June, 2010

Top 10 Small Business Mistakes

Many small businesses make mistakes, and smart entrepreneurs will learn from the mistakes of others. With that in mind, we have compiled a list of some common mistakes that small business owners often make....

1. Knowing It All

Alternative and Non-Bank Financing: Don’t Be Afraid!

The good news is that, despite the tight credit environment, there are many alternative and non-bank financing options available to companies that need a cash infusion, whether it’s to beef up working capital or help facilitate growth.

However, the bad news is that business owners often shy away from non-bank financing because they don’t understand it. Most owners simply rely on their banker for financial information and many bankers (not surprisingly) have only limited experience with options beyond those offered by the bank.

Your Office -- Cesspool or Zen-like Retreat -- You Choose!

Whether you work from your home exclusively, or only part of the time, the office in your home has to be tailor-made to suit you. If you are a brilliant scientist like Einstein and rather eccentric, you probably don't give a hoot how your office looks. If you fall into the 99.99% of the populace, like the rest of us, then office organization may be crucial as to how efficiently you can operate. We offer a few options for your consideration, like the late and brilliant Rod Serling used to say.

Promotional Marketing - It’s Time to Get Personal

Promotional marketing is in its own renaissance right now. In a world of digital connections, absence of in-person interaction with customers, and a beleaguered economy, companies, and especially small businesses, are realizing that customers still appreciate a free gift and a personal touch.

Giveaways are incredibly inexpensive and profound in impact for a small business. A simple gift can pack more punch than your competitor’s massive advertising budget. Let’s take a look at the numbers.

An Offshore Sourcing Primer For Small Business: Leveraging Chinese Manufacturing Resources

Many in the West look to China as an exceptionally low-cost sourcing resource for manufactured goods. However, for those who are accustomed to dealing with contract manufacturing in Western markets, the first ventures into Chinese manufacturing will require a major readjustment in business approaches and expectations.

Assisted Shopping-The New Age Shopping Experience

Scientific inventions and technological advancement has transformed modern society. Personal interaction has been replaced by chatting online, the meeting place being cyber space rather than a room, market or home. Cell phones and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) are constant companions and hence provide the means to stay connected at every point in time.

And Now... THE Winner of Idea Cafe's Latest $1,000.00 Grant!

We take pleasure in announcing that Gerhard Guevarra, the owner of All-American Fencing Academy, is the recipient of the current Small Business Grant. With his impressive enthusiasm for teaching and training new and competitive fencers, he instantly grabbed the hearts of our regulars and stood out amongst thousands of other small business owners. Congratulations!

During the final month-long voting round of the grant, All-American Fencing Academy emerged as the leader, with 41.66% of the votes. Gerhard was closely followed by another exceptional business, Denizen Surfboards, who got 39.3% of the votes.

5 Tips for Using Social Media to Build Your Opt-In List

The immense popularity of social networks, and the meteoric rise in the last few years of social media marketing, have been some of the most exciting new directions for PR and marketing that I have experienced.

That is why I jumped on board the social media marketing train over a year ago…it has been a huge boon to my performance-based PR business.

But in spite of the many extraordinary opportunities in social media marketing, one drawback I've found is the speed with which one can be forgotten. Even the social-media savvy may struggle to stay in front of and remain memorable in the minds of their friends, followers, connections and fellow group members.