News

A reader of our books recently asked, “How do I market through my business-to-business website?” Which got me thinking about how B2B sites face most of the same challenges as business-to-consumer sites; how so many B2B websites are really bad; and how B2B could easily be improved...

A great interview by Markham Hislop in the S.E. Calgary News, about Lynne Butler and her widely publicized book, Protect Your Elderly Parents: Become Your Parents' Guardian or Trustee.

For the full interview and video clip, click here...

Cautious news that the Canadian economy may finally be headed for recovery has many laid-off workers considering their options.

For the legions left holding pink slips in the wake of the economic storm, a severance package could provide start-up capital needed to open a business.

When going the entrepreneurial route, however, the first thing to consider is whether to start from scratch or purchase a franchise.

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The North Shore News just published a great feature story on Tony Wilson and his book Buying a Franchise in Canada.

What are the pros and cons of buying a franchise? Are you better off starting your own business or buying into a franchise? These questions, and more, were tackled in an in-depth interview. Read the full article here! ...

What is a separation agreement?

A separation agreement is a type of contract signed when you and your spouse decide to separate. This contract is intended to lay out the terms of your separation in order to:

• avoid confusion and conflict,
• assist in financial planning, and
• make the separation process simpler and more straightforward.

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Robert Keats, author of The Border Guide was recently interviewed by The Globe & Mail in an article entitled 'Warm vacation wanted - will pay cash'.

Here's an excerpt:

Canadians are still heading south of the border to snap up warm-weather vacation homes, but, unlike other foreign buyers, many snowbirds are

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The National Post published a great interview with Tony Wilson of Buying a Franchise in Canada.

Here's an excerpt:

An increase in first-time franchisees, many of which are laid-off workers who've received a golden handshake in the past year, is causing some experts to warn potential franchisees about exactly what they are getting into.

Franchises aren't buying anything. They're renting the rights to a brand and that contract will expire at some date and, even if the contract is renewed, franchisees could be in for some significant

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Mimi Fix recently appeared on on ABC 7’s NY Viewpoint with Ken Rosato. She talked about what it takes to start your own food business and her humble beginnings as an unemployed, single mother trying to run a business. She also gives tips and advice on how to start your own food business.

Click the link to open a new window and view the full NY Viewpoint interview on how to start your food business.

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In my last article, I discussed how using silly clichés and the like in the face of a recession and shrinking sales is … well … silly. I also said you need to recognize the recession exists and then start doing something about it.

I went through this myself. I noticed this past spring that my contacts from my website were dwindling. Since my contacts are the lifeblood of my business (generally, every client I get and writing project I do starts with a contact from my website), I knew something had to change.

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All business owners have one thing in common: We need customers!

Unfortunately, it costs money to get them into your store, money that most of us just don’t have to blow. Advertising is expensive, and most of the time we can’t even tell if it worked! Did we just blow thousands of dollars on a coupon pack that no one will read? Will anyone call about the ad I put in the newspaper? Are my expensive flyers sitting in someone’s trash can? We’ve all been there. A persuasive salesman comes into our business, paints the rosy picture of phones ringing off the hook and orders coming in faster than we can fill them, and the next thing you know, we’ve just written a large check we can barely afford.

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