Category Archives: Commentary

What we’re thinking this week.

Commentary

Have You Been Hacked?

Security, or lack of it, in our data-driven age.

Were you one of the 100+ million credit customers whose profiles were pilfered from Equifax last summer? Chances are you don’t even know. A whole lot rides on what your identity means in today’s data-driven world, and when a huge company that holds all your private information gets hacked, you should really take notice. Identity theft is a huge industry, and growing exponentially.

Last year, consumers lost over 16 BILLION dollars, a 16% increase from 2016. This year will be no different. If you accept payments online or through a web-based processor, like Square or PayPal you may see more bogus purchases, pay more in chargebacks and possibly even pay higher fees or liability insurance rates.

Personally, you should be proactive in blocking access to credit, by freezing credit applications with the big three reporting agencies: Experian, Trans-Union and Equifax. Good luck out there.

Protect yourself.

Commentary, Tips and Tricks

Fall’s starting, let’s push big.

It’s a new season, let’s welcome it with new thinking.

We join a networking group to find new clients, learn about our partners and grow our companies. As seasons change, we can get complacent and set in our ways, but we don’t have to.

Every change in the weather can help us change our marketing skills. As we feel fresh breezes, we can learn new techniques to let people know who we are and what we’re great at doing.

Since it’s back to school season, consider taking a short course in your specialty; attend a workshop or training seminar.

These focused events usually get our creative juices flowing and bring us a wealth of new ideas; take advantage of them!

Jumpstart.

Commentary, Tips and Tricks

Who’s Got Time?

Boy, getting work is a lot of work.

One of the odd things about running a business is that the busier you are, the less time you have to market yourself. When you don’t have any work, you wonder how you might have lined up new prospects, but when you’re doing well, you often think things are great and won’t change.

Of course, that’s never true. It’s always important to plant seeds that grow into new opportunities every month, whether you’e flush or scrappy. Are you meeting new people? Revisiting prior acquaintances or prospects? Getting your message out?

You should make time to market yourself when it isn’t so important so when you are finally between gigs, you still have a stream of new opportunities lined up. Good luck!

Making Time.

Commentary

What’s the best way to grow your business?

Tiffany Scott is a Texas-based marketer specializing in helping women’s businesses grow and succeed. She kindly agreed to post her recent marketing talk here for us.

Last year, I over-complicated my business. I started to add in waaaaay too many things to generate more money.

This is a VERY common mistake for entrepreneurs. Call it ‘bright shiny object syndrome’ or simply too many ideas…or…scarcity mindset.

Continue reading What’s the best way to grow your business? →