What are some ways you can be a better leader?

This is a question many business owners and managers should take time to ask themselves. You may have heard that some individuals are “born leaders,” but most good leaders are molded by education and experience. If you desire to move your business forward, there are some practices you need to implement in your professional life.

Lead by example and show up to work on time

You can expect others to be on time to work, but if you consistently come in late, don’t be too surprised if your employees begin to follow in your footsteps.

With e-commerce booming, every Tom, Dick, and Jane has an e-commerce website, but why have only Tom’s sales increased? It’s probably because Dick and Jane figured they could just ride on the coattails of the industry without putting a second thought into their site.

If you’re thinking about selling products or services online, take after Tom and do your research first. Use analytics and other research tools to find out what your particular users want and give them exactly that. Once you have your data, analyze it and use it to cater your e-commerce site directly to them.

Start by incorporating the tips in these five steps to converting a web surfer into a customer.

Of all the challenges associated with running a successful small business, one of the most difficult demands lies in the development and implementation of marketing strategies that can be shown to actually increase sales and revenue. And with the downward economy forcing more and more businesses to trim their budgets, the ability to effectively manage marketing dollars can mean the difference between failure and success. Here are six smart marketing strategies for small businesses which, if implemented properly, should lead to a healthier bottom line.

1. Hone in on Your Target Market:

There's a saying in business that "1 is the worst number." Having one client, one source of income, one supplier, etc, can cause big problems when something goes wrong because you have no fall back. The same is true with investors - you should never spend all of your time trying to please just one. There is no way to know if the one investor you want to work with most will offer you the best deal, or even pay attention to your proposal at all.