The SmallBizLady Buzz - Issue 142

This is last newsletter for 2022, and I want you leave you with encouragement for a great option in the new year.

2023 is a great time to take your business to the next level.

1. Focus on your solution.?Make sure you have the right team in place to deliver great service to your customers.
2. Get your financing together for your business.?Start talking with potential funders at least three months prior to needing funding. You can use a signed contract to motivate your bank to extend a line of credit.
3. Beef up your value proposition. Make sure your clients know why you are their #1 resource.
4. Prioritize customer retention.?It’s cheaper to keep your customers than to go out and get new ones. Work hard to engage your customers and make them feel special so they’ll stay with you.
5. Make sure you are using a budget to make business decisions.?You need to know your numbers, especially how much profit is in every deal or sale.
6. What professional development will you do for yourself this year??Is it time to hire a coach or join a mastermind group?
7. How many vacations will you take this year??Do you have a special birthday or anniversary coming up in 2023. Rest often inspires great ideas.

We do not live to work. Our work is supposed to allow us to live our dream life. In 2023, how will you move closer to building a business that can run without you so that you can have more time to enjoy your life? If you need help developing a plan, I am happy to help you. Hit me up at?[email protected].

Check out this week’s featured post, our Best Blog Post of 2022:?9 Reasons to Start a Business in 2022

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Best Blog of 2022: 9 Reasons to Start a Business in 2022

If you’ve been sitting on a great business idea and hoping to ‘ride out’ the pandemic, then it’s time to stop stalling and go for it –?start your business in 2022!?

It has been nearly two years since the pandemic began in the United States, and one thing is clear… COVID-19 is not going anywhere. Though that thought is scary, the pandemic has created a unique environment that is beneficial for new small business owners, so now just might be the?best?time to get started. Continue reading...

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Get Your Focus Back

Serene is an all-in-one time management tool. One of the biggest time wasters is giving in to distractions, multi-tasking, and not completing tasks because of this. Serene takes productivity to the next level in three easy steps and helps you plan your day, block distractions, and it helps you to stay focused on the task with timers, music, breaks, etc.

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Podcast: Compensation and Your Small Business

Check out this recent podcast here: Compensation and Your Small Business

This episode is a solo podcast about compensation trends, the competitive nature of the labor market, and just what compensation is and can be. We talk about the recent changes to the workplace, expectations, and work models. We also explore different ways that you can understand what your employees want and methods for offering compensation that can allow you to maintain your workforce.

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Get Your Business Ready in 2023

If you have been running a side hustle that you are ready to turn into your full-time gig, don’t miss my FREE Webinar Jan. 12th at 5pm ET, From Side Hustle to Full-Time Entrepreneur.

I'll teach you what it takes to scale your side business, my dos and don’ts of successful side hustling and how to build your business brand. Don’t let the opportunity pass you by.

Sign up Today!

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Set Your Mind Free in 2023

Would your life and business change if you had more clarity, confidence, and courage? As we start this new year in 2023, declare who you want to be, what you want to do, and what you want to have, and create your own powerful future. Join my colleague, Meshell Baker at her 9th annual LIVE Online Vision Board Party. I have done this, and it’s awesome. The vision board party is an opportunity to take that first step to set in motion the life you’ve been dreaming about.? Sign up for the Virtual Vision Board Party, Saturday, Jan. 14th, 2023, from 1pm-3pm EST. Register Today!

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Melinda F. Emerson,?“SmallBizLady”?is America’s?#1?Small Business Expert. She?is an internationally renowned keynote speaker on small business development, marketing and social selling. Melinda is also the president of the Quintessence Group, an award-winning marketing consulting firm based in Philadelphia, PA, serving Fortune 500 brands who target small business market. LinkedIn named her a Top Voice for 2019 in Small Business and Entrepreneurship.?In addition to being a former NY Times columnist, she is frequently quoted by media organizations including The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, MSNBC, CNBC and Fox News. She is the host of?#Smallbizchat?LIVE and The SmallBizChat Podcast. A prolific writer, Melinda has published more than 5000 articles on her blog?www.succeedasyourownboss.com. Her small business advice is widely read reaching more than 3 million entrepreneurs each week online. She is the bestselling author of?Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months, Revised and Expanded?and?Fix Your Business, a 90 Day Plan to Get Back Your Life and Reduce Chaos in Your Business.