Recent times have made things tough on everyone.  The economy has forced many companies to downsize or even close their doors creating a flood of talent in the job market.  For companies that are growing and hiring, this has created great opportunities.  Some recently “unemployed” professionals however have taken this opportunity to go out on their own and start their new businesses.  The recession has actually created a massive influx of new start-ups in all kinds of industries!

Even when times are good and funding is readily available, it is wise to tighten your belt and stay as lean and mean as possible.  Here are some tips to ensure that you don’t burn through your available capital and achieve profitability sooner.

1. Business Plan:  Have one.  Even if you are not striking out on the fundraising path, this is a good excercise for understanding your goals, defining budgets, creating cash flow projects, and know what it will take to get to an eventual exit strategy.  This process will also force you to know your competition and the costs that will be involved in gaining market share.  Set goals and milestones.  I do not recommend spending months on this however.  There will be a time when more planning won’t get you to the next level, execution will. 
2. Your website:  Naturally, the kind of website you need depends of your business.  However, the availability of open source technology and advanced templates have made website development more cost effective.  You still must make the investment and be willing to spend at least a few thousand dollars.  You will be judged by the appearance of your website, that is certain.  So take ownership of the process and find a firm willing to understand your business goals.  Make sure you communicate the exact functionalities you require upfront to avoid additional costs down the road.  Also, make sure the firm knows SEO and will build a website that is search engine friendly and adheres to basic SEO site architecture guidelines.  Otherwise, you may incur more costs later when investing in SEO. 
3. Resources:  If you are used to working for a large corporation where you did not have to worry about expenses, then you need to put your start-up cap on.  Try to avoid too much credit card spending for unnecessary start-up expences.  You probably don’t need office space right out of the gate.  Keep overhead as low as possible – it may be uncomfortable for a while but that’s what it takes to earn your stripes in the start-up world.
4. Hiring:  Don’t over hire.  Only hire the people you really need and be willing to wear most of the hats at the beginning.  Most business owners start out as the CEO, accountant, marketing director, receptionist, and sales director!  You will be working long hours so don’t think you need to outsource everything right away.  This is also the time where you learn all of these functions which will make you a better leader later on.  If you land a big account early on, be careful about hiring people just to service one client.  This is tough because you must have the ability to provide a great service or product, but can’t over hire just to support them.  Consider hiring additonal help on an hourly or part time basis.  Freelance workers can be a good resource too.  Also, consider hiring free of hourly rate interns from local colleges.  Interns can be an amazing resource if you hire the right ones.  These people can become great potential hires after they graduate!
5. Marketing:  Internet marketing is probably the most realistc and cost effective way to go other than guerilla marketing and basic grass routes marketing.  You may not be able to afford search engine optimization right away, so consider social media marketing to drive traffic and awareness to your site.  This is also a great way to start building your brand and communicating with potential customers.  Set up Facebook, Twitter, and possibly You Tube accounts and get after it!

If you are in fact heading out on the fundraising path, be ready to meet with at least 30 VC’s or angels.  As we all know, funding is tough to come by and even angel investors are trying to stay more liquid.  Don’t just go for the investment partner willing to get involved.  You will need a partner with experience in your field and one that shares similar passions.  You will be spending a lot of time with them so make sure you actually like them!  The interview should go both ways.

Job opportunities are becoming less and less frequent in this economy. Every week I have at least 4-5 people ask me if I know of any job openings. At a time when the unemployment rate is so high, I decided to give some insight on having a successful interview. These are simple tips, yet many people don’t consider them. If you do land an interview, keep in mind this is your first challenge on how well you can market yourself. This is especially true if you’re interviewing for an Internet Marketing Company!

1. Know who’s interviewing you: Make sure you know the names of the people who interviewed you! Yes we’ve had people conduct great interviews but then send a thank you email and call our CEO the wrong name! If you are pitching an internet marketing proposal and you spell the client’s name wrong it shows you are unprofessional and didn’t take the time to get to know the client: same thought process with an interview.

2. Research and Education: Do some research about the company you’re interviewing with so you’re knowledgeable about their goals and objectives. Learn about their challenges, current projects and vision for the future. This allows you to demonstrate how your knowledge and skills match up with their specific needs. You don’t want to be the person who knows absolutely nothing about the company you’re interviewing with.

3. Perfect your resume: Make sure your resume is easy to read and doesn’t have any spelling errors. Companies get hundreds of resumes so if you’re not professional in your initial marketing piece, you’re automatically eliminated. During the interview make sure you can elaborate on any of the points emphasized in your resume. Your resume should initiate conversation and spark more interest.

At a time when job opportunities are limited you must make sure your interview skills are really fine tuned. Here at Internet Marketing Inc. we are actively recruiting for qualified internet marketing professionals. We are also building an outside online marketing sales team and we’re always searching for ambitious interns! We look forward to hearing from those interested in an amazing career in Internet Marketing!

-Melodie Tao

Here at Internet Marketing Inc we are launching a new program today for people to be able to work from home to sell our internet marketing services. Jeff Greco will be heading up this program for us. Our program will involve extensive training on all facets of Internet Marketing and it will be a commission based program that will allow people to earn recurring income based on the the clients they bring to our company. Studies show that everyone knows at least 2 owners of companies. We want to empower people to use their relationships to sell SEO services, website design, online brand consulting, and more.

If you would like to join this program, please give us a call. There will be a formal interview process and a training process that everyone will have to go through. We have tested this with a few people and we already have people earning a few extra thousand dollars per month on the side. Especially In this economy we encourage people to sign up for this program to use their relationships to earn extra money. Join the Internet Marketing Revolution and become an outside sales consultant for us today. We are the premier Internet Marketing Company in San Diego and we are growing fast. We look forward to hearing from you.

-Brandon