http://www.artipot.com/authors/36683/steven-schlagel/ Latest articles by Steven Schlagel from Artipot - your one-stop resource for free articles. http://www.artipot.com/articles/495550/what-traits-does-a-small-business-owner-need.htm Small business owners have traits that include character, attitude, passion, skills, talents and the dedication to gaining the necessary marketing knowledge and business principles. No on can succeed without a proper combination of these traits. They are imperative. Fri, 11 Dec 2009 00:30:16 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/495550/what-traits-does-a-small-business-owner-need.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/477476/think-like-an-entrepreneur.htm I talk a lot about the nuts and bolts of starting or buying and running a small business. In my coaching and consulting business, my clients and I work together a lot on streamlining their systems to allow them more personal freedom and increased income. But there is much more to understand. Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:09:23 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/477476/think-like-an-entrepreneur.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/472829/powerful-business-writing.htm Copywriters know many tricks to lure readers in and get marketing messages across. Most small business owners can't employ full time copywriters so need to learn how to make their own writing more powerful. Whether you are writing a company blog or newsletter or mailed marketing pieces, you are competing against the many messages your market receives. Learning to write more... Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:42:45 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/472829/powerful-business-writing.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/465787/troubleshooting-your-business-relationships.htm Relationships are at the core of all business, small or large. Friends, family, vendors, customers and employees are all part of the people impacted by your small business. Relationships can be a challenge to manage, but if you do it well and identify problems early, you can increase your likelihood of success. Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:14:03 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/465787/troubleshooting-your-business-relationships.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/461601/getting-started-with-videocasting.htm There have always been multiple options for business owners to communicate with their customers. or clients. Videocasting (online video) is the next phase of marketing communication methods. Videocasting is easy and has many applications for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Aside from the initial low-cost purchase of a video camera, which you may already own, there... Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:21:13 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/461601/getting-started-with-videocasting.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/454183/mastermind-groups-should-be-in-your-success-toolbox.htm I often recommend that small business owners and entrepreneurs have three key tools in their "success toolbox": a coach, a mentor and a mastermind group. I've covered coaching and mentoring in another article and on my web site. Let's explore the role of mastermind groups in helping you to set and achieve your goals. Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:26:32 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/454183/mastermind-groups-should-be-in-your-success-toolbox.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/454036/how-to-improve-your-business-writing.htm Back when you were in high school or college, I'll bet you didn't devote much time to your English classes. Most of us didn't. We sure should have. Written communication skills are one of the best ways to stand out from your competitors. There are some easy ways you can improve your writing. Mon, 05 Oct 2009 05:19:49 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/454036/how-to-improve-your-business-writing.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/448665/whats-the-difference-between-a-business-coach-and-a-mentor.htm Over the past twenty years, business coaching has become a respected and thriving profession. As a coach, mentor and trainer, I work with small business owners and entrepreneurs in a variety of capacities. Sometimes I find that individuals confuse the terminology. Differentiating between the three roles is important. Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:12:12 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/448665/whats-the-difference-between-a-business-coach-and-a-mentor.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/441534/be-a-debt-free-startup.htm For many people who have an entrepreneurial dream, there is no established nest egg or savings to start a small business. Don't be discouraged! Many people before you have started a business through "bootstrapping". You can get plenty of businesses started with very little upfront cash, and the cash you do need can be sought in unique, non-traditional ways. Thu, 17 Sep 2009 14:47:27 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/441534/be-a-debt-free-startup.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/432878/reduce-payroll-costs-without-layoffs.htm The economy has caused many small business owners to examine their expenses. We are trying to do more with the money we have because there is often less income than before. Increasing revenue in this economy is a challenge so the only other option is to reduce expenses. Payroll is one of the largest expenses, but how do you cut it without losing employees? Tue, 08 Sep 2009 15:34:37 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/432878/reduce-payroll-costs-without-layoffs.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/432725/how-to-write-effective-sales-letters.htm An effective marketing tool you should be using are sales letters. You can send sales letters via traditional mail (direct marketing) or through email if they opt-in as a subscriber. Results-driven sales letter grabs your readers attention and gets them interested in a new service or product you are offering. They aren't hard to do but there are ways to make them better. Tue, 08 Sep 2009 12:52:44 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/432725/how-to-write-effective-sales-letters.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/423223/business-success-revolves-around-relationship-management.htm Though we receive little training in this area, building and maintaining our personal and business relationships can be crucial to our success. Studies have shown that those of us who are considered likable are more likely to be hired for jobs or awarded new business. Spending some time learning to improve your communications and relationship skills is time well spent. Thu, 27 Aug 2009 15:50:11 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/423223/business-success-revolves-around-relationship-management.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/420336/small-business-marketing-on-a-low-budget.htm According to the Association of National Advertisers, as of August 2009 74% of business marketing departments are reducing their advertising budgets. If big companies are doing this, you can be sure that small businesses are currently reconsidering and reallocating their advertising budgets. Combine this with the need to replace some of the business volume you may have lost,... Mon, 24 Aug 2009 13:54:26 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/420336/small-business-marketing-on-a-low-budget.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/403187/using-press-releases-effectively.htm A press release is essentially a news story written to garnish publicity about an event or change at your business. Using press releases can garner you additional attention in local or national media outlets, but you need to use them judiciously. They are not advertisements. You want a reporter to write about you and they won't if you are writing advertisements. Press... Sat, 01 Aug 2009 18:33:19 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/403187/using-press-releases-effectively.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/400215/seo-search-engine-optimization-101.htm Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a fancy phrase for making it easy for potential customers and clients to find you on the Internet, first through the main search engines like Google and Yahoo, but also via other blogs and sites. SEO has become a science, but there are many things a small business owner or solo professional can do when reviewing their site to make sure... Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:28:44 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/400215/seo-search-engine-optimization-101.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/398110/social-media-advanced-user-tips.htm You've taken the beginning steps to creating an online social presence. You've started "tweeting" a bit on Twitter, you have a page set up on Facebook and your business profile is on LinkedIn. You've even added your colleagues and friends to some of these sites as contacts. But there is new information and Web 2.0 applications for online networking daily, it seems, and you... Mon, 27 Jul 2009 11:55:04 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/398110/social-media-advanced-user-tips.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/397737/advanced-social-media.htm At last, you are finally in the world of social networking! You have a Facebook page, you are set up on LinkedIn and you Twitter from time to time. It feels a little overwhelming and every time you open a "tweet" you read about a new application you know nothing about. You wonder if you should invest the time downloading and learning it. Again, social networking doesn't have... Sun, 26 Jul 2009 14:37:04 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/397737/advanced-social-media.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/382463/tips-for-choosing-a-business-name.htm Finding the right business name can be a real strain on the brain. If you feel like it shouldn't be this hard, you may be wrong. Naming a business is one of the first marketing decisions a new business needs to make, and the wrong business name can sabotage all your hard work. This is your chance to give your new business the best possible beginning. Sat, 04 Jul 2009 09:00:38 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/382463/tips-for-choosing-a-business-name.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/382059/buy-a-business-instead-of-starting-one.htm It is often thought that the safest way to get a business for yourself is to buy one rather than start one. That might not be entirely true. Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:01:28 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/382059/buy-a-business-instead-of-starting-one.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/381909/getting-started-with-social-media.htm Perhaps you thought that social media's popularity would fade before you had to learn it? Given that Fortune 500 companies are hiring Directors of Social Media and Social Media Marketing managers, it is probably unlikely. Fri, 03 Jul 2009 08:58:39 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/381909/getting-started-with-social-media.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/376607/successful-job-interview-questions.htm When interviewing candidates for employment there are a few job interview questions and techniques that are vital to remember. This article looks at how to interview to get the very best employees. Your goal is to hire the best, those with great character. If you do, employee retention won't be a problem. Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:00:04 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/376607/successful-job-interview-questions.htm