individual & business insurances. His passion is traveling and to deliver relevant information and easy-to- use online tools. Since 2013 he's blogging for Now Health. Check out more information at https://www.now-health.com/en/

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Marcel_De_Jong/2416413

Why Do Entrepreneurs Struggle?

Great Day, Attractive Thinker! It Is a Great Day to Be Alive!

As an Entrepreneur, there are a lot of goals to be accomplished! Products have to be created, services must be provided, and customers and clients need to be served! When pursuing new goals, the mind must also be aligned with the goal in order for it to be accomplished. The mind is currently "set" to the current status of the business. When the conscious desire is to reach a new goal, the subconscious mind must be informed! Everyone has 2 minds: a conscious mind (this is the mind that you use everyday to get through your day) and a subconscious mind (this is where your core beliefs, true feelings, and emotions are).

When these 2 minds are not aligned, it presents a struggle. This struggle appears as a starting and stopping motion. You attempt to take action on your goal and you're actually stopped in your tracks. The conscious mind attempts to move forward on the goals that you have for your business, yet because the subconscious mind is not engaged in the process, it pulls you right back to where you were. It's just like getting dressed to go on a family vacation. You walk out of the front door to load up the car and you turn around and your family is still in pajamas, simply lounging around in the living room. You're moving forward, but they weren't informed!

In order to end the entrepreneurial struggle, the subconscious mind must be informed of your new goals. These new goals must become your new beliefs in order to become your new reality! Repetitive affirmations, vision boards, meditation, and visualization of your new goals are life-altering tools that imprint your new goals into your subconscious mind.

Your Attractive Thinker Assignment:

Create a Vision Board with Your New Business Goals!
Create a Set of Empowering Affirmations that Support Your Goals!
Meditate and Visualize Your Goals at Least 3 Times a Day!
Speak Your Goals with Boldness and Confidence Daily!

With daily repetition of these practices, you'll reach your goal in record time! You'll begin to spot opportunities that will help you to accomplish your goal. Unexpectedly, people will show up that have the exact resource that you need to accomplish your goal. You'll receive ideas that will expedite your goal and take you further/faster! Consistency is key!

~Think, Attractively!

Dr. Toni Hatton provides Entrepreneurs with life-altering tools that uproot the mental barriers that hinder their life and business success! Visit The Attractive Thinker at http://www.theattractivethinker.guru and get your FREE Audio Download, "Turn Your Problems Into Your Solutions!" My Life's Work is to Make Your Life Better!
Remember, It's Not What You're Going Through, But How You're Viewing It!

~Think Attractively!

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Dr_Toni_Hatton/2097473

How Content Marketing Can Help Build Your Business

It's no secret that the internet has become the #1 source for information. The Web is the largest market for seekers of information and providers of information. No matter what your business, everyone must have a website. If you don't, you can be assured that you are a step behind your competition.

What should be included on your site? At a minimum, you must state who you are (About Us Page) and what you do (Home & Product/Services Page). This is all fine and dandy. But how do potential customers find you?

Two simple words can answer this question: "Content Marketing". The second word is easy to describe. Marketing is simply promoting/advertising your product or service. However, the traditional methods (brochures, TV ads, fliers) are being replaced by more cost effective methods. That leads us to the first word: content. Many of us have heard the term before. But what exactly does it mean?

According to the Content Marketing Institute, content marketing is defined as "a marketing technique of creating and distributing relevant, consistent, and valuable information to a defined audience." The key word here is valuable, meaning it is something the end user wants and would pay for. Compare that to and advertisement or junk mail (spam) that someone either turns off immediately or throws in the garbage because they find no value in it. Content marketing doesn't explicitly promote a brand like a commercial for Nike or Coke does. The information is targeted to a specific group who wants it or seeks it out. Thus you are building a long term, personal relationship with your (potential) customers versus treating them like a sale. No one likes to feel like they are being sold to. They want to feel like they are part of a story, and people love stories.

The next question is why would a business create content in the first place? The main answer is to build their BRAND. Your brand is your #1 asset. It can take years to build, but only minutes to destroy. Your brand shows you are an expert in your field. You also raise awareness to consumers about issues they may not have considered previously. Traditional marketing is only effective after the consumer has made the decision to buy. Content marketing moves them along the buying process.

Creating content is much more cost effective than traditional marketing, thus resulting in a greater ROI. What are some key characteristics of good content?

· It's FREE: users don't have to pay for it

· Attracts and retains audiences who will eventually become customers. Your typical :30 radio or TV add is forgotten almost immediately

· Contains backlinks to your website, thus creating a compound effect as your content is shared with your user's users and their user's users.

· Must be mobile friendly as many internet users browse on smartphones and tablets

· Must be keyword oriented for SEO algorithms used by Google and other search engines (a keyword is something you type in your browser when you want to look for something specific. I'm a writer so hopefully I'll show up when someone types in "freelance writer, copywriter, or simply writer"

· Finally, it must contain a call-to-action (prompt the user to do something)

What are some examples of content marketing?

· Blogs

· Success Stories

· Podcasts

· YouTube videos

· Whitepapers

· Articles

· Social Media posts

· E-books

· Newsletters

I hope you found this information useful, as I expect content marketing to replace traditional marketing in the not-to-distant future. I'm sure all of you will now become expert marketers and see your visitors multiply exponentially, thus resulting in more conversions.

Partner Dave is a freelance writer in Orlando, Florida. He specializes in content marketing, business plans, web copy, and building brand awareness. He is the author of the white paper "The Transaction Tax: Has the IRS Finally Met Its Match?", which discusses replacing the income tax with a transaction tax. Visit his website at http://www.partnerdavethewriter.com or email him at info@partnerdavethewriter.com.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/David_Bialecki/2255361

10 Tips to Start a Service Business

Are you going to start a service business? Do you have no idea as to how to go about it? If so, we suggest that you check out the following tips from experts.

Set and define your goals

First of all, you should set your goals and define them. Typically, service businesses don't require as much capital as other businesses. Aside from this, they are not as scalable as other businesses. So, what you need to do is set your goals and then define them.

Business anchors

You may want to choose a good business anchor. Ideally, they should be a former employer or client.

First clients

You should understand that getting your first client is your first milestone. What you need to do is serve your first few clients very well. They should be happy. Moreover, if you want to develop a strong relationship with the clients, make sure you give them a discount.

Find a Focus

You should be different from other service providers who offer similar services. If you don't be different, you won't be able to make a difference. As a result, your product will not entice the potential buyers. Your clients should be able to differentiate your products from those of your competitors. This is what we mean by finding a focus.

Blogging and social media

For marketing, blogging and social media are your best tools. You should create and publish content that can validate your expertise. Today, your marketing is a lot cheaper than it was a few years ago. In the past, people had to get through strict editors and publishers in order to get the word out about their expertise. They had to write books and articles as well. Nowadays, you can post on Twitter, Facebook and your own blog. So, you don't have to rely so much on editors and publishers nowadays.

Logo and look

We suggest that you choose your logo wisely and spend on it after a lot of thinking. Actually, your website and logo should be professional and this is really important. Nowadays, it's not about stationary or business cards anymore. This is your representation.

Don't overspend

It's not a good idea to spend the money you don't have. As a matter of fact, you will get tons of suggestions that can help you make more money later on, such as marketing programs and mail lists.

Don't lose a client

For the success of your business, make sure you keep all of your clients. As a matter of fact, keeping existing clients is a lot cheaper than looking for new ones. It's a good idea to go the extra mile to keep your old clients satisfied.

Know your numbers

You should understand the difference between money in the bank, sales, cash and profits. This is very important.

Don't compromise on integrity

Compromising on your integrity is not a good idea. Your success or failure depends upon your reputation. You should try your level best to maintain your credibility.

Hopefully, these 10 tips will help you run your service business with success.

Have you been looking to start soft service business? If so, we suggest that you check out a good soft service machine.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Shalini_Madhav/2396631

Top Five Traits of Successful Women Entrepreneurship

Today, women across the globe are crossing business and leadership milestones. However, most of those ladies are driven by social approaches, the giving approach. If you are also driven by a social reason to start a business and willing to work for your own, you should follow the group of leading ladies. It will be a good decision for you if you forward your step this year; multi-directional opportunities are waiting for you. In this agenda, you must try to develop the capacity to overcome obstacles, the capacity to manage, and the capacity to make a balance in personal and professional life. At the same time, you should have strong willingness to learn and implement.

Get Professional Tips

You may be confused over the education to get or the formalities to fulfill. The confusion may also relate the product storage or its market orientation. No need to get worried. Get professional tips in order to handle the entire range of confusions. You can discuss your problem with those women (or men) who have already established their business. Your job will be half-done if you are discussing your problems with senior business persons. The visit to a business counselor can also bring a fruitful result for you. You should not take a blind step when you are going to establish a business. Professional tips are likely to help you in turning it into a calculated move.

Get a Management Education

Education involves a degree, but a degree is not the only thing offered by education. It comes after three of our basic necessities. But it has never been an easy job for the females to pursue the management graduation. Now, you have several opportunities to obtain one or two business related courses if you are not a management graduate. Short-term courses like career advancement programs, product development programs, community programs, networking, public speaking, management programs, business development program, customer relationship programs, and etc. are available in the market now. It is not an impossible job for you to start a business without having a formal management education but the same may invite challenges for you in the next stages of your business life.

Mission & Vision

Having appropriate knowledge about product and market is not enough for you if you don't have a proper vision. To do the business in a professional way, you are also supposed to see the future prospect of the product or service you are planning to wholesale. If your vision is clear, stronger, and meaningful, it will inspire your team to work on its attainment. It, eventually, help you in making a mission statement. This is an area where women entrepreneurs carry a shortage.

Be Generous

It has said that the willingness to satisfy a customer is the most efficient business strategy of all time. You can do it in multiple means if you understand your customers. To understand the customers is regarded as the first stage of that strategy. You can simply develop your listening habit in order to fulfill the varied needs. Plus, try to be generous while communicating with your customers. Due to the negative effects, over-communication should be avoided. Just try to be clear and straightforward while delivering any message. A short-term customer relationship course which can be pursued easily may help you in this agenda. Your customers can only maximize your business. So, they can minimize it, too.

Develop the Attitude of Giving Back

The attitude of giving back is one thing that can make you extraordinary. We are not talking about the social charities. To be a successful businesswoman, you will have to develop the attitude of giving your customers. If you are not giving more, please try to offer them an equal quantity of what they are paying. It will develop trust rapidly which is directly proportional to your business growth in a long-run. Mind it; successful business leaders (male and female) believe in giving more, rather getting more profits.

Cash Suvidha is an online FinTech platform that offers business loan for women entrepreneurs to support women empowerment in India.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Amit_Sharma/2327002

Buddha, Freud, Jung & More for Freelance Workers

An explosion in online freelance work is democratizing how and when and where we work. The "why" of work-what it means to people, beyond surviving-has changed very little. Freelance workers, at entrepreneurial sites like Fiverr.com, are innovating new ways to work. Many create models of service delivery that are designed to enrich both the "worker/entrepreneurs" and their customers.

In times of social transition-or whenever individuals navigate for themselves-it helps to recall what some of the wisest among us have said. Since a person's attitude contributes so greatly to their ultimate success or failure, how should we think about work?

What do the doctors of depth psychology prescribe?

The most influential psychologist of the last century, Sigmund Freud, wrote: "Love and work are the cornerstones to our humanness. Love and work... work and love... what else is there really?" Far from seeing work as a grudging necessity of life, Freud thought it was essential to our humanness. He thought nothing else-nothing but love itself-could match work's importance in our lives. Must those two fundamentals be forever at odds?

Modern cultures quarantine love in the workplace. Office romances disrupt. Emotions complicate commerce. Business prefers predictability. For too many, "work" is that imposed misery whose recurring intrusion forces us to abandon the people and things we do love... because we have to go to work.

What a triumph to harmonize these competing components. Imagine your own ideal marriage of work and love. What would you genuinely love to do as your work in the world? Freelancers are leading the efforts to merge Freud's dual-if not dueling-essentials. It requires doing work you love.

The most influential psychologist of this century, Dr. Carl Jung, described an equation of the heart: "The least of things with a meaning is worth more in life than the greatest of things without it." That's why love, meaningful work, and even meaningful play, are so deeply nourishing. It's also why some people can lead happy lives amid great simplicity, while others with great advantages may find life meaningless and live in misery.

Both triumph and terror can inspire individuals to new heights.

Pearl S. Buck earned the Nobel Prize in Literature "for her rich and truly epic descriptions of peasant life in China and for her biographical masterpieces." The first American woman to ever win that prize, she shared her secret: "To find joy in work is to discover the fountain of youth." That's one way to recognize "worthy work" that could enliven, challenge, and renew: look for joy in the work itself.

The absence of work resembles a "fountain of aging." Many older men do not live terribly long or well after retiring. Even crummy-but-familiar jobs defer deterioration. Work is so important that one Federal Reserve study found that the suicide risk for unemployed people is 72% higher than for someone who is working. Even retirees and people who were simply on leave from work had elevated rates of suicide. Work structures our world. Work keeps us together. To be blunt, work makes us 72% less likely to give up on life and kill ourselves.

Doing work that you love not only maintains you, it energizes and revitalizes your life force. The fountain of youth is not in Florida. Renewal is found in giving and receiving love and in doing the life-work that you feel drawn, attracted, excited, called, destined, or just plain "lucky" to be doing.

Theoretical physicist and cosmologist Stephen Hawking has written: "Work gives you meaning and purpose, and life is empty without it." Finding your purpose enriches the meaning of being alive. Engagement in meaningful work and having a sense of purpose in life are psychological pillars of mental health and life satisfaction.

Far from satisfaction or any shred of human dignity, concentration camp survivor Viktor Frankl felt that finding meaning and purpose-even in the manmade hell of Hitler's death camps-made all the difference for his survival of Nazi horrors. Frankl's mother and brother and wife all died in the camps. He not only survived but went on to teach and inspire, including writing a best-selling book, "Man's Search for Meaning," that has benefited millions.

Inspiring guidance expands our definition of what it means to work.

Fortunately, wisdom about work has been around for as long as there has been miserable work. What endures is of great value. "Work" is what we call what we do in the world. Many centuries ago, the Sufi poet Rumi summed up his advice in one phrase: "Let the beauty of what you love be what you do." That is precisely the prescription for success that is being rediscovered today. "Let the beauty of what you love be what you do."

The Buddhist concept of "right livelihood" encourages everyone to find work that does no harm and awaken to the effects, far and near, of how they earn a living. The Buddha offers the following cosmic job counseling: "Your work is to discover your work, and then, with all your heart, to give yourself to it."

So, the very first step of doing your work in the world is to find your work. You are not told to find any work, but to find your work. By discovering your work, you unveil to yourself what you are "cut out for" and would love to do. There is an alternative, but if you choose your job just for the health benefits... you'll probably need them.

There is some wise counsel, if not 2,000-year-old "career advice," in the Taoist wisdom of the I Ching (Sarah Dening version):

"We become hypnotized and conditioned by other people's opinions as to what is right. To continue making progress, you must discover your own deepest values and live by them. If your life-style is incompatible with your true nature, you cannot be happy. What matters most is to live in harmony with yourself. Your life will then unfold in exactly the right way." There may be no better way to live in harmony with yourself than by finding-or creating, if you must-a way to do work that you love.

Once you find your work or feel a calling, it will be your attitude that counts the most. So, in closing, here is the attitude toward work recommended by Dr. Martin Luther King: "If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, "Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well."

Look over Dr. Masa's inspiring Fiverr freelance class (on sale for $10, or 75% off) to get an edge on success at Fiverr. Check out: Start a Profitable Fiverr Freelance Business

Ron Masa, Ph.D. is a Jungian psychologist, artist and educator. He and Debbie Hart lead the University of Yourself, whose motto is "Find Yourself, Express Yourself."

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Ron_Masa,_Ph.D./51836

Become Your Own Boss - Here Are 3 Pieces Of Advice To Live And Die By

If you would like to start your own business but do not know where to begin, you are very lucky today. I will share with you some vital tips to help you get on the right track towards success. These tips can help you get started on your journey to get out of the rat race, join the new wealth club, and create a new future for yourself. In fact, given the new times we live, most people are figuring out that the "jobs" are a thing of the past. The internet gives people like you and me leverage. People who have mastered the art of marketing via internet are now the world's new and improved entrepreneurs.

Here Are The Three Tips

Tip #1

Hold Yourself Accountable:

If you are unhappy with your current circumstance, you must take the time and admit that you are the only one that can change it. You must admit to yourself that you are the issue. It does not do you any good to blame the economy or presidents, boss at work, or any member of your family. Change will only happen when you make the ultimate decision to make it happen.

Tip #2

Identify yourself

You must give yourself permission to explore. You have to be aware of your strengths and weaknesses. You must understand your personality, age, and social style. In addition, you must listen to the little voice inside your head. As people, we often ignore our intuition although deep down in our spirit we know the truth.

You should ask yourself this:

What gives me energy even when I am tired?

What product or service would I be most interested in bringing to the market?

What opportunity will stand the test of time? Will that particular market disappear in the next 15 years?

Tip #3

When you plan, you give yourself a better chance to experience success

Unfortunately, most people do not plan. They react of off emotion and jump straight into the opportunity. If you put together a business plan, you will gain some clarity, some focus, and some confidence. A plan does not have to be perfect or it does not have to be more than one page.

Some questions to ask yourself are:

What type of company will I build?

Who will I be serving?

What are my strategies and objectives that I must put into place in order to reach my goals?

For more information on how you can get out of the rat race, build your own brand, and reinvent the way you make a living, go to Reinvent Your Lifestyle

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Marc-Eddy_Drouinaud_Jr/2289154

10 Funny Reasons Why You Must Become an Entrepreneur

Being an entrepreneur is not easy, but it is something that does offer some incredible rewards. It all comes down to the amount of time you have and the knowledge you have about this sector. The more you learn the better it will be, so with that in mind we created a list with some great actionable tips that will help you become a better entrepreneur even if you are a beginner.

But aside the fact of becoming self-employed and contributing to the development of the society, there are also other funny, strange and unbelievable reasons why you must become an entrepreneur.

However, below are some of the ten funny reasons why you must become an entrepreneur.

1. Being The Boss Have you ever being to any firm before? Whereby you see the CEO coming with his shoulder high, head straight and all workers standing up to salute and exchange greetings with him. That alone is enough to make you want to become an entrepreneur. Having the spirit of ownership give you confidence and respect.

2. No Dress Code I've heard many people say, "I hate wearing uniform to my place of work, or I dislike it when my work requires me to have a dress code". Yes many people love the freedom to wear that they like to their place of work, inasmuch it is formal. Besides, why would you keep on wearing uniform right form grade school till old age?

3. Sense of Popularity Most people always love the prestige attached to being a business owner. And there is no other great way to become popular and famous in the society than to be self-dependent.

4. The Freedom To Travel Around The World This might really sounds funny, but many people love to travel and explore the world. However having their own business give them the freedom to fulfil their wishes and do what they love.

5. Having Time For Family As an employee, most of your productive time are spent in the office. But as a self-employer, you can schedule the perfect and productive time to spend with your family. Help your child with his homework, hangout together with them, and many more things that will enhance a happy home.

6. No One To Fire You For Your Mistakes Being an entrepreneur, you succeed by learning from your mistakes. There is no one to blame, criticize or fire you for making mistakes.

7. Wealthy If you check the list of the wealthiest people in the world, you will see that each and every one of them are self-employed. They have their own personal business they are running; however, there is no other ways to become rich than having your own personal business. There is nothing as good as that.

8. You Decide Your Own Working Hour You don't have to wake up 5:00am in the morning with the tension of not arriving at the office late. But being an entrepreneur, you have the power to schedule your own working hour. And you will as well have the time to attend to other affairs aside business.

9. Attract more ladies It's no news anymore that ladies love dominant men. I've seen many CEOs, and what I found most common about them is that ladies, are always around them; wanting to date them.

10. Having a Sense of Satisfaction There is no such good feelings as seeing your business growing as a result of your hard work and energy. You get the reward for every bit of energy you put into your business. No one gets the credit, but you.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Thaddeus_J_Winters/2257950

How to Transform an Idea to a Successful Startup

For startups, it is often easier to come up with a number of business designs and plans, but it's more challenging to actually deploy those ideas. A business idea is a bridge between a plan and distinguished hard work. It emphases one's thinking so that the entrepreneur can identify the essentials of his/her projected venture. Transforming an idea into a business concept involves thinking about how the product or service will be traded and who will buy it, the profits of the product or service, how it is distinguished from comparable ones, and methods of delivery.

An effective business idea empowers the founder to neatly describe the precise nature of the business to suppliers, customers, lenders, and resource team members, which is an significant skill for entrepreneurial success. For example, it is not satisfactory to say "I want to start a management consulting company." This tells the listener little. Instead, one might say, "I plan to start a management consulting company that provides strategic planning services to mid-sized businesses in the Southeast. Each consulting team, tailored to meet the unique needs of the client, will provide assessment and planning services to help clients improve efficiency and institute processes for innovation and change, resulting in cost reductions and sales increases."

This version of detailed elaboration tells the listener much more than the first statement and supports the potential client to visualize the business and its offerings.

When describing his/her business idea, the entrepreneur should answer the following questions:
• What is my product/service?
• What does my product/service do?
• How is it different or better than other products/services?
• Who will buy the product/service?
• Why will they buy the product/service?
• How will the product/service be promoted and sold/offered?
• Who are my competitors?

Often the business outcomes changes during feasibility testing and business planning as the entrepreneur learns more about the market and potential viability of the business. Eventually, however, the entrepreneur should be able to correctly, clearly and succinctly describe the core of the business to others in two or three sentences.

Once the business idea and outcomes are clearly defined, the more detailed work of business planning and implementation may begin. Now it's time to implement you great idea and convert into a big successful business that accommodates enough revenue to run your business in profit. As, no one want to live in debts. However, you should consider one thing that idea alone is nothing, hard work is the key to success.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Micheal_Ethan/2415681

Why Is Marketing So Important?

Marketing is an activity whose purpose is to manage the elements that generate value for both a company and the customer. In marketing, the value of a product is the consumer's expectation as to its benefits in relation to the actual amount paid for the product. Just this concept to understand why Marketing is so important to a company.

Due to so many turbulences and uncertainties, companies are seeking, from Marketing, tools that help them to obtain the necessary resources and achieve the short, medium and long term goals.

Marketing directs a company so that it is not out of the market as it helps define the company's Mission from the following question: What are we? Why do we exist? What is our role in society?

Unfortunately many entrepreneurs do not properly plan their business using empirical knowledge to grow the company. They make a serious mistake because only with a marketing plan and with efficient tools will they be able to assess the environment that surrounds them better knowing their prospects and thriving financially. The company that is responsible for developing a marketing plan can test messages to find the one that is most effective in terms of ROI.

The Marketing applied to a company causes that the entrepreneur faces the reality, causes him to see the challenges (be their competition, the difficulty in finding a qualified workforce... ) that will have to face to reach his objectives.

When work in this area is well done, the business owner is able to answer questions that begin with the 5W and 2H (Why, Who, Where, When, What, How, How Much).

The development of Marketing gives a company efficiency, effectiveness because with it, it will have the support and agility necessary for its decision making.

The right development of Marketing in a company allows it to benefit customers with cost-effective purchases. And the companies themselves benefit because, in addition to their profits, they get important information about their customers so they can personalize their messages.

Marketing allows the development of an ongoing relationship with the client making it happen at the right time and in the right place.

Marketing allows a consistency in the image of the brand besides the possibility to leverage good ideas quickly and efficiently.

For all this, we realize that having Marketing properly deployed in a company is a crucial factor for your success as it frees you from many threats.

If you seriously develop an online and / or offline business, i invite you to get some Tools that will help skyrocket your business.

Learn More by clicking on the link below:

http://marketingbusiness.solutions/

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Rick_Tavares/2420958

Become Your Own Boss - Avoid These Common Piitfalls

Entrepreneurs all over the world always run into the marketplace with hopes and dreams of success. However most of them fall flat on their face because they run into common pitfalls. I am happy to share with you today some common pitfalls to avoid if you want to achieve success in the business world. Unfortunately, there are 470,000 businesses that close every year and there are 400,000 that open every year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. As you can see, more businesses are being closed down as opposed to the amount starting up. To be fair, not all business exits are bad, sometimes the owner retires or gets another job.

#1 Empty Pockets

I believe the number one reason why businesses fail is because the owner does not put enough money into the start-up.

#2 Overconfidence

More times than not, sometimes owner get to full of themselves and start ignoring critics. I am not here to say that sometimes they can be right. As a business owner, you will have to humble yourself sometimes and absorb constructive criticism from your critics.

#3 Poor Price Point

The customer is not always right. Although the consumer controls the market, sometimes what they are willing to pay for the product or service does not sync with reality. You will have to test different price points to get a certain overview on what price your market is willing to pay.

#4 communication issues

As an owner, you will have to make sure that you hold communication as a priority in your brand. You must make sure that your employees and clients remain comfortable with talking to you about any issue.

#5 A stale market

Huge employers know that it is crucial to refresh their brand every 12-15 years. The reason for this, in my opinion, is because sometimes people can get bored of what you have to offer. When the market feels like they know everything about you,in my opinion, they lose interest. You must constantly find ways to re-brand and restructure your business to always keep your market on their feet.

If you want to see success in anything in life you must educate yourself on the industry you want to be affiliated with. It will not be easy but if you avoid these tips that I have shared with you, you will absolutely see success. Luckily for you, you can leverage the internet to help you determine the best opportunities to get into.

For more information on how you can become the ultimate business person, check out Free Report

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Marc-Eddy_Drouinaud_Jr/2289154

Seven Success Tips for Entrepreneurs

Nobody starts up a business with an intention to fail. Nevertheless most businesses stop to exist within a few years of start-up. Here are 7 tips to help you succeed as an entrepreneur.

VISION STATEMENT
Entrepreneurs should note that a well written vision statement is critical for business success. A Vision Statement outlines the direction/long-term goals of a business and also serves as a tool for strategic decision making. It should also provide the basis for everything that a business does. Operational policies and plans should align with the vision statement of a business.

MISSION STATEMENT
Entrepreneurs should endeavor to ensure that their business has a mission statement as a mission statement states how a business intends to achieve its vision in practical terms.

A mission statement makes a business focus on what really matters to itself / its stakeholders and should be reviewed periodically to meet evolving needs.

CORE VALUES
The core values of a business are very important as they are what guide a business's code of conduct as well as its relationships with its stakeholders.

To succeed every entrepreneur should have these as his/her personal and business core values.
• Hard work
• Honesty
• Commitment
• Integrity
• Excellence
• Discipline

CREATING BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
Every entrepreneur must continuously create and identify new opportunities to remain competitive.

Business opportunities could come about by expanding your market geographical base, taking advantage of the internet, developing new products/services, partnership with other entrepreneurs.

DELIGHTING CUSTOMERS
Entrepreneurs should have delighting customers as top priority. Customers are the reason why businesses are set up.

Wikipedia defines customer delight as 'surprising a customer by exceeding his or her expectations and thus creating a positive emotional reaction'.

Delighting customers is a critical success factor for any business as it creates customer satisfaction which leads to brand allegiance, business development and profitability.

ENTHUSIASM
Nothing great can be achieved without enthusiasm.

To be successful an entrepreneur must be passionate what he/she does. It is the enthusiasm/drive to succeed that will make you persevere even when things don't seem to work out.

Most successful businessmen have had their companies fail in the past. It is the drive to succeed that kept them going.

READINESS TO TAKE RISK
Entrepreneurs should be ready to take risk in order to succeed.

Some entrepreneur people don't take risk because of the fear of failure and miss big business opportunities. Fear of failure also stifles initiative.

Successful entrepreneurs are not afraid to fail. They analyze and take action.

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts" - Winston Churchill

Contact Aguolu Kenechukwu via email: kenerek1@gmail.com

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Aguolu_Kenechukwu/2362935

What You Need To Do To Make Your Startup A Success

If you plan on striking out on your own to start a new company, you'll find that there are ample resources that are designed to guide entrepreneurs through this process. Starting a company is cheaper and easier than ever before given the ability to leverage the Internet in order to effectively connect with people while minimising your operational and outreach costs. There are, however, a few important things you have to do to ensure that your startup is a success.

Although starting a business is currently cheaper and easier than ever before, it is still important for business owners to have a secondary and steady source of income throughout their first year of operation. This will take the pressure off of your company to succeed immediately. You will have sufficient funds for covering your ongoing operating costs and your basic living expenses and will not have to function in a constant state of panic.

Establish a solid working schedule so that you are devoting an appropriate amount of time to your new organisation. A lot of new business owners expect that they can earn massive sums of money overnight, without having to invest a whole lot of time or effort. In reality, however, must successful entrepreneurs work long days and nights, particularly during the earliest stages of business development.

Make sure that you have a functional and attractive website for connecting with your prospects and customers. This will likely serve as your primary sales platform unless you will be maintaining a blog to sell affiliate products, using third-party classified or auction sites to host your wares or opening up a brick and mortar store that people can visit in person.

Get help with the web design process so that your pages are both viable and accessible on a broad range of devices. You want people to be able to connect with you irrespective of the tools that they are using to search the web. Professional web development will also make it easier for you to optimise your pages for search engines.

Create a solid business plan that will serve as your guide during the most formative stages of your endeavors. It is important to have a clear strategy for how you will get things done and a cohesive outline of what you hope to accomplish. This will make it easier to properly allocate both your business development monies and your time for optimal returns.

Seek help when you need it but avoid over-staffing your company so you don't run into any serious financial troubles before your profits become consistent. It is a good idea to work with people who are skilled in the areas you are not. It is also prudent to limit the number of financial obligations you take on, until you have sufficient money in savings for covering your operating expenses during slow periods.

Take the time to get the training you need in various technical areas in order to run your office efficiently and according to the requirements of your chosen industry. These can include Microsoft Office courses, training in human resource management and instruction for receiving any professional licensing your company requires. The more skilled you become, the less trained talent you will require to hire in order to establish a fully-functional organisation.

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Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/VS_Singh/2182324

6 Reasons Why You Should Be Your Own Boss In Business

"There is only one success, to be able to spend your life in your own way. - Christopher Marley."

Becoming your own boss means that you create your own business. You are going to have to take responsibility for your business and you have to be willing to take risks. That said, here are 6 reasons why you should be your own boss.

You pursue a purpose - Being your own boss means that you are able to decide what you want to do with your career and your life. If you were working for someone else, you are working for their purpose, which you may or may not agree with. However being self-employed will give you the opportunity to create a unique purpose that will contribute to other peoples' lives.

You are passionate - Creating your own business means that you can use your interests and passions to your advantage. You will be able to build a business that resonates with the things that excite you and give you passion. You will wake up every day feeling excited to work because you enjoy it.

You create freedom and flexibility - Working for yourself will mean that you can choose the times in which you work, creating a flexible lifestyle. You can spend more time with friends and family. Depending on the type of business you own, such as an Internet Business, you are also able to work from different locations, giving you the ability to travel while you work.

You control your finances - Being employed for someone else means that you are given a pay check that may or may not satisfy you. Being self-employed means that you have the power to control how much you earn. It will certainly be a struggle at first when building your own business to earn a good income. However as time passes and you commit to your business, the financial benefits can be very satisfactory.

You are in charge - There is no one to tell you how to run your business. You make decisions, you manage employees and you take the responsibility. Imagine working for someone else your whole life, where they tell you what to do and how to do it. Being your own boss allows you to do things the way you like to do them.

You grow as a person - Building your own business will build your character over the years. Your self-esteem will develop due to the confidence of managing your own business. Your legacy will develop as you make a difference in the world and change people's lives. You will grow in many ways that you couldn't of if you were working for someone else.

Finally, becoming your own boss is not for everyone. Some people do not want to deal with the commitment and persistence involved in creating their own business. They would much rather prefer to choose the easy option and work for someone else.

"Entrepreneurship is living a few years of your life like most people won't, so you can spend the rest of your life like most people can't."

My Website - [http://lotusnation.com/]

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Ediz_Emin/2298150

Non-Profit Does Not Mean No Money

There is a big misconception with first time business owners and entrepreneurs about non-profit businesses. Many first time business start-up owners think that they would rather start a for-profit over a non-profit because they want to make money. The thought is that they do not want to start a non-profit because they (incorrectly) think that non-profits cannot make money.

The fact is that there are more streams of revenue in a non-profit organization than a for-profit business. Although not all types of businesses are eligible for the non-profit tax-exempt status, there are some types of businesses that can easily be formed as a for-profit or non-profit. Perhaps the best example is a child day-care center. Regardless the type of business entity the child day care center can charge the same rates and fees for the same services. The staff can receive the same rate of pay and benefits. The same profits (surplus) can be gained.

In addition to generating the same revenue through the sale of products and services the 501c3 non-profit can receive tax-exempt donations from fund raising, in-kind donations of products and labor (volunteers), endowments, and grant funding. The 501c3 tax-exempt organizations are also exempt from paying federal income tax, federal unemployment taxes (FUIT), and in some states, sales tax.

Non-profit organizations can purchase capital assets such as property, buildings, and investments. Non-profit organizations can pay employees benefits, insurance, and retirement plans. Non-profits can pay for additional employee benefits and perks as long as they generate enough revenue to do so.

Non-profit organizations do have a limit as to the amount of revenue they can receive in a tax year. The limit is three times the amount of their estimated budget for that year. For example, if a non-profits budget was $500,000 for the next tax year they could legally generate up to $1.5 million before adjusting their budget and reporting.

A couple of examples of excellent non-profits and their ability to generate revenue are: the Girl Scouts of America (501c3) which sells cookies, and the NFL (National Football League, a 501c6) which is a kind of membership association of privately owned for-profit businesses.

These organizations generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue each year through their business efforts.

There is a special application process required to be submitted to the IRS for a business to become recognized as a 501c3 tax-exempt corporation. This application packet commonly consists of eight documents.

American Grant Writers Association
http://www.agwa.us

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/John_Porter/2296801

Being Your Own Boss & Low-Cost Business Start-Up Ideas

It's true that with recent recession, the impact on the global economy, and decreasing employment prospects, more and more people are seriously considering self-employment and entrepreneurship as a viable alternative. I can tell you now though, everyone could be a successful entrepreneur, but not everyone is prepared to do what it takes, or has the determination and drive to be an entrepreneur.

This article gives a general overview of what it takes to start your own business, and if you feel that a lack of funds is your biggest hurdle, then this is for you, because it also gives you some great low-cost business ideas. Of course it's easier if funds are readily available, but funds alone do not determine success, you have to be prepared to take action. This is therefore more specifically for those who don't have the luxury of much start-up capital, but are prepared to take action.

So, before you get started, ask yourself: 'Does it only take a great deal of knowledge, money, or connections to start your own business?' Well, the answer is a big 'NO.'

Of course all of these elements are important, and cannot be under-estimated, but they mean nothing without a few key traits that you should possess in order to succeed in the world of business. Now I'm not pointing this out to scare you off, or to make you doubt yourself, instead, let it be a prompt to discover, or rediscover these characteristics within! So, what does it take? This is by no means a definitive list, but you'll need courage, initiative, creativity, the ability to recognize and learn from your mistakes, self-belief, determination, perseverance and patience. Believe me, if you have these, along with the practical pointers this guide offers, it won't matter how little money you have, if you go about utilising the resources you have in the right way, you'll create opportunities, build your business and be a success.

No/Low Capital Start-Up Options

So, you're still interested in starting up a business, but have no idea of what sort of business you could do, and have little or no capital? Don't lose heart... A number of incredibly successful people started with zero funds and still managed to achieve incredible success. If you'd like a free short consultation to look at options, like me on Facebook and sign-up to site... I'd be happy to help. Further to that, the following are examples of businesses that you could start-up without any funds, can be started from home, and have the ability to expand. These are also great options to consider as they don't necessarily need specialised training. You will however need to be prepared to familiarise yourself with what is generally required to run these businesses, so some general knowledge is essential.

Consultancy

Think about the skills and expertise you already have, and consider whether it is sufficient to offer consultancy services. Starting a consultation business is fairly easy. All you need is a platform to provide your services from, (freelancing platforms are again a good option), and some business prospects that would be interested in hiring you. A website or blog is also a good and cost-effective platform to start with.

The Online Money-maker

There are a number of businesses that you can start online, either free or by investing a small amount. A few examples of these include e-commerce websites, affiliate marketing, selling on eBay or Amazon, writing and selling e-books, blogging, publishing content on sites that support ads, and many others.

Millions of entrepreneurs use the internet to run businesses that generate millions. Some of these businesses can also provide you with passive incomes streams that allow for ongoing earnings.

Virtual Assistant Services

During the launch of one of my businesses I was shocked by how many people contacted me asking what sort of businesses they could start up or services they could offer. I started doing skills reviews and one of the job roles that I found a majority of people could fit into, was that of the Virtual Assistant. Tasks such as typing, replying to emails, scheduling, web research etc were (among many others), what most were capable of doing fairly easily, and could earn from... anywhere, anytime (with certain essentials like internet access, for example).

Social Media Services and Management

Social media use is a global phenomenon and is now seen not just as popular, but essential for most businesses. Most of us are social media users and most businesses are looking for people to manage their social media presence. With a little research and practice, it wouldn't be difficult to offer this as a service to businesses.

Convenience Services

We all know people who are either too busy to do certain tasks, or just don't like doing them. Services such as cleaning, getting people's laundry done, dog walking, handyman services, and even cooking or shopping are all examples of convenience tasks that appeal to certain audiences. Setup doesn't require a lot of investment, and you can easily use your contacts to break into the business.

These are a few ideas that you can start instantly, but it's important to carry out due diligence and research the business that you aim to start to get to know your market etc, (as advised at the beginning of this guide), but also to ensure you have the necessary skills/qualifications for certain roles.

So we come to the end of this article which has some key points to bear in mind, and is most relevant when starting up under financial constraints. While start-up capital is always helpful, business success often hinges on improvisation, creativity, strategy and determination, so plan and implement wisely. I am committed to seeing others succeed, both in business and personally, and I hope that this article has been useful to you. I value your thoughts, so if you have any comments or questions, please send me a message on Facebook or through my website contact page, as I will continue to improve my resources based on your feedback. Don't forget to like my Facebook page and sign up on my website for more free e-book offers, articles and for information on consultancy services.

Good luck! Here's to your success!

© 2016 Noleen Mariappen

(http://www.noleenm.com)

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Noleen_Mariappen/2057327

What Are Common Risks Many Businesses Face and How Are They Eliminated?

Starting a business is risky and must be managed! I started my consulting practice in 2003. At the time, I decided to join the local chamber of commerce. At one of the workshops, I was asked by one of the coordinators if I had an exit strategy or backup plan. My response, absolutely not! Why did I say that? Because I had just been laid off for the second time in my career; the thought of sending out resumes was unappealing; and psychologically I needed to be absolutely committed to what I was doing.

Now, my type of business does not have the financial risks for a startup. I did not immediately have to hire any employees, or buy inventory, enter into a lease, buy furniture and fixtures, etc. A few thousand dollars and a computer and I was off and running.

What were my risks: starting from scratch, not having the support of a large corporation and all the benefits it provides, learning how to self-promote; was that ad I placed in the newspaper going to be a bust or reap rewards? Was that networking group I joined going to pay off or not?

Due to the nature of my business, I encountered many small businesses and have been able to observe the successful risk takers and the not so successful risk takers;

The best risk takers were the calculated risk takers: having a business plan, having a source of capital, not entering into expensive leases, not overdoing it in the furniture and fixture department, managing debt not letting it manage them, negotiating rents, rates, etc., doing their homework with regard to their particular market, having a budget. The more you know, reduces your risk!

The worst risk takers sign leases they cannot afford, do not negotiate terms, rates, etc., have no idea whether a market even exists for their goods and services, do not have a plan of any kind, overspend on everything, do not keep good records, and do not ask for any advice; and if they do they don't take the advice!

What is an entrepreneur to do?? Recognize that to be successful a business has to take risks, but they can be managed and are worth it! Learn how to negotiate! The rent/overhead must be paid whether you have any business or not. If you have fallen into the expensive lease, see if your landlord will negotiate. It does not hurt to ask. Do your homework with regard to location, size of market, costs of doing business (insurance, utilities, employees, taxes, fees, etc). Beware of debt: you could still be paying for inventory years later that is long gone!

Good Luck!

Margaret L Crosby, EA of Pace Consulting Beverly MA Advanced Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor can assist you in solving your business issues. Certified in QuickBooks Point of Sale software, call 781-738-1669 or go to http://www.paceltd.com for your free report.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Margaret_L_Crosby/1385447