It's been a year since our blog "OK Now What?" to get you started in building your business. Congratulations on making it to here. Now, in the spirit of things coming full circle, ask yourself, "now what?"

How has the year treated you? What have you accomplished that you never thought possible? What is still evading you? What is making money, what is making sense, and what needs to make way for new ideas?

One year ago we encouraged you to do any of the following:

Hire a bookkeeper, lawyer, graphics team, VA, coach, SEO team, and writer

Start networking, blogging, speaking, partnering, volunteering, researching

Invest in advertising, marketing, and your brand

So what does it look like? Does your logo still reflect your business? What is your networking group like? Have you filed your year-end? What was your return like last year? What are you projected to make this year? Can you expect to break even?

If you can't expect to break even, here are some of the places your money might be going to waste and it might be time to cut back:

Networking group: is it now a social gathering or are you still seeing/giving business?

Print advertising: Is it generating online traffic? Are you getting calls? Is it worth the investment?

Meetings: it sounds unlikely, but total your receipts from lunches, power breakfasts and working dinners, the numbers can be huge. How much income did they really generate?

1 year in, you're probably a little wiser, stronger, and seasoned now. Get honest and real with your numbers and cut out the stuff that you don't need so that by this time next year, you'll be in the black.

Generating a passive revenue stream for your business is a great idea. A source of income that requires little from you is a great way to make your bottom line or create capital to reinvest in your business. There are many great off-line ways to do this (writing a book, sell information products, or build up your MLM team) but more and more people are turning online to minimize effort and maximize their return.

One such method that seems popular is renting out advertising space on your website or blog. Several options are available to you, programs like Google AdSense will tailor their ads to the nature of your website. However, as you become more discerning in your marketing approach, your online audience may become more so as well. There is a growing debate taking place regarding the subtext of online ad spots

While your intention may be to generate income passively, some well-informed visitors to your site might regard ad placements negatively. They may see ads as a cheap ploy to put money in your pocket at their expense because every time they click on an ad, you get paid.

However, the other side of the argument stands that if it is your site, you are entitled to use it how you see fit, and that the online passive revenue stream is just part and parcel of entrepreneurship. If you are dealing with a tech-savvy audience, it is best to steer clear of anything that could alienate your readership. The last thing you want is to come across as sleazy.

Tradeshows are like entrepreneurial jungles. There are many different species of businesses, but they are all trying to coexist and thrive. More importantly, they are attempting to seek the favour of the attendees with dollars to invest.

If you are a smart business owner, you know that giving your prospects a memento to remember you by is a great way to ensure that you are first in their memory when they need your services. However, prospects are a fickle bunch, so today we have some ideas of freebies that will keep people coming back for you and only you.

Don't give pens.

Nobody wants a pen. Giving a pen to a prospect is like giving a man a tie for Christmas. It's uninventive, unoriginal, uninspired, and lazy.

Buttons

Everyone loves a button. The nostalgia is charming, the design can be completely unique, and they are extremely inexpensive. When designing, think outside the box. Yes, you can put your logo on them, but what about a slogan, a question, or even an exclamation? You want others to look at that button and say: "Where did you get that?" and "Can I have one?"

Cupcakes

Cupcakery is a huge industry because each treat is individually sized, sinfully tastey, and reminiscent of celebration and the combination of customization and happiness is a very good thing to represent your business. Ordering from a local bakery is also a great way to support local entrepreneurs, and will ensure a customized experience. You can have your logo piped on top of the cakes, your brand colours can be reflected in the cake and frosting, or you can dispense with the cloying design features and just give cupcakes away. Nobody will complain.

Get creative, and good luck with your giveaways!

You've gone to your BNI, followed up on the business cards sitting on your desk, now it's time for a one-on-one conversation with some prospects. This conversation will either nurture or hinder your professional relationship, so we have some tips to ensure everything goes smoothly.

Take your hands out of your pockets.

This is a gesture associated with deception, inferiority, and submission between two people of the same gesture. However, this rule is even more important to respect if you are a man meeting with a woman, as the line between "humble and deviant" can be a thin one. Keep your hands available for a handshake, and flash your palms from time to time. It's how we show people that we aren't a threat to their safety.

Stop looking at your phone

In addition to violating a cardinal rule of network (respect eye contact,) looking at your phone repeatedly communicates to your partner that you would rather be elsewhere, or that you have pressing business and can't schedule your time properly. Either way, it's a bad idea.

Swap the coffee for a tea

Two words: coffee breath. Nothing stunts the growth of a relationship like a bad smell. If you're a close-talker, you're going to want to choose a beverage with a much less offense odor. Tea is a safe idea, as is sparkling water. You'll save yourself some dental stains and potentially the relationship.

Remember to steer clear of hot button topics as well: politics are never fair game in a professional conversation! Be brief, and then be gone.