Using Social Media To Turbocharge Your Traffic

SMO, or Social Media Optimization, helps build website traffic by using social media
based websites. The dawning of web 2.0 has seen many different social media websites
crop up in an equally large number of different guises. Content sharing, social bookmarking,
and collaborative websites form the basis of this initiative and it is these types of website
that you need to use in order to leverage the power of the social web.

Conduct Market Research To Avoid “Ugly Baby Syndrome”

Starting a new business without conducting market research is like traveling a winding road at high speeds with a blindfold on: it’s exciting for a mile or two, but you will quickly slam into an assortment of unforeseen obstacles without ever reaching your final destination.

Signing A Lease? Get Your First Born Ready!

by Tim Knox
We’ve been discussing the steps required to open a brick and mortar store. We’ve talked about startup plans and finding a location.
This week we look at what comes next in the process: the negotiation and signing of one of the most dreaded legal documents any entrepreneur will ever faile to read: the commercial [...]

Blueprinting Your Business is the Way to Build Success

Most entrepreneurs do not understand how important writing a business plan is to succeeding in business. It is not the business plan itself, but the planning process that really matter. No matter how good your business strategies are, success hinges almost almost entirely on first-class execution. For that reason, business strategy is not deemed to be confidential information by the venture capitalists. It is how the company plans to execute its strategies that will really determine its business success.

Dealing With Contractors? Get Your Hammer Ready!

OK, so I signed my name in blood on the lease agreement and the space was mine for the next two years, succeed or fail. It was a large single room, about 1600 square feet, with a small storage area and two restrooms in the back. The question then became: who will build out this space? It certainly wasn’t going to be me. When it comes to construction I’m about as handy as a one-armed man in a clapping contest. It was time to line up contractors.

I don’t know about you, but it’s been my experience that a capable, reliable contractor is hard to find. Let me rephrase that: it’s been my experience that a capable, reliable contractor is damn near impossible to find.

Background Checks For Small Business

Does your business need to run a background check on new hires? You’d better believe it. And why wouldn’t you when you can get an absolutely free background check online? You have put a lot of time and sweat into your small business. Don’t make the mistake of cutting corners on something as simple and potentially important as a background search.

It’s Not All About “Location, Location, Location!”

No matter what your product or service the key to finding a great location is through good old fashioned legwork. You can use a commercial realtor to help identify potential locations, but you should take it upon yourself to visit each location at different times of the day, on different days of the week, to make sure it’s truly the best location for your particular business.

You’re Never Too Old To Start Your Own Business

Contrary to popular opinion, starting a business is not exclusively the domain of the young. In fact, in many cases, people at or nearing retirement age can are not only excellent prospects for beginning a business, they are usually some of the most qualified candidates. Why? Aside from the obvious edge in experience that comes with being long in the tooth, when it comes to qualifying for business finance, baby boomers are as a rule extremely bankable.

Teleprospecting: The Future in Lead Generation Programs

If you are looking for an efficient way of generating prospects for your business, teleprospecting might be just the ticket. This process can be used to gather high-level market information and identifying qualified prospects via the phone.

5 Ways to Jumpstart Your Franchise’s Marketing Machine

If you are looking for a few ways to put your franchise’s marketing plan on steroids, the following five techniques have been proven to be effective in engaging the maximum amount of prospects in the shortest amount of time.