Everywhere you look, experts are recommending that small business owners blog to increase exposure and build their corporate brand. However, a blog can be a huge liability instead of an asset if you don’t handle it in the right manner. Here are the five most common and most devastating mistakes that small business bloggers make.

Business Blogging Mistakes

1. Getting too personal. If you want a personal blog, create one—but don’t make your small business blog do double duty. Occasional tidbits about your personal life are fine if they are relevant to the topic at hand; in fact, they can increase interest and build reader loyalty if handled correctly. However, your blog should be full of relevant information related to your business and industry. In addition, avoid being excessively controversial or offensive. Many small business bloggers have lost their audience after one ill-thought-out post.
2. Using a separate domain. There are so many advantages to hosting your blog on your small business website that I am constantly amazed at the success of Blogspot and other popular blogging domains. When you post on an outside website, you are forgoing the main benefits of blogging: keyword-rich content, internal links, and branding power. It is very easy to add and to maintain a blog on your website, so talk to a business website designer today if you haven’t already taken this step.
3. Not achieving the right balance. We see this all the time: small business owners either become dedicated bloggers who ignore the other aspects of their company, or put off posting to the point that their site feels like a graveyard. Blogging should supplement your small business, but never interfere with it. If you are spending the majority of your time blogging, you have not reached the right level of balance. If, on the other hand, you blog only sporadically, you are unbalanced at the other end of the spectrum. Set a blogging schedule that makes sense for your business and stick to it—no more, no less.
4. Diluting your keywords. One of the main benefits of a blog is that it can add keyword rich content to your website on a regular basis while also building your small business brand. However, a blog can dilute your keywords and your link profile by adding links and content that are not related to your business in any way—like your name. There is no magic button to fix this, but have a plan for increasing links and keywords relevant to your small business as the less helpful ones grow. A qualified and professional web designer can help you develop the right strategies for your small business.
5. Using your blog as your homepage. Unless your business is blogging, your blog should be a button on your navigation bar—a side show instead of the main attraction. Your home page should be developed to attract relevant hits and turn visitors into conversions, not to share your opinions and advice. It’s tempting to put your blog front and center, as it is often the most recently updated and best-written portion of a website. However, this will be counterproductive because it will usually decrease conversions by distracting would-be customers.

As we have seen in the past few weeks, natural disasters (earthquakes, tsunamis) and man made disasters (London riots) can occur at any time and place. While most small business owners assume, or at least hope, that disaster will not happen to them, this assumption could be very dangerous. Luckily, there are easy ways to prepare your small business for disaster without affecting the success of your brand. Here are a few tips.

• Know the dangers. The first step in securing your business against disaster is to know what natural disasters might happen in your area. Don’t assume that you are earthquake-proof simply because you aren’t in California; there are fault lines all over the United States. Further, you should know whether your business lies in a flood plain and also what kinds of destructive weather may occur in your area.
• Have a plan. What will you do if disaster strikes? How will you run your small business, and from where?  These are matters best dealt with before you are actually in the situation. Take steps now to ensure that you have remote access to your work files, including passwords. Keep employee contact information (including personal cell phone numbers and email addresses) in your mobile. If you have to meet in person, agree on a disaster meeting spot ahead of time.
• Conduct drills. Remember fire drills in elementary school? There is a reason they work. If you conduct periodic drills for the most common disasters in your area, you and your employees will be able to move quickly should one strike. You don’t want to waste a single second or make a wrong move when the future of your business or even human lives are at stake. Drills will ensure that everyone knows how to deal quickly and effectively with an unusual situation.
• Secure locations. Know the disasters most likely to hit your business and ensure that you have taken steps to minimize the damage should they occur. Are earthquakes a possibility in your area? Make sure tall furniture is anchored to the wall. Fire is a possibility for everyone, so be realistic about fire hazards and prevent them. Locate the gas and water shutoffs and point them out to every employee who works at your location. Make sure everyone in your facility knows how to use the fire extinguisher, where to go in case of an emergency, and generally how to deal with any disasters that might arise.
• Get insured. Many business owners assume that their small business will receive government help if they are negatively affected by a disaster. However, this is rarely sufficient. FEMA and similar programs rarely hand out cash aid; most assistance comes in the form of low interest loans that can take months or even years to go through. Insurance, on the other hand, will give you cash in hand when you need it the most. Shop around for insurance while you still have time. In addition to standard business insurance, you may want to consider business-interruption insurance that covers a loss of sales.
• Stock up. Make sure you have a first aid kit, a supply of bottled water, and nonperishable food in every location. Many people in disasters are temporarily trapped in their location; these provisions will ensure that your stay is a little more safe and comfortable.

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In this economy, many small businesses are looking for ways to improve their bottom line by offering new products and services. Consulting is one side business that can be very lucrative—if your business is presented in the best possible light. In order to get work in this competitive area, you must portray yourself as an industry leader with insider knowledge of your field. If you think you have what it takes, here are a few tips for getting started.

• Choose the right industry. In order to be hired as a consultant, you need to convince potential customers that you are an industry expert. It is very much to your advantage if you choose a field in which you have education or verifiable business experience. Remember that your customers are looking for someone with an unusual amount of wisdom and expertise—more than they can get from the wealth of books and internet sites available.
• Focus on branding. This doesn’t just include branding your small business—although this remains as important as ever. In order to gain work as a consultant, you must sell yourself. Personal branding is an important part of the process. Don’t be afraid to call in a branding consultant to get your started with the right image for success.
• Get social. Social networking is one of the best ways to market yourself as a consultant. You can build a reputation with very little investment, especially if you begin to offer tips and articles related to your industry. Make sure that your consulting profile is separate from both your mall business and personal profiles so you can use this tool to its maximum advantage.
• Investigate pricing. You probably aren’t very sure what a consultant in your industry charges. It’s important that you have the right pricing structure. If you are too expensive, clients won’t be able to afford you. But if you are too inexpensive, they may assume that you offer lower quality than your competition. Check around to see what others in your field charge for similar services, and be open to negotiating with clients who cannot afford your full fees.
• Get it in writing. Once you are on the verge of scoring a consulting job, make sure the legalities are in order. Create a consulting contract (samples and templates can be found on the internet if you need guidance). Be sure your contract includes the amount and type of work, the time frame for completion, and the amount and timing of payments. Getting these details in writing will not only protect you legally, it will ensure that all parties involved have clear expectations.
• Allow cancellation. There should be a clause in your contracts that either party is allowed to walk away from the job with minimal financial difficulty. Forcing someone to use you when you simply aren’t a good fit for the job will lead to a lot of unhappy clients and ultimately destroy your reputation. Similarly, you should be able to quit a job that is out of your comfort zone for any reason.

Running a small business is often like riding a roller coaster—just when you have hit a new height, you go plunging downward. However, unlike riding a roller coaster, it’s easy to lose momentum and continue on that descending spiral. Part of being a small owner is learning how to pull out of plunges and lead your brand back to the top. Here are a few tips for bouncing back from economic challenges.

1. Diversify. It’s easy for a single product or service to become obsolete or otherwise lose its market. If you see this trend developing, act immediately. Diversity is one of the most consistent attributes of successful small businesses. Identify new needs in your customer base and develop ways to meet them. Explore related products that can add new markets without compromising your core brand. Sometimes a lower cost version of your current products and services is just perfect for recession-tightened wallets.
2. Make cuts where necessary. If your income is dwindling, your expenses will have to take a cut as well. Unfortunately, many businesses are unwilling to make these cuts until it is too late to effectively bounce back. Be realistic about your finances and make steep cuts where they are warranted. However, avoid making cuts that compromise your product quality or your brand. It’s better to temporarily reduce benefits, get rid of a company car, or put off hiring that new employee than to cut back on marketing or other categories that can lead to sales. You may want to cut your own salary for a while, as this will show employees that you are serious about the issue.
3. Live below your means. Now is not the time to incur debt or make huge investments in new locations. Focus on living below your means if possible, both personally and in your small business. If you can cover your basic bills and have a little left over, you will be able to put aside a small amount to cover any future shortfalls. It’s not unusual for a small business to go a little over budget, especially when rebuilding, so planning to stay under budget leaves a little ‘cushion’.
4. Invest in your brand. There are two ways to boost sales quickly: investing in branding and logo design, and investing in marketing. If your brand is feeling a little stale, this may be the cause of your economic woes. Carefully consider whether you are sending potential customers the right message.
5. Remain positive. Now more than ever, your small business needs your positive energy and leadership. Your employees likely know about your troubles and are worried about their own future security. Remaining positive and upbeat will show them that this is merely a low point, not rock bottom. In addition, it is difficult to think proactively and make good decisions when you are anxious and emotional. Although it is difficult to feel good about a potentially failing business, keeping a positive attitude and making the right changes will help you come back from this low point. You will emerge a stronger leader with even more real life experience than before.

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Media exposure can be one of the most valuable free marketing tools a small business can wield. However, the media can be your best friend or your worst enemy, depending on how you portray yourself. Here are a few tips for presenting yourself and your business in the best possible light and using the media to your best advantage.

Do: Plan ahead. Some of the worst media gaffes occur when the interviewee simply doesn’t know what to say. Familiarize yourself with the media venue in question. This should give you an idea of what the topic and general tone of your interview will be. Then, make a list of talking points and arm yourself with facts that promote your position.

Don’t: Give interviews and statements to anyone who asks. Some interviewers are known for being, well, jerks. Refuse to deal with these people. Stick with media sources and reporters that are known for being professional and well-balanced. Always ask yourself: how will this affect my business and my brand?

Do: Practice. Watch yourself in the mirror as you practice your interview. Even better, ask a brutally honest friend to watch you. You may also want to videotape yourself giving sample answers and evaluate. You want to look as poised, knowledgeable, and likeable as possible. Be especially on guard against rambling. Hone your points into ‘sound bites’ that are short and sweet.

Don’t: Speak ‘off the record’. There is no ‘off the record’ when you are talking to the media. If you are speaking to a media representative, assume that everything you say will be reported and speak accordingly.

Do: Make a mental list of topics you will and will not talk about. This will allow you to create intelligent talking points and also to avoid creating controversy or offending potential customers. Plan ways of steering your interview back to the topics you prefer. Practice phrases such as, “I don’t know enough about that issue to comment, but what I do know is that…”

Don’t: Comment outside of your area of expertise. You never know who you might alienate if you start talking about politics or other touchy subjects. The media loves controversy, so they will absolutely try to get provocative statements out of you. These quotes can easily be taken out of context and used against you by your competition.

Do: Pause before speaking. Many people make the mistake of answering immediately, even if this leads to a lot of ‘um, err, well…’ and missed opportunities to build their small business brand. Waiting a moment before responding to a question will allow you to collect your thoughts and prevent stammering. You’ll come across as an intelligent, thoughtful person and retain more power over the conversation or interview.

Don’t: Give unplanned interviews or statements. Unless you are a media expert, it is simply too easy to mess them up or put your foot in your mouth. Your business deserves a carefully crafted brand and well-thought-out media exposure; an ‘on the fly’ interview will likely achieve neither.

We write a lot about marketing and branding, as it is the only way to ensure small business success. However, many people get so mired in the details that they forget the core strategies that lay the foundation for a great small business brand. We are getting ‘back to basics’ today with a look at the core elements of successful small business marketing.

• Be visual. Customers won’t ‘get’ your brand at first glance, and few will take the time it takes to get to you without good reason. For these reasons, you need to make a stunning first impression through visual means. Develop a small business brand with a solid visual identity and logo design. Keep your locations pristine and invest in professional web design if you have a website. ‘Seeing is believing’ in the world of small business.
• Be social. We have said over and over that social networking is the branding and marketing wave of the future, and here we will say it again. No modern business can be without this valuable method of getting to know your customers and letting them get to know your logo design and brand. Social networking also allows you to show the human side of your business, which brings us to our next tip.
• Be human. What we mean by this is to be a likeable human that your customers can identify with. Whatever you are selling, people will buy more of it if they genuinely like you. Don’t be afraid to form a small business brand based on your own personality; it will feel authentic to customers and be easier for you to maintain in the long run. Also, feel free to insert little bits o humor or personal anecdotes into your business, whether it is in a blog or when dealing in face-to-face interactions. These should never interfere with your business, but in the right amount they can greatly enrich it.
• Be omnipresent. This may seem impossible, but new technology has made it essential. People have busy lives and can’t always make to your business in the traditional 9-5 workday. How can you reach out to your customers 24/7? A website is one way of doing this. With a well-designed website, you can make sales and communicate your brand to your market in any place and at any time. Good SEO will ensure that you are present in search engine results as well.
• Be consistent. We talk a lot about first impressions, but consistency is just as important. Whether you are running an email marketing campaign or developing a new product, is essential that your customers interact with the same brand every time they visit your business or website. When people know what to expect, they are more likely to return. Further, a consistently good brand will eventually woo many reluctant shoppers into giving you a try.

These tips can seem confusing and at times conflicting to a less experienced small business owner, but they are essential in marketing your small business brand. Talk to a consultant if you are having trouble finding just the right formula.

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Most small business tips are aimed at people who already have an operation up and running, but many small business owners are just starting out. In fact, the way you handle your business in its earliest phases can have as large of an effect on its eventual success as the way you run it on a day-to-day basis. Here are few tips for giving your new (or soon-to-be new) small business the best possible chance at success.

• Invest in professional logo design and branding. These areas are crucial in whether customers take that first step into your locations or website, and they play a huge role in whether customers buy as well. Brand loyalty is a major reason that Americans choose certain products, so failing to present a professional image will hobble you from the start. These services are probably not as expensive as you think and they quickly pay for themselves.
• Finance steps before you take them. Don’t get started assuming the finances will take care of themselves. Most small businesses don’t even break even the first year. Make sure you have financing or savings to cover every aspect of running your business, even if it means running a very lean operation at the very beginning. The same goes for expansion—don’t open a location, hire employees, or expand your offerings before you have the cash in hand or in an account.
• Don’t mix business and pleasure. Keep your business and personal accounts separate from the very beginning. Avoid mingling finances from other accounts, and reduce your personal liability as much as possible. This will ensure that a slow period does not destroy your family or compromise your lifestyle more than necessary.
• Make a business plan. You need to understand how, when, and if your small business is going to make a profit. Not only is a business plan necessary for getting investments and loans, it will help you to lead your operations toward success. Make sure a profit-and-loss statement as well as a cash flow projections are part of your plan.
• Pay your bills on time. You probably have a lot of customers who aren’t paying on time, so you know how annoying late payments can be. However difficult, you need to pay all of your bills on time, not just to build your business credit record but to maintain good relationships with creditors and to have an accurate picture of your finances at all times. If the bill in question is owed to the IRS, you can bet that paying late will cost you.
• Get it in writing. You have probably become familiar with oral contracts in your personal life, but written contracts are essential to opening a small business. Get all commitments in writing so the parties involved know exactly what is expected of them and when. This will also protect you legally if someone doesn’t come through on their word.
• Be competitive. Know exactly what sets your business apart from the competition and why consumers can and should choose you. In fact, this information should be an integral part of your brand, logo design, and business plan. Whatever your advantage, identify it, maximize it, and guard it carefully.

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There was a time when it was easy to get credit for a small business—as easy as walking into any bank or even simply pulling out a credit card. However, the credit crunch has hit no one as hard as small business owners. Cash-strapped banks are reluctant to invest in your personal dream, and even investors seem reluctant. Here are a few tips for getting the small business credit that you need to fuel your endeavors.

• Keep your papers in order. One mistake that many small business owners make is looking for small business credit empty-handed. Not having necessary papers, such as a detailed business plan and a vision statement, shows that you haven’t thought your idea through. While even the best written business plan won’t guarantee credit, it will show that you are a business professional with a good idea of how to use a loan to move your company forward.
• Don’t mingle personal and professional. It’s tempting when starting a business to use personal resources such as personal credit, a home equity line, or other non-business resources to get started. However, the consequences can be grim. Are you willing to make your kids go without shoes if a vendor pays late? How about losing your home? Using personal credit for business purposes may feel like an easy fix, but it places your personal financial life in jeopardy. Plus, it robs your business of the chance to build its own credit record—which brings us to our next item.
• Build your credit. Most people are aware of the need to build their own personal credit, but your rating is just as important in the business world. This will increase the chance that you can get money for expansion and other opportunities as needed. Once you have established accounts with your top vendors and suppliers, ask about a revolving credit account. IF paid off in a timely manner, this will make you a more attractive credit risk to banks and financial institutions.
• Go local. Local banks and local bankers are often your best resources when looking for small business credit. There is a good chance they see the same need in the community that you do, and will be more willing to finance a small business that addresses these issues. In addition, a local banker will often take the time to get to know you, and can thus be a source of information and advice about your town’s unique business climate. Even if you don’t get that line of credit with your first application, begin building relationships now.
• Think long term. Quick money always sounds good, but you are building your business for the long haul. You should plan finances and debt accordingly. Think about how every credit and financial decision will affect your business and your credit standing in the years and decades to come. In a tight business climate, there is no room for hasty decision making and a lack of long term vision.

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If you are a small business owner, you have probably noticed that running a small business takes a lot of space. Whether you are running your business out of your home or have a dedicated workspace, you probably feel buried at times in products and paperwork. Here are a few ways of digging out of the clutter so you can work with a clean desk and a clean mind.

• Discard items you don’t need. This is the most important and simplest tip for reducing clutter, but it is the one that gives most small business owners the most trouble. While you may have a good reason for keeping certain newspapers, magazines, and other items, if you have not read or dealt with them by now, you probably won’t get to it in the near future. You should also pare back on supplies—often people buy two or three different cleaners where one will suffice. Getting rid of old and unneeded items leaves more room in your workspace and your life for the things that matter.
• Deal with paperwork as soon as you receive it. It takes the same amount of time to do the task early, and reduces the amount of paperwork lying around. When you let routine tasks like bill paying, phone calls and RSVPs pile up, you also risk losing the paper or forgetting about them entirely. The most effective managers deal with papers only once, reducing the total amount of time that each task requires.
• Keep files current. When you get a new document, discard the old one. This will make it easier to access the latest information and also reduce the space you need for files. If you must keep old documents, such as for tax purposes, staple like items together with the newest in front so you don’t have to dig to find what you need.
• Maintain electronic records where possible. Modern technology makes it easy to keep things like contacts and appointments in a small cell phone or other device. If you are worried about losing this valuable information, back it up on a computer or a CD regularly. The Rolodex went the way of the dinosaur long ago, with good reason. Digital storage takes up less space and is easier to organize.
• Invest in good organization materials. Small business owners often try to cut costs by spending less on things they perceive as ‘extras’. However, organizational materials are not an extra—they are essential to running your business in an efficient manner. Ask around and find out what works for people in your line of business. Invest in file cabinets, inboxes, time-saving software, and anything else that you think will streamline your business on a day-to-day basis.

Running a small business and building a brand is difficult enough without sifting through papers every time you need to complete a task. While it may take time and energy to get organized, you will find that it saves time in the long run and allows you to run your business more efficiently.

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If you are looking for lucrative small business ideas, have I got the list for you! These new small businesses are relatively inexpensive to begin and offer high returns. Many of them require very specific sets of skills or talents, but you just might have what it takes. Here are the most lucrative small businesses of 2011.

1. Website and blog flipping. Sometimes a website or blog is so close to success, but it is being held back by poor design, poor branding, poor SEO, and other ‘aesthetic’ characteristics. That’s where website and blog flippers come in. These flippers basically work the same way as the house flippers we saw making millions a few years ago: they buy sites with high potential, ‘renovate’ them with a better site design and logo design, then turn around and sell them. It can be very lucrative work if you have the skills to do it yourself or if you can identify high profit sites and pay someone else to do the heavy lifting.

2. Review websites. Most modern people turn to the web for reviews, and this behavior has become even more common now that budgets are tighter. A caveat: it works best if you choose a niche that you already have expertise in. Also, because there are so many review sites out there, you should be careful to have your website, logo design, and brand designed by an expert so you come across as the more professional choice.

3. Membership websites. Are you an expert in an underserved niche? If so, you can make serious money by designing a website with forums, product reviews, and expert advice in your niche. Charge a low but reasonable monthly fee, then market your website aggressively in places where people who share your interest tend to congregate. Again, don’t skimp on design and branding. People won’t give their hard-earned money to someone that they perceive as an amateur.

4. Niche sales websites. There are thousands of small hobbies that have huge fan bases. However, it is impractical to build a brick-and-mortar store because there aren’t enough niche fans in any given area. The internet allows you to sell to fans all over the world, which can make some of these niche sites very lucrative enterprises.

These lucrative small business choices may seem unrelated, but they all have a few things in common. First, they are all based on the internet. The internet makes it possible to reach a huge number of people with very little initial investment, and internet businesses thus have the potential for huge returns.

Second, professional design services are essential for each of the businesses on our list. We live in a marketing-driven world, and unprofessional logos are no longer cutting it. If you are planning to start a small business, whether it is one of these or a more unique venture, invest early in your business brand and image so you can have the best possible chance of success.

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