Search
Small Business Matters
If you operate a Facebook fan page, then you’ll have noticed a plethora of changes in recent months. While many of these changes are cosmetic, some are not, and they could have a big impact on your social media success. One of the most notable changes you may have noticed is to the dynamics of your “newsfeed.” I say significant, because these changes don’t just affect how users consume updates; they ultimately reward and promote business brands that are more engaged with their fans. Why Engagement is More Important...
Holiday sales for the 2011 season are unfortunately forecasted to be “average.” That’s the word from the National Retail Federation (NRF), which anticipates only a 2.8% increase, a number far lower than last year’s 5.2% increase. That being said, the retail industry is in a better position than it was in 2008-09, and according to the NRF, merchants are optimistic that “…a combination of strong promotions and lean inventory levels will help them address consumer caution this holiday season.” But it...
One of the first steps in the business planning process is determining who your target market is and why they would want to buy from you. It sounds simple, but do you really know what you are selling and to whom? Is the market you serve the best one for your product or service? Are the benefits of dealing with your business clear and are they aligned with those or your target customers? If you aren’t sure about the answers to any of these questions then you need to step back and revisit the foundation of your business plan. The following...
It was a scary Halloween weekend for those living on the Eastern seaboard as many plans were pre-empted by a massive and unseasonably heavy snowstorm. Travel was halted as more than 30 inches of snow fell in some places. More than two million homes and businesses lost power as snapped tree branches toppled power lines, and several fatalities were reported. Just a few days earlier, parts of Colorado and southwestern Wyoming were hit by heavy snows, unusual for late October. Human nature keeps us from thinking about preparing for the...
Many consider email marketing as the de facto way to generate leads—just think of the countless offers and specials you get in your personal Inbox daily. But email marketing is more than that, it’s a general outreach tactic that every business can benefit from to help improve brand awareness, promote events and compliment your social media efforts. Is Email Marketing Still a Valid Tactic? There’s been a lot of debate too about whether social media has replaced email marketing as a primary marketing communication tool for...
Trade shows are big business. According to the Center for Exhibition Industry Research, more than 14,000 are held annually in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, and no doubt some of them fit nicely with your small business marketing strategy. Trade shows provide a great venue for showcasing your business and its products, entering new markets, meeting and spending time with customers and suppliers, and of course, checking out the competition. But trade shows are also a huge investment of time, people, and money – all precious resources to a...
Do you have a rock-solid email marketing list of engaged prospects and customers that you can consistently communicate with? Building an email or direct mail marketing list is a persistent challenge for many business owners. In the first place it requires generating traffic to your website; it also requires a compelling hook, a good reason for someone to subscribe to your list. You also want to make it easy for people to subscribe to your list via your opt-in form. And last, but by no means least, you need to have a plan to convert your...
Given the potential financial risks involved in starting your own business, it’s no surprise that many successful entrepreneurs begin their businesses as part-time ventures. In fact, the old adage – “don’t give up your day job” – rings true for many would-be entrepreneurs who are well aware of the benefits of maintaining a salaried income until they can get their start-up venture off the ground. Likewise, part-time business ownership is also a great opportunity for stay-at-home parents looking to supplement...
Are you active on Twitter? Looking for more ways to improve the effectiveness of your Tweets? Getting the most out of our Tweets can really improve your brand exposure, drive traffic to your website, and show that you are active and engaged with your customers and prospects. But to do this you need to step back and assess where you are today and ask yourself a few questions about your Twitter strategy. For example: Do you find that you are largely using Twitter to share information about your business? Whether it’s events, promotions...
Did you know that an astonishing 52 percent of small businesses are home-based? That’s according to the SBA’s Office of Advocacy. Running a home-based business must have numerous advantages for many business models, and for businesses of different ages. For example, during the start-up phase it represents a low-cost and low-risk avenue for conducting business. However, a home office has its limitations. Small business owners often find that they are not cut out to work from home, or they’ve found their enterprise...
Contributors
Top Rated Articles
Community Help
Archive
- May 2013 (20)
- April 2013 (29)
- March 2013 (27)
- February 2013 (26)
- January 2013 (31)
- December 2012 (24)
- November 2012 (29)
- October 2012 (26)
- September 2012 (29)
- August 2012 (26)
- July 2012 (29)
- June 2012 (25)
- May 2012 (33)
- April 2012 (35)
- March 2012 (36)
- February 2012 (35)
- January 2012 (30)
by Caron_Beesley, Community Moderator on Tuesday, November 29, 2011 - 08:45