Is it practical to keep squeezing out a living from a barely profitable small business? Should You Just Get A Job In 2012? The last few years have been tough for small business owners trying to squeeze out a living. Some are now realizing that they really don't have a business, but instead just a very risky job. Business strategist, Carol Roth calls this a "job-business." Of the 21 million small businesses in America, she says 60 percent never earn a profit in the life of the business. In … [Read more...]
How Satellite Media Tours Can Boost Business
Satellite media tours can be a great way to reach millions of consumers in just a few hours. There are many tools available when it comes time to let the world know what you do. Communication vehicles like websites, social media updates, press releases, whitepapers, press conferences and more, can be very effective—when used in combination—to win new business and raise your profile. In many cases they are far more effective than paying for advertising. Well, there is one more tool you should … [Read more...]
Apple’s Latest Product Launch: Why You Should Manage Expectations
Apple was a victim of its own success. Here's what their recent release can teach you. Oct. 4, 2011 was a date that the entire world anxiously awaited. That’s the day that Apple set to announce the launch of the next iPhone which is one of the fastest-selling and most-profitable products ever created. With over 30,000 daily activations, iPhones represent 28 percent of all mobile phones in the U.S. and account for 40 percent of Apple's $65 billion in annual revenues. When Apple announces the … [Read more...]
How To Handle Your First Media Interview
Don't ruin your chances of establishing yourself as an industry expert. It’s a rite of passage for any aspiring business mogul. When a reporter reaches out to you, it's an opportunity to establish yourself in the public eye as an industry expert. So if you properly prepare yourself for your first media interview, it could prove to be one of the most profitable investments of time in your career. Being mentioned in the press is far more valuable than buying an ad. It's significantly more … [Read more...]
Capture Someone’s Attention In 10 Seconds
Networking with bigwigs is never easy. Refocus your strategy to get results at your next conference. How To Capture Someone's Attention In 10 Seconds Meeting the right people at a conference isn’t easy. Anyone that has tried to connect with a potential sales prospect or strategic partner can relate. It's infinitely more challenging if the person of interest is speaking at the conference. As soon as she utters her last word, a mob of attendees rushes the speaker, waving business cards and vying … [Read more...]
4 Things You Need To Start A Social Network In Your Industry
If your industry doesn't have a social network in place yet then why not start one? Here are the four things you need. For most small business owners social networks remain a bit of a mystery. The majority of Americans are on Facebook, along with several hundred million people from other countries. Around 100 million people around the world are on LinkedIn. Billions of tweets are sent out over Twitter. Tools like YourBuzz and HubSpot help small businesses use social networks as a means to … [Read more...]
Benchmark Your Business To The Startup Genome
Does your startup have what it takes? Benchmark Your Business. Mike Periu takes a look at a report indicating key levels of growth for startups. One of the most difficult tasks for any businesses owner to perform is benchmarking. Through this process, you compare your company against similar companies and industry averages to determine performance. This is difficult because most relevant information isn’t easily available. Publicly-traded companies are required by law to disclose certain … [Read more...]
Top Tweeters To Follow For Small Business And Finance
Stay on top of small business trends with these top tweeters to follow for Small business and finance! As Twitter becomes ubiquitous, I’ve found that it can be an excellent tool to streamline your small business research. By forcing everyone to 140 characters or less of text, links to articles and videos are summarized in a succinct and direct manner. By creating a list of tweeters that provide great insight into small business and finance issues, it’s far easier to stay abreast of the latest … [Read more...]
Give Your Startup An Edge With Startup Open
The Startup Open competition is designed to recognize new business success. Does your company have what it takes? The role that new businesses play in the success of our economy cannot be overstated. According to a recent study by the Kauffman Foundation, job growth in the U.S. is entirely driven by new companies. Using data from the Business Dynamics Statistics, a dataset compiled by the U.S. Census Bureau, the Kauffman Foundation analyzed both new companies—defined as those in business less … [Read more...]
Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
The 112th Congress promises to be very active in areas that will have a profound impact on small businesses. While many small business owners try to stay out of politics, doing so is very risky. It’s important to understand which elected officials are making decisions that impact the livelihood of your business. This article provides an overview of who the key players are in Congress. Profile legislators as if they were prospects. Before attempting to sell to a potential customer, it’s … [Read more...]