Marketing
How Small Businesses Can Get New Customers and Sell More
In the Trenches: How Big Should We Grow?
The general consensus among business owners seems to be that growth is great. If you have more demand for what you offer, you should grow. That way, you can create …
How Well Do You Know Your Competitors?
You work like crazy to come up with a new product or service, rent a bricks-and-mortar store, design a spiffy website for marketing purposes, and hire talented go-getters to meet …
Reap the Promotional Benefits of Co-Marketing
Have you considered waging a co-marketing campaign to boost your small business? The concept is elementary-school simple: Team up with another merchant, one who doesn’t directly compete against you. Decide …
In the Trenches: Serving Different Types of Customers
When I first started my travel concierge business, people asked me who my typical target client was. At the time, I thought I knew who would flock to the service, …
How to Create Social Media Buzz Before Opening Your Doors
Social media networks are an effective way to spread the word about your small business even before you’re ready to start selling. For example, between applying for permits and deciding …
Why Your Small Business Needs a Privacy Policy
Having a privacy policy can protect your small business from potential pitfalls and give it a competitive edge. Consumer privacy concerns affect businesses large and small, says Chris Babel, CEO …
5 Mobile Apps for Learning More About Your Customers
It’s difficult to run a small business if you don’t know who your customers are — or what they’re looking for. Gathering as much information about them as you can …
In the Trenches: Changing Our Services
Last month, I wrote about how the lines between some of our services have begun to blur. Since then, I’ve been working to redesign how we present our offers, so …
How to Make Someone Fall in Love [INFOGRAPHIC]
Whether you’re single or not, as a small business owner there’s one relationship you have to maintain, and that’s the one with your customers. Check out the infographic below for some easy …
In the Trenches: The Conference Circuit
Greetings from Miami. I’m on the other coast this week because I’m attending a conference. Technically it’s the media day for Farelogix, a provider of travel distribution technology. I’m here …
4 Big Trends in Choosing a Business Name
What does “Hulu” mean, and what does that have to do with TV? Unless you’re up on Chinese proverbs, nothing, but nonetheless you are likely to associate it with the …
In the Trenches: The Neglected Corners of the Business
I spend so much time focusing on concierge services that I sometimes forget there are other pieces of my business that could use some attention. Technically, my business is Cranky …
How to Get Started — Fast — with Social Media
Whether you’re thinking of starting a business or already running one, you’re probably acutely aware of the intense competition out there. To stand out in the crowd and grow your operation, you …
Cookbook Author Turns a New Page with a Line of Chocolates
Despite three cookbooks, an illustrious food-writing career, and being recognized for her social media savvy, engineer-turned-entrepreneur Monica Bhide was hungry for more. So she’s developed her own line of chocolate …
Can Price Matching Help Your Small Business Compete?
Price matching at retail isn’t what it used to be. Gone are the days when consumers scoured newspaper ads for the latest deals. Today, shoppers are comparing prices on their …
