Growing Your Business Articles For Entrepreneurs & Small Business OwnersS Is For SpeakingSpeaking (either at other people’s events or your own) is a great way to build your business. Not only is it a good way to showcase what you do, but it also builds awareness of your business and increases your reputation. You can also sell from the back of the room or collect the names […] Online Videos – The Move to Entertain, Educate, Sell“Money is honey! Money is honey!” – Max Bailystock (Zero Mostel) – The Producers (1968), Embassy Pictures Ever wonder why when someone wants to show you how good their device is, they never show you a PowerPoint presentation? They’re boring…yes, even yours! But video? It grabs your attention and keeps your attention. It’s so good […] O Is For OutsourcingFor many small companies, the thought of doing marketing could definitely be classed as hard work! Where do you start? What should you do? Have you got enough time to do it? So the thought of using a marketing company to do the work for them sounds like the best answer in the world. Here […] How To Get Personality Into Your Growing BusinessMost people associate the word personality with individuals. But businesses can have personalities too, and the image and feeling of a more distinctive business are likely to remain with customers. Think of all the different types of stores. Their personalities are defined by their unique style or atmosphere, as well as by selection of products […] M Is For Marketing StrategyDo you have a marketing strategy in place? No, by this I don’t mean a marketing plan (although that’s great if you have one of these). I mean a marketing strategy – something that tells you end to end where each of your marketing fits in. When I talk to small business owners they usually […] Keep Calm And Carry OnRunning a business is a funny thing. One minute, you can be swamped with work and the next you’re so quiet and you can’t see where the next penny is coming from. When you’re desperate for new business, it’s likely that you’ll do tons and tons of marketing. You’ll really get off your back […] Checklist To Capture Media AttentionRecently, I sent out a media release for a company owned by my brother, Scot Morgan. Scot has been in business for himself for twenty years, and in all that time he had never tried to get the free publicity you just can’t buy – that is, by sending out a media release. And interestingly […] J Is For Joint VenturesJoint Ventures is a concept that has probably been around for a long time, but only seems to have become mainstream over the last few years. Joint ventures can work in several different ways, but essentially means that two or more businesses will have an arrangement whereby they’ll promote each other’s businesses and profit from […] Need Your Delinquent Customers To ‘Get It’?Not too long ago, I shared some lunch with Nancy, a relative newcomer to the speaking business. When we got to coffee, Nancy cleared her throat and asked me for some advice about one of her customers. “It took me some time to land this customer,” she said. “Finally, he agreed to one of my […] Don’t Underestimate The Power Of Customer ServiceBad economy + good customer service = business All right so we all know this isn’t the best time for the economy. We have been in the so-called recession for over a year now. A few businesses are doing better than ever, some are struggling to make ends meet and many have folded. Something maybe […] How To Get More Qualified Leads From Your NetworkBehind Door No. 1 are one dozen warm leads. Behind Door No. 2 are three times as many cold suspects. Which door would you want to open? I’m sure you said Door No. 1. But what if in order to gain access to the leads behind Door No. 1, you have to ask someone to […] Fire Your Advertising AgencyThere is a startling way for most dealers to double their business – fire their advertising agencies. Dealerships spend an enormous amount of money on advertising for new customers. Unfortunately, often that money is wasted. The money is wasted because the agencies are strictly placing ad dollars in media and doing production. Often, the ad […] Building Your BusinessHave you made the commitment that automotive sales is your career choice? Unless you commit, it’s impossible that you will take the necessary steps to create the business you desire. Long-term thinking in addition to short-term goals are keys to continued success. When you first enter into a sales position, 80 percent of your time […] The Art Of NetworkingNetworking is an art, and like any artist, you need to constantly practice, refine and critique your work. Networking makes a huge contribution to your life and career, and it’s a skill that anyone can acquire. These tips can help you get started. Be open. Be open to new ideas, opportunities and people. Be prepared. […] Taking Aim With Your BusinessAt the start of a new year, it’s a good idea to take stock of your business by reviewing your Vision, Mission, and your Main Business Goals (If you don’t have a Mission or Vision statement, click here to download an exercise on writing them). Now, I hear you asking, “How are a Mission and […] Conventional Wisdom and the Benefits of Online EducationFor those of us who have been involved in online education for a time, the growing public acceptance of the Web as vital tool for training and learning has been a welcome development. It’s become conventional wisdom that online learning offers an affordable and effective alternative to traditional classroom education. That wasn’t always a widespread […] Does Your Pricing Strategy Prevent Customers From Committing?Just between you and me, how do you feel about pricing your work? If you’re like many accidental entrepreneurs, pricing is not your favorite topic. Charge too much, and you lose clients. Charge too little, and you can’t earn a living. It doesn’t have to be this way. Charging enough to make a good living […] Seven Fundamental Marketing PrinciplesMarketing is defined as a suite of principles and strategies you use in your business to persuade your target market to contact your business. Marketing is beneficial to your business because it: Establishes awareness that your business exists Promotes branding and name recognition Provides general information about your business or your products / services When […] The Evolution Of Your BusinessYour business has evolved, and it will continue to evolve, as long as you let it. It is part of the evolution of who you are and what you are becoming. It is part of the evolution of your skills, knowledge, experience, beliefs, purpose, and dreams. You have probably already evolved from a participant in […] Run Your Business; Don’t Let it Run YouOne of the most important principles of being a business owner is to run your business; don’t let it run you. To run your business is to create a vision of what is possible – a vision that’s bigger than doing the day-to-day work associated with your skill or trade. To lead your business is […] |
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