Leader
Unclaimed money
There's a frightening amount of money unclaimed and awaiting collection, about $458 million at last count. Are you one of the 500,000 Australians who’s owed something? Find out here. 
How to write a mission statement
This video by Dan Heath over at Fast Company shows you exactly how the mission statement of a small business goes from tasty to terrible in one brainstorming session.
Just how much are meetings costing you?
This basic, but very effective tool easily gives you the answer. Simply tell it how many people are in attendance, their daily rate and the clock starts ticking. Very, very scary! 
Any procrastinating writers here?
Thought so. This little site is a corker. Select how many words you're trying to write, your deadline and punishment mode and you'll get some pretty sharp reminders if you start to slack off. 
Need a financial health check?
Superannuation advice, budget planners and tips for saving are all on offer at the Understanding Money website. This Government operated site provides real back to basics information on how to, err, understand money. 
Font of all knowledge
Not sure what your default font should be? This site is sure to help. Simply paste in some text, choose from hundreds of different fonts and take your pick! 
Feeling demotivated?
The motivation industry has had its day in the sun. How's this for a contradictory view? Despair.com's demotivators claim to 'increase success by lowering expectations.'
Office pod
We want one. Well half a dozen, actually. These office pods have got to be the coolest little workspaces we’ve seen. They look so yummy in the garden.
18 smokin' hot business cards
If you’re just starting up or looking to redesign your business cards, here is a wealth of inspiration from our friends at Freelance Switch.
Wordle on the street
This cool free tool at www.Wordle.net generates funky looking word clouds based on your website or selected text. You can even try different colour schemes and layouts.
Hot or cold?
Stay up to date with the climate debate on this site. Great for those pro action and sceptics, it lists calls to action and dissenting voices from around the world.
Are you free?
If you struggle getting small groups of people together for a meeting, this little gizmo may help. It certainly saves on the email tennis.
Get help from the crowd
The Flying Solo forums are where you can talk and network freely. If you're looking for help, seeking a referral, or just itching to share some news or knowledge, there's a mob of supporters here.
Someone trying to empty your pockets?
SCAMwatch will help you recognise, report and protect yourself from scams that target you or your small business.
Want to get your articles out there?
ArticlePR features a free list of article submission sites or article banks, to which you can submit your articles in order for them to be distributed far and wide.
Keep it simple, silly
More often than not, a soloist’s life is about multi tasking and coping with complexity. If this sounds like you, our friends at Freelance Switch have some worthwhile tips: 10 Ways to Simplify Your Freelance Life.
Calling all Flying Solo fans!
If you're an active networker or involved in any small business groups, we'd love you to get involved in our snappy little promotional program. Find out more. 
Who's following you?
Twitter fans may like Twittersheep, which tells you which kinds of folk are following you. Give it a go! 
When it all gets too much
When it all gets too much. A big thanks to web developer, Simon for this little gem. Apparently it’s where he heads when clients drive him nuts.
Save (on) your energy
Make It Cheaper provides a free service that helps you ditch and switch energy providers. There’s a handy blog with money saving tips, too.
Have you read our manifesto?
If you've yet to read Flying Solo the book, have a read of the Soloist's Manifesto to get a feel for what it's about. Alternatively, browse some reader reviews.
Anatomy of Australia’s micro business owner
Flying Solo’s Understanding Micro Business, 2010-2011 – Australia’s largest micro business survey takes the pulse of this critical business sector. Download the results now.
Get projects over the line
If you admire 'The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People' (and who wouldn't?) and recognise you need some assistance to get over the finish line, this online goal tracker may well appeal.
Text for dummies
Ever wondered where to find that dummy text used by designers? The answer is here. Given it's a practice that's been around since the 1500s, this may not be the original source!
Impress your TED friends
There's no doubt that TED is a wonderful resource and we love it, but FORA is pretty awesome too. Enjoy a short movie with your morning tea.
Please help us spread the word!
If you enjoy your time on Flying Solo, you may like to tell others. Here are a number of ways you can do just that. The larger we get, the greater the combined wisdom. Thanks!
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Reach Australian business owners
Marketing | Business branding
Whether you’re a solo business, medium business or huge corporation, your brand is critically important for
differentiating you from your competitors. Unfortunately business
branding is often only taken seriously in the big end of town.
This section focuses on business branding, brand positioning and communications for solo businesses. You’ll
find practical advice on specialist brand positioning,
tips for naming your
business, the basics of logo
design, personal
branding strategies and the fundamentals of marketing communications.
Logo selection in three easy steps
25 Aug 10Bronwyn SimmondsRecently I saw a cafe with a logo that looked like a biohazard symbol. Is that really the imagery they want people seeing when thinking about where to buy their lunch? Read more
Comments: 5Developing your personal brand
13 Aug 10Ben AngelIt’s a dog-eat-dog world out there. If you want to stand out and attract new clients, you’ll need to develop your own individual brand. Read more
Comments: 5Designing a logo on a shoestring budget
07 Jul 10Jo MacdermottDoes your brand have the right look and feel? If not, it’s time to get back to basics. Start by reviewing your logo – and don’t let costs hold you back. Read more
Comments: 9Product branding: Have you painted your Ferrari?
08 Mar 10Peter CrockerI recently moved to one of those touchy feely fruity phones. Hardly a significant event, until I discovered many thought I’d been sucked in by product branding and had paid a premium just to carry around a logo. Had I fallen for the marketer and ignored t Read more
Comments: 18How strong writing helps build your brand
05 Jan 10Caroline JenkinsAmong the many factors to consider when you build your brand, it’s easy for the non-visual elements such as language, consistent messaging, strong writing and grammar to be overlooked. How do yours stack up? Read more
Comments: 610 things you need for strong brand building
04 Sep 09Tim Reid and Luke MoultonI speak to groups of business owners weekly about what you need for strong brand building. The first thing I emphasise is brands are earned…not bought. Read more
Comments: 5Business tag lines that sell
04 Nov 08Lucinda LionsAn effective business tag line is a constant source of premium advertising that will reinforce your brand while generating sales. So what is a tag line, why should your business have one and how do you go about writing one? Read more
Comments: 39Personal branding at work
17 Jul 08Sue CurrieSoloists often work in isolation and don’t get to see clients on a constant basis to help build that easy camaraderie you get at work. Therefore to succeed in your business, it’s critical to establish strong relationships through personal branding. Read more
Comments: 11Business logos: How to design your own logo
15 Jun 08Megan HillsFollowing on from how to get the business logo designs you want, here are some tips if you want to by-pass the graphic designer altogether and design your own logo. Read more
Comments: 20Business logo designs: Getting what you want
11 May 08Megan HillsMy previous article discussed briefing a designer prior to business logo design. It is important to give a detailed account of your business and market as well as your design ideas. Naturally you will want designers to introduce their own ideas also. Read more
Comments: 8Business logo designs: Briefing a designer
06 Apr 08Megan HillsIn a previous article on business logo designs I wrote about making an effective logo. If your business needs a new identity, here are some tips on briefing your graphic designer. Read more
Comments: 12Develop your Personal Brand - Twelve tips
30 Mar 08Sue CurriePersonal branding is the relationships an individual has with its public - essentially personal public relations. How others feel about your personal brand determines whether or not they want to have a working relationship with you. Read more
Comments: 4Why specialist positioning matters
24 Jan 08Robyn HaydonTypically, the smaller a business is, the more important it is to specialise, and you can’t get much smaller than solo. For a soloist, specialist positioning is a powerful target marketing and business management tool. Read more
Comments: 8Five tips for naming your business
30 Oct 07Heather SmithNaming your business is one of the first steps in flying solo, although it is often not an easy task and there are many factors to consider. Here are some practical tips to help you with the process of naming your business. Read more
Comments: 23The basics of logo design
17 Jul 07Zern LiewYour logo is the primary part of your brand identity, so it’s important to make sure it communicates the right message. Here are four key things to bear in mind when looking at logo design. Read more
Comments: 32Business Branding: The ABC of branding
07 Jun 07Zern LiewABC, which stands for Actions, Beliefs and Clothing are the basic building blocks of business branding. You have an authentic and strong brand when these three aspects work together harmoniously. Read more
Comments: 8Marketing communications: the basics
18 Mar 07Sue CurrieSales, PR, event management, marketing and promotion... chances are you'll have many roles to play within your solo business. You should also add Marcoms Manager to your job description. Learn more about how it can help you to succeed. Read more
Comments: 0Business logo designs: Making an effective logo
21 Nov 06Megan HillsHas your business got an effective logo that is an accurate reflection of what you do? Does it work in every way possible? Here are some tips to give your logo that extra punch. Read more
Comments: 8Develop a strong personal brand for your business
29 Aug 06Sue CurriePersonal branding is important for business and as a solo business owner to a large extent, you are the brand! Here's some tips on how to brand you ... to stand out and shine. Read more
Comments: 3Six simple steps for solo business branding
06 Aug 06Peter CrockerCredible business branding has been revealed as a big issue for soloists. Is it our problem if people don’t take us seriously? I think it is. Here are some ways we can show the world we mean business. Read more
Comments: 8New marketing: personal branding
16 Jul 06Sue CurrieWhat is personal branding and how does it impact marketing for a solo business? Here are the answers... Read more
Comments: 3The power of personal branding strategies
15 Jun 06Thomas MurrellStrong personal branding strategies can help you to create a successful, satisfying and stunning solo career. Here's how to go about building a personal brand for your business. Read more
Comments: 3Choosing a business name and image
23 May 06Sue CurrieGetting the right business name and creating a strong image are central to your success as a soloist. Here's how you can get it right from day one. Read more
Comments: 2Business branding: Are you really a Nudie Virgin?
19 Sep 05Peter CrockerWhen it comes to your business branding, rather than trying to emulate others, it's more revealing to look in the mirror. Read more
Comments: 1PR planning within your brand marketing
07 Jul 05Sue CurrieThere are a variety of ways to spread the word about your business - developing a PR plan encorporating promotional activities is surely the way to succeed in solo brand marketing. Read more
Comments: 1