Posted Fri, 04/16/2010 - 12:02pm
Instructor:
Jennifer Croft
As more people turn to the web to look for the products, services, and information they need, it’s vital that you have a website that can be easily found in the search engines. There’s no need to pay for clicks or banner ads – come to this fun, basic class on search engine optimization (SEO) and learn how to get your website to the top of Google, Yahoo, and MSN.
Posted Thu, 03/25/2010 - 7:45pm by Jennifer Croft
Every business needs a stout, aggressive purchasing agent. Assign this job to yourself or a fearless employee. For every business expense over $250, require at least three bids. As you solicit price quotes, make it clear to all vendors that they’re competing against other companies for your business.
Posted Thu, 03/25/2010 - 7:43pm by Jennifer Croft
If you’d like to take home a bigger salary or make more profit this year, practice the “zero budget” trick. You begin each month with a blank sheet of paper, presuming you will spend absolutely nothing. As you put each expense onto the sheet, you have to justify it. Is the expense absolutely necessary? Could you negotiate a better price? Can you buy a smaller quantity? Do you really “need” the item or do you merely “want” it? Are you paying for something out of habit or current demand? Is there a way to postpone the expenditure?
Posted Thu, 03/25/2010 - 7:43pm by Jennifer Croft
There are two ways to make more money in business: Bring in more or spend less. To bring in more, you need to raise sales, which you can do by bumping up prices and/or increasing the number of sales. To spend less, you need to reduce your expenses. Let’s work on the second half of the equation with a simple assignment.
Posted Thu, 03/25/2010 - 7:42pm by Jennifer Croft
A lack of sales is the top cause of small business failure. Quick, name the last business that went out of business because it had too much business. Possible, but not likely. Most businesses collapse because their expenses exceed their revenues, and a shortage of incoming money can usually be attributed to a shortfall in sales. Still, what causes the low numbers? Simple answer: ineffective marketing. Either the business isn’t doing enough marketing or the marketing isn’t effective.
Posted Thu, 03/25/2010 - 7:39pm by Jennifer Croft
Before you write one word of copy for your next website page, ad, brochure, newsletter, or information packet, consider these points:
- Who is your target audience?
- What is the expected lifespan of the marketing?
- What’s the point of the marketing piece — what do you want it to accomplish?
- What’s the offer, and will you include an expiration date?
- What’s the call for action — what specific steps do you expect clients to take next?
- Does this marketing match all your other marketing, in tone, style, and look?
Posted Thu, 03/25/2010 - 7:35pm by Jennifer Croft
Following are the top five reasons people won’t buy your product or service, in no particular order:
- They don’t want it.
- They don’t need it.
- They don’t understand it.
- They don’t value it (note this is similar to, but quite different from, “They think it’s too high-priced”).
- They don’t know about it.
The last one dooms most small businesses.
- Someone may want, need, understand, and value what you offer… but if they have no idea you exist, you’ve failed at marketing.
Posted Thu, 03/25/2010 - 7:33pm by Jennifer Croft
For small businesses, the best way to save money on display ads in newsletters or magazines is to not place them. They rarely “work” if your definition of work includes bringing in more business. This type of marketing can work well for Gucci, Kraft Foods, and Ford Motor Company, but their goals are product and brand recognition, and they’ll spend millions to achieve them. However, to increase your odds of getting some return on your investment:
Posted Thu, 03/25/2010 - 7:32pm by Jennifer Croft
Do you feel the need, on a daily basis, to clone yourself? Or do you wish for more hours in the day? If so, these are warning signs of an unhealthy business. The symptoms could be caused by stretching yourself too thin... by going further into debt from overspending... by growing too fast... by hiring too many employees or not enough... by ambitions that exceed your ability to implement them... by runaway creativity... by hours spent on projects that don’t produce income... by self-sabotage... the list goes on.
Posted Fri, 02/05/2010 - 10:31am by Rebecca McBride
BEDA is developing the 2010 series of workshops designed to provide resources to the small business to succeed and grow in this new year. We are focused on your marketing and business needs and in our efforts of 'Internet Marketing' and we will bring back many workshops you have asked us for as well as new topics and innovative ways to improve your bottom line. "How Can You Improve Your Business in 2010?" By signing up for a BEDA workshop of course!
