by Donna Maria on March 9, 2010
This is a guest post by John Easton, a recovering corporate executive turned entrepreneur. Through his
Charlotte website design company, John helps small business owners create video, web and multimedia tools that turn “browsers” into “buyers.” Follow John on Twitter at
@jeaston1.
Let’s face it — we don’t like working out. No matter what new fangled Wii Fit device or belly bustin’ technique hits the market, we still hate interrupting our daily work routine to break a sweat. But what if we could get paid to work out? Well, you can, and I’m going to show you how through a new concept I call “exer-preneurship.” It’s a new way of looking at exercise that keeps you fit and paid at the same time.
Yep, that’s me. Suited up, Blackberry in hand and ready to build my business and my body on my elliptical trainer. Let’s start with blogging. It’s one of my favorite exercise routines. That’s right, I blog while I exercise, and it’s one of the best things I do for my business. Continue Reading…
by Donna Maria on March 8, 2010
Over the years, I have received numerous guest post submissions for my blog. I have only accepted one. Others have been cheesy attempts to advertise to you, and a few have been submitted by people who threw something together and submitted it to dozens of blogs at once. I know you wouldn’t have appreciated posts like that, so I politely declined.
These days, I’m receiving increasing numbers of submissions, a few of them quite good, so I created some guidelines so people know what will and will not be considered as a guest post at the Indie Business Blog. For those of you with something of quality to share, this is your invitation to write for my blog! Continue Reading…
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…
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…