C-Suite Women Serve Up Advice for Budding Entrepreneurs.

Progress is being made as more and more women taking seats in the C-suite. In 2013, women held 14.6 percent of executive officer positions, a tiny spike from 14.3 percent in 2012, according to Catalyst. Granted the rate of change is slow, but at least it’s a shift in the right direction.

For me, it's been an exciting time to watch this evolution. I have had the opportunity to work with some great women in leadership roles.

And these days Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg is not the only woman in the C-suite sharing advice. While her influential book Lean In offered advice to encourage women to achieve their goals, other female executives have insights for men and women on.topics ranging from management and business growth to work-life balance and customer service.

I reached out to some women in the C-suite I know to gather advice they would share with budding entrepreneurs. Here's what they wrote:                                                                  
                                                                     

C-Suite Women Serve Up Advice for Budding Entrepreneurs.

One essential tip is to bring a positive mindset when building a business. Rolonda Watts, CEO of Los Angeles-based Watts Works Productions and a friend, says to entrepreneurs of any age: “Be courageous, strong, and daring in your risk-taking business venture. Replace fear with faith when challenged.” Adds Watts, “Make work and play look and feel like the same thing. Do what you love and

love what you do.”
Next, be sure to keep a solid business plan. That includes knowing your conditions of satisfaction and the things that you will do. Emily Constantini, president of Encinitas, Calif.-based EMME, shared some wisdom that resulted from her choices: “When I started [my] business, I made the [conscious] decision to do three things: stay true to my vision for my product; collect opinions and decide which are valid; and leverage resources for expertise outside my own,” she says. (Disclosure: I sit on EMME's board.)

For entrepreneurs, mentors are increasingly important. Experienced mentors can help guide a startup owner and mitigate the risks.

“Learning from other people’s mistakes prevents you from making them for yourself and helps your business grow more quickly,” says Virginie Glaenzer, executive vice president of marketing for New York City-based Great Eastern Energy and a client of mine. “Write down the list of qualities and experiences you’d like your mentor to have. Then, attend networking events and join online communities to identify your ideal mentor and then simply ask them.”


Constance Freedman, managing director of Second Century Ventures who is vice president of strategic investments for the National Association of Realtors, echoes Glaenzer. “Validate your model and then find the best partners and network to help you succeed. Don’t stop asking until you get the answer you want to hear,” she says.

Whether the entrepreneur's office is on Main Street or Wall Street, he or she will hear no frequently. Don’t give up after the first, second or even third rejection. When one door closes, another opens, so keep at it.

Remain focused on goals. Jenna Woodul, executive and chief community officer of San Jose, Calif.-based LiveWorld, recommends. “Even though your focus is sharp -- and you’re passionate, directed, and believe you’re right -- remember that business and competitive conditions change quickly; keep one foot up and be ready to pivot.” (Disclosure: I sit on LiveWorld's board as well.)

“Look at your business frequently through both your binoculars and microscope,” adds Heidi Lorenzen, chief marketing officer of San Francisco-based Cloudwords and also a client. “In a small operation, the little things are the big things. Peer deep into your business but don’t lose perspective by constantly focusing on details.” Step back to take in the big picture on a regular basis, she advises.

Experienced entrepreneurs, what other advice do you have for new entrepreneurs eager to follow in your footsteps?
Sources:way2digitalmarketing.com

Why You Need a Website?

Q: My business is very small, just me and two employees, and our product really can’t be sold online. Do I really need a website?

A: That’s a good question. In fact, it’s one of the most important and most frequently asked questions of the digital business age. Before I answer, however, let’s flash back to the very first time I was asked this question. It was circa 1998, during the toddler years of the internet.

Why You Need a Website?

I was giving a speech on the impact of the internet on small business at an association luncheon in Montgomery, Alabama. Back in 1998, which was decades ago in internet years, the future of e-commerce was anybody’s guess, but even the most negative futurists agreed that all the signs indicated that a large portion of future business revenues would be derived from online transactions or from offline transactions that were the result of online marketing efforts.

So should your business have a website, even if your business is small and sells products or services you don’t think can be sold online? My answer in 1998 is the same as my answer today: Yes, if you have a business, you should have a website. Period. No question. Without a doubt.

Also, don’t be so quick to dismiss your product as one that can’t be sold online. Nowadays, there’s very little that can’t be sold over the internet. More than 20 million shoppers are now online, purchasing everything from books to computers to cars to real estate to jet airplanes to natural gas to you name it. If you can imagine it, someone will figure out how to sell it online.

Let me clarify one point: I’m not saying you should put all your efforts into selling your wares over the internet, though if your product lends itself to easy online sales, you should certainly be considering it. The point to be made here is that you should at the very least have a presence on the web so that customers, potential employees, business partners and perhaps even investors can quickly and easily find out more about your business and the products or services you have to offer.

That said, it’s not enough that you just have a website. You must have a professional-looking site if you want to be taken seriously. Since many consumers now search for information online prior to making a purchase at a brick-and-mortar store, your site may be the first chance you have at making a good impression on a potential buyer. If your site looks like it was designed by a barrel of colorblind monkeys, your chance at making a good first impression will be lost.

One of the great things about the internet is that it has leveled the playing field when it comes to competing with the big boys. As mentioned, you have one shot at making a good first impression. With a well-designed site, your little operation can project the image and professionalism of a much larger company. The inverse is also true. I’ve seen many big company websites that were so badly designed and hard to navigate that they completely lacked professionalism and credibility. Good for you, too bad for them.

You also mention that yours is a small operation, but when it comes to benefiting from a website, size does not matter. I don’t care if you’re a one-man show or a 10,000-employee corporate giant; if you don’t have a website, you’re losing business to other companies that do.

Here’s the exception to my rule: It’s actually better to have no website at all than to have one that makes your business look bad. Your site speaks volumes about your business. It either says, “Hey, look, we take our business so seriously that we have created this wonderful site for our customers!” or it screams, “Hey, look, I let my 10-year-old nephew design my site. Good luck finding anything!”

Your website is an important part of your business. Make sure you treat it as such.

Tim W. Knox is the founder, president and CEO of four successful technology companies: B2Secure Inc., a Web-based hiring management software company; Digital Graphiti Inc., a software development company; and Sidebar Systems, a company that creates cutting edge convergence software for broadcast media outlets; and Online Profits 4U, an e-business dedicated to helping online entrepreneurs start and prosper from an online, wholesale or drop-ship business.

Sources:way2digitalmarketing.com

7 Ways Mobile Will Change Business In 2014

In 2011, Microsoft Tag predicted mobile Internet use would surpass desktop Internet use by 2014. As 2013 winds down, it’s clear mobile Internet use is at an all-time high, with 63 percent of all cell phone owners admitting they use those devices to go online. The number of consumers who say they primarily use cell phones for Internet access is up to 21 percent.

While desktops will likely remain the primary method of Internet use for most users in 2014, there’s no denying mobile is a big player. For businesses, this means some serious changes as more workers than ever shift from being tied to a desktop or laptop PC to connecting to files from anywhere. This not only enables workers to connect to presentations and documents from anywhere, but it also opens up new concerns for the businesses interested in protecting data.

2014 will also bring more widespread consumer mobile adoption, bringing additional changes to corporate marketing strategies. To prepare for this increasingly-mobile world, here are a few steps businesses should take:

BYOD Security                                                               

If your business doesn’t have a BYOD policy in place, you’re already behind. Businesses are increasingly putting remote wipe and encryption software on personal devices, as well as mobile virtual workspaces that separates work data in a separate, encrypted area on a user’s personal device. If there’s even a remote possibility one of your workers could access work data on a personal device, you should have a written, signed policy in place for each of your workers.

Constantly Connected:

The line between work and personal will continue to blur as employees complete work during evening and weekend hours, as well as on vacation. Mobile device ownership means workers have the ability to remain connected to work at all times and that will breed an expectation that workers be reachable at all times, as well. This could mean good news, though, if employers allow their workers to be more flexible in the hours they are officially on duty. An employee who stays on the phone until ten p.m. working through an issue with a client may be forgiven for taking off early on a Friday. Unfortunately, chances are this constant connectivity will only result in Americans working longer hours and being expected to respond to calls during valuable family time.

More Cloud Apps:

As businesses redefine the devices used to connect to servers, more employers will opt to make the move to the Cloud. Solutions like Office 365 will become the norm as these businesses realize the cost savings in having their apps supported by an outside provider for a low monthly fee. Cloud providers who provide connectivity from any approved device will be at an advantage as businesses begin to troubleshoot ways they can continue to do business in a mobile-preferred workplace. When a new solution is needed, businesses will be able to immediately find and download that solution without having to pay a team of software developers to create one. This also eliminates the need to pay tech support personnel to install and troubleshoot the software, especially if the app provider offers tech support.

Mobile-Based Marketing:

Even Google is recognizing that the world of search is changing. The site’s new Hummingbird algorithm addresses the role mobile now plays in search today. Users are more likely to ask a question into a mobile device than type in keywords and Google is now prepared to deliver those answers. For this reason, it’s important each business take a step back and ask themselves what questions a consumer would ask that would lead them to their website. Site content should answer questions like, “Where do I find a good plumber?” or “What’s the best Mexican restaurant near my house?” This can be done, in large part, through ensuring contact information, directions, and other frequently asked questions are addressed clearly and accurately.

Apps for Everything:

The suite of electronic tools a business needs to conduct daily operations is shifting. At one time, a business owner needed an Office suite, e-mail, and industry-specific software to open for business. Today’s business owner has an infinite number of apps available, many for a far lower price than traditional software. The trend toward mobile means businesses will open their minds when it comes to the software necessary to run operations. Everything from billing and scheduling to project management may be moved to Cloud-based apps, allowing small businesses with small budgets to compete against much larger companies.

Sources:way2digitalmarketing

Grow Your Business Online...

10 Things You Must Do to Grow Your Online Business in the First Year

Business forecasts indicate that ecommerce is exploding, which means now is the perfect time for startups to firmly establish their online stores. There are numerous tactics for nurturing a new online business. If you're just getting started, now's the perfect time to make sure all the elements for your online success are in place.

Let’s review 10 crucial steps to capitalizing on this trend:
1. Carefully target the online audience.
Ecommerce depends largely on a reputable, accessible online presence. To be recognized as such, businesses must make themselves available to those who are most likely to notice. Identify the demographic characteristics of consumers who will benefit from relevant products and services, and base marketing strategies on these details.

2. Create high-quality content and deliver it at high speed.
High-quality content is described as relevant and engaging information that encourages site visitors to return in the future. Content should reflect the given brand in tone and style, and include the company’s mission statement, services and policies. It should also offer industry education and urge interaction with consumers. This may take the form of asking questions, answers to which can be provided in online comment sections. Interaction can also take place via surveys and contests.


But Internet-based businesses live and die by their online visibility and credibility, and they’re judged by more than just consumers. They’re also judged by search engines, which play a major role in bestowing that credibility and visibility. In the wake of recent security vulnerabilities making national headlines such as the HeartBleed bug, secure web hosting which thwarts vulnerabilities is essential for maintaining credibility, and speedy website load times are essential for delivering a positive user experience, maximizing sales conversions and optimizing from an SEO (search engine optimization) perspective.

Amazon reported a 1 percent revenue increase for every 100 milliseconds improvement in load time. Furthermore, Google has stated that fast load speeds are indeed a factor in the ranking algorithm. In response, VPS hosting is quickly becoming more popular among new businesses looking to maximize site speed, as opposed to traditional, shared hosting services.

3. Personalize content.
Visitors know that unique, individualized web experiences are possible, which is why they expect such features. Take advantage of available technology that can generate shopping selections based on personal preferences. While some of the larger websites (Google, Apple, Facebook, etc.) have apps built into their system that identify users and track their online movements, small businesses might focus on smaller CRM solutions. Batchbook, ContactMe, and Zoho are perfect CRM software solutions for small businesses, each costing less than $20 a month.

 4. Invest in mobile capabilities.
Consumer use of mobile devices is greater than ever before, which is why a robust mobile ecommerce platform is crucial. Available solutions include mobile sites, responsive sites, apps, click-to-call tools, maps and real-time notifications.

5. Integrate sales channels.
Enable consumers to experience the brand similarly across all channels of interaction and methods of shopping. Promotions, products, services, company information and policies should be available both on and offline.

6. Consider subscription.
Subscription commerce occurs in various forms. For instance, the replenishment model allows for a product to be sent to a customer every month or other regular basis. The discovery model provides for new and exciting experiences with each delivery. These may include customized or rare items. It’s up to the company to decide which form of subscription works best for them, and to implement that into their sales and marketing strategies. Most CRM software and programs organize consumer data that can be used to delineate and track which model each customer prefers and whether the customer has subscribed or not.

7. Remember logistics.
Scalability is integral to growing a business. To accommodate growth, third-parties such as UPS, Nippon Express, or DB Schenker can be depended upon to manage large and complex transactions. Costs will vary based upon the size of the transaction, the size of shipments, the distance that products need to be shipped or the complexity of the transaction. Third-party logistics become more cost effective as a company grows and handles larger transactions. Reverse logistics -- the efficient handling of product exchanges and returns -- is significant as well.

For Internet-based businesses, website speed, security and infrastructure are important foundations of not only logistics, but also SEO. These aspects of online business translate to better search engine visibility, resulting in more traffic, leads, brand credibility and sales. Speeding up your website is crucial for online logistics.

8. Skip the middlemen.
Thanks to the Internet, small businesses can reach consumers quickly and easily. Also, manufacturers are increasingly eager to work directly with small businesses because they realize small brands are likely to bring new and innovative products to the marketplace -- they are less limited by minimal shelf space and complex supply chains.

9. Sell Internet-only merchandise.
Although essential to maintain continuity across multiple sales channels, it is still possible to offer products via the Internet only. Doing so builds an exclusive brand with ecommerce as the core distribution channel. By offering certain products in only one arena, it is possible to maintain greater control over margins.

10. Curate a proprietary selection.
Proprietary selection refers to a strategy dedicated to “curating” a deep but narrow array of exclusive products in a specific segment. These areas give the relevant merchandise the allure of distinction due to original characteristics and the difficulty of locating such a selection elsewhere.

One of the main goals of any business is consistent growth. Through careful strategic planning, quality marketing campaigns and a healthy combination of the steps outlined above, conversions are likely to increase steadily.


Sources:www.entrepreneur.com

How to Start E-commerce Business in India

E-commerce laws and regulations in India are still evolving. This has created a sort of confusion and uncertainty among e-commerce entrepreneurs in India. While some have opened e-commerce outlets through websites others are exploring a more appropriate and legal way of running an e-commerce business in India.

Legal issues of e-commerce in India vary as per different business models. For instance, electronic trading of medical drugs in India requires more stringent e-commerce and legal compliances as compared to other e-commerce activities. Digital communication channels for drugs and healthcare products in India are scrutinised more aggressively than other e-commerce activities. In fact, regulatory and legislative measures to check online pharmacies trading in banned drugs in India are already in pipeline.

Besides there are many legal formalities that are required in order to start a company and e-commerce activity in India. A business can be operated as:

(1) Sole Proprietorship.

(2) Partnership.

(3) Company – Public/Private.

(4) Limited Liability Partnerships (LLP).

Mostly people decide to open a private company to substantiate an e-commerce activity and this article would cover that aspect alone. To incorporate a private limited company you must approve its name, registered office address, have at least 2 directors with director identification numbers (DINs), must have a minimum authorised capital of Rs. 1 Lakh, memorandum of association (MOA) and articles of association (AOA), digital signature certificates (DSCs) wherever applicable, etc. Once these conditions and requirements are fulfilled, a certificate of incorporation is sent by post to the registered office of the newly registered company.

The private limited company is also required to comply with income tax related compliances. These include obtaining permanent account number (PAN), tax deduction account number (TAN), value added tax (VAT) registration and obtaining of tax identification number (TIN), professional tax if applicable, service tax, etc.

In certain cases, compliance with labour laws is also required. For instance, the Shops and Establishment Act is a legislation implemented by various States in India. The Act lays down mutual statutory obligation and rights of employers and employees. Registration of shop/establishment is mandatory within 30 days of commencement of work. Other workmen and labour related legislations cover areas like employees provident fund, employees state insurance, etc.

However, e-commerce in India is also required to be conducted in a legally permissible manner. This is more so when the information technology act 2000 (IT Act 2000) prescribes stringent penal and pecuniary penalties for violation of its provisions during e-commerce transactions.

The e-commerce players must ensure cyber law due diligence in India. This is more so when the cyber law due diligence for companies in India has become very stringent and foreign companies and websites are frequently prosecuted in India for non exercise of cyber due diligence.

The legal requirements for undertaking e-commerce in India also involve compliance with other laws like contract law, Indian penal code, etc. Further, online shopping in India also involves compliance with the banking and financial norms applicable in India. For instance, take the example of PayPal in this regard. If PayPal has to allow online payments receipt and disbursements for its existing or proposed e-commerce activities, it has to take a license from Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in this regard. Further, cyber due diligence for Paypal and other online payment transferors in India is also required to be observed.

sources:way2digitalmarketing