by Donna Maria on January 31, 2010
Blogging has enhanced my life in many ways. A blog is an extremely versatile platform and can be used by small and independent business owners in many ways. I recently suggested that startups could use blogs as a business planning tool. As Tim Berry, author of The Plan-as-You-Go Business Plan
(affiliate link), pointed out in my radio show interview, business planning is not something that happens once.
While it is an ongoing process, it does not require a big 3-ring binder and bunches of spread sheets and pie charts. Especially for new entrepreneurs, using a blog is an especially efficient way to plan a business. Here are some ideas to get you started. Continue Reading…
by Donna Maria on December 27, 2009
This is the third in a series of posts featuring small business owners’ suggestions for things you can do to be successful in 2010.
Last week, I told you about Joan Morais, an IBN member who increased her productivity and profitability this year by hiring a virtual assistant. I also told you about Marla Bosworth, a member who doubled her 2009 sales by doing a few simple things that anyone can do. Today, I’m sharing how fragrance therapist and natural perfumer JoAnne Bassett used a free blog to beef up her business in 2009.
Of course you know from the posts in my Blogging Category that I firmly believe that anyone who wants to maximize their business opportunities needs to use a blog to do it. That’s why it gives me great pleasure to know that JoAnne is enjoying great success with her blog. Here’s how blogging helped JoAnne expand her business this year, and her suggestions for why you should launch a blog of your own, if you haven’t already done so. Continue Reading…
by Donna Maria on December 18, 2009
Liana Spiegel, an IBN member at our FaceBook Page, asked an interesting question recently. She wondered whether she needs a blog if she already has a FaceBook Page. After all, if she can quickly engage people and generate sales on FaceBook, why invest the time to also maintain a blog? This is a very good question, especially since it was FaceBook and not blog interaction (I have never visited Liana’s blog), that resulted in my purchase of some of her products last week.
If a FaceBook Page is fun, efficient and delivers new sales, does a small business owner need to maintain a blog too? Well, it depends on what your goals are. Here are some things to consider. Continue Reading…
by Donna Maria on November 25, 2009
I am often asked what I do. While I am involved in lots of business activities, my initial answer is always the same: I lead the Indie Beauty Network (IBN), a trade organization that provides business and advocacy services to small companies that make health, beauty and lifestyle products, and also to the companies that serve them. IBN launched in January 2000 and today serves close to 1,000 dues paying members. IBN also serves many thousands of others via a weekly newsletter (here’s this week’s issue; you can subscribe here) and an active social networking site.
To supplement my service to my members, I maintain 3 blogs that serve very distinct purposes. This post shares a bit about blogs so you will know how each one can serve you best. Continue Reading…
Comments
How “Comment Blogging” Expands Your Sphere of Influence
by Donna Maria on February 5, 2010
Publishing comments at influential blogs in your field can help expand your sphere of influence efficiently and effectively. I call this “comment blogging” (I think I made up that phrase?), and I do it regularly. If done over a period of time, comment blogging can result in new client prospects, exciting collaborations and valuable features at other people’s blogs.
No doubt you’ve been encouraged to increase traffic to your blog by contributing blog comments that link back to you. This is great, just be sure your comments always add something of value to the discussion. Continue Reading…