5 Tips for Marketing Your Web Site
November 1st, 2007 by Jennifer Dickinson
| 5 Tips for Marketing Your Web Site |
Brought to you by SCORE “Counselors to America’s Small Business.” |
Archive for November, 2007
5 Tips on How To Advertise, Cheap!
November 1st, 2007 by Jennifer Dickinson
5 Tips on How To Advertise, Cheap!
1. Advertising is expensive, so know why you are advertising and what you want to accomplish. Evaluate your advertising carefully and measure its effectiveness.
2. Develop appropriate sales promotion tools such as flyers, brochures and signs. Carefully review each item for its effectiveness and evaluate what these tools say about your business.
3. Signage should be a major part of your marketing strategy. Signs are a vital part of small businesses and can be the most efficient, effective and consistent device for generating revenue.
4. Every small business should be listed under the appropriate heading in the Yellow Pages, but not every business needs to buy expensive display ads. Be judicious.
5. Get involved in your community. Join the chamber of commerce, business organizations, service clubs, and charities. Network yourself and keep your antennae up.
Brought to you by SCORE “Counselors to America’s Small Business.”
What You Must Know Before Starting a Business
November 1st, 2007 by Jennifer Dickinson
New concept in starting a business
Many of us have dreamed most of our lives of starting a business of our own. Of course, those dreams don’t always include the blood, sweat, and tears, which are part of the process. The fact remains that owning your own business and watching it grow is one of the most rewarding gifts you can give yourself-next to your children of course.
If you are one of the many people dreaming of starting a business of your own, what exactly is keeping you from it? It is a lack of knowledge, a fear of the unknown, no time, no money, or no patience?
Why are you not following through on your dreams for you and your family?
There are many resources available both online and off-line that can provide you with direction and guidance through the start up process for your home business.
What You Must Know Before Starting a Business
Before you can make a sale or provide a service, you must find out what licenses or permits you need to run your business. This is especially true for retail businesses. How much will your licenses cost? How long it will take to get them? Do you need to apply for certain permits and licenses before you can get others? This can be a lengthy process so don’t quit your day job yet.
Next develop a business plan. You cannot have a successful business without having a solid plan for finances and to grow. Know what you are making, providing and selling. Understand the profits that similar businesses make.
Where are their markets? Who are their primary customers? Compare why people will choose your service or product over your competitors.
Will you be offering something new and different? What are your plans for advertising, growth, and expansion?
How long do you think it will be before you are breaking even? Turning a profit?
Starting a business is much more involved than hanging out a shingle somewhere but the rewards are so satisfying that this is often the best possible goal a person can have.
These are just a few questions you will need to ask before starting a business of your own. Yes, it will involve work, even more work than you see mentioned here. Make sure you find a wonderful mentor to help you get through the process. Choose wisely as this person will help you identify many pitfalls associated with starting a new business.
