Winter is a busy time for us business owners. As well as keeping our companies running we also need to find time for things like Christmas shopping, family events and, of course, the big day itself. For some businesses, such as retailers, this is the busiest time of year as customers rush to stock …
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6 things you should never say to your designer
Working with a designer can be scary, especially if you’ve never done it before. You’re not entirely sure how this whole thing works, and you don’t want to ask silly questions. But if you’ve found the right designer, they should either have already explained the process to you, or made it clear that …
How you know it’s time to raise your prices
Pricing is a touchy subject, isn’t it? Mention pricing and people get nervous, whether they’re clients looking for the best deal, or businesses looking for the best profit. And as a business owner, it can be hard to raise your prices. You worry about all sorts of things. Like, if it’s the right …
The benefits of being unavailable
Being unavailable is great. But I’m not talking about being booked up months in advance and having to turn clients away or start a waiting list (fun though that is!). I’m talking about the benefits of being unavailable in a general, day to day way. I have a strict policy of no unscheduled phone …
How to get control of your freelance work-life balance
How’s your work-life balance? Are you working long hours, skipping meals and losing sleep because you’re working so hard? Many people start their own business because the lifestyle appeals to them. They can leave the grind of the 9-5 and take control of their own schedule. They can work shorter …
Grow your email list the right way: avoid these mistakes
Happy new year! I hope you had a wonderful time over the festive break :) I’m just back to work after a full 2 weeks off and I’m drowning in email. Which has led to this post instead of the one I had planned to publish (the best editorial calendars are flexible, right?) You see, in amongst …
6 simple steps to tame your inbox
Is your inbox overflowing? When emails are coming in faster than you can deal with them you can feel like poor Sisyphus, eternally pushing a boulder up a hill. While Inbox Zero seems like a myth at this point, it doesn’t mean you can’t regain some control. With a few simple tweaks you can get rid …
Why your small business needs strong branding
Branding is vital for your business. In fact, your brand is one of your most valuable assets. And it’s not just important for the big players, like Coca Cola, Starbucks and Apple. We small businesses need a strong brand just as much as they do. Sometimes even more so. But what is your …
6 tools to help you organise your small business
“Sorry, I’ve been really busy…” How many times have you heard that, received it in an email, or said it yourself? Too many to count? Everyone is busy, busy, busy these days. But, busy is not the same as productive. Sure, you may be working non-stop from dawn to dusk, but are you hitting …