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Home Entrepreneur Newsletter for Mel
Publisher: David Riklan - http://www.SelfGrowth.com
In This Issue:
– Recommended Product of the Day: Join SelfGrowth.com
– Inspirational Quote for Home Entrepreneurs: John Ruskin
– Article: 7 Ways to Reduce Small Business Insurance Costs - By Matthew Pawlina
– Article: What You Need to Know Before Placing an Ad in Your Local Newspaper (or ANY Other Publication!) - By Connie Scholl
– Subscription and Contact Information
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** Recommended Product of the Day **
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** Inspirational Quote for Home Entrepreneurs **
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In order that people may be happy in their work, these three things are needed: They must be fit for it. They must not do too much of it. And they must have a sense of success in it.
- John Ruskin
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** Article: 7 Ways to Reduce Small Business Insurance Costs - By Matthew Pawlina **
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Insurance is a part of business expenditure. Insurance plays a significant role when the business is an at home enterprise or small business, and insurance premiums can increase by as much as 30% in a year.
Every small business owner needs insurance to protect his or her interests. The Internet is a valuable resource that will serve as a guide to business owners and help them determine their insurance needs and ways in which to get the most comprehensive small business insurance coverage. As a small business owner it is important to make informed decisions about business insurance.
Instead of struggling to pay business insurance premiums, you need to find ways to reduce intelligently your business insurance costs.
1. Educate yourself on aspects of business insurance, and study your coverage to determine where you can make savings. Think about aspects like higher deductibles or umbrella insurance coverage.
2. Many professional organizations and associations strike deals with insurance companies for group rates. Find out whether the Chamber of Commerce or other organization of which you have a membership has insurance plans on offer at competitive rates. Determine costs of membership of such organizations against benefits on insurance and other business related aspects.
3. Study your business organization and find out ways in which you could reduce insurance costs. Often, simple methods like regular machinery maintenance, installation of alarm /security systems, enrolling fleet drivers in defensive driving courses, and so on can reduce your insurance liability.
4. Know what insurers consider as risks in your line of business, and find ways to reduce/eliminate risks. Business insurance premiums are based on risk calculations among other aspects.
5. Study insurance norms and find out how business liability premiums are calculated. Often, changing the location of your business or warehouse can reduce premiums.
6. Buy small business insurance from reliable insurance companies by doing a comparison of costs and products. Online insurance websites have tools that provide multiple quotes and enable instantaneous comparison of business insurance costs and coverage.
7. Check with the insurance company about business insurance packages. Many leaders in the field offer a business insurance policy that combines property, liability, loss of income, records insurance policies, business vehicle insurance, and more.
Before insuring your business, check your options with organizations like the Better Business Bureau and SOHO which offer business insurance discounts. Also, check what the laws are regarding business insurance. In case of doubt, check out options with an insurance agent.
Every small business owner will need property insurance; contents insurance; liability insurance and employee benefit plans; disability insurance; business interruption insurance, buy-sell insurance; and key person insurance.
About the Author:
Matthew Pawlina is a writer for http://www.1866smallbusinessinsurance.com, the premier website to find small business insurance, small business insurance quote, small business health insurance, insurance for small business and many more.
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** Article: What You Need to Know Before Placing an Ad in Your Local Newspaper (or ANY Other Publication!) - By Connie Scholl **
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Have you been considering placing an advertisement in your local newspaper in hopes of drumming up some new business?
Wait! Before you whip out your wallet, take a moment to familiarize yourself with the following four “rules of the road” to help you improve your chances of getting the response you’re seeking.
Rule #1: You’ve Got to Choose the RIGHT Publication
For example, if you’re targeting affluent clients and offering a high-end service (such as in-home personal training, massage, dog walking, etc), don’t make the mistake of wasting your advertising dollars by placing an ad in the bargain news. Do your homework and find out what your target market is actually READING (you never know, maybe they ARE reading the bargain news!), and then apply your marketing dollars where there is the greatest opportunity.
The success of any advertising or direct mail campaign can very often be attributed to the following:
* 50% of your “success” at advertising will depend on targeting the right publication;
* 25% of your “success” at advertising will depend on the copy in the ad; and
* 25% of your “success” at advertising will depend on the actual offer.
Rule #2: Get Yourself a Traffic-Stopping HEADLINE!
Your headline must quickly tap into the reader’s problem, need or desire, and instantly prompt them to read further. Take your time with the headline. It needs to quickly create interest and intrigue in your reader. In fact, when I’m writing ads for clients, I’ll spend 75% of my time on the headline alone! (If they don’t read the headline, the rest of the ad is useless!)
Rule #3: Don’t Ever Forget, the Ad is NOT about YOU
How many times have you seen the “all about me” ads from other professionals in your industry? You know the ones I’m referring to — the business owner’s name takes up 50% of the ad, while the other half is filled with a laundry list of credentials and other self-centered copy. (This is the biggest mistake I see professionals make.) I’m not saying this information shouldn’t be included, it just shouldn’t take up the “prime marketing real estate” section in your advertisement.
Remember, your objective is to tap into your prospects’ problem or need, and get an immediate response — right then and there — before recycling day comes around and your expensive ad takes a one-way trip to the dump.
How do you do this? By offering them what they want. (For example, a free trial session or consultation, a report or article containing tips on how to solve their particular challenge, a no-appointment-necessary policy, etc.) Essentially, use this advertisement as a way to generate hot leads for your services. Plan on running your ad at least 7-10 times before getting a regular stream of calls from it.
Rule #4: Understand the Power of Your Words
Pay close attention to the WORDS you select for your ad. (Here’s where knowing your target market inside and out really comes in handy!) While ad writing is a skill that takes time to master, you can jump-start the learning process by closely studying other ads that move YOU to take action, or you can simply hire someone to write a compelling ad for you. Here’s a simple formula I use to keep me on track when I’m writing for my clients:
YOUR AD SHOULD DO THE FOLLOWING:
1. Get their ATTENTION Quickly
2. Maintain INTEREST
3. Create a Burning DESIRE for What You’re OFFERING
4. Finally, the ad should move your reader to TAKE A SPECIFIC ACTION!
About the Author:
Connie has always had a gift for marketing, communication and understanding how to generate new business. She’s a quintessential entrepreneur, respected professional and a seasoned business owner. Over the last fifteen years she has started and filled two lucrative service businesses with well over 3,000+ clients. For more information, please go here. |
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