Does your business have a sustainable advantage? Having one or more sustainable advantages gives you an edge in the marketplace. Advantages can be developed in several ways. Perhaps the most commonly sought after advantage is price. However, a price advantage is rarely, if ever, sustainable. Another business will find a way to offer a lower…
It’s time to start that business you have always wanted. Why are you hesitating? Are you nervous that you don’t have the skills necessary? Some of the skills the small-business owner needs are: Passion, perseverance and persistence: Call it what you want, but you need to keep going when things look bleak. Some might say…
Want a successful business? Then make this headline, “go where others fear to tread,” your action phrase. How might this work? Well, for much of your competition, just the thought of treading outside of boundaries is enough to stop many. And for those who a large group of those who do take the plunge, do…
To many business owners, marketing feels like a numbers game. Too little and no one knows you exist. Too much and your potential customer feels bombarded. So business owners are forced to look for balance in their marketing. Yet balance is not something that can be readily achieved. It begins with knowing your customer base….
You’ve seen the stories, “Build Your Business with No-Cost Marketing.” This headline has been used many times, most recently when talking about social media. We want such things to be true. Yet, we also know the reality – there is a cost to everything. It may not be a cost in dollars, but instead, it…
Are you getting what you want out of your business? Quite often, we, as people, get into a funk. We take a look at our surroundings and wish that things were different. This certainly holds true for small-business owners. So what can we do to change our attitude and direction? Last month, I discussed one activity…
As you review articles for help with your small-business marketing, you may notice that many of them focus on a single strategy or method. The reality is that a good marketing plan has balance. Often today the strategy is online marketing or, getting more specific, social media marketing. Video marketing is also quite popular. These…
Success for a small business means watching your pennies. Margins are usually small, sales are often weak, and there is little or no cushion available to absorb a mistake. It is also true that small business owners must not get so caught up in watching pennies that they miss the holes that are leaking dollars….
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