Did you miss out on some of our best business posts in 2013? Don’t fret; In the holiday spirit, we’ve decided  to share with you, the top twelve posts that we feel will help you achieve optimal entrepreneurial success in the coming year!

Wishing you a joyous holiday season and a happy and prosperous New Year!

The WizOf.Biz team. 

Business Advice via Paul Tobey

Paul Toby is an internationally known expert in online marketing and helps thousands of people every year build success for their businesses.  He provides business advice through his seminars, books, videos and websites.  I was lucky enough to attend one of his seminars here in Toronto.   Some of the best business advice he gave was:

Never Take Advice from People in the Same Category: Don’t take business advice from people who claim to know what you need but may not have the level of experience you’re looking for. They may have good intentions but offer no practical solution. Connect to people who have a proven track record of success.

Using Keywords: Focus on keywords for your site which have a lot of searches and low competition. Google provides online tools to help you discover the best keywords.  Then use these keywords in your sites title, on its content pages and in its headlines.  Work to get the links going to your site to related to these keywords.

The Money’s in the List: Create email lists that offers potential clients something of value. Provide free content that they can use to help them in their business. This will establish trust and credibility as well as give you contact information you can use to offer new products and services. One useful tool, InFusionSoft, is a great autoresponder system that will tell you your client conversion rate and collect other helpful data.

Become a Great Leader: Leadership skills are important when it comes to business. Great leaders are also effective speakers. Don’t bombard your audience with too much information, instead give them context. Your focus should be your knowledge, experience and expertise. Constantly think of ways to inspire, engage and motivate your audience.

Engage with People: Don’t sell. Most of us don’t like being sold to. Instead focus on value added. Your job is to make people feel something. People shop based on emotion because it makes them feel something or due to the fear of missing out. So engage in conversation, make connections and the money will follow.

Hypnotic Copywriting: This type of writing is about hooking peoples attention. Your writing needs to draw them in quickly. Your headlines need to be prominent on your page and evoke curiosity. People are visual creatures, so paint a picture using metaphor; use something that is familiar to people to describe something that is not.

Let People Know They Have a Problem: Create a need by making people think they have a problem. If they don’t believe that your product or service will offer a solution they will not buy. They need to feel like what you’re offering is the ultimate path to happiness. If you offer a solution repeatedly they will talk about your product or service.

3 Reasons Why: Offer people three reasons why you are the one they should buy from. Tell them exactly what it is that makes you stand out from the competition. Highlight your experience and knowledge. Explain why you’re the best at what you do including your lifestyle, belief system and people in your circle of influence.

Help Others Help Yourself: Quite simply, helping yourself is about helping others first. Think of others who want what you want and help them get ahead. This will help you generate positive results and built trust.

Paul Tobey is not only an engaging speaker he is also an insightful business strategist who can help you increase your potential and establish a deeper commitment to business success. I encourage you to visit his website: trainingbusinesspros.com for more information on seminars and courses you can take to help you reach your business goals. For more business advice, and personalized services, visit Wizof.Biz.

Did you miss out on some of our best business posts in 2013? Don’t fret; In the holiday spirit, we’ve decided  to share with you, the top twelve posts that we feel will help you achieve optimal entrepreneurial success in the coming year!

Wishing you a joyous holiday season and a happy and prosperous New Year!

The WizOf.Biz team. 

Nine Websites For Businesses and Entrepreneurs

Any successful business owner and entrepreneur should know, that innovation and forward thinking must become an integral part of their daily planning. Building reliable networks is not an easy task, particularly for those who are starting out and are looking for expert advice. The internet is an incredible source for people, including young professionals and entrepreneurs to quickly find the answers they’re looking for.

This is the first in a series of posts where I am going to point you to a list of websites and resources that might help you implement your vision.

1) visionary.is is an online member matching service that acts as an intermediary for business executives, inverstors and entrepreneurs. It is made up of a diverse group of men and women, who are experts in their field. Once you sign up, you will be introduced to people who are genuinely interested in what you do. It also helps generate a list of one-hundred potential business relationships to engage with you. It also provides workshops, strategies and progress reports that assist in tracking your successes.

2) Another great resource is Rapport. This is a marketing organization that works with you to learn what sets your business apart from the competition. After finding out your unique selling point, they help you develop and implement a marketing plan that best suits your audience and business objectives. Their creative communications solutions helps you improve what you have by offering new perspectives.

3) 360 Degrees Of Inspiration offers participants a chance to be part of a series of discussion forums and events that take a look at the deeper issues that affect businesses in today’s competitive environment. This is a chance to hear from a panel of experts and share with peers. These events are geared towards CEOs, Executives and Enterpreneurs. Their next conference, Culture Eats Strategy For Breakfast takes place on September 24, 2013.

4) X Design ia a unique organization that works with business companies to design innovative, sustainable and user-friendly work spaces that help motivate, inspire and optimize productivity. The firm develops architecturally responsive workspaces that best suit your business needs The team is driven by their belief that designing comfortable, economical spaces is a collaborative endeavor that should serve to support its users.

5) Good Experience is a creative project based platform that assist businesses to improve client experience. They do so, by offering businesses a wide range innovative consulting services, resources, organizational tools and events. Mark Hurst is the founder of Creative Good. Since its start in 1997, it has worked with over 500 high profile businesses and startups with the focus on enhancing the client experience.

6) User Testing is a great service that offers businesses a chance to test their website, app or prototype for usability, accessibility and effectiveness. The process is quite simple. You create your testing criteria by specifying your target market, device and operating system, and finally the questions users should answer. Professional testers then, capture the client online experience by using high resolution cameras. Submit your test and you’ll be matched with real people who will do the work for you.

7) Mentor City. If you need meaningful business advice and guidance, matches you up with a mentor who can help point you in the right direction. This is also a chance for you to put forth your expertise and experience with others who share your aspirations and entrepreneurial spirit. You can connect to knowledgeable people who seek to inspire, discuss goals, identify existing resources and more.

8) Creative Group is an incredible one-stop shop resource for companies who are actively looking for creative talent. Businesses searching for a particular skill set including graphic design, writing, multi-media and marketing are invited to browse through a large collection of professional creative portfolios to help provide clients with the services they seek. They provide an in-depth, personalized project needs assessment and guarantee full satisfaction.

9) Canadian Youth Business Foundation. This organization provides young enterpreneurs between the ages of 18-39 who have a unique business idea, the opportunity for funding and implementation. The foundation provides planning and coaching services with access to a network of community partners and entrepreneurs-in-residence. There are also mentoring options and online business resources. They are dedicated to helping young entrepreneurs become successful contributors to our economy.

I am sure, these resources will help you navigate your way to business success. This post includes a variety of creative links to help address your entrepreneurial needs. Use them wisely and don’t forget to visit us at WizOf.Biz for more qualified business advice. We are always happy to hear from you. So don’t be shy, ask questions, browse our site and post your comments on our blog.

Image Creative Commons curtesy Jayel Aheram. 

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Did you miss out on some of our best business posts in 2013? Don’t fret; In the holiday spirit, we’ve decided  to share with you, the top twelve posts that we feel will help you achieve optimal entrepreneurial success in the coming year!

Wishing you a joyous holiday season and a happy and prosperous New Year!

The WizOf.Biz team. 

Funding My Business Venture: Where to Look

All successful businesses need a source of captial. Without proper funding the opportunities for growth are slim to none. Too often, we see budding entrepreneurs who have brilliant ideas but take the wrong turn when it comes to seeking funding.

One source of investment is venture capital. However the reality is, that even with the many creative ideas, the amount of venture capital investments within the last few years has dropped. The current economic climate is volatile to say the least, making high profile investors are cautious when deciding where to place their funds. With so many worthwhile startups competing for attention, many investors find themselves unable to keep up to the demand.

Here are some additional funding options that might better suit your business type and objectives.

Approach the Banks:

Banks offer small businesses a number of financing options. If you supply them with proper documentation and present a convincing case, these types of institutions will be more than happy to offer you a business loan or a credit repayment program that suits your individual needs. All you have to do is demonstrate cash flow, present a solid business plan and convince creditors that yours is a once in a lifetime investment that they cannot afford to lose. Know your numbers; there is nothing worse than humming and hawing in front of a group of people who are ready to invest in you. Banks are likely to consider your personal banking history and repayment habits. For that reason I’d recommend that you initiate a personal relationship with the financial institution of your choosing before approaching funders with your request.

Apply For Grants:

There are many local and and government granting options Look for a collaborative government or community based project research initiatives that helps advance mutual interests. Such resource sharing arrangement will optimize growth potential for small and medium size businesses.

Independent Investors & Acquaintances:

Independently run organizations with cash to spare, will often choose to provide you with the necessary funds for a return on investment or as a one-time grant. These types of entities are willing to endorse ventures that they deem to be of value to existing community efforts or as part of a philanthropic initiative.

If asked, friends and family can lend a hand. This option is great for smaller cash loans and does not require too much headache. Always be aware of whom you’re dealing with and communicate at all times.

Whatever funding type you choose, know that every decision takes risk and preparation. Strategic investors, venture capitalists and independent entities are looking for the next best thing so if you play it right, you may be well on your way.

For more detailed information and a great comparison of funding methods, read a great article by our CEO Reg Charney on funding and your business.

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Did you miss out on some of our best business posts in 2013? Don’t fret; In the holiday spirit, we’ve decided  to share with you, the top twelve posts that we feel will help you achieve optimal entrepreneurial success in the coming year!

Wishing you a joyous holiday season and a happy and prosperous New Year!

The WizOf.Biz team. 

Make Business Success Your Resolution For 2013!

The year 2013 will bring about another slew of New Year resolutions. Many of us will focus on dropping the extra pounds we’d resolved to shed the year before. Others will make a conscious decision to spend more time with loved ones and more than a few of us will turn to improving marketing and business strategies as their number one resolution for the coming year. Here are some suggestions.

1) Resolve to Focus – Determine who your target audiences are. Look at their age group, occupation and social standing.Decide why this demographic is relevant to your business and go to where your specific market can be found.

2) Be Different – Your number two resolution is to dare yourself to be outrageously funny, phenomenally ingenious and intriguingly clever. Think outside the box to get the attention of those who understand and care about what you have to say. The other day I saw a series of gimmicky videos for a company that sold blenders. Their marketing ploy included blending random objects that are otherwise un-blendable such as iPhones, glowsticks and computers. Crazy right? Yes, but they stood out and that made all the difference..

3) Stay True To Who You Are – Just because you’re running a business does not mean that it has to run you. Make sure that your entrepreneurial self is directly reflective of who you are in everyday life.Communicate with others in a consistent, down to earth way. Inject some humor in everything you do and don’t forget to laugh at yourself. Align all of your marketing efforts with your own unique characteristics, then lead potential clients to elements of your business that point to the big picture.

4) Network – Make 2013, the year that you become part of the conversation, shmooze, exchange ideas. Make every lead an opportunity to connect and tell others what you do. Impress people by asking questions, giving answers and offering suggestions. Build business relationships that help you tap deeper into your market.

5) Learn & Discover – Seek out new opportunities to learn from others, participate in discussions and make discoveries about the way you run your business. Resolve to solicit client input. In the New Year,donate your time to other businesses that operate in the same general field. .

6) Create Content – Act interested. Strive to keep curious about your topic or idea. Work on showing others that you care about them and your cause. Make what you share with people funny and relevant.to their needs. Perhaps they too, have a New Year resolution that you can help them achieve. Tell your story; hell, a smidget of public ridicule never hurt anyone.

7) Take Risks – Be unconventional, intriguing and yes even wacky. Remember people love to see extraordinary things happen before them. Keep in mind that normal is boring and no one cares about anything normal at all.So look to wow the pants off of others.

8) Make That Dough – Enjoy what you do. Remain friendly and optimistic throughout. SHake hands, smile and offer to be there when it counts. If you do that, the dough will come rolling in when you least expect it.

I hope this gets you well on your way to success. In the meantime, stay insightful, innovate and prosper in 2013!

Image via *Sally M* Creative Commons 

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Did you miss out on some of our best business posts in 2013? Don’t fret; In the holiday spirit, we’ve decided  to share with you, the top twelve posts that we feel will help you achieve optimal entrepreneurial success in the coming year!

Wishing you a joyous holiday season and a happy and prosperous New Year!

The WizOf.Biz team. 

Top 10 Life Strategies That Can Lead You to Business Success

What exactly does it take to get ahead? Why is it that for many of us success is harder to come by? Quite simply it’s because we are unwilling to open up to possibilities, listen to what people are saying and explore our own entrepreneurial potential. More often than not, we assume that our way is the best when it comes to doing business. I’m here to tell you, that that is far from the truth. Without a little sense of humor and a willingness to embrace the unexpected your business is likely to fail and here is why.

Before I started my own business, got clients and begun blogging for WizOf.Biz I too, was trying hard to fit in. However over time I came to realize that running a great business is about anything but fitting in. It’s about leading your life, and your business according to your own inner compass, your values and ideas. The only way to be successful in whatever you set out to do, is to stand out and be noticed.

I don’t claim to know it all. In fact even to assume I do, would be setting myself up for failure. The truth is that most businesses thrive because they are aware that their concept is an ever evolving one that will continue to tap into creativity, innovation and insight. That means relying heavily on your gut (which can never be taken for granted) and your own ability to reinvent yourself as an enterpreneur. There is no doubt that being an independent business owner has given me an edge when it comes to working with others. I have to know and ancicipate how my clients think, what drives them forward and how I can help them succeed.

Today, I would like to share with you a few of my personal tips on business success:

1) Always follow your inner voice. Intuition is both a personal and professional mechanism that we rarely listen to but it’s important to recognize that most exceptional ideas are inherently intuitive. They are a type of instant and often subcontious response to something that we identify with or believe to be a solution to a problem. This intuitive impulse principle can, and should be applied to all aspects of our lives including business. Intuition can also lead to unexpected breakthroughs and discoveries which are crucial to business development. Intuition as I see it, is driven by our experiences and the desire to continue learning from others. People, particularly when it comes to business, are the inspiration you’ll need to sustain and cultivate your ideas. That is why making sure you know all there is to know about what makes people chose you as a brand over the competition. Let me call this skill social intuition. Being aware of intuitive thought as your tool for success will help you steer clear of unecessary business blunders.

2) Make time to check in with yourself. While this is your journey, I strongly suggest that you keep track of where you’ve been and where you’re headed. Conduct a professional inventory of the things you’ve been able to accomplish and those that you’re working towards. Take note of the ever evolving business trends, viewpoints and popular beliefs. Most importantly keep reinventing yourself so that you can remain in sinc with emerging business realities. Things are constantly changing along with people’s attitudes, wants and needs. Failing to stay abreast on these shifts can mean trailing behind. Building connections with people is what will propel you ahead.

3) Be willing to consider the input and opinions of others. Stubbornness will only take you so far in business. Open your eyes and ears so that you can see and hear firsthand what your clients are saying about you. Stay personable and plugged in to the suggestions of those around you. This is not to say that your own ideas don’t count however it’s important for clients to feel appreciated and responded to in a positive way.

4) These days it’s difficult to escape advancements in technology. It is your job to learn all you can about new and emerging technologies that facilitate business development and growth. Technology is one of the biggest resources available to you as an entrepreneur; be it social media, money management or otherwise so don’t lose it, use it.

5) Running a successful business is about using your education, your background and your everyday experiences as an integral tool for moving forward. Don’t forget to be yourself and show people both your strengths and yes, even your weaknesses. Authenticity and generosity will never go unnoticed. Give what you know and the rest will follow.

6) Teach others about ways to improve on what they know. Become their vehicle for inspiration; there is hardly anything more valuable than working collaboratively towards an end result. Your reward is in making clients see that your thoughts and ideas are what is helping them do better. They will thank you for taking the time to work on what matters to them.

7) When ready, remember to share in your wealth. By that I mean offer free incentives. Give money to worthwhile ventures and provide expertise to those who need it. Having a human side to any business let’s people know that your brand at its core, is thoughtful, generous and empathetic which is appealing to say the least.

8) Treat people the way you’d like to be treated. When it comes to business dealings, there is never a place for pre-judgements, unecessary claims or value statements so think before you act. You can’t expect to be treated with dignity when your own idea of respect is questionable. Learn to accept criticism, re-evaluate your priorities and make the tough decisions.

9) Confidence and perseverance go a long way in business. So put your best foot forward and keep looking ahead. When you approach your challenges with confidence people will know. Anything is possible when you believe.

10) I am convinced that at the heart of any business venture is a desire to make an impact. So let that be the motivation for your work.

There you have it; my ten intuitive life tools to follow when forging your way to business success.

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Did you miss out on some of our best business posts in 2013? Don’t fret; In the holiday spirit, we’ve decided  to share with you, the top twelve posts that we feel will help you achieve optimal entrepreneurial success in the coming year!

Wishing you a joyous holiday season and a happy and prosperous New Year!

The WizOf.Biz team. 

Seth Godin – How to Get Your Ideas to Spread

Our focus at WizOf.Biz is on providing clients with new insight on how to succeed online. We believe in sharing ideas and offering innovative digital strategies that lead to entrepreneurial breakthroughs. The question is, how to get your ideas to spread? In his TedTalk video,writer, and ideas guru Seth Godin explains to us why “bad or bizarre ideas are better than boring ones”. Ideas that spread, says Seth, are ideas that dare to be different. “Very good” ideas according to Godin, are no longer good enough. In a world of too many options, and too little time, a purple cow is much more likely to turn heads than an ordinary one.

Go see it now and come back here after!

It’s true. In today’s over saturated business environment it is harder to get people to care. At the same time, this is a great opportunity to engage with people who are looking for your idea and are excited by what you have to say.

Seth is the creator of an online ideas platform called Squidoo.com where anyone can share their thoughts and make connections. You can visit Seth’s blog at: sethgodin.typepad.com. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed by what you’ll discover.

See you next time,
Irena Kagansky

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Did you miss out on some of our best business posts in 2013? Don’t fret; In the holiday spirit, we’ve decided  to share with you, the top twelve posts that we feel will help you achieve optimal entrepreneurial success in the coming year!

Wishing you a joyous holiday season and a happy and prosperous New Year!

The WizOf.Biz team. 

Top 6 Business & Marketing Podcasts

By now you’re probably fed up with surfing the internet. You’ve been staring at random business tips and how-to marketing videos but are no closer to finding the answers to your business questions. I’d like to help you make headway, with these top six marketing podcasts that have caught my attention.

1) Small Business Big Marketing Show: This is an opportunity to hear from small business owners about how their marketing strategies have helped them achieve success. These stories will inspire you and allow you to tailor these tips to your own ventures. The interviews are very informal and full of firsthand business advice.

2) How to Make Money and Do A World of Good: For those of you who are looking to do some good in the world and make some cash while you’re at it, Streat co-founder Rebecca Scott’s podcast is what you need. There is no doubt that social responsibility is on the minds of many but how exactly can you integrate it into your business? Learn more about social entrepreneurship and how to market it.

3) Funny Business: This is another interesting podcast by people who have made humor their business. Guests include Ben Huh, CEO of the Cheezburger Network and Ryan Dolan owner of 30Watt and former business developer for The Onion. Cheezburger takes full responsibility for initiatives such as FailBlog, ICanHazCheezburger and ThereIFixedIt.

4) Eight Stories You Must Tell to Built An Epic Business: Valerie Khoo is a journalist, speaker and small business commentator. This posdcast is filled with Valerie’s accounts of how storytelling can be used as a powerful marketing tool that can not only transform your brand but turn your clients into valuable allies. Subscribe on iTunes to download this fantastic resource.

5) Foolish Adventure: Tim Conley looks at the adventures of internet entrepreneurs who have made it part of their lifestyle to innovate, experiment and experience business online. Businesses and innovation come in all shapes and sizes. Foolish Adventures is proof that if we step outside the “norm” we can succeed.

6) Automate My Small Business: Have you ever wanted to take a vacation and not worry about how your business is doing without you? Well, it’s all in the title. These guys go out of their way to show you exactly how to automate your small business so that all you have to do is reap the fruit of your success. How do you do this? By using cutting edge technology and online management tools that allow you to set it and forget it!

All of these podcasts can be found on ITunes. So get to it, and enjoy!

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