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Does your small business sell a “green” product or service—one that benefits (or at least doesn’t hurt) the environment? Then you could benefit from Americans’ desire to go green when shopping. According to the 2012 Cone Green Gap Trend Tracker, 69 percent of American consumers always or sometimes take the environment into consideration when making choices about what products or services to buy. But not so fast. Before you launch a green marketing campaign, there are some key things you need to know to avoid major...
The entity choice for starting or operating a business can have a number of implications. It can affect funding, taxes, and more. Here are five compelling reasons why you may want to run your business as a C corporation. 1. Use crowdfunding to raise equity capital The Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act of 2012, which became law last month, allows the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to revise its rules to enable businesses to raise equity capital through crowdfunding. (Currently, crowdfunding is limited to seeking contributions...
If you thought of Slideshare.net as just a place to load a few old presentations in the hopes someone may stumble upon them there, you’re missing out on some of the benefits of participating in SlideShare as a social network. Here are four reasons to add SlideShare to your social media outreach, especially if you are a consultant, business service provider such as a marketing firm or accounting firm, or any other small business that engages in content marketing: 1. Repurpose Your Content If you produce content as part of...
If you’re a US military veteran interested in becoming the owner of a franchise, there are thousands of opportunities for you to explore. It’s easy to become a bit overwhelmed with all of the choices. But, it’s not like you have to try to figure everything out on your own. There are a variety of business resources that put all of their focus on you. Let’s look at some of them. Business Education If you’d like to learn the ins and outs of business, before you embark on your search for a franchise opportunity that...
I’m not a numbers person by nature. I was a writer first, then a journalist, before I got into business. I’ve learned the hard way, though, that managing the basic numbers is critical to business success. And if it’s your business, then you either manage them yourself or work with somebody you really trust. With that in mind, here’s my summary of the most important and most basic numbers in the business, and how to manage projections and tracking and steering ahead with them. 1. Do a sales forecast I know that’s...
Identity theft is a crime that impacts the lives of more than 10 million consumers every year-and the numbers are increasing. It’s hard to imagine that one out of every 20 consumers is at risk of being a victim this year alone. The cost of identity theft among consumers costs businesses worldwide an estimated $221 billion a year, according to the Aberdeen Group. However, consumers are no longer the only ones being targeted by these criminals. Now business owners have a new kind of threat to be concerned about that can cause a whirlwind...
The Great Recession officially ended in 2009, but it sure didn't feel that way for most consumers (or businesses). Now, however, the economy finally is on an upward trajectory, with consumer sentiment, business hiring plans and employment data all looking up. Whether your company targets consumers or businesses, here’s what to keep in mind to successfully market to customers as their spirits rise and their wallets start to open again. Take advantage of pent-up desire. According to Time magazine, one indicator of the improving economy...
Need a new desk? A file cabinet? Machinery? A truck? Instead of simply buying a brand new item from your local dealer, consider some alternative ways to get what you need for little or no money. Here are three strategies to help you. 1. Buy used or last year’s models You don’t necessarily have to buy a spanking new car or the latest tablet. You may be able to satisfy your needs by looking for a pre-owned car, a reconditioned machine, or a refurbished laptop. A slightly slower tablet, such as the previous version of the iPad, may do...
As of March 30, 2012 – like it or not – your Facebook page for your business changed. If you had a custom Welcome tab, as many small businesses did -- one that said “Like our Page” or had a special offer -- it is no longer the first thing that people visiting your Facebook page will see. Now you have something called the Facebook timeline. People landing on your Facebook Page for the first time can see a large image at the top, plus other items below. Visitors to your page can also go back in...
Technology has certainly made an impact on the way we do business these days. It’s practically impossible to run a small business without it. In the world of franchising, technology is a very important part of the actual business model. A good franchisor with good technology makes it a lot easier to be a franchisee-an owner. If you’re considering franchise ownership, make sure that you find out what’s being used by the franchise company that you’re thinking of joining. Make sure that the systems in place are designed to...
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by Rieva Lesonsky, Community Administrator on Thursday, May 24, 2012 - 11:25