Getting the Right Advice
{{stephanie}} Getting advice from professionals for your business can sometimes be scary and overwhelming. Where do I find someone to help me with my marketing? Where can I get a good accountant? These are very common questions for many business owners.
Many people look to their friends, family, and colleagues for referrals and names of professionals that can help you with your business, and personal life alike. How do you know that these recommendations are worth looking into?
Well, the fact is that you don’t. You sometimes spend the money and time giving someone a try. That can be both disheartening and positive. The more bad advice you disqualify, the more time you have to open the door to some good advice. Hopefully…it does not cost you a lot of money along the way.
Some online resources that I have found particularly helpful have been:
LinkedIn: I actually found my financial planner through recommendations from people within my network
Yahoo! Answers: This has been phenomenal on both a personal and professional basis. www.answers.yahoo.com
Facebook: Some people are anti-Facebook but not me. I love Facebook and it is definitely a place where I go to get good information. There are a number of groups and pages with information and advice from others who have experienced a variety of services.
Another great resource online are blogs and forums. You can search just about anything and find a blog or a user forum about it. Before I make large purchasing or contract choices…I take a peak online. Do your due diligence. Decide if the fit is for you.
Also, be weary of all reviews. Don’t just look at one. Look at at least 5! This will give you a good overall picture of the company or product you are looking for.
So, considering all of the information above…every single business should be getting their name out into those spaces also. Get a blog if you don’t have one, participate on other blogs and forums, and get a business profile on Yahoo!, Facebook and Linkedin.
If I am looking for products and services both personally and professionally online…imagine how many others are??
~Steph
June 11th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
Those are good resources, but you still have to believe in a word of mouth referral from someone you trust.
June 12th, 2008 at 1:20 am
I have extensively used Yahoo Answers and I love doing yahoo answers. Help others and they’ll help you out.
June 12th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
That is a big help. I have been looking for a good resource to answer my questions.
June 12th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
hair irons– I agree…word of mouth is great! The best in fact! For me, these resources are an extension of that…especially since the internet is the next place I go for info.
June 16th, 2008 at 8:13 am
I use the same resources to getting advice. I had great success with forums and blogs.
I think too that one of the best advice you can get is from someone you know and trust. That can save you money.
Daniel
June 16th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
I can personally recommend for forums and blogs for a form of marketing that works. If done correctly and not in a bad way otherwise you’ll be banned.
I believe blogs are the best form of information to hit the internet since Myspace. Anyone can have their own blog now and it’s easier than ever.
I agree, finding other internet business owners and making friends is a great idea. Sharing resources and getting those personal recommended also saves you time and just helps you all around.
Kim
June 18th, 2008 at 1:15 am
There are lots of business advice available online that are very helpful. One of the best sources is reading some forums and websites that offers advice and tips on certain business topics.
June 19th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
These are very helpful thank you. I’ve used Yahoo answers and it’s worked great for me.
June 23rd, 2008 at 12:41 am
There are lots of business advice available online that are very helpful. One of the best sources is goung through some forums and websites that offers advice and tips on certain business topics…good post!
June 26th, 2008 at 11:53 am
These are really a good business advice. Thank’s a lot.