Necessity is the Mother of Invention
My work as the Fauquier Chamber of Commerce Membership Director is filled with wonderful relationships. I enjoy the opportunities to help people find ways to grow their business. When I am able to help a business reach their audience or clients successfully, it’s my job well done. This new remote, socially distant way to do business is a different way to communicate but it will bring people together.
Sylvia McDevitt
Spring, Rebirth & the New Business Paradigm
This time can be scary as the virus spreads, stock market tumbles and businesses are shuttered. However, you can also choose to see it as a powerful time of cathartic cleansing and a portal for insight and innovation. It's your choice.
Shari J. Goodwin
SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan Assistance - Can it Really Help Me?
Late Wednesday it was announced that the Virginia Governor had requested emergency disaster funding from the SBA. "Great," you say, "but what does this mean to me?" It means you may qualify for a low interest loan to help your business stay open. This will mean you can pay your employees, rent or mortgage, vendors and keep the lights on through this time. The funds may cover up to six months of expenses to help until things get back to “normal”.
Amelia J. Stansell
Keeping Your Sanity Intact
These are absolutely unprecedented times for our local communities. You, as a business owner are under many new pressures. How can you deal with it all without losing your mind? Here are some suggestions to help you.
Marianne Clyde
Business is a Garden: Plant the Seeds
You might guess that gardening reminds me a lot of business planning and marketing strategies, hence the name of my business, Flourish with Kate (LLC as required by my attorney!) If the crisis of COVID-19 has you thinking that the ground is bare and bereft of life, I urge you to think again and start planting the seeds for the harvest to come. Do it with hope and faith, focused on sustainable strategies, and you’ll find a way to flourish when the time comes.
Kate Sprague
Working Remotely: Technology can help!
Working remotely might be something you've done for years, or it might be something new for you and your team. Here are some ideas for maximizing your time.
Michelle Coe
Is Your Online Reputation Driving Customers To You … or Away From You? | Online Reviews: The New Word-of-Mouth
When was the last time you checked your business’ online reputation to see how it stacks up against the competition? Just as we all should be getting twice-yearly dental checkups and annual physical checkups to maintain our good health, so too should business owners conduct regular “online reputation checkups” to see how their business is — or isn’t — showing up online, and how their online reputation compares with their top competitors in their local marketplace.
Yvonne Herbst
Tips for Hiring a Design Pro + a Website Checklist
Do you find yourself dreading the thought of trying to hire a website or design pro? It can be confusing, for sure. Everyone uses similar words to describe the services they provide… but how do you know (REALLY know) whether or not you’ve hired the right person for the job? Here are a few tips, along with a website checklist that you can use as you’re thinking about the features & functionality you want for your website. The checklist is not exhaustive, but it’s intended to be a starting point for a
Michelle Coe
Power of Reset
“Reset” has been a big theme of 2019 so far—resetting involves setting back to an initial state—sometimes the baseline of zero, other times simply an adjustment after getting far away from normal. The stock market is also hitting a reset point in 2019. After the worst December performance since 1931, the stock market has rebounded nicely so far this year.
Sarah Yakel
The "Lean" Startup
Far too many entrepreneurs start a new business based on what they think is a great idea or product. It often seems obvious to them that if they build it, the customers will be knocking down their door to buy it. Unfortunately, this traditional approach has led to a failure rate of 30% of new businesses during the first two years and 50% within five years and the #1 reason for failure is that the startup was building something that nobody wanted to buy. How can your new business avoid becoming a
Gary Grenter
