Casual Articles - Business

Bootstrapping Your Business - Get Real - Get Started
Ditch the business plan and buy a lottery ticket. That's what I tell new entrepreneurs who seek angel or venture funding. The odds are probably better, you will save yourself a lot of time and grief and you'll get results sooner with the lottery. If you have a great idea that can change the

n affect and improve your brand. The goal is to reinforce your brand to the customer as often and as subtly as you can. Mistaken marketers think branding only happens on a logo or an ad; master marketers know branding blooms in all those small day-to-day inte

Top 6 Things Not to Do With Angry Customers
1. Don't make threats. Have you ever said this, "If you don't calm down, I'm not going to help you." Or, "If you continue to yell at me, I'm going to have no choice but to terminate this phone call." If you've ever made these, or similar, statements, I'd bet that your sole intent wa

This article sends you Chief Marketers on a scavenger hunt within your small business. Just search, for now. Discover and learn for now; we’ll apply later.

We are looking for three things:

1. Look for places to touch the customer. Identify those likely places you can plant a “sweet something”.

2. Listen for customer phrases or comments about your service. Let her tell you those sweet somethings that you’d like her to pass on.

3. Ask customers a key question—“what’s your favorite thing about our store?” Rephrase it however you’d like, but ask, when appropriate. Remember, not all staff will be comfortable doing this; don’t punish the ones that aren’t.

Now is a fantastic time to use that Bloom Team to help you out. Sit down with them prior to the start of the scavenger hunt and brainstorm with them. Many of them are in contact with your customers. Draw out their good ideas and then put them into action.

Remember, right now you are just hunting, just uncovering, positive ways you can affect and improve your brand. The goal is to reinforce your brand to the customer as often and as subtly as you can. Mistaken marketers think branding only happens on a logo or an ad; master marketers know branding blooms in all those small day-to-day inter

Yes You Can Afford An Executive Business Coach to Help Grow Your Business
Executive coaching is a proven solution that not only helps small businesses to much larger organizations grow, but it demonstrates a significant return on investment within a very short time frame. However, many business owners from medium size to single office/home office (SOHO) believe t

ikely places you can plant a “sweet something”.

2. Listen for customer phrases or comments about your service. Let her tell you those sweet somethings that you’d like her to pass on.

Seven Types of Goals
1) Achievement goals - These describe results that you will have when you finish the goal. Examples include: retire with a million dollars at age 65, earn a promotion by June, increase sales by 5%. Most major goals are achievement goals.2) Action goals - These describe specific actio

ut our store?” Rephrase it however you’d like, but ask, when appropriate. Remember, not all staff will be comfortable doing this; don’t punish the ones that aren’t.

Defining a Quality Networking Group
When it comes to quality, how do you choose the group that matches your expectations?Defining a quality group is not as easy as it looks. You first need to conduct the research into meetings, type of attendance etc. The next thing you want to know is the size of the group. Size doe

to the start of the scavenger hunt and brainstorm with them. Many of them are in contact with your customers. Draw out their good ideas and then put them into action.

Fired? The Interview Solution
So you were fired? Now what? How will you explain it when you interview?There are many questions that plague job seekers. “What salary are you looking for?” is a big one. “Why should we hire you?” is another. And “Why did you leave your last job?” can leave you spluttering if you wer

Most of these interactions are dimly lit. It’s hard to see all of them, and difficult to map them out. Well, it’s time to shine a searchlight on as many of them as you can. It’s not enough just to find the right phrase, (in #2 and #3 above); it’s just as important to find the right place to deliver the phrase back to the next customer (#1). In another article we’ll discuss techniques on communicating the brand back to the new customer. For now just look for what and where.

We suggest you run the scavenger hunt for one month. A time limit brings focus and a little sense of urgency to a task like this.

Remember, just dig in and discover. Raw material is what you are looking for right now, not finished product. You are looking for a few veins of ore, now. You’ll smelt it into 14K product, later.

Remember: Brand (who you are) + Package (your Face to the Customer) + People (customers and employees) = Marketing Success.

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Most small business owners find themselves in a Catch 22 situation because on one hand, they need to increase the customer base, but on the other hand, they cannot hire enough employees to service these new customers.

You don't have to have the lowest price to attract customers. In fact, underpricing can cost you customers. Attract the customers you want by pricing to reflect the value you provide.

Come on, don't deny it; we've all said that at one time or another (yes, under your breath still counts).

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