How do your customers feel about the opportunity to access your company online? This may be to find information, search for products or services, make a purchase, ask a question, discuss a problem, find more information, get store hours, or determine where you are located. Have you ever thought about this question? Or perhaps you…
Small businesses form the cornerstone of local economies. In larger cities they are important, but in rural areas, they are crucial, not only economically but for the variety of products and services they provide. To begin with, the economic impact of the small business is sizable. Research shows that for every $100 spent, $68 dollars…
As you probably know, if you are going into business, the odds your business will be around in five years are not good. But they aren’t as bad as you may think, either. Approximately one-third of businesses close within two years. At the five-year mark, about one-half of all businesses have closed. We don’t approach…
Well, here we are at the end of one year and the beginning of another. Welcome, 2016! For many people, this is the day we make resolutions for the upcoming year. Often these hopes are for something in our personal life. Do you also take time to make resolutions for managing your business? And for…
People starting a business plan on being successful. Achieving success, though, is much easier said than done. When starting, one of the first tasks facing the business owner is letting people know you exist. Your story can be one good element to use in this phase. Stories are engaging. People can relate to stories. Stories…
Pricing is a task that puzzles and frustrates many small-business owners. Some think good pricing is magic, while others dig deep into their financial records to come up with a very specific price point for each product and service. Business owners are frustrated by wanting to be perceived as offering a competitive price to maximize…
Nov. 28 is Small Business Saturday. Small Business Saturday began in 2010. It was created to encourage people to do some of their holiday shopping at local, small businesses. Every year, the event has grown. You will see and hear advertising for it. Social media will be full of posts and tweets encouraging people to…
Small communities often are looking for ways to enhance and expand their local economies. A commonly used tool in this effort is encouraging the building and expansion of local businesses. Communities want jobs and dollars, and they usually want them relatively quickly. Often development plans look towards high-fliers and/or large firms. Yet, the local business…
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