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One of the questions I’m frequently asked is how to get more traffic to your company website. I always mention blogging as a key technique, of course. You set up a blog as a section of your website. You publish compelling content on the blog. People come to the blog to read it. While on your blog they can learn more about your company, and may jump over to other sections of your site to check out your products and/or services. And if they are impressed by your content, they may share it with their circles of influence, leading to more...
Is it possible to find a legitimate franchise opportunity that only requires a few hours a week to run? And, if you do find a part-time franchise, can you make enough money for it to be worth your up-front investment, and of course, your time? Let’s find out. First off, it’s important for you to be able to distinguish a true franchise-type of business, from a non-franchise business. In most cases, franchise ownership offers: · A proven business system that’s easy to replicate...
I’ve been reminded twice in the last week about how important planning is to business, and how too many people misunderstand what a plan is supposed to do. My reminders came from two different people doing startups. Neither of them needs a business plan to show to investors. Both need business plans to figure out what steps to take and when, and how much money they need. This reminds me of these important principles of business planning that everybody should keep in mind. 1. Form follows function You’re probably aware of...
Due to the growing difficulty in obtaining traditional business lines of credit from banks, many business owners are turning to credit cards for small businesses as their primary unsecured business lines of credit. Unfortunately, the majority is turning to the wrong sources. They end up putting their personal credit on the line and all their business credit card debts show up on their personal credit reports. This means that anytime you use your business credit cards, your personal debt/credit ratios are affected. Did you know that drawing a...
Summer’s here and for most communities, that means the season of outdoor fairs, festivals and other events is underway. For a small business, community events like these can be a great opportunity to market your products and services to local residents and other event-goers. Here are some steps to get you started. Research what events exist in your community and nearby communities. Your options might range from local “fun runs,” chili cook-offs or classic car shows to surfing contests or music festivals that bring in...
Companies that have survived the economic downturn of the past several years may be in a position now to reward employees that hung in during tough times. Many workers have not had raises in years or have even seen wages and benefits cut. Before you jump to offer a raise, think about the best way to reward your staff from a tax perspective. The cost of a raise When you increase a worker’s pay, it costs the company more than the actual addition to the paycheck. The company must factor in: The employer’s share of FICA (to cover...
One of the most popular articles in the SBA Community is “8 Tips for Keeping Your Business Blog Current, Relevant and Fresh.” It has excellent advice, but after you read it you may wonder, “So how do I come up with ideas for WHAT to write about?” Writer’s block is something that affects even the most prolific at one point or another. Maybe it’s only a temporary block -- a few hours or days -- but sometimes it can go on for weeks, months, even years. Just look at all the...
Are you headed towards the finish line? Are you at the point in your franchise business exploration where your yes or no decision on a particular opportunity is imminent? If so, read on… In my capacity as a franchise ownership advisor, I’ve had several clients hear variations of the following declaration from their franchise development representatives; “You are welcome to pay to have a franchise attorney look over our Franchise Disclosure Document as well as the franchise agreement, but everything in our agreement is etched...
What started as college kids on Facebook has grown up. At first it was updates and gossip and who’s a couple and who’s not. Then came Twitter and now Google+ and the reminder that LinkedIn, which started years earlier, was there too. Somebody named it social media. And now almost every business in the world is either participating, thinking about participating, or explaining to itself why not. And it’s time to relate that back to your basic business planning. So the question is actually three questions: 1. How does your...
If you are in the military, a veteran, or military spouse and either own or are thinking about starting a business, consider joining a credit union for military entrepreneurs to service your company’s banking needs. Military credit unions offer tremendous benefits for small business owners and because they are member-owned, they always act in your best interest. The good news is this: once you are a member, you are always a member. You can leave the military, change employers, move, retire, and get married— and never have to leave...
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by smallbiztrends, Guest Blogger on Thursday, July 5, 2012 - 13:03