small business
Published November 28th, 2008
Q: How does a small business get big? We have been at the same level for years now and can’t seem to breakthrough.
Jess
A: Your question reminds me of a quote I recently saw by J. Paul Getty, once the world’s richest man: “My formula for success is rise early, work late, and strike oil. ”
No, you are not going to strike literal oil; those days are over. But figurative oil, why not? Think about Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin? Do you think they feel as if they struck oil? You bet. Richard Branson took The... Read more
Tags: big business, business plan, Growing Your Business, small business, Steve Strauss, what works
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Published October 13th, 2008
Whether you own a small brick and mortar business or a business that operates online, one of the greatest tools you can have at your disposal is the ability to act on information given to you by a potential customer and turning it into a conversion.
What Is Immediacy?
This process is generally referred to as immediacy; it means identifying exactly what it is that a customer wants at your point of contact through the correct interaction and then outlining exactly how you can fulfill their need.
The faster you can obtain and analyze information from a prospect, the less... Read more
Tags: brick and mortar, customer conversion, Generating More Sales, immediacy, Leeia Ladipoh, online buisness, small business, tips, what works
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Published October 8th, 2008
Q: Are small businesses really having a hard time right now? Everything seems OK to me. Sure, gas prices are higher, but all in all, things are fine.
Phil
A: I’m sorry, but I simply disagree. I think things are pretty tough right now for most small businesses. That said, nevertheless, I will admit that there is a surprising amount of debate on this issue.
Case in point: I hosted a roundtable event of small business bloggers in New York last week. The event was sponsored by Brother and the topic was, "Who says a slow economy has to slow... Read more
Tags: advice, column, economic crisis, economy, small business, small business expert, Steve Strauss
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Published September 2nd, 2008
Q: Steve, what is your take on the state of small business right now? And if small businesses are having as much of a hard time as it seems, what are they doing to break out of the doldrums?
Rick
A: If I had to choose one word to describe small business right now, it would be unease . If I had more words, they would be nervous, retrenched, and cautiously hopeful (alas, we are usually hopeful, even when there is little reason to be.)
Although my pessimistic perspective is inherently subjective, even objective measures point to the same conclusion.... Read more
Tags: economic downturn, expert advice, MrAllBiz.com, small business, small business expert, Steve Strauss
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Published July 16th, 2008
Summer is halfway over and if you haven’t taken a vacation yet, you better get going! As one of our expert contributers, Steve Strauss, highlights below, it’s a must for any entrepreneur.
Q: Steve – I would like to get away with my family this summer, but I just don’t see how I can do it. I own a one-man business and when I don’t work, I don’t get paid. What can I do if I can’t afford to get away?
Tony
A: Amigo, I hate to sound like a cliché, but you can’t afford not to get away.
If... Read more
Tags: entrepreneur, small business, Starting a Business, Steve Strauss, summer, time off, vacation
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Well hopefully you don’t have one single supplier! If one of your major suppliers does in fact notify you that they are closing their doors, there’s no need to panic. Simply contact your other supplier(s) and speak with them about the possibility of you moving more business their way. Determine if they can handle the new demand and talk about pricing options with them (as they may offer a discount for more business). Also remember to contact the supplier that is going out of business and ask if they have any products that they can still supply you. If they... Read more
Tags: advice, Product Sourcing, Rebecca Button, small business, source, Starting a Business, suppliers, tips, vendors
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Move over Facebook. Watch out MySpace. There’s a new kid in town.
Aside from the less than convenient domain name, Sta.rtUp.Biz appears to be a social network above the rest (as far as small businesses should be concerned). With a slick and stylized presentation this social network seems to have it all. From creating your own profile and connecting with other business owners to an impressive resource offering, this site is bound to give it’s members everything they could possibly want all in one place. Their articles section traverses the top business magazines online including Fortune, BusinessWeek, and Entreprenuer. They’ve... Read more
Tags: E-Commerce and E-Business, networking, Rebecca Button, small business, social network, social networking, Starting a Business, startups
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Published June 17th, 2008
And then there were two.
From here on out you are going to be the brunt of a barrage of political shenanigans. Hot air and dirt is going to be flying from all directions and it’s going to be tough trying to wade through it all to get to the bottom of where McCain and Obama stand on important issues. You’re even less likely to see through the deluge to the small business issues.
So I thought I’d present (in a nutshell) where the candidates stand on the top 3 most important business matters taken directly from ResourceNation.com :
McCain:... Read more
Tags: campaign 08, issues, presidential race, Rebecca Button, ResourceNation.com, small business
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You may think you know what you’re getting into…but you have no idea. There are probably a few preconcieved notions you have about starting a business whether you think you’ve done your homework or not. So without further adieu here are the top 5 startup myths you should be aware of:
5. The government gives grants to small business startups - While some states may have special funding programs in place for people with disabilities, minorities or veterans, the federal government does not have any programs that give money directly to any business. Your best bet is to get involved... Read more
Tags: advice, myths, Rebecca Button, small business, Starting a Business, startups, tips
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Bartering is a tried and true (and ancient) business practice. It is still commonly used in many countries in every day business interactions. For whatever reason, it is not as common in the U.S. but this doesn’t mean it should be forgotten altogether!
If your small business is still afloat but you find yourself short on cash, give bartering and honest look. There are many barter exchanges which you can join and here’s how it works:
Step 1: Research the barter exchanges. Like I said there are a lot out there so do some research and pick the one you... Read more
Tags: Accounting, barter, bartering, Business, cash flow, finanance, Finance and Accounting, money, Rebecca Button, small business
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