Author: Maria Novak Dugan

Ignore every stigma you’ve ever heard about cold calling. A lot of entrepreneurs and salespeople believe that it is no longer an efficient form of marketing. But then again, many entrepreneurs started their business using cold calling and still believe in its effectiveness. Basic tips for your cold calling efforts: Start with your target industry. Public annual reports, business organization lists, and press releases are…

If you’ve been delaying writing your business plan, or you need to update your plans for the new year, there is no better time than now. In addition to celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa this month, December is National Write a Business Plan Month! Writing a business plan is an opportunity to carefully think through every step of starting your company or launching a new…

As a business owner, you spend a lot of time figuring out how to talk about your business and sell yourself to your prospects and customers. When you invest in great graphic design, you not only enhance visual communication, you portray your company in a way that sells you and helps maximize your success. Credibility Think of some of the more well-known brands and what…

Starting a new business can be extremely challenging, but if you push through the first few years with passion and dedication, you will succeed. It’s a well-known fact in the entrepreneurial world that 50% of small businesses fail within the first five years. It’s true that this number is intimidating, but there are ways to avoid this fate. You just have to listen to the…

What are entrepreneurship characteristics? It’s an important question when you’re considering self-employment. It’s natural to want to know if you have what it takes before you move forward. Ask yourself these important questions: Are You a Visionary? A primary difference between an employee and an entrepreneur is motivation. Some people are perfectly happy doing the same job or working in the same industry until retirement.…

Ever feel like uploading and posting social media content takes forever? Coming up with content ideas is a big enough job. If you want to make your social media scheduling more efficient, you’ve got options. Use a social media scheduling tool First and foremost, you’ve got to have a scheduling tool like Sprout Social or Hootsuite. Posting directly on social media platforms is time-consuming, and…

Sports and business have a lot in common. It doesn’t matter what sport you play; the objective is to win. Similarly, it doesn’t matter what kind of business you operate, you want to win. Winning in sports could mean ending with the most points or arriving at a destination faster than the rest. In the business world, winning might be outselling a competitor or having…

Printed marketing and sales materials play a crucial role in securing customers for your business. Unfortunately, too many businesses use the “set it and forget it” method of creating collateral. While some pieces can be used for a while without trouble, others might quickly become outdated. We rely so much on our websites and social media that sometimes those materials are forgotten, yet they are…

Do I need to know a Kardashian? I recently read a book about Harry and Meghan and found it interesting that Meghan Markle made moves early in her career to align herself with influencers, and then became one herself, launching The Tig. So, the answer to the question above is NO, you do not need to know a Kardashian or a Megan Markle to align…

The workplace in 2021 requires employers to rethink priorities and development of necessary skill sets. Businesses should embrace a dynamic approach to reskilling talent as new skills become relevant and necessary. Adaptability: Just as an organization may have quickly adapted to new ways of working and communicating, the willingness and capability to adapt will become a highly desired employee skill. Communication: Communication is not a…