Will they really? How many small business people do you know – whether in a seasoned business or as a start-up make this statement with a straight face? Anyone who understands a brand will tell you that you have to get it right first. Going back and mopping up the mess years later will cost you big-time. If they thought it is expensive now, what will be their reaction be a then? From my experience they stay with their weak brand and tough it out not realizing there’s a better way. There are always self-imposed barriers to allocating dollars to…

In business, there is almost always a high and low season. If you deal in thermal apparel, expect a dip in sales during the summer, and a rise in moving units as fall and winter set in. People shop for items seasonally, when they need it, according to the weather, the market, and of course, the trends. Many retailers expect their sales to have a peak season, and a slim season. There are also those who have specialized, seasonal merchandise where they are tied to a specific event that occurs annually, like Christmas or Halloween. These businesses tend to have…

I’m aware that as a Graphic Designer, working alongside Printers, there are a number of terms that we may use that mean completely nothing to a business owner. So I thought I’d write a series of articles that clearly explain some of these terms. You can use it as a reference guide so that next time you’re speaking to your designer or printer you know what they are talking about. Graphic Design Software and File Types Designers use a number of software programs with lots of different file types. Talk of Jpegs, Layered files, eps files can all get bit…

Today, to create a company is one of the easiest things you can do – simply fill all necessary papers and you are done. However, once you create your own business, you will have to start managing it, which where you will definitely need some extra help. I tried to cover all aspects of business management and provide you with a list of tools you can use, so I hope you like my list. Human Resource Management GreatBizTools.com GreatBizTools offers solutions for managing the whole personnel from the managers to the new, just hired employees. They will grant you with…

DOMAINMARKETING

1) If your job is to provide valuable service to a customer (and most of us do), it behoves you to be on top of what they need from you. It’s your job to over deliver and make the experience a pleasurable one. Great service should be a given in business, but we know that not everyone is listening. 2) When it comes to performing our services it’s good if you get it. Nothing is more irritating to customers than having to explain it more than once. Time is money and an inability to listen can cost you big time.…

The long road of the recession is strewn with casualties, most of which are small businesses unable to successfully navigate increasingly hazardous terrain. And yet, while potholes and pitfalls still loom ahead, the economic downturn has presented many businesses with unique opportunities for growth, opportunities which often remain unrecognized. With this in mind, here are 5 proven strategies which, if properly implemented, could help a majority of small businesses not only survive but thrive in a downward economy. 1. Flexibility: Although the upside of an economic downturn may be a “thinning of the herd”, in terms of your direct competition,…

For most businesses, it’s not enough to make a sale or sign a customer – you want happy customers, repeat customers who will gladly return for more. Whether you’re selling a product or a service, keeping your customers satisfied is a key part of a sustainable business model. Finding creative ways to show your customers you really appreciate their business – going beyond a simple “Thank you” email – is a smart investment for several reasons: Word of mouth is often more valuable than professional advertising, marketing, and PR – people trust their networks more than companies. Giving your customers…

Twenty years ago, having an office meant being surrounded by paperwork. In the pre-Internet days, there was simply no way around it: no matter what line of work you were in, every aspect of daily operations (from invoicing to project management to document creation) left an enormous paper trail. Luckily, that is no longer necessary today. Using the free/low-cost Internet tools below, modern businesses can, if they choose, run a completely paperless office: Google Docs America’s offices are flooded with hard copies of documents that rarely (or never) looked at on a daily basis. Whether in filing cabinets, stuffed in…

This episode is about my favorite way to build traffic and get leads – Blogging! https://www.smallbusinessbranding.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/SEO.mp3