Strategic planning for business growth is an absolute necessity if you want to succeed. You may not realize it but not planning is planning by default. The results you achieve will be in direct proportion to the planning, or not, that you are doing right now.

One strategy that is often recommended by experts and business owners alike is to find and join business to business networking groups. These are referral organizations, since that is why everybody is there, that allow you to reach other people and businesses. Sometimes referred to as “leads groups” they meet regularly and provide opportunities to “swap business cards” and a whole lot more.

These organizations, whether put together by a non-profit organization, a commercial enterprise, or an industry forum are basically a form of advertising, but when compared to other forms of advertising that reach an equivalent number of potential clients or customers, it is very inexpensive.

To successfully create a strategy for the future – the first step should be research, market research to determine who is most likely to benefit the most from your services. That research is described by some as “finding your niche.” This is helpful not only in determining who you should spend your time trying to attract to your company – it is a process that will help you choose the right business networking groups for you.

The business networking groups you choose, after doing your research, should put you in the company of your ideal prospects, others in the same line of business you’re in so you can partner up on future projects, or people who have access to the folks in your ideal market.

Strategic planning for business will focus on the process of identifying your niche, because that is where you should be spending your time, money, and energy. When you are truly focused in the right direction you will come across business by accident – because you’ll be in the neighborhood.

Let’s face it, when you put yourself in front of the right people, there will be business coming your way no matter how inept you might be at promoting your company. If you are the best marketer on earth who is always making their pitch to the wrong people – being good at it will not get you business.

Business networking groups allow you to expand on the process (and you should make it a process) of being there, where the people are talking about the things you can help them with are. Naturally, you should continue advertising to people that you “know” are interested in your products or services.

But, you should also try to reach people that have the “potential” to be interested in your products or services – especially if you have a unique approach to helping people like them solve their problems. If they are not currently seeking what you provide, it really doesn’t matter, they may need you in the future and they might know someone who does need you today.

Some business networking groups offer conventional marketing tools and techniques. They may host seminars where business owners can compare notes and exchange ideas. They often host trade shows and large scale exhibitions, where you will have the opportunity to market your services to thousands of potential clients. They may offer free workshops on leadership, scheduling and growing your customer base – where maybe you can be a presenter. In other words, there is a lot more to the membership than at first meets the eye.

But, before you join a group, you may want to learn how to successfully market yourself or your company. Experts tell us that we only get that one shot so we better get it right. One suggestion is to prepare and develop an “elevator speech”. Can you describe the problems that your company solves for people in 30 seconds or less? If so, you can find new contacts on an elevator ride.

Another suggestion is to write down that thirty second speech and share it with people on the Internet, maybe in discussion groups or on social media sites. Even an introvert can meet new people online. Today, the Internet is an absolute necessity in strategic planning for business. You need to learn how to use this tool and use it well.

Many people spend hours every day socializing with friends, colleagues and current clients. What’s the value in that? It may be tension relieving, so you go home feeling like you had a business day – but what did you accomplish that will take you closer to your objectives? Maybe you should be spending that time, at least an hour a day, developing brand new contacts. Business networking groups can help.

Strategic planning for business will involve a variety of other techniques. One of the most effective is using the peer group process to connect with you contemporaries on a regular basis to share ideas and insights to help one another.

When you are part of an ongoing strategic conversation with your industry peers you will be able to make better decisions, the single most effective way to achieve better results.

Home-based business is a valid business model. Don’t let anybody tell you otherwise. The majority of businesses in Australia are home based businesses. The problem is that most of these businesses will fail. There are a couple of reasons for this that I will outline below. The purpose of this article is to share with you three personality profiles that cover most home based business owners. You will know which one that you should be and this article should help give you the kick start you need to grow your own business and be a success.

Some business owners just make things happen and it seems to happen easily Successful home-based business owners just make things happen. They realise that success is their responsibility and that you can make luck happen. They work hard but they also work smart. These entrepreneurs set SMART goals. They get really specific and set both long term and short term goals and assess them regularly to ensure that they are running a successful business. Some of these people may actually run multiple enterprises because they are so well organised. In case you haven’t worked it out, this is the type of home based business entrepreneur that you want to be. It may just be that you need to take that jump off the cliff.

Some business owners wait for things to happen and expect others to help them, They work hard but everything seems to be a bit of a struggle- These whiners blame everybody else for their problems without actually taking responsibility for their own actions. These people are generally unorganized and they generally procrastinate regularly. If this sounds like you make sure you start taking responsibility for your actions before your business becomes one of those that fails. The best way to start may be by putting together a daily to do list and ticking off each item on the list. Keep working until you have finished your daily tasks.

Some business owners just have no idea what is going on- For some people, the world just seems to pass them by. They’ve got no idea what really is going on until it is too late. One day they just wake up and find that their business has failed. You need to make sure that this is not you. You need to start setting SMART goals and you need to put in place KPI’s.

Home based business owners can be successful if they set SMART goals and constantly work towards them. Start setting laser specific goals with both short and long term targets and you will start to make things happen.

Building an online business involves a lot of strategic planning, financial planning, and goal setting if you are going to be successful. What a lot of aspiring entrepreneurs do not realize is that it is also important to maintain certain mental attributes and leadership skills that will help to motivate planning strategies and goals.

There are certain attributes that entrepreneurs possess that determine how successful they will be as an online business owner. These are success principles that entrepreneurs live by which ensure that they will overcome obstacles and achieve success.

Take Control of Your Life

Making the decision to transition into entrepreneurship means that you have decided to take control of your life. This means that you must maintain a mental attitude of being in control instead of blaming everything on other factors. Not taking control and placing the blame elsewhere does not get you where you want to go as an entrepreneur and holds you back from moving forward with your business.

Persistence

Successful entrepreneurs realize that persistence is one of the attributes that will ensure your success. If you maintain a winning attitude, the obstacles that are bound to crop up will only be seen as temporary setbacks and part of the journey to reaching your goals.

Planning With an End Goal in Mind

Part of good leadership skills is the ability to plan with an end goal in mind. Successful entrepreneurs know how to look at the big picture and then set measurable goals that will ensure that they reach the end goal. Without the ability to set goals, you are navigating the high seas without a compass and ensuring that your business will fail.

Involvement

Successful entrepreneurs are strong leaders because they are willing to take the bull by the horns and get involved with their success. While others are waiting for what they want to come to them, entrepreneurs are going out and getting it.

Fear

Instead of allowing fear to paralyze their actions, successful entrepreneurs recognize fear as a natural part of the process and forge ahead anyway. If you let fear overcome you, the chances of achieving success with your business will be reduced.

Risk Tolerance

Successful entrepreneurs and leaders already know that failure is part of achieving their goals and are willing to take the calculated risks anyway. If you take calculated risks wisely you will help your business to forge ahead as well as learn from your failures.

Self-Confidence

Successful entrepreneurs get to where they are going because they maintain a positive mental attitude and believe in their abilities to achieve their goals.

Hard Work

Successful entrepreneurs are willing to work hard and do not give up as soon as something is difficult. Instead they realize that to get to their dreams they also have to endure the hardships and obstacles that are a natural part of the journey.

These are a few of the attributes that are important to becoming successful with your online business. Without these attributes it does not matter how well you have planned your business. It will not succeed if the person behind the planning is not motivated and goal-oriented.

If you do not have all of these attributes you can always work on developing them by surrounding yourself with people that have an entrepreneurial mindset. If you have already decided to take the leap, you have already taken an important step toward becoming a successful entrepreneur.

The home based business industry has been really heating up these days because of the impact that inflation is having on the world.

Millions of people are tired of settling for less & have decided to find alternative methods to bring in more cash to the house hold.

The home based business industry can provide an excellent source of extra income & passive or residual income as well.

Most home based businesses are geared around direct selling companies who market their products through independent distributors. The distributors make their money by selling products for the company through online websites.

The websites do most of the telling, selling & explaining for the distributor leaving them to answer a few questions in order to make a sale. Some companies offer systems that are fully automated that allow the distributor to by pass the personal contact issue that some people struggle with.

You can make a lot of money in a home based business but here are a few characteristics that you must possess in order to become successful:

1. Self Discipline

2. Good Communication Skills

3. Mind Set

4. Desire Level

Self Discipline:

You will have to work by your self in a home office without supervision. People that have a hard time working for other people tend to do very well in a home based business. On the flip side; those who do not work well on their own can have a challenge. You will be your own boss & will have to make sure that you are working your business on a regular basis. Many people come in here doing nothing with their time in order to produce income & then blame it on the industry. There was a movie called “Field of Dreams” with Kevin Costner that had this message throughout the movie: “If you build it, they will come”. The home based business is no different than a traditional brick & mortar business. If you don’t work your business then you will not become successful.

Good Communication Skills:

If you are a people person then you will do well in this type of business. If you are not then you can have a hard time unless you find a business with a fully automated system. Keep in mind that those who make an effort to establish personal contact move further ahead quicker than those who won’t.

Mind Set:

A home based business is a business no different than any other business. In order to become successful you will need to think & act like an entrepreneur. Some people became millionaires in this industry but they didn’t always think the way that they do today. They had to seek wisdom in personal development books & guidance from mentors. They had to surround themselves with like minded people in order to keep the momentum going in their businesses.

Entrepreneurs focus on prosperity instead of lack. The masses focus on lack instead of prosperity by living mainly to survive. Well there is definitely a paradigm shift going on these days because millions of people are fed up with the constant hike in fuel prices & settling for less.

If you still have a job then you work for an entrepreneur. The meaning of entrepreneur is a risk taking person.

Desire Level:

In order to succeed in this industry at a level of a 6 or 7 figure income you will need a light blue flame of burning desire. If you are only looking for a few extra hundred dollars per month then the home based industry may not be for you. If you are thinking that way then a part-time job may be better suited. In this industry it takes the same energy to make $500 or $5,000, the only difference is in the level of thinking.

To make it big here you will have to take the road less travelled though out your learning curve & desire is the only thing that will pull you through. It doesn’t have to only be about money. If you have a burning desire to spend time with your family then this may be a very good opportunity for you.

Online Network Marketing is surrounded by a lot of apprehensions. It might sound like a difficult option to the ones who are not used to this medium. Also, people who are not well versed with the Internet and its utility might find the option of online network marketing a little difficult to digest. However, on a closer look this seems to be a much better bet than brick-and-mortar model because of various reasons. The first reason because of which it looks extremely attractive is the large number of options that the online platform has on offer. This large number of options available on the net also make this a lucrative option for those who are looking at targeting large groups of people. Also, it removes the biggest work of people – that of push selling the product to their friends and relatives.

Talking about its advantages in detail, one would realize that the problem of push selling in brick and mortar platform is removed here. All one needs to do is put up a message on a social networking site. Also, this type of business could be done by creating one’s website. This website model can have contact details where the interested customers could contact. Also, such online network marketing website could have an auto-responding e-mail to the interested customers to have a response to their query if one is not in office or such query is on a weekend. Thus marketing could be done through ads and other mediums and thus not requiring cold calling. It also removes the barrier of geographical distance as such business targets people on the net worldwide.

Thus, this business seems to be a lucrative option. Some pre-requisites are website, email id, auto-responding facility with email, advertisements, presence on the various social networking sites of the person involving in the business, awareness about the various online network marketing options and some other finer details about it. As such this is a new entrant into the market, the companies venturing into it must train their business associates on the scope and requirements clearly. Such training might include the use of social media, use of advertisements, making and managing websites and other details about online media and network marketing per se. Also, some generic information about success stories might be required.

Everyday there are millions of people using search engines online. The days of the big phone book are over and the keyboard has taken its place. If you are a small business owner, advertising online can be a great way to boost customer sales and get your business out there right in front of the people that want to see it.

With online advertising, you get to see instant results. There is no waiting for your advertisement to be printed, or even in most cases, any advertising costs. The internet is the best free advertising that you can possibly get plus anything you put online will be there 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Many small business owners have one thing in common, they all want more customers, which in turn makes them more money. Now the best way to do this is to make it as easy as possible for potential customers to find your business, look at what you are offering or selling, and make a purchase. What easier way for a customer to Read the rest of this entry »

A residual income is something which until recently was only available to the likes of authors and movie stars. Now a days anyone can start their own business, with a residual income potential, from the comfort of their own home. All they need is a computer, an internet connection and a few hours a day. Compared to the start up costs of owning your own business off line, owning an internet business offers the average Joe the opportunity to start their own ‘shop’ with virtually zero start up costs. Further more it will run 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, 365 days a year with no employees and on complete auto pilot! Where else could you find such an opportunity as the internet?

Most households already have a computer and internet connection which is the minimum start up requirement and once you have found a suitable training course you can choose whether or not to spend on advertising or take the ‘free route’ to internet marketing. Read the rest of this entry »

E-Commerce is booming, and you can use credit card processing to grow your business online. E-Commerce credit card processing provides your business respectability and purchase convenience that can increase your sales by over 23% tests have shown. Let us examine how accepting credit cards can help your E-commerce business.

E-Commerce Credit Card Processing Increases Trust

When your business accepts Visa or Mastercards online it provides an instant boost in perception to your customer where perception is everything, and trust is king. A potential customer is given the truthful impression that providing value and convenience is your concern and that you are more than just a weekend hobbyist that cannot be relied upon to meet their needs. It’s dramatic, but true, sales have been shown to increase by 23% per transactions simply by providing payment processing capabilities.

As an E-Commerce professional, you have come to realize that trust and reliability are hard won online. Your customer, no matter your product, has countless of other websites that they can spend their hard earned money on your product or service, so why do they want to shop with you? The major hurdle to online business success is trust.

With all the scams and half efforts that exist, you must work to set your business apart from the herd, and an E-Commerce business that provides secure credit card processing does that.

You prove to your customer that you are a real business, with real costs and that you expect sales. When you expect sales you get sales. Statistically the numbers back up the need for accepting Visa and MasterCard for your E-Commerce business to grow. In some cases, sales are shown to jump by over 30% with no other changes than accepting credit cards.

Make Buying Easy

So why is there such an increase in the sales for an E-Commerce site that sets up a merchant account and starts processing credit cards? The experts believe it has to do with ease of purchase along with perception. You have done the hard work convincing your customer of the need for Read the rest of this entry »

Basically designing small, medium, or enterprise class computer networks are principally similar. You need to design your private network infrastructure to provide the availability and reliability of network resources; network security system to protect your network resources against any types of threats, and secure global communication system. Small business computer network should include these three aspects: the private network; the end-point security system for internet threats protection; and a secure way in providing system communication with global internet.

For example, in your business network you need to provide database application to support your finance management, and an email server to support your business communication, you allow authorized users to connect via internet from homes, or probably you need to link other branch offices via WAN cloud connection. Dig as much information as possible before designing your small business network. The following lists some areas you probably need to implement in your design.

Software Applications

You need to drill down the requirements each of the main element of your core business needs. For example, you need a database application to support your finance management. What application software to purchase, contact the vendor and ask them to provide a presentation about their product and see if their product can meet your finance need. How critical your application to support your business will be, if you don’t accept any downtime – you need to provide redundant servers and configure them as failover / failback system. You can dig more information to meet your business need regarding the finance management.

User Account Management

What about user account management? How do you manage the security of your network resources, who can access or deny certain resources and how they can access them? This will help you to design your logical infrastructure need, for example you need to implement Windows server with Active directory (AD) system which should be integrated with your DNS.

With AD infrastructure, you can create group policies that meet your security needs based on different level of user groups. If you implement a Windows server AD, Read the rest of this entry »

E-Commerce

Introduction

An e-commerce solution for a business is the incorporation of all aspects of the business operation into an electronic format. Many well-established businesses have been selling on-line for years. For example, Dell Computers Corp., has been selling computers directly to end-users for years. Currently, Dell is selling excessive of 1 million dollars worth of computers everyday on the World Wide Web (WWW).

When a business has incorporated an e-commerce solution, the business will experience a lower operation cost while at the same time increasing its profit. The e-commerce solution will allow businesses to eliminate unnecessary paperwork. All paperwork and data can be transformed into an electronic format. Thus, it will eliminate valuable shelf space and data can searched and accessed in matter of seconds. E-commerce will also automates the sales process. Customers can “point & click” on the products they wish to purchase, fill out the customer information, and the product will be shipped and received in a matter of few days. The administration department does not have to fill out any paperwork because the customer had done it already. Thus, the efficiency will be greatly improved. With an e-commerce solution, the business will be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. People from anywhere in the world with an Internet access will be able to visit the site at any time. They will not be restricted to the “normal” business operating hours. A “brick + mortar” business is normally limited to serving the customers in its local geographical location. With an e-commerce solution, that business will not be limited a geographical restriction, rather it opens itself to the global on-line market. Essentially, the business’ market exposure will be greatly increased.

In conducting my study, I have researched extensively on the Internet for resources. I chose the Internet as my primary research medium because e-commerce is still a fairly new technology. Since it is technology related, the Internet will provide the most recent data available. Printed publications will not be able to adapt to changes as fast and efficient as electronic publications. I researched many e-commerce related web sites along with some companies that conduct statistical studies. Some of the e-commerce web sites that I looked into are E-Commerce Times, eRetail, and eMarketer. The statistical research firms that I researched are Forrester Research and Jupiter Communication. Both firms provided valuable statistical data that shows the rise of consumers shopping on-line and the predicted dollar amount that will be spent in the coming years.

Methods

In conducting my study, I completed the following tasks:

- I searched extensively on the Internet for sites that are e-commerce related. Upon visiting the sites, I evaluated each sites for the contents, thoroughness, and objectiveness. There are literally hundreds of sites that are devoted to e-commerce. However, after my careful examination of most of them, I narrowed down to four sites that I will research for this report.

- I have also researched many firms that conducts statistical researches. The two firms that I will be utilizing for this report are Forrester Research and Jupiter Communication. Both firms are known for their preciseness, non-objectiveness, and thoroughness. The statistical data I collected from these two firms will support my recommendation that every business should have an e-commerce solution implemented.

Results

From my research, I have developed twenty reasons why every business should incorporate an e-commerce solution into the business operation. They are listed below.

1. To Establish A Presence

There are approximately 70 million people worldwide that have access to the World Wide Web (WWW). No matter what industry or business one is in, one can not ignore 70 million people. To be part of that on-line community, one would need to be on the WWW for them. Because if one doe not do it, one’s competitor definitely will.

2. To Network

A lot of what passes for business is simply nothing more than making connections with other people. Every smart businessperson knows, it is not what one knows, it is whom one knows. Passing out one’s business card is part of every good meeting and every businessperson can tell more than one story how a chance meeting turned into the big deal. Well, what if one could pass out the business card to thousands, maybe millions of potential clients and partners, saying this is what I do and if you are ever in need of my services, this is how you can reach me. One can, 24 hours a day, inexpensively and simply, on the WWW.

3. To Make Business Information Available

What is basic business information? Think of a Yellow Pages ad. What are one’s business hours? What does one do? How can someone contact the business? What method of payment does one take? Where is the business located at? Now think of a Yellow Pages ad where one can have instant communication. What is today’s special? Today’s interest rate? Next week’s parking lot sale information? If one could keep one’s customer informed of every reason why they should do business with them, doesn’t one think one could do more business? One can on the WWW.

4. To Serve The Customers

Making business information available is one of the most important ways to serve the customers. But if one looks at serving the customer, one will find even more ways to use WWW technology. How about making forms available to pre-qualify for loans, or have one’s staff do a search for that classic jazz record one’s customer is looking for, without tying up one’s staff on the phone to take down the information? Allow the customer to punch in sizes and check it against a database that tells him what color of jacket is available in one’s store? All this can be done, simply and quickly, on the WWW.

5. To Heighten Public Interest

One won’t get Newsweek magazine to write up about one’s local store opening, but one might get them to write up one’s Web Page address if it is something new and interesting. Even if Newsweek would write about one’s local store opening, one would not benefit from someone in a distant city reading about it, unless of course, they were coming to one’s town sometime soon. With Web page information, anybody anywhere who can access the internet and hears about one’s site is a potential visitor to one’s Web site and a potential customer for one’s information there.

6. To Release Time Sensitive Material

What if one’s materials need to be released no earlier than midnight? The quarterly earnings statement, the grand prize winner, the press kit for the much anticipated film, the merger news? Well, one sent out the materials to the press with “The-do-not-release-before-such-and-such-time” statement and hope for the best. Now the information can be made available at midnight or any time one specifies, with all related materials such as photographs, bios, etc. released at exactly the same time. Imagine the anticipation of “All materials will be made available on our Web site at 12:01 AM”. The scoop goes to those that wait for the information to be posted, not the one who releases one’s information early.

7. To Sell Things

Many people think that this is the number one thing to do with the World Wide Web. However, I have made it number seven to make it clear that I think one should consider selling things on the Internet and the World Wide Web after one has done all the things above. Why? Read the rest of this entry »