January 19, 2014
How to Leverage the Power of Twitter for Your Small Business
Of the leading challenges small business owners report that they face, sales has always been in the top three. But, since 2008 (recession), sales has been the top answer (National Federation of Independent Business monthly survey). The other problems listed are different sides of the same coin and are solved with increased revenue. So let’s talk about…
January 18, 2014
Are You Clear About Your Unique Value Proposition?
Without revenue a small business is just a hobby. So, how does a typical small business go about getting clients and revenue? More importantly, how can a small business establish a process that continually creates new clients and helps grow revenue? The answer to this question proves elusive for many entrepreneurs. Typical small business…
January 16, 2014
3 Key Roles Your Marketing Story Needs to Make it a Bestseller?
“There is only one valid definition of business purpose: to create a customer. … Therefore, any business enterprise has two – and only two – basic functions: marketing and innovation” Peter Drucker, The Practice of Management, 1954 Bold statement. Now, think about all the small businesses you’ve encountered that are poor at innovation and marketing and…
January 13, 2014
Here’s How You Can Thrive Without a Business Plan
Every business needs a business plan. Right? That’s what you read on the “authoritative” business sites. The Small Business Administration says not having a business plan is a cause in over 80% of small business failure. So, perhaps you’ve found a template and created one. If you don’t have one, you feel guilty, don’t you? …
January 12, 2014
The Real Power of Process and People in Your Business
In business, many factors determine success and failure. Finding and fixing the root causes of any challenges is critical to success. Instead of treating the symptoms, look to treat the cause. Process maturity and people maturity are two primary root causes for a host of business problems and their interaction with each other is also…
January 5, 2014
Marketing Advice From Shakespeare
In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Polonius tells his son “This above all: to thine own self be true.” Sage business advice from the bard himself. It’s tempting for a small business to pursue and accept all work that meets the revenue profile. What’s wrong with that, after all, isn’t one of the primary purposes of a business to…
December 31, 2013
Preparation Trumps Planning in Achieving Success
We hear countless reasons for small business failure: lack of a business plan, failure to create an offering that people will pay for, failure to identify a viable market, cash flow, etc. All of these reasons are valid. Yet each of these reasons leaves out a critical driver and root cause of either success or…
December 29, 2013
Why Your Most Valuable Customers Are Your Current Customers
Improve your small business marketing successes by bringing your past customers back to life. I’ve seen data that suggests that it is 5X easier to sell to existing customers than to new customers. That type of math adds up quickly when you can make it work for you! How much does it cost you to…
December 22, 2013
The 3 C’s of Marketing: Clarity, Connection, Call To Action
Effective marketing is clear about what problems offerings solve and for whom they solve them. It helps your ideal clients find you because they can see themselves in your materials and message. It begins moving prospects down the path of knowing you, liking you, and trusting you. Only then can you begin to transform prospects…
December 19, 2013
Is Your Small Business Building Committed Relationships?
Successful Small Business Marketing is About Building Relationships Unless you live under a rock, you’ve heard that the Internet is a great tool for small business marketing! More likely, you’ve been bombarded with such messages non-stop, especially from people trying to sell you Internet marketing. Typically, these messages ignore the exact tenets required to make…
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