Many solopreneurs would like to incorporate more of a social benefit focus into their business. Being more socially responsible is a worthwhile goal for any size business, of course, but what if you want to go beyond basic social responsibility? Read more

Have you ever considered using public speaking as a way to get noticed and get clients? Does the idea of standing up in front of a group, even a small one, strike fear into your heart? Or maybe you love it, yet haven’t explored using it in your business. And what is public speaking, anyway? Read more

A virtual assistant (VA) is someone who works for you or your business virtually, from his or her own home or office. Having a VA can be a lifesaver for solo business owners who may not want a full-time employee, but if you’ve never used one before, it can sometimes be difficult to envision how someone in a remote location can work for you. Read more

If you’ve ever wondered why more people don’t respond to your sales attempts and marketing messages, the first question to ask may be — are you selling something that people are willing to spend money on? Read more

Wouldn’t it be great to get your business in the news? Of course, you’d like to make sure it’s portrayed positively. How can you ensure that the media coverage you get showcases your business in the way that you want? Read more

In a national survey of independent professionals, almost 50% of the consultants, coaches, and other professionals declared that they were currently not earning enough to meet their expenses. This result shouldn’t be surprising, since according to the U.S. Small Business Administration, more than half of all small businesses fail Read more

A good friend of mine is an information technology consultant. He’s been an independent contractor for the twenty-plus years I have known him, and gets all his consulting contracts through agencies. Even when he works a year or two for the same client, the agency takes 20-25% of what the client is paying for his services. I once asked him why Read more

Once you know what you might want to delegate (see my article Dare to Delegate for an introduction to effective delegation), it’s time to start to think about whom to delegate it to. Depending on what the task, project or area of responsibility is, Read more

Q. I am the volunteer coordinator of an informal network of trainers, training managers, and training administrators who work in corporate training departments. How do I get these members to hire me as a consultant without directly asking for their business? Read more

Selling professional services can often be a challenge because of their intangibility. When a client hires you to deliver a service such as accounting or web design, they can’t see the outcome in advance. They have to trust that your work will produce a result they will like, Read more