Rembrandt’s Blog

Congratulations! You’ve made it through the unique challenges 2009 had to offer small business owners, and now it’s time to celebrate.

With this in mind, here are a few tips to have a G-R-E-A-T holiday:

G: Give Back To The Community.

Volunteer to help a local charity. Donate your used clothing and other items to a worthy cause, or write a check of any size to your favorite non-profit organization. You’ll be able to help others and get a small tax deduction at the same time.

R: Relax.

Stop thinking about your business for a little while and do something just for you. Read your favorite book, cozy up to the fire with a loved one, rent a movie you haven’t had time to see, get a massage, or take a walk.

The possibilities are endless for recharging your batteries for the year ahead!

E: Eat, Drink And Be Merry!

It’s time to have some fun!

Party with friends and family members. Take a break from your diet and indulge in your favorite holiday food. Let go of the stresses of being an entrepreneur and count your blessings.

A: Add Some Excitement To Your Life!

Learn a new skill. Get inspired! Join a class, book club or group that focuses on a new hobby. Try something new. You’ll get your creative juices flowing and meet new people.

Who knows? Your new activities may help you break out of a rut and pursue completely different business opportunities in the year ahead.

T: Take Time to Set Goals.

Now is the perfect time to create your success plan for 2010. What do you want to accomplish, and where do you want to be next year at this time? Write it down.

After all, if you don’t know where you’re going, how are you going to get there?

These are just a few quick tips to help you have a great holiday break. And at this time, I’d like to thank you for reading my blog entries this year and providing your insights, comments and questions. I look forward to sharing more with you in the brand new year ahead!

Do you need help with your SEO marketing and public relations activities for 2010? Please write to me here or at www.rembrandtwrites.com. I’m here to help!

*Posted on StartupNation.com, 12/23/09

If you are trying to save money and start the New Year off right, there may be a secret problem lurking in your business.

With the stress of trying to balance a budget, pay bills, obtain new customers, and have a life outside of the office, it can be easy to overlook one key element of your success – your team members.

With this in mind, try to review your team members before the end of the year. This includes internal employees, outsourced services, freelancers, and all of the people who contribute to sales.

Are you getting the results you want from each?

Now, most of your folks are probably doing a great job in order to keep their jobs and see your company succeed. But you may find a hidden source that is bringing down sales.

Perhaps it is a service you’ve been using for years out of necessity or convenience?

Or maybe it’s an employee who is burned out and needs some inspiration?

To discover any “negative” areas and make positive changes, ask yourself these questions:

When was the last time this source really helped your business reach goals?

• Does this source have the appropriate background and expertise now to get your business to the next level of success?
• Is there another service out there that is more affordable and effective that can do the same thing?
• What is the office culture? Do all of the team members enjoy what they are doing? If not, what can I do to motivate them in 2010?

Your answers to these questions may reveal some surprising results that you’ve overlooked. With this in mind, try to take a few minutes now to review all of your services and team members. Then, communicate and take the appropriate action to make improvements and any necessary changes.

Who knows? You may be able to find, and fix, the one “bad seed” that can lead to fast business growth and prosperity in 2010.

Do you need help with your marketing, public relations and SEO copywriting strategies for 2010? Please let me know here or at www.rembrandtwrites.com. Thanks!

Published on StartupNation.com 12/11/09

In the process of promoting your products and services to potential customers, are you also promoting yourself?

Competition is fierce today, and people want more for their money. This means that they are not just looking at products and services – but the people behind the businesses as well.

With this in mind, what kind of image do you project?

As you scramble to follow up on leads and attract new customers, it can be easy to let yourself go and have your personal promotion fall to the bottom of the priority list. To avoid this from happening, here are three questions to ask before scheduling a sales call.

1. Who are you meeting?

Before walking into a customer’s office, be sure to do your research. Find out as much as you can about the person in advance. Then, you’ll have a better idea of how to best approach this person with the appropriate talking points and sales pitch.

2. What are you wearing?

Obviously, you need to look professional when meeting perspective customers. But it’s important to think about the “who, what, when, where, and how” of your meeting before getting dressed in the morning.

For example, if you are going to a laid back, beach office in the Bahamas, a suit will make you look way out of place. (Yes, I know. If only you had a meeting in the Bahamas…) To avoid feeling uncomfortable, think before you dress and refer to question one above.

3. What is your leave-behind?

When you are finished with your meeting, leave some kind of marketing material behind. Whether you offer a brochure, media kit or a simple business card, be sure to give your potential customers something to remember you.

Once again, really think about the people you are going to meet. What you can offer them that will have the most impact specific to their business needs? Make it easy for them to contact you, and help them solve their problems.

Now, these are just three, quick tips to remember to promote yourself along with your products and services. After all, you only get one chance to make a good, first impression. And if you aren’t polished and prepared, you can bet your competition is!

Do you need help boosting sales, awareness and credibility with small business public relations and SEO copywriting? Please let me know here or at www.rembrandtwrites.com. I’d love to hear from you!

(This blog originally posted on StartupNation)