They say that opportunity doesn’t knock twice. The truth is that opportunity may never knock on your door. It might only be a tap on the back window. We often narrow our view of opportunities to our own comfort zones or fields of expertise, but this causes us to miss out on a world of […]

Ever since I wrote about how to get started with freelancing, one question I keep getting is: “how do I get my first client on-board?” It isn’t always easy. After all, with countless consulting groups, agencies and other freelancers out there, not to mention networking events and personal connections, getting your name out there and standing […]

Truth be told, startups and freelancers have a lot in common. By all rights you should have a great working relationship together, given your shared “entrepreneurial spirit” and that common bond of going mile-a-minute and juggling multiple balls simultaneously. However, it’s exactly this crazy environment that can often drive a great client-freelancer relationship right down […]

Although the Internet has drastically changed the face of marketing, savvy business owners can still reach prospects and generate sales through direct mail marketing. In many cases, we’re seeing direct mail marketing as more effective than email or banner ad marketing because there is less competition. Instead of competing with a hundred other emails or […]

When it comes to small businesses, it’s all about wants versus needs. For most, branding tends to be an afterthought, a “nice-to-have” or an “add-on”— like icing on the cake. It’s usually a placeholder, and 9 times out of 10 it is easily forgotten. Definitely not perceived as a need. However, the opportunity it presents […]

Winning a prospect over to your way of thinking can make the difference between earning their business or not. The question is, how to do it without telling them they’re wrong and sending them running. Early in my career I came across a principle that helps me through these difficult situations. Years ago, I met […]

Finding talented interns with the skills to shine at your startup is tough to accomplish and, yet, it’s integral to the success of your company. Do not hire interns strictly in an attempt to obtain free labor — if you are not careful doing so can easily spiral out of control and cause a lot more […]