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Small Business Matters
Did you give your business a spring clean this year? Are you looking for new ways to boost sales, build your brand or get your business plan back on track? This is the topic of one of SBA’s monthly web chats – Small Business Spring Clean: How to Keep Your Business Ideas Fresh – hosted by Octavia Kuransky, Program Development Manager at Central Alabama Women’s Business Center (and archived on SBA’s Learning Center). Check out some of these great suggestions from Octavia’s session and be inspired! Q:...
Are you a stay-at-home mom (or dad)? Hoping to kick start an entrepreneurial dream or simply looking to bring in some extra income? Starting a home-based business is a great way to do this. In fact, 52 percent of U.S. companies operate as home businesses (source) and many of today’s biggest brand names were established by stay-at-home moms – (Dorothy) Gerber, Mrs. (Debbi) Fields, and Julie Aigner-Clark (Baby Einstein), to name but a few. But what types of businesses can grow and thrive in the home environment? Here are some...
While the U.S. economy continues to see positive signs of growth, consumer spending in one sector is booming – tourism. Consider the facts – spending by international travelers to and within the U.S. increased 10.5 percent in 2012 (source: U.S Travel Association). Travel also continues to lead export growth, accounting for a 23 percent rise in U.S. exports. Home grown tourism is also experiencing a surge, with more and more Americans opting to take “staycations” – enjoying recreational and entertainment options...
Are you a teenager or in your early 20s? Do you have a great business idea? Perhaps you’re already making headway towards starting your own business. But how do you get others to believe in you and your business idea? Here are eight surefire ways that you can be taken seriously as a young entrepreneur: 1. Have a Plan Having a plan means knowing where you want to be and what steps you are going to take to get there. If you can’t communicate this to investors, vendors, distributors, employees, and so on, you will never be taken...
When did you last take a marketing 101 course? Don’t have enough time or perhaps you leave marketing up to others? Whatever the stage of your small business, a marketing plan can help ensure you are putting your customers at the front and center of your business. Likewise, an effective approach for its execution will ensure you satisfy your customers’ needs while generating profits for your business. So if marketing concepts are new to your or you just want to dust off your marketing hat, check out SBA’s free online course...
Have you ever wondered how you can get your businesses’ products stocked on the shelves of a large retailer? It does happen, and it’s refreshing to see. For example, my local supermarket makes a point of stocking locally grown produce front and center as soon as you walk in the store, while other stores make a point of promoting the latest gadgets from small business inventors. The truth is, retail buyers are always on the lookout for products that will appeal to their customers and complement their brand, but how do you find them...
Have you ever written a marketing plan for your business? Do you keep putting off the task? Whether you are launching a new product or promoting your latest offer, a marketing plan is worth taking the time to complete. Why? As a small business owner, it’s likely that you not only own the task of coming up with a strategic plan, but also the act of executing it (writing email copy, hosting events, etc.). If this is you, then a plan can help you direct your day-to-day activities, guide your approach, and ensure you are making the most of...
Got a loyalty card in your wallet? Small business loyalty programs are a great way of showing customers that they are valued. They encourage return business and help you gather information about your customer demographic. Loyalty programs can also boost your marketing efforts. According to Experian CheetahMail, email campaigns that target loyalty program members are more successful – generating higher open rates, transaction levels and revenue. Even emails that invite prospects to join loyalty programs outperform regular email blasts. Of...
Businesses move for all sorts of reasons. Existing rents may be too high; neighboring anchor tenants may have left; or perhaps you just need a bigger premise for your growing business! But how can you ensure your existing customers move with you and how can you go about attracting new customers to your new location? Here are six tips: 1. Communicate Pre-Move and Post-Move First, be sure to use every available touch point to communicate with existing customers about your impending move—and well in advance. Utilize e-mail lists, your...
Hiring employees is probably the most important decision any entrepreneur will ever make. But relinquishing some of the responsibility of your business to others is tough. The key to getting it right is finding employees with the right value alignment and attitude (often easier said than done). Of course, you need to work at it too. Once you’ve built your team, learning to let go and empower employees is critical if you want focus on growing your business. These steps are explored in one of SBA’s Learning Center videos–Hiring...
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by Caron_Beesley, Community Moderator on Thursday, May 16, 2013 - 07:44