Autoresponder systems make it simple to advertise by email.  You can create as many custom messages aimed at your target markets as you like and send them out as frequently as you can manage.  But should you?  How much is too much?  At what point do you risk alienating your customers and watching your open rates plunge, while your unsubscribe rates rise? Read the rest of this entry »

What’s in a name?  Well, as you probably know, quite a lot!  An attractive and compelling “corporate image” for your small business can attract customers and ensure your business makes the best impression possible.  You want to have a professional looking logo, great letterhead, a striking slogan, and, needless to say, a short, memorable domain name.  And you can—but don’t rush into anything, or you could risk losing customers. Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re like most people looking at beginning to do business online, you don’t really have a lot of startup capital to work with.  You probably don’t have a lot of time, either.  You need to find tools that will increase sales without costing you a lot of time and money.  Making your website as interactive as possible can help.  Adding customer reviews, for example, can build your business in a number of ways. Read the rest of this entry »

In order to really get your new Internet business going, you’ll need to try to kill two birds with one stone—or three birds, if you can.  It’s not like a regular job where, if you don’t care about what you do, you can show up and do the bare minimum to get by.  You’re going to be responsible for your own success, and that’s going to take a lot of energy, and nothing gives you energy like indulging your passions! Read the rest of this entry »

There’s simply no question that you should be involved in an affiliate marketing program.  Unfortunately, there’s also no question that there are a lot of shady Internet businesses running around in the world.  You don’t want your business’ reputation sullied by the likes of them!  So, how do you protect yourself? Read the rest of this entry »

At first glance, you may have been taken aback by the title of this post.  What, you may ask, does a pay per click tool have to do with time management?  Well, that depends on how you look at it.  But pay per click and other tools aimed at managing and increasing your business can overwhelm you if you let them. Read the rest of this entry »

If the quote, “doing well by doing good,” sounds familiar, it’s because it’s from Benjamin Franklin, a notably successful entrepreneur.  He promoted the idea that doing good for your community is a profitable way to do business.  As an online business, you have to ask yourself, “what is my community?”  –and how can you be seen by the community as an upstanding and ethical company? Read the rest of this entry »