Business Success

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10 Ways Small Businesses Can Survive and Rebound From Coronavirus

Now that we are settling into 2021, many businesses and organizations are re-accessing how to survive and prosper this year and beyond. The various changes and challenges of the pandemic have caused many to pivot, become creative and even re-invent ourselves to stay afloat. To add to your survival tool kit, we would like to share this article titled “10 Ways Small Businesses Can Survive and Rebound From Coronavirus”. [ CLICK HERE ]

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Support Small Businesses During This Time of Social Distancing

We are experiencing a time that will go down in the history books. The spread of the coronavirus has caused the need for social distancing, mandated online learning, self-quarantine and entire city lock downs. While larger businesses and corporations are in the position to absorb the financial hit, small businesses, entrepreneurs and non-profit organizations have to be creative to in order stay open and re-invent the way they do business.

Listed below are some of our clients at Sirius Web Solutions that we want to bring your attention to. If you are able to, please support these businesses and organizations in any way you can (i.e. become a customer, share this list with others, make a donation, etc).

Authors & Books


Blogs & News


Body & Hair Products


Clothing, Fashion & Jewelry


Business Opportunities & Executive Coaching


Education & Tutoring


Dance


Food and Beverage


Health & Wellness


Legal Services


Marketing & Promotion Agencies


Motivational Speaking & Inspiration


Museums, Historic & Cultural Preservation


Music


Non-Profit Organizations


 Religion and Spirituality

Sirius Shout Out to Our Clients

Sirius Shout Out to Our Clients

We would like to give a shout out to our clients because they are a part of the Sirius Family. Their Success is Our Success. During this time of year people like to give gifts, share special moments and give back to their community. In doing so, please take a moment to view what some of our clients have to offer and help keep the dollars circulating within our local communities.

 

Books/Good Reads

 

Unique Gift Items

 

Give Back (Support Non-Profit Organizations)

 

Health & Wellness

 

Business Services & Coaching

 

Cultural Preservation & Historic Tours

 

Music, Entertainment Management & Radio

 

Other

Building a Web Site on a Budget

Building a Web Site on a Budget

In today’s business world, having a web site is mandatory. It is your virtual business card and brochure that can help attract and retain more customers. For new or small business owners the thought of investing in a web site can be a little overwhelming as there is a misconception that it will be a huge expense. Well let’s pull the curtain back on this misconception, because you can build a web site on a budget. If you’re just starting out, a simple landing page that lists your business name, services or products offered, and contact information will suffice. Adding a photos will also help brighten up your landing page and break up the text. A landing page will, at the very least, give you a web presence and when you’re ready you can expand your landing page into a full web site.

Here are some available options to get your web site built and expand your web presence:

  • Do-it-yourself/Canned Web Site: There are companies that offer do-it-yourself or canned web sites that cater to new business owners or those on a budget. There are also some web hosting companies that offer web site builders that allow you to select a design and enter content. This type of web site is a quick and easy way to have a web presence, but once the business gets “off the ground” it is recommended that you upgrade and invest in a custom-designed web site that is more unique to your business.
    Just as with template web sites, canned sites can be used by multiple people and your creative autonomy is limited. Review the terms and conditions in regards to the domain name and web hosting. In most cases canned web sites cannot be taken to another hosting company and if the account is deactivated, it will disappear. To ensure that you preserve your content, save it in a digital format on your computer for future use.
  • Template Web Site: A template web site is a pre-designed web site where the graphics and overall layout are already in place. These templates can be purchased from various companies and some will configure the template to your specifications for a fee. Please note that these companies may offer 2 different fee structures.
    1. A base price which will allow you to purchase a license to use the template, but it will also be available for others to purchase. In this instance your web site may not be unique and the others who purchased the same template will have a similar web site. An experienced programmer will be able to make enough modifications to give it a more unique “look and feel”.
    2. A buy out price where you purchase all rights to the template and it will not be available for anyone else to buy. This is the more expensive option which can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars.

    In order to configure or add your own content (i.e. text, photos, graphics, forms, etc.) to a template, programming and graphics design knowledge is necessary. In some cases a web design firm will create your web site based on a template for less than the cost to create a custom-designed site. Be mindful that there are some firms that charge custom-designed prices for a template site, so always ask before entering into a contractual agreement.

  • Custom-designed Web Site: Even though the word “custom-designed” is equated with the word “expensive”, it doesn’t have to be if you do the proper research. Many small to mid-size web design firms offer low-cost, starter web sites. These web sites usually include 3 to 5 standard pages (e.g. Home, About, Products, Services, Contact, etc.) in order to provide general information about your business. Some packages may even come with a free domain name (for one year or more) and low-cost web hosting. Remember to thoroughly review the contract details to ensure that you maintain ownership of your web site and/or domain name.

(Excerpt from chapter one of E-Business Success: Using Technology to Take Your Business to the Next Level)

[ CLICK HERE to learn more about our Web Site Design Services ]

Family - Business Balance Tips

Family – Business Balance Tips

When starting or maintaining a business, a support system is fundamental.  This support system can come in the form of other business colleagues, friends, and especially family.  In life our families are our first support system, whether they are related by blood or adopted/community family.  This support system serves as a foundation upon which you can stand in times of triumph and challenges.  In the business world you can expect more or less of both.  Their support can be displayed emotionally, financially, through their physical involvement in the business, respecting the space and time you need to focus on your business, referring people to your business, etc.  Just as each family structure varies, so can the type of support you can receive and this support is essential in creating a good family-business balance.  Those who have all of these aspects in place are in a good position, but this is not everyone’s reality.  For those who have to build this support system and create a sense of balance from the ground up, patience and diligence is necessary.

Here are a few tips on how to begin this process:

  • Clearly State Your Mission and Goals for the Business
  • Create a Schedule for Business Tasks
  • Set Aside Clearly Defined Times for Family/Leisure Time and Business
  • Have a Separation of Work Space and Living Space (This is especially important for those that have home based businesses.)
  • Inform or Include Family in Important Decisions or News

Find these and other important tips in E-Business Success:Using Technology to Take Your Business to the Next Level.