Magentic Writing

Always wanted to write a truly magnetic Blog post? The article readers come back for, time after time?

Getting traffic to your website is only part of the recipe for business success. Essentially, there are many ingredients which count towards making your business website the connoisseur of the industry.

My article How to get original blog content in 10 minutes helps with writers block and creating your posts, but what is the real secret recipe for business writing?

Golden Content

Aim to make a ‘Golden’ piece of content, for sure, but to really make your site stand over and above others, it’s a great idea to follow a ‘recipe’ building the essential ingredients of a killer post or article, ensuring your readers really get value from their visit and return for more.

Useful, well written content, along with persuasive sub-headlines and targeted information gives your website visitors a real reason to stay and browse around.

Copyblogger have created this fantastic infographic (see below) mapping out the 11 essential ingredients of writing a blog post, however you can apply the format for any kind of business writing, no matter what industry you are writing for.

The 11 Essential ingredients of Business Writing

So, what are these ingredients?

1. Craft a magnetic headline.
   Get readers attention
2. Open with a bang.
   Encourage them to read on
3. Use persuasive words.
   Really identify with your readers.
4. Write damn good sentences.
   Craft sentences to keep attention
5. Insert killer bullet points.
   Keep it short and concise
6. Create exquisite subheads.
   Break it up!
7. Tell a seductive story.
   Always start writing write with an end goal
8. Keep attention with internal cliffhangers.
   Write those ‘Mini – moments’
9. Choose an arresting image.
   Cleverly craft with imagery
10. Close in style.
    Make sure your end goal fits with your close
11. Be authentic
    Don’t try and be someone you’re not

Satisfying Needs

Make sure your content delivers what your readers really want and need. Endless posts of the same old ocntent are utterly worthless, especially when your competitors are crafting and delivering the same.

Your customers choice will be one of convenience, not of desire. And we know that desire often outsrips the regular choice of getting it on your doorstep. Less is so often More.

Making sure you have all the ingredients will improve your audience, readership, bounce rates, and of course popularity,  as your stunningly crafted articles and posts become firm favourites with your customers.

Enjoy the prospect of crafting the most superb articles  you have ever written!

Please share your secret recipes for business writing in the comments below.

You can download Copybloggers PDF checklist here

Like this infographic? Get content marketing advice that works from Copyblogger.

Business is all about taking risks and meeting challenges.If you’re working hard to start or grow your business, having a motivational quote that really resonates with your current workload or situation can help you get through those challenges.Here I have compiled a list of 25 famous business quotes to inspire you and help you get through that working day.Feel free to copy them to your desktop and set as wallpaper or print later and stick on your noticeboard. Enjoy!

“It’s fine to celebrate success but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure.” ~Bill Gates

Surviving a failure gives you more self-confidence. Failures are great learning tools.. but they must be kept to a minimum. – Jeffrey Immelt

” You must remain focused on your journey to greatness.” – Les Brown

“Management is nothing more than motivating other people.” – Le Iacocca

“Why did I want to win? Because I didn’t want to lose!” – Max Schmelling

“In the business world, everyone is paid in two coins: cash and experience. Take the experience first; the cash will come later.” – Harold Geneen

“The absolute fundamental aim is to make money out of satisfying customers.” – John Egan

“Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning.” – Bill Gates 

“The trick is in what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same.”– Carlos Castaneda

“I don’t pay good wages because I have a lot of money; I have a lot of money because I pay good wages.” – Robert Bosch

“Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.”  Theodore Roosevelt

“The noblest search is the search for excellence.” – Lyndon B. Johnson

“f you work just for money, you’ll never make it, but if you love what you’re doing and you always put the customer first, success will be yours.” – Ray Kroc

“Even if you’re on the right track you’ll get run over by others if just sit there.” – Will Rogers

“Innovation is the distinction between a leader and a follower.” – Steve Jobs

“There is no security on the earth, there is only opportunity.” – General Douglas MacArthur

“The golden rule for every business man is this: Put yourself in your customer’s place.” – Orison Swett Marden

“Whenever you see a successful business, someone once made a courageous decision.” – Peter F. Drucker

“The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.” – Vidal Sassoon done

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” – John Quincy Adams

“If there is such a thing as good leadership, it is to give a good example.” – Ingvar Kamprad

“What is not started today is never finished tomorrow.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“If you focus on results, you will never change. If you focus on change, you will get results.”   Jack Dixon

“Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.” – Stephen Covey

“Whether you think you can or whether you think you can’t, you’re right!” – Henry Ford

What are your favourite business quotes for inspiration? Please share below.

Motivation is necessary for any activity worth doing. A wittily phrased short message summed up in a few words can sometimes be more motivational and effective  than a long speech. These quotes by famous people serve as  a great source of inspiration. Entrepreneurs need inspiration to keep them working harder and harder, to stay strong in hard times and focus on their goal. Here is a list of 25 motivating business quotes that every entrepreneur needs:

  ” The first one gets the oyster the second  gets the shell .”    -Andrew Carnegie

“Learn to listen. Opportunity could be knocking at your door very softly.” – Frank Tyger

   “To think creatively we must be able to look afresh at what we normally take for granted.”       -George Kneller

“To be successful, you have to have your heart in your business, and your business in your heart.”

– Thomas Watson, Sr.

“To win without risk is to triumph without glory. “– Pierre Corneille

“The key to success is to focus our conscious mind on things we desire not things we fear.”
Brian Tracy

“A real decision is measured by the fact that you’ve taken a new action. If there’s no action, you haven’t truly decided.”       –Tony Robbins

“You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want.”
Zig Ziglar

“A mediocre person tells. A good person explains. A superior person demonstrates. A great person inspires others to see for themselves.”
Harvey Mackay

 “The number of times I succeed is in direct proportion to the number of times I can fail and keep on trying.”
Tom Hopkins

“Business is a combination of war and sport.”  – Andre Maurois

“You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take.”  – Wayne Gretzky

“Business is a combination of war and sport.”  – Andre Maurois

“The road to someday leads to a town of nowhere.” – Tony Robbins

“Do or do not. There is no try” – Yoda

“Hire character. Train skill.” – Peter Schutz

“The winners in life think constantly in terms of I can, I will, and I am. Losers, on the other hand, concentrate their waking thoughts on what they should have or would have done, or what they can’t do.“– Dennis Waitley

“Opportunity is missed by most because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” – Thomas A. Edison

“A business has to be involving, it has to be fun, and it has to exercise your creative instincts.”– Richard Branson

“Your time is precious so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.” – Steve Jobs

“The entrepreneur always searches for change, responds to it, and exploits it as an opportunity.”

– Peter F. Drucker

” Its not what happened to you, its what you do with what happens to you.” – Aldous Huxley

 “Live daringly, boldly, fearlessly. Taste the relish to be found in competition – in having put forth the best within you.” – Henry J. Kaiser

“The successful man is the one who finds out what is the matter with his business before his competitors do.” – Roy L. Smith

” The only way around is through.” – Robert Frost

Just how valuable is input to the newbie entrepreneur?

Today, being an entrepreneur is made up of two simple things “being smart” and “keeping lean.” Factor in the current economic distress, and the changing face of traditional bricks and mortar business, and you have an increasingly difficult environment for a young, inexperienced entrepreneur to get started in.

“Passion for your journey as an entrepreneur is not the only factor you need to consider when you are starting your business”

Get Sound advice

There are so many laws, rules and regulations, hundreds of options, opportunities and pitfalls, that leveraging someone else’s experience is the perfect way to avoid the ‘down-side’ of going it alone. Someone on the ‘outside’ looking in will often see things you may overlook.

More experienced and qualified people may be able to offer sound and important advice on certain situations. Often, they will share their own failures and bad times and you can draw on this experience to enhance your journey as an entrepreneur.

Lack of confidence

Having worked with and mentored young and inexperienced people through their business journey, I have found they often lack the confidence and knowledge of the grey areas of business to really take their product or service to market.

The best business ideas never reach paper because the mentee lacks encouragement or is too embarrassed to ask questions.

Bouncing ideas past someone, getting their valuable input and asking for other people’s opinions and questions not only saves short term time and money, but also pain and heartache in the long run.

Ask those questions

“Never be afraid to ask questions”

“Never be afraid of embarrassing yourself or saying you don’t know or understand something” My father, a businessman himself, gave me this advice when I first started out as an entrepreneur. I now constantly ask questions and find sharing and learning is the best way to earning!

I love brainstorming sessions with budding entrepreneurs about the right and wrong ways of ‘doing business’ It opens up new channels of thought, new processes and wonderful new strategies for routes to market.

Delve into your ideas

It’s so important to delve right into your ideas, and there’s no better way than to ask questions. If someone responds negatively to a genuine question, then they’re not the person you should be seeking advice from.

“Watch the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves”

In my very first business in the motor trade, I never used to charge customers for small stock items like washers and bolts. I needed to increase profits and asked for advice from my father, a businessman himself  who advised “Watch the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves.”

We then spent hours and hours counting all the stock that I had previously given away free, and devised a small retail price  to charge on to customers. That was an instant £75 per month increase in profits, (almost one weeks rent in those days!) and, during those early days, was the most valuable advice I have ever received.

Be Smart – Keep It Lean…

Often, in targeting the big contracts, and the huge sales, business owners forget about the smaller, regular payments they will need for the leaner times to keep them afloat.

Little snippets of advice and inspiration will go a long way to helping someone who is just starting out in the wonderful world of self employment. Encouragement and support will make all the difference.

So is input valuable to the newbie entrepreneur?

Absolutely! Getting advice and sharing ideas is the perfect recipe for any successful business. Did you seek advice when you started out? Whats the best business advice you have received? Share below.

Although a little dated due to the fact that it was writted in 1937, Think and Grow Rich is a great starting point for anyone interested in personal development and creating a ‘Mindset’ from which to re-launch your life.

It’s not a step by step manual, it simply sets out ways of turning you around to positive thinking and outlines the key points that successful, powerful people have applied to their lives and the benefits of doing so.

While not to be taken word for word, Think and Grow Rich is a fantastic book because you get from it only what you make of it. There is no one hard fast way to be successful, you can simply take little bits of it and apply to your own life to improve your success both personally and in business.

I read the book through once, made notes in the columns, and use it as more of a reference book now, just to remind me where I am going every now and again, and re-affirm the clear guidelines set out for good business and great Karma.

It’s based around the principles of the Law of Attraction.

As a summary, the chapters influence is set out below;

1. Desire

• Have a burning desire for something definite (money, etc.).
• Create a plan to obtain a definite amount of money through the sale of specific goods and services by a set date.
• “See and feel and believe yourself already in possession of the money.”

2. Faith

• Believe in your idea.
• Your self-confidence will influence your thoughts and actions.

3. Autosuggestion

• Concentrate on your desire and faith, and your subconscious will create practical plans for obtaining your desire/money.

4. Specialized knowledge

• Use your expertise and imagination to come up with ideas that earn far more than any job.

5. Imagination

• Hard work and honesty alone won’t make you rich.
• Ideas become money through a definite purpose plus a definite plan.
• Form definite plans to turn your ideas into money.

6. Organized planning

• Create a practical plan for acquiring money.
• Provide great service and convince others that you’re worth the money you demand.
• Follow the QQS Formula for service:
• – Quality: be efficient, and increase in efficiency
• – Quantity: give all the service you can, and improve through practice and experience
• – Spirit: be agreeable and harmonious with others

7. Decision

• Make decisions quickly and definitely; change them slowly.
• Base decisions on your desire and your own opinions (not others’).

8. Persistence

• Have the willpower to follow your desire and plans despite obstacles and criticism.

9. Master Mind

• Surround yourself with like-minded, intelligent people. This is your brain trust or think tank.
• With your Master Mind group, coordinate your knowledge and effort to attain your desire.

10. Sex transmutation

• Channel your sexual energy into creative energy.
• Limit yourself to a moderate amount of sex and use your remaining energy to drive creativity and enthusiasm.

11. Subconscious mind

• Plant your desires in your subconscious for it to work toward 24/7.
• Fill your mind with positive emotions so that negative ones can’t enter.

12. The brain

• Send thoughts with your subconscious, receive thoughts with your creative imagination, and use autosuggestion.

13. Sixth Sense

• Meditate to become attuned to inspiration and creative imagination.

Other notes to be mentioned

• Don’t expect poverty; demand riches.
• The only thing you can absolutely control in life is your thoughts. Control your mind through self-discipline and habit.
• Don’t use the basic fears as excuses; overcome them through positive thinking – fears of poverty, criticism, illness, loss of love, old age, and death. Don’t worry and don’t be susceptible to negative influences.

Are you struggling to choose your business name? Here is my collection of the top 7 free business name generators to help you create a brand name to be proud of.

#1 Panabee

Using Panabee couldn’t be any simpler! Type in a search string and you get;

• Domain Name Suggestions – This section highlights several variations on your core idea.
• International Domains – Sometimes a different top-level domain like .us or .co makes it easier to secure a desired name since .com is so competitive.
• Related Terms – In case you’re struggling to brainstorm, playing around with related words and phrases may generate fresh thoughts.
• Facebook & Twitter – See posts and comments related to your idea. Hopefully seeing word association from different people sparks a new idea.
• iTunes & Google Play – Check if your app name is already taken on the App Store or on Google Play.

All in all it’s a great tool for brainstorming and generating your business name and will also help with checking for domain name availability too.

#2 Namefind

Namefind is not only a cool free business name generator but it also helps you investigate and research your chosen name further for your shortlisted name ideas. In addition to name ideas, you also get

• Domain name availability
• Social media availability
• Trademark availability
• User feedback (when you register)

All essential research for your new venture!

#3 Dotomator

Essentially a domain name generator, Dotomator also gives some valuable domain name tips and ideas for brainstorming and creating company names. Its cleverly programmed application also offers

• Web 2.0 name generator
• Iphone application to download
• Ability to add beginnings and endings to your name
• Custom lists of commonly used words

Overall Dotomator is a great resource, and is a really great way of brainstorming new word ideas and custom word groups.

#4 Namestation

Namestation is possibly one of my favourite free business name generators and it comes with some additional resources and features to help you create a highly desirable business name.

• 18 different domain name generators
• Short Web 2.0 domains
• Keyword domains, popular affixes, compounds
• Creativity tools, keyword suggestions
• Domain name check
• Business name contests

Another awesome feature is the naming contests you can hold when you register for the site. Namestation has a large community of users, and you can hold your own business name contest, and get valuable feedback alongside new ideas for your company name.

#5 Naming

Naming  is a wonderful resource which allows you to define the look, the feel and the sound of your business name. By combinging your seed word with different word lists, you can create some spectacular brand name ideas. Pre-defined  word lists include;

• Common Words (net, mart, school)
• Greek and Latin Prefixes (ante, contra, intra)
• Greek and Latin Suffixes (able, icle, tion)
• Greek and Latin Roots (chrono, hydro, lum)
• Beginning Word Parts (other than Greek and Latin Prefixes)
• Ending Word Parts (other than Greek and Latin Suffixes)
• Ending rhymes (blue/shoe)
• Last syllable rhymes (timber/harbor)
• Double rhymes (conviction/prediction)
• Beginning rhymes (physics/fizzle).
• First syllable rhymes (carrot/caring)

Its great that you can also control the number of syllables your name has too! There are also options for domain name endings so you can see how your business name will look as a website.

#6 Bust A Name

Bust-A-Name is another great resource for generating free business domain name ideas. Primarily a domain name generator, it allows you to combine lists of words to generate new names and then helps you check the domain availability. It also has a new brand name generator tool feature.

• Custom domain name generator
• Brandable domain tool
• Domain name availability checker
• Random name checker

#7 Company Name Generator

My favourite for generating a brand name for your business, Company name generator generates unlimited random name ideas, suitable for brand-naming your company. In addition, they have;

• Free advanced tool where you can set and define the custom words used
• Custom name patterns 9using vowels and consonants
• Ability to define Prefixes and suffixes
• Pre-defined word lists to use

It’s a great tool if you already know how you want your business name to sound, or for sharp snappy brand name ideas to research further.

 Summary

So there you have it. My top 7 resources for free business name generators. What tools have you used? How did you name your business? lets discuss!

Is your business a fantastic idea or just a business opportunity that needs to be explored?

Whether you are starting up or already have a business that you want to fine tune, answering the following questions will tell you if you need to do more homework or whether you’re ready to develop further.

These key questions will give you a strong understanding of how your product or service sits within the market and will

Successful businesses need to;

• Solve a real problem or satisfy a significant want or need
• Offer value in exchange
• Have a clear defined route to making money

Try answering these 20 questions, and identify the gaps in your business idea or indeed, your current trading position.

1. What am I selling?
2. Who is going to buy?
3. Why will they buy from me?
4. Is my market growing?
5. Is my product or service based on trend or demand?
6. Where are my customers?
7. How can I reach my target market?
8. How will people pay me?
9. How will I sell to them?
10. Where will I sell to them?
11. Am I solving a real problem?
12. Is there a significant desire, want or need for what I am selling?
13. Do I know my competitors business model?
14. What am I doing that is different to my competitors?
15. What is my unique selling proposition?
16. How will I beat my competitors?
17. How will I make money?
18. How much profit will I make?
19. How long will it take to make a profit?
20. Can I afford it?
21. Am I passionate about this?

I hope you enjoyed this post. Let me know if it has helped you in anyway 🙂

This fantastic free to download guide contains 50 tried and tested business tips where Sage business experts and their customers share their unique perspective on what it takes to be successful in business.

Download your copy HERE

The guide contains everything from time management and planning through to employing staff and motivating them.

Sage recognise that every business owner is an expert. They also know that running a small business can be isolating, and have created a fantastic guide with 50 awesome tips to help business owners and entrepreneurs.

The guide contains first hand advice on everything from starting your business, keeping your finances under control and growing your customer base via e-marketing, through to helping you keep a healthy balance between
your work life and home life.

I am really happy to have been included in the Sage business guide.

Make sure you download your copy HERE.

Here’s my business tip as featured in the guide;

Encourage employees to focus on the company… not you

Although your intention is not to come across as a pushover, presenting yourself as an authority figure only opens up room for resentment between you and your employees. The key in such relationships lies in being smart and showcasing your ability to build a successful company.
During meetings make the company the focal point rather than you – using the company in the forefront will help employees feel a sense of belonging and a desire to seek the company’s best interests. Besides ensuring that your employees are strategically aligned with your company’s goals, it is equally important to provide incentives when the company has achieved a particular goal.
Motivating your employees is one of the business tips that will save you a lot of time, hassle, and frustration in the long run.

Here’s a little about Sage;

Sage create software and services designed for small businesses

• Over 800,000 businesses in the UK trust Sage to help run their business

  Sage have been helping small businesses like yours for over 30 years, so they know how important good, reliable software is for your business, and how much time you can save with the right software.

  Whether you’re a sole trader or an established business, you can trust Sage to help run your business. They pride themselves on easy-to-use software combined with world-class support. And you can rely on Sage to be there as your business grows – they will always there to offer practical advice and support.

  Find out more about Sage software for business

Starting a Business Comes with Perks!

If you are on the fence about whether you should start your own business, you’re not alone. Taking those first baby steps can cause you to feel excitement, fear and dread, all at the same time. Despite this, there are so many advantages to starting your own business and working for yourself. Here are 10 awesome benefits which will help keep you inspired while you’re starting up!

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles FreeDigitalPhotos.net

1. You Become Your Own Employer

In our current economy, you’re up against a lot of people looking for jobs. But if you have the determination and drive for success, owning your own business can be rewarding. This business can be a tool that can help you generate some income based on your expertise and knowledge. In fact, if you’ve been in a rut and want to get the motivation and drive to succeed, the chance to start your own business can get things moving.

2. Build Your Business, Realise Your Dreams

When you are working for someone else, you are helping them to achieve their business dreams and goals. In your own business, you can start the process of making your own dreams come true. If you have knowledge and experience in an industry and have the will to succeed, having your own business can help you achieve all your goals within a business.

3. You Add Valuable Experience to Your Resume

Having your own business gives you experiences that most people in corporate America will never have. There are lessons to be learned as you operate your own business and many companies will respect those who are able to take this process on headfirst. Having the chance to put a company on a resume will reflect your commitment to being dedicated and self-sufficient while also helping to keep employment gaps off your resume.

4. Work on Your Schedule, Not Someone Else’s

When you are working for a corporation, you are required to work their predetermined hours for you. Often, this can impact the time you have available for your children and spouses. But when you start your own business, you will have ability to create a schedule that is going to work for you. This means you can schedule around your spouse’s job and when the children are at school and still have time for the events that are important to you.

5. The Opportunity to Realize Your Full Potential

One of the biggest benefits of owning your own business is the ability to realize your full potential. When you land new accounts, are recognized in the community for your work, you will discover that your experiences give you a better sense of self-worth. That alone will make the struggles of the experience worthwhile and provides you with a psychological form of self-actualization.

6. Keep Your Mind Active Instead of Stagnating

One of the big concerns people have working for someone else is that they fall into a repetitive set of tasks. When you start your own business, you will frequently have work to do that is varied. Most people who own their own business don’t experience the monotony that the average 9 to 5 employee faces and that can help to build a strong and active mind.

7. Set Your Own Deadlines

While self-discipline is important, you are going to discover that having your own business allows you to set deadlines that are realistic.

8. Follow Your Passion

Sometimes we take jobs that we have no interest in. This can range from selling auto insurance over the phone to filing forms in a major corporation. When you start your own business, you have a chance to work in an industry you are passionate about and do something you actually enjoy doing.

9. Make Your Own Decisions Instead of Taking Orders

One of the biggest perks about having your own business is you no longer have to report to anyone for the choices you make in your job. That means if you have a great idea, you can run with it without having to get the permission of someone else. Of course, this also means that you also take responsibility for your mistakes.

10. Commutes in Heavy Traffic Can Be a Thing of the Past

If you despise rush hour traffic and long distance commutes, owning your own business can be a solution. Not only can you adjust your hours to work for you, but in some cases, you can even work from home so your commute would just be a walk down the hall.

Summary

So there you have it. Of course there are many more advantages of starting your own business, but if you stick to the plan, and stay on course during those early stages, these and many more benefits will follow!

If you’re a business owner, please share your thoughts below and help inspire others who are on their business journey!

Throwing your own event can be daunting, unless you work in event management! But for a lawyer, accountant, copywriter or baker it might seem out of reach. It’s actually easier thank you think with a bit of planning and help, and the benefits can be enormous. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Launch party

If you are just starting out in your own business, then you may consider throwing a launch party. This won’t work for all business types, so really think this through and sound out a few friends first. But if you do decide to go ahead, a launch party can be a great way to kick-start the business. Invite, friends, family and past work colleagues if appropriate. Ask them to bring at least one other person along. Whether you cover the full cost or charge a small ticket fee doesn’t really matter. But pick a good venue such as a bar, café or local park and put on some food, drinks and entertainment whether that is a local band, MC or picture slide show.

The two major benefits of this event: it gets the word out in a very tangible way about your new business, plus it also shows that you are serious and can help generate leads straight away.

Birthday Party

So you’ve been going for a year now, or five? Why not throw a Birthday Party for your business? This type of event follows all the same principles as the launch party above, but this time the focus is on the growth and success of the business rather than the start. You can mention any big wins over the lifespan of the business and thank key contacts that have helped you succeed.

The two major benefits of this event: you can thank people who have really helped you along the way, plus you can get some momentum going in the business again if things have slowed down recently.

BIG WIN Party

This is when you win a major job. So again, it might not be relevant for all business types but if you win a major contract you could consider throwing a party similar to the ones already mention but the focus is on the project win. You can give free publicity to the client (if they agree to me named) and you can show others that you are doing so well as to win this contract.

The two major benefits of this event: You can give free publicity to your client (if they agree) and you can show the world that you mean business!