Small Business Saturday is one of the best known “buy local" marketing initiatives, meant to counter the Big Box Retail phenomenon known as Black Friday. The good news is that “buy local" type programs happen all around the country, all through the year.
Successful entrepreneurs know that customers are their lifeblood. Unless you're one of the relatively few entrepreneurs with a product that sells itself, repeatedly and perpetually, you can't overlook the need to actively win and retain clients.
When we’re online, we all see quizzes all the time - they seem to be everywhere! This is no accident - websites like BuzzFeed or your preferred news sites use them because they keep visitors like us engaged on their site - and are often great for getting new leads. Additionally, quizzes often go viral - and others flock to see how their results stack up to their friends’!
Successful brands begin with a promise. Consider Geico's "15 minutes could save you 15 percent or more on your car insurance." Now that's a promise! A clear, succinct description of what your customers will get by working with or purchasing from you. A brand promise takes your positioning to the next level by explaining the benefits your brand will deliver to customers.
Strong brands don't just make a powerful promise to their customers – they keep it. Doing so fosters positive customer recognition and associations, lends credibility and a competitive edge and ultimately drives sales. But companies need to be careful when associating a promise with their brand. Making a brand promise that you can't keep will kill your business before it even has a chance to breath properly. Avoid this mistake by ensuring you fully understand what your business does in the marketplace before deciding what brand promise you'll make.
It's time for a brand refresh.
From colors that feel dated to visuals or a logo that popped out of 1999, your brand may be showing signs that it needs new life. But it's important to make changes without losing who you are in the process. (Remember, you don't want to lose or offend people loyal to your small business.) How do you do it? Here are ways to tackle a refresh that you will love.
When it comes to social media for small businesses, the amount of information about how to promote your business correctly can be overwhelming. It's clear that social media can help propel sales, but the underlying question is often, "How?"
We caught up with Malka Fasten, founder of girl's accessories company Halo Luxe, to ask about how she navigated the social world on Instagram and what she recommends for other fledgling businesses just getting their feet wet.
One of the greatest struggles that many entrepreneurs face is the fear of failure. This fear can sometimes stop you from taking risks that could lead to great success. It might even paralyze you into inaction. But you're not helpless in the face of this fear. Two psychologists offered tips on how entrepreneurs can recognize when they have this fear and what they can do to overcome it.
Caesar Chu got the idea for his business, The Original Whiskey Ball Co., while visiting a bar in Asia. The bar served drinks with giant ice balls shaped using an expensive machine, and Chu wondered how he could achieve the same result with "a low-cost product for the masses."
Want to look like a pro? A nice headshot can really help. What was once the province of actors hoping to play Background Cafe Patron #3 in an episode of Friends has now become, thanks to the internet, an important tool for entrepreneurs and small business owners. Since your business doesn't have the built-in brand recognition of a chain, customers want to know who they're shopping with when they go to your website. It's important to connect with potential shoppers (and show off your personality).
For most people, riding in an elevator is an awkward experience marked by crowding and an overwhelming desire to avoid eye contact. For entrepreneurs, it's an opportunity to practice that vital business skill: the elevator pitch.
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