Women Unlimited Inspiration, lnnovation, Collaboration

To expand your business you need help. There’s only so much you can do on your own, and only so far your own skills will take you. What’s more, moving to a new level often means taking a big step: starting a new project, changing how you operate or opening up a new market. That means you have to bring in support, whether it’s the occasional freelancer or full-time staff. And that’s a huge block for many entrepreneurs and can stop you from growing your business. Learning how to find, ... Read More »

I’ve often wondered why some businesses erupt and are huge, enabling the owner to have financial freedom, whilst others, with an equally valid value proposition stay small, providing an income and if we’re honest, another job. This harks back to the reason why we are doing it. The real reason behind starting up. Is it to design the lifestyle we want, or is it to create a profitable business complete with exit strategy? And are the two necessarily exclusive? I don’t think they are. Yet this is a major stumbling ... Read More »

Networking is perhaps the most direct way to grow your client base and it can be an invaluable part of a broader marketing and promotional strategy. In fact, if done consistently well, it can be a self-sustaining route to having a lengthy list of happy clients and demand for your services that means you no longer need to worry about where your next client is coming from. I’m often asked by entrepreneurs and small business owners whether networking really works. People say: ‘Is it a good investment of my time ... Read More »

Have you ever wondered what you need to be a success in running your own business? Is it an incredible idea that galvanizes a generation, like a wicked app that goes viral and has the world trying to knock a fat pig off a ledge, or maybe it’s a fantastic mentor, with loads of seed money, contacts and endless support? Well, it’s none of those things. In fact, the magic ingredients you need for success are quite different and far closer to home and your heart, than you might think. ... Read More »

At my company, Top Left Design, we spend a lot of our time creating bespoke websites, so it’s a strange question for me to be attacking. Do I really want to even put this question in your mind? But here I am bravely writing about this. Why would I even bring this up? I know you won’t be able to get value from this post unless I answer this question. So, there are 3 reasons. 1. I really think you should only spend money only when you know there is a ... Read More »

Few people dispute the value of having a network of contacts who can feed you with a steady flow of decent business opportunities.  It saves time and effort in the sales process and is generally a much more pleasant way of growing your business.  One business owner I met recently commented that, when analysing their sales figures, the value of the referred sale compared to those via their website was almost 10% more.  They also said they found the internet-generated customers more fee-sensitive whereas those who came via a referral ... Read More »

So you want to be creative, but do you know how? A former colleague of mine, who was a partner at one of the big four accountancy firms, was describing a training session which put him, and his fellow team members, into a darkened room for one day where they started learning about outer space. What did this have to do with his job? Nothing! So why would a global organisation be prepared to invest thousands of hard and soft dollars in training members of their senior management team, in ... Read More »

Keyword research should be a part of every site owner’s overall marketing tactics, whether they are involved in ecommerce or blogging. Likewise, SEO is an important part of increasing traffic, improving your reputation and bumping up your site’s visibility. To do that, you need to know what keywords to target, which take us right back to keyword research. You should always have a regularly updated list of what keywords are bringing in the highest returns with your search results. Often you will find these are not the words you would ... Read More »

When you leave your job and cross over to start your own business, it can be a journey of twists and turns.  At times you will feel exhilarated, excited and eagerly anticipating each day as it presents you with new opportunities and experiences. You will relish the freedom and flexibility of being your own boss. You will love doing the work that matches your values and is meaningful to you. Sadly, it is not always like this. At other times you may feel as if you are taking two steps ... Read More »

It’s seems like everyone is obsessed with how to get “Likes” for their Facebook Page these days. Yes, “Likes” are important because when people “Like” your Page, they’re giving you a powerful form of permission. They’re saying that they are interested in you and want to hear from you on Facebook. This keeps your business or organisation top of mind, but “Likes” are only one piece of the puzzle. What happens after the “Like?” The truth is, what you do with those Facebook fans AFTER they “Like” your page is ... Read More »