How to enjoy writing blog posts (rather than dreading it)
One of the things I found hardest as an inexperienced business blog writer was to start a new post and finish it — to be honest, I didn’t really enjoy blog writing! Writing and publishing to a schedule can be quite a challenge for a busy person. If you recognise this, then please don’t beat yourself […]
3 proven recipes to help you win customers (and keep them too)
A few years ago – during the recession- I compiled a blog called “How not to fail in business”, with useful tips from my clients how to survive as a solopreneur. During those tough years everyone had to work even harder than normal to win and keep customers. And we learnt not to take anything for […]
How to improve your business with a few simple ideas
A few weeks ago I looked at the older of my two apple apple trees and couldn’t believe my eyes. In the 30+ years we’ve lived in our house, the old tree has always produced green cooking apples… until this year that is! I have absolutely no idea why they have turned red. (Was it […]
Astoundingly simple ways to make networking easier and more enjoyable
Have you ever come away from a networking meeting feeling frustrated about the experience or the (lack of) results you get from networking? What if you could make networking easier and more enjoyable so you connect with the right people but it doesn’t feel like hard work?
Want to boost your business? Here’s what to do first!
From time to time you just want to boost your business quickly! Maybe it’s because your regular marketing strategies aren’t attracting the desired business and you haven’t yet worked out why. So you just want some quick wins to tie you over. If that’s the case my tips below will hopefully get you started.
Goodbye annual tax return – hello quarterly tax returns
A guest post from Margaret Cain: Through my work with a client who develops accountancy software, I’ve become aware of HMRC’s Making Tax Digital strategy. Don’t doze off at the back. This is important. Did you know that in the near future self-employed people (and some landlords) earning more than £10,000 a year will have […]
Audio: How to get seen and trusted online when you don’t like standing out
What can you do when you offer a valuable service but feel a little uncomfortable about marketing and promoting yourself? About the need to get visible, to get seen and trusted online and stand out from the crowd? When you run your own business you can’t really afford to be shy or to hold back. […]
Audio: A simple tip how to avoid difficult clients
We’ve all done it – taken on a client we shouldn’t have. Sometimes the warning signs are there when you meet someone for the first time. And at other times you discover too late that you’ve taken on a client you don’t enjoy working with. And by that time you probably regret it as working […]
Why you should celebrate more often than you think
It was the Queen’s (actual) 90th birthday last week and, having switched off my computer for the day, I decided to join in the celebrations in Windsor. The happy atmosphere was infectious. Everyone enjoyed it, not just the locals or the foreign tourists – Sandra and Sandy from the reality TV show Gogglebox were in their […]
Do solopreneurs always need a business plan?
Until recently I used to deliver regular workshops for a business start-up initiative. I love nothing more than helping highly motivated new business owners launch their ideas. But one of the things I learned with startups is that not everyone finds writing a business plan very motivating. And consequently some people never finish theirs. So on […]