Posted by Jerry on August 26, 2008
Even though you may choose to work at home in your pajamas, business letters and emails to potential and current customers must look and sound professional. Some basic tools to consider when drafting a business letter are format, clarity and tone. Basic business letters should be single spaced on eight and a half by eleven inch letterhead. The margins are standard one and a half inch all the way around. Your company name and address is centered and double spaced at the top of the business letter. The date, recipient’s name, company and address follow. Next is the greeting, try to avoid generic greetings such as “To Whom It May Concern”, and use the recipient’s last name. Use “dear” in the greeting and complete the greeting with a colon, for example, Dear Mr. Keaton: The body of the letter is composed of small, single spaced paragraphs. The business letter should not exceed three paragraphs. The opening paragraph should state the purpose of the letter. The middle paragraph states the request of the sender, to bid on a project, a proposal, etc. The final paragraph is a call for specific action, please send, please contact, etc. Conclude with “Yours truly,” and a signature. These basic business letter tools will go a long way when marketing your business.
Technorati Tags: basic format business letters, business letters, proposals
Posted by Jerry on August 17, 2008
The internet is filled with home based business opportunity. People choose to work from home for many different reasons. Working from home cuts transportation costs, obliterates the professional wardrobe budget and allows flexible working hours. Internet-based business’s are open twenty-four hours and access the global market. As with any business, internet companies must have a product or service that is in demand, and make the product easily accessible to potential customers. Many women with young children work at home, and have found countless opportunities to subsidize their income through internet businesses. Recently, I was searching the web to look at cake recipes and was astounded by the amount of blogs devoted just to cakes. One woman had started a blog with some of her favorite cake recipes and the blog became so popular she gained sponsors and now makes a living sharing baking and decorating tips. The internet is a great place to share your specific skills or hobbies. A mass global market craves all sorts of information from fly-fishing to cake baking. Beyond the sharing of information comes the exchange of goods, buyers may pay a premium price for items sitting around your home. The internet provides many opportunities for home-based entrepreneurs the hardest part may be choosing the best business for you.
Technorati Tags: home based business, internet business, work at home
Posted by Jerry on August 6, 2008
My Father and several close friends own small businesses. I have immense respect for individuals that tackle the long hours and many tasks involved in running a business. The start-up business owners usually multi-task several jobs at once. These jobs can include receptionist, marketing manager, sales force, book-keeper and janitorial staff. Many small business owners work either a part-time or full-time position in addition to running their small business. My Father has had his own business for nearly ten years and still works a part- time sales position. I, like many people have often pondered the idea of owning my own business. Running a business often conjures up a care-free life style. Setting your own schedule, not having to worry about pleasing the boss constantly (because, hey, you are the boss), taking a half day off here and there to smell the roses. All of these options at first seem very appealing when considering a start-up business. Doing a little research into small business ownership reveals there is definitely a long list of pro’s and con’s. A good place to begin this research is inquiring with local business owners about their start- up stories. Informational interviews with successful business owners provide a first-hand account of profitable techniques and strategies. business equipment
Technorati Tags: Restaurant, small –business ownership, start-up business