Business Strategies Articles For Entrepreneurs & Small Business OwnersWhat Does it Really Feel Like to Sell Your BusinessYou are thinking about selling your business. You may have uncertainty, angst, worries, trepidation, fear, unknowns, and sleeplessness nights. I believe you are not alone. My approach as a business broker in Florida is from a perspective of a former long term business owner. I truly feel some of the feelings I experienced as a […] Starting Your Public Relations PlanStarting your PR Plan When is the right time to start a PR Plan? The answer is NOW. It doesn’t matter if you are “Joe’s Bike Shop” or a multi-national conglomerate – almost every business has a story to tell. It is never too early to start a PR Plan. If you realize that there […] Pitching The MediaWhen pitching a story idea to a reporter, remember that they don’t really care. Your job is to make them care. A well thought-out, concise pitch will ensure you don’t strike out. Give them a great story that is unique, timely and will help make their job easier! Understand that reporters are contacted by PR […] Landing Pages – How They Can Help Your CompanyWhat is a landing page? Sometimes known as a lead capture page it is used for online marketing. It is a web page a visitor reaches after clicking an online ad or link. It is a way to convert web clicks into clients. The page will contain detailed content of the product or service mentioned. […] 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 […] Startups … Being There at the Beginning“Get in on the ground floor, put in a rough year or two and retire a millionaire.””We’re open to new and innovative compensation options.””Play a key role in tomorrow’s Amazon…FaceBook…oh heck, Apple!!” You’ve heard these pitches. You watched with amazement at the “ease” of funding, the fantastic company multiples thrown around and how “immediately” ordinary […] Increase Your Professional Presence1. You’re on stage. When you’re on the phone with a client, you’re playing the roles of a good-will ambassador, problem solver, public relations representative, and more. Whether you are having a good day or a bad day, your telephone call is a performance that should leave your client feeling positive about you. 2. Put […] Meeting Check-Lists For Sales ProfessionalsThe devil is in the details – Preparation for customer meetings is critical. Here are a few items to consider before you visit your prospect. • Re-Confirm Date, Time, Place, # of attendees 24 hours prior to visit • Ensure you have an agenda for the meeting • Know how much time you have • […] Time Management TipsDo you ever wonder where your workday goes? Well, here are some interesting statistics on the use of time. See how you compare. According to research, the average person gets one interruption every eight minutes or approximately seven an hour. The average interruption takes five minutes, totaling about four hours, or 50 percent of the […] Should All CEO’s BlogThe simple answer is, it depends.One factor to consider is the purpose of the blog.Is it to communicate with: Staff Partners Prospects Clients Shareholders If you are a public company CEO, you need to be very diligent as to what you write. You cannot comment on things that may move the stock. Is it to […] PR Strategies – 7 Reasons Why You Need One Right Now1. Just Getting It Done Without a strategy, PR does have an annoying habit of getting pushed to the bottom of a to-do list. After all, it’s rare that journalists actively contact you (unless you are a member of our club perhaps!). Every PR campaign has to be self-motivated and maintained. Having a PR strategy […] The Tie That Binds … Mobile Ads To In-Store Signage Messages“All that I desire to point out is the general principle that Life imitates Art far more than Art imitates Life.” –Oscar Wilde After a few weeks spent in meetings and airplanes our wife thought a quiet weekend at home as in order, just cocooning. Her selections were innocent enough since we rather like sci-fi […] 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 […] Your Hardware Selection Depends On “Their” Ecosystems“I found a cure for the plague of the 20th century, and now I’ve lost it! – Dr. Robert Campbell/Sean Connery, Medicine Man (1992) – Cinergi Pictures Today, two things seem to define who you are…your significant other and your computing device. One is (hopefully) permanent, the other changing. Hint — the device is the […] How Not To Enter European MarketsDuring my more than 20 years in building up companies in Europe I have come to this conclusion Do not to sell the American way, but respect that people like to take their time and want to know you. So don’t be aggressive – be dynamic. Don’t plan more than two business meeting per day: […] How To Rescue Customers From AttritionThere are many reasons why accounts whither and die. Of these, the worst has to be apathy on the part of the sales person. Without periodical attention, the most loyal accounts can drift away to be rescued by a competitor. “But if the client isn’t one of my most important”, you rationalize, “It’s not worth […] Basic Negotiation TipsYour first step is preparation – If you work diligently to deliver value to the person you are meeting with, you are more likely to get them on side with you. Preparations include speaking to your contact’s receptionist for insight into your contact’s personality, and to research the company via the internet. If you have […] Cold Calling TipsYes cold calls are tough sledding. Many say that it is not a very effective use of your time. This is all very true. But there comes a time – when a cold call is the only way to get to a prospect. Here are a few tips to help you. When you recognize the […] Business Valuation From An Investor Or Business Buyer’s PerspectiveNo one can tell you exactly what your business is worth except for someone ready, willing and able to buy or invest in it. But, with that said, by looking at your business from the perspective of a business buyer or investor, and their alternative investments, you will be able to see how much your […] What Does A Consultant Know About Your Business That You Don’t Already Know?As a small business owner you are intimately familiar with all aspects of your business. So what can a consultant tell you that you don’t already know? The simple answer is that you know your business for what it is; the consultant can tell you what your business can become. Understanding both the opportunities and […] |
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