Great Ideas for your Small Business: Set Up a Strong Referral Network Unlike the folks at big companies, small business owners are usually eager to help each other out by making referrals. Entrepreneurs really believe that “what goes around, comes around.” While many referrals are made informally by word-of- mouth, some entrepreneurs take it a … Read more
Great Ideas for your Small Business: Use Food as a Selling Tool Food is a powerful sales tool. everyone needs to eat, so take advantage of tasty treats whenever you can. This is a simple idea that really works. Bright Star Resorts, which rents vacation homes and condominiums in Central Florida, hosts a monthly barbecue … Read more
Great Ideas for your Small Business: Market to Callers on Hold “We put over 100 customers on hold every day,” said Elie Wade, president of Mortgage Makers in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Wade turned that annoying waiting time into a marketing opportunity by signing up for a service that produces the messages callers hear while on … Read more
Great Ideas for your Small Business: Take Advantage of Co-op Advertising Do you ever wonder how local merchants get their name and address in the corner of glossy ads for a car, computer, or watch? They do it through what’s called “co-op advertising,” and this form of cost-sharing has given small business owners a marketing … Read more
Great Ideas for your Small Business: Build Up Your Credit Lines Having a personal credit line or two is a great cushion for the times when you are a little short on cash—if a client doesn’t pay on time, or you decide at the last minute that you really must rent that exhibit space at … Read more
Great Ideas for your Small Business: Locate the Right Space Entrepreneurs cringe at the thought of leasing office space. It’s scary and expensive and takes time to do. That’s why so many of us work at home until we get thrown out by our loving families. The Applegate Group, founded in the cozy den of … Read more
Great Ideas for your Small Business: Use Frequent Flier Miles for Meetings Futurist david snyder flies more than 150,000 miles a year, giving speeches and consulting for private and government clients. To build up frequent flier miles, he flies first class and books his own tickets, although his clients reimburse him for travel expenses. Every … Read more
Great Ideas for your Small Business: Know about Economic Development Incentives and Agencies If you are thinking of relocating or expanding your business, be sure to investigate the wide variety of economic incentives and tax breaks. Hundreds of local, state, federal, and private agencies offer scores of programs designed to entice business owners to move … Read more
Great Ideas for your Small Business: Ask for a Deposit For many entrepreneurs, making a sale is easy. The tough part is getting paid. But without steady cash flow, even the strongest business will starve. In 2000, small businesses buffeted by the recession began asking customers for deposits before they started the work or filled … Read more
Great Ideas for your Small Business: Expand Your Vendor Network Is your business overly dependent upon one or two suppliers for the things you need on a regular basis? What would happen if your primary supplier called today and said he or she unexpectedly ran out of the materials you need? What would your employees … Read more
