WordPress

So how can you have the website you dreamed of, at little or no cost, with a fully integrated CMS (content management system) and thousands of ready to use, free or paid templates?

Every business owner knows the importance of having an up to date website. You may also know that getting a new website developed for your business can incur great costs not to mention the money you pay each time you want to update your site.

Well, in case you haven’t heard, WordPress is the way to go! In fact my site, and many sites I have built for clients are all powered by WordPress.

If you want a website that features;

• Thousands of free site templates
• Seamless social media integration
• Standard blog format and integration
• Professional, mobile responsive templates
• Awesome Media Library and gallery formats
• Built-in Comments system
• In-built Search Engine Optimization

Then WordPress is the easiest way to get up and running. When it comes to easily manageable blogs and Websites, WordPress is a fantastic tool to use.

This tutorial series will go more deeply into WordPress later– how to use it for your business website and for your marketing.

Today’s post will look at what WordPress is, it’s basic functions and how it works.

WordPress Lets You Create Your Blog and Website

WordPress is a content management system that allows you to create a blog or website easily without having any technical training.

People may create blogs for different topics ranging anything from a web design and development to cosmetic and baby product reviews.

Blogs are a great addition to any website, and very important for content marketing and keeping in touch with your audience.

Not only can you create and maintain a blog with WordPress it also allows you to create fantastic websites ranging from very simple, basic personal or business websites right through to very complex e-commerce and membership sites.

Once you have installed WordPress , it’s very easy to set up your blog or website. You can fix your basic site settings instantly. You can easily add new content to your blog or website.

In addition to the standard features offered by WordPress, there are hundreds of plugins and widgets – little snippets of code – that can  greatly add to the functionality of your WordPress website.

When you install WordPress it comes with two free themes. You can choose to use these, search for other free templates available or you can look to buy other themes that are right for your business niche.

With WordPress it is very easy to manage your blog or website; add or remove content whenever you want, create a new article or blog post, add images, remove images, create new pages or posts. With a hosting account and a domain name you can start creating your first WordPress website instantly!

Watch out for new posts in this category as we explore WordPress more deeply in later posts.

Have you ever thought that you can make the world a whole lot easier for yourself with some online business tools?

They are cool! They save you a lot of time and help you sync your business activities seamlessly. It means you don’t have

to worry about trivial paperwork and other issues. You can automate them and leave it to themselves. I have collected three of my favourite online tools for business that will save you trouble,money and of course,time.

#1 Shoeboxed

Fed up with book keeping before it’s begun? Shoeboxed is an automated filing system for business receipts and paperwork. You can upload your paperwork through their free online and desktop uploaders, via email or with one of their free mobile phone apps. Simply scan and send, and let shoeboxed compile the rest. Ideal for start ups, and competitively priced, I think it’s a great way of keeping organised, and takes the headache out of hoarding papers, tickets, business cards, invoices and receipts.

#2 PR Web

Looking to get the word out about your business? Choose PRWeb as your news release distribution service.  PRWeb press releases deliver your business news to all the search engines such as Yahoo!, Google and Bing, putting your business right where your customers are looking. Their packages start small, and as the price increases, you can send your story to all the major local and national news websites, as well as PR Web’s database of over 30,000 journalists, bloggers and influencers looking for stories like yours.

 #3 MOO

Moo.com is and online business printing and stationery service. With hundreds of business card templates, your cards can be designed and ordered in minutes. MOO also supply cards, notecards, greeting cards, stickers, accessories and gift cards for your business.

Printing over 6 million cards every month, MOO has hundreds of thousands of customers in over 200 countries. Their excellent turnaround times and delivery makes them the number 1 choice for business start ups and growing businesses alike.

Have you found any great online business tools for your start up? What online business services do you find saves you the most time and money?

Having your own business is exciting, fun, exhilarating and rewarding; however, a great business idea and a business plan is not the only recipe to a successful startup. Any wise entrepreneur should look much further ahead and try to avoid the most common mistakes made in the early stages of business.

Image Courtesy of kibsri/FreeDigitalPhotos.Net

It is so easy to lose sight in those early days; by positioning yourself and mapping out those initial stages, you can be sure to save time, money and start up pains.

Here are a few tips to guide you on your way and help you avoid ‘Start up Syndrome’.

(1) Take Your Time

As soon as you recognize your business idea, you must never just run in there and take the bull by the horns. Before you make your move, consult with professionals in your industry and talk to friends and family about the feasibility of your business idea. You should never overlook the need for objective criticism from those more experienced than you. It is better to fail to start than to start to fail. Question the viability of your business idea before you actually take any practical step and ALWAYS ask advice if you are unsure.

(2) Don’t Lose Focus

It’s better to do three things right than to do ten things half right. When you’re starting out you need to set priorities and goals for yourself and your business. If you become too innovative from the outset with almost all the business processes before your business is even off the ground you will end up having a brand new set of ideas for virtually anything that comes your way and no action plan or results. Too many ideas – even good ones – may slow your productivity down and prevent you from reaching your goals. Aim, Set and Fire!

(3) You Aren’t the Only One Who Can Do It!

Many entrepreneurs are likely to fall into this trap: the only-I-can-do-this syndrome. Just because you have a good idea it doesn’t mean you are the only person on the face of the earth who has to supervise its realization from start to finish. You need other people to split your goal into easily achievable chunks.  By properly delegating responsibilities to carefully selected individuals you can expedite your journey to the business goal you have set for yourself. Never be afraid to ask for help.

(4) Stop Re-inventing the Wheel!

If there is a simple way to do something, then do it. Don’t map out the next grand master plan for the simplest of tasks. Many business people often lose sight of their goals getting bogged down in the simplest of tasks such as administration, record keeping and invoicing. We live in the digital age. Make the most of software and tools available online to help you with your day to day tasks. Embrace it. Don’t be dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st Century!!!

(5) Never Be Afraid to Follow Your Dreams

With love, care and attention, your business will grow and flourish. If you have an idea or a dream, then don’t be afraid to start researching and planning and aiming for whatever it will take to get it off the ground. Being scared of making mistakes often costs some people a lifetime of wondering and wishing. Wondering and worrying never made anyone rich, or any business successful. Deep down, you will find the correct path for your business, so start turning those dreams into a reality.

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.

Looking to get that business idea off the ground? Get your FREE startup business plan download and take your idea to the next level.

Are you really ready to start a business? Do you think you have what it takes and know enough about your idea to start something worthwhile?

You’ll find advice everywhere and people may suggest you;

• write your own business plan
• get a start up business plan template
• use an existing business plan template
• start mapping our business plan ideas.

Free Ultimate Startup Business Plan

So how can you do this? Getting that first ‘something’ down on paper when you are thinking of starting a business is a really daunting task. I have seen so many people with amazing ideas stop before they’ve even begun, becuase they’re not sure how to manage their plan!

Some people will never get their business ideas off the ground, often because they don’t know where to start.

I’ve decided to create this worksheet to help everyone who has a business idea carry out initial research and formulate something from which to test an idea or create a solid business plan from.

The startup business plan worksheet covers questions about;

• Your business budget
• Marketing and advertising
• Your competitors
• Finding your customers
• Hiring Staff
• Defining your skills
• Finding out whether you are really ready to start a business

Creating Your Startup Business Plan

This is not a definitive start up business plan, more a business idea brainstorming worksheet. It is designed to help identify pitfalls and potential issues when you are considering starting up a business for the very first time.

The business plan worksheet will also help you research your idea more thoroughly and will help model your final choices when starting up. The answers you provide will help formulate a solid business plan should you wish to write one in the future.

Download the free startup business plan here

Please like, share and spread the word about the free startup business plan download, so everyone can benefit!

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!

Image courtesy of ddpavumbaFreeDigitalPhotos.net 

Funding your business start up is often something that can stop your business idea in it’s tracks.  Where will you get the money? How much do you need to get your start up going? What can you do to ensure start up loans? All of these questions may not be answered here, but I do have three tips for funding your start up.

#1 Utilise savings for funding your business start up

Personal money saved up for funding your start up is the best option. If you do not have enough then you can look at other options, however it is always recommended that you start saving towards costs as soon as you are sure that you want to set up your own business. The ideal situation would be to have a year of operating costs saved up for your business start up. This amount of money should not be what you need for your mortgage and personal expenses. It should be enough to support the business only; you will need to save separate funds for your personal expenses. Get into the habit early and start separating your personal expenditure with your business accounts. One idea would be to set up a new bank account for business purposes only, ultimately keeping everything separate and manageable.

#2 Decide on whether a business start up loan is suitable

If you find you do not have enough funding for your start up, then you have to make a choice. Do you wait another year until you have the appropriate funds or do you look for start up loans? The US government has been very helpful of late to establish grants and funding options for small and new businesses as a way to combat the recession issues. Banks are still holding tight especially for start up loans. They may make it very difficult by asking that you have at least enough funds for a year or 80% of the start up costs in your savings account. Still, loans can be helpful if you qualify. The downside to loans is that most businesses fail within 5 years and you may still need to pay the start up loans back. Most experts suggest you avoid loans, but if this is not possible be sure to carry out solid research and to prove your business can be a success and profitable.

#3 Seek investment for start up funding

Investors are another option to business start up loans. Investors are quite helpful if you know someone willing to split the company in terms of investment money. You will need to present a strong business model and provide potential investors with a business plan and summary of your company mission. Initially, you will  want to be the majority owner. You definitely want to use as much of your own funding as possible as this helps you retain control of your company. Decide what type of investor you want to attract – sometimes it is preferable to have a silent investor- one that is not going to want to have daily input in your business.

While you may not find a silent investor easily, look for one or consider taking on a partner you know you can work with and has the same vision as you. Partners in a business start up could bring a bit more capital to the table and have an extra employee to help you out. There are pitfalls though, so ensure you think through all the options first.

Your turn! How did you manage finances when you started your business? How are you planning for the costs associated with your start up? Please share your experience below.

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