If you've never won a government contract before, try this shortcut to securing work against seasoned competitors. Winning competitive bids for government contracts is very challenging. The bidding process is long and complicated; the reporting requirements are onerous and the competition is intense. Despite the challenges, government contracts are great. The government always pays. Good performance leads to more contracts. Governments are not as susceptible as private sector companies to … [Read more...]
Here’s how you can prepare for the panic.
Should You Be Panicking Right Now? Economic conditions are not bringing anyone peace of mind right now. Here's how you can prepare for the panic. This summer has been absolutely brutal for those seeking financial peace of mind. For small business owners who took time before this summer to budget and plan ahead for 2011 and 2012, that effort may have been a waste. Economic conditions have shifted so much that old plans may no longer be relevant. It’s time to start over. So many things have gone … [Read more...]
Lower Your Borrowing Costs With Commercial Paper
Need cash fast but can't afford to borrow form a bank? Commercial paper may be a great alternative. One of the challenges of growing a company is satisfying the voracious appetite for cash that growth requires. The faster the growth, the greater the supply of cash needed to fund it. While many business owners try to fund this growth through internal cash flow generation (i.e. the cash generated from sales) this isn’t possible when you’re growing aggressively. Customers don't pay instantly. It … [Read more...]
Your Customers Are Getting Smarter About Money
Research shows that customers are getting Smarter and may be improving their credit and reducing their debt. What this means for your business. The pain caused by the effects of the Great Recession and the weak recovery have been felt by consumers and businesses alike. This pain, however, has led to some surprising results. It just may be the case that people can learn from their mistakes! New research shows that consumers are finally making progress in improving their overall financial … [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...]
A Closer Look At The Groupon IPO
With the recent Groupon IPO announcement, Groupon's financials are now public domain. What can we learn from their S-1 filing? As small businesses across the country evaluate the risks and benefits of group coupons and discount sales, it would be wise to peek under the curtain of Groupon, the company that launched the craze. There aren’t many opportunities to do this, especially with companies that are privately held because there is no requirement for them to disclose anything about their … [Read more...]
Did California Kill The Affiliate Sales Industry?
A controversial new law in California expands the online sales tax and places the burden on the affiliate sales industry. As state governments scramble to balance their budgets in the wake of the Great Recession, some are enacting controversial legislation, which may do more harm than good. I wrote about state efforts to plug budget holes recently and many of my concerns are coming to fruition. On June 15, California’s assembly and senate passed Assembly Bill 28, which was enacted into law … [Read more...]
Is Now A Good Time To Consider An IPO?
If your company operates in the technology, energy, health care, or biotech sectors it might be time to consider an IPO. As we get deeper into second half of 2011, many companies are taking a closer look at their capital-raising strategies. Some are expressing interest in an Initial Public Offering (IPO) of their securities. Whether or not your company should seriously consider an IPO and whether it is appropriate to pursue one is for a future article. I want to address whether or not now is a … [Read more...]
Use Customer Referral Programs To Grow Sales
Customer referral programs are one of the most effective marketing tactics--and it's free, too. Here's how to take advantage. The most effective types of marketing programs that exist are those that cost nothing, or next to nothing, and are proven to work. It’s almost as good as having a cash printing machine. While most marketing techniques don't fall into this category, there is one which does: customer referrals. The term referral is sometimes used interchangeably with viral marketing, … [Read more...]
Unlock The Secret Of Resonance Versus Profitability
Mike Periu explores the trade-off between resonance versus profitability. I recently had dinner with a good friend whom I hadn’t seen in 18 months. A fellow entrepreneur, he surprised me with the news that he had started a new company in the energy sector, far different than has previous company in technology. After speaking at length about the transition and the challenges of his previous venture, it was clear to me that this transition was a perfect example of a concept I had analyzed … [Read more...]
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