All the News That's Fit to Blog
Dear Sarah,
I've recently launched my home-based business, and my sales are inconsistent. Until I can get a steady income flow, what are some ways that I can save money in my everyday life?
Thanks,
Sandi Hochman Lucky Puppy
Dear Sandi,
Thanks for a great question! I reached out to my friend Andrew of Money Crashers as he has awesome ideas about how to save money and get ahead!
Starting a home-based business is a huge challenge, and in the beginning, times can be tough. However, there is no reason to despair as there are a …
Who wants more media coverage, more website page views, bigger mailing list, more Facebook Fans and more Twitter followers? I know I do and assume you do too! If you had a chance to listen to my interview a few weeks ago with Megan from Blogger Black Book, you might already be on the blog review bandwagon….. looking for those lucky reviewers who get to sample your products and write a review for you. Finding the "right" reviewers for your line can be a tedious job but if you google …
In case you haven't noticed yet, I am all about helping you avoid the legal boo boo's that I made (and there were TONS) while starting and running my first business…….OY were there tons. I made every mistake under the sun when it came to legal docs, working with investors, and protecting my own personal interests and not only those of the company. There is no reason for you to repeat any of the mistakes I made! I asked my friend Linda Wang to chat with me about ways you …
Dear Sarah,
If you've had a placement in a magazine, how long should you wait until you approach the magazine again? Should you continue to pitch them as long as you have noteworthy news or product updates?
Thanks in advance,
Erika Deady-Wohlers Tutu Pour Mon Deux
Erika,
I say the squeaky wheel gets the grease. I’d never stop contacting the media if you have new products or some fabulous news about your company. But, that said, fabulous news can vary so it also depends on which media outlets you are contacting with certain news items. If …
I saw a video the other day with my good friend and mentor Mike Michalowcz and it got me thinking…….
How can bootstrapping really make you a better business woman?
A lot of us dream of a big investor coming in (our knight in shinning gold coins) and solving all our problems, bringing a lot of savvy to the table, helping the business run more smoothly, and giving us that long awaited salary……right? Hey, I have been there with you……several times……in fact, I did bring on investors, and did hope they'd do …
Dear Sarah,
Is it a good idea to exhibit at a tradeshow show if you don’t have much visibility as a young company? Tradeshows are very expensive, so I’d want to make the most of the money I spend. What do you suggest as the best course of action?
Thanks for your wisdom,
Meghna Meghna Designs
Dear Meghna,
Tradeshows can be sort of a gray area to help boost sales for young upstarts. Obviously having a lot of previous visibility through the media can help uplevel your presence there, but that does not guarantee sales. When you don’t have much (or …
OMG are you as confused as I am at times with blog reviewers and if they are a good idea or not? I just had to have a chat with my friend Megan over at Blogger Black Book and ask her to share her insider info with me (us) on how to best use bloggers to promote your brand. As usual, Megan comes through with awesome info on how to find the right bloggers for your brand, how many to work with at a time, and how to get a …
Dear Sarah,
I have a quick question…can you explain why I would want my retail price to be equal to, or greater than, the stores I want to sell to?
Thank you for all of your help,
Kimberly Mastropietro, Look & Feel Fabulous, www.justworkedout.com
Dear Kimberly,
This is a great question. Let's set the first rule straight – never sell on-line for more than your stores are selling the item for. The main reason you want your own retail prices to be competitive with stores is so they don’t feel you are competing with them. Stores don’t …
