Tips for starting a business with little money

9 02 2010

This economy might have you thinking about starting your own business or you might have had the idea for a while, and now you’re ready to take the leap.

But lack of money might be holding you back. Fear not because there are ways to get customers and clients with little cost. Here are some tips from Tanisha  A. Sykes, financial guru of Essence magazine:

Know your audience. One thing to ask yourself: Can I best serve corporations, small businesses or individuals? Also, keep in mind that having your friends and family as clients will only take you so far. Let’s say you sell Mary Kay- consider asking them to host parties and offer 10 percent of the profits in return. (You can get more ideas like this from the book ”Built for Growth: Expanding Your Business Around the Corner or Across the Globe” by Arthur Rubinfield).

Set hours. Letting everyone know you’re available  24/7 isn’t realistic, so have specific hours of operation to prevent confusion and develop a customer/client base.

Make your ads specific. If you’re running more than one business, design flyers and other material for each business. Also, keep it simple: identify the product or service, its cost, the added value and where it can be purchased.

Sell wisely. Remember, your goal is to make money. Giving one complimentary service or free samples is okay if it creates some buzz, helps you get a new client or a major deal. So, budget for some giveaways, but don’t go overboard.

Get the word out for free. Some places you can advertise for free in your community: ads in church bulletins, grocery stores and bus stops. For online promotion, try forums, free directories, Google Ad Sense, YouTube and other social networking sites (Facebook, Twitter, etc.).

Please feel free to add your tips in the comments below!

Source: Essence,”Biz Basics”,  December 2009

Photo from: cdn.woldcnews.com


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My Quote of the Day- February 9

9 02 2010

“You only have to believe that you can succeed, that you can be whatever your heart desires, be willing to work for it, and you can have it.”

-Oprah Winfrey


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Bodacious Bloggers: Courtney, The Think and Grow Chick

8 02 2010

Bodacious Bloggers is a series featuring some awesome bloggers I think you should check out.

 

Blog Tile

 The Think and Grow Chick

What is your blog about?

My blog essentially is about achieving goals as it relates to the pursuits of young black women. Obviously, hair is a hot topic, so I have posts that talk about going natural or growing your hair out since that seems to be a popular goal, but I also talk about “weightier” subjects like getting out of debt, getting through college or trying to start your own business.

Why did you start your blog?

At first, I started my blog because I couldn’t find anything else like it online! I love reading my daily hair and fashion blogs like I’m sure most of us do, but I also have an instatiable appetite for information on entrepreneurship and personal development as well. I’m constantly reading books on the subject as well, and I really want to see a “one stop shop” if you will for young black women like me. I’m simultaneously interested in my hair and starting a business, and I wanted to start a blog that reflected my multifacetedness.

How do you decide what to write about?

Coming up with topics is not really hard because I can always draw from the goals that I’m working towards. I’m always surprised and delighted when I get an email from someone telling me how much they related to my post and how they’re going through the exact same thing. It lets me know that what I’m writing about is relevant and that I’m on the right track.

What is your favorite post that you’ve written?

By far, I’d have to say that “Never Say What You Can’t Do,” a post about some academic and financial turmoil I had last year, is the greatest post on my blog by far. It’s funny because I was also the most nervous about that post as I wasn’t sure if I really wanted to “put myself out there” like that, but I’m really glad I did.

What do you want your readers to take away from your blog after reading it?

(1) That obstacles are surmountable with God and a good plan, and (2) that you are not alone if you are going through something. EVERYONE goes through something at one time or another, but it’s all about how you handle it. When I tell my friends and family about what I’m going through, I tell them not to worry because all my troubles are going to make for great material when I write a book and do my world tour as a motivational speaker ; -).

Any tips for those wanting to start a blog?

My first tip is JUST DO IT! Yes, get on Blogger or WordPress, pick a template, and slap up a post. It will feel liberating, and you can take it down five seconds later if you want. The point is to move pass the “I want to start a blog” phase and get into just doing it. Once you’ve got your feet wet and anxiety out of your system, it’s very important to sit down and think about (1) what you’re writing, and (2) who you’re writing for. No one reads “The Daily Ramblings of Me” blogs anymore, so it’s important to have a clear cut purpose and strive to provide real value to your readers with a blog. Put yourself in the readers’ shoes…why is your blog valuable to someone other than you? Once you can answer that question, you’ll find that all the other blogging issues like readership, comments, Google rankings, etc., etc. will seem to fall into place.


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Question of the Week- February 8

8 02 2010

I was checking my reeeaaally old email on Saturday, and I saw an interesting piece in a recent issue of Essence’s newsletter. It was about a 20-something woman and the fact that she’s not fond of the term wifey; according to the article, wifey is a man’s “main squeeze, long-term girlfriend, or woman who is almost ‘wife material.’” – i.e., not the wife.

 The author goes on to give nine reasons why the word wife is better, and nine men give the reasons why. (I would post a link to the article, but it seems to have disappeared from the site). Well, I asked my bf if there was a difference in the terms for him (because I was curious), and he basically says, to him, the terms are synonymous. I guess the definition varies depending on the individual.

So, what do ya’ll think? Do the terms ‘wife’ and ‘wifey’ basically mean the same thing? Would you be/are you offended when your SO refers to you as wifey?

I look forward to reading your responses (especially the fellas). Have a great week ya’ll!


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My Quote of the Day- February 8

8 02 2010

“In life, there’s always going to be someone who doesn’t like something about you, so you have to focus on what makes you happy about yourself. You’re the only person you need to please.”

-Lauren Conrad


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Flyy Fridays: How to choose and wear perfume

5 02 2010

One of my favorite fragrances

Did you know that there are 1,270 brands of women’s fragrance available? (That’s a lot!) With that much available, it can be really hard to find one you love.

Well, here are three tips to help you find the right fragrance:

 

 

Test. Spray any fragrance you’re interested in on blotters and wait a few minutes for the alcohol to dry before sniffing. Smell your sleeve to clear your nose between testing each one. Choose up to four, and apply one on each inner wrist and outer forearm. Before choosing your favorite, let the scents settle for at least thirty minutes (several hours is preferable) so they can completely develop.

Check. The amount you apply and how often you reapply should be based on the scent’s concentration. For perfume, you only need a drop or two (it lasts up to 12 hours); for eau de parfum, use no more than three spritzes (it lasts around eight hours); and if you’re using mist eau de toilette, you can use it generously (it’s diluted and lasts around four hours).

Spritz. Apply the fragrance on your pulse points: the hollow of your neck, inner wrists and elbows and behind your ears and knees. Why? The warmth will subtly project scent.

Get more info on wearing perfumes from my source: Tips for Choosing and Wearing Perfumes

Photo from: perfumegifts.com


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Wear Red Day!

5 02 2010

If you didn’t know, today is National Wear Red Day. The purpose is to show your support for women’s heart disease awareness. This observance also promotes the Red Dress symbol and gives an opportunity for everyone to unite in this life-saving awareness movement by showing off a favorite red dress, shirt, tie or Red Dress Pin.

For more info, check out my source: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/educational/hearttruth/materials/wear-red-toolkit.htm 


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My Quote of the Day- February 5

5 02 2010

“When opportunity comes, you need to grab it, you have to have faith in yourself.”

- Gayle King


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What young women should know about heart health

4 02 2010

If you’re a youngin like me, you probably don’t think too much about your heart’s health. And you’re not alone- I honestly don’t think about it much either. But February is Heart Health Month, and the ever fabulous Yahoo Shine gives us six reasons to pay attention to our heart health as young women.

  1. Cardiovascular disease (or, CVD) is the number one killer among women. In 2005, CVD was the cause of death for 454,613 American women (cancer claimed the lives of 268,890). Also, American women are four to six times more likely to die of heart disease than of breast cancer.
  2. CVD can affect women of every age. Heart disease progresses over time, and it can even start while you’re a teen. Some things that increase your chances of developing heart disease early include lack of physical activity, smoking and poor nutrition. Therefore, you should make good lifestyle decisions as early as possible.
  3. The death rate due to CVD is higher in women than men. More women than men die of stroke, and 42 percent of women who have heart attacks die within one year, compared to 24 percent of men. Also, if those women are under 50-years-old, they are twice as likely to die as a result of a heart attack than men. 
  4. Survival doesn’t mean it’s over. Heart disease can manifest itself through a stroke, and while many people can (and do) live through one, they might end up with permanent health issues. Additionally, stroke is a top cause of serious, long-term disability (15-30 percent of victims end up permanently disabled), and two-thirds of women who have a heart attack don’t make a full recovery.
  5. Diagnosis isn’t easy. I’m sure you’ve heard that men and women show different warning signs of a potential heart attack- and it’s true. Silent heart attacks, those with little or no symptoms, are more frequent among women than men. Seventy-one percent of women have flu-like symptoms, often without chest pains. Other unusual symptoms: neck, shoulder and abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fatigue and shortness of breath.
  6. Ethnicity and heart health. Black and Hispanic/Latina women need to be concerned about getting heart disease because we tend to have more risk factors than white women. These factors include lack of physical activity, obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes. Additionally, the death rate because of CVD is significantly higher in black women than in white women.

The great news is you can lower your heart disease risk by as much as 82 percent just by leading a healthy lifestyle. So, start taking steps to improve your heart’s health!

Source: 6 Reasons young women should care about heart health; Photo from: thebridge-cc.org

For more info on heart health, check out:

www.nhlbi.nih.gov

www.americanheartassociation.com


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My Quote of the Day- February 4

4 02 2010

“Be true to yourself, and stick with who you are through thick and thin without letting anyone dilute your essence.”

~Kimora Lee Simmons


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