3 Companies You Can Start for Under $4k

Someone once told me it takes money to make money. Well, yes- sometimes this is true. However, there are countless million dollar companies that started off as bootstrap businesses- sometime only on a hundred dollars or a few thousand dollars.

I wanted to share my thoughts on three types of businesses you can start right now without spending more than four grand.

No.1: An expert witness company. Imagine being paid for your opinion and insight. Well, this company makes money doing just this! If you have an expertise that could be useful in legal cases, you can market yourself to attorneys to act as an expert witness.

No. 2: Personal concierge company. If you are big on details, high-end shopping and are not afraid to work alongside CEOs and celebrities- this business platform is a great option. The most likely clients for a personal concierge service are top executives who find themselves at the office by 7 a.m. and are there most nights until 9 p.m., leaving them very little time to do all those things that often need to be done during those very hours, which is where your company comes in!

No. 3: Graffiti removal. Perfect for large cities and you can obtain both personal clients and even government ones, too. Create an arsenal of cleaning products that can clean almost every kind of product (paint, chalk, markers) from every kind of surface (cement, wood, pavement). The best way to conduct a graffiti service is to offer a subscription-like arrangement. Once a month or whatever interval makes sense for your clients, go around to their property and clean off the graffiti.

I don’t think you need more than a grant to start any one of the above companies, but if you can start off with more money as part of an ad campaign- the better!

Until tomorrow,

Twyla N. Garrett

Secret Marketing Tricks

To continue my blog theme on marketing this month, I wanted to address some of the “tricks” used by marketing professionals. Rather than just point them out, I’m noting how you can incorporate them into your day-to-day operations.

The first trick is social media boosting. Facebook is showing only 6 percent of a business' content to their fan base. If you have more than 100 likes on your page, a 'boost' button will appear at the bottom of each post. Use it. For less than $30, you can get your message out to thousands of unique users. This trick is a great tool for new businesses seeking to establish their brand early on. You’re not paying for Likes, you’re paying for content ads.

The second trick is using Twitter to promote everything without ever promoting anything. How does it work? Well, you have to engage with other companies, your customers and thought leaders in your market. If you can retweet their tweets and add your thoughts, you will boost your audience without coming out of pocket. Respond to tweets that aren’t directed at you and give your thoughts on those. If you do this, your following will go up and your crossover leads / ROI will too!

Finally, set up Google alerts on your competition. You can do this simply be typing in the phrase “Google Alerts” into Google’s search engine. You will have to create a gmail account (or not, but it is easier to work with one) and then you can get a leg up on what your competition is doing sent right to your email box. Then, you can beat the competition by using Twitter and boosted Facebook posts to counteract or offer better opinions / deals.

Until tomorrow,

Twyla N. Garrett

Um...........................................

”Um” is an unfortunate part of the English language. There is no purpose for it. It should be replaced with either “I don’t know” or “I’ll find out and get back with you”, however we stall instead of admitting we don’t know everything and use “um”. Well, stop. It makes you look incompetent.

Start forgetting the “um” by allowing yourself to pause. Typically, people tend to use “um” because they either don’t want to admit they don’t know something or they need a second to rethink their response. There is no rule stating you can’t pause to think. So, pause to think and refrain from the use of “um”.

Another way to start forgetting the “um” is to tape yourself speaking about yourself. The trick is to speak for two and a half minutes. So, set up a timer and your webcamera. Speak for two and a half minutes straight and speak only about your personal life, not your professional life. Elevator pitches are practiced. Act as if you are on a late night talk show and you have to share something specifically about your personal life. When you finish filming, don’t watch the video. Instead, walk away.

Watch the video you recorded a week later. Count the “ums”, the “likes” and other words that are not needed in your speech. Then, make a weekly video where you consciously try to either pause or select other words when speaking about yourself. Repeat the same process (waiting a week to watch) and note your progress. This method does help correct the “um” problem.

Until Monday,

Twyla N. Garrett

Success 102.

I have composed a blog post or two on Success 101. Well, what happens after you have mastered the basics? You keep learning! That’s why tonight’s blog post is dedicated to the next level of achieving success.

There are two things you need to do once you start bringing in a profit. The first is to find ways to cut expenses without cutting your marketing or PR budget. This means seeking out new vendors, looking for qualified employees who can work for less, or downsizing your office’s address. Whatever it takes to save a buck, with the exception downsizing your marketing budget, do it!

Develop an app. Yes, a mobile website isn’t the same as an app. You should have an app simply for branding purposes but apps can actually find customers for you in the iTunes store and other app vendors. So, don’t skip over this need only because your website is a mobile –friendly site. There is something to having a customized app.

These are two of many things you need to continue to do in order to grow your company and find continued success. Still have questions? Connect with me on social media!

Until tomorrow,

Twyla N. Garrett

Marketing, Are You At A Standstill?

I often watch new business owners put aside 5k for a marketing budget (based on a year) and then spend most of it during the first three months. They wait, wait and wait some more and still- there is no engagement. What happened?

Well, nothing. To be blunt, marketing isn’t a magic wand and it doesn’t reap rewards quickly. There is a lot that goes on behind the scenes of many marketing campaigns. Months of A/B split testing, checking out editorial calendars, etc. So, you need to open your budget more, target the right audience, and use multiple venues / avenues to get your message across.

Repetition is key. Three months of advertising o the same channel isn’t going to launch your business. You will find yourself at a standstill. My best advice is to have a realistic budget and then expectations (time wise) for your layered marketing campaign.

Until next time,

Twyla N. Garrett

3 Ways to Get Your Way

I get my way often. Many people ask “how do you do it?”, easy. The key to getting what you want is simple.

Be clear. Don’t hint at what you want, ask for it and do so nicely. People who aren’t assertive will not be in charge of their destiny. The worst that can happen is someone says ‘no’, and they will. But, if you ask often enough and many people, eventually someone has to say ‘yes.’

Be concise. People don’t need a big explanation to support your request. In fact, it makes them nervous, like they are being sold a bill of goods. If you are to the point, people will appreciate it. If you are transparent and come from a good place, then you are off to a great start.

Be confident. No one trusts someone who can’t look them in the eye. Be confident when asking for something or trying to convince someone of your argument. If you believe in yourself, others will too.

I hope this helps you. Again, being honest is always the best policy so make sure you are coming from a positive place when using these three tips and tricks.

Until tomorrow,

Twyla N. Garrett

When You Stop Caring......

I know, the title of today’s blog is shocking. How could one “not care” when it comes to their business? Well, burn out is a real thing and most business owners are serial entrepreneurs who , once something works, are on to bigger and better things- leaving the old idea to run itself like a well-oiled machine.

If you have stopped caring (or no longer care as much) then keep reading. Below are my top three tips to reenergize your passion!

#1. Spend time volunteering for those who aren’t as fortunate as you right now. Nothing helps you understand why you should care, and how tangible everything truly is, more than a slice of humble pie! So, walk among the people who could really benefit from your time and money and understand why it is important to care. You could grow your business to help benefit non-profit groups or hire people who need a hand up.

#2. Kill your marketing department’s efforts for a month and see how things go. I promise you no matter how well your business is performing, it will never work at full capability without your marketing department. So, make the changes and then figure out how to help your marketing department.

#3. Take a vacation. Yes, the best way to relearn how to care is to step away from the environment. There is something to be said for refreshing your perspective through relaxation. Yes, I am prescribing a day at the beach or a week away from the office to help you care more.

Until next time,

Twyla N. Garrett