6 quick and affordable tips to grow a new business

?6 quick and affordable tips to grow a new business Small businesses play a vital role in the U.S. economy where they are incubators for innovation and employment growth. About 97 percent of U.S. companies are small businesses, but their combined revenues are 66 percent the nation’s total business revenues. And a new business is risky, with about 50 percent still in operation after five years. So what should new business owners do to grow their companies? Margot Dorfman, CEO of the U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce has keen insights. As an experienced business owner herself and the co-founder and leader of the national chamber of commerce for women, Dorfman understands how to generate business growth quickly and affordably. Here are Dorfmans quick tips for a fast start: 1. Present Yourself as an Expert. Present yourself (and your company) as an expert in your field. “I hear consistently from buyers that they want to buy from the person with the most experience, passion, and focus, Dorman says. Typically that is the owner. If you have sales people on the front line, make sure they communicate knowledgeably about the company and the industry and deliver a strong message professionally.” Avoid the, “I do everything” trap. Many new business owners take on too much and present themselves as an unfocused “jack of all trades.” Build your business in one solid area of focus where you are indeed an expert. 2. Leverage Free Visibility. Demonstrate your expertise by writing articles for trade journals, local newspapers and magazines, and making presentations at meetings and conferences. If you are involved in government contracting, attend and speak at city council and commission meetings. Share your expertise and let people see who you are. You may also pick up tips from these meetings about new opportunities for your company. “I was presenting at an event recently when one business owner said that she had time to only attend her one organization luncheon each month, Dorman says. The attendees were other women business owners having the same struggles, and this was a support network for her.” Dorfman challenged her to broaden her network by stepping out to a range of meetings and activities so that she would be meeting new people â€" and they would be meeting her. 3. Make the Most Of Opportunities Nearby. Identify buyers and potential buyers within a five-mile radius of your business. Look at consumers, small businesses, schools, local, county and state governments, large corporations, and any federal agencies, including military bases. Make a target list and reach out to these buyers to begin building relationships. 4. Expand Your Network Through Volunteering. Business startups are more than a full-time job and can leave little (if any) time to attend industry meetings or become actively involved in your community. However, it is these very relationships that provide new opportunities for business growth. Volunteering or serving on not-for-profit boards for causes with which you are aligned gives you the ability to meet other professionals that may be in need of your product or service. 5. Be Prepared and Present Solutions. When approaching buyers, make sure you have done your homework first. What sets you apart in the conversation? Research the companies or agencies to see if they buy what you sell. If yes, understand their pitfalls and lead the conversation with solutions to their challenges. 6. Above All, Follow Up! The biggest downfall to potential business is the lack of follow up. Send follow up email, keep in touch with relevant information, and deliver on promises. “One buyer I know says he sees the 80/20 rule reign here,” advises Dorfman. “Twenty percent of the businesses he meets respond 80 percent of the time. What happens to the rest? They make contact, don’t follow up, and lose his business. There are a lot of good companies with which he would have welcomed the opportunity to do business.” Dorfman has learned, from her own experience as an entrepreneur and her experience coaching other small businesses, that companies that are successful have created a wide network of targeted connections. Successful business owners limit their efforts to targeted regions or areas of focus, establish themselves as experts, provide appropriate solutions for each customer, and follow up consistently. Every small-business owner can build a successful business by making a commitment to building relationships, providing a quality product or service, being a market leader, and keeping those relationships going with good follow up.

Motivation Monday Slow Down - When I Grow Up

Motivation Monday Slow Down - When I Grow Up I was on my couch all morning with an achin tummy but now Im 90% better. The good news is that I got to watch all 4 episodes of Trust Me that Im now totally hooked. OK, maybe thats not good news, especially since Ive been wanting to cut down on my TV. But Tom Cavanagh, yay! Heres your motivation for this Monday afternoon (maybe it could replace your 3p coffee break?): Buy this print by bluebicicletta as a permanent reminder for just $20. You can find all of the Motivation Monday installments here.

The Fight Against Skills to Write on a Resume

The Fight Against Skills to Write on a Resume The Fundamentals of Skills to Write on a Resume Revealed Ensure your resume destroys that average with a good format. Writing is a daily portion of several jobs and it's a significant part communication. Functional resumes are excellent for highlighting transferable skills that are going to be applicable to your new field of work. Infographic resumes are just a supplement. Graphic-based resumes permit you to lay out complex data in a simplistic way. Skills to Write on a Resume - Is it a Scam? Skills ought to be stressed along with any experience you might have. 3 First, you must pick the best skills for your resume. When you're done Get rid of all of the skills you simply have a simple grasp of. In the majority of instances, your soft skills can boost your hard skills. As stated earlier, assessing soft skills is considerably more difficult. More technical or computer-centric hard skills are occasionally also called technical skills. Hard skills have a tendency to be more technical, and each business or sort of job will often have its personal necessary set. Your skills are an overview of what you could do for the possible employer if you were offered the work at this time. Carefully reread the work description and choose which skills are completely essential for the job. Also, you must make certain that you list because many skills from the work description as possible.

A Fools Manual to Writing a Biology Resume Explained

A Fool's Manual to Writing a Biology Resume Explained Writing a Biology Resume for Dummies An excellent entry level resume objective was practical and right to the point and so too is a very good career summary. Curriculum vitae forms ensure that your finest achievements will be there on top, prepared to wind up being noticed. Put in your search term below to begin. Determining which skills to put on your latest biology graduate resume can be challenging, as you may not have a lot of work experience. Considering all the resources available through application and the on-line today, it may appear silly I had counsel you against using a resume template to produce a professional resume. Resumes have to be within a format accepted by the expert community. Straight copying a CV template isn't always the most efficient answer as it isn't always tailored to the requirements of the applicant. A specialist resume format is simply the tool you must reveal prospective employers your certification. If you want to discover an innovative job, the internet is a superb source. With a social media resume, you're attempting to impress many men and women, so it's vital to follow key design and layout principles to make certain your very first impression gets it right. Several web sites offer guidance for drafting your resume appropriately to acquire a tiny price. Resume cover web page themes are very much required if you're trying for employment. The ideal way to find a job is via the world wide web. Each work type needs different type of resumes. If you plan to locate a work then the best move to make is to develop into prepared. If you want to be given a work rapidly or wish to modify your work then you wish to take into account the resume. Expertly, our resumes have a tendency to be the exact first impression a potential employer gets of us. If you neglect to compose professional resume or CV, you aren't going to acquire attention of the reader even if y ou're qualified for the position. Take into consideration that CV and resume are not the exact same.

Make a professional impression as an introvert

Make a professional impression as an introvertThese days, simply showing up to work and doing a good job is unfortunately not enough to succeed in the work world. If you want to build a successful career, its important to create a personal brand that defines you professionally. Then, you have to sell yourself. Its a lot, right? And the trouble is, if you think of yourself as an introvert, you really hate putting yourself out there like that. Youd rather hide your light under your bushel and stay under your comfy little jupe and have it all happen for you. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) Never fear its possible to set yourself up with a great brand without making yourself feel super awkwardeven if youre super introverted. Read on to find out how.Let social media work for you.It doesnt take any human interaction to set yourself up with killer profiles on all the social media sites. Keep them fresh and up-to-date. Make them representative o f your personal style. You can do all this from the comfort of your own couch, in your pajamas. Then, you can try a few fancy tricks like signing up for Twitter chats or LinkedIn groups to join the most current conversations in your industry and get your name out there.Have a script.If youre prone to clam up in social situations, have an elevator pitch ready to go that you feel confident and comfortable delivering wherever you need to. But beyond that, you can script mora of your social interactions if it helps. Draft a standard greeting or opener that you can turn to whenever you feel awkward in an overwhelming room and practice it until it comes naturally. Maybe its just an interesting question you ask every new person you meet, or a succinct summary of your job title and main responsibilities for networking events. Memorizing an intro might feel forced, but at least youll have some conversation starters ready so you never feel at a loss for words.Choose your marks.Be strategicmak e a game plan ahead of time for networking and other work events. How many people do you want to meet? How many contacts do you need to rack up? Then, be more specific about who exactly you want to meet and why. Setting targets for yourself ahead of time can turn the whole thing into a project with an end point. Once you hit your quota and meet your big fish? You can go homeFollow up and stay in touch.Touching base after youve honigwein someone is the classy thing for everyone to do, and its easy because you dont need to do it in person. If you felt you made a weird impression on someone, shoot them an email or a note to keep the door open. Many introverts feel at their most charming when behind the screen. Take the time to type out exactly what you wish you had said.Do it your way.If something feels totally uncomfortable, you can only force yourself out of your comfort zone a little bit. If you try to take giant leaps, or to completely go against your instincts, youll be miserable and everyone will be able to tell. Realistically, what are your social limits? Define them for yourself. Then, work within them at first. Once you gain a level of comfort at this first level, slowly branch out. Then do it again. Networking and self-promotion are skills you must nurture and growif it takes you longer than your extrovert peers, so be it. Youll get there.

How to Stretch Your Summer Savings

How to Stretch Your Summer Savings Share Share via TwitterShare via FacebookShare via Google PlusShare via LinkedInShare via E-mail Summertimein college isthe best. Its one of the last times in your life that you will have a long stretch of timeoff to do as you please. Oftentimes,summeralso means getting a job to fund living expensesfor theschool year.Stretching your summer savings to make sure they last through the school year can be a challenge. Even though you worked all summer, you may have a modest nest egg. Concerts, nights outand trips must all be carefully considered.Lets look at some ideas to stretch those hard-earned summer camp dollars.Create a budgetThe first step to financial planning is learning how to budget. One way to budget is to divide your savings over the amount of time you need them to last. Factor in breaks and vacations, including the month-long winter break.Look at what you have. Is it enough for all of your expenses? Do you need a job or internship this year to help supplement your summer haul? If so, better to start planning now then to scramble for a job when the money runs out.Find on- and off-campus jobsthrough Student Employment, or read morabudgeting tips from CU Money Sense.Avoid big purchases orbuy usedWe all have that friend who spends the majority of their summer savings in the first month of school. Dont be that person.If you need some new outdoor gear, a computer, caror another big-ticket item, shop for used items on Craigslist, eBayand through word of mouth. You can typically save well over 50 percent offthe list price by picking up gently used items. Developing the habit of shopping for used items now will save you lots of money in the future.Seek out free, low-cost activitiesMany activities on campus and in town are free for students. Hiking, for one. Movies on campus. Many campus organizations offer free meals to attend one of their events, and you can learn something cool in the processGet involvedJoin a club, assume a leadership role, work a campus job, volunteer, attend an event, go to the gym, or play an intramural sport (potential fee involved for intramuralsports). By staying busy, activeand engaged youll hardly miss spending money to have fun and youll be bettering yourself for future employment opportunities.CU Money Senseis your campus resource tohelpwith budgeting, student loans, debt, saving, credit, investingand evenretirement planning. CategoriesMoney SenseTagsMoney Sense

Remote Jobs Weekly Digest

Remote Jobs Weekly Digest Apply to one of our featured fully remote jobs below or visit our jobs page for even mora opportunities Algorithmia - Senior Software Engineer (Platform & Product) (Remote)Custom Learning Technologies - Sales Rep (Remote)DuckDuckGo - Senior Product Designer (Remote)Help Scout - Future Account Executive (Remote)Logikcull - Manager of Software Engineering (Remote)Mailshake - Senior Backend Engineer (Remote)NomNom - Frontend Engineer (React, Redux) (Remote)Pfizer - Senior Manager, Digital Engineering & Drupal Product Roadmaps (Remote)Podia - Marketing Director (Remote)Wikimedia Foundation - Program Officer, GLAM and Underrepresented Heritage (Remote) One of the biggest challenges in almost all industries today is achieving gender parity. Gender diversity provides huge benefits in the workplace. pWhile some industries have made significant advancements in gender diversity, some industries lag further behind... and the construction industry is well-known for being in the latter category. If someone says, construction workers, youll likely picture a group of men in yellow hard hats analyzing an architects plans or laying bricks on top of a scaffold. And men at work signs only help to reinforce this image.pThis stereotype is rooted in reality. When was the last time you actually spotted a woman on a construction site? Or hired a female plumber or carpenter? Your answer is most likely never. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statisticsreports that only 3.4% of the total of 8.3 million construction employees are women.pBut the construction industry has a lot more to offer than steel-toed boots and hard hats, and it needs women to help advance the industry in this era of rapid change. Here are 5 reasons why women joining the workforce or looking to make a pivot should consider a career in construction.h21. Fuel Innovation/h2pNot only is diversity the socially and morally right thing to do, but it is also a ctually an excellent business strategy. pResearch presented in the Harvard Business Reviewshows that diverse teams develop more innovative ideas. This is further supported by a study conducted by Gallupon the performance of gender-diverse teams versus single-gender teams, which found that the difference in backgrounds and perspectives led to better business performance and problem-solving. h22. Capitalize on Demand/h2pThe construction industry is currently experiencing a labor shortage. The industry itself is booming and projected to be one of the fastest-growing industries, with total spending projected to exceed $1.45 trillion in 2023/a. However, most construction companies are unable to meet the rising demand. pAccording to the Associated General Contractors of America/a, more than 80% of contractors are experiencing difficulties filling hourly craft positions that represent the bulk of the construction workforce.pAnd demand isnt limited to individual contributor roles. Given the industry boom, there are a number of open stable and high-paying roles (any project managers out there?) waiting for the right candidateh23. Leadership Opportunities/h2pAccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics/a, women compose only 7.7% of the total 1 million managerial positions in construction.br/pBut given the highly collaborative nature of construction work, more women in leadership roles would help drive innovation and enhance productivity.Furthermore, as a woman in construction in a leadership position, youd have the unique opportunity to drive change for the industry and make it a more attractive option for other women.h24. High-Income Potential/h2pSalaries for many skilled positions in construction are on the rise, making a construction career a prime choice for women looking for a high-paying job,pThe 2018 Construction Craft Salary Surveyconducted by the National Center for Construction Education and Research revealed that salaries for many skilled craft areas are incre asing. Project managers and project supervisors topped the list at $92,523 and $88,355, respectively. The next set of highest-paying jobs include those of combo welders ($71,067), instrumentation technicians ($70,080), pipe welders ($69,222), power line workers ($68,262) and industrial electricians ($67,269). Of the 32 categories of workers in the survey, 19 positions earned an average salary of $60,000 or higher.h25. Sense of accomplishment/h2p The construction industry can give employees a unique sense of achievement. Yes, the job is stressful and the work can be demanding, but nothing beats the feeling of being able to build something from the ground up. pHow many professionals in other industries can point at a school, a hospital, or a skyscraper and say I helped build that?pThe construction industry has a long way to go in combating gender bias and supporting women in the workforce, but given the current demand for workers, theres no better time to pick up a sledgehammer (figur ative or literal) and smash the gender stereotypes plaguing the construction industry.