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Start a Business You Love.
Stay in Business with Smarts.
To all Entrepreneurs:
Always remember that the passion and enthusiasm that you have for your business will create success. Being creative is essential as all products and services enhance our lives or make them easier…businesses solve problems. Simplify your business so that it is always enjoyable…when it stops being fun it is time to get out.
Bonus: Free Webinar: If you’re ready to start a business, go for it. To learn more about starting your business and taking your first steps, join me today at Noon.
Free, How To Really Start Your Own Business Webinar. Sign up now.
Special thanks to The Company Corporation for sponsoring and hosting the Webinar. Fellow SCORE Blogger Steve Bloom will also be a presenter.
Julie Brander, New Haven SCORE
View posts by Julie Brander
September 10, 2009
6 Tips for Success
Passion: If you don’t love what you do then you need to seriously think about doing something else. Work never feels like work if you love your job.
People: Surround yourself with bright, energetic, optimistic people. Choose people who can get things done. Never work with anyone who causes you stress.
Planning: Always update your plan. Be aware of all aspects of your business and respond to the changes in your customer needs, the market and the finances.
Persistence: Continue to work your plan and never give up. Be open to change. If one thing doesn’t work try something else.
Personal well being: It is important to take a break, a day or two off and revitalize yourself so that you can mentally get back into the focus of the business.
Profits: You are in business to make a profit. Staying on top of the business and being aware of where the profits are. Know who your best customers are and nurture those relationships so that your company will continue to grow and be profitable.
Please share other success tips that have worked for you.
Julie Brander, New Haven SCORE
View posts by Julie Brander
September 3, 2009
Tips and Tools for Creating Brochures
The purpose of a brochure is to inspire the perspective customer to do business with you.
A Brochure:
- Helps you establish credibility.
- Gives you the ability to explain what your company does.
- Explains the reasons the customer needs your services or products.
- Will focus on the benefits of your services or products in detail.
Brochure Content:
- Is it eye catching?
- Does it establish credibility? List your credentials and experience
- Are the benefits to the customer listed?
- Are the products or services clearly described?
- Are the prices listed (optional if applicable)?
- Are their graphics, pictures if applicable?
- Is it easy to read and written in simple language?
- Are the type sizes and styles easy to read?
- Is it written in sincere friendly easy to understand language?
- Have you used bold face and bullets to emphasize key points?
- Does it provide a call for action?
- Does it include your name and phone number in more than one place?
- Is there an email and website available?
- Is the address included with directions if applicable
- Consider attaching your business card
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Make sure your brochure is printed on heavier paper stock, perhaps in color and hand it out at networking events along with your business card.
Julie Brander, New Haven SCORE
View posts by Julie Brander
July 23, 2009
Finding the Right Image
Look at other business cards and identify your likes and dislikes, your business card reflects who you are, it captures the essence of your business image.
Consider an eye catching logo, graphic or picture if appropriate.
A business card should:
- Have your business name that is clear and easy to read Have a tag line to convey the benefits at a quick glance
- Must be printed on heavy card stock
- Can be printed on both sides for additional information/appointments
- Always include your name and title, address, phone number, fax number, email address and website.
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Carry at least 20 cards at all times and hand to everyone you meet
Please share ideas that you have used on your business cards that have been effective in your business.
Julie Brander, New Haven SCORE
View posts by Julie Brander
July 16, 2009
Upcoming Webinar
Check out the “Successfully Running a Small Business Summit” on July 14, 2009. Click here to register.
Title: Money Saving Tips on How to Recession Proof your Business
Presenter: Julie Brander, MBA, Adjunct Professor of Buisness and SCORE Mentor
Date: July 14, 2009
Time: 11:00 PST
Duration: 45 minutes
Summary: We’ll discuss ways to save money and immediate action steps to reduce expenses. Examples of how to save money will be explained in the following categories: business, personal, automobile and household.
Julie Brander, New Haven SCORE
View posts by Julie Brander
July 9, 2009
Ten Sales Incentives and Giveaways to Increase Business.
In this recession giving something away can be an incentive for your customers to do more business with you.
Some examples are:
- Giving a discount on sales…the more you spend the bigger the discount.
An example is for every hundred dollars spent you get $10 off your next purchase. The benefit of this incentive is to encourage repeat business and larger sales.
- Online purchases offer free shipping with minimum purchase amount.
- Department store cosmetic counters give away free samples with every purchase.
- Banks encourage you to open an account or refer customers for a cash bonus.
- Starbucks gave free coffee on Wednesdays knowing that people will buy other things.
- Sunglass hut is giving a free sunglass cleaner and visor clip with purchase.
- Offer a frequent shopper card for discounts or free product.
- Give a free gift with a minimum purchase amount.
- Offer a membership for $25 which gives customers 10% off every purchase for one year.
- Many large corporations are realizing that free gifts stimulate sales . Always think about ways to generate more sales as without sales there is no business. Look at what other companies are doing and modify it for your business.
Share your sales incentives that have brought in customers.
Julie Brander, New Haven SCORE
View posts by Julie Brander
July 2, 2009
Here are Some Things I Learned in Business that I wasn’t Taught in Business School.
Here are a few tips I have to share with you that I did NOT learn in Business school:
1. Look at your competition and learn from them. What are their strengths and weaknesses? Look at like companies in other states and countries and observe. You will always learn something that you can implement.
2. Sell your products or services many different ways. Never hold inventory always think of ways to sell it and always make a profit. Examples: online, storefront, wholesale, craft shows, home parties, corporate sales, incentives, joint marketing with another company as added value, and on consignment.
3. For a service business; always exceed your customers’ expectations. To retain customers make it easy for them to do business with you.
4. Company image is essential: Uniforms whenever possible for a professional image, name tags, proper greetings and attention paid to customers. Know your customers names and nurture customer relationships to ensure that they continue to do business with you.
5. Always educate your customers. Offer information about your products and services and know the competition. Most customers compare products and services before they purchase anything. With product knowledge and a higher perceived value the sale will always be made easily.
Julie Brander, New Haven SCORE
View posts by Julie Brander
June 25, 2009
Don’t Underestimate the Importance of Your Employees.
1. Employees can drive and build the company, always empower them and pay them well. Hire leaders that can create synergy in the company. People that are creative, innovative and have skills that you do not have.
2. Employees with prior experience and expertise will always be more productive and add value to the business. Productivity is essential to the success of any business.
3. When an employee is no longer productive and stops performing at peak level, never hesitate to replace them. The next hire will be much better and you will learn how essential training is.
4. Motivate employees with incentives as much as possible.
5. Praise, Praise and give more praise…it costs nothing to do and makes people feel good.
Julie Brander, New Haven SCORE
View posts by Julie Brander
June 18, 2009
Three Tips to Get and Retain Customers
1. New products, product development and services should be added to include additional value to your customer’s satisfaction.
2. Be innovative and creative in new products and services. Always know that the customers will tell you what they want and help you with the next new trend.
3. If you have a great product give a lifetime guarantee, it adds a lot of value and returns will be rare.
Here is to your continued success!
Julie Brander, New Haven SCORE
View posts by Julie Brander
June 11, 2009
For Legal Issues, Always Hire an Expert.
In the long run it takes an attorney less time to research the issue as they deal with these issues daily. If you do not know a lawyer who specializes in the legal issue you need help with contact the local Bar Association for a referral. In most cases you will get a free hour of consultation so that you can determine if the lawyer can help you and if you have a comfort level.
- Always interview more than one lawyer for any case.
- Always get a price for services in advance and always cap legal fees if possible.
- Never pay a retainer unless absolutely necessary.
- If possible get legal services on a contingency basis.
Always know that if the lawyer wins or loses he/she gets paid. Each situation is different do your homework and understand all the options that you have.
Wishing you business success!
Julie Brander, New Haven SCORE
View posts by Julie Brander
June 4, 2009
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