![Closing the Deal: Building a Business that Generates Income](http://storybistro.com/wp-content/uploads/zeus-exp-logo.jpg)
Working with Marketing Professionals
![Closing the Deal: Building a Business that Generates Income](http://storybistro.com/wp-content/uploads/zeus-exp-logo.jpg)
![Don’t Read the Instruction Manual: It’s Time to Improvise](http://storybistro.com/wp-content/uploads/Depositphotos_7180357_S.jpg)
Don’t Read the Instruction Manual: It’s Time to Improvise
Growing up in a Mormon family, I was encouraged to learn things that would develop me into the perfect wife and homemaker. How to make jam. How to sew. How to play with barbies. You know, girly things. And there were always lots of instructions for these things. A...![Can You Fail-proof Your Business?](http://storybistro.com/wp-content/uploads/failproof.jpg)
Can You Fail-proof Your Business?
(Hint: Not Bloody Likely) You’ve all heard Ben Franklin’s infamous quote: “…in the world nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes.” Yes, we’ve got a slew of new technology now, but unless there’s a magic spell...![Am I Doing My Marketing Right?](http://storybistro.com/wp-content/uploads/am-I-marketing-right1.png)
Am I Doing My Marketing Right?
I’m currently conducting a 13-week teaching/gamification experiment called “Prosperity’s Kitchen.” It’s an online class for solopreneurs to learn the ins and outs of marketing themselves in the digital world. The twist? It’s...![When You Just Need to Get ‘Er Done! Employees vs. Independent Contractors](http://storybistro.com/wp-content/uploads/screaming-woman.jpg)
When You Just Need to Get ‘Er Done! Employees vs. Independent Contractors
You’re at the crossroads. (And I totally feel your pain.) We both know there aren’t enough minutes in the day to finish up all that work on your plate. Clients are trying to track you down. And the emails and phone calls are coming in faster than you can...![Marketing: It’s Not What You Think (and, Why Knowing the Truth Matters)](http://storybistro.com/wp-content/uploads/orange-kiwi.jpg)
Marketing: It’s Not What You Think (and, Why Knowing the Truth Matters)
During our mentoring wrap-up call last week, I asked Zeus for some feedback. I wanted to know what I might’ve done better or differently during our time together — something that could’ve possibly made a bigger difference to him and his marketing...![Spinning Your Plates: How to Find Balance and Order](http://storybistro.com/wp-content/uploads/plate-spinning.jpg)
Spinning Your Plates: How to Find Balance and Order
A guest post by Zeus Yiamouyiannis. For those of you just tuning in, this is the latest in a series of posts for The Zeus Experiment, whereby I chronicle my learning curve and ups and downs in developing my own successful online business. Tea Silvestre is my mentor in...![We’re All Guinea Pigs Now: Life and Business as Continual Experiments](http://storybistro.com/wp-content/uploads/zeus-exp-logo.jpg)
We’re All Guinea Pigs Now: Life and Business as Continual Experiments
A guest post by Zeus Yiamouyiannis. What if, underneath it all, your carefully planned and wished-for life was nothing more than an adventurous experiment? Would that free you or strike terror into your heart? What if you were both the guinea pig and the dude in the...![Game-Changers Wanted: I Need Your Advice](http://storybistro.com/wp-content/uploads/cherry-proposal.jpg)
Game-Changers Wanted: I Need Your Advice
Note: Recently, I published a post about blowing things up. That post literally got more comments than any other post I’ve ever received on this site. Clearly, I’m not the only one frustrated by the system as it exists. I’ve been getting a lot of...![The Un-Sexy Side of Internet Marketing](http://storybistro.com/wp-content/uploads/sexy-chicken.jpg)
The Un-Sexy Side of Internet Marketing
These days, most of us would agree that in order to do business and market ourselves properly, you need a website. A digital space that belongs just to you. (Not to Facebook, or Tumblr or even WordPress.com — for reasons that my friend Annie so beautifully...![On Teaching: An Interview with Jennifer Louden](http://storybistro.com/wp-content/uploads/Jen-Louden.jpg)
On Teaching: An Interview with Jennifer Louden
I stumbled on Jen Louden about a year ago, while researching different classes on teaching. I’ve found her credible and genuine and full of heart. She is an “A-lister” who doesn’t take herself too seriously and is always willing to share...![Needs and Desires: How to Use a Focus Group to Uncover the Good Stuff](http://storybistro.com/wp-content/uploads/bigger-better-1.jpg)
Needs and Desires: How to Use a Focus Group to Uncover the Good Stuff
Stuck in research land again? Trying to get inside the mind of your Ideal Client? Maybe you’ve heard about this thing called a “focus group” and you thought, Yeah, that’s what we need to do! Mmmm. Perhaps. A focus group can be helpful. It can...![Social Media is Bullshit: An Interview with the Author, Brandon Mendelson](http://storybistro.com/wp-content/uploads/brandon-mendlson.jpg)
Social Media is Bullshit: An Interview with the Author, Brandon Mendelson
Meet Brandon Mendelson (aka BJ Mendelson), an ex-marketer whose recently published book, “Social Media is Bullshit,” has been getting mostly favorable reviews. (A lot of the flack comes from folks who make a living from social media.) You can listen to the...![How to shovel that hype-driven snow off your business (and reset your goals)](http://storybistro.com/wp-content/uploads/snow-on-fruit.jpg)
How to shovel that hype-driven snow off your business (and reset your goals)
This is a guest post by Zeus. I don’t know about you, but I’ve had enough hot air. I’m ready to breathe deep that cool, invigorating air of reality, and shovel the “snow” off my business. Yes, the pun is intentional (and seasonal!). Anyone who tells you that you just...![How to Find and Hire the Right Marketing Coach](http://storybistro.com/wp-content/uploads/Depositphotos_5268041_M.jpg)
How to Find and Hire the Right Marketing Coach
When you’re a solopreneur, freelancer or small business owner, your marketing budget will naturally be tight. So how do you find the right person to help you reach your goals? I’ve certainly got my opinions on the matter. But I thought I’d ask some...![In Favor of Slow Marketing](http://storybistro.com/wp-content/uploads/slow-lane.jpg)
In Favor of Slow Marketing
Most small biz owners like us usually want things to happen NOW. More customers NOW. More leads, more fans, more followers faster, cheaper, NOW. We live in an instant-gratification society, so a knee-jerk reaction for NOW should come as no surprise. After all, you...![Build Your Brand and Your Business Without Cash (A True Story!)](http://storybistro.com/wp-content/uploads/barter-sign-special.jpg)
Build Your Brand and Your Business Without Cash (A True Story!)
When I first started my consulting practice I used a combination of just three funding sources: savings, credit cards and a little thing called barter. Bartering can be great fun — especially when you find someone who has what you need and who needs what you...![Has Your Brand Reached its Expiration Date?](http://storybistro.com/wp-content/uploads/girl-drinks-milk.jpg)
Has Your Brand Reached its Expiration Date?
(Or, does it just need a little freshening up?) When we start our ventures (if we do things right), we create branding that eventually accomplishes the goal of telling our story in a way that is unique, compelling and builds community. Both the visual and written...![Author Marketing Club: An Interview with the Founder](http://storybistro.com/wp-content/uploads/keynote_jimkukral5.jpg)
Author Marketing Club: An Interview with the Founder
Jim Kukral, the founder of the Author Marketing Club (a great resource I found while marketing my new book) was my guest recently at the Word Café. I’ve pulled the highlights together for you here. Q: What’s the Author Marketing Club about? And why did you...![Your Bank Account is Half-Full Because Your Marketing is Half-Hearted](http://storybistro.com/wp-content/uploads/bigstock-Heart-5021766.jpg)
Your Bank Account is Half-Full Because Your Marketing is Half-Hearted
You have a pretty good understanding of what needs to be done (marketing-wise) in your business. You read all the advice (it’s pretty much the same from blog to blog). You know you need a marketing plan. You know you need to do x-y-z on a regular basis. But...![Warning! May Be Hazardous to Your Business: Heroes, Gurus and Other A-Listers](http://storybistro.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Perfect-A-lister.jpg)
Warning! May Be Hazardous to Your Business: Heroes, Gurus and Other A-Listers
They inspire us, motivate us and yes — sometimes even sell us something. They’re the “successful” biz folks we look up to, admire and want to emulate. “Everybody” loves ’em. Just look at the social proof they proudly display...![Does this Business Make Me Look Like a Fat Failure? (Or, How to Silence That Voice in Your Head)](http://storybistro.com/wp-content/uploads/TeaSilvestre-Apr2013.jpg)
Does this Business Make Me Look Like a Fat Failure? (Or, How to Silence That Voice in Your Head)
How’re you feeling about your business and where it’s headed? Hunky dory? Or just hunky? Is there a nagging voice in the back of your head screaming that your projects will never be Grade-A material? Are you constantly taking one course after another in...![This Week’s Marketing Dish: Spaghetti & Meatballs](http://storybistro.com/wp-content/uploads/Marketing-Dish-Tina.jpg)