SOLO MOMPRENEUR

Archive for the ‘Business Plan’ Category

Guest post by Lisbeth Tanz

One of the things I hear most frequently from new freelance writers is that they didn’texpect it to be so hard.

If they had asked me, I could have told them that doing this work isn’t the easiest way to earn a living, at least not initially.

No new business is easy – but when you consider that all you need to start a writing business is a computer, Internet connection, telephone, fax (maybe) and writing talent, it seems like a slam dunk.

However, starting a writing business takes more than just good writing skills. It takes business savvy (or the willingness to develop it), the ability and desire to work hard to get established and an understanding that money won’t start flowing immediately (unless you’re really, really fortunate).

Here are 10 things to consider before you declare yourself in business as a writer:

1. Identify the things you know a lot about and would enjoy writing about.
2. Determine how much time per day you will be able to pursue your writing business dream.
3. Determine the market(s) you want to pursue. Do you want to write for magazines? Newspapers? Web content providers? Your own content? Do you want to create your own products? Do you want to be an affiliate marketer? (You’d be surprised at how much writing is necessary when you promote the products of others effectively.) NOTE:  Each of these markets is different and you may not be able to find work for some of them on the job boards.
4. Analyze (don’t just look at) the top job boards:  guru.com, elance.com and odesk.com. There are others, but these three are probably the biggest. I could write a post or three on just this topic. You’ll want to look for what the most successful bidders are doing and emulate them.
5. Take a stroll over to Craigslist to see what freelance gigs might be posted there. Sometimes I find hidden gems on my local Craigslist.
6. Now that you’ve done some research, you’re better prepared to write down three goals you would like to achieve with your writing business in the next three months, six months and 12 months. Setting goals helps you stay focused.
7. You’ll also want to calculate how much money you must earn to make this venture worthwhile. You can learn how in this post I wrote about calculating your freelance writing rates .
8. If you don’t have any writing examples, create some! You won’t need many, but you will need to create a few that can demonstrate your writing ability.
9. Consider where and when you’ll do your writing. If you have three kids under three, this could be a challenge. But people manage extreme or difficult situations and still make time for writing, so get creative with your planning.
10. If your skills aren’t up to snuff, search for mentors, websites and books that can help you improve your skills.

There are many other things to consider, but these should get you started. You might have noticed that I didn’t talk about coming up with a business name, creating a logo, making business cards, etc. That’s because you will best serve yourself by considering these 10 points before you jump headfirst into a writing business.

Many thanks to Melanie for giving me the opportunity to guest post on Solo Mompreneur!

Lisbeth Tanz is a freelance copywriter and editor. Her business, The Hired Pen, was started on a wing and a prayer in 2004 (before she understood the 10 points above). Since then she’s written and edited for a wide variety of business clients, but focuses primarily on alternative health and wellness, home improvement and pets/animal companion writing. She’s continually amazed at all there is to learn about writing and business and enjoys sharing her newfound knowledge with new and experienced writers at www.savvyfreelancewriters.com. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn .

Although I’ve been a medical professional for many years, I’m not talking about medical emergencies here.  Let’s put all of those into the hands of the skilled and fine emergency room physicians.

However, I do want to talk about what you can do to put a band-aid on your business in case of a solo entrepreneur emergency.

If you’re brand new to the internet, you’ll want to keep a big box of these band-aids on hand.

You’ll need a smaller supply if you’re a seasoned solo professional and you experience only an occasional cut or scrape.

Whether you’ve been a solo pro for years or you’re just getting your internet biz off the ground …

You need affiliate marketing band-aids!

You’ve been a “promotion and recommendation” expert since kindergarten.

When you got a new toy for your birthday, you shared it and showed it off to your friends.  And when you put on a spiffy new pair of Keds sneakers, you instantly became a walking advertisement – literally and figuratively!

In this series, I’ll be talking about how you can rely on affiliate marketing to create streams of income or heal a drop in sales.

To begin this journey with me, grab a FREE copy of Affiliate Classroom Magazine and read the comparison of different affiliate marketing business models.  No, I am not an affiliate for this magazine.

Choose a business model that fits your goals and your personality.

See you for Part 2!

Having a business blog has become as important (critical, really!) as having a business card.

Your blog should be considered the hub of all your online business building activities. And you should be posting at least two or three times a week – more often would be even better.

What I’m hearing, over and over again, from small business owners and solo professionals is that they’re feeling overwhelmed at the notion of maintaining a blog. Their biggest concern is writer’s block.

They write a few blog posts and then they draw a blank and can’t seem to come up with ongoing, interesting, creative topics to blog about. If this is the case for you, put your worries to rest.

I found a wonderful free resource that will have you swimming in ideas to blog about. It’s a blogging calendar and planner for the entire year that also includes some really intriguing and downright funny holidays and observances celebrated everywhere. I printed out my own copy as soon as I discovered this really cool blogging tool.

Don’t know what to blog about? Just check your calendar! Download A Free 2010 Blogging Calendar and Planner today.

Don’t be concerned about relevancy of this calendar since half the year is already over.  We’ve still got the second half to go, right?!

I love tools and resources like this that help to keep me organized and give me lots of inspiration.

I’d also really love to hear what kinds of tools YOU use to come up with fresh content for your blog.

Today I’m going to write what I call a “pigeonhole” post.

After you read the post, use the comment box below to tell me your definition of a pigeonhole post.

On with the post …

When I share a business success formula with my target audience, a quote from Adam Urbanski always sticks in the forefront of my mind.  Adam says, “Your offerings should be ‘pain killers’ versus vitamins.”

My audience is short on time.  They want the most valuable business-building information that’s as concise as possible – consumed and digested quickly.

Here’s the formula I give them:

1) Get to know yourself – Make a list of your attributes (gifts, talents, strengths, life and work experiences)

2) Develop and research your ideas – Find out what others have done in your field, what kinds of problems people are looking to solve, and what they are willing to pay for the solutions.

3) Clearly define your message – Who will you serve?  How will you serve them?

4) Marketing your product or service – Stick with three to five marketing platforms till you have mastered them.  Then start adding more.

The best strategy for business success is to be a good listener.  Listen to your target market and be first in line to answer their questions and provide solutions to their problems.

(I’ll be curious to read what you think a pigeonhole post is!)

Listen to this post if you like

Do you ever have days, as a solo professional, when you feel like your moods are being dictated by the tides?

Or maybe your planets just aren’t aligned properly?

I have days like that. You know, “off” days.

I awaken in the morning with the greatest of intentions (and even a plan! – that’s a plus) and then everything goes to hell in a handbasket.

No matter how hard I force myself, I can’t focus.  My brain and my body are saying, “Forget it. We’re not cooperating with you today.”

So I just have to stop and pay attention to what’s going on inside of me and try to put my finger on what’s causing it.

Without fail, every time this happens, I realize it’s because I’m overly stressed.  I’ve taken on too much at once, set myself up for unrealistic expectations, and my brain and my body go into “shut down” mode.

These kinds of days also bring to light (bigtime!) that I’m not making enough time for “Me Time”.

As a solo mompreneur, I’ve adopted a very strong conviction that “Me Time” should be part of everyone’s business-building plan.  Ignore the fact, and you and your business will suffer.

It’s okay to take a time out and do some activities that rejuvenate your spirit and as I like to say, activities that “Take your mind off your mind”.

Maybe it’s gardening. Or maybe it’s taking a walk or a long soak in the tub.  Or it could be that your body just needs to be at rest and you need a nap.

If your desire is to have the most pleasant and productive days possible as you work to grow your business, please don’t forget to make time for “Me Time”.

Click one of the “Me Time” links in this post to receive a Free copy of Heather Bestel’s e-book, MORE ME TIME.

Prefer to listen to this post?

I turned a half a hundred seven years ago (all of you math wizards have now figured out my age).  Sorry.  There’s no prize involved.

Let’s just say I’ve “been around the block” a time or two and I have a fair amount of life experience under my belt.  I know the difference between right and wrong and I’ve learned that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.

I decided to become an independent business owner and online marketer after spending almost four decades in the offline working world.  That’s okay.  I believe it’s never too late to follow your passion and design a life that’s right for you.

So, if you’re not moving forward in your business or you’re still sitting on the fence about getting started, what’s holding you back?

Is it that you’re not sure how to put together a business plan? (A short and simple plan is all you need).  Or is it that you think you have to spend money to market your business? (Not true! – You can market on a $0 budget).

Maybe you’re resisting because you lack some necessary skills (Don’t worry a bit – there’s lots of resources and easy action steps to follow).

Take it from this old lady …

There’s no better time than today to live your passion and purpose – profitably!

What questions can I answer for you today that will help you get started or move you closer to your goals as a small business owner?

Prefer to listen to this post?

And she’s a doctor!!

But it just can’t be prevented sometimes.

It’s a terrible affliction and there’s no known cure.

Terrie’s not alone.  Internet marketers seem to have more “sign-up-itis” than any other segment of the population.  I suffered with it for about three years and then it finally went away.

Oddly enough, it started easing up considerably once my bank account was drained.  I’m seeing a correlation here, how about you?

In medical/pathological terms (which doctors know a lot about), the suffix “itis” denotes inflammation of an organ (bronchitis; gastritis).

In extended senses, “itis” denotes abnormal states or conditions, excesses, tendencies, obsessions, etc. (telephonitis; baseballitis).

Come to think of it, I believe my friend also has “baseball-itis”.  Terrie is really CRAZY about those Yankees!!

Now I want you to be aware that one form of “sign-up-itis” is much more harmful than the other.

The first form is where you sign up for every Free thing that comes down the pike – free ebooks, coupons, teleseminars, ice cream, movie tickets, webinars, surveys, reports, contests, and maybe even toe rings.

In this case, the sign-up-itis involves no pain or discomfort and you’ll probably be okay.

The second form is more serious and may require intervention.

You’ll know you suffer from the second form if you don’t bother to put your credit card back in your wallet and leave it within arm’s reach of your computer keyboard – just in case there’s something to sign up for today.

This form of sign-up-itis can be excruciatingly painful and you must seek treatment right away!

All joking around aside, try your best to only sign up for programs, products, and services that relate to your target market and those that help to move your business forward.

My friend, Terrie, coined the phrase “sign-up-itis” and we like to kid around about it.

By the way …

Have you signed up for a copy of my FREE Solo Mompreneur Survival Kit Yet?

Prefer to listen to this post?

Do you think you could you sell a bathing suit to a fish?

Fish spend all their time in water and do a lot of swimming, right?!

And how about selling shoes to a dog?

Dogs have four feet and do a lot of walking, right?!

But fish don’t need bathing suits and dogs don’t need shoes.

Fish might want a larger aquarium to swim around in, additional fish in the tank to keep them company, or some new exotic fish food to sample.

And dogs might want some doggie treats, a new toy, or a nice comfy bed for all those naps they seem to enjoy every day.

As a small business owner and online marketer, it’s much more savvy to sell people what they WANT, not what they need!

Let’s say you’re an artsy-craftsy kind of person and you’re in the business of sculpting figurines in the shape of cats.

Instead of marketing and promoting your cat sculptures in newspapers, trade publications for artists, or art-related venues online …

Find out where cat lovers hang out and share your expertise! Look for them in forums, groups, on Twitter, or research cat-loving blogs and articles.

Tell cat lovers why you chose this art form, why cats inspire you, what motivates you as an artist, your favorite kinds of cats, big sculpting boo-boos you’ve made along the way, etc.

Cat lovers certainly don’t NEED a cat sculpture, but they sure might WANT one!

Do you see the difference here?  Can you think of some ways you might change your marketing efforts and strategies to get better results and enjoy greater success?

Invaluable PR
This kind of publicity can be priceless!

We all know that awareness and driving traffic to your business is one of the biggest challenges for any business owner. Winners of the Leading Moms in Business Ranking will be part of a very high profile list that will be published and promoted widely in traditional media such as national and local TV, radio, in newspapers and magazines, and on some of the largest, most influential websites on the web. MSN, Bizjournals, ABC News NOW (and StartupNation, of course) have been among media covering the rankings and spreading the word about these enterprising moms.

If you have a mom-owned business, Enter Here

When you arrive on the page to get more details and submit your business, will you please cast a quick vote for me?  Thank You!

I rarely enter competitions such as this.  However, I am making an exception since the competition is being sponsored by “Ladies Who Launch” and “StartUpNation”.  They have a stellar reputation.

While we’re on the subject of Public Relations …

My mentor and colleague, Jessica Swanson, is hosting a complimentary webinar tomorrow evening 5/20 entitled, “Profitable Public Relations”.

Grab your No-cost seat now

I’ll tell you a little secret …

I’ve already seen the webinar and it’s out-of-this-world wonderful!  As a member of Jessica’s Shoestring Marketing Association, I have the joy and privilege of viewing webinars in advance of the general public.

All I can say is DON’T MISS IT!

Are you a passionate, devoted, nose-to-the-grind female entrepreneur?  Do you truly LOVE your business and know there’s a place for it in this world?

Do you ever feel bewildered or frustrated because despite the fact that you sleep, eat, and drink your business, it isn’t moving forward financially the way you want it to?

The great news is, you’re not alone.  Female entrepreneurs are the fastest growing segment of the entrepreneurial market. More women than ever want to take charge of their own futures and show they can succeed on their own terms.

In “See Jane Succeed” by Michele DeKinder-Smith, founder of Jane Out Of The Box, five types of female entrepreneurs (the “Janes”) reveal what it takes to win in business and in life.

These are the “Janes” Michele will introduce to you – the women who have summoned the courage, tenacity, and determination to start or run a business:

• Accidental Jane
• Go Jane Go
• Jane Dough
• Merry Jane
• Tenacity Jane

If you are living on the edge and burning out on the demands of entrepreneurial life, this book will speak to you in the language that every entrepreneurial woman understands.

Michele DeKinder-Smith’s ability to see into the hearts and minds of female entrepreneurs and provide distinct advice to each of us in our unique journeys shows how much she cares about our success.

The best part?  Before you decide to read See Jane Succeed, click the banner below and take the “Which Jane Are You?” assessment FREE!