If you know how to follow today’s rules for getting attention, press releases can still be an effective marketing tool for small businesses. Are press releases still an effective marketing tool for a small business? Yes, if you know how to follow today’s rules for getting attention. Here are the essential elements of a modern press release along with tips to help make yours stand out. Today, press releases are…
It’s a simple question, but one that is often hard for people to answer. Instead of asking someone what they do, I ask, “How do you help people?” It may seem confusing because most people assume I’m asking about volunteer efforts, as in, “Do you help little old ladies cross the street?” However, the question is aimed at getting to understand how the work we do helps someone else. Every…
Similar to personal credit reports and scores; business credit reports are constantly changing because of a variety of data. This ongoing change is based on a variety of factors such as the number of reported transactions, outstanding balances and payment activity to name a few. The accuracy of the data being reported about your business is crucial. It shows your company’s ability to meet its financial obligations with vendors, suppliers,…
One of the most common reasons for business owners not getting the benefit of business planning is putting off doing a plan because it seems too hard. People still think of a business plan as a big formal document, hard to do, and — sadly — not worth the effort. But what they miss with that attitude is the lean planning that could steer their business better. Here’s how to do a…
The good news for today’s small businesses just got a little better with a MaTCH. A survey by the National Federation of Independent Business uncovers the single biggest problem facing many small businesses today: finding qualified job applicants. The U.S. Small Business Administration is stepping up to help. SBA Acting Administrator Chris Pilkerton recently launched the Makerspace Training, Collaboration and Hiring Pilot Competition. The MaTCH Competition seeks to address the job…
The human attention span is evolving and that has important implications for marketers. What type of marketing content gets and holds people’s attention 0– and how can you create it? Here’s what you need to know. Attention spans are evolving While there’s lots of lamentation about how our attention spans are being destroyed by the internet, a recent study by Prezi suggests attention spans aren’t shrinking — they’re just evolving. Surprisingly, six…
Tax-related identity theft is prominent on the IRS’s 2019 Dirty Dozen list of Tax Scams. Tax-related identity theft is not just stealing personal information of individuals. Because of successful efforts to crack down on such identity theft, thieves have shifted their focus to businesses. They create and use, or attempt to use, the identifying information of businesses to obtain tax benefits. For example, as the IRS has noted, cybercriminals that obtain a…
Are you looking to increase productivity in your small business? Some entrepreneurs and professionals find it helpful to have access to multiple computer monitors. This type of setup can potentially improve collaboration, productivity and even location flexibility. But there are also some potential drawbacks, from money and space constraints to the potential for distractions. If you’re considering investing in dual monitors for your own office, here are some of the…
An understanding of business credit terms is important for small business owners. Similar to personal credit, business credit determines whether your company can be trusted by the way it manages money. Like personal credit, business credit is a reflection of how well your company manages money. Why is business credit important? The Nav American Dream Gap Survey, 2015 revealed of small business owners surveyed, 45 percent did not know they have…
Before I share my ideas on how you can get past your fear of buying a franchise, I need to address this issue: It’s perfectly normal to have feelings of fear when you’re thinking about buying a franchise. Let’s see if I can help alleviate some of these fears for you. Transition Fears You’re probably worried about the transition you’ll be making if you decide to move forward with the franchise…