Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

its common to have readers and no posters. Lots of people need that extra little push to get posting, while others are content in just reading.

Hi,

I second the thought - Boomer entrepreneurs speak up!

We haven`t been shy in the past in expressing our point of view on any number of issues. And now I can`t think of too many issues we face that require more thoughtfulness than what we will do in the next stage of our lives.

3 out of 4 of us are telling surveyors that we want to continue working well into our sixties. We want to "stay in the game" and more than a few of us could use an infusion into the `ole retirement fund!

Self-employment is at its essence: creating your perfect work by appealing to the marketplace with a great product or service.

You think that there`s job security today in the corporate world - think again!

Our only real economic security is to learn how to sell our skills, knowledge and interests to willing customers and/or clients.

I will trust the loyatly of a well-served customer any day over that of a corporate boss!

Hi all,

As some of you know I`m pretty new around here. Still finding my way around and doing lots of reading. I hope to be adding my thoughts soon.

I`m not quite sure if the title "Boomers Back In Business" applies. I`m a boomer (1946) who was mostly a stay at home mom. I raised my children and a grandson as well. Now it is my time! I started making candles as a creative outlet and then it turned into a business.  

I am so grateful to the whole SuN group for having this place to share, grow and learn from.

I`m at somewhat of a cross roads now. I`m small enough and do it all myself, which doesn`t give me much time to market myself. Word of mouth has helped a lot. People who have bought my candles in the past know the quality and love I put into them. Yes, love! A little love, a lot of testing, (didn`t sell a candle until I tested for almost 2 years) quite a bit of perfectionism too!

Well, just wanted to let you know I will be participating more after I learn the ropes here a little. Please let me know if I qualify for this forum.

Thank you all!

I`m a baby boomer born in 1949. I am a marketing consulting starting a new online ezine about marketing and I am curious to know if baby boomers have marketing challenges that are specific to their businesses and age. What are your big marketing problems or issues? What would you like to know more about? Thank you for any replies.

Marcia Ming

www.savvymarketingsecrets.com

 Just joined a few minutes ago, just found the site an hour ago. I`m a boomer that has recently started what I call a "retirement business" part-time. I started on a "shoestring" and quickly moved to "bootstraping". So far it has been a blast.

I will be looking around the site in search of marketing and sales info. I"ve 30+ years of manufacturing experience so production is easy for me, selling products become work.

I fell into a great situation so I have time to learn and experiment.

Just a comment; on many of the sites I read basicly the same questions "how do I start a business", "how do I finance a business" etc and I was one of those people asking those questions a year ago. then accidently my anwser appeared. I was wacked from a staff one long time job from burn out, I had spent 20 years in that industry. The same day I replied to an ad for a small company (25 million) and got the job. it is full of young professionals eager to learn manufacturing, my deal includes moving to part-time status when my part-time business is ready for me full-time, then retiring when that time comes. This allowed me to "shoe string" my start-up ( I plowed $50.00 a week into it), it also allows me to 100% bootstrap (now over $1000.00 week) into growth.

Well enough for now, I`m going exploring the site.

Hi Jillybeans,

Sorry to take so long to respond. I think it is important to learn how to market your site yourself. If you don`t understand the jargon, how will you know if the person you hire is doing what you need for them to do. I personally have spent a year trying to learn to market my business on the Internet. I can certainly understand why you are confused.

Recently, I joined Sitesell.com because they take you through a pretty intense learning program before you set your site up. As you proceed, you learn a lot about Internet marketing. Sadly, I have spent quite a bit of money on products by so-called marketing gurus that weren`t as helpful as I hoped they would be. What I  am learning is that they often don`t tell you everything you need to know until you get to the pricey coaching. I think it helps to post on sites like this and to ask for help. Good luck with your business venture.