If I had to guess where most of Walmart’s money comes from, I would say it comes from the people who shop at Walmart everyday or at least a few times a week. These people, generally aren’t people who are going to Walmart because they saw an advertisement or commercial. They shop at Walmart because they are existing customers who like the products and the prices.

Let’s take that Walmart example and apply it to your business. Are you making steady sales like Walmart or are you getting sales few and far between? Are you sitting at your computer or phone, waiting for a new order? If your sales are not steady, it is probably because you either focus more on new customers than old customers or you do not interact with your existing customers as well as you should.

If you want to build your business, you need a steady flow of traffic and the majority of that traffic should come from existing customers that continue to want what you are selling. The reason why you want return visits as opposed to new visits is simple, you don’t have to pay to marketing costs to find your old customers because you already have them. Client Retention is actually something I learned from entrepreneur and marketing expert, Richelle Shaw. As Richelle points out in her Recession Proof Your Business Plan, by focusing on existing customers you reduce your marketing costs and increase the revenue you generate from return sales.

If you are an internet entrepreneur like me, the best tool that you can use to build and track your list of customers is an email marketing solution. It’s funny how times change; email marketing has gotten a bad rap for years, because most entrepreneurs did it the wrong way. They sold lists, bought lists, and randomly sold to anyone with an email address, which created the SPAM epidemic that we all hate. I hated statistics in high school, which is why I never saw the value in buying huge lists and thinking there was a high probability that I would get a few good leads. While some entrepreneurs were losing money because they opted to buy lists, others figured out how to use email marketing as an effective tool. If you create a list from scratch, with your existing happy customers and interested potential customers, you will essentially create a list of people who you know will open your emails and buy what you are selling.

Don’t you think it’s better to have a list of 500 loyal customers than a list of 50,000 strangers who don’t care about what you are selling? I believe that the key to effective email marking is as follows:

1. Build Your List from Scratch
2. More People Isn’t Necessarily Better: Don’t Add People Who Don’t Opt into Yourself
3. Don’t Buy Lists in the hope of getting Fast Leads
4. Don’t try to Sell to Your List every day or all the time
5. Don’t devalue your list buy selling them things they don’t want

If you are interested in building your list via an email marketing solution, I recommend using iContact. You can read my review about iContact if you want.

If you have a list or you’re starting a list and want to learn how to make it grow, take my Email Marketing Online Course. When you sign up for the course I will teach you all my email marketing tricks. Find out how I built my business by building my lists, so that you can do the same thing too. I give you practical solutions to getting people to join your list, open your emails, and do what you want them to do. Click here for more details about the Web Tech Gurl Email Marketing Course.

Discover the Power of List Building

Click here to Download: Internet Marketing Power

eBundle Includes:
(1) Internet Marketing Power eBook
(2) Plan to Profit Blueprint to Online Marketing Success eBook
(3) Turning Clicks into Cash Free Report
(4) Links to 5 Internet Marketing How-to Videos
(5) Bonus: This eBook is $24.95, here is a $5 Discount Code: IM5TRICKS

If I had to guess where most of Walmart’s money comes from, I would say it comes from the people who shop at Walmart everyday or at least a few times a week. These people, generally aren’t people who are going to Walmart because they saw an advertisement or commercial. They shop at Walmart because they are existing customers who like the products and the prices.

Let’s take that Walmart example and apply it to your business. Are you making steady sales like Walmart or are you getting sales few and far between? Are you sitting at your computer or phone, waiting for a new order? If your sales are not steady, it is probably because you either focus more on new customers than old customers or you do not interact with your existing customers as well as you should.

If you want to build your business, you need a steady flow of traffic and the majority of that traffic should come from existing customers that continue to want what you are selling. The reason why you want return visits as opposed to new visits is simple, you don’t have to pay to marketing costs to find your old customers because you already have them. Client Retention is actually something I learned from entrepreneur and marketing expert, Richelle Shaw. As Richelle points out in her Recession Proof Your Business Plan, by focusing on existing customers you reduce your marketing costs and increase the revenue you generate from return sales.

If you are an internet entrepreneur like me, the best tool that you can use to build and track your list of customers is an email marketing solution. It’s funny how times change; email marketing has gotten a bad rap for years, because most entrepreneurs did it the wrong way. They sold lists, bought lists, and randomly sold to anyone with an email address, which created the SPAM epidemic that we all hate. I hated statistics in high school, which is why I never saw the value in buying huge lists and thinking there was a high probability that I would get a few good leads. While some entrepreneurs were losing money because they opted to buy lists, others figured out how to use email marketing as an effective tool. If you create a list from scratch, with your existing happy customers and interested potential customers, you will essentially create a list of people who you know will open your emails and buy what you are selling.

Don’t you think it’s better to have a list of 500 loyal customers than a list of 50,000 strangers who don’t care about what you are selling? I believe that the key to effective email marking is as follows:

1. Build Your List from Scratch
2. More People Isn’t Necessarily Better: Don’t Add People Who Don’t Opt into Yourself
3. Don’t Buy Lists in the hope of getting Fast Leads
4. Don’t try to Sell to Your List every day or all the time
5. Don’t devalue your list buy selling them things they don’t want

If you are interested in building your list via an email marketing solution, I recommend using iContact. You can read my review about iContact if you want.

If you have a list or you’re starting a list and want to learn how to make it grow, take my Email Marketing Online Course. When you sign up for the course I will teach you all my email marketing tricks. Find out how I built my business by building my lists, so that you can do the same thing too. I give you practical solutions to getting people to join your list, open your emails, and do what you want them to do. Click here for more details about the Web Tech Gurl Email Marketing Course.

Discover the Power of List Building

Click here to Download: Internet Marketing Power

eBundle Includes:
(1) Internet Marketing Power eBook
(2) Plan to Profit Blueprint to Online Marketing Success eBook
(3) Turning Clicks into Cash Free Report
(4) Links to 5 Internet Marketing How-to Videos
(5) Bonus: This eBook is $24.95, here is a $5 Discount Code: IM5TRICKS

I am in the final stages of my best web designs to date for a client, Sweet Plum™ collections, an afro-positive line of apparel, jewelry and home décor products featuring cute animated characters of African American Children. This is one of my last web projects for a while, my plate is just way too full!

I just completed several e-book projects: Internet Marketing The Big 5, Black Women Online, The Web Entrepreneurs Back Pack, The Guide to Making Money Online, and Work and Web Women. You can now view all my web entrepreneur secrets all in one place.

I also am in the middle of designing the Work and Web Women website along with the Black Women Network Site. My Niche is women entrepreneurs, particularly those of color, so I am always working on these sites.

I had a GREAT time co-hosting Black Business Women Online’s first teleconference, ‘Make Those Millions with Richelle Shaw. The listener’s loved this one, it was power packed full of great business advice from multi-million dollar mompreneur Richelle Shaw. You can actually listen to it again on the BBWO Network, I will be posting the audio this week.

I’ve been sharing a few mocha mom stories and black love advice on my social network the Black Moms Club which now has over 1500 members. My social network for professional black women is close to 4,000 members, and I am happy to see how much both spaces have grown.

I am finally getting into the business coaching world. With eight years of web experience I have alot of web tips to share. I just launched the Web Newbie Know How Network for entrepreneurs interested in improving their web skills and I have a new coaching course with Richelle Shaw to be announced shortly.

I am still burning the midnight oil working on banner design projects. I am always available to create custom web banners.

I’ve been adding new black businesses to the Black Girl Click Ad Network, which is steadily growing and gaining more exposure for black businesses online.

I’ve been trying to get more twitter-licous as twittering is a must in today’s web 2.0 world!

I’ve been doing more interviews, like the one I did about building a web business for Sister Speak Magazine.

And at the end of the day I’ve been trying to pry myself away from this crazy computer so that I can spend more time with my hubby, my mom, and my son who is going to be 2 in November! *Sigh* This web lady has been very busy, but hopefully I will always be right here.

Writer: LHenry creator of the SistaSense eBussines Blog, a series of Web Business Howto Guides, BBWO Network for Professional Black Women and the Web Newbie Know How Coaching Program.

I am in the final stages of my best web designs to date for a client, Sweet Plum™ collections, an afro-positive line of apparel, jewelry and home décor products featuring cute animated characters of African American Children. This is one of my last web projects for a while, my plate is just way too full!

I just completed several e-book projects: Internet Marketing The Big 5, Black Women Online, The Web Entrepreneurs Back Pack, The Guide to Making Money Online, and Work and Web Women. You can now view all my web entrepreneur secrets all in one place.

I also am in the middle of designing the Work and Web Women website along with the Black Women Network Site. My Niche is women entrepreneurs, particularly those of color, so I am always working on these sites.

I had a GREAT time co-hosting Black Business Women Online’s first teleconference, ‘Make Those Millions with Richelle Shaw. The listener’s loved this one, it was power packed full of great business advice from multi-million dollar mompreneur Richelle Shaw. You can actually listen to it again on the BBWO Network, I will be posting the audio this week.

I’ve been sharing a few mocha mom stories and black love advice on my social network the Black Moms Club which now has over 1500 members. My social network for professional black women is close to 4,000 members, and I am happy to see how much both spaces have grown.

I am finally getting into the business coaching world. With eight years of web experience I have alot of web tips to share. I just launched the Web Newbie Know How Network for entrepreneurs interested in improving their web skills and I have a new coaching course with Richelle Shaw to be announced shortly.

I am still burning the midnight oil working on banner design projects. I am always available to create custom web banners.

I’ve been adding new black businesses to the Black Girl Click Ad Network, which is steadily growing and gaining more exposure for black businesses online.

I’ve been trying to get more twitter-licous as twittering is a must in today’s web 2.0 world!

I’ve been doing more interviews, like the one I did about building a web business for Sister Speak Magazine.

And at the end of the day I’ve been trying to pry myself away from this crazy computer so that I can spend more time with my hubby, my mom, and my son who is going to be 2 in November! *Sigh* This web lady has been very busy, but hopefully I will always be right here.

Writer: LHenry creator of the SistaSense eBussines Blog, a series of Web Business Howto Guides, BBWO Network for Professional Black Women and the Web Newbie Know How Coaching Program.

I know, you might be asking yourself what is all this crazy talk about fish and ponds. Underneath the fish talk what I am really trying to say is that I became a successful entrepreneur by my own standards when I created my own market and in essence, built my own pond. As an entrepreneur functioning as a very very small business, I often felt like I was always limited by my small size and budget. I couldn’t afford to get the premium advertising like the big boys. I couldn’t afford the marketing consultants and PR reps, but what I could afford was to spend all my time and brain power trying to figure out a solution that worked for me.

The solution that worked best for me is one that can work for you too. If you want to find your own pond of success you have to make your own market. When I say this I mean that you have to create your own pool of web viewers and readers who are interested in what you have to say and want to sell. As a space that you create, it becomes a space that you can dominate. You will have your own following, you can set prices, and you can send out promotions and make profit without ever having to compete with big fish or work by their standards. You can essentially create your own success story without trying to desperately duplicate someone else’s success, which is what so many entrepreneurs try to do.

I can honestly say that this strategy works because it continues to work for me and many other successful web entrepreneurs. Having spent years cultivating my market, I now spend little to know money on internet marketing. There is no need to spend half your budget to advertise on other people’s sites when you already have access to your target audience. Granted, you will have to pay or continue to promote, on some level, which is something I talk about in my internet marketing guide. However, you don’t have to be completely dependent on the sites and services others to make your business grow.

I’m sure by now you should already be thinking that I mailing list is a good idea. It is actually one of the best tools a web entrepreneur has when attempting to make his or her own market. However keep in mind that a mailing list is just the beginning and it’s not everything. If you don’t have a mailing list form on your site, why not? If you do have one, how are you using it? Are you tapping into its full potential? And whether you have one are not, are you aware of the other ways in which you can make your market grow? To these questions I have several answers that I would like to share with you. If you would like to learn them, visit my page on ‘Making your Market Grow’.

Writer: LHenry creator of the SistaSense eBussines Blog, a series of Web Business Howto Guides, BBWO Network for Professional Black Women and the Web Newbie Know How Coaching Program.

I know, you might be asking yourself what is all this crazy talk about fish and ponds. Underneath the fish talk what I am really trying to say is that I became a successful entrepreneur by my own standards when I created my own market and in essence, built my own pond. As an entrepreneur functioning as a very very small business, I often felt like I was always limited by my small size and budget. I couldn’t afford to get the premium advertising like the big boys. I couldn’t afford the marketing consultants and PR reps, but what I could afford was to spend all my time and brain power trying to figure out a solution that worked for me.

The solution that worked best for me is one that can work for you too. If you want to find your own pond of success you have to make your own market. When I say this I mean that you have to create your own pool of web viewers and readers who are interested in what you have to say and want to sell. As a space that you create, it becomes a space that you can dominate. You will have your own following, you can set prices, and you can send out promotions and make profit without ever having to compete with big fish or work by their standards. You can essentially create your own success story without trying to desperately duplicate someone else’s success, which is what so many entrepreneurs try to do.

I can honestly say that this strategy works because it continues to work for me and many other successful web entrepreneurs. Having spent years cultivating my market, I now spend little to know money on internet marketing. There is no need to spend half your budget to advertise on other people’s sites when you already have access to your target audience. Granted, you will have to pay or continue to promote, on some level, which is something I talk about in my internet marketing guide. However, you don’t have to be completely dependent on the sites and services others to make your business grow.

I’m sure by now you should already be thinking that I mailing list is a good idea. It is actually one of the best tools a web entrepreneur has when attempting to make his or her own market. However keep in mind that a mailing list is just the beginning and it’s not everything. If you don’t have a mailing list form on your site, why not? If you do have one, how are you using it? Are you tapping into its full potential? And whether you have one are not, are you aware of the other ways in which you can make your market grow? To these questions I have several answers that I would like to share with you. If you would like to learn them, visit my page on ‘Making your Market Grow’.

Writer: LHenry creator of the SistaSense eBussines Blog, a series of Web Business Howto Guides, BBWO Network for Professional Black Women and the Web Newbie Know How Coaching Program.

Ning is an online service designed to help you create, customize, and share a social network. Though it is both easy and free for anyone to create their own ning network, I’ve noticed that many people have questions about using ning, adding features, and effectively building their own social networking communities. Having built two ning networks, with over a thousand members on each, I decided to create this guide as a way to share what I have learned and answer some of the most common questions about creating a network on ning.

When I created my first ning network almost a year ago, I had no idea how it would change my life. My online business has grown, my websites generate more traffic, my ad sales have increased, and I’ve met so many interesting people who enjoy doing the same things I like to do. These spaces are a reflection of who I am, as I am sure your network will be a reflection of your interests and activities.

To help you build your own space on ning, I have decided to discuss the following topics: Please note that each topic is scheduled to post on this blog daily for the next several days starting June 9, 2008. Some links might not work just yet, as they are scheduled to post throughout the Month of June. So check back regularly to see what posts have been activated, or download the eBook to read the complete guide now.

• What is Ning.com?
• Why Create a Ning Network?
• Setting up Your Ning Network
• Adding Cool Features to Your Ning Network
• The Benefits of Creating a Private Network
• Creating a Ning Network that People Love
• How to Promote Your Ning Network
• Creating a Ning Network with Active Members
• Making Money from Your Ning Network
• Monitoring Your Networks Growth
• My Top 5 Favorite Ning How-to Articles
• Need Help With Your Ning Network?
• What’s your Ning Network?

My Most Popular Networks are:

Black Business Women Online
A Network for Women of Color In Business
Over 2300 Members as of June 2008
http://sistapreneurs.ning.com

Black Moms Club
A Network for Mothers of Color and Single Parents
Over 1100 Members as of June 2008
http://blackmomsclub.ning.com

If you like this guide you might also like my other eBook: Turn Your Niche Into a Network

This post is a part of my blog series / eBook ‘Create Your Own Ningalicious Network‘. You can read most of the Chapters of this eGuide on the SistaSense blog. To get the complete guide, with tips not featured on the blog, download your own copy here.

Ning is an online service designed to help you create, customize, and share a social network. Though it is both easy and free for anyone to create their own ning network, I’ve noticed that many people have questions about using ning, adding features, and effectively building their own social networking communities. Having built two ning networks, with over a thousand members on each, I decided to create this guide as a way to share what I have learned and answer some of the most common questions about creating a network on ning.

When I created my first ning network almost a year ago, I had no idea how it would change my life. My online business has grown, my websites generate more traffic, my ad sales have increased, and I’ve met so many interesting people who enjoy doing the same things I like to do. These spaces are a reflection of who I am, as I am sure your network will be a reflection of your interests and activities.

To help you build your own space on ning, I have decided to discuss the following topics: Please note that each topic is scheduled to post on this blog daily for the next several days starting June 9, 2008. Some links might not work just yet, as they are scheduled to post throughout the Month of June. So check back regularly to see what posts have been activated, or download the eBook to read the complete guide now.

• What is Ning.com?
• Why Create a Ning Network?
• Setting up Your Ning Network
• Adding Cool Features to Your Ning Network
• The Benefits of Creating a Private Network
• Creating a Ning Network that People Love
• How to Promote Your Ning Network
• Creating a Ning Network with Active Members
• Making Money from Your Ning Network
• Monitoring Your Networks Growth
• My Top 5 Favorite Ning How-to Articles
• Need Help With Your Ning Network?
• What’s your Ning Network?

My Most Popular Networks are:

Black Business Women Online
A Network for Women of Color In Business
Over 2300 Members as of June 2008
http://sistapreneurs.ning.com

Black Moms Club
A Network for Mothers of Color and Single Parents
Over 1100 Members as of June 2008
http://blackmomsclub.ning.com

If you like this guide you might also like my other eBook: Turn Your Niche Into a Network

This post is a part of my blog series / eBook ‘Create Your Own Ningalicious Network‘. You can read most of the Chapters of this eGuide on the SistaSense blog. To get the complete guide, with tips not featured on the blog, download your own copy here.

URL: www.clutchmagonline.com

Deanna “Dede” Sutton’s Bio:
Deanna Sutton is the founder and creative/editorial director of Sutton Media. Sutton Media is the publisher of Clutch Magazine and Brown Fashionista. Since its relaunch last April, Clutch Magazine has become one of the leading online magazines for multicultural women ages 18-34. With a passion for all things social media, Deanna recognizes the power and opportunity that the new media platform presents. At Sutton Media, Deanna is responsible for business development, marketing initiatives, and editorial and creative direction. Prior to launching Sutton Media, Deanna worked as an integrated marketing professional where she assisted in media relations, account management and other client activities. Some of her accounts included Sara Lee, Kroger, Starbucks, Wal-Mart, and Philips Consumer Electronics.

Successful Sista Survey
Success Stories and experiences of Business Women that we all can relate to and learn from.

Did you always want to be a Business Woman?
Business woman…Yes. Business owner…No. I always thought I wanted to work in a top marketing/pr agency handling big accounts and when I finally reached that goal I realized it was not what I wanted at all. I am a very creative person, so in the corporate world I felt I wasn’t getting my creativity or ideas out. Also, I am somewhat of a nerd and I always over research and dabble in all types of industries, so many times in my career I felt there were individuals over me that didn’t have the knowledge and know how that I had and that was very frustrating. I hated being locked in a title, especially when you are and know so much more.

How would you describe your experience as a Black Entrepreneur?
I would say great! Mainly, because I come from a family of entrepreneurs. All my life my Mother and Father owned real estate and contracting business on top of working full time for GM. So, I always witnessed them working hard and I think that rubbed off on me. Don’t get it twisted this is the hardest job I ever had, but I have a plan and I plan on seeing it out to the end.

Looking back on your business decisions, is there anything that you would have done differently?
Well when Clutch first started as a print magazine I was 22 — so there were probably a couple, but I must say I researched and planned out Clutch for two years before I made any moves and that is one of the smartest things I have ever did. When I decided to relaunch Clutch as a online magazine a couple years later, I took two more years to research and learn the online game before jumping back in.

Did you have any formal business training? Do you think this is important to be successful?
If you mean by “formal” being college educated (B.S. in Marketing) – Yes. Honestly, I’m split on this, mainly due to me believing with God anybody can be successful, but I will say my education provided a blueprint to my current and future success. If you have no knowledge of all the aspects of business it can be very hard. You must understand everything that goes into running a business, if you don’t you will get stuck and getting stuck for lots of people means the end.

What funding sources have worked for you?
I will say that I am very blessed to have a very supportive family. Also, I worked in corporate America until I got to a point where I could be able to do Clutch full-time. I went out on faith and I was rewarded.

I do want to mention, that new entrepreneurs should be very realistic when going into business. I remember when I first started I was stuck on the idea that a Venture Capitalist or an Angel Investor was going to scoop in and fund me and as we all know that rarely happens. Also, I was hearing about business loan this and grant that….that turned out to be untrue in my case.

I think entrepreneurs should have a growing business that is already functioning before approaching anyone for funding. It seems like lots of people think “oh…let me get a business plan and I should be able to get something”….no…that rarely happens. You need to depend on you and your product and build it and if it’s good and serves an untapped niche or thirst then somebody will notice.

How has family/friend support financially or otherwise affected your business efforts?
It’s been all positive. My family supported me financially for the first 3-4 months of business. But, I saved up for years before relaunching Clutch. My family and friends know how hard I work on Clutch and my other upcoming projects and I couldn’t ask for a better support system. But, for those without a support system – I say keep it moving – do not let others stop you for what you feel you are chosen to do. Point. Blank. Period.

How do you work on making your business grow?
I am a social media junkie, as well as a seasoned Marketing/PR executive, so being able to execute tools from both definitely help.

What words of wisdom can you share with other business women?
I have a few….

– Be Smart. Please research for at least 6 months before starting a business. In that 6 months, read up on the industry, learn your target inside and out, execute surveys, put together some type of business plan and marketing plan (online and offline) before you move forward. Also, you don’t need to pay thousands of dollars for a business plan or marketing plan — check out sites like www.bplans.com and mplans.com and look at their sample plans to get an idea of what you need to know and understand.

– Get a mentor. I am blessed to have very successful mentors from lots of backgrounds that serve as advisors and friends. They always listen to my problems and help me come to a smart solution. They also guide me in business decisions and are constantly grooming me for the big leagues. When looking for a mentor please make sure they have some type of knowledge in the field of business you are pursing. You can also check out www.score.org for potential mentors.

– Don’t concentrate so much on the identity of your business. One of my biggest pet peeves is when someone who wants to start a business focuses so much on logos/business cards for their company. Yes, a logo is important, but concentrate on learning and researching your business before worrying or spending money to get a logo produced. It’s not smart and most of the time, you will end up changing the name once of twice – hence waisting money and time.

- Be original. Don’t copy – be original… be you! Don’t copy another entrepreneurs style, bring something new to the table — it will be rewarded and appreciated.

- If you are a online business….you must understand Social Media and Marketing. It’s a must. Trends in social media, advertising, design, SEO, are all required to know if you are going to be successful.

- Network and attend business seminars and local funding meetups. Networking is very important, but you must make sure you are in the right networking circle. Also, attend VC and Angel meetups – it’s a big eye opener on how funding works and what investors look for in an entrepreneur/company. Note: Many VC’s and Angels will tell you they do not fund companies that are not located in their local area*

– Know that success that doesn’t come easy or fast, it can take years before your desired success comes to fruition.

– Believe in yourself. If you don’t..nobody else will.

URL: www.clutchmagonline.com

Deanna “Dede” Sutton’s Bio:
Deanna Sutton is the founder and creative/editorial director of Sutton Media. Sutton Media is the publisher of Clutch Magazine and Brown Fashionista. Since its relaunch last April, Clutch Magazine has become one of the leading online magazines for multicultural women ages 18-34. With a passion for all things social media, Deanna recognizes the power and opportunity that the new media platform presents. At Sutton Media, Deanna is responsible for business development, marketing initiatives, and editorial and creative direction. Prior to launching Sutton Media, Deanna worked as an integrated marketing professional where she assisted in media relations, account management and other client activities. Some of her accounts included Sara Lee, Kroger, Starbucks, Wal-Mart, and Philips Consumer Electronics.

Successful Sista Survey
Success Stories and experiences of Business Women that we all can relate to and learn from.

Did you always want to be a Business Woman?
Business woman…Yes. Business owner…No. I always thought I wanted to work in a top marketing/pr agency handling big accounts and when I finally reached that goal I realized it was not what I wanted at all. I am a very creative person, so in the corporate world I felt I wasn’t getting my creativity or ideas out. Also, I am somewhat of a nerd and I always over research and dabble in all types of industries, so many times in my career I felt there were individuals over me that didn’t have the knowledge and know how that I had and that was very frustrating. I hated being locked in a title, especially when you are and know so much more.

How would you describe your experience as a Black Entrepreneur?
I would say great! Mainly, because I come from a family of entrepreneurs. All my life my Mother and Father owned real estate and contracting business on top of working full time for GM. So, I always witnessed them working hard and I think that rubbed off on me. Don’t get it twisted this is the hardest job I ever had, but I have a plan and I plan on seeing it out to the end.

Looking back on your business decisions, is there anything that you would have done differently?
Well when Clutch first started as a print magazine I was 22 — so there were probably a couple, but I must say I researched and planned out Clutch for two years before I made any moves and that is one of the smartest things I have ever did. When I decided to relaunch Clutch as a online magazine a couple years later, I took two more years to research and learn the online game before jumping back in.

Did you have any formal business training? Do you think this is important to be successful?
If you mean by “formal” being college educated (B.S. in Marketing) – Yes. Honestly, I’m split on this, mainly due to me believing with God anybody can be successful, but I will say my education provided a blueprint to my current and future success. If you have no knowledge of all the aspects of business it can be very hard. You must understand everything that goes into running a business, if you don’t you will get stuck and getting stuck for lots of people means the end.

What funding sources have worked for you?
I will say that I am very blessed to have a very supportive family. Also, I worked in corporate America until I got to a point where I could be able to do Clutch full-time. I went out on faith and I was rewarded.

I do want to mention, that new entrepreneurs should be very realistic when going into business. I remember when I first started I was stuck on the idea that a Venture Capitalist or an Angel Investor was going to scoop in and fund me and as we all know that rarely happens. Also, I was hearing about business loan this and grant that….that turned out to be untrue in my case.

I think entrepreneurs should have a growing business that is already functioning before approaching anyone for funding. It seems like lots of people think “oh…let me get a business plan and I should be able to get something”….no…that rarely happens. You need to depend on you and your product and build it and if it’s good and serves an untapped niche or thirst then somebody will notice.

How has family/friend support financially or otherwise affected your business efforts?
It’s been all positive. My family supported me financially for the first 3-4 months of business. But, I saved up for years before relaunching Clutch. My family and friends know how hard I work on Clutch and my other upcoming projects and I couldn’t ask for a better support system. But, for those without a support system – I say keep it moving – do not let others stop you for what you feel you are chosen to do. Point. Blank. Period.

How do you work on making your business grow?
I am a social media junkie, as well as a seasoned Marketing/PR executive, so being able to execute tools from both definitely help.

What words of wisdom can you share with other business women?
I have a few….

– Be Smart. Please research for at least 6 months before starting a business. In that 6 months, read up on the industry, learn your target inside and out, execute surveys, put together some type of business plan and marketing plan (online and offline) before you move forward. Also, you don’t need to pay thousands of dollars for a business plan or marketing plan — check out sites like www.bplans.com and mplans.com and look at their sample plans to get an idea of what you need to know and understand.

– Get a mentor. I am blessed to have very successful mentors from lots of backgrounds that serve as advisors and friends. They always listen to my problems and help me come to a smart solution. They also guide me in business decisions and are constantly grooming me for the big leagues. When looking for a mentor please make sure they have some type of knowledge in the field of business you are pursing. You can also check out www.score.org for potential mentors.

– Don’t concentrate so much on the identity of your business. One of my biggest pet peeves is when someone who wants to start a business focuses so much on logos/business cards for their company. Yes, a logo is important, but concentrate on learning and researching your business before worrying or spending money to get a logo produced. It’s not smart and most of the time, you will end up changing the name once of twice – hence waisting money and time.

- Be original. Don’t copy – be original… be you! Don’t copy another entrepreneurs style, bring something new to the table — it will be rewarded and appreciated.

- If you are a online business….you must understand Social Media and Marketing. It’s a must. Trends in social media, advertising, design, SEO, are all required to know if you are going to be successful.

- Network and attend business seminars and local funding meetups. Networking is very important, but you must make sure you are in the right networking circle. Also, attend VC and Angel meetups – it’s a big eye opener on how funding works and what investors look for in an entrepreneur/company. Note: Many VC’s and Angels will tell you they do not fund companies that are not located in their local area*

– Know that success that doesn’t come easy or fast, it can take years before your desired success comes to fruition.

– Believe in yourself. If you don’t..nobody else will.