7-Figure Small

If you’re familiar with the term “onboarding, it’s likely in the context of software as a service (“SaaS). It’s all the rage in the growth hacker world. The term actually originates from the world of human resources. When large enterprises need to ramp a new employee into the processes, procedures, and culture of the organization, …

Your brand isn’t what you say it is … it’s what your customers and clients say it is. That doesn’t mean you can’t influence the space you occupy in the minds of your intended audience, as long as you understand the role you’re playing. Beyond your logo, and your site design, and your copy, your …

You may know Michael Port as the author of the small business classic Book Yourself Solid. But did you know that he was once a professional actor, with roles on Third Watch, Law and Order, and Sex and The City? Given his unique mix of business savvy and acting skills, it makes sense that Michael …

When I started my first business in 1998, it turns out I did a lot of things right. It wasn’t until May of 1999 when I read a book called Permission Marketing that I realized what I was missing, which led to my first successful business. Since that time, Seth Godin has written several other …

In 1997, a young man quit his job to become a writer. In January 1998, an article he wrote entitled Free Agent Nation appeared in a young magazine called Fast Company, and a career was launched. That article proved viable demand, and led to a book deal. The interesting intersection here is that another young …

Online courses are a great way to build a business. They’re also a great way to get better-qualified clients, or build an additional revenue stream by providing an alternative to your services. But sometimes, things don’t go as planned. Your course isn’t selling as much as you’d like, or worse, it’s not selling at all. …

There are over 26 million companies in the United States with fewer than 20 employees. The vast majority of those businesses have fewer than five employees, and often only one. There are about to be a whole lot more of these very small businesses. Interestingly, it’s because big businesses are also going to become radically …

Everyone’s fixated on getting traffic, whether paid or organic. As if, somehow, this will unlock the door to a flood of new clients. Truth is, traffic should be the last thing on your mind. Sure, you need it, but if you don’t have the right marketing system in place that attracts leads and properly nurtures …

Most professional marketers don’t understand the FTC rules that apply to online marketing. So as a busy freelancer or small business owner, it’s certainly understandable if this isn’t on your radar. But this is a critically important thing, as new guidelines are being released that you need to understand. The FTC is about to make …

We’re all in the intellectual property business now. But as business people, how much do we enforce our rights when others infringe on them? Creative freelancers are thought of as service providers, but what they’re really selling is their copyright in the work product they create for clients. This has special implications on both sides …

When we think about personal development in terms of our business, we’re thinking of continuing education, or professional development. Maybe it’s a leadership seminar, or some kind of motivational training. Those things are great, and necessary. But some of the most important things we can do in terms of personal development might seem like they …

You create a successful product when you deliver something people want to buy, simple as that. Is there a way to figure out what people want before spending a ton of time and money? There is a way, and it’s becoming more and more popular due to the lean startup movement. It’s called the minimum …