Are you building a business or running a hustle?

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Are you building a business or running a hustle?

Of course, you're running a business, right?

Before you assume that this is an easy answer, you might now know what I mean when I ask this.

Building Your Business vs. Running a Hustle: What is the difference?

When you build your business, you are focused on building assets that serve you, even AFTER you no longer are putting in your own effort.  Generally, build something that
(a) saves you time,
(b) saves you moeny, or
(c) makes you money.

When you build a business, you are doing things that eventually generate time or money after you stop doing them.  In other words, today's efforts bring you fruit tomorrow--not just today.

If you aren't doing that, that's what I call running a hustle.

Many businesses are too busy responding to today's events rather than planning to be in control of what will happen for them tomorrow.

We'll compare four (4) different angles of building YOUR business--versus running a hustle:

Internet Marketing Tip: 4 Video Marketing Things to Avoid (Online Marketing Killers)

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Video marketing is not a vital part of online marketing, but it is a really smart internet marketing approach to take.

Most people do not even begin to use videos to market their business.  They think it's too hard, expensive, or they just don't know how to produce any good videos for their business.  Small businesses are especially bad about this, but even big businesses are not always great about using video marketing techniques.

Of the few people and companies that do make videos and post them onto the Internet, many of them make fatal errors that kill their video marketing effectiveness.

Here are four (4) different video marketing things to avoid (the Online Marketing Killers):

Easy Way to Create an InfoGraphic (Using MS PowerPoint 2007)

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Infographics are a BIG thing right now.

Some of them are better than others, but many people are enamored with infographics, no matter WHAT they are supposed to explain.  We probably have social sites like Pinterest to thank for that.

Infographics, like this, seem to capture people's attention more than standard text.

There are all sorts of infographics that people can make, and if they have MS PowerPoint 2007 (or possibly PowerPoint 2010--but I don't have that to know for sure), I am going to show that it's pretty easy.

Here is how you can create an infographic quickly and easily using MS PowerPoint 2007 (or a later version).

Small Business Tip: 4 Reasons It's So Hard to Delegate

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FACT: Delegation (done properly) will make your life EASIER!

There are all sorts of reasons to delegate in life.

There is no place that this is more true than when you own your own business or manage a department.

When we delegate properly, we are more efficient and effective.

If it makes life so simple, why is it so hard to delegate?

I keep asking myself this, and I give answers, but I must not really be convinced.  I keep doing many of the same foolish things.

When I think hard about this question, I realize that I watch myself and other people fail to delegate for four (4) main reasons.

1. Control
2. Cost
3. Time
4. Cannot Visualize Long Term Gains

Everything I tell myself falls into one of these categories.  Let's take a look at each of them.

Small Business Tip: 3 Ways I Take Action for My Own Business--Not the Customer

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Us small business owners get things all mixed.  We get confused easily.

When we're getting paid by a customer, it's pretty easy to motivate ourselves to do the work that we promised that customer.  (that is...if you're not altogether uncaring about meeting your customers' needs or an outright crook trying to steal from those customers :)

However, I suggest that you ask yourself one important question.

Are you working harder for your customers than you are for yourself?

Are you taking steps to get more business after you complete today's orders?  Are you advertising?  Are you marketing yourself?

Are you finding ways to improve your service?  Are you finding easier ways to deliver that service?

A Sneaky Internet Marketing Idea I've Never Tried

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I can't believe that I've never thought of doing this.  (I don't know that I have the guts to do it, but...)

It's sneaky, but I can see where this is effective.

Can't believe it took me that long to figure out this one!

Have you ever wondered about that strange website that people clicked to find you?

If you ever check your website visitor analytics, you might notice some websites that you've never heard--before seeing them on your analytics report.

What do I do when I see this?

When I see these, I do two (2) things...like clockwork.