Home Based Solo Entrepreneur - Insurance

Let's get right into it...
Today is "Hump Wednesday"!!

Ahh, insurance. I'm not referring to health insurance this time, though it's important too. The kind of insurance I'm referring to is business insurance.

Many of you are repairing computers, detailing cars, cleaning homes and selling your own products on the internet mistakenly thinking incorporating is the perfect protection against lawsuits.

The reason this comes up now (it was important before you got started but better late than never) is the gloom and doom being tossed around regarding the economy. When people start herding together in fear, suing anybody and everybody over trivial issues becomes a reality.

As a Solo Entrepreneur, you are the most vulnerable one on their immediate horizon and you might appear to be their answer for a personal piggy bank instead of playing the Lotto.

Even if you have formed an LLC or Corporation, if you haven't considered getting some type of insurance for your business, you are walking around with a currency sign on your forehead. Remember a civil suit against you personally can wipe out your personal assets and leave your business intact.

Here's where I got the idea for this post, Jonathan Stein's California Small Business Blog where he gives a darn good example of a solo entrepreneur bank-in-waiting.

Accountants and bookkeepers are encouraged to get E&O (errors and omissions) insurance before they get their first client for this very reason - someone, somewhere is going to look for someone to blame when they screw up. I'm not an attorney and not offering legal counsel, but you can visit that link and get more details on where to start looking, questions to ask and resources to get you started.

Have you been looking for a few tools that can help in operating your business better or just to keep from tossing your computer through the nearest window? Be sure to check the Free Tools Section at Small Business CEO. Most I've probably mentioned previously, however if you're looking for tools that won't cost you an arm and a leg, like free forms to manage your operations - give the page a look. I'm always on the lookout for resources to help me stay organized and it's a pretty good starter resource.

Are you using video in your marketing arsenal?
More and more, I've noticed any idiot with a camera is posting video on Youtube. Now, I like some of the videos on Youtube because I'm constantly learning, looking for new ways to get customers to take action or operate my business better or something. But....some of these people should be medicated or switch to decafe!

My take on using video to market your service or product is the same with any kind of marketing - keep it relevant! Copying the style of Ed Dale would no more work for me than his trying to copy me...so, why do I see every idiot with a camera thinking they can be as skilled a marketer as Ed, (although he does remind me of my strange neighbor).

Learn from him? Yes, absolutely and anyone else using a marketing tactic you want to use in your business. Copy his style? No, because your style is part of your personality and that's what people are going to pay you for.

You may not know anything about Ed Dale except he co-founded the 30 Day Challenge, but if you watch his videos, he has mastered this marketing tool! As Solo Entrepreneurs we can hope to be as good, but please...don't mimic other people in your marketing or become the village idiot. It doesn't get you customers, and remember my last warning post...Don't Piss Off Your Paying Customers!

That's it for today and I leave you with this -

"Understand that you need to sell you and your ideas in order to advance your career, gain more respect, and increase your success, influence and income." ~Jay Abraham