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August, 2010

Business Financing: How to Do It Yourself

Submitted by Tom Klausen on Thu, 08/19/2010 - 13:08
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Contrary to what most small business owners think, financing a business is not rocket science. In fact, there are only three main ways to do it: via debt, equity or what I call “do it yourself” financing.

Each method comes with benefits and drawbacks you should be aware of. At various stages in your business’s life cycle, one or more of these methods may be appropriate. Therefore, a thorough understanding of each method is important if you think you may ever need to secure financing for your business.

Don’t Let the Post Office Put the Stamp On Your Small Business

Submitted by Patrick Kelly on Tue, 08/24/2010 - 11:02
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Even during a good economy, starting a small business and building it into a success is a hard task. When times are tough, like they certainly are now, it can be almost impossible. The ironic part is, or one of them at least, is that small business growth is a common indicator used during a recession to determine how, or if, the economy is improving.

When you’re a small business, rising expenses that bigger companies find as an inconvenience may be what puts your profit margin in the red, for good. Sometimes little things such as an increase in gas prices at the pump, higher taxes or a few extra cents for stamps are things that can really make staying afloat difficult.

Is Direct Mail Really Dead?

Submitted by David Jackson on Thu, 08/26/2010 - 11:43
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Even with sky high postage costs, a properly executed direct mail campaign still provides a solid ROI. What? You've bought into the myth that direct mail is dead?

The secret to making money is creating value and sharing it with everyone else.

Submitted by Alicia I. Dearn on Mon, 08/30/2010 - 18:14

I was going to write this week's newsletter on practical legal stuff (i.e. what costs more: paying your managers hourly or salary). I changed my mind last minute, though, because something unexpected happened this morning. The lawyer in the neighboring office got hit by a car while walking to work. In typical lawyer style, though she was seriously hurt, she was protesting that she needed to get up and go to court.

Retargeting: A Simple Strategy for Marketing Success

Submitted by Chris Birk on Mon, 08/30/2010 - 22:38
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Small business owners looking to get the biggest bang for their online marketing buck should study up on a powerful, emerging trend: Retargeting.

In short, this is a simple concept that's allowing entrepreneurs to extend their reach -- and their brand -- far across the web. Retargeting essentially allows you to track visitors to your website after they leave and to strategically place ads on websites they visit. It's an incredible tool that can help you reach consumers who don't convert on their initial visit to your online storefront.