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BHAG Monster Gets New Home – Jennifer “Scraps” Walker

Posted by Nicole Fende in General Finance | 13 comments

Sadly, it was time for the BHAG Monster (Big Hairy Audacious Goal Monster) to leave for his new home. BHAG was sent to me by Tea Silvestre, The Word Chef, in recognition of completing my book How to be a Finance Rock Star.

Once BHAG finished hanging out with Fluffy the Finance Feline (there’s video evidence right here), I was to pick another worthy achievement and send him on.

Heavy with the burden of choosing a worth participant (am I laying it on a bit thick?), I looked far and wide for the right person. I realized the perfect choice was right under my nose. Jennifer “Scraps” Walker, the illustrator extraordinaire of Fluffy & Co, had just released her first Comic Cookbook What to Feed Your Raiding Party.

Using Community to Power Profits

Posted by Nicole Fende in Business Plan | 24 comments

Using Community for Profit
As a small business owner do you feel alone? Frustrated? Wishing for a regular 9 to 5 job (horror!) simply to enjoy some water cooler talk?

Perhaps you dream of your own, super successful, online tribe. I’ve always wondered if those exclusive, VIP, secret entrance, James Bond-esque clubs exist. Do I need a single use drop box to join?

*Ahem*

Back to business.

Water cooler discussions, and their online equivalents, continue to exist because they serve a purpose. They build community. Managed properly that community can be an asset.

Be warned – mismanaged, bloated, or neglected communities can become business quicksand.

How to Use Community to Power Your Small Business Profits

Email Lists – Profit is NOT by the Numbers

Posted by Nicole Fende in General Finance | 53 comments

Email List Cash Cow Do you think your email list is a cash cow?

Do you believe if you get enough people on your list the money will just roll in?

Are you convinced a certain template will magically convert droves of subscribers?

The harsh reality is that you can’t paint by the numbers and hope to get a Picasso. You might get a nice picture of dogs playing cards, but is that really what you want? If profiting from email was really that simple wouldn’t we all be rich?

This post is part of the June Word Carnival. The topic is The Care and Feeding of Your Email List. Click the link to get a variety of perspectives from an amazing group of small business experts.

How to Profit from Painting Outside the (Email List) Lines

For More Profit, Just Add Quirks

Posted by Nicole Fende in General Finance | 43 comments

Would you buy a finance book from this person? Listen to her advice on pricing? Ask her to help with your cash flow issues?

If your answer was “Heck Yeah!” you’ve just made it past my velvet rope. Here’s your VIP pass and welcome drink.

Think you don’t need a velvet rope? Reflect for a minute on any well attended, high dollar event. There’s always a VIP entrance. If you really want to get into the event and desire the full experience you’ll pay for that VIP Pass. If the event was only a passing fancy you may wait in line, or you may just leave.

Embracing your quirks creates a profitable velvet rope. It intrigues and attracts people who desire your products and services. And they’re willing to pay.

Wondering who this is in the picture? Keep reading to find out.

Learn how to turn your quirks into a profit boosting velvet rope!

Outsourcing to Upsize Your Small Business Profits

Posted by Nicole Fende in Business Plan, Productivity | 32 comments

Grow your profits with outsourcing
If you’ve ever eaten at McD’s (I blush to admit I love their fries), you know they’ll ask if you want to super size your meal. Wouldn’t it be cool if you could go into the Small Biz Store and super size your profits?

While it may seem counter intuitive at first, paying someone else to do certain things can actually improve your bottom line. The trick is to know when and what to outsource.

Now our villainous Number Muncher would love for you to think all outsourcing is bad, or convince you to to outsource the wrong things. Luckily I’m on to his villainous plot, and with the help of a few friends, will help you outwit his dastardly designs.