Search
The Industry Word
One of the best ways to build your customer base is through referrals. In toda;s connected society, where people are eager to tell their friends and colleagues about worthwhile products or services, getting referrals from satisfied customers is a smart way to expand your marketing reach. How can you put the power of referrals to work for you? First, understand there are different types of referrals with different values. Receiving someon-s name and e-mail or phone number from an existing customer is on the low end of the value scale. In fact...
A recent Discovery Small Business Watch *poll reveals that the recession has forced more than half of small business owners to postpone or cancel their vacations during the past two years, and 55% say i;s been two or more years since their last week-long vacation. Still, a few more are considering some time off this year: 40% have not changed vacation plans because of the economy, which is up from 38% last year. If yo-re planning a getaway that does not include your iPhone or laptop and you usually do many of the business chores yourself, get...
This past week the Ohio SBDC at Columbus State held its sixth annual Ohio Growth Summit*. It was another spectacular event. The day opened with the largest panel ;ve, and -m sure anyone, has ever seen. The panelists* were convened by the moderator Nate Riggs* based on their successful leverage of their personal brand to drive their business. I was approached after the session by a business partner who felt that he and a few other attendees did-t see what the mornin's discussion of on's personal brand had anything to do with developing...
The small business world is increasingly becoming self-sufficient and do-it-yourself. Yet many IT suppliers still communicate as if they are talking with IT pros. There's certainly a need for IT professionals. By no means do I wish to suggest IT people are unimportant or unnecessary -- not at all. But the reality is, many small businesses today operate leanly without in-house IT support, or even external IT support. Most of their tech buying decisions are made without input from an IT person, and technology has to be installed...
There are few things more valuable in business than a mentor; someone wh-s-been there, done tha'. A mentor can provide valuable advice and business guidance, which can be particularly useful when yo're doing business with the government. As 've discussed before, the government market is unique, with its own set of rules, regulations, and business processes. A mentor that has traveled the same path as the protégé' someone who has, quiet literally, been there, done that' can also use his/her own company as an actual example of how to operate...
Statistics from the Department of Labor Statistics indicate hiring is on the rise for the first time in more than a year. However, because businesses continue to be concerned about the economy, many employers are choosing to hire independent contractors/freelancers as opposed to full-time employees. Misclassifying a worker as an independent contractor rather than an employee can be a costly mistake. Using independent contractors in your business can save your business money. Independent contractors do;t get typical company benefits such...
So you wonder whether you want a business plan for your business. You've heard that business plans are about raising money, perhaps, and it sounds like it might be hard to do. You don't have that MBA degree or CPA certification. So thank goodness, you don't need it. What a relief. Here's my suggestion: Take some time to think about your business strategy. Think about what's unique about you, what you do best, and what you like to do. Think about what others want you do do. Then think about whom you want to sell to and what types of people....
One of the most effective ways to grow your business is also one of the oldest: networking. While it may not get as much buzz these days as social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, old-fashioned, face-to-face networking is still essential for building a business. One of my favorite business mottos is that, all else being equal, people do business with people they know and like. Tha;s why networking is so important. -m not suggesting you give up your social networking efforts, but simply that social networking is just one part of the...
Intellectual property, or IP, can be your most valuable business asset, even though you ca;t see, smell, or touch it. Trademarks are a type of IP that protects your logo, brand, name, or other mar-but only if you follow the rules necessary to obtain legal protection. Before you invest in a website, brochures or marketing, or take other actions that will use a mark to brand you, here are key things you need to know. Legal Protection Is-t Infinite You can protect your compan's name, the name of a product or service you offer, a tag line you use...
As you would expect one of the top reasons our business management advising services are sought is the need for funding. Although the Small Business Development Center network does;t have money to lend, we are exceptionally good at preparing our clients and facilitating their relationship with a local lender. As we walk them through this process we advise them to focus less on their monetary goal and more on the human elemen- It's very easy to focus on the bank you submitted your loan request to but if you want to be successful in getting...
Contributors
Top Rated Articles
Community Help
About This Blog
Views from small business experts on growing your business
Archive
- May 2013 (25)
- 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 Rieva Lesonsky, Guest Blogger on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 - 10:05