How Important Small Businesses is in the U.S.

Tips to Increase Your Blog Subscribers

Writing a blog is so much rewarding when you know people are reading and sharing your work. If you are managing a blog as part of your business; increasing you subscribers  is an important task. 

Here are some fairly simple tips you can implement to help boost your subscribers.

1. Decrease your loading time. Slow loading times means a 7% drop off rate. Slow loading times is a sure way to lose visitors to your blog before they get to read your content. Slow loading times can also lead to lower Google search rankings.

2.  Offer Exclusive content for your subscribers. Give aways can give your readers an extra push to sign up for your blog.

3. Add Sign-Up Forms. If you only have sign up forms in one place (at the bottom of the page) you can lose a potential subscriber. Add your sign up form to the side bar. The more places the better.

4. Use pop ups to capture email addresses. Most blogging platforms will allow you to set up one.

Perfect Social Media Post cont'd

Tips for Posting to Pinterest, Facebook & Google Plus

A few tips to keep mind:

Pinterest
Avoid using human faces. Images gets repinned 23% more.

Facebook
Provide links. Drive your fans to your website, blog site, etc
Positivity. Positivity is definitely more appealing.
Provide valuable information.

Google Plus
Tag people. Encourage people to comment on your post.
Include images.

No Such Thing of "The Perfect" Social Media Post

I get so many questions on Social Media. When is the best time to post? What should I post? What Social Media sites should I use? How can I get more followers or more likes?

I wish there was a secret formula to all of this, but there isn't. Each Social Media site is different. Each brand followers/fans have their own preferences.

The key is to find what Social Media site works best for your business. In order to find that out you have to know where your market is.

Remember the more Social Media sites you use the more time you have to spend maintaining them. Find at least three sites to use. For instance; Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.

Small Business Challenges

Questions to Ask Yourself Before Committing to a Business Partner

A business partnership is like a marriage.  It often starts out wonderful and blissful--only to end in chaos and legal proceedings.  Before committing to a business partner, learn as much as you can about them.  Take the time to get to know as much about their family life and their lifestyle in general before making that BIG step.

Questions to ask before deciding on a partner:

1.  What is your potential partner financial situation?
Okay, it's a little to personal but it is important to know.  Having a clear understanding of someone's financial status is crucial before committing. 

2.  What do you need from your business partner?
Find a business partner who can bring something different to the table.  Opposites attract.  If you are a more detailed person.  Find someone who is creative.  If you are shy or have money to invest.  Find someone who is not shy and have great connections to a market.

3.  Is your potential partner commitment to the business as strong as yours?
If your partner is not as committed as you are, they can ruin your brand in due time.  Pay attention.

4.  Are they willing to put in the time?
It's important that you and your partner be on the same page.  Find out how many hours are they willing to put in a day.  Do they're expectations meet yours? Partners do not have to spend the same amount of time as you, but it is important that they are just as committed as you.

5.  What questions do they have for me?
Your partner should ask you questions.  You want them to know about your character, expectations and reliability.  If they don't, then do not commit.